thebestthingsblog

DIY: Recycled bottle torches

2010-06-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hello hello. Still no baby. Will you call her and tell her it's not so bad out here? I know I'm feeding her all sorts of delicious foods and it's probably pretty warm and snuggly in utero, but c'mon! It's been ten days, little lady. What're you waiting for?

As you can imagine, I cleared my schedule to make room for our stubborn little nugget's birth, so it's been pretty quiet around the Bargalow. Had I not been making projects to distract myself from the fact that the most monumentous event of my life to date is about to happen, I'd have gone insane long ago.

One of said projects is the recycled bottle torches I mentioned in last weekend's post, and all in all, I'm pretty happy with how they turned out:

We had a little trouble finding some of the hardware listed in the original tutorial ... namely, the split ring hanger and the copper top plate connector. But thankfully, with the help of some very nice sales associates at the Home Depot (thanks, Charlie and friends :) ), we were able to concoct an alternative hardware setup, including ground wire clamps (for around the bottle necks), a smaller diameter threaded rod (1/4", to fit in the ground clamps) and insert nuts (for mounting into our wood posts). We also added some nuts and washers for decoration and added stability, but you could just as easily (and safely) leave those out. Here's what our hardware looks like up close:

Pretty sweet, eh? I can't wait to fire these babies up and enjoy a little twilight patio time. Preferably with a baby to snuggle ...

A whole new world

2010-06-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this video of a little guy hearing for the first time? I came upon it via Cup of Jo and highly recommend a little watch. Perhaps you'll cry like I did.

Lost camera photos

2010-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

This guy took a series of cute photos to be read should his camera be lost and found. I like them and thought I'd share. If you can ignore the string of inane and unnecessarily mean comments underneath, perhaps you can enjoy it, too. :)

Happy weekend!

2010-06-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Crayon carvings of football superstars for the World Cup by Diem Chau. Photo courtesy Craft Magazine. Read more here.

Happy weekend, my friends! Got any big plans? I'm just waiting to go into labor, watching the World Cup with Ronaldino, designing a friends baby shower invites (she's having twin girls in just a couple months!) and embroidering some animals. I'm not gonna lie. This overdue baby situation is pretty agonizing. Thankfully, I have distracting things like this blog, my design work and sewing projects to keep me occupied until that little squirmy meatloaf in my belly decides it's time to join us on the outside.

See y'all next week (maybe with a baby?). Until then, here are a few of my favorite finds from around the web recently:

An “Eat Seasonably” calendar. Handy!

A church pew headboard

Can't stop listening to this song by The National … and this song by Band of Horses

A family photographs themselves each year from 1976 to the present. See the results here

A transparent iron!

We are so making these recycled bottle torches for our patio

Pointillism in crayons

Cutest. Tourism Bureau. Video. Ever.

Midcentury time capsule found in London

Quiches in cups!

Recipe: Donut Muffins

2010-06-10T06:04:00.000-07:00

Friends, let me introduce you to the donut muffin. It is buttery and sweet. It is blatantly decadent. It is ridonculous.

I stumbled upon the donut muffin by way of another blog and posted them on this blog as part of a weekend entry. Like most of the baking recipes I post on this blog, they became a nagging fixation. "When are you going to make those donut muffins?" was a question I often asked myself. Well, it seems an overdue baby and a life of limited physical mobility as a result made the conditions just right last night, as I cranked 'em out while listening to/watching reruns of Ghost Hunters on SyFy (no judging).

The basic idea is this: Make a really good batch of from-scratch muffins. Dip said muffins in butter and roll in cinnamon sugar. Prepare your taste buds for ecstasy.

DONUT MUFFINS

For the muffins:
24 Tbs. (3 sticks) unsalted butter, warmed to room temperature
1-3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 lb. 11 oz. (6 cups) all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1-2/3 cups milk
1/4 cup buttermilk

For dipping:
16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter; more as needed
2 cups sugar
2 Tbs. ground cinnamon
To make the muffins

Put a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.

In a stand mixer or a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just mixed in.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Combine the milk and buttermilk.

With a wooden spoon, mix a quarter of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Then mix in a third of the milk mixture. Continue mixing in the remaining dry and wet ingredients alternately, ending with the dry. Mix until well combined and smooth, but don't overmix.

Grease and flour a standard-size muffin tin. Scoop enough batter into each tin so that the top of the batter is even with the rim of the cup, about 1/2 cup. Bake the muffins until firm to the touch, 30 to 35 min.

Melt the butter for the dipping mixture. Combine the sugar and cinnamon. When the muffins are just cool enough to handle, remove them from the tin, dip them into or brush them all over with the melted butter, and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar.

Makes 24 muffins

And that's it, my friends. Ron ate his while saying things like "Oh my god" and "wow" and upon eating mine, I had to agree with his sentiments. Enjoy!

My First Treasury

2010-06-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

I made my first treasury for Etsy's Treasury East! Check it out (if you're so inclined).

Pretty artwork, great cause

2010-06-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, the oil spill makes you pretty upset. It's a true tragedy, travesty and debacle. Why not alleviate your worries and anger with a beautiful piece of artwork from unitedthread? Not only are the pieces absolutely gorgeous, but 50% of all sales will go towards the National Wildlife Federations work related to the oil spill restoration efforts, which you can learn more about here.

Best cheeky onesie ever?

2010-06-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just saw this awesome onesie from the Etsy shop Apericots over at the li'l bee. Made me laugh.

New in the shop

2010-06-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hello hello. The baby's due tomorrow. I hope someone gave her the memo.

I'm pretty sure she's going to be late, which is fine. While I wait, I'll be adding to my ever-growing menagerie of animal embroidery over at kngo. As of this weekend, as promised, there's a smattering listed there now (my favorite of which is the walrus above), so if you get a chance, check 'em out.

I'll just be over here in the corner, eating spicy food and doing jumping jacks.

Happy Weekend!

2010-06-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hey there friends! Just your average full-term pregnant lady here, waiting patiently for our little one to make her way out. That said, we have no definite plans for the weekend, though I'd like to try to get to the beach and maybe see a movie. I'm also waiting on embroidery hoops so I can finish my animals and get them listed in kngo, already! Sheesh.

I'll be back on Monday (unless we have a baby, of course), but until then, here are a few of my favorite finds from around the web this week:

The picture above is from this site, Incredibox, where you can make an instant hip little Moby-esque number. Try it ... I think you'll like it.

This is a good, comprehensive list of reasonably priced bathroom magazine racks. It's also an enlightening comment thread. I had no idea people had such a problem with mag racks in bathrooms?

Annoying alarm clocks (sign me up)

Cobbler baked in jars!

Make an easy, outdoor canopy.

Tank + scarf = tunic. Genius.

All tea towels, all the time.

Toast messenger!

Antler meets bike. Beauty is made.

Cupcake kits for every occasion

33 different ways to lace shoes

A Van Gogh cake

Young Barack. So fresh.

Exactitudes

2010-06-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Exactitudes®

Rotterdam-based photographer Ari Versluis and profiler Ellie Uyttenbroek have worked together since 1994, registering various social groups in similar poses and modes of dress in an identical framework, calling their endeavor Exactitudes®. Their site explains: By doing this, "they provide an almost scientific, anthropological record of people’s attempts to distinguish themselves from others by assuming a group identity." It's a lot to think about, eh?

I have to say, even though I'm no stranger to projects of this vein, I was surprised by the variety of groups and the similarities between the members of each group, knowing that for the dozen representatives pictured for this project, there are hundreds or thousands more walking the world streets. Take a minute and see if you can find your exactitude.

De flavores

2010-06-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

Vintage confections' tea flavored lollipops were on Etsy's front page this morning and I was reminded that they're one of my favorite sellers! Did you know they have barley drops in a zillion flavors? It's true. And everything's on sale right now! Stock up for summer, my friends.

Last night ...

2010-06-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

... I had a dream I was shopping for vintage t-shirts and iron-ons in a worn out, yellowed pair of white Keds. Not the most glamorous of dreams, but damn if it didn't make me want iron-ons and Keds.

Buy Bette, Chicago and Keds.

Snooze.

2010-05-28T04:09:00.000-07:00

I couldn't sleep, so got up extra early to work. Ron and Linden are still asleep.

Fern loves when it's just she and I in a quiet house and hits me up for extra lovin'. So we snuggled, then I went back to work. Then I heard snoring from behind me. Lady's passed out smack dab in the middle of the office futon, curled up like a cinnamon bun.

Man, do I love her.

'Round here

2010-05-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hey friends!

Another week gone by and still no bambino. I shouldn't be so anxious, I suppose, since my due date isn't really until June 8th, but man if I don't want to meet the little lady in my belly!

Other than the waiting, not much is going on around here .. just hot weather and last-minute nesting. I've been working hard in an attempt to get kngo restocked with a new crop of animal embroidery before the baby comes. The first set went so quickly, leaving just this silly earthworm.

I'm hoping to get at least 10 done within the next couple days and would like to have them listed by next week. So far, I've got a walrus, aardvark, flying squirrel, snail, ladybug and elephant in the next batch, with lots of ideas about new additions to the menagerie.

Speaking of animals, I've also been making a concerted effort to give all the love I can to Linden and Fern before the baby arrives and they have to share my attention with yet another creature. Poor things. They already fight like siblings over Ron and I. They have no idea their world is about to be rocked.

And with that, I'm of to run errands and take Lindy for a good, long car ride.

Recipe Wednesday: Tandoori Chicken and Tzatziki

2010-05-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Last night was sweltering. So in honor of the unexpected and anomalous late-May heat and the purchasing of new, grown up patio furniture (we did have those hideous $5 plastic chairs and a warped plastic table), we grilled last night. If you read yesterday's post, it will be no surprise to you that our meal was of the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern variety. Namely, tandoori chicken with saffron and cardamom rice. Tomatoes, cucumber, naan and tzatziki on the side. Boy howdy.

