Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 385

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for Cooks and Entertainers

Need some last-minute help with gifts for your foodie friend? Here's a look at some of the cute/fun/cool/useful things I've been coveting (all but one are under $30). If I did not have a teeny-tiny kitchen with limited cupboard and counter space, I would probably put all of these things on my Christmas wish list. Alas.

 

 
Inside Out Bowl, $8 each at Anthropologie.com

(image: Anthropologie.com)

 
Squirrelly Bottle Stopper, $24 at Anthropologie.com

(image: Anthropologie.com)

 

 
Guest Check Tray, $8 at Fishseddy.com

(image: Fishseddy.com)

 

Russian Doll Measuring Cups, $16 at Fredflare.com

(image: Fredflare.com)

 
Hidden Fox Teacup, $15 at Amazon.com

(image: Swirl.com)

 

 
White Cake Lace Coasters, $19 for set of 4 at Gretelhome.com

(image: Gretelhome.com)

 

 
Tasting Plate, $25 at Uncommongoods.com

(image: Uncommongoods.com)

 
 
Mini Donut Maker, $25 at Amazon.com

(image: Amazon.com)

 

 
Alessi Parrot Corkscrew, $60 each at Unicahome.com

(image: Unicahome.com)

 

Udon Noodle Bowls, $26 each at Uncommongoods.com

(image: Uncommongoods.com)



Reader Q&A: How to Find a Natural Blush Color

 

Hope everyone is having a good week, so far! About a month ago, we asked what your biggest beauty problems/dilemmas were. Some of you wondered how to solve dry hands and others asked about how to find the best mascara.

 

One reader asked a question that hit close to home for me—how to find a natural looking blush that wouldn't wash her out during these sunless months. I recently solved this dilemma for myself, so I was excited that I could pass on my latest trick! 

 

The Answer: Blush Bronzer Duos. They might look a little scary, with all the combination of colors, but take your every day blush brush and swirl the colors together to get a natural glowing rosy look. Do allow for a little shimmer in this area; it will brighten up dull winter skin!

 

Here are some of my favorites (including the one I use every morning)!

                  

Caribbean in a Compact (Snow Bunny Shade)                         Fusion Soft Lights (Intermix Shade)

To Buy: $28, TooFaced.com                                                     To Buy: $30, Smashbox.com

 

The one in my makeup bag... Benefit Sugarbomb To Buy: $28,

 

 

 

What other make up questions are on your minds? Smoky eyes, eyeliners? Let me know what you want to read about!

 

Until next time! Happy Holidays :)

 

Well-Being: It's The Little Things...

You know that saying "It's the little things"? Well, it really, really is. You know, things like when someone holds the door for you, the cup of coffee that tastes juuuust right, the cozy socks on a cold night, the why-did-this-take-so-long-to-design, upside-down ketchup bottle that never backs up?

Of course there are the other little things, too -- the ones that can totally get you down, especially when you're already on edge. The train you really needed to catch pulled away from the platform two seconds ago, the unreasonably heavy door on your apartment building that makes those heavy groceries feel like lead, the printer jam for the millionth time, for no good reason. (These are more like straws that break the camel's back, I'd say. And yes, I am now realizing that I have a thing about doors.)

But for today I want to focus on all those little things that make life better. The good things that come in small packages. (Side note: I remember my first grade teacher introducing this little adage to me, presumably referring to my diminutive size and trying to reassure me that being petite was a good thing!)

After all, I believe that in a lot of ways, being healthy and being happy is often just an assortment of little stuff that add up to a lot. Opting for whole grain rather than refined. Taking the stairs, not the escalator. Do enough of these things and over time, it amounts to a healthier life.

Anyways, with all that as preamble, here are five small but mighty items that i think offer a real mood boost or solve a problem, however small -- stuff that's perfect for gift-giving this time of year, for staying healthy during the holidays, or for just for adding a bit of warmth and sunlight to these cold, gray days.




