Reuse: Greeting Card Boxes

You know those greeting card boxes that hold about two dozen cards for all sorts of occasions?  Think twice before tossing out an empty box once all the cards are gone.  These containers make the best storage for sewing patterns. Best yet, you can reuse the dividers as well; just flip them around and label them by brand or clothing item.

It Happened In Monterey

I'm beginning to notice a trend in these places I've traveled lately. That is, they've all had a song sung about them by Frank Sinatra. Perhaps the next destination will be New York, hmm?

Yes!  Just a few days ago I returned home-home with my parents and the doggies after spending four days in lovely Monterey Bay, California.  Scott and I decided to spend the weekend there after finals were done to celebrate the end of the school year, two-years together, and the three upcoming months of his study abroad in Europe!  And what better place than the quiet little town of Monterey?

We spent our time there in the beautiful Monterey Hotel, a historic hotel from 1904 located right by Fisherman's Wharf and only a short walk to the aquarium.

 

On the first day we rode bikes on the 17 mile drive.  I rented a bike there and we rode from the rental place to the start of the drive, about 22 miles round-trip.  It would have been quite a bit better if the seat wasn't so uncomfortable (my bum is still sore after nearly five days!) but nonetheless it was a wonderful ride, full of gorgeous wildlife and beaches.  Unfortunately, the only photos we have from our trip are from the first day.

The second day we ventured the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  There we saw all sorts of aquatic creatures, including jellyfish, sharks, and sting rays.  We made sure to see the otters - they're my favorite ocean animal.  If you go during feeding time, you'll see them do several tricks too!  We completed that evening with dinner from the local Tuesday evening farmer's market, right outside our hotel door.

On the third day we rented kayaks and explored the ocean waters, encountering birds, seals, and lots of kelp!  Just as we were about to return the kayaks in the afternoon with sore arms and soaked clothes, Scott insisted we travel a bit farther west past the rental beach and circle back.  And sure enough, only another few hundred feet farther, we saw at least 10 otters floating in the kelp, napping together.  A few pairs were even holding hands!  It was just wonderful, by far my favorite part of the trip.  I even bought a pair of socks with little otters stitched on them to remember it.

3 Unexpected Places to Find Vintage Clothing for Less

It's no secret that vintage clothing can be pricey.  The few times I've ordered from etsy or similar vintage apps, I'll spend nearly $100 on a dress to find that once it arrives in the mail, it doesn't fit.

But fear not!  Down below I'll share three places I find vintage clothing and accessories for only a few dollars each.  So the next time your wardrobe can use an update or your bank budget is running low, try one of these places to find new goodies!

 

Image from blog.tuppencehapenny.co.uk

Thrift Stores
Believe it or not, thrift stores are the most common place I find vintage clothing aside from vintage stores.  Even places as common as Goodwill have hidden treasures.  The key here is to look in towns with a largely elderly population.  Oftentimes, when people remain in the same house for a long period of time, they collect stuff without realizing it.  There's never a need for them to go through it or get rid of it so they'll hang onto things decades old -- perfect for vintage collectors.  Once seniors are placed in a nursing home or pass away, these items are donated to local thrift stores.

I've found beautiful items from my local thrift stores, including two mint-condition Evan Picone skirt suits from the early 1950s, numerous knee-length skirts, and a one-of-a-kind handmade 1960s shift-dress.

Garage / Estate Sales
Everything said above about thrift stores applies to garage and estate sales.  Some people don't want a hassle and choose to donate everything, but others try to sell what they can before donating.  Once again, the best finds will be in towns with a largely elderly population.

A plus to these sales is in addition to clothes, you can often find vintage furniture and household goods as well, like sewing notions, pyrex cookware, and more.

Your Grandparents' Closet
This is probably your best option for vintage clothing because it's free!  Older people know how much stuff they have and often want to get rid of it, but its not easy to let go of memories.  In this case, they likely haven't worn the clothes for years and will be overjoyed to see it in use by someone they care so much about.

