Gift Guide 2011: Think Outside [but also about] the Box!

While some of you race around enjoying the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy, I've planted myself in one of my favorite coffeehouses, far from the crowds, but nonetheless gift-minded. I am surrounded by catalogs, tear sheets and web "favorites." And I as I start typing, I’m on my second 16-oz drip. So off we go with some gift ideas!  Theme: Built Unique

 

• For fish people.
• For someone who does not have small children.
• For the “cool factor.”

Fishscape Fish Bowl ($140), available through The Conran Shop:

A run-of-the-mill fish bowl, this is not! Aruliden, maker of the Fishscape, won the 2011 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) for this innovative design, which combines light and shadow to create an elaborate underwater home for fish, who are not included.
http://www.conranusa.com/159531/FISHSCAPE-FISH-BOWL/Product


 

• For someone who appreciates conversation pieces.
• For the green thumbs.
• Also for the “cool factor.”

Truss Planter by PULL+PUSH ($58), available through Molla Space:

A cement planter designed to represent an abandoned building. Designer Nobuhiro Sato, who is based in Kyoto, hand-makes all his work using concrete as his base material. His products are meant to inspire us, by pulling and pushing new ideas in and out. Works, doesn’t it?!
http://www.mollaspace.com/shop/truss-planter-by-pull-push.html

• For the birder.
• For someone with outdoor space.

The Garden Pavilion Birdhouse ($223), from Home Bazaar:

 

This is just one example of the MANY incredible birdhouses Home Bazaar offers. The Garden Pavilion was inspired by a classic English Conservatory style greenhouse. It features two separate nest boxes, floor-to-ceiling details on all four sides, and a removable base for easy cleaning. This particular model will accommodate wrens, finches, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Never heard of the last two; doesn't really matter.
http://www.hbbirdhouse.com/Garden+Pavilion+Birdhouse+-+Large_.a10.htm

• For someone who has kids who don't destroy stuff.
• For someone who has to buy something for a kid, and secretly can't wait to play with it themselves.
• For someone who really likes Mid-Century modern design.

 

The Ultra Modern Doll and Furniture House Set ($198), available through Chiasso:

 

This is one very hip dollhouse! Chiasso's “real estate ad”: "Your move-in-ready, modern dream home—complete with open floor plan, contemporary stairway and the coolest of furniture—20th century master designs in miniature. Windows open."
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=56612

 

• For the boys who will always be boys.
• For someone with tablespace to spare.

LEGO Fallingwater ($100), from ShopWright

 

This is a LEGO replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed Fallingwater, one of the most unique homes in the world.  Build it like any other LEGO set.  This one, you may not want to de-construct, though. 

http://www.shopwright.org/lego-fallingwater.html

 

• For hobbyists.
• For lovers of On Golden Pond.

Chris Craft 1949 Racing Runabout Kit ($220), available through Garrett Wade:

Honestly, what a gorgeous boat! I'll take a full-size version, thank you!

Until that happens. . . . a beautiful wood-boat kit of moderate complexity. The controls, motor and NICad battery are available separately; yes, it can actually "runabout" the pond.
http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp?pn=78M01.01

Get gifting.  And remember, Gift Inspired!

 

- E

Some Good Stuff!

 

Classic Bread Stuffing, courtesy of GOOP

 

 

• Note: I used to hate stuffing. You know the "stuff"....the sticky, gloppy stuff that came from a box (or was it a tube?)....yeah, that stuff. Never cared for that stuff and convinced myself I hated stuffing because of it.  
• Note: Now I love "my" stuffing.

• Note: I am a disciple of Gwyneth Paltrow. Specifically, her style, her GOOP, and anything she does involving food.
• Note: "My" stuffing is Gwyneth's stuffing.

 

This is the story of how this all came together:

 

Leading up to Thanksgiving 2009, Gwyneth had written about some of her favorite Thanksgiving dishes in her GOOP Newsletter. It seemed there was nothing extra special about her Classic Bread Stuffing. In fact, the recipe reads incredibly basic. But she did say you could use challah. Love challah! And like I said, I do what Gwyneth does. So Classic Bread Stuffing (using challah) was happening!

 

Thanksgiving Dinner 2009 was held at my tiny studio apartment in New York City. (The picture to the right is a picture of my kitchen. Yes, you can prepare a Thanksgiving feast with just 8 inches of counter space, so long as you don't mind resting pans on the top of your garbage can or on the floor. I do miss that apartment!)

 

The attendees: two of my sisters and me. The menu: Thanksgiving food, as organic and fresh as possible. I combed through my recipe files and put together a rather lovely, veggie-heavy meal. The turkey took a backseat to side dishes that year! The sautéed carrots and Brussels sprouts were nice. I was quite proud of the green bean casserole (no cans of mushroom soup here). But in my humble opinion, the pièce de résistance was the stuffing.

 

I'm a little bummed that I can't describe the taste and texture in mouth-watering detail; I don't remember the specifics. I just remember loving it! And I remember thinking that from then on, if asked to make something for Thanksgiving dinner, this would be my go-to dish. I will never be in charge of turkey. I want nothing to do with yams. My mother's mashed potatoes (with skins left on) are too good to mess with. My aunt's bread wins every time. And my pies will never look as pretty as my sister's pie. But "my" stuffing will follow me wherever I go.

 

So here it is.....this is what all this fuss is about....

 

 

Classic Bread Stuffing

Generous on the onions and fennel seeds, this stuffing is hearty and satisfying but not soggy or heavy as stuffing can sometimes be. Made with good vegetable stock, it’s vegetarian-friendly.

