Navigate Your Wedding Tight-Rope-Walk Smoothly With These Simple Rules

Wedding bells, white dresses, and doves.  The perfect day every little girl, and admit it, most little boys, dream of.  But what they don't dream of is budgeting, ticking-time-bomb to-do lists, and the stress of finding all the matching, perfect theme items for the "big day."  But it doesn't have to be that way!  I have seen this tight rope walk navigated smoothly and I have seen it crash and burn.  Hopefully, from all these observations and trying to plan my own day, I will teeter-totter slightly on the way to a smooth day.  Just remember, this day is as much about you as it is about the people coming to see you.  Don't forget them, after all it is the reason you chose not to go down to city hall and signed some papers dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. 
Here are the suggestions to making this day the most special and stress free it can be;

1. Consider yourself and your fiance.  Are you a night-life partying duo or low-key home bodies?  Don't step out of your comfort zone for this celebration. 
2. Think about how much you want to spend.  If you're down on your luck and can only afford bare minimum, stay there and get creative.  Don't take on extreme debt for the sake of beautiful pictures and the top tier of the cake getting freezer burn after one year.  There is something romantic and special about a small wedding in a friends home.
3. Bargain shop for your dress.  If you find it unnecessary to buy a fancy dress for only one day, go onto renttherunway.com and pick it out.  You pay a nominal fee to borrow a designer gown and then mail it back.  Great pic's and clear closet space.  Can you ask for anything better?  If you can't fathom giving up your dress, think about EBay, gilt.com, amazon.com, and other discount online shopping sites.  These places will help you get the designer, one of a kind look you want without breaking the bank. 
4. Don't forget the little ones- that is, the ones with little experience.  This doesn't mean they are without talent, it just means they are without large price tags. Up and coming photographers, graphic designers, photographers- they will all be ecstatic to work for minimal just for the practice and portfolio-building pieces.  Just be sure to do your background check first.  If they are students, get instructor references.  If they are new to the scene- get friend and, if possible, previous client recommendations.  And don't be afraid to call in favors of friends!  Having a DJ friend in the mix will help with the overall cost of the event- just be sure to give something back to them. (like pay for their hotel for the weekend or a small stipend.)
5. Plan out the weekend for people.  Many will be coming from out of town and won't know what to do.  Save them the digging and give them a list of things to do in the area with a map.  An itinerary of the wedding activities during the weekend would be helpful too.  They are here to see you, after all.  Let them know where you will be!
6. Remember to have fun!  This is a celebration not an involuntary commitment to the luni-bin. Relax and roll with the punches.  Not everything will go according to plan, and that's the fun part!  No one will remember that the wrong music played during the cake cutting or that the candle went out on their table.  What they will remember is how sublimely happy you and your beloved are.

These 6 rules are what I am navigating in hopes of a blissful union.  Don't get me wrong, I go onto theknot.com and Martha Stewart Weddings and bury myself in wedding magazines and bridal shops, but I do so for fun.  If it weren't, I wouldn't be there.  Remember this and you will have a wonderful day people will always remember as just that.

How was your wedding day?  A mess or bliss?  Perfect or flawed?  Traditional or unique?  Let me know!

Save Your Sanity- Get Organized

Organization is the key to sanity.  Have you ever noticed how frantic you get when you're running late and can't find your keys because they're not where you usually put them and then the rest of your day is a disaster?  Now what if you had a designated spot in your home for them, that is convenient and easy to use.  Would you have a much better day?  Now take this example and multiply it by 10.  How much better would your life be?  This is what we're talking about when we say "organization is the key to sanity."  And the foundation of organization?  Storage.

You're saying, I live in a tiny home with no closet space, how can I possibly have a good storage system?  Or, on the flip side, I live in a huge home and don't know where to begin keeping things.  No matter if you fall into one of these extremes or somewhere in the middle, storage solutions will make your life so much easier.  After reading an online article from Good Housekeeping, and browsing articles from Martha Stewart (of course!) I have found some interesting tips and tricks:

1. No matter what you do, it has to be convenient for you and the space you are storing in.  If you can't get it easily or have to go into the garage to get something you use in the upstairs guest room, you are not going to use it and it will be a waste of time.
2. If people are going to be seeing it alot- like an open closet or kitchen pantry- dress it up and hide the ugly.  no one wants to see your various cleaning supplies or dirty rags.  Cover them with a pretty table cloth or in a decorative box.
3. Rubbermaid storage boxes are a life saver.  Add a sharpie to label the boxes and you are golden.  If you don't want to write on the box for fear of using it for something different one day, write the contents or label of the box on a piece of paper, preferably contact paper, and stick it on.
4. Shelves, shelves, shelves.  Avoid stacking boxes on top of one another.  If you stack, you will constantly be unstacking, and no one wants to through their back out pulling out a box of candles.  By using simple shelves, either free standing or attached to the walls, it will help you avoid that.
5. For your garage- if you use this as means to entering your home- think about inexpensive cabinets to store your items.  Home Depot has some beautiful options for inexpensive and will make a huge difference on peoples opinion of your home. 
6. Have a catch-all station.  If you come in a certain way all the time, have a place to store your shoes, hang your coats, put your mittens in, and place your keys.  A bench to sit and take your shoes off, a couple hooks to hold you coats, a bin to stash your mittens, a cylinder for umbrellas, and either a hook for keys or small table and dish for keys, etc.  Whatever space you're working with, this kind of entry-way station will make life so much easier.
7. Rethink closet storage.  Measure your shelves, pick up storage boxes, label them, and return to the closet.  You will be amazed at how much space you will clear up by using this method.
8. Have a place for your mail and keep it organized.  Different slots for different people or different purposes are helpful.  Also, keep a recycle or trash can near this system to be easy access for junk mail.
9. Don't forget your friends in low places.  Under the bed, chairs, couches, etc. are all, often untapped, storage locations.  Rubber maid makes shallow boxes great for under beds, baskets and other decorative containers, are great for visible spaces.  Do you use blankets in your family room?  What about in the guest room?  Keep them handy using these methods without taking up any additional space than what your furniture already does.
10. Finally, group like items.  Use spatulas and spoons for cooking?  Store them by your stove top all together.  Get out of the shower and put on lotion, Q-tip your ears, and moisturize your face?  Keep them all together and near the shower.  Go with this principle on shelves, in pantries, or any other space and you will save time, space, and sanity. 

These are just a few things I have learned in the effort to claim a little slice of lucidity. Hopefully they will help you too!