Unfortunately, both my mom's and dad's parents moved a long ways (one in the mid 1960s, again as recently as 10 years ago, and the other in the early 1980s) so their collections are more recent than my taste, but I've come across a beautiful poodle skirt and petticoat from my Nana's closet.  Crazy the things that people hang onto.

If you're in the same boat as me, you can also look into the wardrobes of your grandparents' friends.  This may also help if you and your grandma are a different size.

---

I hope these three places have inspired you to shop a bit more!*

*I don't often promote consumption (very unsustainable) but in the case of used goods, the material extraction and manufacturing has already happened.  Depending how old it is, it could have been made in the United States with fair labor laws (rather than today's method of exploited overseas labor).

"You're Not Like Other Girls"

I thought I'd start my first feminism post with a simple subject, rather than try to tackle the wage gap or lack of representation in the media.

"You're not like other girls."

At one time or another, we've all heard this.  It could be the male lead in a movie trying to sway the female love-interest, or perhaps you've even been told this.  Maybe you've said this to a woman.  What appears as a compliment has hidden (and negative) undertones.

While this may be a genuine compliment and she truly is like no other girl you've ever met before, chances are you have met women like her.  Amongst the dozens of ladies you know and the hundreds you've met, there's bound to be qualities she shares.

But this phrase isn't trying to say she's different than those women. It implies that she's better than those women.

Think about it; It's meant to be a compliment to her.  She's wonderful, fantastic, and you enjoy spending time with her, don't you?  But what does that say about all those women who aren't like her?  Does that make them terrible, dreadful, and unpleasant to spend time with?

This is a classic example of lifting one up by putting others down.  It's manipulative and shames an entire gender for the sake of making one person feel good about herself.  Not much of a compliment, eh?

It stems from a misperception that is rooted in society, one that we see in characters like Penny in the Big Bang Theory and Cher in Clueless.  With every female character we see in movies that lacks substance and originality, it contributes to this idea that women in real life lack substance and originality -- that our interests include shopping and tanning, that we can't form a sentence without the words "like" or "um" every so often, or that we can't possibly be good at -- let alone interested in -- "manly" things like sports and video games.  Any women who shows substance and originality beyond this narrowly defined personality is a special snowflake and should be acknowledged for it (I hope that sentence made you cringe reading it as much as I did writing it).

Surprise, surprise! Hardly any woman fits this stereotype entirely, though we all (men included) have attributes from it.  And for the few who do fit it, that's ok too! What's not alright is allowing this to be the default for girls because it limits them.  Just because a women likes to shop, that doesn't make her materialistic, nor does wearing makeup make her self-absorbed.  Having no interest in sports doesn't make her "unrelateable" to men, and repeating "um" does not mean she's a ditz.

The next time you hear this line, remember - he may have a high opinion of you, but he has a poor judgement of women in general.  If you have the chance to respond to the person, tell him that while his intentions may be good, the compliment would be more meaningful if he compared you to people in general rather than just women.  And if you're comfortable enough with him, call him out on it!  Ask him what makes you different from other girls, and he'll probably list a few sexist stereotypes like the ones from above.  If it's a genuine compliment, then he should be able to use the word "people" in place of "girls," (ex: "you're not like other people because no one else makes me laugh this hard.")

Three More Weeks... and Then, Monterey!

Monterey, California, that is.  Scott and I will be going up there the week after finals.  Nothing is set in stone yet as we still need to find out our schedules at the time, but until then I will excitedly check hotel pricing in the area.  Right now I'm looking into The Monterey Hotel, an old-Victorian style place from the early 20th century and hoping that we can plan to stay on the discounted days.

This trip is a partial anniversary retreat for us -- two years next month -- and a chance for us to spend time together before Scott leaves on his 6-month study abroad program in Switzerland (I've already tried asking to go with him and it just won't work out. Pooh).

We'll spend the day at Fisherman's Warf, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and go to all the best beaches for spotting sea otters.  Oh, these three weeks can't pass soon enough!

Cooking Hack: Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you haven't noticed yet, I have a large sweet tooth.  So far there's about 3 or 4 recipes on the blog and only one is a proper meal.  Tee hee.