 

Serves: 12, with leftovers

Time: 2 hours, a lot of which is completely unattended

 

Ingredients:

· 15 cups of 1/2˝ bread cubes (challah, wholegrain, or ciabatta)

· 1/4 cup butter + 1 tablespoon cut into small pieces

· 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil

· 1 very large onion, very finely diced (roughly 2 1/2 cups)

· 2 stalks celery, very finely diced (roughly 1/2 cup)

· 2 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds

· 3/4 teaspoon celery seeds

· 2 generous tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

· 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

· 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

· 2 1/2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

· 2 1/2 cups high-quality vegetable stock, divided

 

Preheat the oven to 300º F. Spread the bread cubes out on two cookie sheets and bake for about ten minutes or until a bit dried out, not browned.

Meanwhile, heat the 1/4 cup of butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add the onion, celery, fennel and celery seeds, rosemary, salt and pepper and sweat the mixture for 20 minutes, keeping the heat low enough so that the vegetables don’t color – you just want them to get soft and sweet. Turn off the heat, add the parsley and let the mixture cool for about ten minutes in the pan. Add the bread cubes and 2 cups of stock; stir to evenly distribute. Let the mixture sit for about an hour to let the flavors really get into everything (now’s a good time to work on your other Thanksgiving dishes!).

Reserve two cups of the stuffing for the turkey if desired.

Set the oven to 350º F. Put the stuffing into an ovenproof baking dish (you could even leave it in your sauté pan if it doesn’t have plastic handles – one less thing to wash!). Pour over the remaining stock and dot with the remaining tablespoon of butter. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

Feel free to claim it as your own!

To the friends and family I will share Thanksgiving dinner with this year, get ready for the good stuff[ing]!

And Happy Thanksgiving to all!

- E

p.s. This is GOOP: http://www.goop.com/

Tied up and Hanging out

Alice Rosignoli's "20 Hangers" Wardrobe

For every one "thing" I've tried, vouch for, and want to tell you about, I've got at least 27 things I read about/ heard about/ saw in a store/ tracked down online/ really want to try/ know I'll love/ and just can't wait to talk about. With the holiday shopping season right around the corner, I think I may pepper my posts in coming weeks with some fun things that you, too, may enjoy. Or, maybe you'll just get a kick out of some of the random things I drool over. Either way, come friends, let's delve into the "E files." (Yes, there are files.....kind of a lot of them, actually.....)

So artist/designer Alice Rosignoli is over in Europe, working with ordinary hangers and dreaming up a way to transform how things hang. She fashions the "20 Hangers" wardrobe. The design world notices. New York Magazine features the product in their recent Fall Design 2011 issue. I see this. And I'm in love.

The concept: 20 common wood hangers and black ropes, hanging from cables attached to your ceiling or wall. Senior industrial designer, Sally Rumble, describes it as a chandelier of sorts. (Great way to think of it!)

The real-life application: E's dry cleaning and freshly ironed threads move from their assumed positions on the back of doors and closet door handles to a Maypole-like installation hanging as the art currently missing from her bedroom.

You see, while many people may look at "20 Hangers" as a brilliant invention for the closet space-deprived, I look at "20 Hangers" as an awesome opportunity to play around with the clothes I already hang outside my closet. I imagine some of my tanks and sweaters getting reacquainted, and my otherwise very neutral wardrobe looking rather handsome mingling loosely as a group.

This:

Looks way better than this:


Wouldn't you agree?!

Price: 120 euro, plus shipping. That comes to 150 euro, or a little more than $200. I know - I know!! - that is a lot of money for hangers. When it comes to household items worth spending money on, I realize for most people hangers are right up there with paper towel holders and drawer dividers.

"So E," you ask, "you haven't actually tried these, they're not across-the-board practical, they're pricey, and, frankly, they're a little 'out there' for everyday living, why are you telling us about these?"

Well, if you love 'em and you can afford 'em, go for it! (http://alicerosignoli.it/) If you're intrigued by Alice's ability to take make some ordinary objects cool, then do what I do and print some of these pictures and stare at them. Finally, we're entering gift-giving season. Your takeaway? Gift inspired.

"Gift" being a verb...the act of gifting. Think outside the box. Notice what people like, what they do, what they use, and what not everybody else has. Absorb the options. Allow yourself to be inspired. And gift inspired.

Speaking of hangers and gifts, a few years ago, I gave one of my sisters a [rather pricey] knitted hanger as a gift. She's the fashionista of our family and is the one I knew would appreciate something like this. It's great for delicates, but absolutely perfect for the heavy vintage coat she cherishes. She never would have purchased a knitted hanger for herself, but was happy to receive it as a gift! I was in awe when I saw them, allowed myself to think beyond her "wish list," and purchased confidently.

I sure hope I didn't lose you here today. I'm hung up on the "20 Hangers" (yes, pun totally intended!) and am in the midst of pulling gift ideas for several projects, so this is a glimpse of where my head is these days. I have not succumbed to Pinterest. Pretty sure that's where I belong. For now, consider this my pinboard manifesto.

- E

Be a Super Hero!

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company

Bloggers who post daily: you are my heroes! How do you do it?

When I started this blog, I was between full-time jobs, and looking for a creative outlet. I figured a post per week would do. But now, I've got a whole lot goin' on! At any given moment, there are at least 12 things I (a) wish I was doing; (b) should be doing; (c) am thinking about doing the second I finish what I'm currently doing. Tending to this blog has been a, b, and c since I started it. Sometimes I wish I was Evie from the late '80s/early '90s TV show "Out of this World." Remember her? Her father was an alien from the planet Anterias. Being half-alien, of course she has superpowers, including the ability to pause and un-pause time! Why wish for more hours in the day when you could wish for the ability to pause time, check everything off your list without interruption, then un-pause and resume?!

What superpower would you like to have? Who did you pretend to be when you were a kid? Growing up, I loved to "play house" with dolls and Barbie; I was always the mom! Other than that, I put my creative juices to use rearranging furniture in my bedroom for fun, and sketching floorplans for my parents to use to remodel our house. Yeah . . .

Anyway, I don't have kids of my own, but hear more and more friends and relatives talk about the importance of "dramatic play." Who knew that there was such an official term for what a lot of folks in my age group knew simply as "dress up."

