Overdose.

What's a good way to get over a craving? Overdose on it.

On a recent baking days, we discovered the irresistible appeal of sea salt and caramel with these thumbprints from Martha Stewart. We decided to dedicate our next baking day to the magic combination. 

Inspired by Pinterest and sites such as this, we were eventually able to narrow our recipe list down to a single afternoon of baking. 

Now all of the recipes went about making the caramel differently, and we had a few sticky situations—but we were able to pull ourselves together to enjoy baking success.

The highlight of the day was definitely the 6-layer caramel chocolate masterpiece that Amanda slaved over for quite some time. The frosting alone contained a pound of chocolate, and it put me in a food coma for several hours. 

This is what's under the chocolate. You're allowed to use O.M.G. here. 

If' your mouth is watering and you're feeling somewhat masochistic, the recipe, also a martha, can be found here. Ours didn't turn out quite as photogenic as Miss Stewart's, but that doesn't seem to have effected the taste!

Burger of the Week #63

It's design secrets vs. reality—McDonalds reveals why the tempting burgers you see on tv look nothing like the sandwiches they serve in real life.

I particularly enjoy the imagery of them photoshopping the shots. What do you think, is that lying?

The F Word: [Family]

I'm getting older (393 days 'til my 30th birthday). Which means the people around me are getting older too.

Last weekend we celebrated my Grandma's 80th birthday. (she actually turned 80 in February, but she was a good sport about letting me push it back until we could have the party outside). It was a day of family, food and a few flashbacks. 

Top: Signage for the Birthday girl and my first Strawberry Rhubarb pie. It was tasty. The recipe was from MarthaStewart.com. Bottom: Fresh flowers my mother gathered in the neighborhood. 

It had been a few years since the family had all been together, and it was good to see how much people hadn't changed. One of my intentions in gathering everyone together was to present my Grandma with her "Moments" book— a retrospective of her life and family. A piece that she can spend time reminiscing with. 

The book was created on Blurb using their hardcover image wrap option. I spent a lot of time gathering photos and going through old albums—something I absolutely love doing. It's good to reflect, and remember the way we were. But it's also important to keep in touch, so that we still know each other tomorrow.

The Grass is Always Perkier

My job comes with an undeniable and unofficial perk: Free Shoes. It's kind of a big deal. 

But my friend Lindsey has a similar perk, one just as valuable. She works at Snow & Graham in Chicago and has access to an endless supply of stationary!!! (you know how much I like sending letters!)

I just saw samples of the current line and I'm completely freaking out over how fantastic it all is! It's time for you to start sending letters too—check out Snow & Graham's Stationary here.

All Loopy/Hoopy over Asparagus

I stopped by the Plainfield Farmer's Market last Thursday to pick up some asparagus. While I was there I bought a Hula Hoop... because that's a normal response to seeing fresh vegetables. 

I'm hoping this will be a fun way to squeeze a little fitness into my day. It's a 46" hoop, weighted with water. The water helps with the centrifugal force, which makes it easier to keep the hoop up. The larger the diameter of the hoop the easier hooping will be. 

If you're interested in purchasing your own fitness hoop, you should contact Ken of Hoopy Go Lucky at ken@hoopygolucky.com. He will let you know where he's showing next!

The Glamorous Life of a Twenty-Something Working Girl

The other day, a colleague said to me, "If I didn't have kids, I'd want your life, it seems pretty glamorous."

I smiled coyly, and said "Well thank you, it certainly doesn't suck." But in my head I repeated a single word. Glamorous?

I thought of that this morning as I scrambled to get out the door, already 20+ minutes late for work. And again when I came home to matching piles of kitty vomit on the drafting table and my bedroom floor (and later discovered a bonus batch in the closet). 

Yes, the glamourous life of the steadfast bachelorette. Full of laundry and dishes, bills and lawn care. I compost. I weed. And on rare occasions, I have to stick my hand in the drain to see if the disposal is stuck. So much for that perfect manicure. 

But in subtle ways she has a point. I eat out whenever I want, which is often. I buy clothes for myself rather than kids who grow out of them too quickly to even realize it. I don't need to make appointments at the dentist simply to get some alone time. Any spit-up on my clothes is my own. And this very evening, instead of coming home from work and making treats for a school trip, I came home from the bar and dyed my hair pink.*

So my life may not be glamourous, but it sure is fabulous. 


