Living With Books

Even though so much reading material is available in digital form, I still like books.  I don't like to part with a book I really enjoyed as it becomes like an old friend.  Books give a home a cozy, personal, lived-in feel.  Here are some images for inspiration to decorate with your book collection.

photo

photo ElleDecor

photo Eriin

photo House Beautiful

photo House Beautiful

photo House Beautiful

photo ApartmentTherapy

photo French By Design

photo loving living small

photo House Beautiful

Happy Monday: Floral Find

Happy Monday

I was delighted to find these adorable orchids at Ikea, of all places.

These tiny, cheerful plants now reside on my bathroom sink/vanity.  

Super Bowl Food

When I think Super Bowl food, I think wings, chili and guacamole.  With game day just a little over a week away it isn't too early to start thinking about what to serve to the fans.  If you are thinking WINGS, you aren't alone. 1.25 billion chicken wings will be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday!  Staggering isn't it?  Also staggering is the amount of fat found in wings, much of which exists in the chicken skin.  How about an alternative, chicken tenders?  The skinless breast meat has half the calories of wings with skin.

Buffalo chicken strips with blue-cheese salad

Martha Stewart has a slideshow of 22 wing and chicken finger recipes on her website.  Here are some of the non-wing recipes.    

Chicken fingers with orange dipping sauce

Corn-tortilla-crusted chicken tenders

Buffalo chicken tenders

Polka Dot Trend

Are you seeing spots?

If not, you will be soon.  "Spots" aka polka dots are popping up everywhere.  Dots are on the runways, celebrities, and coming to stores everywhere. 

Photo Whowhatwear.com

Photo Shefinds.com

This Stella McCartney dress is amazingly popular.  I think J Lo wore one on "Idol" Tuesday night.  So, who wears it best?  Kate Winslet gets my vote.

Photo Shefinds.com
10 ways to wear polka dots.  I particularly like the dot hose with dot skirt and pumps.  

I put together a subtle look using polka dots in shoes and top.  The jewelry evokes dots and the clutch, a bolder look, is reminiscent of another trend, color blocking.  I just LOVE that top!

Polka Dots by spiralstyle 

Kettles

I recently had a discussion with hubby about replacing the ugly, grease-spattered kettle I had on the stove.  I was undecided between an electric kettle and a fun color stove top kettle, like this...

Le Creuset Ogive kettle 

There are so many colors and shapes to choose from.

Hario Kettle

Chantal Classic Kettle

Le Creuset Whistling Kettle

1 Pito kettle Frank Gehry  2 Staub round teapot  3 Bird whistle tea kettle, Michael Graves  

4 Le Creuset Halo kettle  5 Michael Graves for Target  6 Zen kettle Le Creuset  

So what did I choose?

I decided on the Bodum electric kettle in red.  It is quick and small and does not sit on the stove collecting spattered grease.  I may be tempted to buy the Ogive kettle in Caribbean Blue if I run across it.  I LOVE the color and the shape.

What is your kettle style?

Click here to view a recent NY Times article about Kettles.

Kettles by spiralstyle on polyvore.com

Orange Bliss

I am infatuated with the fragrance of these bath and body products from Bliss.

Bliss Soapy Suds, Sugar Scrub and Body Butter

I was first introduced to these products by my daughter.  Just before the holidays I saw the Bliss Blood Orange line on the Today Show as one of Jill's Deals and Steals and I was able to purchase all three regular sized products along with two travel sized items for just $23.  Yep, what a steal.   I LOVE the fragrance and it really lingers on the skin.  

Blood oranges are in season right now.  Here are two ways to take advantage of this beautiful citrus.

Blood orange, beet and fennel salad, Bon Appetit Jan 2012

Gorgeous

Bubbly blood orange and campari cocktail, Laylita's Recipes

This is made with my favorite aperitif, Campari!

Happy Monday

I hope you were able to de-stress and unwind a bit over the weekend.   

Here is a little inspiration to get us started for the week.

Source: s3.amazonaws.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Make it a wonderful day!

Have a Sweet Weekend

I'm trying to eat a bit lighter after the holidays but on the weekend I like a sweet treat.  

Source: creampuffsinvenice.ca via Deborah on Pinteres

I saw these Nutella Meringues on Pinterest and thought they looked delicious.  Just 1/4 cup of yummy Nutella flavors the crunchy meringues.  The recipe is from the blog, Cream Puffs in Venice and it was posted on World Nutella Day, which is February 5.  Yesterday I posted that Feb 5 is the opening of the Jason Wu for Target collection.  Looks like that will be a very full day, shopping and eating Nutella!


Have a wonderful, sweet weekend and see you on Monday.

Save the Date...

... for February 5, the opening of the Jason Wu for Target collection.

There are 53 pieces in the collection,

comprised of bags,

scarves, 

and clothing.

Nothing in the collection is over $60.00

Click here to see an interview with Jason Wu on the Today Show.

Click here for more images and prices.

Pistachios vs Pretzels

Are all calories created equally?  NO!  

You may be helping your weight loss objectives by eating pistachios rather than pretzels

Pistachios have more fat, yes, but it is the unsaturated kind.  Those little green nuts contain 30 vitamins and minerals and are a great source of fiber.  They are a healthy, filling snack with lots of heart health.  

A recent randomized study placed half of the group on a daily snack of pistachios and the other half of the group on an equal calorie serving of pretzels.  The pistachio group was able to  support their weight loss goals better than the pretzel group, even with the nuts being higher in fat.  

Pistachios are one of the lower fat nuts thus making it one of the lower calorie nuts.  It is higher in protein and fiber than most nuts, including walnuts.  Click here for more pistachio nutrition information.

An aded bonus to shelling pistachios yourself rather than buying the shelled variety is that it takes you longer to eat them and seeing all the empty shells reminds you of how many you have eaten.

Happy (wise) snacking!

Faux Knits

On a wintery, cold day, a sweater is a necessity.  Knits are not just for sweaters.  Here are some faux knits in unexpected mediums.  

Cable-knit ceramic serving bowl with 16K gold edge $145. reshapestudio

Hex cable knit cuff bracelet, silver $350. ashflowers2

Shea cable knit porcelain vase $165. Bronson design co.

Cable knit in gold, letterpress coasters $10. redbirdink

Faux cable knit scarf $20. eleventy

Gray & White cable knit picture frame  $30. craftbelly