Weekend Flings

• Random Image Found Saved to BF's Desktop (seen above)
• If Pumpkin Pie Wasn't Enough
• Cloning the Funk
• CTA Beautfiul by Detroit Chris

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Brining the Turkey

The Brine in Bag

Bamboo and I were skeptical at first. There's nothing like hosting a giant bag of raw meat au jus in your fridge for two days. Yet everyone speaks so highly of this whole brining the turkey thing so we decided to give it a shot.

Brined Turkey, Bartlett Pear Stuffing, & Hardwood's Shiitake Mushroom Gravy

We're glad we did. The brine wasn't too complicated to put together - just a few unusual spices and a whole mess of salt - but it did add flavor and moisture to the turkey. This Thanksgiving bird was the first prepared by either of us and the brining process probably saved us from serving dry meat. You go, salt and citrus.

All Ate Up

The brine recipe we used can be found in the recent holiday issue of Cottage Living or HERE. Bamboo and I enjoyed this little science experiment because, although it was sometimes gross to think about what exactly was sitting in our fridge, it resulted in the most oishi Thanksgiving main.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

National Day of Listening

StoryCorps has declared today to be National Day of Listening. Set aside one hour today and record a conversation with someone you love. What a wonderful way to show someone how much they matter to you and to preserve their story. The site has links to good interview questions if you are stumped on what to ask and a DIY guide on how to best record your interview. Happy Listening!

Photo credit: Back in the Pack

Giving Thanks

Google Timeline

Bamboo and I are making Thanksgiving dinner for seven of our (mostly Japanese) friends. We've kept right on task and our dinner is planned for about 5pm. Despite all the food prep, laundry, and cleaning, we even fit in time to catch some of the National Dog Show.

Yet our #1 Thanksgiving wish is that Grace, our kitty niece, comes back home...

In Memoriam: Winston Napier, Ph.D.

Winston Napier, Ph.D.; 1953 - 2008

I recently found out that Winston Napier, my most influential literature professor, passed away this year. The world is now a less intellectual place.

I'm noting this tragic instance simply to pay my respects. Napier may not have had any input into the design of my home but his hands are all over my book shelves.

Thanksgiving preparations: Before & After

Hardwood and I are celebrating Thanksgiving with his family. It will be the first, big holiday we host at our home. We have a kick-ass vegetarian feast all planned out. But there was the little matter of carving out a spot in our apartment to serve it. I was tired of eating all our meals at the sofa and I'm sure Hardwood's 99 year old Grandmother (That's right 99!) wouldn't find it all that comfortable. Plus six people sitting around our coffee table eating a massive feast would be really tight and awkward. So a month ago I snapped up a giant Norden table at one of IKEA's Seize the Day sales.

The table is in our front room, which acts as my painting studio. I just needed to convert the room from crazy, messy art studio into a clean and comfortable dining room. That's how I spent my Monday night. I thought I'd show a few before and after shots of the space. Behold the Madness!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I think it turned out pretty good. It's still a little cluttered with the canvases and books, but there was only so much I could hide.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! And good luck to all of those cooking and cleaning the next couple days!

Mix It Up

Peanut Butter Mixer, at Gaiam

Ummm, too much? I too love natural peanut butter and do hate the oil sludge that builds up on the surface, but a butter-specific crank? I don't know if I make enough PB & J's to justify this purchase.

Here's an alternative to this PB contraption: store your natural peanut butter upside down in the fridge. It's rumored that doing this will allow the oil to disperse throughout the jar. I'm trying this experiment right now and, so far, it's working.

In your face, crank!

Pet Portraits by Bamboo

Mille

Bamboo took some lovely photos of the catties over the weekend. A few of my favorites are the intensely whiskered Mille (above) and Bird's work ID photo (below).

Bird

Click HERE to see more super pics. Thanks, B!

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Stage Yo' Self!

BEFORE: Living/Dining Room

I think I've only seen one episode of HGTV's The Stagers. I wasn't too impressed because there seemed to be more "reality" drama than true Before and Aftering. Yet I just came across a prolific slideshow of some of the actual work and...wow!

AFTER: Living/Dining Room

Seeing the photos (without the annoying commentary and hijinks) is much more powerful than watching the show. The slideshow has about 13 makeovers and each one is worth a glance or a double take. I also must admit to falling in quick love with that sideboard above (xoxoo).

BEFORE: Loft

Whether you're thinking of selling soon or just find yourself stuck in a design rut, the slideshow is a handy reference tool. Of course, you could just hire your own stagers, an agile troupe of decorators, flinging sleek lines and coordination all over your place. From what I figure, that'd be one easy but costly circus. Yet this slideshow, with its inspiring pics and helpful captions, might be all you need to make your home look its universal best.

AFTER: Loft

So bookmark this post for your future dealings in escrow and then get straight to work on that Craigslist ad for your puffy pleather sofas.

Weekend Flings

• The Sweet & Bitter Tales of I Love You But... (seen above)
• God's Clarification
• Golly, Wally, You're an Arteest!
• Useless
• Mighta' Bought This (If It Weren't for the Nuts)
• Women at Work: Librarian is #1
• Maybe I Don't Want to Flip Houses

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Tod candleholder

Short and tall Tod candleholders, at Jean Pelle

Even though the Slowey has deemed metallics to be so over, I still love them. Don't get me wrong I'm not about to wear them head to toe or get my sofa reupholstered in gold lamé, but I love just a little hint of sparkle.