*Tapi: Had this palm-sized little hydration helper (pictured, above) been around when I was a kid, it might have saved me from a lot of frustration. Brief backstory: Growing up, I shared a bathroom with my older brother. He was quite slobby. I was quite neat. He also drank directly from the faucet, and this drove.me.bonkers. I begged; I plead; I raged. And he continued to slurp straight the spigot, mouth on chrome. But with a quick squeeze, this Aussie-designed invention transforms most taps into a drinking fountain. Let go and the faucet runs as usual. Oh, how many sibling squabbles this might have saved me! ($5, at Dreamfarm.com.au)



*BabyJogger Stroller Hand Muff: At last, my hint was heeded, and I got my chapped and chilled mitts on this item, and while before I could only SPECULATE on what a winter-weather-winner it might be, now I can effuse that it's sort of changed my life. I know, it sounds hyperbolic, but warm hands = easier strolling, fewer lost gloves, and more time in the fresh air as opposed to being cooped-up indoors. Scientific act: more fresh air makes for a less-fussy toddler (and momma, too). ($40, at buybuybaby.com)



*Nuddle: It may bring to mind the mass-market goofiness of the Snuggie and the Slanket, but the Nuddle (pictured, above) is actually a plush little problem solver. It's a super-soft baby blanket with holes to accomodate those five-point straps on a stroller and a cozy foot pocket, so that the blanket doesn't slip off and tangle in the wheels. ($38, at nuddleblanket.com)



* Finger Spoons: How many times have I been caught without a spoon with which to eat my morning yogurt? And how many times have I resorted to my finger? Or, worse yet, attemped to chug it directly from the cup? Not very couth, and not very clean either. Solution: Toss a brightly colored Finger Spoon (pictured, above) or two into your travel bag or your desk drawer and never have to wipe yogurt off your face or finger. Super-fun for kids, too. ($7.75 at Spoonsisters.com)



* Digital Spoon Scale: Able to toggle between weight and volume, this scale-spoon hybrid (pictured, above) is an easy way to make baking more accurate and ensure that you stick to proper portions in your diet. After all, who really knows what an ounce of dark chocolate or a proper portion of mixed nuts looks like? ($34, at Spoonsisters.com)

Is It Rude to Wear Fur?

My mother had a full-length mink with a big sable collar, which made her look like Anna Karenina, and it was her favorite coat.
 
Of course it was, you are thinking, because this was the 1960s, when there weren't any protesters to throw buckets of red paint on her when she wore it.


After my mother moved to a warm climate, she gave me the mink. But I belonged to a generation cowed by all those screaming, anti-fur types. I told her the coat did not fit (which was true, by the way, it made me look more like the Pillsbury Doughboy than a doomed Russian beauty), and then I moved to San Francisco, where it was too warm for fur anyway.

This year, I moved back to New York, and in November I noticed: It gets really cold here! After walking my daughter to school one bitter, windy day, I spent the rest of the morning shopping online, looking for the warmest coat possible—I was so cold I wasn't even ruling out the possibility of wearing a dreaded puffer—when a solution hit me. The mink.

I took it to the Fur District in Manhattan, and after inspecting the pelts, the fur specialists said it was in excellent condition. From a back room, a fur tailor emerged with big metal clips—they looked like what a giant would use for bobby pins—to illustrate how the coat would look if it were four inches shorter and narrower in the shoulders, and had shorter sleeves. "Do it," I said.

When I recently went to pick up the coat, it was gorgeous— as glossy and soft as it ever had been (the fur people had "glazed" it, and while I am not entirely sure what that entails, I wish I could have a similar anti-aging procedure performed on me).

I was so warm and so happy, because every time I wore it, I saw my mother's name embroidered in the lining.

But the coat gets a lot of attention. It's not unlike walking around with a celebrity. People stare at the coat as if I'm wearing Jennifer Aniston. In restaurants, strangers feel compelled to sidle up with advice: "I wouldn't leave that in the cloakroom."  

It makes me uncomfortable. I find myself confiding, "It's my mother's mink!" to everyone I see. As if that would excuse the coat.  As if I need to excuse it.

