From “Merlin’s Song“; design by Katy Daisy, and for sale at her Etsy store.

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From left: Julie Graham as Jean, Anna Maxwell Martin as Susan, Sophie Rundle as Lucy and Rachael Stirling as Millie.

But with The Bletchley Circle, a trilogy about 4 former WWII codebreakers hunting down a mass murderer & rapist, I’ve finally found another show to love.  It’s beautiful to look at (the costume & set designers deliberately muted the color palette to create a somber, sepia-toned landscape), and well-acted. What’s most interesting for me, though, is the tension of watching women who saved lives during the war trying to fit back into the narrow roles available to them after the war ended. Available on Netflix Streaming.

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Here’s the recipe for my new favorite salad and salad dressing. It’s quick, savory, and stars raw kale, one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Be sure to cut the kale finely, and remove any large stem pieces–the leaves are chewy enough.

Kale, Pear, & Spiced Pecan Salad

Serves 1 to 2 people

Several handfuls raw Tuscan kale, roughly chopped, then cut into slivers
1 d’Anjou pear, cored and diced
Trader Joe’s Sweet & Spicy Pecans, broken into small pieces*
Shallot Mustard Vinaigrette (recipe below).

Mix all ingredients in bowl. Serve.

*Sorry to use such a specific ingredient, but so far I’ve not found a recipe or more common grocery store brand item that’s remotely as good. That said, I have made this salad without the pecans, and it’s still delicious.

Shallot Mustard Vinaigrette

1 medium shallot, minced
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
6 tbsp olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh lemon juice (optional)

Combine shallot, vinegar, and Dijon mustard, and let sit at least 15 minutes. Then whisk olive oil into shallot mixture. Season with salt and pepper (I like to use garlic salt); if handy, squeeze in some fresh lemon juice to brighten. Will keep for up to one week in fridge in a sealed container.

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Three quirky pieces I bought & love:

• Petite Signature Fit Gigi Double-Weave Ankle Pant, $99, Talbots.
• Merona Cardigan in Jazzy Turquoise, $20, & Merona Gathered Neck Polka Dot Top, $10.

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I’d saved up numerous potential card vendors and design ideas (see some on my Pinterest Business Ideas board), and narrowed my vendor list down to four candidates:

• MooCards (nice blend of quality printing and affordable prices)
• UPrinting (interesting die-cut options)
• Mandate Press (250 letterpress cards for $95; simple but classic designs)
• Minted.com (trendy designs & good reviews)
• More options: I’d also considered getting a self-inking stamp business card, but realized people could find that off-putting rather than clever. How About Orange also has a short list of places to get things printed cheaply.

I finally went with Minted.com, because they had the most suitable template (the Classical Composition design, but they’ve added many designs since).

Order Timeline

• Ordered the cards on January 1st (it was one of my New Year’s Resolutions).
• On January 3rd at 2 pm, received the proof, with two possible options for the spacing of my name. I approved the proof immediately.
• On January 4th at 10:08 pm, received a notice that my order was on its way (package was shipped FedEx).
• Received my cards on January 10th at 3:06 pm.

Price & Paper

I purchased 100 cards in the Signature paper (matte, 17 pt thickness). Total cost was $57.00 + $10.95 shipping, or $67.95. Below, a gallery of the results.

Pros

• Great quality (paper and print). Everyone goes “Oooh!” when I give them my card.
• Tons of beautiful, trendy out-of-the-box designs. Above-average customization options included as well (many high-quality font & color choices, and ability to move certain elements).
• Fast proofs, printing, & delivery, even during holiday season.
• Premium touches: the proof came with two options (reviewed by a graphic designer) and the order came with a sturdy Minted.com carrying case that I’m still using.

Cons

$57 for 100 cards (again, 17 pt paper) is pricey. Not insanely so, but definitely on the high end. For comparison:

• MooCards is $40 for 100 cards (16.3 pt paper)
• UPrinting.com does 250 cards (minimum order) for $25 (14 pt paper)
• VistaPrint also does 250 cards for $24.50 (15.1 pt, with color back option)

Minted.com is also very geared toward out-of-the-box designs; any extensive customization comes with fees. For that reason, I wouldn’t use Minted.com if I could supply my own design or logo. Also, the site’s design aesthetic may be too trendy and feminine for some (i.e., I failed to find a suitable template for my father’s new business cards).

