Newly Domesticated

Perfect Downton Abbey Pout

2012-01-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

Remember a couple weeks ago, when I was talking about how I was digging the no-makeup make-up look on Downton Abbey?

Well, I picked up one of Burt's Bees' tinted lip balms, in Hibiscus, for $7.99 at Target. It's the perfect peach-pink, supplies plenty of color and moisture and is perfect to combat dry winter air. I'm hoping to pick up the "rose" shade as well. The colors are subtle enough to reflect the "Downton Abbey" glow, but long-lasting. Officially Amber-approved!

Diane Keaton, I Like Your Style

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

I'm finishing up Diane Keaton's autobiography, Then Again. It's a sweet, confessional, heartfelt biography of her family, most especially her mother, who dreamed of recognition.

In the book, Diane is constantly talking about how she was never the prettiest, and didn't know how to dress. Liar!

In the 70s, she defined quirky style, with minimal makeup and bedhead long strands.

She made menswear her own, like a modern-era Coco Chanel.

And on a tall, skinny frame, menswear suited her!

I'm a huge fan of her perfect hair in "Something's Gotta Give." And also her perfect house, of course.

Annie Liebovitz shot this gorgeous picture for Vogue this past year. Just as chic as ever! She's a testament to the power of adopting a signature look.

Get Her Look

Diane Keaton by amberfiona featuring a black hat

It's not a look that would work for all of us, but in pieces, you can get some of that Annie Hall je ne sais quoi. Pick up some tweeds, ties, scarves, big glasses, a bowler hat and peachy lip gloss. Comedian partner not included.

How to Sew a Pillow, the Inexperienced Way

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

As you know, I recently tackled my first sewing project — a lumbar pillow. Now, I want to take you, my reader, with me on this journey of sewing, but I want to be clear: I don't know what the hell I'm doing. So me giving advice is pretty silly, but hey, maybe one of you has no clue where to start and the other 5,000 online tutorials were no help! Join me on my sewing odyssey...

So first off, I laid out the fabric and placed my pillow on top of it, just to get an idea of what part of the pattern I wanted to be on the front of the pillow. Once I chose a section, I measured an inch around the edge of where my pillow had been. I don't think this is the way people normally do it, but I had no idea what to do.

Using that piece as a template, I cut out a second identical piece, making sure that piece would make a nice backside.

The zipper I bought was too long and I had no idea how to rectify that, but I looked on the Internets and they told me to sew a whipstitch (youtube it if you don't know what that is...I did the same thing) to create a new stop. Once the stitch was in place, I just snipped off the rest of the zipper.

On each piece of fabric, I ironed about an inch of the top of the fabric, then sat down to sew my first stitches.

I set the machine to straight stitch, and went for it. I sewed slow and steady, but I still wavered enough that my lines were not straight. Story of my life.

Once I had sewed the ironed sides, I pinned one side of my zipper to the hemmed part, with the zipper facing the good side of the fabric. I then sewed another line to attach the zipper, and then did the same to the other side.

Once one side was done, it looked like this. Those hemmed sides help hide the zipper a bit, and make it look more finished.

And this is how the zipper looked when it was done. So, sew each side inside out. After I sewed each side, I would put the pillow in to see how I was doing and whether any sides of the fabric needed to be trimmed.

I was very excited to sew the last side and then — oops — realized I had sewed all four sides without leaving an opening for my pillow! Rookie mistake! Thank god for the zipper...I was able to shimmy it down enough to open that side of the pillowcase and stick in the pillow form.

All told, the supplies cost:
Fabric: $35
Pillow form + zipper: $17
Total: $52, compared to this one, which goes for $100. To be fair, it has cording and a different backside. But STILL.

And in time, it probably took 3 hours of work, and that was a lot of scratching my head and pondering things. Hopefully my next pillow goes even quicker!

Mini Living Room Makeover!

2012-01-20T11:30:00.000-05:00

This chair has been in Sean's family longer than he has. It has the dents to prove it! It came into our possession three years ago, when we first moved in together and had hardly any furniture. His parents donated it to the cause, and we were happy. It was like Sean's throne.

I hardly ever sat in it, but when I did, I could help but notice the seat almost sank to the ground and the left arm wobbled. It made me nervous, and seemed like something that would be a bigger fix than the chair is worth. I also noticed the welt was beginning to come undone. I started doing what all women do: Harping about getting a new chair.

So, it is with regret that we bid the old buddy adieu.

Coinciding with the chair replacement hunt, I also purchased fabric for the previously mentioned lumbar pillow project! Last night, I finished the pillow and we only got the chair on Wednesday, so the living room has had a mini makeover in the past two days!

The chair is a surprisingly comfortable and embarrassingly cheap armchair from World Market. It is the Luxe chair with Charcoal slipcover. With shipping, the whole shebang cost $245. INSANE.

I will not lie, the chair is not quite as comfortable as the old chair, which was as well-worn as the chair Frasier's dad always wanted to keep. But it'll get there. Also, I LOVE that it's slipcovered, because it makes for easy clean-up, possible options to purchase a different color if I want to OR attempt to sew my own someday, using that one as a guide.

