Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 453
March 24, 2010
Tuuni Handmade
I have a new favorite etsy shop this week, Tuuni in Finland! I just ordered a fabric envelope to store some of my letters and cards that I receive from my mother who frequently writes to me now that I live overseas. I think it will be a special spot to collect her notes. Tuuni is Tuija Lommi who lives outside of Helsinki but she ships worldwide. She makes everything -- from soft furnishings for the home to storage boxes and jewelry -- out of mostly recycled and vintage materials. Here are a f...
March 23, 2010
Staying Ahead of the Game
I try to work ahead of schedule so that I'm never caught off guard when the unexpected happens. I'm not perfect (far from it), but it's always my goal to be in front of a deadline. I like to stay ahead of the game.
If we have guests coming over Saturday night for dinner, I like the meal planning, grocery shopping, and general house cleaning done by Thursday. If we're going on vacation on a Friday, I like the laundry done and suitcases packed (except for the last-minute toiletries) by the time ...
March 22, 2010
What's More Important To You At Work? Stability or Creativity?
Remember the hype about "free agent nation" that started more than a decade ago? It's a whole lot less attractive to recession-weary U.S. workers, who now rate job security and stability higher than career advancement, according to a survey released last week by Towers Watson, the employee benefits firm.
Call it "workplace nesting." Eight out of 10 survey respondents want to settle into a job, and roughly half say they want to work for a single company their entire career. The rest want to...
Truth & Beauty: Chapters 10 to 14
"I live to serve," Ann says in Chapter 14, and that might be the understatement of the book. All this time I thought Lucy was the heart of this story. But for me, Ann is the hero here. I don't believe that was her intention in writing this book at all, but I've come to love and respect her. Her absolute devotion and selfless giving to her best friend make this a truly great love story. Lucy just takes and takes (can you believe she duped Ann into giving up that black skirt?!) and Ann lets...
March 19, 2010
Home Run Dinner - Steak Sandwiches
One of my favorite easy dinners is the Steak Sandwich. It's the thoughtful combination of flavors that make this one a winner. Crusty french bread, broiled strip steak, bitter arugula, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and a mayo/mustard/sour cream sauce (for extra zip) come together in the most delightful way. I like to think of it as elevated comfort food - perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner for two, but also a great go-to for casual dinner parties. You can always count on a good time when...
The indiDenim GIVEAWAY winner is...
Happy Friday everyone! I just wanted to announce the winner of the indiDenim customizable jeans Giveaway.
Drum roll please......
Congratulations Erin!
Erin wrote:
"I'mlucky to be able to wear jeans almost every day at work, because I lovejeans! But I hate shopping for them. As a tall(ish)I struggle to findthe perfect fit. Regulars are just a bit too short and just onehusband-does-the-laundry-day could shrink them past the point of noreturn. At best they have no heel-height versatility...
The Rare Handwritten Note
Yesterday I received a thank you note in the mail from a local company we'd hired to put a new roof on our house. When I saw the note in my mailbox I was stunned that someone in the company actually took the time to hand write a note on paper. "Thank you for supporting a local business," it read. "Please let us know if there is anything we can ever do to be of service in the future."
Now that's one smart small business owner.
Clearly, handwritten letters have become a thing of the past...
Who Is the Best TV Food Personality?
The James Beard Foundation Awards, the food world's most prestigious honors, has just announced a new category for 2010: Best TV Food Personality. The nominations will be revealed on Monday, March 22. Who do you think should be on the list? Giada? Gordon? Padma?
Handmade by Joel Henriques
Joel Henriques is an artist in Portland, Oregon who creates many different things from mobiles to bunting to paintings and beyond. This guy is so talented -- and I love his YouTube videos that share his work up close and personal, some videos even show him making it -- so inspiring! In addition to his art, Joel is currently working on his first book for Shambhala Publications / Trumpeter Books.
Joel has a great blog, Made By Joel, too. I like how openly he shares his passion -- you can tell ...
March 18, 2010
Scenes from a Baby Shower
A couple weeks ago I attended the most charming Baby Shower, and have been meaning to share some highlights with you here. I frequently write about ideas, tips, and products for parties, but the most fun (and helpful) things I get to feature here are parties that happen in real life.
We were invited for an "Afternoon Tea" - the perfect type of party to give if you want to go the no-booze route. The party was given by a sweet group of girlfriends of the mommy-to-be. It was held at the home of ...