I love Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods with an intense passion that is hard to describe in words. There's a casualness about it that appeals to the hippie in me, but a sophistication in spice and texture that speaks to my very foodie heart. Perhaps you share my leanings? If so, here are two of my personal faves: Tandoori chicken and tzatziki sauce. Tandoori chicken is one of my favorite things to prepare for guests——The marinade yields a deliciously complex taste and moisture without constant monitoring or fussy preparation. And tzatziki you can eat on anything ... salad, sammies, pita, red and white meats, fish, you name it.

TANDOORI CHICKEN

1 lb chicken (you can use whatever pieces you like ... for convenience, we opted for boneless, skinless breasts)
3/4 cup plain low fat yogurt
2 tsp corn oil
1 tsp ginger pulp
1 tsp garlic pulp
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp garam masala
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
NOTE: Traditionally, this recipe also calls for several drops of red food coloring to give the dish a unique color, but I choose to leave it out. Do what you will. :)

If necessary, skin chicken. Rinse and pat dry. Cut 2 slits in the top of each piece. Set aside.

In a non-reactive bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients. Add chicken pieces, making sure all are coated with the yogurt mixture. Let marinate at least 3 hours.

From here, you can cook the chicken two ways:

Oven: Preheat oven to 475º. Put the marinated chicken pieces in an ovenproof dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through and browned on top.

Grill: Grill chicken pieces as you normally would.

TZATZIKI
1 cup plain yogurt
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup diced or grated cucumber
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice

Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic and cucumber. Chill for at least 1 hour. Serve cold.

And there you have 'em. Like I mentioned, we grilled our chicken, then sliced up cucumbers and tomatoes and warmed a little naan (a Middle Eastern flatbread) in the oven and served everything on one plate with the sauce, but Tandoori chicken is versatile. Try wrapping the chicken up in flatbread, making open face sammies, or serving over lettuce. So many delicious options. :)

Etsy Tuesday: Get me to the Greek

2010-05-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

It's hot here. Way hot. I'm hanging out in a sleeveless tube dress, drinking countless glasses of lemonade over ice, and dreaming of a few hours from now, when the sun goes down and we will make dinner and eat our tandoori chicken kebabs and saffron rice in the cool evening air. Until then, though, my thoughts have turned to warm Mediterranean climes and bright sun. If only my northern Michigan front yard overlooked the sea ...

1. Hydra island, Greece painting by dominicstudios
2. Vintage brass mythological creature pendant from myshangrilla
3. Recycled glass bottle tumblers from bottlehood
4. Greek plate (from a set of two) from thecollegegirl
5. Dress by AidaCoronado

New in the Shop

2010-05-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Monday! I'm back from a sweet weekend. Did a little visiting with the ladies at the Kalkabin, attended our last childbirth class, watched the Lost finale, and, I'll admit it ... laid around. I had aspirations to weed out our flower beds and plant some lilies yesterday, but is was in the upper 80s and very very sticky. So instead I napped and did intermittent work in the shade of the house. Not that exciting, but much needed. This belly, I tell you.

I did manage to list a few new things in the shop last week, including the few things below. Head on over and check 'em out.

Pyrex mugs with a federal motif. Cabin chic!

Sweet Italian boy and dove hanging. This would be so sweet in a nursery.

One of my most favorite things we've ever had in the shop. A ga ga ga ga.

Oh, and don't forget: We always rock a pretty fresh sale section, including these, a kickass set of grillin' skewers ... Did somebody say "Father's Day deal?"

Happy weekend!

2010-05-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

Photo via Sleeveface, which is hilarious ... check it out.

'Allo. Got any big plans for the weekend? I think Ron and I are going to see a movie tonight. Then tomorrow, I'm heading out to the Kalkabin for a second annual girls' weekend that, sadly, I can only take partial part in due to the fact that I'm so preggers. Sigh. Oh well, at least I can go and pig out on some cabin food for a few hours before waddling back to the Bargalow. :)

See y'all on Monday and until then, here are some sweet finds from around the web:

10 Tips for taking better photographs of your child (or pet, or friend, or whatever)

Vintage fabric bike seat covers? I think I'm in love.

Love this simple, comfy Chicago apartment.

Loose leaf paper tees!

Advice from a 1949 Singer sewing manual

Pretty, striped oven glove

A heartbreaking look at 100 abandoned houses in Detroit

Free, oversized ruffle tote pattern!

Book a room at the Pantone Hotel

Kids with their stuffed animals. So cute.

'Round here

2010-05-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

Things are in full swing. We've had beautiful and unseasonably warm weather up here, the lilacs are bloomin' and I'm about to pop. Our due date is June 8th, so technically, our little one is now full-term and could come any day now. As a result, I'm starting to feel supremely pregnant, which is causing a final push of productivity before the baby's born and, conversely, the constant desire to lay on the couch. As you can imagine, this is a little frustrating, but I am not without projects that marry those two things. Take, for example the picture below:

Recently, when cleaning out the basement for our yard sale, I found an old store of fabric and embroidery pieces I'd done about five years ago. Not one to let anything go unused and knowing that I had a stockpile of pastel fabrics to complement the old stash, I decided to make a quilt ... a quilt that isn't perfect by any means (there are a couple real crazy mistakes here and there) but all in all, I'm quite happy with. It was actually supposed to be the baby and my outdoor blanket, but after putting so many hours of work into it, I've decided to use another blanket for the outdoors and keep this one in.

Other than that, I've been campaigning for vendors for the first annual Traverse City Makers Market, an indie craft fair I'm co-spearheading. We need applications, so if you're reading this, are a crafter and live nearby, or just want to come to a beautiful resort town on what is essentially a freshwater ocean for a weekend in September and make some money too, consider applying. You can find the application and further information here. Or fan us on facebook for updates!

And I guess that's it, my friends. To stay true to my blogging vow made earlier this week, I'm off to compile my list of favorite internet finds and perhaps, if I feel there's room enough in my torso, have lunch.

Recipe Wednesday: Redskin potato salad

2010-05-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! Finally warm enough to fire up the grill and eat on the patio with a plate balanced in your lap and a cold beer by your side. Ron and I love summer cooking, and throughout the course of this season, I'm really looking forward to sharing some of our favorite warm weather dishes. Let's start with an American classic: potato salad.

Though I've always liked potato salad, I have an utter distaste for mayonnaise. I think I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: to me, mayonnaise is gloopy, eggy and weird unless blended with other ingredients. Enter my Aunt Deb's potato salad ... the perfect savory accompaniment to anything you can throw on the grill (even fish) and good enough to eat all on its own. For reals ... I've done it.

I'm sharing with you my aunt's official recipe which, you can see, is not exactly exact. So I'm also sharing my tips (which you can take or leave, of course).

REDSKIN POTATO SALAD

Boiled redskin potatoes, skins on
Crisp bacon, crumbled
Green onions, chopped
Mayonnaise
Spicy mustard

Mix all ingredients except mustard. Add a little bit of mustard at a time to taste.

MY TIPS:
• Only use enough mayo to kind of moisten the potatoes. The starch from them will blend with the mayo to make a sort of adhesive paste that holds the salad together beautifully. Mmmm ... adhesive paste.
• In regard to the other ingredients, take it slow. Because they're magic together, ideally you don't want any one flavor dominating. I strongly encourage tasting along the way to make sure you get it just how you want it.
• Let the salad sit for a while in the fridge before serving. The flavors will meld and the potatoes will get that awesome, boiled-then-chilled flavor.

And there you have it. Fire up the grill, mix up a batch of tater salad and get to relaxin', dudes. It's about time.

Etsy (belated) Tuesday: Bird Brain

2010-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hello hello. Welp, it's Etsy belated Tuesday, otherwise known as Wednesday. ;) These past few weeks, I've been enjoying the birds in our yard (the hopping Robins, the waddling Starlings and the squawking Blue Jays), so I thought I'd compile a little montage of some sweet Etsy bird finds. Enjoy!

1. Mohawk birds print by charmaineolivia
2. Fabric bird sculpture by abigailbrown
3. Love birds hair comb from simplymetal
4. Bird science tee by CritterJitters
5. Ivory earrings from ShadowsPerch

New in the Shop

2010-05-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

I'm back for reals, y'all. And until I have this baby, am going to do my damnedest to keep a regular blogging schedule. In all honesty, I had no idea preparing for a baby and transforming our tiny house into a tiny house with a nursery would be so much work. Again, sincere apologies. But for now I think we're caught up. At least we have everything done except installing the car seats packing a bag for the hospital. Soooo, I'm finally feeling like I can get back to normal life before life turns anything but normal … let's be normal together, shall we?

The shop is currently being stocked with a couple weeks' worth of finds, though Etsy's photo uploading is sloooow this afternoon. Stop on by for a peek at these adorable treasures, as well as a few others. Oh, and more's coming later in the week, too, so why not visit us again soon?

A very polite mail and key rack

A pretty Oriole vase

A vintage, yet modern napkin/letter holder

Craigslist trayshures

2010-05-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here they are, what we're selling on Craigslist:

As you can see, we have a couple fabulous pieces up for sale. The first is a formica table that's been with me for quite some time. The second is a sleigh bed gifted to me by my parents a few years ago.

So if you're in the Traverse City, MI area and looking for furniture or know someone who is, pass these listings along! You'll be helping us rid our basement of them which, in turn will give us more room upstairs.