I sewed the pillow last night...I would say it took me about three hours, start-to-finish, but a lot of that was spent doubting myself, pinning and repinning. I will include more information about the sewing of it on Monday, but for now, I'll let you know I used Thomas Paul's Perch fabric in Seaglass, from Calico Corners. It was $32 for a yard — a bit pricey, but really good quality.

And last but certainly not least, we've also been enjoying our new Celestial coasters from Anthropologie. My coworker Desiree did the most amazing gift-giving. She went to my Pinterest, looked at the board I have labeled "Covet," saw the coasters and gave them to me for Christmas. I was blown. away. They are gorgeous and have incredible depth; the geode effect comes from firing the glaze.

So that's our new and improved living room! Next on my agenda is a new rug...the zebra print has seen better days, and I always thought of it as my single-girl apartment rug. But next on my DIY agenda: finally making a headboard. My newfound sewing experience has me feeling invincible.

I Spy: Mirrors, Treasure Chests and Brass Etageres!

2012-01-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

I made a long-awaited return to one of my favorite spots in the fine commonwealth — the Williamsburg Antiques Mall — yesterday. I only had time to hit a couple aisles. I tell you this to illustrate how many treasures can be found in just 20 minutes. Here are some of the items that caught my eye:

Above, a rack of vintage Golden Books...how great would it be to frame illustrations from these for a nursery or kid's room? They're so sweet and CHEAP.

How about this for a man cave? It's an antique walnut tool chest for $120. It could hold tools, or for the modern man, usb cords and jump drives.

I'm so tempted to go back for this $125 brass faux bamboo etagere...it's a five-shelf...I wish it were taller, but I'm wondering if this is one I'll regret passing up?

These tiny painted occasional tables are equal parts worldly and glamorous...I like the idea of using one as a nesting table to extend a taller table's reach, or beside a reading chair. $65 for the pair.

I'm always on the lookout for great trunks, which lend gravitas to something as essential (and often boring) as storage. This one had a flat top, but rounded corners, which made it unique and interesting. I think it was about $150.

I loved this art deco sugar/creamer/toothpick holder set! Each piece was marked separately, which I thought was kind of weird, but they were all around $14.

For $20, you could also get a turtle-shaped chrome toothpick holder, with little holes for the toothpicks.

I couldn't see the prices, but I thought these vintage romantic lady portraits, framed in mirror, would be great in an all-white bathroom, over twin beds in a girls' room or in a tricked-out dressing room.

And for $35 bucks, I thought this little mirror could be a great extra piece, or a good candidate for a spray-paint makeover.

There you have it. I might have to sneak back soon to conquer the other 8-ish aisles!

Orzo with Chicken, Tomatoes and Feta

2012-01-17T11:30:00.000-05:00

My friend Chanelle made this delectable creamy orzo with feta and tomatoes a while back. It popped into my mind last night when I was trying to come up with a quick dinner, and I googled around until I found this recipe.

Start by bringing a cup and a half of chicken broth (I always use reduced sodium) to a boil.

Add half a cup of orzo and let it boil for about nine minutes, until the broth is absorbed by the orzo. Watch out! It will stick to the bottom of the pan if you don't stir it enough.

While I did this, I cooked up a quick chicken breast, seasoning it with pre-mixed lemon pepper spices.

Move the orzo off the heat, then add feta and minced sun-dried tomatoes to taste, plus salt and pepper. Stir until the feta begins to melt, and then add the chicken.

The orzo was good, but I made the mistake of being a little heavy-handed with the tomatoes, which were a little spicy. I also think it could have benefitted from some basil. Minus the chicken, a great side dish.

Golden Globes Fashion 2012

2012-01-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's tradition on this little blog o'mine to praise and skewer celebrity fashions, so I'm super excited last night was the kickoff for awards season — the Golden Globes. I'm sure you'll agree and disagree with a lot of my choices, but I love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment!

Best of the Best

Listen people, this Gucci Premiere might be the dress I want to be buried in. I think we can acknowledge I have a few weakness when it comes to fashion: feathers, sheer fabric, sequins and black, to name some. When Evan Rachel Wood appeared in this number, which looks like a lost Bob Mackie costume for Cher in the best way, I literally shouted, "I WANT THAT." It was a fun way to turn the feather trend on its head, and I also love that it's got so many colors.

Claire Danes has been killing it on red carpets since she was a teenager, and last night was no exception. I love black and white, and this J. Mendel was an interesting cut, with edgy details and far from boring. I also loved the red lip and open back!

Charlize Theron is such a bad girl in "Young Adult" that it only makes sense she'd appear at the Globes looking like a perfect angel. Her Dior gown was billowy, yet structured and her jewels were Cartier museum pieces...can you imagine? She also works a nude-pink like no other.

So she wasn't nominated and really has little reason to be there, but I have a secret love of Nicole Richie. I thought her Julien McDonald chainmail-esque disco dress was so sleek, and she accessorized perfectly with a high pony and stack of bangles.