Image from verybestbaking.com

Amongst my favorite of all sweets is the classic chocolate chip cookie.  For years I followed various recipes always to find flat cookies that were either too crunchy on the bottom (large stiffness) or too flimsy to stay in one piece (large bending moment).  But for soft cookies, the only solution was to make the cookie taller (which would increase the moment of inertia).  The secret that took me years to discover?

Lard.

Yep, good ol' pig fat. Lovely, isn't it? (Is butter much better though?)

Substitute an equal amount of butter for lard, no matter the recipe. I like to use the Nestle Toll House one printed on the back of the chocolate chip bags.

If you don't eat animal products, shortening made from vegetable fat is also an option.

Conclusion: cookies would make terrible structural elements.

Painted Planting Pots

Now that the warmer weather is setting in, it's perfect time to begin growing garden herbs.  Or, if you're without a garden of your own like me, pots are a great substitute.  Who says they have to be plain terra cotta? Below is a fairly simple tutorial on how I painted my planting pots and choosing environmentally-friendly paint.

Can you guess what I'll be growing in them?

What you'll need:

• terracotta pots and saucers (I used three 6" ones)
• paint (one 2 fl oz bottle of Americana in 'zinc' can cover three 6" pots and saucers)
• paint brushes / small sponges (make-up sponges will work too)
• old newspaper
• pencil
• Sharpie Water-Based Medium-Point Pen

[images coming soon]

What to do:

1.  Make sure pots and saucers are clean. If you just purchased them, they should be ok.  If you're using old pots, place them in a white vinegar-water solution (more info here). 
2. Once clean, apply the first coat of paint. To have a nice, finished layer, paint several thin coats -- outdoors.  Painting will likely take two stages, the top/bottom of the saucer and the inside/outside of the pots.  When painting the inside of the pots, only paint down approx. 1" from the top. Let dry for about 45 minutes to 1 hour on newspapers before applying the next coat.  I used 4 coats in total with small, partial touch-ups. 
3. After finishing the final coat of paint, take the pencil and very very lightly write out your message - plant / herb types, name of a friend (gifts!), etc. It may be helpful to draw a straight line parallel to the bottom of the pot.  
4. Test the sharpie pen on newspaper before using on the pots.  It requires a lot of shaking and a decent amount of pressure for the ink to flow.  Trace over the pencil, stopping every so often to shake again.  

The Potential Impacts of Paint

It's not something often thought of.  It lingers on our walls for years until a fresh coat is painted over top.  But without proper precautions, paint can have negative effects on indoor air quality and breathing conditions.  Steps have been taken to make paint less-dangerous -- at least there's no lead anymore (and that took nearly 75 years to put into effect after the dangers of lead were discovered).  Today the largest danger in paint are VOCs - volatile organic compounds.  As paint dries, these compounds are released and combine with existing gases in the air to form ozone.  This has been linked to breathing problems and headaches, and in extreme cases cancer, as well as liver and kidney damage.

If you're in the market for paints, look for key-words like 'low VOC' or 'VOC free,' and opt for water-based paints over oil-based.  Another good indicator is the Green Seal, given to paints with VOC levels below 50 g/L for flat finishes and 100 gL/ for non-flat finishes.

Image from greenseal.org

As rapid consumers, Americans bring thousands of goods into our homes each year, several of which have not been tested for chemicals.  Unfortunately, companies have limited product safety standards to meet and oftentimes prioritize profit over environmental responsibility and consumer health.  This leaves shoppers unaware of potential dangers in the items they're buying.  But you don't have to be! A few of my favorite trusted sites on product information are listed below:

• Cradle to Cradle - reusable products that eliminate the need for material extraction and future waste by increasing its life-span.
• EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database - look up the dangers of beauty/cosmetic items. Over 61,000 products recorded.
• Household Products Database - perhaps the largest range of items of the sources listed here.
• Safer Products - US Consumer Product Safety Commission (government-sponsored) website were people can report problems with specific goods.

Being a smart shopper means more than saving money.  While the majority of products on shelves have hidden dangers, more and more sustainable goods are emerging as consumers demand higher safety standards. 