Give Someone a Miracle- Take a Photo the Means Something

An amazing author wrote , and I'm paraphrasing, photographers give the world a miracle.  They allow others to see what few people see in life.  And yet, we take this miraculous event for granted everytime we pick up a newspaper or magazine or browse our friends Facebook albums. But it is so true!  You are not there to witness the miracle of the first steps or the front row at the Bare Naked Ladies concert, and yet you can see what the person behind the lens saw and understand the moment in time that was meaningful.  And, do you ever notice, when you ask someone to explain the photo, they spend about 30 minutes telling you what happened leading up to it, or during it, or even after?  There is a story behind every snap shot.

These are the things you should remember when you get behind the lens of your own camera, and argueably more importantly, behind the lens of a complete stranger.  Although you may never see that picture again, you are giving this person the opportunity to remember and pass on this miracle.  Don't tread on this lightly.  And don't display it lightly, either! 

Pictures are treasures and everyone should be proud of what theu captured.  This is why being able to take a great picture is important, no matter who you are.  And this ability all boils down to knowing your camera.  Understanding all the buttons and programs will go a long way in getting the perfect shot.  After you know your camera, get some editing software.  Hint: all celebrities air brush and photoshop their pictures- this gives you license to do the same!  No one is stunning at all times in every picture.  A good photo editing program, and it doesn't have to be photoshop, will do wonders for you.  Following the touch ups, print out on quality paper with a quality printer.  If you don't have one or want to buy one, send them to Walgreens or Walmart- just check your order when you pick it up.  This is important!  If your pictures don't come out the way you want- they're fuzzy, out of focus, cut off weird, anything- you can give them back and they won't charge you for printing.  Retouch and try again.  No harm, no foul. 

Here is where it gets interesting.  This is how everyone is going to be touched by your vision of life.  They are going to see life through your eyes and witness the miracle of your engagement or college graduation.  Make sure this miracle is well framed.  And this doesn't have to be traditional in a frame.  Think out side the box and complement your images.  Here are some really interesting suggestions I have heard recently:

~ Use a clear glass vase and fill with sepia-toned photos as a centerpiece.
~ Print your images in vellum paper in black and white and glue to a frame without the solid backing.  Connect several frames using fabric glued to the back of the frames to create an enclosed circle.  Bring the images to life with a candle on the inside.  This is another great centerpiece.
~ On most editing and retouching software you can change images colors and styles.  If you want to create a colorful, energetic space- use the Andy Warhol-style function, print on large paper and frame in a solid, black frame.  Do you want to have a rustic, hand done feel?  Try the sketch function and print on linen card stock.
~ What about cards and gift wrap?  Add in clip art and text to make it personal and informal greetings.

So, think about these things when you pick your camera up next time.  It is not about the "perfect shot" but more about being able to pass along the miracle of that moment to the people that matter to you.  If you take this mindset on, your images will be more real and mean more, and therefore be so much better!

Happy shooting everyone! Have you ever done something creative with a photograph?  Tell me about it!

How to Not Fail in Life

This blog has been a lot about what I think and do, and this has done no one service.  What this blog is supposed to be about is how to make your life easier- in home, cooking, life, and health.  There have been several articles related to these topics, but nothing sums up the true nature of this lifestyle as this, "You can't fail if you never give up."  Thanks to a friend on Facebook, this quote has been enlightening. 

The application?  Try new things, strive to be better every day, and you can't fail. 

Here is an example.  You want to be "more green" in your life.  In an effort to change you have googled tips and tricks, but haven't been able to change much, just a few light bulbs and some cleaning supplies.  Far from checking off the little boxes on your to-do list for a greener life.  But here's the good news- you have made a difference.  You made that difference the day you googled tips- or even you you first began thinking about this change.  Every little step you take you are progressing- and as long as you don't give up on the desire to lead a greener life, you won't fail!

Or another- you want your home to look like a Pottery Barn catalog but have no money to make it work.  This is no sweat!  First, the catalogues are free so just go pick one up or sign up online to receive them in the mail.  Find your favorite ideas and get to work.  As long as you keep your inspiration pictures by your side when you're out shopping you won't go far away from what you want.  You can't fail if you want it bad enough.

Apply this to all aspects of your life- from your job, to your family, your home, cooking, art, hobbies- and your the best! 

Here is another quote for you though, "The inability to follow through on personal commitments is an outward expression of fear.  Every time you have wanted to do something but have found yourself saying, 'there's just no time' it is really you being afraid of something." 

You will always be afraid of something, and if you're a mom, you know what this feels like.  how to tackle this?  Put a name to it.  Realize what you are afraid of.  Is it rejection?  financial loss?  that people won't like you or your idea or your art?  What ever it is, recognize it, justify your ideas versus your fears and determine if they are actionable fears.  If you simply don't have any extra money and are thinking about getting plastic surgery, your fear of financial loss is founded and is more important than what you want.  But, if you are a business-savy fashionista who has dreamed of opening up your boutique, you may not be founded in your fears.  The ultimate financial gain could be so much greater! 

Now that you know that you can't fail and how to deal with the fear of trying, what is stopping you from trying? 

What is your dream or goal?  how have you been doing? Do you have any fear holding you back from getting what you want?  What's you plan for overcoming that fear?

Ricotta Gnocchi- A Great Dinner in About 20 Minutes- Add a Dinner Roll and You're Basically Italian!

A quick, easy recipe for you starch-lovers out there.  I made this the other night and it was delicious!  It was healthy-ish, heavy enough for dinner but light enough for before bed, and an amazing consistency- somewhere in between a dumpling and a twice-baked potato. Gnocchi is an Italian dish usually made with potatoes shredded and combined with a few ingredients.  you can substitute the potato with ricotta cheese, which is what I did.  You plop them in water and when they float, they're done!  I threw them in a skillet with butter for a few minutes, tossed with a little ricotta and Parmesan cheese and dinner was done!  Total time: 20 minutes. 