When I first saw Emma Stone's dress, I knew I'd need to get another look before I made up my mind. I'm happy to report her Lanvin photographs beautifully...the wispy fabric, color scheme and bejeweled eagle buckle could go so wrong, but it somehow works.

It was such a daring choice, but I thought Sarah Michelle Gellar's inky Monique Lhuillier watercolor dress just killed it for me. It was a beautiful shape, intriguing and I like that she kept her accessories very simple.

Viola Davis gained 25 pounds to play Aibileen in The Help and the minute she stepped on the red carpet in this Emilio Pucci, I think the nation collectively said "daaaaaaayyyyyuummmnnnnn girl looks fine." That burgundy is gorgeous against her skin tone, and I like the bronze shoe.

I thought Rooney Mara was so elegant in this black Nina Ricci sheath with no accessories except her beautiful bone structure and long black lashes. BUT, I did have a problem with her "I just got back from a jog" hairsdo.

I'm sure lots of people hated this, but I have a soft spot for Michelle Williams, who is never boring. I thought her Jason Wu velvet burnout dress moved beautifully, fit her like a glove and I really liked the 60s-style headband.

Julie Bowen and Madonna both wore gowns with similar cap sleeves by Reem Acra. While both were gorgeous, Julie's looked like nearly every previous Reem Acra dress to grace a red carpet, but Madonna's looked both classic and futuristic. The intricate pleating and ruffles, the square pieces of fabric and the mermaid color scheme suited her personality perfectly. I wasn't even that bothered by the gloves! My one complaint would be that the bodice was way too tight in the chest.

Everyone on the red carpet was talking about how Sofia Vergara was doing two-a-days in the gym to fit into her Vera Wang gown. Well I don't blame her...it looks like she's riding a wave of organza, and that is an incredible hourglass she's showing off. I also loved the stormy blue color.

Honorable Mentions: Nicole Kidman, Jessica Alba, Shailene Woodley, Reese Witherspoon...all looked great, but didn't really surprise me. Is that a fair assessment? Probably not. But I didn't remember their dresses when I woke up this morning, so that tells me something.

I'm Not Totally Sold

Both Natalie and Angelina wore these classic, sort of 50s-style folded bodice dresses and neither of them totally knocked the breath out of me. I like the folds of Natalie's Lanvin, but the pink and red was a little Valentine's Day for me.

Angelina's Atelier Versace dress left no room for flaws, and was definitely interesting. It was very classic, too, in a lot of ways, but the neckline made it a little hard for me to get on board. But maybe it's her chilly demeanor that always turns me off.

Dianna Agron's Giles dress is so intricate, surprising and interesting. But while I completely LOVE the bodice and neckline, I was not feeling the lace ruffles down the dress...it started to have a pinata effect for me. I think with a satin skirt, it would have been a slam dunk.

I think Morena Baccarin is gorgeous, and her George Chakra dress is beautiful, too. But I couldn't decide if I like the line in the middle. I think I do...but...do I? Help me decide!

Mila Kulis recently became a Dior brand ambassador, which is a girls' dream come true, is it not? So why is she completely not selling this dress? It's pretty enough, but her sour face and lack of interesting accessories made it a snoozer for me.

I know a lot of people HATED Jessica Biel's Elie Saab dress. I didn't have quite such a strong reaction, but I wasn't in love, either. A lot of starlets have tried to make this buttoned up, long-sleeved lacy dress thing work and no one has really sold it. I can acknowledge some beautiful details...the scalloped lace, for one, but she looks a little like a sexed up prairie bride.

Worst

Zooey Deschanel was really excitedly tweeting about her custom Prada gown, so I was psyched and then she showed up in this. I have a sort of deeply seeded hatred of lime green, but it was also the ridiculous 1960s hair sideburns that killed this outfit for me. She's a pretty girl, but never seems to bring it in these situations.

TINA JEEZ. You're KILLING me. Tina is just drawn to stumpifying gowns that make her look short and unhappy. I thought this Oscar de la Renta looked like the result of a Project Runway loofah challenge. I want her to get a stylist (or a new one!) so badly, I might foot the bill myself.

Maya Rudolph! Another funny lady cursed with stumpifying gowns! The fabric looks more suited to a trench coat than a gown and the cut is positively matronly. Her hair and bright lips look nice, but this was woefully boring.

Amanda Peet's Marc Jacobs gown just confused me. At first I thought maybe I would like it if it were strapless, but let's be honest...it looks like granny curtains.

Glenn Close's Armani Prive outfit reminded me of a deconstructed wizard robe, with a little spangly crumb catcher bib thing stuck in the front at the last minute. It just didn't do anything for her.

This past year was The Year of Jessica Chastain, so she should have more amazing gowns coming her way than she knows what to do with. So why does she have a chronic problem with fitting? Her dresses always look a smidge tight, and this Givenchy frankly looks a smidge matronly. It looks like a selection from a couture line inspired by Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Her hair even looks a little fusty.

Meryl's dress, hair, accessories just look plain lazy. It's like she had this cowboy shirt, and a skirt lying around and thought, "eh, I guess I'll go to this thing." My first thought was that it seemed to be from an eveningwear line designed by Temple Grandin.