What's Caught My Eye Recently Masterpost - 2016 Swimsuits Edition

The weather is warming up and we're just about nearing swimsuit season!  This year is full of fantastic suits, so I thought I'd create a masterpost to share them all!  Below you can find my top ten favorite swimmies for 2016, perfect for the beach or relaxing poolside.

Seafolly Umbrella Maillot Swimsuit

A few years ago I purchased this swimsuit in the striped rope pattern and absolutely adore it. I might be getting another Maillot in the near future.

Fruity Suity One Piece Swimsuit in Citrus

There's just something so summer-y about citrus fruits: lemonade, margharitas... they never taste better than on a hot summer's day. This suit was made for sipping a cool drink poolside. And it comes in plus sizes too? Ahhh!

Rita One Piece Swimsuit by Fables by Barrie

Fables by Barrie is well-known for their vintage-style swimsuits, with styles that range from nautical to western. This suit might be one of their simpler styles, but there is nothing simple about the bow in the back. How cute!

Fjord Your Information Two Piece Swimsuit

I figured I should include atleast one two piece suit for those who don't like one pieces. (But who really dislikes one pieces as cute as these?) I love how playful this suit is, from the spring-time color palette to the sweet-heart neckline.
(This can be purchased as a set from ModCloth or two separate pieces (top and bottom) from Unique Vintage.)

Swim Solutions Contrast-Trim One Piece Swimsuit

This is another brand I'm familiar with. Last year I bought a swim-dress from Swim Solutions and it (somehow) survived 8 crazy weeks in Europe - including the many lakes of Lithuania - without getting left behind. Still in fantastic condition today.

Helen Jon White Sands Del Rey One Piece Swimsuit

There's something so fabulously retro with a belted swimsuit. The orange band around the waist really emphasizes curves, just like styles from the 1950s.

Esther Williams Two Piece Yellow Delicious Swimsuit

This is a new print from a classic brand, Esther Williams. If you don't have one of her swimsuits yet - what are you waiting for?
(Top and bottom purchased separately.)

Lauren Ralph Lauren Halter Swimdress

This one is a lot like the Swim Solutions suit above, but includes side rutching and a skirted bottom. Can you tell how much I like the white top border? (aahh, clean lines.) It also comes in seven different colors.

Panache Britt Two Piece Swimsuit

One more two piece to close the post. Panache has a fantastic reputation for their bras - and their swim is just the same. The sizing runs by bra sizes, so you can match your fit down to a 't'. There's also a beautiful cobalt with red bows color that's just as cute as this one!
(Top and bottom purchased separately.)

Cleaning White Canvas Shoes With Common Household Ingredients

A nice pair of white shoes can be very versatile.  They're as classic as black flats but match with the lovely pastel dresses of spring and summer.  But some might shy away from them because they become dirty so easily.  Doesn't it seem like your feet are stepped on more frequently when wearing white sneakers?  There's a whole branch of science dedicated to this idea that things naturally become less perfect (or more chaotic) over time -- known as entropy.  In short: it's supposed to happen by the laws of physics.  But while science may soil them, we can also use science to clean them, as well as 5 common household ingredients.  

[before and after pictures to come once they dry]

What you'll need:

1. Soilove (ok, so this may not be as common as baking soda, but this is the best stain-remover I've used and should be a common ingredient in all homes. Click here for safety information)
2. cotton ball, rag or spray bottle
3. 3/4 cup baking soda
4. 1/4 cup water
5. scrub brush or old toothbrush - don't plan to use it for your teeth after this

What to do:

