Back when I wrote about what I wanted for the Holidays, I went on etsy to find trinkets that would also “give back,” a la TOMS Shoes and Warby Parker eyewear.

I wear my new green Warby Parkers every day (thanks mom!) but I also wanted to start doing a more frequent post on things you can purchase that give back to awesome charities.

I’ve tried to do as much research as possible on these charities– they all seem to be ones that I would support myself. They are not directly religiously affiliated so there’s no danger that one day your 10% of proceeds is suddenly going to go to anti-choice or anti-GLBT motions.  That’s just where I stand on these things.  If you do know more about any of these charities and think there’s something I should know about them, please leave a comment.

Ok, so these aren’t housewares.  But I had to put in these gorgeous “Fierce” earrings from Whimsy Beading. 20% of sales go to Planned Parenthood. Why? According to the seller, “Because nothing makes us more fierce than protecting women’s access to healthcare.” Damn straight.

These are hand-stamped yoga cards from the etsy store Blissful Turtle.  The seller makes “handmade yoga stuff,” and donates 10% of her profits to a revolving charity.  February and March’s charity of choice is Share Your Soles, a non-religious organization that has donated 1.25 million pairs of shoes to those who need them over the past 12 years.

The “Pretty Bird Possibility Pillow” is quite stunning and would actually look really cute in my living room. Also? 10% of sales go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  FYI for those of you who don’t want to support Komen, but do want to keep supporting breast cancer research.

The Giving Bowl is an online shop (on etsy, natch) that sells felted wool bowls.  Aren’t they lovely? The proceeds go to benefit a girl’s youth home in Indonesia, run by Foundation 18.  The home provides education, health care, food and clean drinking water to children at risk– and best yet, it keeps intact the cultural environment of Bali, so the kids (currently just girls) living there aren’t becoming “Americanized” while being cared for.

Seller linaloos recycles old sweaters into mug holders.  This one is her “ivory owl” design, and I absolutely love it.  Better yet? She donates proceeds to a handful of charities, including One Family Inc. which helps homeless families in Boston; she also gives money to microloan charities to help women become self-sufficient around the globe.

Do you have a favorite charitable product? Share in the comments!

Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

For the first time in the two years that David and I have lived in our strange little house, the bedroom actually feels like there’s *stuff* in it!

I’ve written before about how much I dislike this room.  It doesn’t get any light and the ceilings are so high, I was afraid I was going to have to put up ugly-ass, ahem– culturally insensitive– tapestries from Urban Outfitters to make the room feel less drafty.  The ceilings were clearly vaulted/ removed to the roof line a while back, and it feels like a damn cathedral in there. (It gets freezing in the wintertime, and no, there isn’t a heater.)

So, with some added color and hanging of enough knick-knacks, it doesn’t echo.  Here’s where we stand now.

Also, sorry for the yellow photos. The room gets no natural light (thanks to the fact that it faces east AND it has a large awning off the French doors, so all light is blocked from entering).  I did my best to try to Photoshop them to be more natural looking, but they all look like they’ve been dipped in acid.

I painted those wine crate shelves and re-arranged the stuff on them. I added some more colorful books (the two on the end are by Simon Doonan– pink and purple, of course).  And I finally got that Domino decorating book that everyone raves about– read it front to back in one night.

I love the green of the hourglass on the blue.

The white (battery-operated) candles pop nicely.  This is actually a really accurate color representation of the blue crate.

We finally re-hung our otter portrait, on the wall next to the closet.  It feels a bit low, but I think that’s because that’s the only part of the room with a normal-height ceiling.  The top of the frame is about eight feet of the ground.

My last little finishing touch was to finally put a knob on my gold desk.  I repainted my corner desk gold a long while back, and never showed you!  It was knob-less for a while but it finally works properly again.

Here’s how the whole room looks now– clearly, I haven’t figured out a drapery fabric yet, but it’s getting there!

I may “accidentally” break those 1980s track lights one day, too…And put up some molding around the unfinished closet doors? Maybe.

Have you ever had to fill an unusually-proportioned room?Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

I really am a beer girl.  Despite the fact that I work in the wine industry, I vastly prefer a bucket o’ suds after a long day than a glass of vino.