And my favorite of the worst — Piper Perabo. This, to me, looked like the muslin version of a dress that would be made later...or a kraft paper ball gown....or a ball gown inspired by mummies. It was just bad, but I'm glad it made her so happy.

Sunday Best v.85

2012-01-15T13:15:00.001-05:00

The trailer for the next Wes Anderson film is out! In college, I had a mini Wes Anderson film festival in my dorm room...I think we might have done it twice? lol. Anyways, I'm a pretty big fan so I'm always excited when he puts his little warped version of the world on the big screen. I laughed out loud at Bill Murray's line at the end.

Beautiful art showing Earth from above.
My friend Martin wrote a book! It's called Chubster and is an account of how he lost 100 pounds in 8 months by cutting calories and NOT joining a gym!
The secret beauty product all stars love: Fotoshop!
Leave it to Martha: gorgeous office supplies.
Scientific proof you should call your mother.
Hilarious tweets from customers to corporations.
And Downton Abbey, as described through Beyonce lyrics.

Roasted Red Pepper Gouda Soup

2012-01-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Things you need to know before you begin to make this recipe for Roasted Red Pepper soup with Gouda: double it. Ignore what it says regarding amounts, because what I ended up was not cups, but shots, of soup for six people.

The other thing you need to know? It's soooooo gooood.

Start out by draining and chopping a jar of roasted red peppers, dicing a medium onion and mincing four cloves of garlic. I cut the carrots in the soup because I didn't have any, but do that, too.

Saute the onions in a tablespoon of olive oil.

When the onions are translucent, add the roasted red peppers, garlic, two cans of low-sodium chicken broth, basil and thyme. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes.

Move the pot off the heat and either use an immersion blender (would work better if the pot is deeper) or ladle into a blender in batches...probably best to let it cool a little first. Puree smooth.

Move it back to the heat, then add some gouda cheese (I grated it earlier...forgot to tell you that) and stir until it melts.

Et voila! Delicious roasted red pepper gouda soup. It's super good, and it's probably good for all of our waistlines that the recipe yielded about a bowl and a half, but in the future, I'd definitely double the recipe.

I served it with paninis, grilled baby zucchini slices, green grapes and a spring mix salad.

Wine Club: Revenge Edition

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

What goes better with red wine than REVENGE? Wine Club started out well-intentioned last night...we were going to drink pinot noirs and merlots and watch "Sideways."

But our obsessive nature with the TV show "Revenge" won out, and we ended up watching last week's and this week's episodes, raising our glasses to the twisty plots and fancy fashions. It was great.

I wanted to have some comfort food for wine club this time, so I made roasted red pepper soup with gouda (in the shot glass), two types of paninis (which I served in halves), grilled mini zucchini and grapes.

I did two types of paninis: salami, fontina cheese and pesto and turkey, cheddar and a pepper mayo spread.

I also served the herb mix salad, with champagne vinaigrette, gouda and candied pecans on the side. Healthiest wine club I've ever done!

Our wine selections this time were:

Simply Naked Pinot Grigio: A light, citrusy pinot that went down easy.
Barefoot Sweet Red: So sweet, but deliciously so. I said it was like a wine lollipop...it tasted like candy.
Estancia Pinot Noir: I picked this bottle of Monterrey County wine from Target, of all places, and it was a great, dry plummy wine with a smooth finish.

Il Duca Stella Rosa: This one was a big surprise, because its strawberry flavor and slight fizz made it taste very much like Rosa Regale, a wine club favorite. Stella Rosa was my jam, you guys. It was delicious to the last drop.
Temptation Zinfandel: A fruity Sonoma County red with notes of dark fruits, black pepper and strawberry.
Bogle Merlot: Any "Sideways" fan knows merlot is the enemy, but I actually quite liked this one. It was a little spicy, with a long finish.

I had two special wine treats, but this was the more exciting: a mocha wine wafer. Wine wafers, called oblatky, were delicacies first made in the Czech Republic in the 17th century that became enormously popular among the elite. Only a few bakeries make them now, because the process is intense, but they are DELICIOUS. The package recommends taking a sip of red wine, taking a bite of the wafer, and then having another sip and swallowing.

I don't know how or why it works, but when the flavors combine, it's soooooo good. I picked my wafer up at Monticello's gift shop, but you can order them online.

I didn't snag a picture, but my other dessert item was Ciao Bella Blackberry Cabernet sorbet. A wonderful treat to share with our Revenge-a-thon!

I Spy: Return to Cypress Point Antiques

2012-01-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite I Spy adventures was visiting Cypress Point Antique Mall in Virginia Beach earlier this year. I loved the selection, which included the most mid-century stuff I've seen in the area, but hadn't made it back down there since.

On Saturday, Sean and I went on a fabric hunt for my lumbar pillow project and swung by the store just long enough to catch some cool items! We left empty-handed, but OH, I keep dreaming of one of the following items.

The first thing to catch my eye was this Indian-inspired antique bird cage table, for $385. Sort of a person-who-has-everything decor item, but could be really cool in a home full of curiosities.

