Goodbye Boots - Hello Sandals

Goodbye boots,  

your service is no longer required...at least for 7 months.

HUNTER, the people that make the great rubber boots, also makes sandals.

HUNTER sandals by spiralstyle

Colorblock Highcliffe Sandal | Hunter Boot Ltd / Limington Sandal | Hunter Boot Ltd / Taunton Sandal | Hunter Boot Ltd / Highcliffe Sandal | Hunter Boot Ltd / Romilly Ballerinas | Hunter Boot Ltd

The sandals are rubber, and colorful.  I just discovered these sandals and think they would be great for beach and pool.  They are available in many colors.

Or how about some socially responsible sandals?

sanuk by spiralstyle 

Pick Pocket Fleece Sidewalk Surfer for Women | Sanuk / Girlie Siesta Flip Flops for Women | Sanuk / Women's Yoga Sling / Women's Yoga Wildlife Sandals | Sanuk / Basic Betty Flip Flops for Women | Sanuk

Have a nice start to your week.

Quince and Apple: Tart Cherry Grenadine and Rhubarb Hops

Quince & Apple is a small batch, artisanal company specializing in preserving fruit. The preserved fruit is of two varieties, spreadable and syrups.  

I purchased two of the syrups from the Madison, WI producers.  My order was delivered via Fed Ex within two days of my order.  The packaging was cleverly done in a little wooden crate and nestled in a box filled with crinkle-cut shredded paper filler.  

One of my syrups was Rhubarb Hops.  This syrup of sour rhubarb and and hops was delightful in a drink with orange juice, bitters and prosecco.  You can read about it here. 

The other syrup was Tart Cherry Grenadine.  This syrup is so easy to use.  It would be great with club soda or champagne, mixed with lemonade or drizzled over ice cream.  I tried two cocktails suggested on the website. 

Gin Daisy Cocktail

This light drink is composed of 2 oz gin, juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 oz Tart Cherry Grenadine.  Add all to glass and fill half full with crushed ice then fill glass with seltzer.  

Wisconsin Old Fashioned

Rather than whiskey, this old Fashioned uses brandy.  Muddle 1 wheel of orange with 1/2 oz tart cherry grenadine, two dashes bitters and then add the brandy.  Fill glass 1/2 full with ice and then top off glass with seltzer.  This drink is very "rich" but the seltzer lightens it and makes is more refreshing and highlights the fruit than tasting like liquor. 

I really like the syrups from Quince & Apple.  They add a new dimension to mixing cocktails.  Wouldn't they make a perfect hostess gift?  Much more clever than the standard bottle of wine.  Order online here.

Restoration Hardware Now Offers Tableware

Restoration Hardware has just launched its online tableware collection.  I love collecting all matter of tableware: new, vintage and quirky, and then setting an interesting table.  

There are three styles of dinnerware in the tableware collection:

color, white

Classic Coupe,

color, prairie

Rimmed Square,

 

color, graphite

and Grand Rimmed. 

color, ivory

Each pattern is available in all five colors enabling mixing of patterns within a set.

color, fog

Serving pieces are available in all colors and patterns.

Choose from among fifteen archival flatware patterns.  

Bois flatware

Some handles feature bone or horn and another is modeled after that used on the Titanic.

A variety of stemware and glassware is available ranging from casual to elegant, juice glasses to champagne flutes.

Belgian linens are the perfect accompaniment to the Restoration Hardware tableware.  These stonewashed linens are available in twenty colors and in three style.  Five other types of linens are available to compliment the tableware.

Restoration Hardware offers an extensive collection of items for entertaining.  My favorite is the hotel silver collection.  

Seeing this collection online is one thing but I can't wait to actually view the pieces in a store.  

Clever Staircases

Some of the most beautiful and graceful staircases I've seen have been in Paris.

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Very few of us can boast of staircases as beautiful as the one above.  But, that doesn't mean a staircase must be boring.  A little imagination and some paint can transform dull to fun and clever.

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A painted rug.

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Ombre spindles

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Ombre stair kickboards.

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Painted stair runner.

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Chalkboard paint and let your imagination run wild.

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Stairs become a stack of books.

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For a nautical or casual look, change up the wooden handrail with heavy rope.

Leftover Jelly Beans?

I started this post as "what to do with leftover ham" but everyone can make a ham sandwich or find a recipe using the ham bone to make pea soup.  

I thought it might be more fun to see what you could do with leftover jelly beans, besides eat them out of the Easter basket.

Jelly Bean Biscotti

How about making biscotti?

Home made Jelly Bean "poptarts"

If that isn't sweet enough for you, try homemade "poptarts".

Guess the number of jelly beans.

Make a candle

Make a bracelet

Play tic tac toe or use jelly beans for BINGO markers.

Lick a red jelly bean and use it to stain lips or cheeks!  

Top a toothpick with a jelly bean and use as an hors d'oeuvres pick.

What crazy ideas can you come up with?  

April 1

Happy first day of April

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What a fitting quote for the first day of April and spring!

I hope you had a lovely Easter and weekend. 

 It is finally getting warmer here in Michigan and while taking a walk in the sunshine on Sunday, we heard frogs croaking and birds singing.  Can't wait for blossoms to bloom.  

Have a wonderful start to your week.

Easter Decorating Inspiration

I needed some inspiration for my Easter table and turned to Martha Stewart.

You can click here to view more Martha Stewart Easter decor.

For those of you who observe the day, Happy Easter!