IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE THAT I REALIZEHOW DOMESTIC I AM

While I was browsing my favorite tried and true blog sites this morning I came across a post about some acrylic containers for cold beverages at Pottery Barn. Well, I got all giddy and thought to myself "How Cute!". Then I took a step back, shook my head and had to have a laugh at myself for getting so excited over a modified cooler! Maybe by looking at these you can sympathize with me at my over-excitement. Although now I'm trying to convince myself it was due to the delicious mouth-watering drinks inside- yeah that's right the contents are what's great about these...

COOL CUPS

Anamorphic Cups. These utilize the reflective property of the mug to re-display the morphed words on the saucer back onto the cup in perfect alignment. Very cool idea.

By Ross McBride

Check out more here

CRUSHING ON: AMY TISCHER

Why? Because she has taken the simplest approach to her design, and created an understated and beautiful tea-light holder. Lately I have been inspired by incredibly simple and clean design that focuses more of the lack of decoration than the overly ornate These are exactly what I want surrounding me while of sit on a patio with a glass of wine in my hand.

Summer Do's

It's that time of the year where I'm needing to get my hairs cut. I was looking through some etsy postings last month, and instead of being amazed by the clothes I caught myself loving the girls hair!

I'm not a big fan of printing out photos of hair styles I like and bringing them with me to the Salon, so I may attempt this myself-or wait until one my friends or sisters is around to help out. I really think that is one of my biggest frustrations. I know I could cut anybody's hair like that with no little to no problems, but doing it to myself? Ugh! Damn back of the head blind-spots!

THE BEST THING SINCE WHAT?

Sliced bread you say? This is a cute concept, and I totally dig it. I have a soft spot for any type of stationary, hence the reason I just bought a 3-pack of mole-skin journals, and...I don't keep a journal. But now I think I might, especially since I have journals to write in. If it weren't for my recent purchase I would probably go out and score myself a new set of these sweet slices of bread.

From Burak Kanyak

COLLAGES

Collages are one of those things that I like to admire from far away. Mostly this is due to the fact that I lack the ability to be decisive about my selections, but alas I love them. This picture is one of many from Concrete & Honey's flickr account. She takes B-E -Youtiful photos, and I encourage you all to check them out.



Concrete and Honey

THE HUMAN CONDITION

Is absolutely freaking amazing! This woman (Ariana Page Russell) has a rare skin condition called dermatographia that makes her extremely sensitive to pressure and scratches on her skin. For everybody in my family- imagine Stephen's odd welts and multiply that! This picture below is from an exhibit where she had used her on self inflicted marks as body-art and then photographs herself. It's beautiful, scary and cool!

REWIND

To the late 80's early 90's to my childhood, and then explain to me why Legos has waited until 2009 to release these.
Frank Lloyd Wright Collection LEGO's! My kids are totally going to rock these building blocks.





Guggenheim and Falling Water !

RECIPE ALERT

Chai Bars with Honey Ginger Icing

Holy Tamole! I'm making these bad boys ASAP! I know Chai is one of those acquired tastes that is definitley not for everybody, but Tony and I are Chai addicts and these are the icing on the cake, well actually if these are the cake... eating them would be the icing? Either way I'm glad I'm a glutton who spends hours a day looking at food blogs, because recipes like this make up for the strained computer eyes.

Here is the recipe from savour-fare.com link here

Chai Bars with Honey Ginger icing
For the cookies:
1/2. c. brown sugar
½ c. white sugar
1 cup butter, softened.
1 egg
2 c. flour
1 pinch salt
1.5 tsp ginger
1.5 tsp cinnamon
¾ tsp. cloves
¾ tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp ground star anise

Mix butter and sugars in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined. Add egg and mix well. Add flour, spices and salt, and stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Press into a 9X12 baking pan that has been greased with Baker’s Joy (or buttered and floured) and smooth with a spatula until the dough is even and flat. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until the cookies are a pale golden brown. Let cool.

For the icing:

Mix 2 T honey, 1 t ground ginger, and 1 c. powdered sugar together in a bowl. Add water until the icing is at a spreadable consistency, and spread over the cooled cookies. Cut with a pastry cutter or pizza wheel. It will take several hours for the icing to become firm enough to transport, so plan accordingly.

STUNNING

Simple yet absolutely stunning! Canvas artwork using paint and thread. I may just borrow this idea for my own projects. There rest of Gillian Bates "textile art" is on her website : www.gillianbates.co.uk