They also had this amazing vintage dollhouse, with some furnishings, for $418. It made me wish I had gotten involved in designer Emily Henderon's "I'm a Giant" decorating challenge. Read more about that here.

These guys are pretty easy to find actually, but they're super on trend. A fun elephant plant stand would look great on a patio, as an alternative cake stand for an Indian feast or in front of a fireplace. This one was $40.

As before, the store didn't disappoint with mid-century modern goodness. Sean was all about these low-to-the-ground club chairs (I didn't catch the price...oops) and the Herman Miller coffee table in front of it (that bad boy was $750).

But it was this chrome and velvet desk chair that stole my heart. It was $140 and if I hadn't JUST decided we needed to buy a new living room chair, I would've forced Sean to let me give it a new home. I actually like the rust velvet color, but the velvet needed to be replaced. Imagine a kelly green velvet job!

They also had the most reasonably priced brass arch lamp ever, at $60.

In a bin of fabric, I spotted this old sugar sack for $5. They're great for all kinds of fun home decor projects; you can use them in quilts, frame them, create throw pillows or use them for storage.

One of the cooler, quirkier finds was a table full of Army time clocks...I thought that would be a fun conversation starter. A pricey one though...this one was more than $300.

A sweet $50 could get you this leopard-print stool, perfect for the modern Holly Golightly.

And last but not least, I was digging this $19 set of brass candlesticks. They were a little groovier than your average pair, and I like the lip that collects wax.

So that was my most recent antique hunt...if my husband hadn't been there, I think that chrome number would've been mine, but alas. Any of you Virginians have a thrift store/antique store/salvage spot I should be checking out? Let me know in the comments!

Today I Like ... Downton Abbey Makeup

2012-01-09T11:30:00.000-05:00

If you've watched "Downton Abbey" (and hopefully you caught the season 2 premiere last night!), no doubt you've wondered how the ladies can look so rosy and lovely and yet seem to wear no make-up.

The no-makeup makeup routine, as we know, isn't easy to pull off. The most important key is a pretty porcelain complexion, maintained with sunscreen and moisturizer.

I was happy to read a bit about how the actresses get made-up in this interview with make-up artist Anne Oldham in Vogue.

She said the key is: natural, but lightly groomed eyebrows; no eye shadow on the lids; luminous foundation; and rosy cheeks and lips.

Get the Look

Downton Abbey Makeup by amberfiona on polyvore.com

Oldham recommended a few of these items, and I added a couple I would use in the day-to-day wearing of this look. Left to right, clockwise: Stila "Crush" lip stain and cheek stain; Laura Mercier hydratint in rose; Stila convertible color in Petunia; Tarte cheek stain in Flush; Trish McEvoy eye brightener in Shell; DiorShow brown mascara; Giorgio Armani luminous silk foundation; and Smashbox Photo Finish primer.

Sunday Best v.84

2012-01-08T13:44:00.002-05:00

Sean and I watched three really great movies this week that I wholeheartedly recommend: "Young Adult," which is like Mean Girls if Regina George never changed as she grew up; "Beginners," a beautiful movie about love and family, based on the director's relationship with his dad, who came out as gay at 75 after his mother died; and "I Am Love," an Italian film starring Tilda Swinton, about the tense relationships in a powerful, wealthy Italian family. The last one was full-on European weird, but thought-provoking, so be prepared for that.

Possibly the greatest New York Times correction of all time.
And the story behind the correction.
For hardcore NPR fans, enjoy the Twitter blood feud.
Predictions of today from 100 years ago.
If you don't read Young House Love, they are the MASTERS of an amazing kitchen renovation. Here's their guide to painting cabinets.
My friend Amanda wrote the loveliest ode to receiving mail in the post.
College students reproduce famous paintings.
OMG! Toms is coming out with ballet flats!

First Sewing Project Decided!

2012-01-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

After much debate (okay...two nights of debate), I think I've decided what will be my first sewing adventure. I'm going to sew a ... lumbar pillow!

I like the idea of using a less expected shape for a pop of busier or brighter or different fabric, like this large one seen here.

Isn't it kind of fun to have that long line? Another one seen via CKM Interiors.

And it can really bring in a fun snazzy pop of color, like this one, via Daily Tarte.

Or it could tie the whole room together in one long swath, like in this room by Caitlin Creer, seen here.

So I spent the night searching for a fabric that would tie my crazy living room together, somehow bringing harmony to my green ikat and seafoam chevron pillows and zebra rug (which I'm kind of over, by the way). I think I found a couple candidates, so I'm excited to order some fabric and go to town.

I Spy: Trendy Decor at Target

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, I made this little resolution with myself not to leap at cheap, trendy decor items as much as I had because a) I have too much stuff as it is and b) I would like to start saving up and investing in quality pieces.

But oh, is that a battle. Because at the end of the day, when you want something trendy, you really probably shouldn't spend a lot of money on it, right? RIGHT? So my knees buckled a little when I wandered down the home accessories aisle at my local Target this week and saw a bunch of items that were so on-trend and cheap, I wanted to put them all in my cart, Supermarket Sweep-style. Here are some favorites.