Here is all that you need to know:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cup low fat ricotta cheese, + more for the sauce
1 Large egg yolk
1/3- 1/4 Cup Parmesan cheese, + more for the sauce
Lemon Zest
Salt
1 Cup All- purpose flour, + more for dusting
3-4 Tablespoons unsalted butter

To do:

1. Mix the cheeses, yolk, zest, and a pinch of salt.  Sift (Or shake- it works well this way too.  Or you can whisk before adding it.  Just add air is the rule of thumb.) 1/2 Cup flour over the mixture.  Use a rubber spatula to fold it together.  Tip:  Do not over mix this!  Just until the flour is mostly absorbed is good.
2. Turn the mixture out onto a floured surface.  "Sift" the remaining 1/2 Cup flour over the dough and, using your fingers, mix it in gently- again, don't over mix.
3. Bring a large pot of water to boil.  I always sprinkle a little salt in the water to help this process along.  Divide your dough into equal pieces.  Roll these pieces out into a log about 1/2 inch thick.  Tip: roll each piece into equal-thickness logs.  This will help when they get in the pot.  Use a knife or pan scraper to cut the logs into pieces- again, try to cut them equally thick so they cook evenly. (you can get fancy and score the tops of the pieces with a fork, knife, or indent with your fingers.  If you want to you can or you can got my route and just let it look like it did when I cut it.)
4. When the water is ready, drop the pieces into the pot.  When they float, after about a minute or two, scoop them out with a slotted spoon or spider, and drain.  Rinse them off and let drain some more.  I set a colander over a bowl next to the pot for easy maneuvering.  I even used the same bowl I used to mix the first step in.  Hey, less dishes means a happier clean up, am I right?!
5. While the dumplings are draining, heat a large skillet with 1/2 the butter (1 1/2- 2 Tablespoons).  When it starts to sizzle and smells amazing, add the dumplings and don't touch them for a few minutes.  You are browning them, so let them brown!
6. After a few minutes, add the other 1/2 butter and toss to combine.  I let them sit just a bit longer on the opposite side that had just browned to even out the color.
7. Remove from heat, add as much ricotta and Parmesan as you deem necessary (I used about a 1/2 Cup ricotta and 1/3 Cup Parmesan), and dish up!

Now, here is where you can get creative:

~ Think about using a red sauce.  A tasty marinara would be delicious.
~ Don't be afraid to add spices to the dough.  When you are adding the flour, sift in spices with it.  I was thinking about traditional Italian spices like oregano and thyme, but rosemary and garlic salts would be yummy too. 
~Also, other cheese would be interesting.  This could be the best mac n' cheese ever!  Sharp Cheddar- white or yellow- would be delightful.
~ Add pine nuts and a light pesto- think outside the box.
~ This doesn't have to be a pasta-like meal.  This could make an amazing starter.  I'm seeing tooth picks inserted into each dumpling, with different infused oil sauces and interesting spices mixed into the dumpling, like cardamon and marjoram.
~ Go wild or stay safe- I read a great quote the other day, "you can't fail if you never stop trying."  So get in the kitchen and try this out!  Believe me, it's hard to mess up!  Just don't over mix...

Thrift Store Finds- Decorate Your House for Less

Shopping is addictive and I am a convicted addict.  No matter where I go, if there is a small opportunity to shop, I am in it!  This is where I found myself today.  I happened to stop off at the D.I., the locally owned thrift store here in Utah, and decided to browse the selection since I had five minutes to spare.  Wow!  I was taken aback.  I know I shop discount and second hand alot, but I don't normally go into Salvation Army-type stores.  I have the idea that they are more trouble than they are worth since they sell anything, regardless of quality and condition, but sometimes it's worth it.  Granted, the clothing and shoes were a bit much- and don't get me started about their 80's era electronics, but when it came to furniture, I almost whipped out my card and screamed, "I'll take it all!"

I'm talking solid wood, 20+ wine holder that stood about 4 feet high and 2 feet wide in relatively great condition.  All it needed was a fresh coat of paint or a refinish.  Guess how much I paid for it- $5! Not $30 or more, like I would have expected at an Antique store, but $5!!!  I still can't believe it!  There was also a beautiful out door set for $30, a solid wood table and benches for $30, and a few solid wood bed sets for only $50.  I was floored and have completely changed my opinion of these types of stores.  There were coat racks, end tables, entertainment units, benches, and amoires.  Nothing was over $100.  I'm a believer. 

And, finally, it's a feel good too.  I had bags of items to donate and I felt amazing while they were pulling my donations from the trunk.  I have to admit, I felt even better watching them fill that empty space with my new wine rack!  Whatever your reason for going, I would say it's worth the odd smell and out dated clothes. 

Can you top my $5 wine rack find?  I challenge you!

The Algebra of Gift Giving: What + Who + You= Perfect Gift Giving

To continue on my thoughts of gift giving, I had a revelation.  Maybe "revelation" isn't the best word, considering I had thought about it before yesterdays article.  Epiphany may be what I am looking for.  I was thinking about gift giving some more and was thinking about the advice I gave the other day.  A co-worker of mine asked my advice about what kind of gift she could give someone who was helping her out.  Since it was a unique situation I thought about it for a few minutes.  Her situation didn't call for a grand gesture or home made goodies, but something more appropriate.  This is when it hit me, gift giving isn't about you, or even them sometimes, but about the situation.  After you consider the situation, next consider the person.  Finally, think about yourself.  Here is what you need to think about:

~ Is this a birthday?  The holidays?  Anniversary?  House warming?  Think about the circumstances, too.  Are you moving in with a friend after a bad break up?  Does the birthday party take place at a fancy night club in Las Vegas?  All these factors will tell you how to strategize your gift giving.  You need to match the occasion and circumstances.

~ Who are you giving this gift too?  Is it your hippie sister?  Your high-maintenance sister-in-law? What about your single, city-dwelling best friend?  Who you give the gift too is one of the most important pieces in this gift giving equation.  I can't give a second-hand item to my sister-in-law without adding something to it, however my sister would appreciate the thriftiness behind my special find.

~ Just because your relative is high-maintenance doesn't mean you have to break the bank or become less crafty than you have trained yourself to be!  I am a firm believer in buying great quality and brands at low prices and not being taken over by the allure of pretty packages.  Sure, I love holding a small silver bow from Nordstroms or a hot pink shopping bag from Betsey Johnson, but I can't bring myself to pay an arm and a leg for the product.  Here is where you get crafty- don't pay full price and still get that status-symbol packaging.  How?  Buy the stuff on sale, second hand, at a discount store then make a special trip.  Have you ever seen Breakfast at Tiffany's?  If no, go right now and buy it- don't rent- BUY, and study.  It is perfect.  Anyways, there is a scene in there when Audrey Hepburn's character talks about how she goes to Tiffany's just to feel good, she doesn't buy anything.  This is the kind of trip I'm talking about.  Walk into that specialty store and browse around.  Buy if you want, but this trip is meant to be free.  Ask the sales clerk for the stores gift boxes and tissue, shopping bag, or whatever, and put that discounted item in it.  Voila!  High maintenance relative can kiss it!  They think they're getting high end with a high price tag but really you just faked them out!  HA! 