*This has been a struggling work in progress. So, for the record, Manic Panic worked great! We'll see how it holds.

Dice in the Mirror

I was recently told that the opening credits to Boardwalk Empire were the best credits ever.

I respected that opinion, but I didn't agree. They're beautiful and intriguing, but in the course of my viewing history, I've been more enthralled. Most recently the title sequence that has fascinated my most is United States of Tara. I just think they are well crafted visuals. And they set the complex dynamic of the show up beautifully.

This conversation got me thinking about various TV themes. As you may know, I'm slightly.... involved with my TV watching habits. And I thought there was something to be said here—because while Boardwalk Empire doesn't really do it for me, there are some intros that I simply can't flip past.

Opening credits have the opportunity to say and do a lot. Whether it's the morbid curiosity of TrueBlood and Dexter. The haunting melody of the X-Files. Or the ability to set the scene with two simple notes on Law & Order.

That said, here's some of my favorite themes/credits*:
M*A*S*H. The somber melancholy of Suicide is Painless is impossible to ignore. I think it is the perfect opening cue for this series.

Cheers. Come on, we all want to go where everybody knows our name. Back in the early '90s when the show was syndicated, my dad and I used to watch this show every night after dinner. There's something wildly comforting about Gary Portnoy's theme song.

Weeds (season 1). Very often this song crawls inside my head and makes itself comfortable for days. I know Little Boxes isn't an original creation for Weeds, it's just such an appropriate set-up to this less than appropriate show.

Fresh Prince. I love a theme that re-sets the show premise up week after week. There's just no way to not dance and sing along to this. It's a perfect 1990 time capsule. I mean, seriously— Will Smith? Dig it. 

Mad Men. This show is praisable for some many reasons. But what I love about the opening credits is how they reincarnate the visual identity of an era. The song is eerie and the man's downward spiral has you nervous and enraptured all at once.

Dawson's Creek. It's not a particularly great opening. But the second we all here "I don't want to waaiit....!" we know we can settle down for an excellent 46 minutes of television. When they replaced the theme song in seasons 3 through 6 for the dvd release, they pretty much ruined the whole series.

Step by Step. Hello TGIF! It's just so nostalgic. The clarity with which I remember this opening is somewhat frightening.

The Nanny. Not going to lie. Still know all the words to this song too. Another great show-setter-upper. It used to crack me up when they would pan the camera over to Gracie and she'd be too short to be seen. Oh man, the '90s were so clever. 

Big Bang Theory. Bringing us back to today.... Here's a theme that might actually teach us something. But first I must learn all the words. I'm still working on it. 

Dudes, I could do this all night. But please, let me know what your favorite title sequence memories are! I know I'm not the only TV junkie (/lunatic).


*Keep in mind, I'm not saying these are the best ever, just ones that over the years I have formed a connection to.

Sighting: My Friend Joey

Ok, so I was doing a little casual browsing on the Greenwich Letterpress site, when out of the corner of my eye, a certain pairing of words caught my eye. 

"Dawson & Joey"

My eye is simply trained to spot this. But upon closer examination I feel in love with this product: Teenage Power Couple Pencils
Angela & Jordan? Hell yeah.
Brenda & Dylan? Fo sho.
Zack & Kelly? mmmm, Ok.

But talk about a product that writes straight to my heart!*

I'm going to have to seek out the Greenwich Letterpress shop when I'm in Brooklyn next month!

*Followed closely by the "Why James Franco does no wrong"

Burger of the Week #62

This weeks BOTW is honor of a friend and a letter I received last week. Much like myself, and my 2012 resolution, Meredith fully supports the mission of the USPS. 

The big envelope was full of little surprises, including a miniature envelope containing my own (delicious looking) paper hamburger!!

Cooking in Color

Let's be honest, I'm a little OCD about things matching. So with just few shades of Apple Barrel acrylics and a sponge brush, I created a monochromatic kitchen set. 



It's a simple way to add a splash to your serving utensils—either to match a zealous kitchen scheme, or as a sweet little hostess gift. 

I left the paint thin so the grain would show through. I predict this will prevent it from chipping off during washing. I also think you could obtain a great ombre effect using a pot of rit dye and a dipping method. Next time!