Above, you've got that horse-y guy for $25. I literally saw an identical item selling on One Kings Lane or Joss and Main earlier this week for $99. Could be awesome on a bookshelf or be just the weird ceramic objet that makes your living room.

The girly girl in me was smitten with this gold tufted ottoman, $50, but I knew the boy in Sean would be very un-smitten with it. I was lying in bed last night thinking the first order of business in our next apartment/home is to decorate at least one room SUPER GIRLY to get it out of my system.

For $25 you could have a chic, versatile Moroccan-inspired cut-out tray. Trays are really wonderful for corralling tiny messes into something that looks like a purposeful mess. Great on bedside tables, on coffee tables, in bathrooms.

They also have these pretty little red-and-white storage boxes for $20. A few of them would look great in an office, or as jewelry storage.

I also loved this super girly, almost Cinderella-esque tufted blue ottoman. $55 for one.

I looooove chevrons, but even I can agree they're totally played out at this point. But...in gold....on a lampshade? Ugh, I kind of love it. I think one of these would look great on a faux bamboo floor lamp like this. I think the lamp shades were $25 each.

And last but not least, how great are these uber-cheap but uber-chic metal side tables? They don't particularly go with the vibe of our living room, otherwise one would've been in my cart in a second. I think they were $70.

Am I alone in the eternal struggle of practical vs. impractical, quality vs. cheap and wishing-hoping vs. I WANT THAT instant gratification? Or are these completely first-world problems and I'm a crazy person? Probably the latter.

Sewing: The Next Frontier

2012-01-03T11:30:00.000-05:00

Longtime readers of this blog know that I'm not the kind of person who took home ec. Although I was probably the perfect candidate for the course, I scoffed at it because I thought I was going to be a working woman who was unconcerned with domestic matters. HA! Who did I think I was? First of all, cooking, cleaning and sewing are way more complicated than almost anything I do in my professional career and second of all, they're skills that enable you to save more of that hard-earned cash. Plus, how crucial was it that I use one of my elective credits on an upper level math elective that almost killed my GPA?

Two years ago, I started this blog as a way to document my efforts to learn to cook and was stunned when, in about the span of two months, I had basically learned how to cook. There are still plenty of challenges I haven't tackled yet, but I get the basic gist.

So I thought it was time to move on to another skill that eludes me: sewing. Sewing is so technical and demands so much skill and focus that it actually scares me. But I went ahead and asked for a sewing machine for Christmas, and received the one you see above: the Singer Heavy Duty machine.

On Sunday, I took the machine out of its box and put it together. I was actually laughing to keep from crying when it took me the better part of two hours to properly thread the machine. I don't expect to become an expert seamstress, and I'm pretty sure there are many blogs that explain sewing WAY BETTER than I ever could, but I do want to document some of the projects I tackle as I go.

So far: I've learned how to sew a buttonhole...kind of. I'm still not sure I'm using that feature correctly.

I hope you'll all speak up and give your best advice, share tutorials that have helped you and just generally be the supportive friends I'll need in this endeavor!

Steak Frites with Mandolin Slicer Help!

2012-01-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

Did you have the most wonderful New Year's Eve? Sean and I were soooooo low-key. We originally thought we'd be in the DC area, but at the very 11th hour during the week of Christmas, we opted instead to stay home. It was too late to make reservations, and we were totally tuckered out from holiday travel, so we decided to see a movie, make fancy dinner at home and kick back two bottles of asti spumante.

The real excitement was using my mandolin slicer!! We decided to make steak frites au poivre (we've made it before, here). I was super pumped to break in the new mandolin slicer, so this time we made fries at home.

A word on at-home french fries: they are time consuming, and somehow TOTALLY worth it. I can't explain why they're better than frozen french fries, but they are.

We sliced a large russet potato in two halves, then stuck one half with the handle part of the mandolin slicer.

I changed the blade to the "french fries" slicing blade and made sure it was nice and narrow so I could have skinny mini fries. Using the slicer is BEYOND easy; it's just a sliding motion, and all the sliced veggies end up directly below.

See? French fries. We soaked them in cold water for the length of one episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and a couple glasses of rose asti spumante.

See? Spumante.

See? Soaking fries.

We drained the fries and then rinsed and patted them dry.

You are supposed to fry them in a single layer, just covered with oil (we used vegetable oil). The recipe I followed recommended plopping the fries in the oil, turning it up to medium heat and then when they start to turn golden, turning it up to medium-high heat.

When they're REALLY golden, place the fries on a paper towel-lined cookie sheet and salt them immediately. Success! I covered them with aluminum foil to make some attempt to keep them warm.

Meanwhile, it was steak-making time! I covered two filet mignons with crushed peppercorns and salt, then fried them in butter and olive oil for five-six minutes on each side.

