The Search For the Perfect Mascara
In the past year, I've tried a lot of different "drugstore brand" mascaras. I'm always on the look out, the hunt, the search for the Perfect Mascara. My judging criteria includes lengthening ability, non-clump factor, ease in application, and ease of removal. I'm not a fan of mascaras that promise volume, because in my experience that is just another word for "clumpy." Rimmel's Sexy Curves Full Volume & Curve Mascara - This mascara has a sort of waved rubber brush. It worked pretty well at curling my lashes without using an eyelash curler first. I was able to make the most ...
Great Idea for a Kitchen Island!
Last weekend I decided to get away with an old friend in Salado, Texas. It was an incredible time of laughing, catching up on sleep, laughing, eating, laughing, almost spitting coffee on the back of a guy's head, laughing, laughing...antiquing...laughing... The bed and breakfast that I stayed at was awesomeness. I loved the way it was decorated. I did, of course, take lots of pictures and I will be sharing some of the ideas I got. One of the things I was most impressed with was the kitchen island. I have a peninsula that divides the cooking area and the eating area ...
Record Setting Planters
One of the most common things to do with old vinyl records which can no longer be played is to melt them into bowls. But then what? One easy thing to do is make them planters simply by setting a plant (still in one of those flimsy pots in comes in) inside the newly molded record bowl. Because the record has a hole in the bottom, and those pots plants come in generally have drainage holes in them too, you can easily add a tinfoil liner. The tinfoil liner can be molded up the sides of the melted record basin sides to prevent ...
Roger Ebert on memory and food
A friend sent me a link to an article by Roger Ebert: "Nil by mouth". Reading the famous movie critic's thoughts on no longer being able to eat, or drink or talk, I was struck by the pivotal moment of the piece. You see, though Ebert has lost his ability to eat -- nothing by mouth after difficult surgeries for jaw cancer -- his memory has sharpened considerably. The severity of his complications notwithstanding, he's found a reservoir of lost memories, and they center around food. He even describes reading a passage in a book about an orange soda, and he could taste ...
Groundhog Day History and Activities
Every year there is a small rodent who makes his way out of his burrow on February 2 in a small town called Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Crowds gather there- sometimes as many as 40, 000 people- in order to see this particular groundhog peek out of his home. Why? All to see if he sees his shadow. Sounds quite strange but this tradition started back in the 18th and 19th century as a Pennsylvania German custom taken from the European weather folklore. According to the lore, if the groundhog emerges and sees his shadow there will, unfortunately, be six more weeks of ...
The Kitchen Garden in “It’s Complicated”
Recently the L.A. Times ran a piece about the vegetable plot cultivated by Meryl Streep’s character in the hit film “It’s Complicated.” I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s on my list. And this still-photo from the film just about says it all: this garden is too good to be true. My first impression was that it looked like an illustration from a Beatrix Potter story. Remember Peter Rabbit sauntering down those rows of perfect cabbages, lettuces, and carrots? In her charming illustrations, Beatrix didn’t draw wilted leaves or spots of insect damage, or any other minor imperfections that are inevitable ...
Put Your Best Foot Forward
I love knitting socks. Socks are portable projects that provide a knitter with a joy that is matched only by that of the recipient slipping a freshly off the needles pair onto their feet. I am always on the look out for new and interesting techniques that provide me with a process that is challenging yet simplistic and always ends in that perfect fitting sock. In 2008 Cat Bordhi, ground-breaking sock designer and author of Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles and New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One, set herself the challenge of developing a sock knitting process that would ...
The importance of ritual in everyday life
So, what's this little corner of the blogosphere about? Everyday stuff. Life. Rituals. You see, rituals are important. They anchor you to your past and your future. At dinner with friends tonight, we were talking about holiday traditions, and how doing the same thing every year gives the family a sense of continuity, cohesion. And how people who don't hold to any traditions are always amazed and grateful to encounter those who do... There are things we do every day, every week, every season, every year, that brings back memories of events past, and instills in our own children an echo that they ...
Turquoise is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2010
J ust in case you didn’t get the press release, the word is out that Pantone has named turquoise as color of the year for 2010. If they had chosen something like pumpkin or burnt umber, I don’t know if I’d be writing about it, but I’m rather fond of turquoise. My favorite cashmere sweater is that particular shade of turquoise known as robin’s egg blue. And I once bought an ankle bracelet on eBay because the chalcedony beads were described as being “the color of a Caribbean sea” – an irresistible shade of pale turquoise, in other words. Of course, turquoise ...
Coats & Clark Pink and Red Fashion Show
BurdaStyle has teamed up with Coats & Clark to raise awareness of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. How? By hosting a fashion show! You're invited to create a garment using pink and red fabrics and then submit a photo of the finished outfit. There are all kinds of great prizes up for grabs and the winner will even get to model their outfit at the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA this February. "The Coats & Clark Pink & Red Fashion Show is partnering with both the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society to fight the two ...