1. Remove initial stains by rubbing Soilove onto a small cotton ball or rag.  If you have a spray bottle, you can also cover spots with a light spray.  Wash hands immediately after using Soilove - it can irritate skin after a while.  If you are using the spray bottle, you won't be able to use it again for cooking, baking, watering plants, or similar activities.
2. Leave shoes to soak in Soilove for approx. 15-30 minutes. If stains don't appear to fade after 10 minutes, apply another coat. 
3. Rinse shoes completely with cold water directly under a faucet, rubbing on stains with hands. If any spots are still noticeable, apply another coat of Soilove and wait 10 min. 
4. Rinse shoes again, this time with hot water.  Stains will be removed by either hot or cold water, depending on the stain.  Chances are there's more than one type on your shoes, so do both to remove both.  Some stains (like blood) will set with hot water so be sure to rinse cold first. 
5. Combine baking soda and water in a bowl.
6. With brush, scrub the mixture all over the shoes.  This will help brighten shoes and keep white from turning to cream. Let shoes sit for about 5-10 min. 
7. Rinse shoes with warm water, and leave to dry.  They will likely take at least 24 hours to dry, so don't clean them if you plan to wear them the next day.

The science behind it:

Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate. When added to water, it ionizes into a solution with hydroxide ions - making it basic.  Most common household cleaners, like body soap or floor cleaner, are basic solutions with a pH level between 11-14 - known to be the target range for removing oil and grease.

So whether you cook with grease and oil often, roll around in the grass with your pets, or simply have the laws of physics working against you, you need no longer fear to wear white shoes. 

A Collection of 1960s Music

I sure do like the clothes of the 1960s, but the music from that era deserves recognition as well. By far, my most-played playlist is one of hits throughout the decade, appropriately titled Love / Happy Songs of the 60s. A few days ago the playlist hit 100 followers on Spotify, and I thought that I ought to share it on here.

If you like artists such as The Beach Boys, The Mamas and the Papas, The Beatles, Sam Cooke, The Four Tops, The Supremes, and many others, please give it a listen!

A Day in Poly Canyon

On this beautiful Cesar Chavez holiday, my roommate and I went to Poly Canyon (located about 1 mile from the Cal Poly SLO campus). The mustard seed flowers were blooming so high and dense I nearly lost her a few times!

As you enter the canyon, the blade structure is the first project in sight.

Celina, being a cutie pie.

Where did she go?

A ladybug flew onto my hands. 

Two more face shots. 

And the hike continues on....

If you haven't been to see Poly Canyon yet, I highly encourage you to! There is no place on earth quite like it -- an eclectic mix of past large-scale senior projects, dating back as early as the mid 1950s! I'm part of an organization called Canyon Days that up-keeps the structures so I know a lot about each project.  Please feel free to contact me by email (stationarysuitcases@gmail.com) if you plan to be in town - I'd love to give you a tour of the place.

Chicago is my Kind of Town

Is a post about Chicago appropriately titled if there isn't a Frank Sinatra reference? I just got the photos from Scott today of our trip, and wow! Who knew five days could pass by so quickly? Even with the cold weather, rain, and even plane-sickness (yep... that happened), I'd still go back in a heartbeat.

On our first evening there we did as every tourist does and saw the Bean. You can see Scott and I near the center of the photo.


This might be the only photo of me from the trip that isn't blurry. I'm looking at you Scott, Mr. Cameraman.


A skyline photo, taken from Millennium Park. Fun fact: Millennium Park opened in 2004 (don't all projects run behind schedule?)


The next day we toured two of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes. The one above is the Robie House, known to be the first of many prairie style houses to follow.


Later in the afternoon we toured Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio. It was located in the most beautiful of neighborhoods.


The following day we found ourselves at the Shedd Aquarium. Perhaps the largest majority of photos from the trip were taken that day. You know, just penguins doing penguin things...


...And Beluga whales doing Beluga whale things.


We spent the rest of the day wandering around the city, but not before resting at the Buckingham Fountain for a mid-afternoon snack.


Of all the places we visited, this one was my favorite. Sometimes the best places are stumbled upon. The peculiar facade of the Harold Washington Library drew Scott and me inside, and we traveled up to the top floor to find this. Who knew this was 9 floors up?And look at that fantastic lattice-work!


We explored the Lincoln Park area the next day since the weather wasn't all too great. Above are photos from the Lincoln Park Conservatory.



Later on we stopped by the zoo and saw a large assortment of animals - including monkeys and otters. Otters might be my favorite animal behind dogs. This one was biting his tail!


And no architectural engineer could pass by these beautiful Catalan vaults in the Lincoln Park Zoo Lion House. They're one of the only masonry domes that can be built without formwork - whoa!