Verdict

Minted.com is a good option for those who can’t afford a graphic designer and/or don’t have a custom logo, but want a well-designed, quality business or calling card. The prices are reasonable but on the high end, although the additional cost comes with premium touches  and trendy designs. Recommended.

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• Hot pink bubble felted wool by Ellen.
• “Disappearance,” work & photo by Atsum Izumi {via This Is Paper}.
• Paper flower lamp by Sachie Muramatsu.
• Goldfish bag by Atelier Iwakiri.
• Marimo/moss balls, via Pinterest.

The post Design Blast: 08/09/12 appeared first on PopBetty.

Some awesome trompe-l’œil pieces to inspire your own projects:

1. Vika Gazinskaya’s Spring 2012 Scribble Jewels.
2. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop promo pics (not sure who the designer is–anybody know?).
3. Vintage leather patchwork skirt (sold), from Lethilogica aka I’m Revolting.
4. From the Moschino Cheap & Chic Pre-Fall 2012 collection.
5. Hermes tie dress, photo by Gordon Parks.
6. Mark Stevens-Ellis button bow shirt, first seen on Style Bubble.
7. Big Bow Canvas tote bag, $24, from Soraam on Etsy.
8. Milly Trompe l’Oeil Bow Sweater Dress (sold out), from ShopBop.
9. Crewcuts sequin sweater (sold out), from J. Crew.
10. Bonjour Bag by Jump From Paper.

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Love these dizzy dot shoes:

• Elizabeth & James “Stela” Pumps, $260 (sale), at Piperlime.
• Women’s Printed Flats in Leopard White, $25.00 from Old Navy
• Not pictured: Vince Camuto’s Kain 2 pumps, $99.00 at Piperlime.

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Above: WordPress.org; Old Navy polka dot sweater; Bialetti 3-cup moka pot.

Hi everyone! Hope 2012 is treating you well (or at least better than 2011, my goodness). Here are some things I’m liking right now, and think you might too:

• First, I broke down & bought the Old Navy polka dot sweater that’s been featured all over blogs & Pinterest. I haven’t received it yet, but I’ll post a mini-review when it arrives. So cute.

UPDATE: I returned the sweater. It’s cute in person, and good quality for Old Navy, but the print makes you look significantly wider/bigger up top. I’m short & curvy, so this just wasn’t the look for me. Two bloggers who make it look good, though: Mix & Match Fashion & Petite Little Girl.

• Second, I recently discovered moka pot coffee, aka “espresso for poor people.” Of course, it’s not real espresso, but it’s still intense and good. I’m using a Bialetti 3-cup moka pot & Lavazza espresso ground coffee.

• Finally, I’m currently setting up self-hosted WordPress sites for several clients. In doing so, I’ve realized that I’m ready to transfer my blogs to WordPress. Typepad has been great all these years, but I need something more customizable & functional. I want jQuery slideshows and responsive site design like everybody else!

What are you guys currently enjoying?

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A Christmas that started off inauspiciously, with stress and empty pockets, ended up being one of the best ones in recent memory. This was the first Christmas in four years where I didn’t have to work Christmas Eve, or the week after; everyone was in a good mood and liked their presents. Here’s how we celebrated (clockwise from top left):

• Watched holiday movies while working on this Thomas Kinkade Christmas Wreath puzzle (50 cents at the thrift store).
• Ate gingerbread (made with Betty Crocker mix and Target cookie cutters).
• Rented Bachelor Mother, which was even better than I remembered {film still via Livin’ Vintage; rent it for $2.99 On Demand}. David Niven and Ginger Rogers are just magic together, and the script’s so clever. In my opinion, it’s aged better than many so-called “classic” screwball comedies.
• Saw Arthur Christmas, the latest movie by Aardman Studios (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). My teen brother & I saw it in mid-December, and had the theater to ourselves. We don’t always find the same things funny, but we both laughed ourselves silly, especially at naughty Grandpa.
• Drank Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Apple Cider, another good & cheap holiday tipple.
• Also: Bought a bunch of snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, things we normally try to restrict), and made a giant batch of paella on Friday, and nibbled on both through the weekend. Watched the first episode of Rosemary & Thyme, a cozy British mystery series with a gardening theme (Season 1 is available for streaming on Netflix).

How about you guys? What made your holiday break special (or at least bearable)?

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