Well, parents (and adult dreamers and seekers-of-all-things-cool-and-unique), I am super excited to introduce to you to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company. Let them handle "dramatic play" for you, for when it comes to helping your kids make believe, you will never come close to what BSSCo has put together! This truly is one of the most unique lines I've come across in years, maybe ever. (And I don't use "unique" lightly. When I was PR, churning out press releases for consumer products, my co-worker, Janet, begged us to avoid using the word "unique." It was/is an over-used word. But what can I say, we were 20-somethings trying to convince reporters to pay attention to what we were hawking. We thought we were slick.) But I digress. I'm going for it; I'm calling Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company UNIQUE! Let me sell you on this. . .

[Stop here if you live in the New York City area. You need to just strap on a cape and soar over to 372 5th Ave. in Brooklyn and check this place out for yourself!]

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company: purveyors of high quality crimefighting merchandise. Finally dear heroes, one-stop shopping!

You'll start with your Secret I.D. Glasses, or go a step up and get your "human identity" Starter Kits. You may need a new Cape. Depending on your identity, you may need to add a gallon of Muscle, X-Ray Glasses, or a Sequin Belt. Surely, you'll need some gear (a Mind Reader, perhaps) and lab supplies (some Matter, a case of Kryptonite, and some Chaos, which is for use by licensed heroes only). Manuals will come in handy, but some Speed of Light fluid will help you navigate the Index of Good & Evil.

Superheros don't deal with dollars, but for what it's worth, you humans can purchase a Vortex for $11M or Time Portal for a cool $3.8M. For now, maybe just the Red Phone?

You know what? I'm not any more imaginative and creative that I was when I was 8, so I'm going to stop trying to describe all of this in a clever way. You really need to check out for yourself. Go to the website NOW!

Ack! Wait! Before you go, I want to mention two things to keep in mind:

• ALL PROCEEDS from the sale of Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company products go directly to support the free writing and tutoring programs at 826NYC, which is a nonprofit organization that assists students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and helps teachers inspire their students to write.
  


• The BSSCo store in Brooklyn is staffed entirely by volunteers.
  

They are heroes in their own right. So, without further ado, Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company: http://www.superherosupplies.com/

- E

[All images courtesy of Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company]

WIN-ning UPDATE

News you can use. . .

I ran out of WIN detergent this past weekend. And it was replaced by a "lesser" product at the store where I usually bought it. I told the store manager all about WIN and how they needed to reconsider the decision (as if 26-year-old Tim really had any say in the chain store's product offering).

So I went home, figuring I'd buy it online or find another store that carries it. Then, this:

"WIN Detergent has been sold to a new management team!We expect to have WIN available online and in specialty retail stores by the end of October, 2011. Follow us on Facebook for more updates!"

It's coming back, folks! Wait for it!

-E

WINning!

WIN High Performance Sport Detergent

In recent years, my workout clothes rested comfortably at the bottom of my dresser drawers. I may have pulled out a pair of yoga pants to lounge in on a Sunday or a t-shirt to paint in, but for the most part, I wasn’t putting them to work.

But a year ago, I decided to take a break from my workaholic ways, moved to a city full of people who live for their sports and outdoor activities, and slowly but surely, I am discovering my inner athlete. So my workout clothes are now in constant rotation. And on any given day, worn workout attire is strewn about my apartment – draped over a shower door or hanging on a drying rack – to air out/dry. You see, in a perfect world, I’d come home from exercising, throw my clothes in the wash immediately, and then let clean clothes dry on a drying rack. Scratch that; in a perfect world, I’d come home from exercising and someone would do all of the above FOR ME!

But, life it was it is. Until I hit it big and/or hire a personal valet, my sweaty workout clothes go unwashed for days, and I rely on WIN laundry detergent. It’s marketed as “High Performance Sport Detergent.” It’s apparently used by and endorsed by the U.S. Olympic Team at U.S. Olympic Training Centers. And it claims to “eliminate embedded sweat and odor.” It is. It probably is. And it so does!

The same day I wrote this blog entry, I washed a big load of workout clothes using WIN. And then I conducted a very thorough sniff test. I swear, from sports bras to sweat-wicking shirts and everything in between, it’s all as fresh and clean as a field of daisies on a warm summer day. And unlike the toughest of common detergents (which sometimes seem to just be put a top layer of “detergent smell” on clothes, rather than actually taking care of the problem) , WIN seems to really get into the fibers of clothes to eliminate odor and dirt. They call it “oxy cleaning technology.” Whatever that means, it works! And by the way, it works for both normal loads and high efficiency front-loading machines.

Following is a link to the WIN brand website, where you can follow the “Buy WIN” link to search for a retailer near you. (What’s great is that in addition to sporting goods stores, many sports clubs and fitness studios are now selling WIN.) A 21oz. bottle retails for under $10.

http://www.windetergent.com/

Something to keep in mind though, when I saw that a nearby Sports Authority carried WIN, I went in and scanned the shelves that housed similar products. When I didn’t see WIN, I asked a sales associate who said she remembered seeing it in the store, but couldn’t remember where she saw it. Ten minutes and 4 store employees later, we found it on an end-cap in the clothing area. You may have to search for it, but it’s time well spent!

- E

p.s. One of my sisters is an athlete who has been in training full-time for several years. Obviously, her threads take a beating! She swears by Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator (a Biokleen product). I haven’t tried it, so I can’t endorse it, but I know she would!

From Breakfast Room to Boudoir, Penthouse to Pool House…and everything in between!

A sampling of the Lafco "House and Home" Candle Collection

(l to r: Master Bathroom: Marine, Game Room: Blue Bamboo, Media Room: Spike Lavender)

How you doing on candles? Let me guess – you’ve got a few choice ones scattered around your place? A couple on the mantle for decoration, your new favorite one on the coffee table, a few votives near the bathtub (because you envision yourself taking baths by candlelight)? And then a drawer or cabinet full of the ones you’re currently sick of. Something like that, right?