Making room for baby and all that. ;)

Pardon my absence

2010-05-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. I am so so sorry for my lax blogging! We had a big yard sale this weekend, which we ended up extending to a second day due to gross weather the first. Plus, we still have a few pieces of large furniture hanging out in our living room that we need to do something with and technically, I could go into labor any time now. Needless to say, though the blog is not the last thing from my mind, it's not at the forefront of my thoughts. So my sincere apologies. I'll post our craigslist furniture as soon as it goes up and, hopefully, be back to blogging full force tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the photos, the first taken from the sale, the second taken from the beach in Glen Arbor, MI, which I snapped while tagging along with my husband on a sales call.

'Round here

2010-05-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Well the nursery, she is finished. It took more work than I'd anticipated, but it's done and we no longer have to wonder if we'll be laying our baby amongst piles of unorganized debris and unopened baby gear. I could write all about what it took to get the job done, but why don't I just show you the end result?

1. The window and shelf, now filled with animals and books. We got that drawing at a thrift shop and the "J" was a shower gift.
2. Love Sloth, a print by Laura George
3. A vintage United States bird and flower map, an estate sale find
4. Dresser-turned-changing station, complete with my first oilcloth project: a custom-fitted changing pad and cover
5. Squirrel bookends
6. She already has a full closet. Yikes!

We've also been working on getting stuff together for our yard sale, a ginormous undertaking considering 3/4 of what's in our basement will be on our lawn bright and early tomorrow morning. More about that later. Until then, though, hope you like the nursery photos!

Recipe Wednesday: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

2010-05-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of people don't like Brussels sprouts. While I was preparing these yesterday, Ron told me that they, along with liver, share the seats for the two most hated foods in the United States. Poor Brussels sprouts. Sometimes I think people just don't give 'em a proper chance.

When I was a kid, my mom boiled then buttered and salted them generously. And though it may have been the pool of butter and salt that lured me to Brussels sprouts in the first place, it was their bittersweet nuttiness that kept me coming back for more.

So perhaps it's been a while. Perhaps you haven't tried them since you were a kid. Or perhaps you've had them prepared in a humdrum, boring manner that made them taste and smell like stinky feet. But I beg of you, give them another chance using the following recipe. Who knows? It may be your first step on a long and winding journey with one of the country's most shunned vegetables.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and yellow leaves removed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400º.

Place trimmed Brussels sprouts, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and stir to coat. Pour onto a baking sheet or into a glass or metal pan. Place on center oven rack.

Roast for 30 to 45 minutes, turning every 10 minutes for even browning. Brussels sprouts should be darkest brown with bits of black when done. Serve immediately.

And that's all there is to it. I could eat a whole pan full of them. I've always wanted to have them cold tossed in vinaigrette too, but they never make it to the leftover state. Perhaps you're stronger than I. ;)

Etsy Tuesday: Organic brights

2010-05-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

We've been shopping a lot lately. Apparently, being on the brink of having a baby sends you to the store for things you never knew you needed. I've always been a semi-earth-conscious person, but being pregnant and choosing things for a brand new little person has sent me into an eco-frenzy. That being said, I came across these vibrant goodies while shopping for organic cotton baby products the other day. Thought I'd share. :)

1. Hoodie wrap by econica
2. Ringo the Purple Octopus, a Zady® Creature by Zadyball
3. Tote bag by treacle toffee
4. Birdhouse gourd pillow by willywaw
5. Crocheted bangles by bubolina

New in the Shop

2010-05-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. Did you have a good weekend? We sure did. We headed down to my in-laws' for our second baby shower. It was awesome. Not only did we get to spend time with lots of friends from the lower half of the state, but we got a lot of great gifts, too! Again, I feel so thankful that we have such wonderful people in our lives. Our little bean has a lot of love and fun to look forward to.

I mentioned last week that I got the chance to list a couple things in the shop in the midst of the madness around here. You can expect a few more this week, but for now, here are a few new treasures:

Chippy blocks for playing or making.

A sweet little nursery rhyme lamp base.

A New England Village to cut out and assemble.

Oh, and I also added these gems to the sale section (as well as a few more goodies), so if you haven't been over there lately, check it out!

Happy Weekend!

2010-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hey friends. Sorry I've been slacking these past couple days. We've been organizing, renovating the nursery, getting ready for a baby shower this weekend (and the imminent onslaught of goodies) and prepping for a yard sale next weekend. Needless to say, things have been a little hairy.

I did find the time to list a few new things over at The Best Things yesterday (though not as much as I would've liked). I also made a pad and cover for our dresser-turned-changing table and managed to finally get a gift for one of my also-pregnant friends (I have two right now) sewn.

Usually, I would've posted pictures of said projects and had a list of weekend finds ready for you, but I just ran out of time this week. Soooo, I leave you with this cute baby porcupine photo from Sharon Montrose and beg for your forgiveness ... or at least your patience until I have free moments to post again.

Until then, enjoy your weekend!

Recipe Wednesday: Spinach and Artichoke Pie

2010-04-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, I've always had vegetarian leanings, but the pregnancy has definitely enhanced them. Something about meaty meat just doesn't rev me up like it once did. That being said, recently more than ever, I've been on the hunt for tasty vegetarian entrees that both Ron and I can gobble up. Enter the following recipe, passed to me by a friend via her friend, the talented (and generous) Angela Allen.

This pie is so very good ... sort of like greek spinach pie with a little extra kick from the artichokes. I made some tomato bisque to accompany it the other night, and we kinda pigged out. Then we talked about how good it was. Then we talked about how excited we were to eat the leftovers. Basically, in this house, we are in love with this pie.

SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE PIE

9 inch pie crust (homemade or storebought)
3 eggs
1 lb. spinach (fresh or frozen), steamed, squeezed, drained and chopped
1 can of artichoke hearts, cut into quarters or smaller
1 cup feta, crumbled
1/4 cup dill, chopped (I used dried, but fresh would've been admittedly more scrumptious)
2 or 3 green onions, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkling of parmesan, asiago, or other cheese for top

Pre-heat oven to 375º.

Prepare the pie crust. Set aside.

Lightly beat 3 eggs in a large mixing bowl.

Mix the spinach, artichokes, feta, dill, green onions, salt and pepper into the bowl with the eggs.

Put the whole mixture in the pie crust and pat evenly to level out. Lightly sprinkle the pie with the cheese. Bake until golden brown on top, about 40-45 minutes.

And that's it, my friends. If you buy storebought crust, this pie is super easy to throw together and is pretty impressive. It would make an awesome brunch dish or, like us, you could just devour it in the privacy of your own home. Bon Appétit, and thanks again for sharing, Angela!

Etsy Tuesday: How does your garden grow?

2010-04-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Though we planted a few things last year, it seems we also neglected our yard enough to be looking at some semi-intense recovery efforts. Oh well ... there's something cathartic about pulling weeds, I think, and I've been itchin' to spend more time in the backyard.

Perhaps you're in the gardening mood as well? If so, why not consider a few of these clever gardening accoutrements?

1. Apron from KjonesStudio
2. Vintage gardening caddy from RobertaGrove
3. Gardener's Cream Wax by missballantyne
4. Vintage watering can from lisabretrostyle2
5. Straw hat from GottaWannitVintage on Etsy
6. Antique spoon garden markers by Hammermann (this set just sold out, but there are many more markers available in the shop)

New in the shop

2010-04-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

As you know, we're trying to clean house to make room for our little nugget, so though many more listings are on their to The Best Things in the near future, my recent time has been spent sorting and organizing and figuring out what's what around here. My apologies. Do stay tuned for more very soon.

Though I haven't been listing vintage treasures as of late, I did find time to list a couple more animals at kngo. Minis are $10, large are $18. I think they're really cute ... perhaps you do, too?

Oh, and don't forget! Until May 1st, we're having a Making Room for Baby Sale—get 50% off any one item (the priciest you're purchasing) when you type "TWEETFACE" in the message to seller window at checkout. It's a super deal and it's only being offered until the end of the week, so get on over to the shop and check it out!

Que Jimenez bags

2010-04-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Aren't these bags from Que Jimenez Bags awesome? I love how artist Kiandra Jimenez pairs traditional shapes with bright, candy-colored finishes. You can get the bags imprinted with anything you'd like (as long as it's not negative). Plus, the company is eco-, animal-, and material conscious. Very cool.

Clean us out!

2010-04-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Upon delving into the infinite task that is organizing this little house, it's become apparent that we need more space for our little bambino and all her gear! We've got a shower to go to next weekend, which means we'll be bringing more of said gear in. Won't you help us make room for our little bundle and her accoutrements?

Sale's on until May 1st ... all you need to do is type "TWEETFACE" into the "Message to Seller" window at checkout for a 50% refund on the most pricey item you purchase (including already discounted items in the sale section)! It's a serious deal for serious times, my friends, so head on over to The Best Things and take advantage!

Happy Weekend!

2010-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Image via we heart it

Hey everyone! Got any big plans for the weekend? We'll be laying low, but my father-in-law is so graciously coming up north to help us install a larger nursery window. Right now, should a fire occur, both windows are only big enough to toss a baby through, which is no good. Ideally, we'd like one big enough for an adult to climb through should (god forbid) the need arise. Nesting, nesting.

Speaking of which, I plan to sew and organize my heart out for the next couple days. On the docket: a baby gift for an also pregnant friend and curtains for the nursery.

Oh, on a sidenote: Have you tried Space Bags®? I am in love. We packed all our winter linens, winter clothes, and future baby clothes into four, tightly sealed bags that I feel comfortable storing in our musty basement. Plus, sucking the air of the bag and your stuff until all that's left is a dense fabric mass is pretty fun.

I'll be back on Monday, a more organized and accomplished lady. Until then, won't you enjoy these sweet finds from around the web?

This is everywhere in the blogosphere, but I have to mention it, too. Check out this non-weddingy courthouse wedding.

