Fall is in the air!

I just opened the windows to hear the rain, poured a cup of chai tea, cozied up to a good magazine, and popped in Pride & Prejudice. Is it time for a cozy pre-Fall posting or what?

I was introduced to the Tomato Orange Soup at Elephants Delicatessen quite a few years ago. I became addicted, and have since stumbled upon the recipe...yes, THE recipe (here you are). I've been known to make it many times, keep a stash frozen in the freezer, even take it to work many days in a row, and pass it along to friends and family (who then also joined in the addiction). Pair this with a grilled cheese sandwich for dipping, and you'll be in comfort food heaven!

You can serve it dressed up for a holiday starter by garnishing it with grilled-cheese-croutons (cut a grilled cheese sandwich into cubes, and sprinkle 2 or 3 on top of the soup just prior to serving), or pour some into your most faithful storage container for some yummy leftovers. Eat up!
(image from marthastewart.com)

Come Away With Me...

Nights like this inspire me. It's late, and we've spent the last couple days soaking up memories with out of town friends. The guys are still in the living room (yes, playing super-hero video games), Jenny is asleep in the love seat, and the dogs are all conked out from 2 days of non-stop play. I've secretly retreated to my little home-office, shut the doors, and turned on Norah Jones "Come Away with Me." I'm not sure what it is about that album...maybe it's because I started listening to it with my sweet roomates at Oregon State during such a fun and incredible season of my life. Maybe because I'd find it on my playlist during late nights trying to get design projects wrapped up before the next morning's deadline. Maybe because it was the last song we danced to at our wedding. It's amazing how a song can bring back a rush of old memories...as if they were all happening once again during this very moment. I just need this minute to soak it all up once again. Come away with me...

You wanna carrot?

Yes, this is my sweet sweet dog, Ruthie. She came to us as a "middle-aged" retired guide dog, which means she's already trained and we can't take even an ounce of credit for how wonderful she is. Gushing aside, this girl loooooves carrots! Just the word "carrot" will get her all excited. Since she is a bit on the older side, her vet told us that if she loves carrots so much, to replace them with treats. They won't cause her to gain weight, so she can have as many as she wants. So, we spoil her rotten, and she eats so many carrots that they almost literally come back out the other end (apologies if thats too much info).

So, if your dog needs to go on a diet, or like us, you just want to do all you can to spoil your furry one, then try carrots!

Rub-a-dub-dub

I was talking to a co-worker yesterday about how cute little ones are with those hooded bath towels. Especially the ones that are animals and characters. In light of that conversation (which I assure you had something important to do with work...okay, you got me, probably had nothing to do with work), I had to go investigate and see who really had cute hooded bath towels for kiddos. Spiffy Baby has an adorable assortment of different animals, Dwell Baby has some great graphic prints, and Pottery Barn Kids has really sweet animal hoodies (yes, they have a puppy AND a froggy), and organics for the admirable.

I'm headed off on a tangent here, so if you want to stick around, be my guest. Here it goes: quite honestly, I have the hardest time getting baby gifts for people. First of all, I haven't experienced the joy of motherhood yet, so I have no idea what people actually need and want (yea yea, I know most do registries these days, but I like gifts to be a surprise, so I try to avoid registries altogether). Second of all, I avoid buying clothes if at all possible (sometimes they're just too cute to resist) because I swear American babies are the best clothed people on the planet (or maybe I'm ignorant), and I'm not always so sure my taste will be the same as baby's parents. But even harder than the baby gift is the first birthday gift! So now days, I've made it easy on myself, and defaulted to getting a sweet hooded towel and bubble bath (apologies to the first birthday parties coming up) because they are so stinkin' adorable! Note to parents: please take pictures...I know bath time is probably the hardest time to grab the not-so-water-resistant camera...especially with a naked toddler running around the house, but you've just got to capture the moment. If anything, you can use it for blackmail when they're teenagers!

Compliments to the host!

While browsing Paper Crave, I stumbled upon a great discovery they have made! Australia's Wedding Style Guide has provided free downloadable and printable goodies for each of their issues (which can also be back ordered online). These little treasures aren't just for brides, but anyone who loves to entertain (or who might want to fake it). Enjoy!

Dreamers into Doers

Many of you already know that I love just about anything Martha Stewart. I also love anything entrepreneurial. About a year ago, I discovered Ladies Who Launch, an incredible network of women entrepreneurs. It's a support community that helps women launch and grow their own businesses...it's amazing what one can accomplish when we all join together. I got involved, joining an incubator, and attending the Live event in Portland last fall. Amazing women, amazing experience!


So, I just got an email this morning from my Ladies Who Launch incubator leader informing me that Martha Stewart and Ladies Who Launch have joined together to create "Dreamers into Doers"(jaw drop). Yes, this is yet another network of bringing women dreamers together, with Martha as our mentor!

If you already have an account at marthastewart.com, you can just follow this link, and become a Dreamers into Doers member. If you don't have a marthastewart.com account, 1) you're missing out, and 2) you can sign up for one right here, and then 3)sign up to become a Dreamers into Doers member here.