I'm not sure if it's cruelty to minks that embarrasses me. Or the presumption that I would spend thousands of dollars on a coat. Either way, though, I can't keep blurting out, "It's my mother's coat!" at strangers....Should I stop wearing it? Or is there a way to make peace with the mink?

Did your mother have a fur coat? Did she love it? What happened to it?

(image by Zoe Quittner)

Five Quick and Simple Uncluttering Projects

If you're looking to get some quick uncluttering projects completed before the end of the year, here are some projects that don't take much time but get rid of pesky clutter:


Clean out the pen cup. I love this simple project because it doesn't really feel like uncluttering -- it feels like an art project. Round up all of your writing utensils, and test them on a scrap piece of paper. Toss out any dried up pens and markers, sharpen any dull pencils, and recycle the test paper when you're done.
Clean out your car or backpack. If you have a car, clean it out. Make three piles as you work -- items to remain in the car, trash, and items that belong in your home/office/to someone else. If you don't own a car, clean out the backpack you regularly carry with you when you're on the go. Just like you would with a car, make three piles as you work. When finished with either project, take care of the piles in the appropriate ways.
Sort through your mugs and glasses. Do you really need 30 mugs? Do you have any chipped drinking glasses? Damaged glasses and ceramic mugs can usually be recycled (check with your local recycling center if you're uncertain), and ones in good shape are perfect for donating to charities or friends getting their first home away from home. Our local addiction rehabilitation centers are always in need of mugs and glasses.
Get rid of expired foods. Go through your pantry and refrigerator and toss out all expired foods that could potentially harm you and your family. If you can't find an expiration date on an item, go to the manufacturer's website (most allow you to type in a code printed on the product to learn when it was produced) or check out StillTasty.com. If you find any foods that are on the verge of expiring, get creative and use them in your meals for the coming days.
Sock it to me. Go through your sock drawer and pull out any socks that are damaged or that you hate. Turn the damaged socks into cleaning rags or donate them to a charity, like Goodwill, that accepts rags (just be sure to wash them and clearly label them as rags before making the donation). Socks you hate but that are in good condition can be donated to your local homeless shelter.


What simple and quick uncluttering projects can you suggest? Share your ideas in the comments.

Have You Voted Yet for Your January Book?

Hello, Bookies:

 

 

We're winding down our January book poll, which closes at 11:59 p.m. EST this Sunday, December 19. Our four choices come courtesy of discussion leader Danielle Virgin, one of RS.com's IT liaisons extraordinaire. Make your pick!

 

What Should We Read in January?survey software

Poll: Do You Have a Holiday-Specific Collection?

I love holiday decorations, but I don't own that many, because I don't have any space available to store them in the off-season. And I'm very jealous of people who have carefully curated collections of holiday decorations. So, I was happy to stumble across some holiday collection eye candy from last weekend's Los Angeles Times Magazine. (Thank you for the tip off Laura-Bear!)

 

They put together a collection of 50 Los Angeles-related snow globes. Let me just throw this out there: I love snow globes. But I'm picky about them. They have to have the right amount of glamour or kitsch. Too many of them fall somewhere in between, and are just obnoxious.

 

The LA Times feature, killed it on the kitsch factor. Take a look at my five favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

And click here to see all 50 snow globes.

 

I think it's time for me to start my collection, which means restarting my hunt for the perfect Plaza Lights snow globe. (Kansas Citians, you know what I'm talking about. Everyone else learn more here.) That is how I want to kick off my snow globe collection. So if you've found one, or you have one that you love, share in the comments.

 

And, of course, now I want to know do you have a holiday-specific collection?

 

 

Do You Have a Holiday-Specific Collection?survey software

 

(All images from LA Times Magazine.)

 

Where Are You Shopping?

I always like to know where people shop online for great gifts. Please reveal, I would love to know where you are shopping currently to make this season merry & bright for you and your dear family and friends. A personal favorite of mine, valued for their unique products, is the Lost & Found Shop in Los Angeles. They have a storefront but for the rest of us, an online store too.