House within a house

You're the only one who's ever thought of doing that. ;)

This house reminds me of the Kalkabin, which was also once a pole building.

Top 100 baby names of 2010 (so far)

Grecian tunic top tutorial

Food photography tips

Sculptures made of cake. Mmmm cake.

Send someone a bear hug

Make and record music by clicking raindrops

Gorgeous, organic rings

'Round here

2010-04-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hello hello! It's a beautiful Thursday here in beautiful Traverse City and, as is the usual these days, I'm contemplating motherhood. I'm getting bigger each day and my belly changed shape (see left), which means the baby's in position for eventual birth. As you can imagine, for a first-timer like me, this is mostly awesome but somewhat terrifying. I still can't believe the little squirmy meatloaf in my stomach has to come out one way or another, though I am getting more used to the idea.

In other mom news: Last week I noticed a Robin couple trying out an already-built nest in the tree out our living room window and I'm happy to report they've moved in. When I pull up the shade in the morning, I'm either greeted by the top of the mama's head (one leering eye and an orange beak) or what you see above: a pert tail protruding from what I can only imagine is a snuggled in Ms. Bird. I really like her— the way she wiggles as she nestles in, her suspicion of me, and her commitment. I can't imagine sitting there for hours at a time with nothing to do but make sure you or your unhatched babes don't meet an untimely end. Bo-ring. At least I get to do stuff while our little one incubates.

Speaking of which, I completed my little play mat! It was my first attempt at quilting and, I must say, I found it surprisingly less intimidating than I had imagined it would be. For some reason, I thought I'd wind up with bloody fingers and a deep hatred of geometry by the time I was finished, but the actuality was quite the contrary. I mapped it out and made it relatively quickly and, for the most part, am pretty happy with the result. I was so enamored with the whole process that I've started cutting 4" x 4" squares out of scraps to eventually make a crazy quilt.

I've also been cleaning out our closets to make room for baby gear and rehabbing some treasures for the nursery. This adorable bear bank, for example, had a pretty hideous paint job, but he's now primed and ready for a nice coat of bright red acrylic and a home on the baby's shelf.

Overall, there's just a lot of nesting going on around here. I'll continue to make things and move stuff around until it's all just right and my neighbor, Ms. Robin, will sit and sit. Eventually we'll have babies to show for all of it, but for now, we bide our time.

Recipe Wednesday: Rosemary Chicken Salad

2010-04-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

The print above is available for purchase at Atelier Eva Juliet

Sometimes I think I'm so wrapped up in trying new culinary treats that I forget to revisit the old classics. We had chicken salad sandwiches at my baby shower this weekend and I was like, "Oh yeah, chicken salad! Hello, old friend."

Normally, I'm not a huge fan of mayonnaise, but chicken salad doesn't have to be mayonnaisey. In fact, I have a recipe that only calls for a wee bit o' mayo, features fresh rosemary and smoked almonds and is freakin' delicious. I like to put it on soft, bakery buns, but it'd be delicious on croissants, in pita or on a bed of lettuce. It's chicken salad ... you know what to do with it.

ROSEMARY CHICKEN SALAD

3 c. chopped chicken
1/3 c. green onions
1/4 c. chopped, smoked almonds (roasted and salted also work)
1/4 c. plain, fat-free yogurt
1/4 c. light mayo (you can of course use full-fat, if you like)
1 tsp. chopped, fresh rosemary
1 tsp. Dijon mustard (brown also works)
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve.

And that's that my friends. I liked my chicken salad at the shower so much that we made this on Monday night and I ate two sandwiches for dinner and one for lunch on Tuesday. Yum.

Etsy Tuesday: Vintage Picnic

2010-04-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's gorgeous out there. Perfect weather for a sweatered picnic and a nap in the sun. Here are some sweet vintage finds for your lazy spring afternoons:

1. Sunglasses from VintageTreasureShop
2. Vintage patchwork quilt from NeverTooOld
3. Picnic basket from sixpenceblueoon
4. Compact camping utensils from SunnyDayVintage
5. Faux bois thermos set from AttysVintage
6. Picnic plates from pinkshirtsncarwrecks

Garlands of Grace

2010-04-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't this headband from Garlands of Grace pretty? They're stretchy and come in a bunch of colors, too. Poifect for summer, methinks.

New in the Shop

2010-04-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Did you have a good weekend? I sure did. My aunt and cousins threw me the most wonderful baby shower with great company, great food, a belly cake with a baby in it, and lots and lots of awesome gifts. I feel much more prepared for our bambino's arrival and truly appreciative for all the wonderful people in my life. Our little one certainly has a lot of good times and support to look forward to. Now if she could just get here, already. ;)

Like mentioned in my previous post, I've been running around trying to catch up from the busy weekend, so haven't had a ton of time to pay attention to the shop, though I do feel like I should point out a few choice items listed there right now. Above is the neon afghan, which I find awesome on a number of levels.

Also, it's an attack of the animal lights! I came across the doe and fawn and silly frog last week and just had to have them. Maybe you do, too?

Butt Machine

2010-04-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

I'm catching up from a wonderful, busy weekend today and unable to post new stuff until a bit later. In the meantime, won't you enjoy a video by That One Guy, featuring his international smash hit, "Butt Machine"?

Be back soon!

Happy Weekend!

2010-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hey hey. Have any special plans for the weekend? We have friends and family up from downstate and my lovely aunt and cousins are throwing us a baby shower! I'm so excited——of course because we don't have much by way of baby gear, but mostly because it's one of those occasions where a bunch of people I really like will be in the same place.

Have you ever registered for a baby shower? It's tough. Because, like I mentioned, we don't have much gear, we registered for a bunch of necessities, but we also registered for some (ahem) extras. Take, for example, the bunting set pictured at left. You probably can't see that the hat says "TOP BANANA" but you can take my word for it. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

And with that, I better scoot. My mom's staying with us over the weekend and I've yet to clean. See y'all on Monday, and in the meantime, here's a list of my favorite finds from around the web this week:

Art History in 3 word sentences

Kitty leg warmers

Gorgeous art deco-ish tiles

Design your own Keds

Modernist dollhouses and miniatures!

Pretty Recycled upside-down planters

I dig these custom, hand-lettered shop signs.

Bubo love

I love this childrens book illustration flickr pool. So inspiring!

Concrete bedsheets

Is it just me, or is it really easy to make a baby hilarious just by dressing them (see photo above for further reference)?

I will always love you ...

2010-04-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

"The large print giveth, but the small print taketh away." —Tom Waits

Saw this quote today and remembered my fondness for this gentleman. Sigh.

'Round here

2010-04-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello folks. It is simply beautiful here today: unseasonably warm (80º!), sunny and breezy. Ron's on his way home after a particularly long stint away, all the windows are open, the animals are lazing around in the sun, and I'm wearing my flippy floppies and listening to oldies (Don't Stop Believin' by Journey is on right now ... hells yeah). It's a good day.

In fact, as I type this, fabrics are in the washing machine and cotton batting is presoaking the bathtub for (drumroll) my first quilt! The baby needs a play mat, and everything I've seen just isn't quite right, so I decided to bite the bullet and try one of the more intimidating projects in Simple Sewing for Baby, a book I believe I've (ahem) mentioned once or twice? I'm a little nervous, but thanks to my wonderful in-laws, was able to snag some sweet fabrics with a birthday gift card, so I'm also pretty geeked.

So off I go to retrieve my batting from the tub and throw my fabric in the dryer. Then I sew. :) Wish me luck!

Strong baby

2010-04-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

I was looking for images for our baby shower thank you cards and came across this strong baby. It doesn't quite fit the idea I had for our cards, but I couldn't let it go unseen. There's a seal in the car, for god's sake.

Recipe Wednesday: Ultimate Fruit Salad

2010-04-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

I mentioned I've been craving ice cream. One of my other constant cravings: Fruit. I can't get enough. Sooo, I thought I'd share my recipe for Ultimate Fruit Salad with y'all. There's not much to it, just a basic chop and mix, but the combo of all these tart and sweet fruits with sour lime juice and mint knocks my socks off every time.

Here's the list of master ingredients, which I mix and match depending on what's in season and cheap, though the mint and lime are necessaries:

Mango
Strawberries
Nectarines
Blueberries
Watermelon
Lime
Mint

I like to chop my fruit into large pieces, roughly chop the mint, then squeeze the lime over everything and stir, but as is the case with any fruit salad, it's not an exact science, so if you like your mint and/or fruit in smaller bits, by all means, go for it.

Ron likes to put honey in his fruit salads, which I'm not necessarily opposed to, but I think the fruit's sweet enough. Another thing you might want to try: fresh mozzarella (I like the minis). I strongly recommend this, especially if you're bringing this salad to a party. It makes a gorgeous dish on a potluck table. :)

And that's all there is to it, my friends. Hope you like it as much as I (and the baby) do!

Etsy Tuesday: Ice cream stands

2010-04-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

This week's Etsy Tuesday is inspired by our local ice cream stands, Bardon's Wonder Freeze (on the East side) and Dairy Lodge (on the West). They are both open for the season and I couldn't be happier. You see, our baby is making me crave ice cream, and nothing satisfies me like a cherry dipped vanilla cone, to be gotten only at the brightly painted, sticky-sidewalked ice cream stands on our city's urban corners.

I know. There's nothing more cliché than a pregnant lady and her ice cream, but who am I to ignore the little meatloaf growing inside me? Maybe next time, I'll even waddle up to the counter while clutching my back ... why fight it?

1. Ice cream print by CassiaBeck
2. Belly dance sandals from bellacaribe
3. Vintage sunglasses from philopatry
4. Sherbet dress from thebestthings
5. Wild Rose Lip Balm from phoenixbotanicals
6. Petal Wristlet Bag by stacyleigh

Talking creatures listed for purchase!