To make the sauce, you have to move quickly and it gets SCARY up in this janks. I removed the steaks and tented them with foil, then poured out the extra fat. Then I added 1/3 cup of cognac and lit it with a lighter and shook out the flames. It was way scarier this time than last time, and definitely set off all the fire alarms, but whatever. It's worth it. Then, add a cup of cream, bring the mixture to a boil and then add a teaspoon of cognac and some salt. When it's thick enough to cover the back of a spoon, it's on.

Add the steak to the sauce and cover it, then plated it and spooned more sauce over it.

And then COVERED the steak with fries. I can say with all certainty, it was the perfect steak. An eensy bit past mid-rare, which is my comfort zone, delicious sauce and crispy salty french fries.

The sad part was that we were starving, so it was gone immediately.

At midnight, we went outside to light some of our leftover wedding sparklers.

Yayyy!

Welcome 2012! It was a great New Years. And now I'm addicted to homemade fries.

2011, Looking Back

2012-01-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, as we read our friends' New Years' Facebook posts, I commented to Sean that we didn't have an astounding 2011, comparatively. He agreed, and we noted we were thankful for little trips here and there, raises and general good fortune. But I did think it would be nice to look back at the little adventures of 2011, as I stare straight toward the adventures of 2012.

In January, we had our first piece of art framed, which felt very grown-up and daunting!

In February, I introduced my "I Spy" column, which I haven't done in forever, but will hopefully pick up soon!

In March, I fell head over heels back in love with watercolor painting. The obsession slowed a bit lately, but I'm hoping to get back into it soon.

In April, I made tie-dyed napkins.

In May, I went on a mid-week vacation to D.C. with my friend Bret to see "Follies" at the Kennedy Center.

In June, we took a quick trip to Staunton, I wrote a column for Design Sponge and we took a quick trip to NJ and New York.

In July, I redecorated the porch, including painting my rug.

In August, wine club had a blind tasting, we went to Winston-Salem, and we had our first earthquake!

In September, I covered Hurricane Irene and mastered pork tenderloin.

In October, we celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary by attending another wedding and visiting Asheville.

In November, I threw myself a country-fried 27th birthday party!

And last month, we celebrated the holidays with lots of parties, gifts, travel and fun. 2011's color scheme was silver and gold.

So that was 2011! Here's hoping 2012 brings more adventure and crafty fun!

Ludachristmas 2011

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Are you familiar with Ludachristmas? The long explanation is available here, but in my circle of friends, it's the most recent incarnation of our annual Christmas Eve Eve get-together. This year, we did it up good, meeting for dinner at the sole fancy restaurant in town, Tavern on Main.

Afterward, we retired to my friend's house for our signature cocktail of the year, Andre champagne with rosemary simple syrup.

We played a new favorite game — "Uncle Fritz Sits Happily In the Bathtub" — as explained in this episode of Side by Side with Susan Blackwell. We proceeded to our favorite game, which is crappy White Elephant, using only items purchased at the dollar store. I won a feather boa!

Our final tradition is to take a series of ridiculous photos that look like cast photos. This is us, fake laughing (or are we faking it?).

Fun was had by all!

Do you have big New Year's plans? Sean and I decided to go low-key this year, so I bought filet mignon steaks to make steak frites, two bottles of Asti (I prefer it to champagne) and we plan to get tipsy and maybe go to the movies. BIG FUN!

Eating at Mike's American Grill

2011-12-29T11:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Mark has a love affair with Mike's American Grill, so much so that a stop there is a holiday tradition. The restaurant is located in a huuuuge building in Springfield, Va. I never had the chance to eat there with Mark until this year, when we carved out time to eat on Tuesday.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what exactly made the place so good, but I learned pretty quick. The menu is unpretentious, but everything you order is the best version you've ever had. Right down to the yeasty, donut-y rolls (shown above), every bite is totally a home run. Seriously, I'm already planning my next visit.

After much deliberation, I had sirloin tips with penne in tequila lime cream sauce and it was SO GOOD. I was literally trying to scoop the remaining sauce with my fork, it was that good.

Sean, Mark and Charlie all ordered the chicken tenders, which Mark promised were the best he's ever had. That sounded a little crazy, but I sampled one and I'm here to vouch: best ever. They're flash-fried in tempura batter, and served with a side of perfect skinny fries.

We couldn't skip dessert, so Mark and Charlie split the flourless chocolate waffle...

While Sean and I had deep dish apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream. So good!

Happy and stuffed!

I can't recommend the place enough; it's classy enough for dates, but easy enough for friends and family and though it's on the pricey side, it's definitely chill.

Christmas 2011: Five Days of Traveling (And Fun)

2011-12-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

We survived! It was a pretty crazy holiday season, but it was wonderful. We got to see so many people we love, give gifts and receive quite a few awesome ones. I have a stack of new books to read AND a Kindle AND a sewing machine, so I think I'm set for hobbies for the next six months. You may remember, last year's Christmas was a little crazy, but this year more than made up for its chaos.

We kicked off the holidays with Ludi-Christmas (more on that later), our traditional holiday gathering with my hometown friends. Over the years, we've perfected the Melrose Place pose. Just pop us on a DVD cover and you've got the next CW sensation.

On Christmas Eve, we visited with my mom's family and I got to spend some quality time with my nephew Spencer. It won't be long before he won't be letting us hold him like that!