I found several great things that I liked this morning at the Lost & Found Shop shown above -- napkins in Liberty London fabrics, Tunisian towels, ikat and linen pillows, gorgeous and colorful Bolivian throw rugs, limited edition serigraphs by Sage Vaughn and more.

Now back to my earlier question... Can you please share a few of the online stores where you are shopping this season? Target? Etsy? J.Crew? Are you giving mostly presents, gift cards or experiences -- like tickets to concerts, ski passes, etc. I'd love to know!

(images: lost & found shop)

Why You Shouldn't Bake When You're in a Hurry

Last time, I blogged about baking the Raspberry-Walnut Crumble Bars and how they prompted me to finally figure out the proper way to use parchment paper. I wanted to make the bars because they looked beautiful—and also, I got a sneak taste of them during our holiday cookie shoot and thought they were fabulous. I tried to recreate the fabulousness at home and couldn't quite capture it, though the fault is entirely my own. Here's what happened.

 

 

The ingredients were a cinch to gather up—most were already in my pantry—and the press-in crust was easy to make. It was kind of fun getting in there with my hands, pressing the buttery dough into the pan and patting and smoothing it down. It reminded me of messing around with Play-Doh when I was kid—but with much more delicious results. Spreading the jam, crumbling the remaining dough on top, and scattering on chopped walnuts were also fun tasks that would be great for kids if you happen to be baking with any (I wasn't).

 

 

I placed my bars in the oven and baked until golden, just as the recipe instructed. I took the pan out and set it on the counter to cool for a bit…and here's where things started to go downhill. Unfortunately, I had to leave for a holiday party shortly after the bars came out of the oven, bringing them with me as a party treat. Though they were still extremely warm, I covered the pan loosely with tin foil, placed it in a canvas bag, and set off for the subway station. Not ideal, but I had no choice.

 

About 40 minutes later—after a lengthy subway ride and a 15-minute walk in nearly freezing weather—I arrived at the party destination, convinced the bars would be thoroughly cold. They weren't. I guess the foil and canvas bag had done such a great job of insulating the baking pan, the bottom was still almost hot enough to need a trivet. Worse, when I removed the foil I discovered that because the bars hadn't had ample time to cool and set, the jam-crumble-nut topping had shifted in transit, resulting in uneven, sloppy bars. I tried to smooth everything back into place and set them aside to cool completely.

 

 

Once cool, I lifted the bars out easily (thanks, parchment paper!) and cut them with a sharp knife. They still looked pretty good, and they tasted good, too. They ended up a little soggier and messier than I would have liked; I'm sure that covering the bars with foil while they were hot caused them to steam while I was in transit, resulting in an overly moist cookie. Everyone loved them nonetheless—in fact, people were raving about them—and next time, I'll make sure to leave ample cool-down time.

 

So the moral of the story is: Always follow all baking instructions very carefully, don't skip any steps, and for best results, let your baked goods cool completely before attempting to transport/cut into/serve them. Don't think you can rush baked goods, because you know what? You can't.

 

The holidays aren't over yet, so I'm aiming for Raspberry-Walnut Crumble Bars, take two…

What have been your biggest baking mishaps or disasters?

'Tis The Season For...Sequins!

 

What's the holiday season without a little razzle dazzle? And there is no better way to add some shine to your life than with the always shining and popular...sequin!

 

 

These little plastic discs pack a big--and fabulous--punch, which is exactly why wearing sequins during special times of the year or events is a fashion-do.

 

With that said, here are some great options you can wear now and most certainly later...

 

Jessica Simpson gold sequin dress, $148

 

Charlotte Russe striped sequin jacket, $29.50

 

Boden sequined cotton scarf, $28

Spiegel Signature sequined cashmere skirt, $139

 

MICHAEL Michael Kors sequined belt, $42

 

 Charlotte Russe sequin post earrings, $4

 

 

Alex Evening lace and sequin sheath dress, $128

 

Loft sequin front sweatshirt, $59.50

La Regale sequined clutch, $42

 

And for the braver (yet still fabulous) souls...

Theory sequined tap shorts, $375

 

Happy sparkling!