Not to create a novel out of this post, but I'm on a roll. So, speaking of Martha and entrepreneurship, I must share a wonderful resource with all of you. Martha has written a book, The Martha Rules, that shares her story and wisdom on building a business and how keep it running and growing. I not only bought the book, but I also have the book on CD that I loaded onto my iPod, and will listen to for inspiration.

I hope those of you out there with ideas are able to use some of these resources as a launch pad to soaring. One common thread on all the wisdom and advice...find your passion and follow it.

The BEST Strawberry Ice Cream!

You know, today was just one of those Mondays! I somehow put in a 12+ hour day, and managed to throw together a pretty delicious dinner (yep, pat on the back for that one). I no sooner sat down a few moments ago to tune into the Olympics, and the craving for ice cream overwhelmed me. And not just any ice cream, I want a whole pint of Haagen Dazs Strawberry ice cream (arguably the best strawberry ice cream out there!). But seeing that it is nearly 11:00pm, the stores will be closed and time for me to get some sleep before tomorrow begins (is it Friday yet?).

Going for the GOLD!

...but the silver and bronze are quite nice also. These metals were beautifully designed with a different color jade inlay for each metal. The gold metal flanks white jade, the silver metal matched with the green jade, and the bronze metal with the dark green jade. I love it when design does more than just look good, but that also transcends a bigger story...one that is visually communicated in a way that everyone will instantly understand. These metals are a priceless token of momentous event...can I please have one of each?

Did you tune in?

The Opening Ceremonies were last night in Beijing for the Summer 2008 Olympics, and they were incredible! I actually didn't catch the whole thing, and I think I missed some of the best parts. So, I've been trying to track down a way to watch it online, and will share it with all of you once I find it. NBC has posted the firework show , which was mind-blowing as you can imagine. As each of the countries walked through the stadium with their flags and onto the Olympic Stage, they crossed over these stamp pads, and then onto a white pad, which left this incredible rainbow of everyone's footprint. Truly, I'm having trouble coming up with the right words...as we watched Yao Ming holding young hero Lin Hao (an inspiring story in itself) as they gathered with all the countries of the world, I told my husband, "This must be what world peace feels like."

Pretty lil' things

Aren't these the most beautiful pencils you have ever seen? I assure you, no one will miss the little eraser on the end. Truthfully, I'd probably never use them and opt keep them wrapped nicely in their little boxes, and take them out on special occasion to look at them (only to carefully tuck them away once again) as if a fine piece of jewelry. I guess for the price tag, you could consider these little beauties jewelry...or at least a fine accessory. Russel + Hazel offers the whole collection (12 colors, people!) for you to buy here.

It's a date!

I love calendars! Probably because I love planning just about anything and everything. I know, I'm a huge nerd. Back when Blueprint Magazine was running, they created a 2008 printable calendar for their December 2007 issue. I especially love that they used Fling as the type, and that these can fit nicely into a CD jewel case. Genius! They have graciously posted it to Martha's website here for us all to enjoy. I know, I know, we're more than half way through 2008, but if I would have been blogging last December, I assure you, you would have had it then!

Berries & Cream

Just looking at these treats makes me want to lick my monitor! You can get this Berries & Cream Cones recipe from none other than Rachel Ray. I love the way they display the cones in liquor glasses. You can find similar ones here at Target (of course!). Enjoy the goodness!

Lobster Bake (fun for West Coasters too)!

I have always wanted to go to a lobster bake! I grew up on the West Coast, but s'mores seem to be about the only thing we cook on the beach. So, the thought of getting a bunch of friends and family together for some good seafood and lots-o-butter on the beach sounds pretty wonderful.

Michael Chiarello from the Food Network has given us a great recipe for cooking the clams and lobsters. A great seafood bisque can be found here from Ida Garten. For the ultimate seafood free for all, serve by covering tables with decorative fishnets, and piling the lobster and clams on top with lemon halves and corn on the cob strewn about. Be sure to provide bowls (or how about cute galvanized buckets) for guests to discard the shells.

Make it a spontaneous event, or add a formal flair. It'd make for an memorable feast after an small (or large) beach wedding. I can already envision the great lobster theme letter pressed invites and the bride and groom posing for pictures with lobster bibs on!

Smile, baby!

It seems like families are growing everywhere these days! This post is for all of you out there with impending additions, and the memories you'll want to savor forever of your new little bundles.

Good Stock Press & Bindery does the most beautiful heirloom book albums. I could post their whole site, but will direct you there yourself so they can tell their own story. My favorite album they have done (that you might also consider for your little one) is the "Picture a day/First birthday." Designer mom, and photographer dad took pictures each day for the first year of baby Seneca's life. Then, they inserted their wishes for her throughout the pages. You can also find a lovely posting about this album on Design Mom's Blog. Precious!









On Martha's show today, she also had a few great photo ideas for baby (you can watch this piece of the show at this link on her site). My personal favorite is each year on their birthday, having your child hold a picture of the age they are turning. Martha recommends, if possible, to take the picture in the same place each year. How fun to watch them grow up!