Beer cocktails are usually kind of gross.  I mean, I’m just not one for boilermakers (mixing a shot of vodka with beer) or Irish Car Bombs (Guinness and Bailey’s? No thanks), and I can’t get black-and-tans to layer right (that’s pouring a lager, like Bass, on top of a stout, like Guinness– the taste would be fine for me, but I just don’t have the skillz to make that happen).

I was introduced to the idea of a shandy, or beer mixed with lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, by an old friend from way back, who grew up in Zimbabwe.  He used to drink shandies in the morning during football season, because early games on Sunday start around 11am here on the West Coast, and he purported that you couldn’t possibly drink anything other than beer when watching football.

Shandies are great when it’s super hot out, or if you do want to cut the alcohol of your beer.  Generally, they’re made with light lagers, but all I had in the house was the craft beer you see above, Allagash white.  Allagash is brewed in Portland, Maine, and I used to drink it a lot in college.  It’s really good and light in flavor, but it has a bolder body to it than lager (think Heineken).  Allagash is, well, wicked expensive ($8-9 for four bottles), so if you don’t want to “waste” a good beer on a shandy, pick up a pack of some other lighter-bodied beer.  But do us all a favor and stop buying that crap, swill, garbage,

stuff from Miller, Bud, and Coors.  Support your American Craft Brewer!  It’ll cost more but it’s worth it.  Here’s a long list of all the brands owned by Anheuser-Busch. Avoid.

White or wheat beers are normally served with a slice of orange or lemon on the side, so I decided to garnish my shandy with a pretty wheel o’ citrus.  The above orange is a Cara Cara orange– it came with this week’s CSA box from Farm Fresh to You. It is far and away the best orange I have ever eaten.  The Cara Cara orange is somehow smoother than navel oranges– delightfully citrusy, but without the pungent bite.

Basically, a shandy is made to taste.  You can do half-and-half, or you can make it stronger or weaker.  I ended up drinking most of the beer, then cutting the last little bit with Sprite to make a shandy!

If you’re not up for a beer cocktail, visit my cocktail page for more ideas!

Do you ever experiment with beer cocktails?

 Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

My post about making wine crate shelves has been one of the most popular posts on the blog in the last year.  But they recently got an update:

In case you forgot, here’s what they looked like before:

The corner of our bedroom has always been bland and boring.  It’s a 3 foot stretch of wall in between our hideous mirrored closet door and a out-of-place sliding French door that leads to the patio.  Since our room gets no light, I thought putting white boxes on the light gray wall would be light and cloud-like, but instead, it just looked like a sea of mashed-potato nothingness.

I chose three distinct spray pains from the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch line, two in satin (Ultra-Cover 2X eden and lagoon) and a metallic gold spray.  All of them were purchased at my new, old favorite hardware store, The Home Depot, for about $4 a can.

Since my old shelves were white, all I did was dust them off with a damp rag, let the surfaces dry, and then coat them with light, even coats of spray paint.

Here’s the first coat:

Streaky and awful! Yay!

(At this point, I urge you: please wear a mask. I forgot to for this coat and ended up losing 30 IQ points and gaining some really funky sinuses.)

The streaky and awful mess gets better:

And after a few coats (and some spot touch up) I had these:

Aren’t the colors peacock-like and beautiful?

A while back, I stated that I wanted my room to look more like this necklace from Kate Spade

And I think that these new shelves are certainly helping!

David is really happy with the colors, as am I.  The entire room has been changed with the addition of these bold, jewel tones.  This has completely re-vamped our storage solution in the bedroom!

I’ll have a more complete look at the room coming up soon– there are some window changes coming this weekend, plus a few smaller touches that I want to show off after a trip to Cost Plus!Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

I don’t know why I’m posting and thinking so much about Pinterest lately.

Jezebel had an interesting piece on the site– how, because Pinterest is a site used mostly by women, that of *course* the male-dominated internet and its worst trolls have sought to cast it to the side, and say that it’s useless and frivolous and dumb.

I’ve grown up on the internet and have come to expect the sexist idiocy. But here’s one that still shocks me: people expect other people to stick to their rules of what is and is not acceptable. Because someone has to think of the children.

The other day I read a post on Tech4Mommies about “Pinterest Etiquette.” (Also: ugh on the “4″ and why are moms any different from other women? Is “tech for mommies” any different than “tech for women who are in the 18-45 demographic”? But that’s another post.)