You may even go through phases with candles. I know I have! Discovered them initially for my college apartments. Then I went on to work at Pier 1 Imports for a while. And let me tell you – the last thing a candle-loving 21-year-old needs is an employee discount on candles. Let’s just say I amassed a collection! Then on to Party-lite candle parties. . . It was out-of-control there for a while. And then I lost interest in candles.

Sure, I’d still sniff every candle in a store (and still do), but for the longest time, nothing “wowed” me. “Practical E” was always in my head telling me I had plenty of candles at home to light and love.

Then along came the “House and Home” Collection by Lafco.

Before I commence with the love fest, I should get this off my chest: these were part of Oprah’s “favorite things” last year. And I got a little uppity because I figured everyone would think that I jumped on the Lafco bandwagon because of Oprah. No people, no. In the most immature, obnoxious way, I’m here to say, “E discovered them first!” But thanks, O, for agreeing with me. :)

Annnnywayyyyy….the candles! You know I’m going to say they’re great and worth every penny! They are soy-based wax candles, with a natural cotton wick, housed in a wide hand-blown glass jar (approx. 4” x 4”) that’s pretty just sitting there doing nothin’. A 16oz candle will yield about 90 hours of burning. Retail is $55. I currently own “Kitchen: Cilantro Orange.” I tend to move a lot and it’s made sense in every kitchen I’ve had it in. And you know why it makes sense in every kitchen? Because it was designed for the kitchen; it’s in the “Fragrance Floorplan.”

Yes! You heard me! There is a Fragrance Floorplan! And let’s pause for a moment to discuss the Fragrance Floorplan, shall we? Um, it’s F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c! I need you to picture me reaching through your computer screen, grabbing you by the shoulders, and sticking the Fragrance Floorplan in your face. And then I’d tell you to take a good long look at it, concluding that yes, it’s the coolest thing you’ve seen all week! (Link to the coolest thing you’ve seen all week – when you’re done reading this – below.)

I’m going to go ahead and put this Fragrance Floorplan up near the tippy-top of my “loves.” Other companies may woo you with fragrance and packaging (which, don’t get me wrong, will often work for me), but Lafco doesn’t stop there. The Fragrance Floorplan gives these beautiful candles a story. They were thought about and planned for. They were incorporated.

As if all of this weren’t enough, a sub-group of the “House and Home” Collection is the “Dream Home Candles” Collection. Oh yes, a candle for your ski lodge, a candle for your beach house, a candle for your ranch house, and a candle for your treehouse (yep!). On and on the options go…..

So, buy yourself a Lafco candle. Buy one for a friend. Lafco candle(S!) would make a GREAT housewarming gift - - you could buy for several rooms of the house and put them in a great basket! Or, best of all - - buy a TON of them for a wedding gift. I am waiting for just the right people to get married so I can gift them a boat-load of room-specific candles, setting the tone for their blissful, tasteful, beautiful, Lafco life together. (I’m corny, but I’m serious!)

The very least you could do is follow this link so you can see the Fragrance Floorplan in all its glory, hovering over all the rooms, then moving on to see the “Dream Home” collection. Look. And Love.

The "Fragrance Floorplan": http://www.lafcony.com/hh/floorplan.php

- E

p.s. If you find yourself in New York City, visit the Lafco collections at Santa Maria Novella on Lafayette St. in SoHo. It’s a beautiful store full of beautiful things!

PB + J [J is for Justin]

Oh, Justin - - you and your nut butters! You and your squeeze packs!

Take any kind of food. Divvy it up and make “travel-size,” “to-go,” “snack-size,” or “minis” and I’m probably going to buy it. Why? Well, because it’ll probably make my haphazard lunch-packing easier. And they make portion-control, well, happen….

So there I am, about a year ago, taking my time in the aisles of a giant, clean, quiet, Whole Foods store near my new home when I get to the peanut butter section. Keep in mind that I force myself to buy the organic, natural stuff now because I’ve been convinced, but I remain annoyed that I have to keep the stuff refrigerated (I don’t like how it hardens and isn’t as easy to spread). And I turn a sour face every time I have to stir a layer of oil with ¾ of a jar full of what amounts to dry nuts. But I digress. Back to Whole Foods, circa July 2010. I find these:

That’s right - - little packs of nut butters. Multiple flavors. Squeeze ‘em instead of stir. Fridge not needed. Justin – you rocked my shopping cart that day! And for the past year, I’ve never not had a box of Justin’s Nut Butter in my cupboard!

I’ll skip past the convenience factor; I’m sure you get it. Instead, let’s get to the flavors. (By the way, the company’s high standards mean the highest quality, locally sourced, natural and organic ingredients for you.) The Almond Butter is available plain, or with chocolate, honey, or maple. The Peanut Butter is available plain, or with chocolate, honey, or hazelnut. I’ve tried them all and can’t think of a reason why you shouldn’t do the same! My favorite is Honey Almond on toast. But I also really enjoy Maple Almond on a banana. I was reading about “Team Justin” on the company’s website. Lance Gentry (President of the company) likes to put Maple Almond Butter on cinnamon rice cakes. Now that I know cinnamon rice cakes exist, I’m going to hunt them down so I can try this!

And it turns out I am going to belabor the convenience factor. . . How great that you can throw one of these in your bag, along with a banana, apple, rice cake, crackers, etc. and go?! As soon as I reach my desk in the morning, I forget that I have food shoved in my bag so things that won’t spoil on me are great! Remember how I said I hated having to deal with the oil/nut separation? Well, herein lies the genius of the packets: I give that little pack a few squeezes and done! Moms – this is a no-brainer. Picnic-goers, same. Portable protein; it’s perfect! Ooooh, and here’s an added tip – when you’re at the grocery store and you see the little boxes on display that the packets come in, I don’t know how the grocery store people feel about this, but I shuffle packs around and leave with an actual box full of the packs I want. Easy storage/display for you once you get home!

