Love/Hate

For some reason, even though my experience lies mostly in the commercial design realm, I have seen at least 3 headboards today that I both love and hate for various reasons. After gathering my thoughts about the following, I have come to realize why I still don't have matching furniture or "any nice things" - because I'm cynical and I can't make up my mind. Before I show you my findings, however, I need to bring it to everyone's attention that there exists furniture that is literally inspired by Super Mario: see below. Although before I realized it was Mario-based, I thought it was more inspired by pixels and technology and I kind of thought it was cool; I'm fickle.


First we have this classy, sophisticated and soft piece that would look beautiful in anyone's house but mine. It just looks so thought out and well proportioned, that I can't help but love it.


However...I also happen to think it looks like one of these, and now I can't get past it:

Next up, an interesting thought - patchwork headboard. Reasons I think this is cool: its a great way to personalize your furniture, its a great way to use up all the cool remnants of projects past that I have laying around, it has the opportunity to be one-of-a-kind, and it's colorful, which I always love.

Reasons I hate it: I feel like it would be cool and novel for only a short time before it started seeming kind of cheesy, also I would worry about maintenance of the headboard, and of the bedding used because I'm sure every one of those fabrics used has different fiber content and cleaning instruction. Also, the fact that its upholstered with lots of small pieces sewn together makes me wonder how it would hold up structurally. Lastly, well, I feel like you'd get tired of it quickly, and it wouldn't stand the test of time like your grandmother's comfortable quilts.

This last one, from Crate & Barrel, I have a hard time hating. Its beautiful. Proportionally, its beautiful. In terms of scale, its beautiful. Stylistically, its beautiful. I love the simplicity of it - not fussy, or dainty in any way, which is right up my alley. I feel like I'd really love to sleep in this except for...

...this. Unfortunately, due to my, um, vertically endowed stature, I don't think I'd be able to sleep very well in this bed. My feet would probably hang off, and I'd always be stubbing my toe and whatnot. Kind of maddening when I really get to thinking about it! Oh well, this is why I still have no headboard or foot board!

DNA Evidence

I am loving this DNA Art Stuff. It is, in my opinion, such a really cool, subtle way to personalize artwork in your home. I'm not big on buying art that doesn't mean anything to me, and I certainly can't wait to purchase one of these because will literally be a graphic representation of myself.

The really cool part, that I love, is that you can mix your DNA with someone elses to make his/hers combinations to hang over a bed or wherever. Really cool and graphic. The finger print ones are just as cool! Love love love!

Leave It To Cleaver

Okay, so, maybe the necklace is a little scary, but I absolutely LOVE ModCloth. Its inexpensive, easily accessible online, and I love their style. I find a lot of great inspiration on this site.

Current trending topics in my stylistic eyes are: nautical theme, in both fashion and interiors; sharp angles; bold colors; layers; and an effortless kind of look. It's moments like these when I'm really glad I went to school for fashion merchandising as well as interior design, because I feel very blessed to be able to use both in my daily life and blur the lines between. They're so interrelated as it is, but I love being able to translate one into the other.

Team Brendan

Apologies for the sparse projects lately - it has been a really busy month or so!

As some may already know, a good friend of mine, Brendan, committed suicide this past January. Needless to say, 2010 has been a tough year for all of his friends and family.

I honestly hope that news like that is something that most people never have to receive. For this reason, I am joining Team Brendan in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness walk on November 7th. I am registered with the AFSP's website to receive tax deductable donations, and that is great, but I really want to show up to support his wonderful parents, and brother, and remember all of the good times. He was, after all, my little buddy.

Mmm Mmm Banana Pudding Pie

I was looking for a quick dessert to make out of whatever I had lying around in the kitchen last Sunday, when I came across a few old family recipes that I tried to cobble together. The boys finished it in one sitting, so I guess that's a good sign! I've also added it to my recipe box on www.tastebook.com. Definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it yet!

1.5 C vanilla wafers

1/2 C macadamia nuts

1/2 tsp salt

3Tbsp melted butter

1 large, ripe banana

1 large box of french vanilla instant pudding

2 C milk

Instructions: Preheat overn to 350. Crush vanilla wafers in food processor, along with macadamia nuts. Add salt. Add melted butter until all crumbs are moistened. Press into ungreased pie pan. (I use the bottom side of my measuring cup for this.) Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.

Make pudding according to instructions on box. (Yes, you could make actual stovetop pudding, but then it takes longer to cool before you can eat it!)

When crust has cooled, put banana slices in the bottom. Pour prepared pudding mixture over top of the banana slices, and smooth around to your liking. Let sit at least 30 minutes, if you can ignore the aroma for that long!

Enjoy!

Also, while google searching for existing recipes like this, I ran across this dress named the "pudding pie" dress by Lulu's via http://www.thegloss.com/. Love it. I am already in the process of deconstructing it in my head to figure out how it is made. Coming soon!

Chicken + Broccoli + YUM

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook. Not only from recipes, but I enjoy experimenting and making things my own. Also of concern, I try to watch what I'm eating, just for health's sake. Then there's always the issue of price...

I must say, I really created a winner tonight. Less than $3 per serving, better than take out, and somewhat healthy! If you like chinese takeout, you should definitely try this. It feeds 2 moderately hungry adults.

Better -Than-Take Out Chicken & Broccoli:

You'll need:

• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast


• 1 cup medium grain rice (or jasmine rice)


• 1-1/2 or 2 cups of broccoli florets (adjust per your taste, of course)


• 1 cup chicken broth


• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp corn starch


• 2 Tbsp butter (yeah, this is the only "bad" thing in this meal)


• 2 cloves garlic - minced


• 2 Tbsp soy sauce


• pinch of dry red chili flake

1. Put broccoli on to steam (Brian and I don't really like our broccoli too crunchy, so I steamed it first). Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add rice, turn heat to low, and cover for 20 minutes.


2. Clean icky bits from chicken breast, butterfly, and cut into 1/2" cubes. Melt the butter in a wok (or good pan if you don't have a wok), and add chicken. Add pinch of salt and pepper, and cook on med - high heat until the chicken is golden brown. Remove chicken from pan, and put on paper towel. Add garlic and chili flake to remaining butter - don't let burn.


3. Add corn starch to chicken broth and soy sauce in a seperate bowl. Put steamed broccoli into wok with garlic and toss to coat. Pour in chicken broth mixture and stir. You'll want to bring this up to at least a simmer to thicken the sauce. Add chicken back to wok, and toss to coat. Simmer until sauce is a desired thickness, then serve on rice! So yum.

This really only took 20 minutes to make. So much yummier, healthier, cheaper, and quicker than actual take out!

Cooper

Okay, I am a font nerd. I absolutetly love this font and I made a few "occasional" cards to give out as little gifts. I'm also loving these color cominations right now. I've been on a yellow/navy/grey kick for a while - can't get enough!

I'm glad to finally have internet back - my modem overheated and fried itself. It is amazing how spoiled I am at home having all my wireless devices.