I thought this was going to be a post about how you shouldn’t pin your own stuff, and to give credit, and it was. To an extent. But then it went further, and actually castigated what other women pin.

The one point that the author made that angered me was this:

4. Report Objectionable Content. I would like to feel comfortable surfing Pinterest while sitting with my kids next to me on my couch.

Why should I edit what I pin because you don’t want your kids to see it? That’s YOUR hangup, lady, not my problem.

I don’t have a board of pins dedicated to very attractive men. Honestly, black-and-white photos of Ryan Gosling making bedroom eyes at the camera while shirtless… doesn’t really do a whole lot for me. Or maybe Clive Owen, playing in the surf, holding a pair of shiba inu puppies and giving me the come-hithers? (This photo, to my knowledge, is entirely theoretical.) I’d rather just have a photo of the shiba puppies. But that’s just me. When I’m going through pins and I see a photo I don’t like (say, a photo of Josh Brolin, whom I don’t find particularly attractive), I just keep on scrolling.

Or is this woman upset at all the boudoir photos that are populating the pages? Another thing I don’t pin are ladies in lingerie. I actually think boudoir photo shoots are really cool. If you want to get dressed up in your scanties and have your photo taken, more power to you! But again, I just don’t pin them. I keep scrolling.

Does the author of that post want us to report photos of tattoos? Of women in short skirts? Of push-up bras merchandised off of a human form? Of anything suggesting sex or gluttony or sloth or lust or pride?

What she finds “objectionable content” I may not find to be “objectionable content.” What she considers “inappropriate for children” may not be what I would consider “inappropriate for children.”

The author of the post used the word “etiquette” in her title, which implies that posting photos of shirtless men (her repeated example was “a shirtless photo of James Marsden”) is somehow rude or unseemly. And if that’s her threshold for “rude” and “unseemly”, I want to live where she lives. Because I see waaaaaay tawdrier things than that on my drive to work.

Pinterest is a site that is marketed to adult women. Everyone I know who uses it is an adult– well over the age of 13, the minimum age for using these “social” sites.

Why can’t adult women post photos of Hollywood hotties and women lounging in lingerie? Can’t there be a site on the internet where adults can talk about adult things? I haven’t yet seen anything on Pinterest that was X-Rated or really disturbing. I’m pretty sure most of us are good about self-editing and only putting up photos that are aesthetically appealing, rather than libidinous.

Why is it *my* job to make a site that is appropriate for *your* kids? Can’t there be a space on the internet that (horror of horrors!) crosses the line from PG to PG-13?

edit: click here to see an infographic up on Mashable– UK users of Pinterest are wealthy, older and get this: male.Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

David and I usually don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, because our anniversary is February 7th.  We kind of roll it all up into a week-long festival of smooches, you know?

Tonight’s plans are to watch back-to-back DVRs of the Westminster Dog Show and enjoy some take-out Thai.  Martha’s chow, Genghis Khan, won best in breed for the chow chow! My co-worker emailed me this hilarious photo of the two of them celebrating with dinner at the Plaza in New York:

I’m a little creeped out that it was clearly taken through some hedges, but I really hope that one day, I hit that level of “eccentric.”  Martha really is my freaking idol.

Anyhoodles.

If you are going to be celebrating with your lovey tonight, here are a few of my favorite recipes:

The Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini

Or maybe the drink I had the night I got engaged? It’s called an Il Postino

As far as dessert goes, I suggest Chocolate mousse!  The real stuff is almost as easy to make as the stuff that comes in packets.

Or you can nibble on some chocolate covered orange peels.  I love the translucent color!

If you’ve got a bit more time, I do suggest the Banana Cupcakes with Nutella Whipped Cream Frosting

Chocolate and a cocktail are sort of essential when it comes to Valentine’s day, no?

How are you going to celebrate this international day of hugs and kisses?Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

After last week’s rant about Pinterest, health, diet and the evils of “butter-fried-butter,” I wanted to try to make something healthy and good for you this week for my sweet treat!

Aren’t the little polka-dot muffin liners cute? Gasp of gasps– they’re from Paula Deen’s product line.  Got ‘em on sale at Michael’s.

