Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Last Lecture



It's one thing when something inspires you, but it's a whole different thing when someone inspires you. Randy Pausch, famous for his YouTube appearance in his talk, "The Last Lecture," has become an inspiration to millions and millions of you out there by inspiring us to live our lives with a whole new perspective...in a whole new way.

But the twist that makes his story all the more inspirational was his diagnosis and battle with pancreatic cancer. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he used his illness to fuel his life...even right up until the end. He died July 25th, but I don't get the impression he's "lost" the battle, but rather, taken the next step in his journey.

There is just no way to adequately describe Randy's character and magnetic ability to inspire. So turn off "Judge Judy" or "Entertainment Tonight," and trade you time for something that will fill you to overflowing. Watch Randy's "The Last Lecture" here, buy the book here, and view his personal webpage here.

Our hearts and gratitude go out to his wife, Jai, and 3 young kids, Logan, Dylan, and Chloe. I think they'd all agree that despite today's grief, there is still more to come. Yes, Jai, his magic remains.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Grapefruit...some like it hot!

Martha and her crew have come up with this delicious Grapefruit Tea. I thought a sweet warm cup of this was the perfect way to start off the week! Please enjoy the recipe here.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

What to do with that blank wall

We all have one. A blank wall we don't quite know what to do with. Of course the geniuses at decor8 have found us some help! Design Aglow has provided us lovely templates to show us how and where to hang pictures in those awckward places and blank walls of our homes! Thank you!

Pencil me in


I love a good pencil skirt! I have looked all summer for a good denim one, and there are none to be found. So what do I do when I can't find something I want? I find a way to somehow make it! I found some instructions on how to turn an old pair of jeans into a skirt here. Now if only I would have been a better student when my mom tried to teach me to sew as a kid...

Some cream with that, Sugar?


I often opt for tea over coffee for my morning caffeine fixes, but this Kona Manual Drip Coffee Maker by Bodum may start a whole new ritual. Not only does it look great, but it also doesn't require being plugged in, is easy to clean, and doesn't hog counter space. Yep, I thought you'd like that!

Get Set

Have you ever watched a movie, or seen a TV show and wanted to bring that same look and feel into your own home? Ever wonder who comes up with these beautiful decores from many different eras and parts of the world? There is a whole group, "Set Decroators Society of America," who does this for a living! They also come out with a beautiful magazine, Set Decore you can subscribe to, or you can download past issues for free on their website here.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Raspberry Smores...YUM!


I love a good chocolate and raspberry combination, but this just looks out of control! It'd be fun and unexpected to serve these at a dinner party (can't you just imagine serving them to guests on fancy dessert china?), or even bring a pint of raspberries along to the campfire. The official recipe can be found on Real Simple's website here.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Free design for all!


It speaks for itself! A whole blog dedicated to the great FREE design out there. Need I say anymore? Design bliss starts here...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

What a lovely Pouf you have!


My parents and sis recently returned from a long and lavish Euro Adventure through Greece, Italy, and Turkey. I'll be honest, while they were away I was eagerly awaiting what treasure they had gathered to bring home to ME! Yes, so presumptuous, I know. Anyway, they didn't let me down! My mom picked up this Leather Pouf from a leather shop in Turkey. They make these cushion stools out of the left-over scraps cut from the leather jackets. How resourceful is that? In addition, they are sold un-stuffed, which is not only wonderful for folding up and packing home, but they suggested stuffing the poufs with plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, and the like once returning home. Way to recycle/reduce/reuse! I'm highly considering tracking some of these down before Christmas to stuff all of the left-over gift wrap and packaging in!
I find it interesting that in our day and age of being green and environmentally friendly (which as a native Oregonian, I am a large supporter of), we're often seeking new products that are created in green ways (which again, I support), but often neglect to recognize that it is at the very heart of being green to recycle and reuse that in which we already have. Many don't realize that even the process to break down recyclable materials can be hard on the environment. So what am I saying? Lets use up what we have, lets get creative and find new ways to use what we often throw away or toss into recycle bins, lets minimize our consumption overall (phew, tangent complete).

So how can we get our hands on these lovely poufs? I've found some here. Or, next time your travels take you to Turkey or Morocco, you can likely pick them up for much less (my mom paid 10 Euros). So next time you host a friend's shower, or as the holidays approach, pick one of these up as fun way to avoid putting loads of gift wrap in the landfill. It'll be a fun way to add a sentimental reminder of the celebration, and a lovely accessory to your home.

Ommm


When it comes to working out, I have had a long dry spell. I've made a million excuses: working long hours, not having a gym membership, and yes, I've even pulled the whole, "I don't have cute gym clothes," excuse. Enough is enough! Last week I made a promise to start taking action towards a healthier lifestyle. As soon as I did that, I discovered a way to take free daily yoga classes home! YogaToday.com offers free yoga classes daily, and I'm thrilled to tell you they're wonderful! I started taking classes yesterday, and loved the ability to yoga-pose-away without an audience (well, other than my dog), or distractions. Best part, I got to wear my PJ's!