Individual 1.15oz packs retail for about $1 each, and I always find them at Whole Foods. For those of you who enjoy a good old jar of peanut butter that you can dig a spoon into every once in a while, Justin’s got you covered. Sixteen-ounce jars range from $6 to $10, depending on the flavor. I see the jars at most mainstream grocery store chains these days.

Time for some links:

#1 On Justin’s “Nut House” page, scroll down to the bottom of the page and take the very brief survey they link to. YOU COULD WIN A CASE OF NUT BUTTER!!! I think it would be really cool if one of my readers won because not only would they enjoy their prize, but it would prove that people read this blog of mine and actually follow links. Let’s see who’s actually still with me! [insert smiley face]
http://www.justinsnutbutter.com/nuthouse.php

#2 Here’s a link to “Nuts Near You”:
http://www.justinsnutbutter.com/shop.php

#3 Here’s a link to the Justin’s e-store (where I discovered that they now carry Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups!!!):
http://justinsnutbutter.elsstore.com/

Ok, you know what to do! Enjoy!

- E

Handwriting, Ink.

LePen

Before the dawn of big “office stores” and online retailers, there were independent office supply stores. Growing up, I loved tagging along with my dad when he’d go to “the office supply store.” The place smelled like fresh paper and just-vacuumed carpet. And I loved the pen aisle. Gobs and pens and markers to choose from and a large piece of paper on which to try them all out.

Today, if I’m in an art supply store, I’m in the pen aisle! I smile at the sight of those honeycomb-like containers playing host to a rainbow of color options and an array of tip styles. But I will always leave the store with a LePen. These delicate little pens are narrow and extremely light. The ink doesn’t bleed beyond the lines I draw. It knows its place. A LePen provides just the right amount of ink per stroke when you’re addressing an envelope. Superfine writing at its best!

And believe me, I use LePen(s) a lot. I may be an email machine during the day, and check in on the Blackberry at night, but when it comes to communicating something special and sincere, I appreciate hand-written notes…..more than you know! A medium-sized box on a bookshelf houses special cards and notes I’ve received over the years. And a long buffet drawer in my living room holds a collection of stationery and carefully selected greeting cards I will one day send. Altogether it’s a testament to my belief that there is something very dear in the classic pen*-meets-paper way of communicating. (*Pen, of course, being LePen.)

Aside from art supply nuts and parents with young kids (and thus plastic bins full of thick markers), not a lot of adults branch out beyond Bic and Sharpie. But maybe you should.

Eggs-actly Right!

Last week, a friend asked me for suggestions for things she could take to a weekend picnic. The first thing that came out of my mouth: Deviled Eggs. Funny that I’d say that since I’ve never made deviled eggs for a picnic. But I do know they’re always a hit. My mother makes them for potlucks year-round!

So between that picnic discussion and the egg salad I ate all last week (thanks to a sudden inheritance of a dozen eggs that were going to go to waste), eggs were top-of-mind.

And the smart thing to do is to share with you my go-to, never-fail, perfect-every-time “recipe” for making hard-boiled eggs. Devil them up, chop ‘em up for a salad, or just add pepper . . . whatever the end-result, here’s how to start:

(Oh, and ALL credit goes to Martha Stewart! This is all Martha, from the indispensable reference book that is “The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics,” p. 571.)


PERFECT HARD-BOILED EGGS

The foolproof method will ensure that you have bright-yellow yolks with no darkened edges, which is a sign that the eggs have been overcooked:
• Place the eggs in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, and place over high heat.
• Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat, and cover. Let the eggs stand for 13 minutes.
• Drain, and place in cold water until cool.
• Peel.


Oh, summer picnics and summer salads. So nice!

- E
(I promise to be back to an actual “product” next time!)

Ode to Farmers' Markets

A little heart tomato.

I heart farmers' markets. Especially of the Saturday morning variety.

I love the little white tents. I love the friendly, smiley vendors. I love all the people who come out to support "buying local." From the eye-catching displays at the market tables to the visual and edible feast I enjoy at home, it's all so good and gorgeous.

Today, simply a visual essay: At Home with the Best of Today's Market Goods

Yes, I spent $28 on heirloom tomatoes!

Two types of kale.

A crusty Italian baguette. I see Sunday morning French toast in my future!

And finally, poppies!

Shop local. Love farmers' markets!

-E

Giving Toothpicks a Run for the Money

Crest 'Glide To Go' Packets

Again, so late with my post this week. But here’s why I’m late with it: I was going to write about something else, and an hour or so before I was going to sit to type up that other review, I was at the pharmacy and found this floss. And this floss was on my initial list of “things to review/blog about” but I was not finding the product in the stores and feared that Crest no longer made it. And what’s the point of recommending something to you that you can’t actually get your hands on, right? Anyway……Crest IS still making this stuff, so - YAY – I get to tell you about it after all!

Now, to know me is to know that I’m a “bag lady.” I’ve always got a bag or two with me. You just never know what you’re going to need while you’re out and about, or what you’re going to need to pick up and cart home with you. So I’m always prepared. And some days I think I’d make a great contestant on Let’s Make a Deal because of how much I’ve got in one of my bags. Who’s got a French jazz CD? Who’s got a magenta Sharpie? Who’s got a chocolate chip granola bar? Me. Me. Me.

This is just to say that in addition to the household goods, pantry items, and websites I’ve been telling you about, you better believe I’ve got some goodies for you “to-go.”

I’ve carried Crest brand ‘Glide To Go’ floss packets since they were invited. Floss is great to have on-hand. And not that a little box of floss takes up that much room, but when “travel-size” [anything] came to market, you ditched the full-size products for the minis that you could pack to-go, right?! Same applies here.