2010-04-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to announce that after much finagling with wood hoops and debating over how to mount and photograph these cuties, a few members of my animal embroidery series are up on kngo. To come: More in the 7" series and some 4" minis like an earthworm, clam and ladybug. Hope you like them as much as I do! Stay tuned for more. :)

Cool coasters

2010-04-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

I was doing a little vintage recon and came across these awesome vintage coaster sets from PortugueseVintage. They are awesome, no?

That's craftastic!

2010-04-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Did you have a good weekend? We certainly did. The cabin was as it always is ... relaxing and rejuvenating. Even Linden seems more himself there. Now if we could just manage to get there more often ...

Because we were away for the weekend, I didn't have the much-needed time to get more treasures listed in the shop. In fact, I've been what I believe to be pretty lax when it comes to the shop lately. Though I have an excuse, I do apologize. Look for more stuff in the shop this week for sure. Seriously.

In the meantime, though, I want to share what I've been working on and am so excited about! I've teamed up with Jenn Price of Bound To Be Heard Productions and will be coordinating the first ever Traverse City Makers Market ... a one-day, juried, indie craft show in my hometown! This is seriously exciting on a number of levels, but I'll try to curb my enthusiasm somewhat. I'm just thrilled to be contributing to Traverse City's entertainment landscape and happy that our little town, full of interested and interesting people, is catching up to more metropolitan areas culturally.

The show is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on September 18, 2010 and the deadline for applications is July 1st. If you'd like to participate or can think of someone who might, please apply or pass on the application and fan us on facebook. :)

Long live handmade!

Happy Weekend!

2010-04-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! Have any big plans for the weekend? We're packing up the pooch and heading to the Kalkabin for a sort of birthday weekend. Food will be eaten, games will be played, crafts will be made, friends will be chatted with and relaxing will be done. I can't wait.

Nevermind that there's snow on the ground this morning! Chilly weather will not deter us. I must saunter off to pack, but I'll see y'all on Monday. In the meantime, here are a few sweet finds from around the web:

A surfing alpaca. Seriously.

I'm totally making this recycled T-shirt grocery bag.

Perhaps this plate would help finicky eaters enjoy their veggies.

This swimsuit will do just fine, thank you.

Bake donut muffins.

Spell it out with golden balloon letters.

These real people painted to look like paintings are awesome.

You can see something womderful from the elephant!

Pink deviled eggs? You betcha.

A super sweet wedding photobooth wall.

Mudpuppy Ceramics

2010-04-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

I love these beautiful, organic pieces from Mudpuppy Ceramics on Etsy, especially the moon chimes! Don't they just put you in the mood for lazy summer afternoons? Yeah, me too.

Recipe Wednesday: German Chocolate Cake

2010-04-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

Image via A PRINT A DAY

'Tis my birthday. That being said, I'm trying to only do the stuff I want to do today. And though I enjoy cooking and baking, I would rather not spend my day in the kitchen, cooking up a treat for Recipe Wednesday. Sooo, I thought I'd share one of my favorite cake recipes, the original German Chocolate Cake recipe, taken straight from the box of Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate.

Did you know the recipe for German Chocolate Cake first appeared in a Dallas newspaper in 1957? It was sent in by an anonymous homemaker and named after the chocolate it uses (which was developed in 1852 by Sam German for Baker's). Who knew this iconic dessert had such an ethereal (and recent) past? I certainly didn't, though I did know that this cake, stuck with pastel birthday candles and carried carefully from kitchen counter to dinner table, has been a staple of my family's birthday celebrations for as long as I can remember.

So though I'm not testing this recipe this particular Wednesday, I've eaten this cake many many times and can tell you, it's as delicious after present opening as it is for breakfast the next morning.

What? ;)

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

CAKE INGREDIENTS
1 pkg. Baker's German’s Sweet Chocolate (4 oz.)
1/2 cup water, boiling
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour, all-purpose
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup buttermilk
Coconut-pecan frosting

FILLING INGREDIENTS
4 egg yolks
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 pkg. (7 oz.) shredded coconut
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans

MAKE THE CAKE
Preheat oven to 350º. Line 3 9-inch round layer baking pans that you've lined on the bottom with waxed paper (my mom traces her pans and cuts out the rounds, which is a good idea, methinks).

Melt chocolate in water and cool. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolks. Stir in vanilla and melted chocolate.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, soda and salt (I like to sift together). Beat the flour mixture into the wet ingredients in the other bowl a little at a time, alternating with buttermilk.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Pour batter into the three prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly pressed in the center. Let cool 15 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.

MAKE THE FILLING
Beat egg yolks, milk and vanilla in large saucepan with wire whisk until well blended. Add sugar and butter. Cook on medium heat 12 min. or until thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Add coconut and pecans and mix well. Cool to room temperature and of desired spreading consistency.

ASSEMBLE THE CAKE
Divide the filling in even thirds. Put the first layer of cake down, then spread one third of filling evenly on top. Repeat with remaining layers

And there you have it, friends: A good cake for special days. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to birthday it up. A happy day to you all!

A birthday wish list

2010-04-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Me, 30 years old, with last year's birthday gift in hand

It's my birthday tomorrow. I will be (eep) 31 years old. What the frig? I'm not even sure if I've figured out how to be 30 yet, and here I am, hurtling towards the next year.

Ron and I don't have anything over-the-top planned, but we'll go out for a shmancy dinner on one of the peninsulas (Old Mission or Leelanau) we're fortunate enough to live between. I might even order lobster.

Oh, and just for fun (which it was ... I haven't made a wish list in a looong time), I drew up this short list of little things I've been wanting but, with the baby on the way, feel too guilty buying for myself:

1. Chuck Taylors
2. Sage Burrow Rucksack
3. Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing
4. Pretty perfume oil

I think Ron got me the book; He was acting nervous when I was looking at Amazon yesterday. Crossing my fingers ...

Etsy Tuesday: Spring Walks

2010-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Spring has officially sprung in northern Michigan, and Ron and I have been walking Linden in the evenings. It's not super warm yet, so we bundle up a little bit. And sometimes (like the time we walked along the bay), we take hot cups of coffee for extra warmth.

Strolling our streets makes me feel so much more connected to our little city, and it seems Ron and I always talk about bigger, grander, happier things when we're out in the fresh air.

In fact, I've been so inspired by our family walks that I thought I'd dedicate this week's Etsy collage to them. I threw in a little gear and a couple spring icons. Hope you like!

1. Grey windbreaker from tinygirl
2. Spring leaf earrings by mottedesign
3. Wrist zips from Foliage
4. Bird dish by personalizedceramics
5. Ballet flats from The Generation
6. Granny cowl by kngo

Thief & Bandit

2010-04-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Have you been over to Thief & Bandit on Etsy? They have adorable tops and accessories over there. For example ...

New in the Shop

2010-04-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hello hello! Did you have a good weekend? We certainly did.

Because I was away for the weekend, my new items this week are less and a week old, but if you haven't been by the shop in a while, they're new to you, right?

A giant fork. For big appetites (and big senses of humor).

A faux bois tin.

Happy Weekend!

2010-04-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy Origami Roman

Hello and happy weekend! Do you have any big plans? We're packing up the dog and heading to Ron's parents' for an overdue visit and some hang time with friends. I'm geeked.

Actually, I better get to packin' right away. See y'all on Monday, and in the meantime, here are some sweet finds from around the web:

Make some felted Easter eggs

Eat some hot crossed buns

Perhaps the cutest kids tee of all time

Did you know elephants are really afraid of mice?

A pencil set for the smart set

Obsolete jobs from the good old days

I'm not a girly girl, but if I were, I would require this duvet cover.

This quote from Clients From Hell makes me laugh out loud.

One for every dog I know, please.

A printed toast to my hometown

Things I love: Waechtersbach mugs

2010-04-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Waechtersbach pottery, most famous for their deep, red glaze, has been around for more than 175 years. We can thank them for the now traditional "can" mug shape. We can also thank them for decorating that can shape with some bold, kickass vintage graphics, a few of which are pictured above (heart via DoNotDestroy, apple via piratesb00ty, giraffes via VintageVeritas).

If you're interested in learning more about Waechtersbach and perusing their modern selection, visit their home page.

'Round here

2010-04-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Not much is really new around here, but at the same time, it feels like everything's new. Like a typical preggo, I've had trouble sleeping as of late, but it's not so bad. We've had unseasonably warm weather, so getting up extra early is kind of a treat. I feel like I'm really squeezing the good times out of these beautiful days ... and in flippy floppies no less. This morning, I made my first batch of sweet tea for the year ... and it's only April! Things are good.

On the work front, I'm just chugging along as usual. Finding treasures, listing stuff, making stuff, listing stuff, etc. I finally got around to buying mounting supplies for my series of embroidered talking animals, so those will be up in kngo very soon. The donkey above is my favorite ... I might have a hard time letting him go. ;)

Oh, and I thought you might want to see a sampling of my recent sewing projects. All are from patterns found in Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter (which I can't say enough good things about) and made from my old clothes (the pants and red hat were once shirts ... the plaid hat was a skirt).

So that's the skinny, my friends. I'm looking forward to making potato print onesies this afternoon and taking the dog for a walk. Like I said, things are good.

Bags by Stacy Leigh

2010-04-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Stacy Leigh's Etsy shop yesterday and was struck with wonder at her gorgeous creations. Head on over for a dose of organic, modern, sensuous and chic bags in natural and vibrantly colored leathers.