So, I nabbed the recipe from Disney Family, but 1) I’m not a fan of Disney and 2) I edited it.  I’d like to take a little credit for actually making these portable nuggets o’ joy a bit healthier. Here’s what I added to the batter:

• 1 cup white flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (have a whole bag leftover from my home-made dog treats!)
• 2 tablespoons flax seed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• scant teaspoon kosher salt
• 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/3 cup yogurt (ended up using peach, as that’s what we had in the house)
• 2 large eggs, beaten lightly
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

The flax seed is barely noticeable, until you manage to crunch down on one, and you get a great nutty flavor in the middle of your muffin.   I’m going to start adding flax seed to many of my baked goods. David and I don’t eat fish, so we’ve added flax to our diet to make sure we get Omega 3′s. Good for the brain, the heart, and the skin!  (I went ahead and pinned a whole lot of things that have flax in them– can’t wait to make them!)

In my opinion, these muffins were a wee bit buttery.  I know that when you’re using whole wheat flour, you have to keep the batter moist, but quite literally, the muffin liners on these were *glistening* when I took them out of the oven.  Can you believe that?  I might knock the batter down to 4 tablespoons of melted butter next time.  I do like denser muffins, so that will help, I suppose.

These will be a great, portable breakfast for this week back at work!  On the weekends, I enjoy french toast (remember the pumpkin spice french toast?), but I can’t do that five times a week. Instead, I’ll run out the door with these suckers!

What did you cook this weekend?Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

The house is bonkers right now and I kind of love it!!

David is upgrading something in the studio and I finally started a new painting project this weekend.

Notice what’s missing?

There is no order.

But tomorrow is Sunday, the day to undo all the damage done Saturday.

What damage did you do today?Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

I’m thinking I’m going to have to change the tagline in my blog, soon.  This is the first time I’ve made and posted a cocktail in MONTHS.

I blame my MIA beverages on the pneumonia. But, we’re back.  And here goes:

• 1 oz gin
• 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz orange juice

Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins

I’m feeling under the weather AGAIN this week– I still sort of feel like I haven’t gotten over the pneumonia I’ve had since Thanksgiving.  Bummer!

To perk myself up, I figured I’d do a sort of “favorite things” post, to bring a little cheer.

First thing?  This book:

Ever since the Twilight crap a few years ago, I’ve been fairly apprehensive about books that have spent time at the top of the New York Times Best-Sellers List.  I mean– pleh.

But this book was just… entertaining and charming.  Nothing too deep, just a jaunt of sci-fi historical fiction.  I also love how the story seemed to be born of the author’s love of odd antique photographs. Details of each character were inspired by strange photos he (and others) found in flea markets and estate sales.  Like the cover photo– the girl levitating?  That’s a real photo.  The book is peppered with visuals of freaky kids from the 1930s and 1940s.  Boy covered in bees, an “invisible” man– a floating suit with no head or hands.  Some of the photos were really creepy.

Another favorite thing?

The Land’s End Canvas shawl-collar sweater.  Now on sale for $39.  It’s the most perfect Old Man Sweater I’ve found in a while.

I am a connoisseur of cardigans and Old Man Sweaters.  And even though it’s been 80* in LA for the whole winter, my boss’s house is still as cold as a meat locker.  So while I drive to work and watch runners go by me in shorts and sports bras, I always have a big burly sweater on.  And this is my new favorite.  I got mine in a mossy green, which they don’t have anymore.  But the blue and camel that are left are lovely!

But the true winner of my favorite things right now?  My anniversary present from David!

I got him a retro mt-70 synthesizer from Casio.  He got me this:

pantone paint + interiors deck

It is SO COOL!

It’s a whole fan deck of paint chips of gorgeous McGorgeous Pantone paint colors.  This is making me want to repaint ever room in the house!

Or, I guess, hold off until I can do some major damage in a house I own.  Next year? We’ll see if we can wait that long.

What are your favorite things right now?Recent Posts:

• Housewares that Help
• Some Finishing Touches
• It’s Beer O’Clock! (& A Beer Cocktail)
• Going Bold With Color: Wine Crate Shelves
• Should Pinterest Stay PG?
• Happy Valentine’s Day!
• Whole Wheat, Banana Flax Muffins