So there’s that. And then there’s also the fact that the girl with the big bag full of random stuff is often asked, “Ooh, do you have some more gum?” Or, “Got a pen?” Or a passive comment like, “I wish I had some floss!” Back in the day when I carried the regular little box of floss, no one asked for “a few inches of floss.” But now they can totally ask for floss. And I’ll gladly hand over one of the little single-use packets I’ve got in my bag of tricks.

What’s that you say? You don’t carry a bag? Uh, do ya have a pocket? One little packet is no bigger than a one dollar bill that’s been folded, then folded, and folded again. If you can carry a buck, you can carry a little floss packet!

And for about four bucks ($4), you’ll get a box of 30 single-use packets.

So keep your eyes peeled in that floss section. You’ll thank me when you’re heading out of a restaurant with clients or a date, you need to clean your teeth, but there are no toothpicks in sight. You’ll reach into your pocket – OR BAG! – and voila!

Be cool; carry floss.

- E

p.s. The bag featured at top is a Laced Julia bag by FOLLIS. A really great line! Check them out here: http://follisny.com/

Sorbetto.

Talenti's Roman Raspberry Sorbetto

Sorbetto.

Sorbetto. Period.

I wish I could stop there knowing that you would automatically understand and appreciate the admiration I have for Talenti’s Roman Raspberry Sorbetto. . . the way you “know” the taste of ice cold beer on a hot summer day, or chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven.

But I fear you may not know of this love of mine. So, I will do my best to make you crave it. . .

Before June 2010, I did not give ice cream much thought. Growing up we went to Dairy Queen once in a while or had sherbert on a rare summer day. (Remember sherbert? That sad little mix of lime green/pale orange/light pink?) Anyway, so a year ago I moved to a new city. One of the few things I knew about this new city in advance was a little ice cream shop that had a cute name and great ice cream. I went for ice cream within my first week in town. Turns out, I love [GOOD] ice cream.

So how did this one little shop convert me? Simple – and it goes along with the theme of this blog – this place makes REALLY GOOD ice cream. Really good/ well-done/ best-of . . .bingo!

The shop is not in my neighborhood, so I don’t go that often, but knowing that I was now into ice cream, I started spending time in the ice cream aisle. I’ve tried just about every brand available. There’s some tasty stuff out there, but none of it holds a candle to the frozen goodness found at my nearby ice cream shop. EXCEPT FOR Talenti’s Roman Raspberry Sorbetto!!!!! Thank goodness this stuff is widely available because you’re going to want to add this to your grocery list!

First of all, there may be something wrong with you if you’re not floored by the color of this stuff. Talenti makes many flavors and you may have a variety of gelato and sorbetto options to choose from. But the deep red raspberry color of the Roman Raspberry Sorbetto is a treat for your eyes!

And then wait till you get home and grab a spoon!

The flavor is deep. The creaminess and “raspberry-ness” live deep within every lick, bite, and swallow. It is rich. It is beautiful. (If you don’t want to take my word for it, check out Talenti’s ingredients and attributes on their website. “No details are ignored and no shortcuts are taken.”)

It may be because it’s so rich and flavorful that you will be satisfied with a sophisticated, small amount of it. Remember the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts is with Richard Gere and his clients at a fancy dinner and she is offered a small dish of mint sorbet to cleanse the palate? That’s the size I’m talking about. (And if you don’t follow my reference, we’re talking the size of a little clementine, if that.)

Natural. Kosher. Gluten-free. Pure this. Fresh that. Real. Good.

Before you head out for your grocery shop, do check out the Talenti website to make sure you hit a store that carries the line. (http://www.talentigelato.com/StoreFinder.aspx ) And while I don’t think you’d be disappointed with the brand’s other flavors, the Roman Raspberry Sorbetto is what you’re looking for!

And now for a little bonus: you can order Talenti products online! While putting this blog entry together, I learned of IceCreamSource.com: http://www.icecreamsource.com/ . Holy cow – you’ve got to check it out! In addition to Talenti, you can order Babcock Hall ice cream, (a little shout-out to University of Wisconsin readers!), among other fantastically named and possibly equally delicious brands.

On IceCreamSource.com, Talenti’s Roman Raspberry Sorbetto is $7.99 per pint. I scored it at my local grocery store for $3.99 per pint last week!

Hip hip hooray!

Lips Like Sugar

the lip scrub, by Sara Happ

Do you make any of your own cleaning products? Or beauty products? Got some sort of homemade remedy you swear by?

Want to know how to garner some attention for it? How to grab E’s attention and get written up in this here blog (ha!)? Well…

1. Concoct something simple, yet super effective

2. Put it in very simple, yet stylish packaging

3. Sell it in a cute store

That’s what Sara Happ did. She invented “the lip scrub.” And then she put it in a tiny little brown box with a tiny little white ribbon, and used a very simple font. And then I found it on display in a sweet little tea shop in New York City. Of course I bought it! (I’ll say it again: I’m a sucker for good packaging!)

I’m sure I thought I was going to gift it to someone. That would make sense since it’s all tidy and wrapped up to begin with. But….I figured I should try it out first. You know, review it. And then I fell in love.

Yes, you could make some version of this at home using Vaseline and sugar. I love to think that I would do that. But do I ever actually get around to doing it? No. I wonder, though, if a homemade version could be as effective. Sara Happ nails it on her ratio of petrolatum (the Vaseline-like stuff) and exfoliating sugar granules.

Oh, by the way, when you read “the lip scrub” aloud, “the” should rhyme with “me.” It’s the lip scrub (says E). It’s that good!

I’ve used it the same way from the get-go:

1. Before getting in the shower, I rub a bit of it in little circles all over my lips.

2. Then, I rub my lips together for about a minute or so. Helps the exfoliation.

3. By the time I’m washing my face, most of the little sugar granules have melted away and I’m left wish super soft lips. See - no dryness or chappiness here! (And just to be clear - - there were no enhancements, touch-ups or lip balm used in the making of this photo. Real, plain lips here! Thank you, Sara Happ!)

