The Glamorous Housewife

The Glamorous Housewife Has Moved!

2012-11-26T13:40:00.001-08:00

As of today I am no longer blogging here on Blogspot! You can find me at:

TheGlamorousHousewife.com

Why Don't You...

2012-11-24T16:00:00.000-08:00

try a new cocktail?

decorate a pink tree this Christmas?

paint your kitchen mint green?

use a pink silk ribbon as a belt?

become a professional muse?

What's The Word, Bird?

2012-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Here

It has been a strange few weeks. It seems I woke up one day, sat at my computer, and had zero desire to blog! It wasn't writer's block- I had plenty of things I could talk about. I had posts that were all ready to go with photos, they just needed some editing, and I wanted to have nothing to do with them! This feeling has lasted almost two weeks! I managed to squeeze out a few posts, but I have been absent on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It was a really weird feeling to be basically offline!

The good news is, that feeling has left and I am back up and running smoothly. So please forgive my extended absence, I missed you all.

Here

MORE GOOD NEWS!!!!
I just got an email from my blog designer and this blog is scheduled to be transferred from Blogger to WordPress.org this weekend! I have no idea what this entails, but it could mean the blog will be down, or who knows what. I do believe if you follow on blogger that you will no longer be getting the updates, so you might want to follow on one of your different methods. The blog website will be TheGlamorousHousewife.com. So be sure to change it once it transfers over.

Lessons From Madame Chic Winners

One of the things I neglected to do was announce the winners from the Madame Chic Giveaway contest. I used random.org and the winner from the United States is:

RIO! I have no information on Rio so if that person is you, please contact me at theglamoroushousewife@gmail.com. If you don't collect your prize by November 30th, I will do another random drawing.

The international winner is:

SAMOVAR! I also have no information on Samovar so if this is you, please email me at theglamoroushousewife@gmail.com. If you don't collect your prize by November 30th I will do another random drawing.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Weekly Links

I thought these 1960s inspired ads were hilarious.

It takes Lauren Conrad SEVEN HOURS to get her hair to look like that! That is insanity.

Isn't this an interesting photograph? Except for one thing. It is an oil painting! Didn't I just blow your mindhole!

What's Miss Dita been up to?

For those of you who are wondering why I don't have a link party today, the reason is after a few weeks of hosting it, I felt like it never really caught on. So I am scrapping it for now. I always like trying new things, but this time it just didn't work out.

Have a glamorous weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2012-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Persimmon Crisp

2012-11-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever eaten a persimmon? I never had until recently. I have been seeing them at the farmer's market and thought I should buy some and see what they tasted like.

It turns out they taste like a very sweet and crunchy apple with a hint of pumpkin.

There are two common types of persimmons: fuyu and hachiya. I have only had the fuyu because I am still waiting for my hachiya to ripen. The fuyu is supposed to be eaten when it is crunchy, but the hachiya must be very ripe or it tastes horrible, according to what I have read online. After trying one I thought it would be fun to make a persimmon crisp and here is how I did it:

First I cut the persimmons in half and then cut off the green stem.

Then I sliced them about 1/2 inch thick, give or take, and set them in a large bowl.

To the bowl of sliced persimmons I added the zest of one tangerine (you can use an orange, I just happened to have a tangerine available.)

and the zest of half of a lemon.

Then I squeezed the tangerine and half a lemon and added that to the persimmons.

Then I added 1/4 cup sugar. I thought the persimmons were very sweet so they didnt need much sugar.

Then I added 1 tsp of cinnamon,

and a grating of nutmeg.

I mixed everything together and added it to a pie pan.

For the topping I combined 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup oatmeal (regular NOT instant), and 1/2 pound margarine diced. You could also use butter.

Then I used an electric mixer with the paddle attachment to mix on low until the butter had been reduced to the size of peas.

I covered the persimmons with the oatmeal topping and baked at 350 for 1 hour.

I found this to be a perfect way to serve persimmons. The tart lemon and orange juice enhanced the sweetness of the persimmon and the whole thing was perfectly spiced. I didn't happen to have any whipped cream, but that would have been the perfect accompaniment to this dessert.

Ingredients *Based on this recipe

filling:
5-8 fuyu persimmons
1 tangerine or small orange
1 lemon
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
sprinkle of nutmeg

topping:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 pound butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

Peel core and slice persimmons. Put them in a bowl and add the zest of the tangerine and half of the lemon. Add the juice of the lemon and tangerine plus the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix and place in baking container.