Recipe Wednesday: Icelandic Christmas Cake

2010-03-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ron (my hubs) is a food broker, and part of his job is giving out samples of the food he represents to potential clients. He was talking about baking muffins and quick breads to give out and I was reminded that I've been sitting on the following recipe for Icelandic Christmas cake for months! I don't know about you, but I love cardamom, so the fact that it's technically a Christmas cake should not deter us from baking it in April, right? The original recipe calls for regular raisins, but I used golden raisins 'cause Ron and I like them more for their brighter flavor. A couple other things you might want to try: different dried fruits or lemon/orange zest instead of lemon extract.

ICELANDIC CHRISTMAS CAKE

1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350º. Grease an 11-inch loaf pan.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at time, beating well after each one. Stir in the milk, lemon extract and cardamom. Stir in the flour and the baking powder.

Sift a little flour over the raisins then stir them into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

The verdict: The loaf is slightly spiced, just sweet enough and would be perfect with a cup of strong coffee in the morning or some iced tea in the afternoon. It would also make a tasty cake for some kind of fruit and cream concoction or decadent french toast. You can consider all those suggestions my Icelandic Christmas gift to you. ;)

Tasty

2010-03-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this vintage silkscreen from TheWhiteMole (via Gigi @ vinta9e)! I wish I could begin every day with a slice, don't you?

Etsy Tuesday: Out of Africa

2010-03-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, I've been sewing up a storm, mostly via patterns from Lotta Jansdotter's book, Simple Sewing for Baby.

I've made scads of simple pants for both our baby-to-be and friends' babies this week, mostly because I was truly inspired by a picture in the book of a little guy in a striped shirt and pants made of African printed fabric. I just couldn't get that little pumpkin and his bright pants out of my mind! And even though I pulled apart one of my vintage tunics and made a pair for our pumpkin, I'm still hankerin' for the bold, bright abstracts of African fabric. Thus, this week's Etsy Tuesday. Enjoy!

1. Cascading feathers necklace by MamaSheaShea
2. Pillow by Kilimani
3. Cotton fabric from ladyfingahs
4. Adama bag by outofafrika
5. Black wooden hoops by OrganicLove2
6. Bakelite bangle from baublestore

Stella McCartney for Gap Kids

2010-03-30T08:26:00.001-07:00

I cannot get over this whole line. I'm not one to drop $50 on a baby shirt, but let me tell you, Stella is tempting me.

Vintage swimming trunks

2010-03-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Just ran across these vintage french swimming trunks at one of my fave vintage shops, tippleandsnack. Aren't they the cutest?

New in the Shop!

2010-03-29T13:20:00.001-07:00

Hello friends! Did you have a good weekend? I did. I sewed 4 pairs of pants, 3 hats and a dress. I was a sewing for baby machine! Fortunately, between all that stitching, I was also able to get my shiznit together and take some shop photos, and below you will find just a few of the new gems that are/will be available in the shop this week:

A sweet little enamel pot, perfect for sugar or jewelry. :)

A ceramic swan with sparkly eyes. Mesmerizing!

A sweet letter holder bedecked with a proper little madame. Tres chic!

Stop on by the shop and check 'em out. And stay tuned for more sweet treasures coming within the next couple days. :)

Happy Weekend!

2010-03-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Image via Vintage Printable

Hello friends! Have any big plans this weekend? I'm meeting with a friend about starting an indie craft fair in Traverse City (it's time, methinks), working on the shop, sewing my face off and relaxing. As I mentioned before, Ron's been traveling a lot, but he's done for a while, so I'm actually looking forward to the end of the weekend, when I can enjoy knowing he'll be sticking around through the week.

See y'all on Monday. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite things from around the interweb this week:

I can't get enough of this food blog

When it comes to displaying children's art, why mess around with frames?

Cute banners!

This email from a daughter to her mom makes me laugh out loud

A DIY version of Design Within Reach's shoe rack for small spaces. So clever.

A beautiful paint-by-number wall mural

Did you know the New York Public Library has a digital gallery?

A travel-themed printable CD case … perfect for summer road trips

I vant this clock. Bad.

A cheap, clever way to organize all those cords

'Round here

2010-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

It's a chilly day here in Northern Michigan, but I am undaunted. Ron is home from his last business trip for a while, and I'm on fire productivity-wise. Last night, I sewed a cover for a blanket I just can't get rid of because it's the perfect weight, I've switched all my winter clothes with summer clothes, and I've started to repair a pile of vintage clothes I've been meaning to attend to for quite some time. Also, I picked this up at the bookstore today:

It's Lotta Jandsdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby, and I'm wondering how I didn't know it existed! I've been accumulating vintage fabric since I started my sewing class in February and with what I've gathered, I'm going to make at least half of the projects in this gem. It just may become my baby/toddler sewing bible. Man, am I pumped!

Oh, and as if that isn't enough excitement for one day, I am making these Benne Wafers tonight, which I suspect are a close cousin to my favorite sesame cookies from our corner bakery.

Other than that, it's business as usual around the Bargalow. Earlier, I had a delicious ladies' lunch with my friends Psaira and Amy and their beautiful daughters Lula Mae and Lily (respectively). We were also accompanied by the "bush baby" below and a menagerie of plastic animals. In case you can't tell from the photo, that bush baby is wearing two glittery plastic necklaces. Bling.

And with that, I must sign off. My sesame cookies are begging to be baked and I have some goodies to ship out. Until tomorrow!

Recipe Wednesday: Bacon Tomatillo Breakfast Casserole

2010-03-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

I used to work at a magazine with a bunch of really nice people. As it happened to turn out, two of those really nice people (Diane of dwelement and Troy of strong odors) ended up leaving the magazine around the same time I did. We all left to go indie which, as you might know, can be a little frightening. So to help make the transition a little easier, we started meeting semi-regularly for what we call R&D (research & development). Usually held in the morning, it's a time for us to talk about our current and upcoming projects, exchange concerns and ideas, and just shoot the breeze. It's also a time for us to eat delicious breakfast foods.

Welp, this week it was my turn to host, and not wanting to slouch in the brekkie doo department, I did me a little research. Initially, I planned on making scrambled eggs with tomatillos from SimplyRecipes.com (my new food blog obsession), but considering a number of circumstances, decided to morph most of those ingredients into an easy to make, bake and serve casserole that, I must say, was a suprisingly smashing success. Sometimes my food "intuition" is overreaching and fails miserably, but not this time! The smokiness of the bacon, salty cheese and tart tomatillos were perfect with the custardy, yeasty egg & bread mixture. Perfect for cabin, cottage or company breakfast ... highly recommended for enjoyment in PJ pants with hair askew.

BACON TOMATILLO BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

16 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
4 1/2 cups cubed bread (can be day old)
2 cups shredded queso fresco (or provolone)
10 eggs slightly beaten
4 cups 2% or whole milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Fresh ground pepper to taste
3-4 medium tomatillos, sliced
1 jalapeno (or canned/jarred equivalent), ribbed (and seeded, if you'd like your spicy stuff milder)

Place bread cubes in a well-buttered 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with cheese.

Combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, garlic powder and pepper. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle bacon, tomatillos and jalapeno on top.

At this stage, if you want to prepare ahead, you can cover and chill overnight. If baking immediately, let sit for 10 minutes before putting in the oven.

Preheat oven to 325º. Bake uncovered for about one hour. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

Serves 6-8

And that's it for this week, my friends. Hope you like it as much as we did. And now, I'm off to treasure hunt!

And the winner is ...

2010-03-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

This illustration is available for purchase from berkley illustration here

According to RANDOM.ORG, the winner of our $15 gift certificate giveaway is ... Am! Congratulations to her and a big thanks to all who entered. Keep your eyes peeled for more fun giveaways in the future. We love to host them!

Giveaway tonight!

2010-03-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: The giveaway drawing is this evening! If you haven't entered, I strongly suggest it. We only have five entrants, so you have an awesome chance of winning. Good luck!

Etsy Tuesday: Roman Holiday

2010-03-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Remember Roman Holiday? I haven't seen it in ages, but I'm longing to get out of town these days. Riding around on a Vespa with my all time crush Gregory Peck would be pretty nice. Then again, driving to Detroit with my wonderful husband would also be nice. Sigh.

So, in the spirit of travel and temporary abandon, I present this week's Etsy Tuesday: Finds for a proper Roman holiday.

1. Photograph by LJAPhotography
2.Brass Bangle from QueensCache
3. White dress from RevolvingStyles
4. Biscotti Regina Sesame cookies from marcellasbakeshop
5. Roma scarf from CassideeJane
6. Greco Roman sandals by AnaniasSandals

New in the Shop

2010-03-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Did you have a good weekend? We did. These couple months before the baby's born, I feel like we really need to squeeze in all the things we're used to doing as a married couple sans kids. So we went to Poppycock's for dinner on Friday and went to see A Single Man at The State Theater on Saturday. We also made a post-St. Patty's boiled dinner and just enjoyed each others' company.

Last week, I finally had some time to shop and list stuff in the store again, so without further adieu, I bring you a couple new treasures.

A highly stylized dog.

A stunning shell TV lamp.

A wee wooden mouse.

Happy Weekend

2010-03-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend, y'all. Got any big plans? We don't. I'd like to switch my winter clothes with my summer clothes and eat ice cream with warm applesauce on it. Other than that, I'm idea-less. Maybe some long walks and slow food? Yeah, that sounds good.

See you on Monday and, until then, here are a few of my favorite finds from around the interweb this week.

Crochetdermy, taxidermy I can get behind

These donut soaps would make an awesome host gift

What's your IKEA name?

Plant your own garden postcard

The perfect lunch box

FREE orange blossom printable notepads

Fabric storage box tutorial

Search Etsy for hundreds of finds at a time (I'm hooked)!