As Sara Happ herself states in her marketing: “Wonder how you ever lived without it.” Exactly!

Visit Sara Happ’s website to find out where to buy “the lip scrub”: http://www.sarahapp.com/index.php If you’d rather shop for it online, the website provides links to stores that sell it online. A 1oz. container retails for $24 (cute little brown box with a tiny little white ribbon, included). Several flavors available (E loves almond crème).

I close today with a shout-out to Echo & The Bunnymen: Thank you for writing a song that’s bound to be stuck in at least one reader’s head all day. It’ll keep “the lip scrub” top-of-mind!

“Lips like sugar….sugar kisses….”

- E

Position yourself

www.SeatGuru.com

I begin with an apology: I am sorry (and embarrassed) to have skipped a week of posting. I didn’t think that would happen so early on. I don’t have a decent excuse either. Pathetic!

Onward. . .
_________________________________________________


I don’t remember the last time I sat in a middle seat on an airplane.

I’ve never missed a connection because I’ve been so far back on a plane that it took too long to get off.

And most of the time, I’m pretty happy with my seat.

First-class flier? Not lately. Lucky traveler? No, not really. I just take my travel planning seriously – down to my seat assignments for every leg of a trip.

You see, not all planes are the same and not all seats are created equal. So I just can’t rely on some agent to assign me to “an aisle or a window.” Here’s an example of why: Seat 17D on an “American Airlines Canadair CRJ-700” is a window seat in the very back of the plane. Whereas, seat 17D on a “Delta Airlines Boeing 767-400” is a middle seat toward the front of a middle collection of seats in a coach section with two-aisles.

So how do I avoid a seating nightmare? As soon as I pull up my go-to travel search website, no sooner do I also pull up http://www.seatguru.com/ . (I’m sure there’s some “app” out there that does all of this, too. But I don’t do “apps.” I kick it old-school and visit websites.)

The SeatGuru tagline is “The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities, and airline information.” Yep! Ultimate is right!

It’s incredibly easy to use! You open the site and right there, front and center, is a box that asks you to enter your flight info (airline and flight number), which eventually leads you directly to a page for the specific aircraft that will be operating your flight. From there, you will learn oh-so-much about your plane.

Just below some wordy text about your aircraft you’ll see icons that highlight some on-board amenities. And just below that, a lovely diagram of your vessel. And letters, numbers, and colors – oh, my! The Seatmap Key off to the side provides the answers to that stuff. The real fun comes when you hover your mouse over all of the little seat boxes. Some seats will be listed as a “standard economy seat,” while others have “some extra knee room but not necessarily more legroom” or “limited recline” or “can get very cold at the exits during the flight” or “passengers seated here will be the last to be served and to disembark.” See what I’m saying?!?! You spend time and money putting itineraries together, so spend time thinking about where you want to spend your time in the sky.

The only thing I can think of that SeatGuru can’t do for us? Guarantee that we won’t end up next to Chatty Cathy or Smelly Stan…..

Hook yourself (and your travel companions) up with decent seats! Knowledge is power, folks. Enjoy your flight!

- E

E's Breakfast Bowl, Part 2

Trader Joe’s Dried Pomegranate Seeds &

Trader Joe’s Unsalted Dry Toasted Pecan Pieces

You start with oatmeal. You might choose to add some milk. Perhaps you can’t go without brown sugar. My favorite oatmeal toppings right now? Trader Joe’s Dried Pomegranate Seeds and Trader Joe’s Unsalted Dry Toasted Pecan Pieces.

Pomegranate Seeds

I can’t remember how I heard about these.

When I lived in New York City, there was a gourmet grocery store that sold fresh pomegranate seeds (from ½ a pomegranate) in a tiny plastic container for something like $8.00. Convenient, but pricey. But oh how I loved those tangy, gorgeous seeds. So when I heard that Trader Joes’s carried dried pomegranate seeds, I couldn’t get there fast enough.

I almost missed them at the store, though; they’re not easy to spot. They’re in with other packets of dried fruit, near the nuts. (By the way, I’m not talking about the chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds!)

But these aren’t exactly plain, either. The ingredients listed on the back of the bag: dried pomegranate seeds, sugar, citric acid, pomegranate juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, high oleic sunflower oil. Tanginess comes from the pomegranate seeds (and juices, I’m sure). A subtle sweetness comes from the sugar. And I believe the chewy yet crunchy thing has something to do with the oil.

I’m not sure these guys are as high up on the “good for you” nutrition scale as, say, those raw, pricey numbers I found in NYC, but hey, a sprinkling of them on your oatmeal isn’t a bad thing! At $2.99 for a 6oz bag, a sprinkling a morning will last you a while! Trust me!


Pecan Pieces

Pecan pieces. Unsalted. Dry Toasted. Pretty self-explanatory.

My aunt loved pecans. She turned me on to them when I was a kid. Now I love them. Seems like walnuts are paired with oatmeal usually. But try pecans. Different. Awesome!

Also awesome is the price. Nuts can be expensive, so if you ask me, $3.99 for an 8oz bag seems reasonable!





And……that’s how E does breakfast!



- E



p.s. I know Trader Joe’s isn’t everywhere yet. Such a bummer! I have a friend who doesn’t live near a Trader Joe’s, but is such a fan of so many of their products that she’ll visit stores when she’s in other states for work, fill a box, and ship the box of goodies to her house. She doesn’t mess around!

Here’s a link to their website so you can find one closest to you: http://www.traderjoes.com/

E’s Breakfast Bowl, Part 1

Old Fashioned Quaker Oats

Next time you grocery shop, meander through the aisles the way you do, filling up your cart. Pause when you get to the oatmeal section. Then - - look down. Bottom shelf. There – where sundries go to wait out their expiration dates – that’s where you’ll find that familiar cardboard tube. Old Fashioned Quaker Oats. Bend down and grab it. It’s time to get re-acquainted!

