Favorite J.Crew Jeans

Shopping for jeans can be as demoralizing as shopping for a bathing suit.  I spent an entire day at a large mall shopping for "skinny" jeans that I could tuck into boots.  I didn't want leggings - too narrow, didn't want bootcut - to wide, but the J.Crew Vintage Slims are just right.  Ahhh!  

I've had the Vintage Slims before but they no longer carry them at the J.Crew stores I visited.  A wise J.Crew salesperson suggested I look in the catalog and sure enough, they are still available.  I ordered two pair and they arrived today. 

Not only are these jeans narrow enough to tuck into boots, they have a mid-rise that sits on your hips.  

The price is right too... $98.00

Asian Slaw

Our Farmers Market was overflowing with cabbage, peppers and onions this past weekend.  I made a traditional slaw but now I have a craving for Asian flavors.  Rather than a mayonnaise based dressing, the Asian slaw has a citrus and sesame oil dressing.  Mango and cilantro round out the flavors of cabbage, peppers, onions and carrots.  

I based my slaw on this recipe from Ming Tsai at foodnetwork.  Try to allow time for the ingredients to marinate, about 1 hour, after all ingredients are incorporated.  If you'd like, top with chopped peanuts or toasted sesame seeds.

Leopard Print

My idea of pattern is usually stripes but I could be persuaded to add leopard print with it's warm browns and shots of gold.

Click to view details of Leopard print accessories 

1 L'Agence Silk-chiffon leopard-print shirt, $215

5 Christian Louboutin Dorepi 100 leopard-print pumps, $895

6 Tory Burch Reva leopard-print ballerina flats, $225

8 Perfect Leopard Pump, $198

3 Easy in Leopard Printed Nylon, $1,245

2 Animal Print Jewelry | Leopard Print | Zebra Prints | Animal Print..., $16

7  Women's accessories - belts - Calf hair belt - J.Crew, $60

4 Leopard Print Scarf, $35

Organize Your Week

According to SmartMoney and The Fun Times Guide, you can save time and money by doing certain things on certain days.  Take a look at the list and maybe it will help you plan your week.

Happy Monday everyone and have a great week.

Last Blooms of Summer

I looked at my fading pots of flowers and decided to gather what was worthy for some small arrangements.  

A bit of faded glory, short lived, I'm afraid.

Trimmings of coleus, lantana and purple basil...

...tucked into my new Pottery Barn vase.

Make it a beautiful weekend.

Pet Accessories at Crate & Barrel

1 Houndstooth dog bed small $39.95, large $69.95 2 Red Dog Bowl small $9.95 large $14.95  3 Grey Strip Dog Blanket $39.95 4 Dog Treat Jar $19.95 

The motif is more sophisticated than cute and won't be too offensive mingling with your home decor, unless you purposely decorate in a Scooby Do or Hello Kitty manner!

Set of 3 Mice Catnip Toy $9.95

Bowls and Treat Jar also come in feline motif.

 "Placemats" for pets with sloppy eating habits. $2.95 each

Etsy Treasury: Crow Pendant

It's my lucky day.  My Crow Pendant was featured in an Etsy Treasury.  You can check it out here.  

Meet Paul, Sweet Paul

I have a huge stack of magazines that I haven't touched.  I feel so behind.  But I want to let you know about the new online issue of Sweet Paul Magazine.  Paul is a food and prop stylist  and crafter transplanted to Brooklyn from Oslo.  He's got a blog called, what else but Sweet Paul.  The blog is filled with beautifully styled images, mouthwatering recipes and simple craft ideas.  The magazine is a more elaborate example of the blog, in magazine form...online.  In the latest issue my favorites are the Louis Vuitton pumpkin in the craft article, an Apple a Day for the rustic apple tarts and the stunning styling of Let Me Entertain You.  Check it out here.

Blogging Your Way: Online Class

This blog post is not about pears.  It is an example of my homework.  