My mom and I started a project that will take years — sorting through her hope chest, which is FULL to the brim with every project, drawing, written piece or newspaper clipping that concerned me. We found so many treasures, including my kindergarten drawings of ballerinas (above).

This is the chest...we only skimmed the surface.

We had great fun opening presents, posing for pictures with the "Santa on a Stick" I put in Sean's stocking (that's my cute stepsister)...

And wearing fake mustaches while we played White Elephant.

On Christmas Day, we opened gifts with my dad's family, visited my grandma and then drove up to Silver Spring, Maryland, where we surprised his extended family just as they sat down to dinner! It was great fun...very rare that you get to surprise people anymore like that! We came home to open presents, which meant Monday was a very lazy day for us.

We hung out with Maeve and watched "Amelie" on TV, then had a big spaghetti dinner with Sean's extended family, including his cousin Emily and her Dutch boyfriend and his brother. We finished the night with a trip to see "Mission Impossible."

Our last little visit was for lunch on Tuesday with my dear friends Mark and Charlie, visiting from California. You know me, you'll hear more about the food later.

It was a wonderful Christmas, one of the best in recent memory. I only wish break was longer!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from my phone, of our Christmas tree and my favorite lit-up tree at Christmas Town.

I had a true "holiday spirit" moment yesterday. I was grabbing some quick dinner for Sean and I, and when I approached the drive-through window, the cashier told me that the car in front of me had paid for our food. She said one woman started it five cars before me, and the driver of each car had decided to pass the generosity on. I decided to do the same.

The cashiers were so excited to share the news, and as I pulled away, I couldn't help but grin. I hope the people behind me decided to do the same!

Today we're off to southwest Virginia to spend Christmas with my family, then swinging north to spend some time with my husband's family. I've loaded the car with so many presents you'd think I was coming from the North Pole...and I'm so excited to give them!

Have a very merry Christmas, or however you celebrate, and I'll be back next week!

Today I Like: Marbled

2011-12-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

I remember, as a little history-obsessed girl, having marble balloons that I just loved, and a set of marbled paper purchased at Colonial Williamsburg. Marbled paper dates back to the 10th century in Asia, but was hugely popular in the 18th century and now, it's totally back.

In olden times, it was used to line journals, for stationary or to make book covers. But now, the limits are endless. It can be interpreted as swirly, agate-like wallpaper or as a flowing silk scarf or as dining room napkins. One of the best resources online is Paper Mojo...I'm pondering how I can order a roll and make something fabulous.

Marbled paper makes for an amazing lampshade, as seen here in this photo by Jordan Ferney.

Bryn spruced her secretary with amazing marbled paper — a modern spin on a trend from the 18th century. Picture from her blog here.

Get the Look

Marbled by amberfiona featuring scarves

Left to right, clockwise: marbled paper from Etsy, a marbled pillow (LOVE) from ABC Home, a marbled balloon, marbled leather tote by Rennes Handmade, and two scarves by Ilana Kohn.

Bathroom Door: Closed or Open?

2011-12-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Photo from Overstock.

Alright, y'all, let's talk about intimacy. I'm not talking about that kind of intimacy...I'm talking about how intimate you have to be in your relationship before it's okay to use the bathroom in front of your mate/spouse/significant other.

I brought this up in conversation yesterday and everybody was like, "Oh yeah, of course I leave the door open." To which, I must ask: am I the only prude who is completely averse to this?

I'm just wayyyyyyy too private to sit around talking to my husband while he's using the bathroom and vice versa. Besides, when would I get my reading done? (LOL). I will admit, we are blessed to have two bathrooms and that helps.

People have told me they grew up in the kind of households where you talk to your parents while they use the bathroom, and I've also heard that when you become a parent, the idea of closing the door vanishes with all your other inhibitions.

So my question is this: Am I really the only one who believes firmly in a closed-door policy? Are all of you dropping deuces with an audience? Is this definitely the crudest thing I've ever brought up on the blog? I still say it counts as domestication.

Christmas Town 2011

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Less than a week until Christmas, can you believe it?! We got into the spirit on Saturday by going to Christmas Town, Busch Gardens' holiday attraction. Seriously, it's awesome and brings out the kid in everyone.

We took lots of pictures, admired the pretty lights and even rode the Mach Tower, which gave us a full view of the park's light display before sending us plummeting to the ground.

Sean and I recreated a picture we took last year...new tradition?

We ate at my favorite eating spot in the park — Trapper's Smokehouse. If you ever go to the park, I can't recommend it enough. Sean devoured some chicken and I had chili in a bread bowl. Delicious!

Us girls with a penguin...a rather short penguin, I must say.

We admired colored lights in Germany...

and the singing Christmas tree — O Tannenbaum. It's amazing, seriously.

But nothing compares to my favorite: this tree in the "Italy" section. SWOON. So good.

The park is open every day this week if you're in the Hampton Roads area; it costs $25 for admission and $13 per car to park. I honestly hope it will evolve into a holiday tradition for us; maybe it can be one for you!