I know this is not an introduction. I’m 99% sure that when you had oatmeal growing up, it came from this tube. But I have a feeling that most of you oatmeal-eaters out there are pouring it out of cute portion-controlled “packets” these days. . . those convenient little fun-flavored packets that come five or six to a box. . . those boxes that have taken over the oatmeal section. . . am I right?!?! Actually, to be fair, it’s not that these boxes of flavored oatmeal packets have taken over the oatmeal section; they actually created an oatmeal section! And I’m actually not entirely opposed to those boxes and packets. Some of them are quite tasty.

I just feel bad for the tube. Relegated to the bottom shelf, hanging out with “off brands” and bulk items like those bags of cereal. You know about grocery store real estate, right? Nothing about placement of products in the grocery store is random. Top shelves generally go to regional and specialty brands. Anything on the prominent eye- or hand-level shelves has the best chance of making it into your cart. Bottom shelf is everything else – store brands, oversized items, and leftovers. AND, some of the best deals! (You’re going to get more oat for your dollar buying the tube!)

And here’s another little secret: there’s nothing tricky about the plain old oats from the tube. You don’t even have to get the “instant” kind. The regular Old Fashioned Oats will do you just fine. I’m going to break it down for you: Old Fashioned Oats-making 101:

1. You lift the lid off the tube of oats. (You do this instead of opening a box to get a packet out.)

2. You either go with the measurement suggestions on the back of the tube, or eyeball the amount of oatmeal you want in your bowl. (A tad more work than dumping the packet in a bowl, but you’ll get the hang of it.)

3. You add water. (Same goes for the packets)

[3.5 You can add the tiniest pinch of salt at this point (I think it somehow helps the oatmeal absorb the water??), but you can omit if you have a salt problem.]

4. You put your bowl in the microwave. (Same)

5. You eat it. (Same)

Not so bad!

But it’s not as portable, you say. That’s what baggies and Tupperware containers are for, I say.

But your kind is so plain, you say. That’s what toppings are for, I say! Toppings that you have total control over. (In Part 2 of “E’s Breakfast Bowl” – to be posted tomorrow – you’ll find out what E puts on top. . .)

Plus..... can you make a batch of oatmeal cookies with those flavored packets? Nope. Can you make 4 dozen “Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies” using just 3 cups of Quaker Oats from a tube? Yep!!!

E loves her “Old Fashioned” Quaker Oat Man. You’ll recognize the face. It’s the tube that sets this stuff apart.

- E

The nose knows

Molton Brown's Warming Eucalyptus Bath & Shower Therapy

I’m nervous about this post. I went back and forth on this one all week. The product itself, I love. I really, really do! It’s just that, well…..I’m about to suggest you consider gifting this product to your mother for Mother’s Day. I actually did just that a couple of years ago. And . . . Mom didn’t care for it. Oops! I love great gift-giving so it pains me to get it wrong.

But over the weekend I remembered that this blog is about me reviewing products I love. Got the love part covered. And any good review will include everything you need to know so you can decide whether or not you want to buy it, right?! Right! So here we go. . . Molton Brown’s Warming Eucalyptus Bath & Shower Therapy.

Back-tracking for a second . . . the reason I’m offering up a Mother’s Day gift idea now is this:

• Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th


• This stuff isn’t super easy to get your hands on, so you may need to order it online.


• If you want to order it, receive it, add a personal greeting card, and then ship everything off to Mom, you need this much time!

All of the above. . . that’s just what I did a couple of years ago. The Molton Brown folks are good at packaging. I was able to forgo wrapping on my end because the brown bag and bow they put the product in was lovely on its own. (Complimentary gift box when you order online.) “Mom will love this, I know!” So I thought. Bless my mother for being thankful and trying it out.

The truth came out when I was visiting several months after-the-fact. She confessed and said she knew it was a special product, she knew I chose it carefully, and knew I liked it. And then…..she gifted it back to me! All’s well that ends well!

Earlier this week when I told Mom that I was thinking of writing about this stuff but worried about the irony of the whole thing, she was quick to say, “Oh, tell them that I really wanted to like it! I loved the bottle, and it came packaged so nicely!” Cute!

So what’s so great about this stuff, aside from pretty packaging? Did you catch the name – Warming Eucalyptus Bath & Shower Therapy?! Already, we’ve set ourselves apart from run-of-the-mill bath gels! (It is considered a body cleanser/ bath foam.) And the smell is just so intoxicating! It’s great to have on-hand if you have a cold or sinus issues. Or maybe you’re just stressed out? I guarantee the aroma in a hot shower or will make you feel better!

I like to lather up my shower puff. Get my first few whiffs. And before you know it all the olfactory cells in my body start high-fiving each other as if to say, “YES! She used the good stuff today!” And the celebration lasts throughout the morning because the scent lingers, just so, on your skin.

Clearly, I L-O-V-E this stuff! But the scent is strong; not everyone will love it. A lot of people will, though! Both before and after my gifting failure of two years ago, I’ve gifted it to friends. And I know my best friend has turned around and gifted it to others.

Other people worthy of “the Therapy”:

• It would be nice for a new mom (surely, she needs pampering).


• Certainly for someone who’s sick.


• Super easy for a guy to give to a friend/sibling/spouse because it’s “manly” enough looking, and thoughtful.


• Great for a friend who works out a lot. Really great for someone who just competed in a super athletic event (like a marathon or regatta).


• And yes, for Mom for Mother’s Day. I stand behind my endorsement.

Here’s where you find it: ($28 for 10 fl.oz. Splurge, people!) http://www.moltonbrown.com/bath-and-body/bath-and-shower-gels/warming-eucalyptus-bath-and-shower-therapy.html

FYI – I do not currently have this product in my shower. And there’s no reason for anyone to buy it for me. Should you accidentally hit “Qty: 2” when ordering this online, we can arrange for you to ship one to me. Cool? :)

-E