Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 446

Will Jodi Picoult Win?

Hello, Bookies:

At the moment, the popular author's latest, House Rules, is in the lead, but the May book poll doesn't close until Sunday, so any of the books below could still come out on top. Sit tight. . .unless you haven't voted yet. In which case, definitely don't sit tight: Make your pick from these four choices by April 25!

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan

Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, follows it up with this "eye-opening" treatise on the...

Happy Earth Day Giveaway From Melange Collection

Oh how I love Earth Day! I remember to breathe a little deeper, tread a little softer and thank Mother Earth for all her glorious wonders.

In celebration of this very important day, our friends from Melange Collection are helping us with a fabulous reader giveaway. Yipee!

The company is known for their gift and home accessories that are handmade by artisans from around the world and keep with Fair Trade practices. We love to hear that!

And one of my favorite items from the collection are...

Great Find: Mod Green Pod Wall Paper and Fabrics

Every once in a while I come across a design idea, product, or website, that makes my heart pitter-patter. This week it's a textile company called Mod Green Pod. I'm in love with their line of super cute and eco-friendly fabrics and wallpapers. The three woman-team, textile print designer Nancy Mims, her sister-in-law Lisa Mims, and Valerie Pearcy, run the operation. The patterns are bold modern graphic prints with geometric shapes and colorful florals. The fabrics are made of organic...

Simple Living Can Be Good for the Planet

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Ten years ago today, I remember spending my Saturday standing near the Washington Monument and listening to James Taylor and Carole King play live at the Earth Fair. It was hot outside, we were guzzling down bottled water, and my friend Rebecca and I had driven my ancient Volvo 30 miles roundtrip to the National Mall for the event.

The electricity necessary to power the music acts on stage, the gasoline my car chugged to drive us there, and the...

Organic Amy Butler Bedding: NEW For Welspun

Designer Amy Butler will soon launch a new line of organic bedding for Welspun that is bright and fresh in juicy colors just in time for Summer. They'll be available in June and I'm willing to bet that they'll be a big hit. Here's a delicious taste of what's to come:

If you love Amy Butler's Midwest Modern style, then you'll adore her bedding which will be available in June at Bed Bath & Beyond nationwide. Available in 5 fresh patterns, this 100 percent...

To Headboard or Not to Headboard?

For the first time in my life, I'm considering buying a headboard. In the past, I've always skipped over that part of bedroom decor, because I normally hang artwork over my bed. But with my new set up, and relatively new bedding , I think might actually need a headboard. Take a look:

I'm going to have night stands on each side of the bed (another first for me), and I just feel like something's missing. I wouldn't be able to do a tufted headboard--that would compete with the pintuck duvet. I c...

Have you ever "sexted?"

sexting: v: the act of text messaging someone in the hopes of having a sexual encounter with them later; initially casual, transitioning into highly suggestive and even sexually explicit." (Urban Dictionary)



In her show, One Funny Mother: I'm Not Crazy, comedienne Dena Blizzard (pictured at right with her melons) shares a story of a friend, frantically searching for her nipple. According to Dena, her friend called in a panic, asking if Dena had received a text message with her friend's nipple...

Ladies, Meet Your New Best Friend...Colored Diamonds

The razzle and dazzle of a diamond is hard not to love. Heck it doesn't even need to be a diamond, it just needs to sparkle in order for me to swoon. I'm like a bird---I fly towards anything shiny (cubic zirconia, rhinestones or even a pair of patent leather shoes)!

But the ultimate sparkler is the beloved diamond (as long as they are conflict-free of course). Now, what if you could purchase (or be given--because that's definitely more exciting) a diamond in any color? I mean, ANY color you ...

Playing With Books: Art For The Home

You may be thinking, "What does a book about book artists have to do with home and organizing?", and yes I'll admit -- it may seem a bit far flung to tie into this blog. Yet I still feel compelled to write about it and here's why: a creative book that stimulates the imagination gives one fuel to do something new that they may not have tried before and crafting at home can really make a house a home. Allow me to explain why.

I believe that there is more to a beautiful, organized home than the o...

Inspiring Links

I come upon many great articles and blog posts in my daily life that are wonderful, but don't necessarily warrant 500 words of me responding or commenting on them. I often share these articles through my Twitter feed @Unclutterer and other times I collect them and share them in a post like this one dedicated to just links.

I've never done this before on Simply Stated, so you'll have to tell me what you think. Are you in favor of link shares or not? Sound off in the comments.

Now, for our main a...