Can you identify all these brands based on two colors, a cropped photo and a cryptic verbal clue (we got 18/21)?

Cutest. Baby Coats. Ever.

'Round here

2010-03-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Things have been quiet around here. The baby's growing exponentially and I've started to pregnant waddle. Last night, Ron, Linden and I took a walk/waddle to our favorite takeout place in TC, the Wellington Street Market. I snapped these photos while Linden and I waited for Ron to get the goods. We then walked home and ate everything while watching Lost. Pretty much a perfect evening.

Third Drawer Down

2010-03-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Came across this sweet shop yesterday. It's stocked full of modern, clever gifts like monster temporary hand tattoos and a chocolate pie chart. It even has a couple products by Miranda July (one of my girl crushes)!

Recipe Wednesday: Applesauce

2010-03-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

In mid-December, we got our Christmas tree from a landscaping company that has a lot down our street. On that same trip, I bought a bag of assorted apples, thrilled that they were fresh and available for purchase so late in the season.

For various reasons, half of that bag has been sitting in our refrigerator since that trip. And for what I can only assume are various other reasons, they were only slightly puckery as of this morning. Sooo, in the interest of preserving our poor little apples so I don't have to feel like such a spoiled, wasteful schmuck, I decided to try and turn them into sauce this afternoon.

I found the following recipe and followed it pretty closely, though I did reduce the amount of sugar to account for the sweetness of my leftover apple varieties. If you also want to reduce sugar, you might want to consider reducing the lemon juice, too, though it's not necessary.

APPLESAUCE

3 to 4 lbs of peeled, cored, and quartered apples
4 strips of lemon peel (use a vegetable peeler to strip 4 lengths)
Juice of one lemon (about 3-4 Tbsp)
3 inches of cinnamon stick
1/4 cup of dark brown sugar
up to 1/4 cup of white sugar
1 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Put all ingredients into a large pot. Cover. Bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Remove from heat. Remove cinnamon sticks and lemon peels. Mash with potato masher.Ready to serve, either hot or refrigerated.

I couldn't resist and ate a warm bowlful (pictured). It's fantastic (bright and tartly sweet ... kinda like homemade apple pie filling) and I feel quite clever for turning my sad, mismatched apples into such a tasty treat.

The recipe suggested serving with vanilla ice cream or yogurt—both suggestions I find delightful. Oh, and did I mention it freezes well? It lasts up to one year in a cold freezer.

Sauce on, my friends!

Giveaway!

2010-03-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Surprise! Apropos of nothing, we've decided to host a giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $15 gift certificate to our shop, redeemable at any time, towards any item(s). All you need to do is head over to the shop, then post a comment on this blog post about which treasure or treasures you'd like to spend your certificate on. Make sure to also include a contact email address. I'll choose a winner via random number generator next Tuesday, March 23rd, so you have seven full days to enter. Good luck!

Etsy Tuesday: Green

2010-03-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

With St. Patty's on the horizon and full-blown Spring around the corner, I thought I'd devote this week's montage to my favorite of all colors: green. It's not a complicated concept, but it's a pretty one, don't you think?

1. Print by Matt Stephens of matteart
2. Post earrings from dandyapple
3. Chiffon dress by YongS
4. Leather messenger bag from TheLeatherStore
5. Fern fabric from FabricsOfHawaii
6. Recycled wine bottle glasses from bottlehood

Stay tuned ... I have a surprise later.

New in the Shop

2010-03-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a hairy couple of weeks, one of which I was at my parents' house for a little pre-baby R&R, the other of which I was still immersed in freelance. But I managed to find my way back to the Bargalow and get my projects off to clients, finally leaving me some much-needed time for the ol' blog. Let's get back to it, shall we?

In the midst of my travels and work, I managed to list a few treasures in the shop. Here are some of my favorites:

A pretty sundress, perfect for a breezy getaway.

A sweetly melancholy print of 50s dancers.

A pretty straw purse, great for beach to evening.

A cheeky shot glass.

Oh, and don't forget to check out the updated sale section. I just moved some cool treasures in there this morning. :)

That's it for now. Tomorrow: Etsy Tuesday and a special surprise! It feels good to be back.

'Round here

2010-02-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, in addition to The Best Things and kngo, I run a vintage bridal shop on Etsy called Beloved Vintage, where I'm dedicated to bringing my customers fabulous vintage wedding gowns and accessories for prices that won't break your wedding bank. This week, in addition to the freelance I've been occupied with, I've dedicated a lot of time to updating Beloved, where you can find the following lovely items, just to name a few:

Stop on by and have a look!

Recipe Wednesday: Casserolé

2010-02-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

The other day, I got a craving for what I've been calling black bean and rice bake for a couple years now (thank Ron for the fantastic new name). Borne out of the financial and taste bud desperation that only comes from eating takeout lunch many many days in a row at my former office, I threw together this casserole with what I had in my cupboard at the time. My intention was to reheat it several days in row, then eat it at my desk while window shopping online. Much to my surprise, I was able to do just that without getting sick of it.

Since then, I've made this casserole a few times, and unlike other leftovers that go neglected and watery in the fridge, I eat every last bite of it. There are lots of awesome things about this casserole: It's super easy, you can dump whatever you want into it, it's pretty good for you, it reheats beautifully and it can serve as either an entree or side. My leanings are vegetarian (especially since the pregnancy), so I like to eat big bowls of it by itself, but it pairs beautifully with grilled meats or eggs, too. Tonight I think we'll roll it into burritos with dollops of sour cream for burritos fantasticos!

CASSEROLÉ

28 oz. can diced tomatoes
15 oz. can black beans
4 oz. can diced green chiles
1 1/2 to 2 cups uncooked rice (not instant)
Water equivalent to the amount of rice used (ex: 2 cups rice=2 cups water)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves crushed/minced garlic
1 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend for obvious reasons)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Dump everything except the cheese (including all the juice in the cans) into a 9x13 baking dish (I use glass, but this is the type of slow-cooked dish that would be awesome in pottery/clay). Stir well.

Bake for one hour, removing from oven to stir at 30 minutes and 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Remove from over and cool a little before serving (it'll be muy caliente).

And that's all there is to it, really. It may not be the prettiest of casseroles, but man, do I love it. Hope you do, too. :)

Etsy Tuesday: Beachin'

2010-02-23T17:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for some warm weather. It was a beautiful day here in northern Michigan—a little sunny, warmish for a winter day, big flakes of snow softly falling. But when I took Linden outside to run around and let the snow fall with little settling sounds on my puffy coat, I didn't feel that sense of wonder I had in early December. In truth, I would've easily traded standing in the snowy twilight for sitting on an August beach at high noon. Sooo, to once again quell my longings with a little interweb shopping, I bring you this week's Etsy Tuesday, inspired by what could only be a perfect, imaginary day sometime in the not-too-distant future.

1. Glass floats from Catkeeper
2. Sandals from sandali
3. Vintage novel from 47thStreetSupplyCo
4. Playing cards from kayceestudios
5. Sunglasses from LoveP
6. Print by alicebgardens

New in the Shop

2010-02-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Taking a break from the freelance jobs that never end to show you what's new over at The Best Things. We've managed to unearth and list a few treasures this week including, but not limited to, the following:

Cheeky coffee mugs

A sweet little owl vase

Styley horse bookends

An awesome cookie jar

Oh, and I can't forget ... I've added a handful of great items to the sale section. Hop on over and check 'em out! There are really some good deals waiting for you. :)

Until tomorrow, friends!

Recipe Wednesday: Potato Leek Soup

2010-02-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

Me. Late again. Recipe Wednesday has bled into Thursday. Thursday morning will bleed into Thursday evening. Such is life.

Last week, my Aunt and I had a lunch date at Hanna, where we got fabulous sandwiches (mine was brie, bacon and apple ... mmmm) and hearty soup. I had a hard time deciding between their Manhattan chowder or potato leek, but since I've been craving fish, went for the chowder. Since I got pregnant, I've found that I can get fixated on foods and the only cure for these cravings is to just satisfy them. Sooo, as Ron made his way home from work last night, I called and said, "Can you bring home a crusty loaf? We're having potato leek soup tonight."

POTATO LEEK SOUP

9 medium potatoes (I used russet)
6 cups chicken broth
3 leeks, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste

Place potatoes into a large saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, saute leeks in butter until translucent. Set aside.

When potatoes are done, skin them and cut into bite sized pieces. A note about skinning potatoes: you can be as fussy about this as you want. I happen to like potato skin so I left a little on. Place potatoes into a stock pot with chicken broth and leeks. Cook over medium heat until simmering, then remove from heat and stir in milk.

Puree soup in a blender or food processor. I did this in batches and poured the puree into a large bowl while working. Again, you can blend as much as you like. I like little chunks of leek and potato, so I did a light chop, but you can make a really silky and elegant soup by completely pureeing.

Once soup is completely pureed, pour back into the stock pot and heat through over medium heat, stirring as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

And there you have it, a savory solution to yet another of my food obsessions. What I like about this soup is its simplicity, both in ingredients and in preparation. I also like that the pureed potato + milk offers a healthier alternative to the heavy cream found in most potato soups. Not that I'd turn down a bowl of creamy potato soup ...

And the winner is ...

2010-02-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

According to the random number generator at RANDOM.ORG, the winner of the $15 gift certificate redeemable at Good Vintage is ... Caroline! Congrats! And many thanks to all entrants. Stay tuned for more giveaways in the near future!

Etsy Tuesday: Travel

2010-02-16T09:49:00.001-08:00

I might've mentioned Ron got a new job. For us, this is awesome news, save for one thing: he'll be traveling. Sooo, in light of his plight (and because it's on my mind), this week's Etsy Tuesday is packed with items to make business travel a little sweeter.