Still Hanging with Asparagus

The discovery of the May 2010 Real Simple revealed an article on 5 ways to prepare Fresh Picked Asparagus, which inspired me to spend another week with the veggie. I'm far from sick of it and as it's still plentiful at the farmer's market, I figured I better take advantage. 

Sunday it was Pasta Salad made from leftover pasta noodles, farmer's market cherry tomatoes and asparagus, and broccoli from my mother's garden. 

Monday I roasted New Potatoes with Asparagus. Seasoned with thyme.

Tuesday I feasted on Tortellini and Asparagus cooked in broth. I added corn, green onions and parmesan because I can.

Wednesday I had a lunch of crisp Asparagus Salad mixed with feta, in olive oil. I added cherry tomatoes because, again, I can. 

Ok, next week I'll stop obsessing over Asparagus. I swear. Just promise me you'll try some!!

Burger of the Week #61

I'm having a party for my Grandma's 80th Birthday on Saturday—do you think she'd enjoy spending some time jumping around in a Bouncy Hamburger? 

I actually find this quite frightening—What do you do when food retaliates and begins eating you? And why is there raw beef on that bun? That's not safe for anyone. I think we better keep Grandma down here on solid ground.

A Tale of One Veggie

I'm mid-read of Barbara Kinsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Her message isn't just a focus on healthy eating through vegetables, it is a reminder to eat in season.

For example, if you're in Michigan in March, eating a plum, that plum has most likely traveled thousands of miles to reach you, which explains why it resembles a tasteless rock.

So in effort to fill myself with seasonal vegetables, (in the weeks before my garden is fully functional), I've had an asparagus heavy week.

Sunday: Roasted Asparagus
I mastered this recipe last year and it's now my go-to way to prepare asparagus.

Monday: Asparagus Soup from Twisted Rooster— a semi-local chain that features locally grown products that change with the seasons. The food here is quite good, but the atmosphere is very much a chain.

Tuesday: Fresh Chilled Asparagus Salad
SO light and fresh. I replaced the cilantro with [garden-fresh] basil and had a super lo-cal dinner!

Wednesday: Penne with Roasted Asparagus
I was able to use Sunday's leftover roasted asparagus and completely reinvent it. I hated the smell of simmering vinegar but wow did it taste shockingly good!!

I'm out of asparagus now, so it's off to the Farmer's Market Saturday to see what else is in season!

Burger of the Week #60

Just in time for summer break - School Tested Art Lessons for the kids. Schools may be cutting art funding, but there's no reason you can't bring those lessons home. They won't even know they're lessons!

Check out this great burger art from Kids Artists! The sight of these sandwiches makes me want to run for my glue gun! Man, I wish I had a summer break...

Struttin' those Pups

It was two weeks ago now, but Wolverine's Lifestyle Group conferences began with a Spring/Summer '13 Collection Preview a la the Hush Puppies fashion show held at Steelcase Town Hall.

The show was high energy, kicking off with a British Invasion-style introduction of the Hemingway Collection, followed by the highly anticipated, new premium line FIVE—a hybrid of classic Hush Puppies styles combined with Vibram outsoles.

But, as expected, the star of the show were two long-eared friends!

Once again, all these great pics are by Alicia Magnuson.

Read MLive's coverage of the event here.

At the GRAM: Opportunity Abandoned?

If you're from Michigan or have spent any time in the Detroit area, there's a new exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum that's worth checking out.

Andrew Moore's photography series, Detroit Disassembled, is part of Cities in Transition—an appreciation of the urban environment and the constant evolution of cities.

The images are startling—both in regards to their likeness to the ancient ruins found in Europe and the realization that this is a present reality—one we allowed it to happen. Each image is itself a conflict of beauty and tragedy.

There's a surreal quality to many of the prints, the saturated colors and natural lighting making the reality of the situation look almost like a dream rather than the nightmare that it actually is.

The exhibition curator from the Akron Art Museum spoke last night at the member preview. She concluded her presentation by posing a currently unanswerable question: Will Detroit become a decaying monument to the nation's past, or will it become a model for revitalization and urban renewal?

The exhibit runs through August 26th. And if you're in Grand Rapids for Festival of the Arts this weekend, admission to the museum, and this exhibit, is free. So no excuses!