In the bowl of an electric mixer place the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, oatmeal and butter. Run the paddle on low until the butter is in small pieces about the size of peas. Cover persimmons with topping.

Bake at 350 for an hour until top is golden brown.

Serve with whipped cream.

And The Sexiest Man Alive Is......

2012-11-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Channing Tatum. Well, ok. I mean if it couldn't be Ryan Gossling, I guess Channing is a good pick for PEOPLE Magazine's annual sexiest man alive. He is really hot. I first took notice of Mr. Tatum in the movie Step Up. I love me a good dance film. Full disclosure: I've seen all of the Step Up films! You would think I would be up at night watching old black and white films but the truth is I only watch modern films! True story.

As I mentioned in my post on guilty pleasures, I love PEOPLE Magazine; I seriously read it every week. I enjoy it not just for the fashion and gossip (yes, please!) but also because they have interesting little tid-bits I don't find elsewhere. For example the picture above is on the costumes of the movie Lincoln. As a costume design major this is right up my ally. I would have killed to be an academy award winning costumer, but alas, it wasn't in the cards for me.

I am also fond of their book section. I usually read non-fiction, so their little blurbs on what the popular fiction books are, keep me able to have conversations with my friends and know what they are talking about when they mention what book they are reading. I am ripping this page out and taking it to my local bookstore because I want all of these new cookbooks. I already have the new Barefoot Contessa (top right corner) and I need the rest.

But what about my beloved Ryan? Well I found his picture......on page 140.........with his dog. Seriously PEOPLE? If he can't be the cover boy at least give me a nice centerfold!

Now it has come to the time you have all been waiting for! The announcement of the winner of the Walgreens Gift Card!

And the winner is....

Heidi L.!!!

So congrats Heidi, I will be emailing you shortly. And just in case you were wondering, I used random.org to generate the winner.

So did you guess PEOPLE Magazine's sexiest man correctly?
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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE.

Two Amazingly Tasty Thanksgiving Side Dishes

2012-11-19T10:14:00.001-08:00

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Can you believe Thanksgiving is in a few days? Me neither! It seems so early this year. I wanted to share with you two sides that are super easy and amazingly delicious. The first is a corn pudding that might be the easiest dish I have ever made and the second is a sweet potato side that is both savory and sweet.

Corn Pudding

Doesnt that look like heaven! And no joke, all you do is put some simple ingredients in a bowl, mix it up, bake, and out comes the most decadent corn pudding you have ever had.

Ingredients

1.5 cups of corn bread mix

1 stick of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter melted

1 can kernel corn

1 can creamed corn

1 egg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and then pour into a greased square dish. I used a cast iron skillet which worked just fine.

Check after 45 minutes. Toothpick should come out mostly clean and top should be golden brown. The consistency is similar to bread pudding, only with corn.

Serves 6-8.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

When I made this for my family the other day so I could get a pretty picture they loved it so much they requested it the very next day!

Ingredients

4 Tbsp I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

4 medium sweet potatoes peeled

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp fresh orange juice

2 tsp vanilla

chopped pecans for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Trust me on this one.

Cut the sweet potatoes into 8 - 10 slices lengthwise. Lay them on the baking sheet and set aside.

In a small sauce pan melt the margarine on medium-low heat. Stir in the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved. Then add the fresh orange juice and vanilla. Pull off heat and pour over sweet potatoes. Stir until potatoes are evenly covered. Cover with tin foil.

Place in hot oven for 45 minutes. Test with knife to see if they are done. They should be soft but still able to retain their shape. Serve on a platter sprinkled with chopped pecans.

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**Thank you to Good to Know & Unilever Spreads for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

My Favorite Veggie Dip

2012-11-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

I made a new video! With Thanksgiving coming up I wanted to share a Glamorous Housewife tradition with you. On every holiday we eat this veggie dip before our meal as an appetizer. I swear it is my favorite part of the entire holiday. Check it out!

For those of you who need the recipe, here it is:

Aunt Barbara's Veggie Dip:

1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayo
2 Tbsp dried parsley
2 Tbsp dried minced onion
2 tsp dried dill
2 tsp Beau Monde Seasoning or celery salt

Mix everything in a bowl, cover, and let sit for at least 1 hour or up to two days in advance of serving. Serve with fresh vegetables.

Do you have a favorite traditional dish for the holidays?

