kitchen decoration

I'm getting awfully excited about our library (post with pictures to come), but today I'm thinking about the kitchen.

Because our cupboard space is somewhat limited, I've had to be creative with storage solutions. And I want my kitchen to look fancy pants too, as I expect to spend more and more time there as the years progress. So space saving and darling - is that too much to ask?

I've taken a leaf out of Smitten Kitchen's book and put all of my spices on display. The glass jars are a perfect fit on the super cheap ribba shelf. A few rows of spice shelves saves me a ton of cupboard space. And it looks really nice too.

I'm also growing fresh herbs. See?

I realize my dill in particular is looking a little sad, but that's mostly because I accidentally squished him :(

There's still a lot of empty wall space, so I'm trying to decide what else to put up. I have so many ideas for the rest of the house – the kitchen’s been overlooked. There are these 2 etsy posters I’ve had my eye on:

but I can't make up my mind....

I guess I'll go poke around pinterest for more ideas :)

B

"180" the movie

'What do you know about Adolf Hitler?'

'How do you feel about abortion?'

'It's not something I've really thought about much...."

*contains images that may be disturbing*

B

propaganda machine

I've not paid much attention to the Republican debates. My research is done and I already know who's getting my vote. Why watch talking points and snarky one-liners when the candidates' records should speak for themselves? It only encourages my bent toward cynicism. Politics should stem from principles and good ideas, and there's just far too little of that left.

Rick Perry's campaign ad left me feeling a touch patronized. Although it's exactly a sign of the times. Want people to vote? Donate money? Give a darn? Then you need to find the perfect balance of edgy camera angles, hipster filters, evocative music, and film speed in double-time followed immediately by a slow motion zoom of something depressing.
And I'm not saying there's only one guilty party - can you imagine distilling everything you believe to be right, noble, true and just into the single phrase of 'Change we can believe in'? Are millions able to mindlessly chant and slap on matching bumper stickers? Yes. Was it all too easy to never actually stop and consider what exactly any of that meant? Again, yes.


It brought 2 things to my mind: Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad and the Soviet Russia Political Art exhibit currently at Chicago Booth. One hilariously satirizes our country's guilt in putting sentimentality over reason. The other, the power of propaganda.

Gloom and doom aside, the video would make one helluva movie trailer.

B

disgusting day

Today's forecast has a high of 60 F. Cloudy. Chance of rain. 'Unseasonably cool' the weather report says.

I'd be in a better mood if today were only a fluke. But it's not, because we live in Chicagoland. It's only downhill from here - a straight nosedive into 6 months of winter. Grey slushy snow, fingers that never warm up, cloudy skies, icy sidewalks....Grrr I might just move to Australia.

So in an attempt to put a positive spin on this situation, I'm wearing my favorite corduroy pants (in stable brown). And I'm planning a fabulous menu: Roasted Garlic Soup with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. Think 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme, a splash of heavy cream and a touch of fresh lemon.

Give garlic a try. How could anything this lovely not be incredibly delish?

Beautiful potatoes

We'll cozy ourselves away and feast. We'll pull out the quilts and invite the cats to cuddle. And we'll rest in the quiet that comes with early sundowns.

Perhaps I shall survive the cold.

B

families are the best

Got to spend time with some of these fabulous people last weekend. Missing: one brother by name of Miles Eugene.

Tom hasn't quite mastered the art of fitting in (seriously - who stays in the exact same pose for a silly picture?!?). But we like him just the same.

Happy Monday.

B

the whistle-blower

While most everyone (including me) has been watching this clip from Jon Stewart's The Daily Show, I thought I'd pass it along for my not so Facebook savvy readers.

I realize that may only be a few of you, but it shouldn't be missed. Chuckles all around.

Stewart hits home with spot-on analysis - cheers to Crazy Uncle Ron!
He's not unelectable if people vote for him.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Indecision 2012 - Corn Polled Edition - Ron Paul & the Top Tier
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

Also, while we're loving on technology (because I got fancy and inserted a video):
check out spotify.com . I do believe it's a game changer.

B

afternoon escape

Let's talk exercise.

I've been trying to force myself to run for 10+ years and have never (ever) gotten the hang of it.  That natural 'high' and sense of accomplishment people claim they get after pounding the pavement? Garbage. I refuse to believe that anyone actually enjoys running. No matter how long, how paced, how well-practiced my run is, I hate every single, stupid second.

So what's a girl (who loves cooking with heavy cream and butter WAY too much) to do? Force herself to try any and every other form of exercise that comes her way. It was an exhausting and depressing endeavor until things drastically changed five months ago.

I've now permanently hung up (burned) my gym shoes, shorts and t-shirts. Now all I need is a towel, bottle of water, and just enough clothing to stay decent. What happened? I joined a Bikram yoga studio.

(Quick overview of Bikram--it's always the same 26 poses done in 90 minutes in a 105F heated room.  Humidity is usually somewhere between 35-50%. There are also periods of total stillness while your body re-energizes for the next posture. You've heard that variety is the spice of the exercising life, that you should always keep your body guessing by changing your workouts. Bikram takes the opposite approach - your body will constantly change so the practice needs to stay the same.)

I love it, so SO much!

Well, actually I hated it the first time so much I felt like crying. And I hated it the second time...and third time. And then - overnight - everything changed. My attitude, my energy level and my body completely rewired itself. A switch was flipped somewhere.

My instructors call Bikram a 'moving meditation', but that doesn't mean levitating or 'ohm-ing' the mind into oblivion. What it does mean is using every last drop of concentration in holding postures, keeping your balance and (above all) maintaining a steady breath. The benefits: cardio, strength training, core building, balance, flexibility, improvement of breath, metabolism booster, cold-killer, depression buster, etc etc.

(plus you get a hot bod just like this. tattoos not included)

Give it a good 3-4 tries before you decide whether or not you like it. Is it necessarily for everyone? Probably not; but I do know that my body responds very well (and very quickly) to yoga.

What I really want to try next is this:

Crazy, huh? But I'd give it a spin.

B