1.Folding travel clock at Vintage by Lyzzie
2. Ceramic travel mug from a pieceby denise
3. Embroidered laundry travel bag from vijako
4. Lady Baltimore suitcase from moxiethrift
5. Recycled map stationery from dote

Free fonts that aren't weird

2010-02-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon WDL via How About Orange and emailed a friend their list of free twitter backgrounds and website patterns. He then emailed me this, their big list of free fonts that professionals can use without shame (Thanks, Andy!). I've included just a few gems from the list, but believe you me, there are many more to choose from. Enjoy!

'Round here

2010-02-15T04:09:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Well, sort of. Mostly back. Still chugging away at freelance but a little more available this week. I'm hoping to sneak in a few TBT listings and blog posts between listings.

I thought you'd like to see what Ron and I have been up to in my absence. As I mentioned, we've been working on our wee one's nursery. Before that, it was a walk-in closet and before that it was an office. And once, back in the thirties when the house was built, it was an itty bitty bedroom, large enough for only a twin bed and a nightstand.

A mobile I made out of an Eames House of Cards deck and a mobile skeleton I got from a friend for my 30th birthday. (Thanks, Lynda!)

Our refurbed dressers. The one on the left just had its shelf installed in the top and still has to be painted white. That cardboard and matting contraption you see on the top is the innards of a custom-made changing pad I'll be covering with oilcloth.

The closet, more stocked every day.

A midcentury, bent plywood rocker I snagged at Goodwill a looong time ago. The back needs reattaching and the seat reupholstering. The fabric folded on the seat is intended for that.

Shelf constructed and installed by my wonderful husband.

As you can see, it's a work in progress, but I'm thrilled with what we accomplished in just a couple days. I have this weird fear that my belly's going to get out-of-control huge and I won't be able to do anything I want/need to do. So as you can imagine, having the nursery painted allayed my fear a bit. And for the record: I am in love with this gold. It's bright, but not too bright. Warm, but not suffocating. I only hope our little bean loves it, too.

Recipe Wednesday: Bananapple Hazelnut Bread

2010-02-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

Ron's been off this week before he starts a new job and I must say, I'm really digging it. For example, we went treasure hunting earlier today, I baked some banana bread this afternoon, and we're painting the nursery a vivid shade of "Gold Rush" tonight. You could say we're golden up in here.

Gold Rush!

I know banana bread isn't groundbreaking. Who hasn't thrown a few overripe bananas into a loaf pan with some flour and butter? But damn if it isn't oh-so-tasty AND versatile. For example, I found this recipe online, then modified it a bit with what we had on hand ... namely applesauce and hazelnuts. The beautiful thing about quick breads is that as long as you keep your binder (in this case, eggs) in and your moist to dry ingredient ratio on the level, like a mad scientist, you can pretty much throw anything combo of fruits, veggies, juices, spices or tasty chunks into them. So here's my latest creation, which turned out spongy and rich. You could say IT'S ALIVE with flavor. Badump.

BANANAPPLE HAZELNUT BREAD

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 cups pureed ripe bananas
1/2 cup applesauce (I used cinnamon for a little extra somethin')
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup hazelnuts

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes or until fragrant. Set aside to cool.

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the bananas, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour by hand until barely combined.

Take the now cool hazelnuts and coarsely chop them (I like to put them in a sealed plastic bag and hit them with a rolling pin, but a food processor or a nicely sharp knife, though not as cathartic, will also work). Gently fold the chopped nuts into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake on the oven's middle shelf until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes.

Remove from oven, and let the loaf rest for 10 minutes before turning out from the pan. Devour. Makes one loaf

I'll be back tomorrow with nursery wall pics. Until then, stay golden. ;)

Etsy Tuesday: Giveaway!

2010-02-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

I think you're going to like this Etsy Tuesday.

Kathie from Good Vintage has been kind enough to team up with TBT to offer you another awesome giveaway ... this time for a $15 gift certificate to her shop! I don't know about you, but I love the freedom of a gift certificate. I tend to hang onto mine until I find the perfect something to spend them on, then when I do, feel like I've gotten away with something. They're just so satisfying, you know?

If you'd like in on the giveaway goodness (see above for examples of the shop's awesome treasures), just head on over to Good Vintage and take a peek around. Then comment on this entry, including your favorite item in the shop, as well as an email address at which I can reach you. I will pick a winner via random number generator next Tuesday, February 16th.

Good luck everyone. May the vintage fairy smile on you!

New in the Shop

2010-02-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Phew. 'Twas a long, productive week. I got a lot of freelance done, but am still working on a logo for a clothing store and a website for a café, so my blogging, though diligent, won't necessarily happen in the mornings. Sincere apologies if you're a daily reader. Bear with me.

What's new in the shop? So glad you asked!

This awesome faux bois vase

Braided chair pads straight froma country kitchen

And this swank late 70s alarm clock. Someone kick up the yacht rock.

We've listed a couple more treasures as well, and lots of stuff's been moved to the sale section. Stop on by!

Sweet shoes @ The Generation

2010-02-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

Awesome Etsy shop The Generation is making eco friendly flats and tennies. I love their subtle colors and relaxed 'tude. I might be needing a pair for summer.

Taking a break

2010-02-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy We Heart It

Hey friends. I'm taking a little blogging break this week to finish up some freelance projects that have been in the hopper for quite some time. I'll be posting when a fancy strikes, but I'm off my regular schedule until next Monday. Sorry for the delay ... I'll be back soon, I swear!

New in the Shop

2010-02-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! Due to an unfortunate scheduling mishap this weekend, we weren't able to get anything done. So the nursery remains unpainted, the dresser untransformed, and me a little antsy. Despite not being able to work on the baby's room, I was able to list a couple gems in the shop and am hoping to get a couple more listed this evening. Check 'em out!

A sweet cowboy tie/belt rack

A super sweet rainbow mug

Happy Weekend!

2010-01-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy Missed Connections

Hi friends! Got any big plans for the weekend? Ron and I are continuing our nursery oddysey, including making over the small dresser we bought into a changing station and possibly (my fingers are crossed) painting the walls. Also, a friend is celebrating her birthday on Saturday, so we may get a chance to get out of this tiny house and into the frozen tundra. ;)

Hope this post finds you all well. Until Monday, here are my favorite things from around the interweb this week:

These prints are clever, sweet and heartbreaking.

Free printable valentine brownie bags

These snout cups crack me up!

I'm totally making this thread lamp.

There have been some hilarious gems on Cake Wrecks lately

You can watch Lily and her newborn cubs all day long, if you'd like.

More clever cookie cutters

Super secret painting jewelry box how-to

Love this packaging store.

'Round here

2010-01-28T10:50:00.001-08:00

I mentioned before that I've been sewing up a storm, right? Though I'm not finished with the dress I'm working on for my class, I have been trawling the interweb for free patterns and have found a couple that, I think, are pretty adorable and very easy (seriously ... I just learned how to properly use my machine and I was able to make these).

The first things I made were these adorable dresses from a pattern by Petchy, which you can find here (as well as pics of her far superior outcomes). I used vintage fabric on both, which I picked up for a song at a local thrift shop. Both dresses also use thrifted binding, though I chose to forego it on the floral dress and just finish the seams without.

Next, I found this sun hat pattern. Though the download is for a toddler size, I just shrunk it a bit and am hoping it'll fit our wee one's noggin. The pattern called for binding tape on one side to finish the inside seams, which I wasn't crazy about, especially because I bought semi-lightweight fabric. Soooo, I just went ahead and made two hats (sans binding) and sewed them together at the brim for (ta-da!) a reversible hat.

And this is just the beginning, my friends. We're still working hard on the nursery, but if I can squeeze in some time this week, I'm going to try my hand at making bags. Wish me luck!

Recipe Wednesday: Dukkah

2010-01-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm over 20 weeks pregnant now, and What to Expect When You're Expecting tells me that the baby's starting to taste what I eat. Even though all I've wanted are bagels, citrus and cereal, in the interest of diversifying our little bean's palate, I'm trying to work a little more complexity into my menu. So when we had curry for dinner the other night and I broke out one of my favorite before-dinner appetizers, a bread dipping spice blend called Dukkah.

When I was a student at U of M, I used to go to a middle eastern restaurant that no one knew about (probably because it was by the mall ... and probably because they only had a teeny sign by the parking lot). They had delicious entrees, but my favorite part of any meal there was the warm naan and dukkah they served before each meal. The blend of spices is so nuanced. It's just the right amount of salty, a little spicy and very rich. For maximum enjoyment, I suggest serving it with warm naan, but a loaf of crusty bread or thick lavash will also do the trick.

DUKKAH

2/3 cup hazelnuts
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 tablespoons cumin seeds
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon flaked sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet, and bake for about 5 minutes, or until fragrant. While the nuts are still hot, pour them onto a tea towel. Fold the towel over them to cover, and rub vigorously to remove the skins. Set aside to cool.

In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sesame seeds until light golden brown. Pour into a medium bowl as soon as they are done so they will not continue toasting. In the same skillet, toast the coriander and cumin seeds while shaking the pan or stirring occasionally until they begin to pop. Transfer to a food processor (or mortar and pestle) and process until finely ground, then pour into the bowl with the sesame seeds. Place the cooled hazelnuts into the food processor, and process until finely ground. Stir into the bowl with the spices. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well.

To serve, place a little in a bowl and cover with olive oil. Serve with crusty bread or middle eastern flatbread (such as lavash or naan). Mixture can be stored in an airtight container until oil from nuts smells rancid. Yields 1.5 cups.

And that's it my friends. This recipe yields enough for a few nights' worth of dukkah, but don't worry ... it'll get gobbled up. If you're anything like Ron and I, once you try it, you'll be hooked.