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.

The trailer’s below the cut; the final episode will air tonight on most PBS stations, but you can easily catch up online:

Watch Preview on PBS. See more from The Bletchley Circle.

The post The Bletchley Circle appeared first on PopBetty.

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.

The post Recipe: Kale, Pear, & Spiced Pecan Salad appeared first on PopBetty.

Three quirky pieces I bought & love:

• Petite Signature Fit Gigi Double-Weave Ankle Pant, $99, Talbots. I’m 5’4″, with short Latina legs and booty. I have the hardest time finding flattering pants: everything either pulls or bunches in the crotch area, most pants need hemming, and if it fits in the thigh, it doesn’t fit at the waist or calf. So you can imagine the heavenly chorus I heard when I tried on the petite cut of these pants and they fit perfectly, no tailoring required.
• Merona Cardigan in Jazzy Turquoise, $20, & Merona Gathered Neck Polka Dot Top, $10. Target’s got some great pieces right now. The Merona cardigans are better quality than I remember (nice buttons & fabric thickness), and come in stunning colors (like the above trendy turquoise, or this green polka dot). Target also had decent suiting basics in bold jewel tones, colorful ballerina flats, and cute knit tops, like the above polka dot shirt.

The post Budget Finds: 09/25/12 appeared first on PopBetty.

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.

The post Review: Minted.com Business Cards appeared first on PopBetty.

• 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 PopKissKiss Design Finds: 08/09/12 appeared first on PopBetty.

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.

The post D.I.Y. Inspiration: Trompe-l’œil Clothing appeared first on PopBetty.

• 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.

The post Hi-Lo Fashion: Polka Dot Shoes appeared first on PopBetty.

One big thing about a career shift, especially if you’re a freelancer, is finding budget-friendly dress-up options. Here are three simple black basics that can anchor your business wardrobe, whether you freelance or not:

• Slip On By flats, $59 (sale), by Kenneth Cole Reaction;
• Tignanello Perfect 10 French Tote, $72 (sale), at Amazon;
• Ella Fluid Crepe Pleat-Scoop Dress, $47.39 (sale), Talbots.

I’ve owned both the shoes & the bag. The ballet flats are wider than normal, and there was no breaking-in period. However, they did start slipping off my feet after about a year.  They are also not as fitted/elegant as some other flats I’ve worn. But they’re one of the best leather flats for the price, and an excellent option for wider feet.

As for the bag, I’m using it now. It’s the perfect size if you’re petite; I’m 5’4″, and most handbags, even so-called “normal” ones, are far too big and make me look silly. The open mouth design of this one, though, means you can fit quite a lot inside, despite the small size. The bag’s quality (lining, leather, etc.) is good, although it does sag when you put it down, and the metal finishings are too shiny.  That said, I bought mine on Amazon for $67, and it’s been worth every penny.

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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 best 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 Qualità Oro 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!

Switching services isn't the easiest process, though, and most of my blogging energy & time over the next two months will be spent on behind-the-scenes stuff. I will post once a week on each blog, and hope to finish migrating both blogs by mid-March. Also, I will be cleaning up old content as I go, probably deleting or at least combining many of the pre-2009 postings. So much of that content was shopping-related, and has little to no value now (dead links, unavailable products, etc.).  

What are you guys currently enjoying?

The post Currently Enjoying: WordPress, Polka Dots, & a Bialetti Moka Pot appeared first on PopBetty.