I am taking an online class to hone my blogging skills, or as I am finding out, lack of skills.  Last week we learned about styling photos.  I set up a very basic photo studio and have practiced styling.  So rather than just snapping away, I set up vignettes and shoot about 25 photos and then edit them.  I think the images posted will determine wether or not readers will take the time to read the post.  So "stay tuned" and see if my images improve.  I'd love some feedback.  

If you are interested in the blogging class, click here for the website.  

Holly Becker is one of the instructors and her blog is decor8

The other instructor is Leslie of a creative mint 

Flea Market Find

I was smitten by this adorable coffee service at an antique market over the weekend.  I had to have it, it's my color after all!  I will enjoy it for a while and then sell it on ebay or Etsy.  


I'm cleaning out storage bins and divesting myself of things I don't use or no longer need.  I spent some time today taking photos of these items so I can post them on ebay.

 

Things like this.
How do you get rid of things you no longer need?  Ebay, consignment shops, Purple Heart?

Hope you had a good weekend.

In a previous post, I mentioned that I was filling up the stair wall with 3-D elements.  Until I find a more permanent answer for the bottom of the stairway, I decided to fill the space with something cheap and big.  

I found this hanging square vase at Arhaus.  Then I filled the bottom with river rock to balance the vase and added a large bare branch.  What do you think, should I spray paint the branch a bright color?

I drool over this room, photographed for House Beautiful, September issue.  That was my inspiration to use the cafe chair on the stair landing.  And Oh how I need to find new sconces.

Happy weekend.  Do you have fun plans?  I'll be doing a little antiquing and maybe I'll find something for the stair wall.  We'll be having some friends over too.  There's been a request for chocolate dessert.  Ummmm.

Wall Decals for Temporary Decor

We probably all have a room that could use some design attention but for one reason or another that is just not possible.  

Olivia headboard $40, +$15 queen, +$30 king

If renting, you don't want to invest $$ for a temporary situation, budget may limit decor spending, or you just don't know what you want.  How about a temporary wall decal?   The headboard in the photo is a removable decal.

Wrought iron headboard $40 twin, + $15 queen, + $30 king

Maybe this wrought iron headboard is more your style.  You could make a statement in kiwi green or  7 other colors.

Classical Must Haves $55 for 10 decals available in 10 colors

Fill up a room with classic antiques

Don't have a green thumb?
No worries with this decal.
Olive $45

Cloud $25

How about a little cloud motif for a child's room?

Ambition killed the cat  $45

Just for fun
All decals from Blik.  Check it out here.

A New Corn Recipe

This is the last week for fresh, sweet corn at our local farm stand.

If I was going to try a Corn Pesto recipe that I had seen in Bon Appetit, now was the time. 

This recipe is only going to be a good as your corn.

Slice off the kernels from 6 ears of fresh corn.

The pesto is a rather, not-attractive, yellow paste.  Next time I'll measure corn by the cup and not by the ear.  No problem though, still delicious.

But when mixed with additional whole kernels of corn and topped with fresh basil, bacon and grated Parmesan cheese the presentation is colorful and very appealing. The salty bacon and pungent cheese compliment the sweet corn.  The flavor is further intensified by the aromatic basil. 
This recipe makes enough pesto for at least 1 pound of pasta.  The recipe calls for 8 ounces.  I froze half of the pesto or another meal.
Use the freshest, sweetest, tastiest corn you can find.  Don't even bother to make this with frozen corn.  Measure corn amount by the cup and not by ears of corn.
Here is the recipe.  You can view it at Epicurious.com here.  Be sure to read the reviews before you begin so you can tweak this for the best  results.
Ingredients

4 bacon slices, cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces

4 cups fresh corn kernels (cut from about 6 large ears)

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

8 ounces tagliatelle or fettuccine

3/4 cup coarsely torn fresh basil leaves, divided

Preparation

Cook bacon in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown, stirring often. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet. Add corn, garlic, 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper to drippings in skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat until corn is just tender but not brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer 1 1/2 cups corn kernels to small bowl and reserve. Scrape remaining corn mixture into processor. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan and pine nuts. With machine running, add olive oil through feed tube and blend until pesto is almost smooth. Set pesto aside.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Add corn pesto, reserved corn kernels, and 1/2 cup basil leaves. Toss pasta mixture over medium heat until warmed through, adding reserved pasta cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls to thin to desired consistency, 2 to 3 minutes. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer pasta to large shallow bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup basil leaves and reserved bacon. Serve pasta, passing additional grated Parmesan alongside.