And here's another idea: don't buy them anything.  A simple thank you card (that, yes, you can make it yourself) with a sincere offer to help around their house, watch their kids, or sweat in their garden with them.  Whatever you know they would appreciate help with or a break from, offer to take over it for a night, week, or, if a big favor, a month.  This will not only be wallet friendly for yourself but much appreciated from the receiver.

So, long story short here: A little algebra for you, What + Who + You = Perfect gift giving.  And if all fails, offer to help your gift-receiver out and you will win their heart. 

Do you have a go to gift-giving trick you do?  Is it similar to my epiphany?  Let me know!

Having a Problem Gift-Giving? Think About This!

I know this may sound crazy at first, but I will tell it to you anyways. I am worried about Christmas presents this year!  I know, it's only May, there's plenty of time, but hear me out.  I am getting married this year on New Year's Eve.  That doesn't give much time for Christmas celebrations- knowing all the planning and preparation needed before that week (We're doing a destination so we are making a week of it! Fun but a tad bit crazy!).  And not only am I thinking about the timing but money as well.  This is expensive!How am I going to buy presents and afford the kick-ass wedding I want?  I have found it!

Today I was looking through my linen closet where I keep a stash of my books (Ran out of room on the book shelves) and it dawned on me.  I have tons of fabric laying around and all these quilting and craft books, why not do home made this year?  I wouldn't have to spend much money and I can just invest some time each night starting now and I should be set before the holidays role around, which is my goal.  Here is the game plan:

1. Make Santa, angel, and Christmas tree bags using plain, brown lunch bags and snippets of fabric ironed on with adhesive to the bag.  I'm thinking I may get a little crazy and use a needle and thread to stitch on the persons name to make it even more special.

2. Christmas cards= card stock and more fabric stereotypical characters.  A black and white photo of the fam and a signature will do the trick!


3. Presents for the immediate family.  I don't want to give away the surprise if they are reading this, but think fabric, sewing, and craftiness and you get the idea. 

4. For other family and friends- home made from the kitchen is what I'm thinking.  I plan on finishing my garden this weekend (Adding the veggies and fruits)  and am hoping my green thumb will take on it's full color and I can use the fruits of my labor here.  If not, my loved ones, please know that I tried and am now thanking God for Harmon's Grocery Store down the street. 

The more I thought about this, the better the idea sounded.  Why not do this all year long for gifts and presents for different occasions?  Can you imagine showing up to a birthday party with a personalized wrapped present hand made by you?  Talk about sentimental!  And you can customize it to the person easily.  Are they modern?  Score the fabric shops for trendy fabrics and make them something cool- like a stunning table cloth or detailed cocktail napkins monogrammed with their initials.  Are the shabby chic?  Grab some old burlap, stitch on a name/saying/ shape of fabric and make a basket liner/ table cloth/ runner. 

And price wise, this is easy!  I began looking around at other things I have in my house that I could use, not just my fabric pile.  I have old sheets, ruined table cloths, and even out dated clothes that I can think of a way to make it work.  All it takes is a little time and attention to detail and you will stun them every time!  And your gift will mean so much more than something store bought.  You took this person into consideration, and spent a lot of time thinking about what they would like, and personalized it down to the disposable wrapping.  That says a hell of a lot more than a store box tied off with a ribbon by the sales clerk.


So, think about this- do you want to spend the holidays stress-free from the worry of present giving, and relax confidently in front of the fire (real or on T.V.) knowing your gift is something that will mean something to your close friend or family member, and save TONS of money at the same time?  If so, try out this idea and see what happens.  The worst scenario- you buy them something for New Year's to make up for it (and with all the after Christmas sales, you'll still save money!)

Have you done something like this?  Tell me about it!

Stock Your Kitchen With These Essentials and You'll Have a Better Looking, and Tasting, Meal

I am relatively new at cooking. About ten years ago I couldn't even make easy mac in the microwave. Now, after a lot of trial and error, I can confidently say I am a mediocre cook! Not advanced or professional by any stretch, but I think I make a mean pork chop and a delicious loaf of bread. There are some important things I learned along the way. One of which is to properly stock your kitchen. I used to think it was crazy to pay alot for pots and pans and cooking supplies. Toss away tins were just as effective as glass pans and there was no need for copper core fry pans when you could spend 1/10th the money on a colorful, cool looking alternative. Boy, was I wrong! The saying, "You get what you pay for." pretty much applies to cookware. I am not saying you need to buy a $1,000 set when going off to college and you can't even scramble and egg, but what I am saying if, if you like cooking and are decently good at it, it's worth the investment. The more you cook, the more you use the stuff, and the better stuff lasts longer, trust me!

But, what, you ask, should I have in my kitchen to cook with? Just walk into a cooking store like Sur La Table or William Sonoma and you will be overwhelmed beyond belief! Sure, the store people are helpful, but what do you really need? I have never made a bundt cake, but sure enough I ended up with one taking up valuable kitchen storage space. Here are my core suggestions on how to avoid this mistake:

1. A 10 inch non-stick skillet
2. A 12 inch skillet
3. A Dutch oven
4. A Large stock pot and lid
5. A Large saucepan
6. A Variety of stock pots and lids

After you get the core essentials add these items on:

1. A roasting pan and rack
2. A Wok
3. Cast iron skillet

When it comes to baking, here is what I built my kitchen around:

1. Muffin tins
2. Cookie sheets (I have two and find it is never enough!)
3. 9X5 loaf pan (Tin, glass, and silicon are great for different reasons, but if you're new to baking, any of these will do the trick.)
3. Rimmed baking sheets (Again, I have two and find I need more, but it works)
4. Wire cooling racks

And your additions:

1. Stoneware. I love Pampered Chef's stoneware. I use their pizza stone almost daily. I also have a shallow pan-like stone that works great too.
2. A spring-form pan is lovely for making cakes and pies. I barely use it since I haven't exactly mastered the art of cake baking yet, but I'm sure once I get better it will get more use.
3. A non-stick baking mat. This is my next purchase. It's used to line baking sheets instead of parchment paper. It's reusable so I therefore love it.