On our last night together, Scott and I went inside possibly the largest Macy's I've ever seen and saw the beautiful Tiffany ceiling. How ornamental architecture was back in the day.

Not long after Scott had to leave and meet with his class, so I went back to my cousin's house whom we stayed with, then flew out early the next morning. As upsetting as it was to go, I had my immediate family -- and especially my dogger buddies -- to look forward to coming home to.

These Suitcases are Packed and A'going!

That's right! I'll be leaving for Chicago in less than two weeks! March 19, to be exact. Until then, only dead week and finals -- I can do this! (I think)

Beef Fajita Taquitos

I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite meals to make.  And considering that I'm a "most days" vegetarian and the fact that this has a lot of beef in it hopefully tells truth to just how delicious it is! Whenever I'm asked to make dinner for someone else, this is my go-to recipe.  And the best part is, it's so easy to make (there's just a lot of clean up afterwards - but isn't that the case with most good meals?)

Total time: 35-40 minutes
1/2 lb of carne asada makes about 5-6 taquitos

What you'll need:

• approx 1/2 lb unseasoned carne asada
• fajita seasoning mix (I use the Simply Organic mix, available at Ralph's)
• 5-6 mini corn tortillas
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 bundle green onions (optional)
• Toothpicks (optional)

Recipe:

1. Thaw meat overnight. Dice softened meat into small sections no larger than a dime.
2. Follow instructions on fajita mix to obtain saucy texture.
3. Add mix to a medium-sized frying pan on medium heat. When mix begins to bubble, add diced meat. Cook meat uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until fully browned. 
4. Once the meat is done, you can start on the taquitos. In (yet another) medium sized frying pan, add about 1/2 cup oil and turn on to low heat. 
5. Heat up 1 corn tortilla in microwave for approximately 15 seconds. 
6. Take tortilla out of microwave. Add meat down the center of the tortilla, in a line. Then add cheese and green onions on top.
7. Roll into taquitos. I like to stick a toothpick through the center of the taquito to hold it together.
8. Carefully place taquito on frying pan.
9. Repeat steps 5-8. When added each new taquito to the pan, rotate the existing ones about 120°, or 1/3 of a full rotation (you may need to remove the toothpick). By the time the fourth taquito is added, the first one will be done. There should be no more than 3 taquitos in the pan at a time. 
10. When removing taquitos from pan, use a spatula or tongs (not your fingers!) Place them onto a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. 

Tips

• After rolling up each taquito and putting the toothpick through the center, stick your fingers in each side and gently push the inside food towards the center (doing this always reminds me of the Chinese finger traps I played with as a kid!)
• Usually I make a double-batch of meat one night and use half for later in the week. The majority of time spent is dicing the meat and cooking it on the stove. If that's already done, you can do steps 4-10 in about 15 minutes.

The Importance of Choosing Safe Beauty Products

Image from safecosmetics.org

Have you ever checked the ingredients in those beauty products you use daily?  It's ok if you haven't.  And if you have, you'll know just how difficult it is to make sense of the jargon on the back.  Who's ever heard of retinyl acetate anyway?  Turns out it's a deadly chemical found in moisturizers that use a synthetic to replicate vitamin A, causing extreme reproductive harm.  Large production companies use words unfamiliar to us to mask the words that we do know, like formaldehyde, carcinogen, etc. Even if we don't know the exact harm in these chemicals, we know that they should be avoided at all costs.  The problem, as described below in the video, is that there's very little regulation on cosmetics.  It's becoming more and more difficult to detect harmful chemicals as more products are using them.

Below is a video by Annie Leonard, a well-known environmentalist now heading Greenpeace USA, titled the Story of Cosmetics based off her series, the Story of Stuff.  With the use of animation, she describes how we are exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals and why nothing has been done about this.