Measure Up

These measuring cups are just too cute!

1 Austin's Flora Measuring Cups $28 Anthropologie 2 White Ducks Stackable Measuring Cups $22 Avantgarage/Etsy 3 Florist Measuring Cups $36 Anthropologie  4 Blue Color Burst Ceramic Measuring Cups $30 KissMyKiln/Etsy

Summer Fragrance in B.Witching Bath Co. Hand Soap

Heirloom Tomato Kitchen & Garden Soap $10.95

I'd love to have this fragrance in my kitchen 

Rosemary Herb Kitchen & Garden Soap $10.95

In winter I could recall the vibrant fragrance of freshly cut herbs.

Recommended by House Beautiful

Available in 8 other scents including coffee and Bordeaux

B.Witching Bath Co.

I talked about 3Bbags in a post July 20, 2010.  My dear friend Sue, read the post and ordered some.  When a group of us got together for lunch to celebrate Sue's birthday, she presented us all with a 3Bbag to try.  

I've been using my bag at the Farmers' Market.  

Today I used the bag for two kinds of onions and two kinds of potatoes and there was still room for more.

The bags are very sturdy and are easily washable.

Thanks Sue!

Fresh Tuna and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Over Pasta

I got some fresh tuna at the market the other day and made a Nicoise Salad.  What to do with the leftover tuna?  I found this great recipe that made use of items that I had on hand.  The sun-dried tomatoes are a glorious compliment to the tuna and the capers and olives add a briny note to the dish.  This is a quick and easy meal with a sophisticate taste.  Take a look at the recipe here.

Feels Like Fall

Just a few days after Labor Day and it truly feels like fall.

Had to get out a long sleeve shirt today.

Love the purple of the wild asters contrasted with the yellow.

The skeleton of a thistle.

Pumpkins are almost ready to be transformed into Jack o'lanterns.

My Latest Read: The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Vintage)

I read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo a while back and was a bit turned off by the "darkness" of the novel.  While a great suspense story, there are no likable characters.  Women are treated abominably, suicide is commonplace as is murder.  So it was with skepticism that I began to read the next in the trilogy by Stieg Larsson,  The Girl Who Played With Fire.   

Yes, there is murder in The Girl Who Played With Fire and some fairly obnoxious characters but the storyline meticulously unwinds to disclose some very shocking revelations leading to the solving of the crimes committed.  If you have not read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, not to worry, the author brings you up to speed as the story progresses.      

You can read the NYTimes review of this book by clicking here.

This book will keep you in suspense and you won't want to put it down until you finish.  Now I'm on to The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.  

Labor Day has passed and I need to acknowledge the fact that summer is more or less over.  Locally, school begins today.  

Late summer/early fall is the most wonderful time at the Farmers Market.  I made pesto, roasted tomatoes, peach chutney and other wonderful treats with the bounty at the market this past week.

Sure enjoyed container gardening and spending lots of time on the deck this summer. 

July brought a new addition to the family...Sydney, our Leader Dog puppy in training. 

The biggest highlight of the summer was my trip to Australia.

I allowed myself to relax and take time to enjoy summer in August.  Now it is time to get back to work.  The day after Labor Day feels like a new year and is a good time to set goals and get back into a routine.  I need to get back to my jewelry making as I'll have to deliver new merchandise for the holidays very soon.  I'm taking an online blogging class and I'm sure you'll hear more about that soon.  Got a few trips lined up too and I can't wait.  

Have a wonderful week, dear ones.