Collecting Silent Film Stars: Annette Kellerman
Being the fan that I am (both of the collector and silent film), I couldn't just let Mary Ann Cade go that easily after delivering her recent silent film news -- I had to ask her about one of her favorite silent film stars, Annette Kellerman (also billed as Annette Kellermann and called "The Perfect Woman"). Mary, tell us about Annette Kellerman... How did she catch your collecting fancy? I got interested in Kellerman when I saw Esther Williams in the fictional biopic Million Dollar Mermaid, which was loosely based on Ms. Kellerman's life. After viewing it, I started looking around ...
Keeping warm and close in the wintertime
Getting out of bed is hard on the best of mornings. In the dark, in the cold, on a school day? Damned near impossible. I'd lay with my head under the covers, listening for the next snooze, willing to be Saturday, willing it to be summer, willing it to be anything but the miserable, cold, gloomy, wintery, slushy day about to slap me in the face. Finally, I would drag myself out of my warm bed when my father's voice called me to come downstairs. Inevitably, on the worst of days where getting up and getting dressed was nigh unto masachistic, ...
How to Stay Current on Toy Recalls
It is difficult to stay current on recalls, especially now since there are so many because of the new toy safety laws regarding lead paint. There are some ways to stay current but the very best way is to stay current with the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website. On the CPSC Recall site one can search by product, date, company, description, or even the type of hazard (like small pieces). The CPSC is in charge of protecting the public public from risks of injury or death from consumer products. It is a daunting task. You can subscribe to an RSS feed or ...
Distressed Furniture Is Easy
Victorian Trading Company is one of my favorite places to browse. Some of the stuff is way out of my price range but it is still fun to look at. I think looking at the stuff gives me great ideas. For example, check out this distressed painted dresser. I would never have thought about that particular blue, nor distressing it to that point...BUT I love the look! It would be super easy to pick something up at the thrift shop and with a few coats of paint getting the same effect. What really makes this piece stand out? ...
Amazon’s List of Best Books for December 2009
Amazon.com has released its list of editors’ picks of books that are new for this month. These are all 40% off till the end of the year, so if you want to add to your own library, some (or all) of these might appeal to you. Included are works of both fiction and non-fiction, including a biography of Louis Armstrong. * Topping the list is Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The novel is described as a “delicious southern Gothic”, with elements of magic, mystery and fantasy. (Genre/Level: Young Adult; Length: 576 pages in Hardcover; Publisher: Little, Brown ...
Entertainment
Books for African American TeensPublishers are finally taking notice that not only white teens read. African American...
Chinese New Year Tiger ActivitiesNot only is this week Valentine’s Day but it is also the Chinese New Year....
Did Taylor Swift Deserve All those Grammies?
How many of you were shocked with the Grammy winners? Not many, well that’s...
Record Setting Planters
One of the most common things to do with old vinyl records which can no longer be...
National Read in the Bathtub Day
As strange as it may sound, February 9 is National Read in the Bathtub Day. Yes,...
Home & Food
Japanese Flowering Apricot is a Winter Extravaganza
I magine the following scenario: it’s a bleak winter day in early February –...
Artsy Bloggers Round-Up
Welcome to the weekly Artsy Bloggers round-up! You’ll find great tips, tricks and...
Artsy Bloggers Round-Up
Welcome to the weekly Artsy Bloggers round-up! You’ll find great tips, tricks and...
Great Idea for a Kitchen Island!
Last weekend I decided to get away with an old friend in Salado, Texas. It was an...
Create an Elegant Winter White Centerpiece
Are you looking for a lovely way to decorate your table using seasonal floral colors? ...
Gardening
Japanese Flowering Apricot is a Winter Extravaganza
I magine the following scenario: it’s a bleak winter day in early February – that colorless sort of day when the sky is the same shade of gray as the pavement. All of a sudden, from the car, you catch a glimpse of a little tree blooming gloriously, a profusion of pink flowers against the drab backdrop of the day. This happened to me twice last... [Read more of this review]
The Kitchen Garden in “It’s Complicated”
Recently the L.A. Times ran a piece about the vegetable plot cultivated by Meryl Streep’s character in the hit film “It’s Complicated.” I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s on my list. And this still-photo from the film just about says it all: this garden is too good to be true. My first impression was that it looked like an illustration from... [Read more of this review]
Nothing Gladdens the Heart Like a Lawn Full of Crocus in January
W hen I was growing up on the Great Lakes, there was always that one day, usually in late March, that signaled winter’s dreary days were numbered. I’d come home from school and there, right next to our side door, in the narrow strip of earth between the driveway and the foundation, would be a clump of yellow or purple crocus, often still... [Read more of this review]
UPDATE: Susan Barmon’s Botanical Scans Now on Etsy!
Back in November, I wrote a post about a digital artist, Susan Barmon, who’s producing gorgeous botanical prints with her scanner. The good news is this: Susan is now selling a selection of smaller prints in her Etsy shop, and everything is under $50, including shipping! You can see my original post here in its entirety, but let me also... [Read more of this review]
UPDATE: There Are Turquoise Flowers After All!
J ust a few days ago I wrote about the color turquoise, which was named color of the year for 2010 by Pantone, that self-described authority on color. You can read the original post for yourself, but to recap, I offered inspiration for using turquoise in the landscape, mainly on structures (walls, fences) and garden accessories (furniture, gazing balls). I... [Read more of this review]
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