There is also the matter of the tools you need. Knives, spatulas, whisks- all are essential to a good looking, and tasting meal. But you don't have to buy every lobster claw breaker and lettuce knife you see. Here are my beginning supplies:

1. A box grater.
2. A metal colander. Don't do plastic- you're dumping steaming and boiling hot liquids in this thing. How does plastic melt? If you see this connection, you will invest in a metal one.
3. A Good cutting board. I prefer wood and thick. I don't care about if it's end grain or exotic, but if it's about 1 inch thick and wider than the length of your biggest knife. If you have space for it, the bigger the better! I have a dream of creating an entire counter out of thick wood that can be used for cutting.
4. Mixing bowls- Metal and glass. Don't bother with plastic, they don't last.
5. Ladle, slotted spoon, tongs, a flexible spatula, a metal spatula, a plastic spatula, and a whisk are essential utensils. I keep them all in a vase on the counter top so I can get to the all easily.
6. Don't forget a veggie peeler. I got one that hooks onto your finger and sits in the palm of you hand and am in love with the ease of it.
7. Measuring cups. The collapsible, stacking ones are good when considering space in your kitchen.
8. Pyrex has stacking liquid measuring cups that has a lid. I like them alot and my sister-in-law also swears by them.

Know, on to your knives:

1. Santoku- don't bother with a chef's knife if you get one of these. They work pretty much the same.
2. Paring- this is for small cuts you need to make.
3. Serrated bread knife- if you do make home made bread, or buy loaves not precut, this knife is essential. Don't bother buying it if you don't.
4. Kitchen shears- I really just use an old pair of craft scissors- but if you want to butterfly a chicken or open a package neatly, this is something that will come in handy.
5. A sharpening tool- there are a few options. I like the wheel kind. You hold it down with one hand and run the knife's blade through the wheel. Voila! Done in seconds.

These are what I have found, (In addition to picking up some tips from Martha Stewart and Williams Sonoma) over the course of 10 years,to be the best things to have in your kitchen. I didn't go out and buy it all at the same time. I replaced my crappy stuff when it needed it with something worthwhile. After I had replaced the core supplies, I began to branch out. The hard thing now? Not buying every little gadget out there! Sure they're cool, but where am I really going to store an herb shredder?

Hope this lengthy checklist will help you when you are beginning or just looking to stock your kitchen with what's worthwhile. Do you have something you can't live without in your kitchen not on my list? Let me know, I'm still learning!

Girls Night For as Little as $5 a Month- It Is Possible- I Swear!

Tonight was a first for me.  I joined a bunco group and tonight was our first meeting.  What a great time!  Food, friends, games, and, best of all, wine!  We spent the majority of the evening talking, getting to know each other, and figuring out how to actually play the game.  For those of you unfamiliar with the game, it is a dice game that 12 people play.  There are 4 people to a table, 3 tables, and 3 dice per table.  The person sitting across from you is your partner.  You roll the dice and pray to God you get the number you want.  For instance, we started with 1.  You roll the dice to try to get a 1 on at least 1 dice.  If you do, you get 1 point, and roll again.  You keep rolling until you don't get a 1.  If you don't roll a 1, you pass to your left.  You add your points with your partners point.  When your group reaches 21 you win!  There is a lot more that goes into it, but this gives you the gist of it.

The plan is this, there are 12 people who play.  You play once month and each person takes a turn hosting the game at their house.  Each player brings $5 to go in on the prizes handed out the the winners (for us, there are 3 prizes and one surprise gift sponsored from the hostess).  This is the best part!  Something fun to do, once a month, with your friends and only costs you $5.  And, you only have to host the games once a year!  Can you get any better than that!?

Here's how you can get your group together:

1. Think about all your close friends and family. I suggest keeping it an all girl party, but there is no reason boys can't join in the fun!  How many do you come up with?
2. If you need more people in your group, ask those friends and family who they know that would be interested.  There are 12 people on the regulars list but you will need alternates, since not everyone will be able to play every month for the whole year.  I would go with at least 5 alternates to be on the safe side.
3. Once you get a good amount of people on your list, pick a day and time.  Set up an email list and email your group to find out if the day and time work for them.  For instance, we are playing every first Tuesday of the month at 7PM.  Look at the course of a year and what days those are. Run the dates by the group and find out if they work for the majority of the regulars.  If you lay out the exact dates for people you give them all a chance to consider things that may arise during the year at those times and allows plenty of time to move it around if need be.  We had to move our next months meeting to a Wednesday so the majority could make it for this reason.
4. Figure out your price.  We chose $5 per person per game.  I've heard of $10, but I bet you could do more or less, whatever works for you.  This gives the host $60 to buy gifts for the winners, if you go with $5 per person.  With $60 you can have a lot of fun! 
5.   Think about your food and drinks too.  Do you want the hostess to plan everything or do you want a potluck?  Who's in charge of what, if you are doing a potluck?  I love potlucks, especially since you can get as lazy and cheap as you want.  Tonight I cut up lunch meat and cheese, stuck tooth picks in, and pretended like I was a culinary Garde Manger expert!  Ha!

If you need to get out of the house and have a girls night , but are on a budget, this is the way to do it!  Just a couple hours and $5 later, I have had a great night and can't wait to do it again!

Have you played this game?  Are you on a team? What are your rules like?

Become a Recylce Artist This Spring

I like to think of myself as a green person- I try to buy organic and locally, recycle, and give back.  I didn't realize what type of green person I was until yesterday.  I was sitting at the dinner table with my fiance recapping our busy weekend when I started talking about all the projects I had completed lately.  It hit me, I love being a recycle artist!  In the three R's of going green most people don't think about reusing.  There are so many things we throw away that could easily be used for something else, either for ourselves or others.  For instance I painted a reproduction of a William Morris print on a cheap piece of shipping material.  I coated it with polyurethane and it now hangs outside in my container garden.  I followed it with an empty glass juice bottle filled with laundry detergent as a gift.  Then I made my wine glass vase and yesterday I made a garden sign and trellis from a recalled baby gate I was supposed to throw away. 

Think about this- what are you throwing away? Can you think of another way to use it? Or, are you heart broken throwing an old, broken item away?  I felt wrong throwing away the recalled baby gate- it was good wood and could be used for something! Then the problem solving kicks in.  What exactly can it be used for?  What can you add or take away to make it work?  The best thing is, you were going to throw it away anyways.  If you mess it up, it's no big deal.  Just toss it and pat yourself on the back for trying to do something good and fun.  Bonus, you can get your kids, friends, or even love muffin involved in the creativity!  

