11 January 2011

P.S. I Made This


All this week, I'm sharing a list of books that have been inspiring me this new year. Sometime last year, I discovered this blog and by the end of 2010, she had already published a book:

Both her blog and book are called

What a witty title to describe the
do-it-yourself accessories by this
crafty fashionista, Erica Domesek.

Photo by Ben Watts via Stylecaster.com

Her inspiration boards are a sight to behold, her projects look like they're from the fashion glossies and her instructions are easy. Wanna see?

Who needs to spend on an uber-expensive bag
when you can make your own?

This playful necklace makes me look
forward to springtime!

Definitely blah to TADA!

I tried one of the projects featured in the book.

I took an old T-shirt...

Cut it in three parts and put away the
top and bottom for a future project,
leaving the middle section.

I folded it in half...

And cut fringes on both of the open ends.

Open it up, slip it around your neck
and TADA! -- a fun, frilly scarf!

Show off both sides of the fringe.

Or tuck in the top fringe and finish off with a pretty pin.

You can also roll up the scarf for it to look like a necklace.

Sassy and simple to do.
And P.S. I made this!


10 January 2011

New Year, New List


Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope 2011 has brought you a lot of Tadas! already.

Don't you love it when the new year comes around?
It's like a blank slate to make goals & dreams
come to life.

I don't make resolutions because not keeping them
is a blah. Let's just say I want to keep learning
and to try new experiences & adventures --
that's always TADA!

On the top of my list is reading more.
Including reading more cookbooks and learning
new cuisines like French cooking.

I've always tiptoed around this cuisine
because I've dismissed it as complicated.
Until I found this book:

It's part cookbook with easy to follow recipes,
part memoir with insights into French culture
lovingly written by Dorie Greenspan.

I knew very little about Miss Greenspan but I immediately fell
in love with her when she read excerpts from the book.
What a wonderful storyteller!

A gentle woman who would feed you, regale you with
stories if ever you knocked at her door.

And true enough, the recipes in the book were
simple enough for the home cook and received
TADAs! when my husband and I made
these at a recent party.

Here's what we made:

Chestnut and Pear Soup
{served as an appetizer}

Goat Cheese Mini Puffs
{I made the cream puff dough from scratch!}

Potato Gratin
{layers of potato, cheese & cream}

Pancetta Green Beans

I can't wait to try her other recipes
so I can make everyday blah meals
into TADA! meals! I might even join

Have a great day!


07 January 2011

Wish No. 5


I have another wish for the New Year.

Today, I wish for:

Many, many more ideas to share with you!

Have a fabulous New Year and
a fun, fun weekend!

06 January 2011

Wish No. 4


Here's another wish for 2011:

To remain optimistic and hopeful -- and may this
rub off onto everyone I meet.


05 January 2011

Wish No. 3


To ring in 2011, I have a list of wishes for you and me.

Today, I wish for:

Generosity.
It takes very little to make people happy -- whether it's a little
of our time, talent and treasure.

May we give a lot of ourselves this year!

04 January 2011

Wish No. 2


Thanks for stopping by today!
I'm making a list of wishes for the New Year.

Today, I wish for:

Joy in the simplest of things &
a joy that touches others.

03 January 2011

A Wish for 2011


The New Year is here and all this week,
I'm making a list of wishes for 2011.

Today, I wish for:

May calm fill our hearts, minds and homes;
one that lasts throughout the year!