For further information you can visit the site she mentioned in her video, safecosmetics.org, that has printables of hazardous chemicals to avoid in products like shampoo and sunscreen.  If you'd like to see if the current products you use are safe, EWG has a fantastic database of tens of thousands of health products reviewed.  The lower the rank, the safer the product.  I usually aim for products with an overall rating below 5, but each one has sub-categorical ranks that could be higher than the overall ranking.  For me, allergen-inducing ingredients are minor compared to those that have been linked to cancer.  And you'll likely have certain red-flag chemicals that take priority, too.  The next time you're at Target or Walgreens, you can shop smarter and choose safe hair and skincare products.

Listing Items on Whurl

Love vintage clothing at a discounted price? Ever heard of the app Whurl? No? Well, then hop on it!

Whurl is perhaps the best way to find affordable vintage items because there's a wide range of buyers and sellers that use the app. Unlike most marketplaces, the selection is catered to shoppers because they can post images of exactly what they're looking for, and sellers list items that match the description. Created  by Sam just a few years back, the app is already gaining popularity and used by instagram users elsielarson and ameliajetson.

Within the next few days, I'll be adding items from my closet for sale under the username 'darlingsarahd' (same as instagram). Please give them a look, you might see something you like :)

Update: Skirt Tutorial

I'm nearly done with the skirt for my friend! From here out, it should be about 5 more hours. I usually lean towards A-line skirts with a gathered or pleated waist, but this straight skirt was so simple and fast I'll definitely make a few for myself. But that's a project for another day.

I hope to finish the tutorial post by the end of the month, but there sure is a lot of detailing left to be done. 

Rice-Krispie Hearts

Today is officially the first day of February, the month of "I love you"s and red and pink everything. Whether you love Valentine's Day or absolutely despise it, we all love seeing aisles at the grocery stores stocked with heart-shaped chocolates and candies. Valentine's Day is a day of love, and part of that love definitely includes sweets! In this post, you'll find a recipe for making some goodies of your own - heart shaped rice krispie treats.

Total time: about 20 minutes

Makes approximately 10 hearts (palm-size) or 15 mini-hearts

What you'll need:

• approx 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 10oz bag mini marshmallows
• red food coloring (optional)
• 4 cups rice krispies cereal
• wax paper
• heart cookie cutter (optional)

Recipe:

1. In a large pot, melt butter on medium heat. Be sure to spread the butter around to line the entire inside, including the walls of the pan. 
2. Add marshmallows. Once added, continue to mix the marshmallows constantly. Do not let the marshmallows sit still for longer than 10 seconds, they will burn!
3. Once the marshmallows are almost entirely melted to a liquid, turn off the stove. If you're using an electric burner, take the pot off the burner.
4. Add in food coloring until getting the desired color. It will take a lot of drops to get red!
   Or, if you'd like various-colored hearts, split the batch into 3 separate bowls. Add food coloring to two of the three bowls, one red and one pink. Leave the last bowl white.
5. Add in the rice krispies cereal, one cup at a time. Stir until evenly mixed.
6. Line a plate or cookie sheet with wax paper to place the finished treats onto. 
7. To make heart shapes, you can either use a cookie-cutter to mold, or if you're like me and don't have one, you can use your hands. Before taking the marshmallow/rice krispies mixture out of the pot, wet your hands with water-- believe me, this will help greatly! This prevents the marshmallows from sticking to your fingers and makes it much easier to shape.
8. To harden the marshmallows, place them in the fridge. Take them out to "thaw" 10 minutes before enjoying.

Tips:

• You'll probably have to wet your hands after shaping every other one. I suggest working close to a sink or have a bowl of water nearby.

Swinging on a Star at the Bella Mundo Cafe

When my good friend Kevin came to me earlier this week and asked if I'd like to see him perform a few jazz numbers Friday night, I couldn't say no. Throw in some swing dancing and it was a done deal.

That evening I went downtown to grab dinner with Scott (the boyfriend) and Celina (the roommate), then we made our way to Bella Mundo Cafe, a lovely coffee bar with plenty of space to jive and groove. Take a look below at a few photographs my good friend Paul took at the event.

After a few dances, Scott and I realized just how long it's been since we last went dancing (and it probably showed!). We spent the rest of the night practicing at my place while The Supremes and Frank Sinatra spun 'round on the record player.