Spring is the perfect time to start this new train of thought.  Clean out your closets and garage.  Old clothes you don't wear anymore? Broken planting pots?  Toss the stuff you don't think you can salvage and then sit down and start working.  It's a puzzle and only you will find the way to put it all together.

Hopefully these pictures will inspire your creativity! (The purpose is to eventually cover the ugly fan that sits outside on our back porch.  Use your imagination to see the flowing vines and fruitful produce plants in the pots.  You can still garden when you can't dig in the ground- containers work great!)

 

The Gift Drawer- 6 Simple Rules to Great Gift Giving All Year Long

Whew, the weekend is over and it was a whirlwind.  Shows, dinner, Susan Komen race, shopping, more shopping, gardening, more dinner, church, brunch, more gardening, more shopping, walks, and more dinner!  I'm exhausted!  I love Mother's Day, and since this is only my second, I love this holiday! It's truly not a day but more of a weekend.  All about women and what they want.  Plus you get presents. Bonus!  This year I got new running shoes, the multi chopper from William Sonoma, flowers, chocolates, and a beautiful scarf.  Great way to start off May- kind of. 

You know how, at Christmas, there is always that estranged, kind of crazy relative you didn't buy present for and, come the big day, you are unwrapping their gift to you and you can see in their eye they know you didn't get them anything?  If you can sympathize, this is how I felt yesterday.  Granted, I did buy my sister-in-law a gift sine she is about to become a mommy, but I forgot to put it all together and bring it to her house where the gift giving was happening.  Billy was in charge of his mom's so she got hers, but sure enough, as I was tearing up over the heart felt card and pulling the most perfect, pink scarf out of the silver Nordstrom's box, I could see in her eye she knew I forgot.  I apologized and told her I would get it to her soon, but talk about guilt!  I went out this afternoon and picked up a few more goodies to throw in just because of it.  Then it hit me, my gift drawer!  This is why I am feeling guilty!  If I had remembered to keep my gifts for others in my drawer I wouldn't have forgotten!

The gift drawer, for those of you who do no know, is a genius concept I like to pretend I invented.  It is a cleared out dresser drawer, or closet shelf, or empty basket where you put gifts for others inside.  These gifts are bought year round for individuals or people in general and follow very simple rules.  If you follow these rules, you will never be in the first scenario of Christmas time but you may also be able to avoid the second scenario I was just in.  The benefits of this drawer are massive, but to summarize why I like it: I never have to "run out really quickly" to buy a last minute present for some one, if I feel a present is to small or lacking something I can just add in a little something, come Christmas time I am only spending a little bit of money rounding out a persons present, and, best of all, it saves oodles of money and time! 

What rules do I have to abide by when starting and stocking my gift drawer, you ask?  Well, here are my rules:

1. It has to be a great price.  Hands down, number one rule.
2. While you are out shopping, anywhere, look with your Christmas list in mind.  Do you have an aunt who loves fancy bath soaps or a sister who is hooked on old books?  If you find your self at a garage sale and there is a box of books or at a specialty store and it has a section smelling like French lavender and cucumbers, check out the sale section and buy a few things.  Go home and throw it in your drawer.
3. Keep in mind other holidays and occasions as well.  If you just shop for Christmas stuff you are going to end up with unusable gifts for other holidays that require gift giving.  Any sale section in any store is a good place to look.  Soap, ornaments, table decorations, books, and candles are great, general gifts for almost any occasion.
4. Keep it small.  Remember, this is a small space you are dedicating, and if you buy a person a great chair you saw at an antique shop you will have no where to store it.  This type of large gift you need to give early with a side note that it is for the closest upcoming or just passed holiday. And believe me, people will not remember that.  Save the big gestures for the big day and load up on the little stuff you can store before hand.
5. Shop sales after holidays and plan to store for a LONG time.  I buy scents I know people like and brands people covet after the holidays when it is on super sale and then store it for a year.  When I give it to them they are shocked and excited about the product (and the amount it usually costs).  Voila! You have just won the gift giving game!
6. Save you tissue paper, gift bags, gift boxes, and if you're good, your old wrapping paper and plan to reuse.  This fabulous gift drawer will do you know good if you have nothing to wrap it in!  You show up with a bunch of stuff thrown in a grocery bag, people will know you forgot!  By saving the stuff others have given you it saves you time, money, and dignity.  keep it near or in your drawer and you're good to go at any occasion.

Those 6 rules will save you a thousand times over.  Don't forget rule number one and don't forget to have fun!  There is something so great about buying gifts for others, and when you do it all year and save a bundle doing it, you will get that feeling all year long (Plus, it keeps you thinking about Christmas all year, which isn't so bad either!)

Happy stocking !  Have you ever been in a similar situation like above? Tell me about it!

Another Round of Beauty Tips- How to Wade Through the Ocean of Advice

Beauty tips are a dime a dozen and, I don't know about you, but I don't know what to believe.  Are department store brands better than drug stores?  What is the best cover up?  Do I really have to pay $15 for a thing of eye shadow? What is the best face wash, moisturizer, or night cream? You can't trust anyone- or can you?  I have found a resource.  Well, really my co-worker, Linda, found it and was nice enough to share it with me.  "Don't Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" is a must have for reference.  Paula Begoun has done the research for us!

Ever wonder what the best face wash is for your sensitive skin?  Wondering what make up is really good at the drugstore or worth paying $50 for a night cream?  Here are your answers.  She reviews all the major brands of cosmetics and takes all the guess work out of it.

My advice, buy the book, review all the products you currently use, look up what you should be using, save money and time, and look fabulous!  My other advice, avoid the trends! Don't buy neon yellow eyeshadow and purple lipstick just because Chanel debuted it on the runways last week or Taylor Swift rocked it in her music video.  Buy the colors you find look good on you and stick with them.  Makeup is the one area where creativity does not make you a stand out but rather and crazy person. 

To find what looks best on you: visit a department store, ask to try on some colors, and take a seat.  These people are trained to find the best colors for your skin and the best application.  Use this training to your advantage.  Bonus- this service is free at most counters and you don't have to buy anything! Write down the tips and colors and go shopping according to your new list, whether it's at the counter you are getting the lesson at or not.

You look your best everyday- as a famous quote that I can't seem to be able to reference says, "Always look you best, you never know when fate will find you." (Or something like that..)

Did you have a lot of items not recommended in your cosmetics drawer?  I did... What did you change?  Hope you saved some money!

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Feast- Great Any Time of the Year!