My (not so) Guilty Pleasure

2012-11-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

If you have been reading my blog for a while you might of figured out that I tend to host dinner parties on Friday night. I normally go grocery shopping for these dinners on Thursday and every week I look forward to buying the new edition of PEOPLE Magazine. Yes, I love PEOPLE Magazine. What can I say? I love the fashion, the celebrities, and especially the "real people" stories. After cooking all day on Friday, having a big dinner party, and then cleaning up I am exhausted. But I know I get to wake up on Saturday, have my cup of tea and some toast and read my PEOPLE Magazine cover to cover. Even my kids know not to bother me if I am ensconced in my tea and magazine reading. And don't tell anyone, but my husband also loves to read it. It always cracks me up when he knows about who is dating who, and who wore the best dress at the Emmys.

One of my favorite issues is The Sexiest Man Alive issue. I figure men get their sport's magazine swimsuit issue and we get The Sexiest Man Alive to tickle our fancy. Now I will admit I was NOT happy about their choice last year. My vote was for my beloved Ryan Gosling. Bradly might be sexy, but he is a hairy troll when compared with the debonair Ryan. Amiright ladies? You know what I am talking about.

This year's Sexiest Man Alive issue is coming out on November 15th, just a few days away! Do you think Ryan will win this year? I have heard rumors it isn't him, so I am very interested to see whom they think could possibly be sexier than Mr. Gosling.

The good news is I am doing a give-away for a $20 gift card to Walgreens. Whomever wins can use their gift card to purchase said magazine (or maybe one of the red lipsticks I reviewed). In order to win all you need to do is let me know who has been your favorite sexiest man alive from past issues. This contest is only available to those living in the United States.
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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group but all my opinions are my own http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE.

Getting My Craft On At Anthropologie

2012-11-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

Today was a creative day because I went to my local Anthropologie to get my craft on! I signed up for the class on a lark, mainly because I adore their displays and thought I could learn more about them. It turns out we actually helped the display make feathers for their soon to be installed holiday decor. How exciting is that!

The lovely Audra taught the class where we were instructed to make paper feathers and then paint them gold. This was an easy craft for me because I am very handy with an x-acto knife as well as paint.

The premise was straight forward: Use a stencil to cut out feathers, then cut little designs into the middle of the feather. Then paint them gold.

Here are my completed feathers. I think I like the one on the far left and the one in the middle the best.

This is going to sound insane, but I am so excited to have something I made up on the wall of Anthropologie. I have been shopping there ever since it opened and I would say, out of all of the brands I am a fan of, Anthropologie is my number one. Sometimes, when I am stressed out, I stop by the shop and just browse. I can feel the tension lift off my shoulders as I am inspired by all of the beauty surrounding me; I don't even buy anything! I just let the allure flow over me. I know it is crazy to feel such an affinity for a brand, but I can't help myself. So thanks Anthro, for letting me feel like a little part of me contributed to your decor the way your designs have inspired my home.

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**This was not a paid post. I am actually this much of a fan of Anthropologie.

My Autumn/Thanksgiving Decorations *With Leaf Garland DIY

2012-11-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

I feel sorry for Thanksgiving. Its feels like the middle child between Halloween and Christmas. So the day after Halloween I know it is time for me to clean up those decorations and put up my Autumn themed decor.

Now I will admit, I don't have nearly the same amount of fall decorations as I do either Halloween or Hanukkah, which I find strange because I love the colors of rust, burnt sienna, and gold which are prevalent in Thanksgiving decorations.

This year I decided to make a leaf and wool felt ball garland. It was so easy I am almost embarrassed to tell you how I did it.

All I did was go to Michael's and get some wool felting in three different colors. Then I purchased some packets of fabric leaves from the dollar store. I watched this video on how to make the felt balls and followed the directions exactly. The first ball I made was a disaster, but after that they all came out perfectly! Then I strung them all together using some orange embroidery thread. That's it! Easy peasy.

The rest of my decorations have been collected over time. I purchased the glass blown gourds in Austin years ago. The cranberry sign was found this year at Home Goods and the little pine cone birds are from World Market.

You might recognize the felt acorns from this post I did on an autumn themed tablescape.

Even though these decorations are only up for a few weeks I adore how festive they make the whole house feel. So do you decorate for autumn or Thanksgiving? If so what are some of your favorite decorations?

Six Thanksgiving Salad Ideas

2012-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

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Here in America, Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. I have been planning my menu and thought I would share a few of my autumn salads. I have made all of these dishes many times and they are my go-to salads for the season.

I love a chopped salad and this autumn chopped salad has all of my favorite flavors: sweet from the pears, tart from the cranberries, and creamy from the cheese.

