Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 443

Simplify Meal Planning with The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue

I am a big fan of Aviva Goldfarb and her meal planning subscription service TheScramble.com. On too many occasions to count, her recipes and shopping lists have been the answer to my question, "What are we going to have for dinner?"

If you're unfamiliar with TheScramble.com, it is an enhanced online companion to Aviva's cookbooks The Six O'Clock Scramble and her newest book The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue. Once a week, she e-mails a weekly meal plan to give healthy ideas for what to...

HomeGoods Twitter Giveaway

For the next nine days HomeGoods will be generously giving away a selected item per day to one of their Twitter followers. Yes, great home decor pieces for free.  Here's how to win one:

Start following @HomeGoods on Twitter.com
Tweet @HomeGoods why you love each item between 11am and 11:59pm EST each day.
Check back the next day around 11am to see if you won.

Today's item is this set of silver studded trunks, the perfect accents for a traditional modern living room or pretty storage pieces ...

Lighten Up for Summer

With Summer just around the corner, and with it an influx of weekend visitors and casual parties, it's the perfect time to lighten up your decor. 

Here are five easy ideas for brightening up the mood of any home: 

1. Add beachy elements. Fill glass vases with shells, and use a straw bag to corral newspapers. 

2. Pack away heavy bedding. Trade it in for crisp white sheets and a linen coverlet. 

3. Don't forget the kitchen. Display a big bowl of lemons or heirloom tomatoes on a counter. 

4. Bring...

Does Buying Furniture Stress You Out?

I bought my first couch over the weekend. In previous apartments, I'd had hand-me-down furniture or furniture that I purchased with my roommate. So this was a major purchase for me, and I have to say, it kind of stressed me out.

I was worried about making the wrong decision when it came to spending such a large amount of money on a piece that is going to be a central part of my home. What if it isn't comfortable for everyone? What if it shows dirt? What if it doesn't hold up well to normal...

Just Let Me Lie Down Book Giveaway

As Kristin revealed in the May issue of Real Simple, we are giving away 100 copies of her new book: Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom.

Starting Monday May 3, 2010 at noon EST, the first 100 people to comment on this blog post in the comments field on Simply Stated will receive a copy. A simple "me" or "yes, please" is all you'll need to write in the comments. We will contact the winners via e-mail.

Not in time? Buy a copy now on amazon.com.

Here are the...

Whimsical Clocks by Decoy Lab

I simply must share some clocks with you today from Decoy Lab that I know you'll adore! I own one white paper clock from this talented design studio already, with another one on the way in bamboo. Decoy Lab is owned by designer, illustrator and mother Maiko Kuzunishi in Kansas City, Missouri (you can view her design portfolio here) and was established in 2007 with a focus on creating unique decorative clocks with a focus on quality products that are not only functional but affordable and...

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

A few studies came out this week that either gave me pause, sort of irked me, or just otherwise made me giggle.

1. First, the giggle. A study of pet owners by AP-Petside.com found that 30% of women say that their pet is a better listener than their husband. 18% of men feel the same way—that Fido is a better ear than their female companion. An interesting note about the difference between cats and dogs, from the AP article: "Twenty-five percent of dog owners said their canines listened better ...

What Do You Get a 15-Year-Old Boy for His Birthday?

Next week, Eldest turns 15. I have decided after much thought that 15 is the year when a child becomes A Genuine Teenager. Thirteen is teenagerhood on training wheels and 14 is a weird sort-of-a-teen-but-not situation. But no matter how you look at it, 15 is undeniably a teenage age.

That said, I still don't quite understand what people mean when they say, "Oh, teenagers!" and then stare at me meaningfully, waiting for me to jump on board the exasperation train. Although he is nearly A...

Hello, Bookies!

As I'm sure you've heard by now, Jodi Picoult's latest novel, House Rules, won the poll for our May book club pick. How many of you are just thrilled to death that a Picoult book is finally on deck?? I am. 

I'm Kate Parker, and I'll be leading our discussion this month. I'm a blogger here on Simply Stated, contributing to the Holidays and Entertaining beat. This means I get to write about really fun things like throwing parties and yummy recipes and my favorite gifts. Which is pretty great. I ...

I'm Sorry, That's Not in My Budget

Last weekend we threw a lovely dinner party for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday. My husband's only sibling and her husband came up with a brilliant idea: Have the party at home and hire a chef to come in to prepare the meal. The kids were hunkered down in the basement with a babysitter and a pizza while 15 adults mingled upstairs. There were candles, soft dinner music, and beautiful flowers anchoring each table. Wine and conversation flowed easily all night and the meal was exceptional.

And...