In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo and my handsome 1/2 Mexican Fiance I am writing about hosting a Mexican-style Fiesta.  There are only a few things you need for this, it takes only minimal prep time, and great for everyone from the young to the old.  I'm talking make your own margarita bar and other Mexican-inspired drinks, a taco bar with choices of fixings, chips and salsa, and not-really-Mexican ice cream sandwiches.  Here is the set up:

Decorations:  Think bold, bright colors.  Mist matched is OK- but anything you see and think, "That's Mexican" will work wonders.  Napkins, table cloths, and maybe if you get crazy, a pinata.  That's it!

Food: chips and varieties of salsas.  This is not the time to buy a Tostito's salsa jar and pop the lid.  Go to your local grocery store or specialty store and pick up different, handmade options.  make sure to change the container from store bought to something you have- bowl, etc.  This trick will make you a culinary star!  Well, not really, but people will think you are...  Chips are the same way- think rustic and natural and you will have a winner.  For the taco bar- have pork, chicken, and beef shredded and lightly seasoned in different dishes.  For the fixings, use guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce/cabbage, shredded Mexican cheese, sliced radishes, black beans, pinto beans, sauteed peppers and onions. Put each of these in their own bowls with spoons and you are ready for some good times!  You can't dig in yet- you don't have the tortillas.  Get both corn and flour, heat them in a skillet on the stove, wrap in a clean kitchen towel, place them in a basket, and then on the table before the meat and fixings for the tacos.  This is something you should do right before guests start arriving.  When thinking dessert, nothing beats a feat like ice cream sandwiches.  I chose this desert for its practicality and self service with least mess.  Have different flavors, options, and kinds- you could even make your own if you have extra time on your hands! HA! Put them in a cooler with ice and let people help themselves.

For the drinks (Some may say the most important part!): Go with your gut on this.  If you know your guests won't drink anything but Vitamin Water and Bud Light, stock up with it, but if you think they are willing to immerse themselves in a cultural experience, let's get creative!  For beer, Dos Equis, Modelo, Sol, and Tecate are great choices.  Corona is a known favorite, but don't forget the limes.  For the kids, make limeades and lemonades with floating fruit.  Here's a tip- to keep your drinks from watering down with ice, freeze the fruit slices your are going to float in the drinks and use them instead of ice.  Same cooling power, no more watered down beverages.  Now for the Tequila!  Have a Margarita bar.  Lay out the fixings: tequila, salt, different mixers (classic, strawberry, and whatever else you can find out there- I like Mango).  Have a blender near by with the glasses and you are good to go.

The beauty of this plan? It allows you to hang out with your guests and enjoy the day rather than being concerned about courses, plating ,and drink refills.  Guests are on their own to help themselves any way and any time they want.  You spend a little time in the kitchen beforehand, and if all goes well, some time the next morning as your drinking your coffee nursing a hang over.  After all, this is a Mexican feast!

A Lesson Learned- Be Warned of the Frittata

I am typing this post tonight with one hand.  No, it is not some inspired project to learn how one-handed people navigate the keyboard.  This is a cooking accident I hope you will all avoid.

I am very fond of frittatas- an omelet in a  pan meant for dinner.  My mother-in-law introduced it to me a few months ago when she unveiled her shiny, new calphalon frittata pans.  I fell in love even more during a baby shower a few weeks later when she brought the pans down again and my sister-in-law made her version of the frittata.  So, in true competitive nature, I attempted this dish.  Of course, I wanted to class it up with some different ingredients and in true Martha nature, I was making the trial one this evening.  It did not go well, as you can imagine.  I am blaming the pans 100%.  I do not have the all fabulous calphalon pans so I was improvising with a single pan I had and some directions on how to fake it.  All was going well until I pulled it out of the oven and placed it on the stove.  I turned to do some minor thing at the sink and when I turned back to my pan I was taken by the apparent victory I was going to score this weekend when "wow'd" with this recipe.  That's when it happened.  I grabbed the handle.  Only problem, I had removed the pot holder.  My bare hand was clutching the glowing hot handle that had only been seconds removed from the broiler. 

I have a wonderful fiance who jetted to the store and picked up burn cream and I have spent the rest of the night with my hand wrapped with smelly creams and ice packs.  Moral of the story, f#*k frittatas- I'm sticking to something that doesn't involve hot handles and special pans.  I guess I'll just have to impress them with a fresh loaf of bread or coconut macaroons from the kitchen!

Commune with Nature- Plant a Garden

I watched Avatar for the first time this evening- I know, crazy to believe I was one of the few in the world that did not go see it in theaters.  Not that I didn't want to, it's just hard to find the time with an infant on your hands and not many babysitters to call on!  But that's not why I am writing, it is a segway into my topic tonight- gardening.  If you live in Utah, you know you can't begin to garden until at least Mother's Day weekend, but, if you are like me, you've been planning and thinking about your garden since January.  I am new at this gardening thing, and so far not very good at it, but I am determined to do it right, eventually...  This year may be the one.  I have done some intense research into indigenous plants to Utah, gardening methods, and harvest suggestions.  Needless to say, I was left a little overwhelmed.  One of the things that has helped me has been the Home Depot Garden Club online.  What a great resource!  It's a community online that gives you advice on what types of plants are good in your hardiness zone (A phrase new to me, so if it is for you too, google it!) and how to raise them.  I use raise for a reason here.  Take the lesson from Avatar, treat the Earth with respect.  Don't go loading it up with chemicals and artificial materials- Mother Nature has been doing this for thousands of years, it kind of has it figured out, without pesticides.  I originally tried pretty flowers, picked based on colors, but as my lifeless rose bush can tell you, I didn't plan very well.  This years I have a different approach.  Herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grow well in my climate are on the top of my list.  Fun flowers and greenery that are native to this land and the second tier.  After that, I hope I don't have room! 

I live in a town home, to let you all in on a personal detail of my home life, so my planning is more intricate than I would like.  I can't dig up a fresh patch of earth and get to it, I have to think pots, planters, baskets, hanging things, and container gardens.  Enter my fabulous mother in law.  She is an amazing woman- and right up my alley (Thank god! If you hate your Mother-in-Law, I bet you can borrow mine for a weekend and see what a real one is like! And a few brownie points for smashing reviews online can't hurt the relationship any either... :)).  Armed with some magazines and green thumb of a Grandmother-in-Law, she is coming next weekend to help me build, stuff, layer, dig, plot, and plant.  Also known as container gardening.  We are building and potting to our hearts content, and hopefully with all this attention to the Earth and what she chose long before I started taking matters into my own hands I will have a plentiful garden and something to be proud of. 