This is why I love the Tod candleholders designed by Jean Pelle. Made of hand turned Douglas fir with a gorgeous detail of gold leaf following the wood grain. The gold complements the wood just beautifully and each piece is unique. These little babies are expensive, but they are a work of art.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Swiffer, Get Your Drink On

The Man

Birthday Update:
The (ghetto) fabulous present that Porcelain & I so lovingly put together for our friend, Swiffer, is still sitting in his fridge. That was back in May, Swiff!

Billy Dee won't be smiling after he hears about this. I'd watch out if I were you.

A Sad Day in Design

Cottage Living is Done

Oh, dammit...

This one was my absolute favorite.

Hello? RCN?

Bamboo is leaving soon. I'll miss her company tremendously but, even more than that, I'll miss her share of the rent! (JK, Bamboo, JK!)

So as she bubblewraps her most-treasured items, I'm facing the task of forming a new (and serious) budget. I realize I need to trim some fat and dropping a Starbucks or two just won't cut it.

The question I pose to you is one of cable and internet. Right now, we're paying Comcast $100+ per month for internet access and basic cable. No more! I really want to keep my cable TV because I'm addicted to Bravo and Porcelain's addicted to my coffee break re-caps. You're reading this online - ipso facto - I needs me my internets.

My thought is to switch to RCN? Do you use them? Are they great? What's your monthly bill look like? Their website is showing a promo of about $65/month for TV and web. Sounds like a good deal to me but I'd like your input.

That Initial Sparkle

Pink J Pencil Box, at THiCKandTHiN

Oooh, a monogrammed pencil cup that's pink and glittery! Just the thing a fancy girl like myself could use (but doesn't at all need) for the holidays. And - look! - Porcelain gets one too!

Light Blue K Pencil Box, at THiCKandTHiN

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

From The Shooting Gallery

• Ron English Explores The Secret History of Kiss (seen above)
• My Baby's Name is Brick
• A World of Spoons
• For Cake Emergencies
• Happy Birthday, MLP!
• We're Worth $27,097.92! You?
• Yay!

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Bond Covers

Thanks to Oh What Larks for the Clue!

I just found out that the new Bond Girl in the new Bond movie doesn't actually do the deed with 007. Such a landmark in the spy-centric dynasty! Even though she doesn't succumb to the charms of Mr. James, she's still very much in charge and entirely sexy.

While we're on the topic, the new covers of Ian Fleming's novels, published by Penguin, are just that: sultry and all about the lady.

Spine View, at The Penguin Blog

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Writing on the Wall

Pictura Suspended Magazine Rack, at Mocha

If you're like most design groupies, you probably have stacks and stacks of magazines lying about. This effect can look wildly artistic and cluttery-cool but it usually just looks messy.

To clear those glossy little addictions off your tabletops and chairs, check out the Pictura Magazine Rack. It holds about 12 magazines and can attach to the wall. As a bonus, the steel box acts as a frame for your most prized cover of...Stockholm New No.10?

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

OH Teaser

Quiet an enchanting little porch, wouldn't you say? I can't say anything for sure (jinxes are so very real!) but we might be seeing a lot more of this sweet space.

Keep your fingers crossed and stay tuned for some big news from Ohio...

Weekend Flings

• Coming Together (seen above)
• A Blog to Watch...
• How It Felt to be There (Minus the Smell of Cloves)
• Polaroid Your Pics
• Mr. President's Flickr
• A Lovely Tribute to the Saddest News

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Bestlite knock-off

Desk lamp, at Crate & Barrel Outlet

I was browsing Crate & Barrel Outlet a couple weeks ago and spotted this Bestlite knock-off for an unbelievable price! Bestlites normally retail for several hundred dollars, which I just cannot justify paying in these tough economic times. Shoot, even in good economic times I can't justify it!

I'm sure Bestlite's quality is far superior, but Crate & Barrel makes good lamps too. So if you like the look, I say go for it! It can be our dirty little secret.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Yes We Did!!!

The crowd at Grant Park

Porcelain and Hardwood crazy smiley, happy and joyful!

Last night Cardboard and I were so very lucky to get tickets to attend the official Obama Rally in Grant Park and celebrate Barack Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States of America!!!!!! The crowd and the mood in the park was amazingly electric, joyful, excited and full of a whole lotta love! It was a very special night that we will never forget. For a few more photos from the night, check out our flickr set.

Use Your Words: Barack Obama on Unity

"...We have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

- President Barack Obama, Victory Speech (Nov. 4, 2008)

Photo credit: Nibs & Chicago Sun Times

Let's do this!

Obama poster by Christopher David Ryan

Get out and vote. Let's change the world!!!!!

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• Rap It Up (seen above)
• Granny Alternatives
• The Clean Lines of Pipes
• A Little Bitta' Country...A Whole Lotta' Design
• Goodbye to AT: Too Bad the Last One's Not Very Special

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.