That is the hope.  I'm feeling like I can do anything as long as I become a tree-hugger, but maybe all I need is more attention to detail, a plan, and a membership to Home Depot's Garden Club (free, by the way).  Who knows, maybe I can tap into my Avatar and talk to the spirit thing and it will water and weed for me!

Have you planned on gardening?  What are you thinking of doing?

Botanical and Decorative Vase Arranging

I attended a Pottery Barn class today on this subject.  This is one of my favorite Sunday activities, and if you don't already know, you should call your local store- the majority of them host these decorating classes for free (Well, better than that, they give you a 10% off coupon for coming!).  Topics range throughout the year and they aren't offered every week, but they are worth becoming a regular at.  I am on first name basis with the decorators at my store and they always go out of their way for me.  For instance, my sister and law were picking up some Easter decorations that were on mega sale, and the instructor, Doug, notice and let us in on a little secret- they had a cookie jar that was on sale for $10 in the back room and brought them out to show us.  Naturally we bought up two practically before he got the bottom part of the jar out of the box.  It's worth the effort to get to know them. 

But enough about my adventure today, here is what I learned:

* A woman in the crowd had this suggestion: If you are using water in a display (for faux flowers only!), put a few drops of bleach in the water and it will keep it from getting slimy. 
* Nature is the master of organized chaos- imitate that look and it will make your arrangement look stunning and natural every time.  How to do this?  Use the rule of 3- odd numbers create a feeling of chaos.  A triangle display will move people's eye around a grouping and make them feel more organic.
* Use vase fillers in clear glass vases.  You don't have to spring for the $15 bag-of-rocks if you don't want to- moss, pebbles (rinsed off if from your yard), dry beans, nuts, fruit, buttons, and whatever else that fits in there and won't break down in water, if you're using real flowers, will do the trick.
* Choose your vase carefully.  This is where a linen closet with a good selection of vases comes in handy so you don't have to buy a new one every time.  Here are some guidelines:
                ~ A fluted vase- one with a smaller base than top- is best for larger bloom flowers.
                ~ A straight sided, cylinder is good for long stemmed flowers & better for dramatic, single stems.
                ~ Bud vases or narrow opening vases are also great for more dramatic, single stems.
                ~ If you have a large bunch of flowers, the trumpet vases are best.
                ~ Large bowls & fish bowls create a dramatic display for floating flowers. 
               ~ Rectangular vases are modern & can be used for floating blooms, single stems, or small bunches.
* Choose your presentation according to your space.  Are you in a modern home?  Choose a rectangular vase with drama.  Do you want to create a since of movement and draw the eye to the flowers?  Use a triangular shaped display with different blooms.  Use the largest vase for a focal point and then arrange the others around it.  If you need to create height in a long, flat space, choose a larger vase for higher stems or bunches.  Combine candle holders and vases to add drama.  Vases all the same size create a contemporary feel in a space.
* Faux flowers are a great choice but you need to care for them properly.  When storing, wrap them lightly in tissue paper and place in a paper bag in a closet with plenty of room on the shelf.  Do not crowd the bag so you don't bend the stems.  To dust them, use Duster like you use for cleaning your computes keyboard.  Apparently, it works wonders!
* If you are using a vase filler, place your flowers in there first then put in the filler.  To keep the flowers together, use a rubber band, twine, decorative ribbon, or twist ties to hold them together.  If you want to keep them tied together you can or you can choose a method that is easy to remove, like the twine or twist tie, after you put enough filler in to hold the blooms in place.
* You don't have to use flowers in your vases!!! Think out side the box.  Seashells, sand, buttons, fruit, beans, stones, and marbles are a great, normal decoration.  Try black and white photos, vintage postcards, antique buttons, or wooden thread spools to do something different and create a dramatic display. 
* If you do use flowers, and you choose to use real ones, buy as fresh as possible. Avoid flowers with discoloration on either the leaves or petals since they most likely past their prime.

I hope this helps when you are planning on decorating with flowers and vases.  It is fun and easy- just use what you have around your home- and bring in some flowers- and you won't fail!  Let me know how your attempts come out!

An Exerpt from Year Round Entertaining

There is a book I picked up recently that has quickly become the staple to my home life and entertaining.  I love having people over, but constantly find it a challenge to play the perfect hostess while working 40+ hours per week too.  This book, " Year Round Entertaining" has helped tremendously in this area.  In the very beginning they cover the basics, and in this section, they talk about the decorating basics.  I love Pottery Barn, I get their magazines, I go to their free decorating classes (If you don't know about these, call your local store and get the scoop, they are full of tips and tricks for free plus give you a 10% off coupon for the store!), but I usually can't afford their decorations, let alone have a back room full of them to pull out in the event of company coming over.  This is where this book has come in to play.  I want to be able to pull from some basics to create stunning table and house decorations, without breaking the bank.  Here are their suggestions:

~ Candles by the dozen- votives, tapers, pillars, etc.  in a variety of colors
~ Mirrors for accents
~Blanket throws- which can conveniently double as festive table cloths!
~ Extra sets of inexpensive flatware, plates, and wine glasses- you can NEVER have too many
~ A variety of serving trays to serve from cocktails to hors d'oeuvres- silver, wood, wicker etc.
~ Vases in a variety of mediums and sizes are essential.  Look through antique stores to find cheap additions to your collection
~ Strings of white lights- they are great around the holidays but can be used other times for dramatic lighting effects in plants, on the deck, etc.

Here are some suggestions from me that were not in the book;

~ A variety of bowls- these can hold everything from candy to baubles around Christmas time
~ Glass containers- again, like the bowls, but this is more chic in display and shows off colors and textures much better than a bowl
~ Pottery of any and all kinds- different colors can be used at different times- for instance red is my favorite and can be displayed during Valentine's day, May for Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Fall themes, and Christmas.  Basically all year with minor changes
~ Candle holders- metal, wood, wire, etc.  These can easily change the feel of the room in a few seconds.

I have a few containers in my linen closet up stairs to store these items in.  This is excluding all additional holiday supplies I have, which is held else where, but when you are feeling like you need a change around your home, but are lacking in both time and resources, if you have this in stock, it can update the feel of your room without tapping you out in either area.

Happy domesticating, everyone!  I hope you can start entertaining and decorating in style and half the time now!