I am kind of obsessing on Brussels sprouts this year and this roasted Brussels sprout salad with pomegranates and hazelnuts is a delightful way to prepare them. Plus the colors of the green and red are so vibrant. If you don't like hazelnuts use pecans or walnuts.

Not all salads have lettuce. This one combines apples, cranberries and pearl couscous. I often substitute the couscous for quinoa. Actually, I prefer the quinoa version.

The apple pomegranate dressing of this salad is no joke. I make slightly different versions all the time. As a matter of fact I just made the chopped salad seen in the first photo but used this dressing the other day and it was divine!

If you have vegans at your Thanksgiving table this roasted cauliflower, chickpea and mushroom quinoa salad is hearty enough to be their main dish and a savory salad for everyone else.

Nobody does it better than The Barefoot Contessa. I have been making her roasted butternut squash salad for years and it is still one of my favorites. As a note: You can roast the squash up to two days before you serve.

*Here is my big tip when making salads: Make the dressings at least a day ahead. If you forget and don't have time don't worry about it, but if you can make the dressing a few days in advance it really helps.

The Glamorous Housewife: Daily Outfits

2012-11-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

It may be the middle of autumn everywhere but here in Los Angeles. We have been hit by a very warm fall so my summer dresses are still being worn. So. Over. It. The dress is sold out on Mod Cloth and I think I got the shoes there too, but ages ago. The purse was purchased on my trip to Florence this past summer and the belt is from Anthro and also sold out. But you can still get the necklace which is now on sale

I was invited to a cocktail party a few nights ago and decided to dress up. The sweater is Milly (sold out) and the pencil skirt is new from target! The shoes are ancient and the necklace is from Mod Cloth (sold out).

The picture on the left is what I call frumpy housewife. All I did to change to The Glamorous Housewife was exchange the sweats for the skirt and belt and add a pair of low heels; just as comfortable and much more elegant.

Ever have those days you just aren't feeling pretty. Say, once a month? When I feel crummy I throw on this simple jersey dress from Target (years old) and a pair of kicky wedges (Miss L. Fire years old) and add a vintage cherry necklace for color. Simple, easy, and comfortable.

You can probably tell all of these pictures are from my Instagram which is where I have been posting my daily outfits. Many of my darling readers don't have the app so I repost my favorites here. In this photo I tried the vintage house dress two ways- one with yellow accessories and one with green and then had the ladies on Instagram vote on which way they liked best. Which one would you choose?

* A few of the links are affiliate links.
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Do you have a blog? Why don't you link one of your posts to my LINK PARTY? It is easy, fun, and you can get new readers!

15 Hostess Gifts For Under $15

2012-11-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year where we all seem to be going to parties. Whether it is a dinner party, or a cocktail party, or just a casual cookie exchange, it is always nice to show up with a little something for the hostess. Of course a bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers is appropriate and appreciated, but I thought I would offer up fifteen other suggestions that all cost under fifteen dollars, and most are under ten.

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Why not bring a set of tiny floral candles? They are so wee and cute. What hostess wouldn't be thrilled to receive such a pretty gift?

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I know quite a few women who would have so much fun with these colored pencils. Even if they never use them they look nice as a display.

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Have you ever tried this Meyer lemon soap from Williams-Sonoma? If not you really should. The bright smell makes me smile.

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One can never have enough notepads, and this one benefits so much from the vintage inspired designs.

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One can never go wrong with a simple white bud vase.

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These lovely matches are both elegant to look at and useful! (not unlike myself)

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I am thinking of making some of these chalkboard pots so I can write "Thank You" on the side. No need for a card!

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If only emails and text messages could be this wonderful to look at.

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A lovely little candle holder in an alluring shade of blue.

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I love to get a perfumed soap as a little gift. I put it in my clothing drawers to lightly scent my unmentionables.

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A dish towel is a wonderful hostess gift because it is practical but also colorful.

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I am loving this little desk calendar with pictures of vintage advertising.

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Rock and Roll serving spoons. Need I say more?

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A pretty set of measuring spoons is a delightful gift for a hostess.

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And finally, it is always appropriate to bring a little something gourmet to eat.

So this year I challenge you to forgo the ubiquitous wine and bring a little treat instead. You hostess (who is probably your friend) will really appreciate it.

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration 2012

2012-11-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for my annual Thanksgiving tablescape round-up! All year long I collect images of interesting autumnal centerpieces and table settings in my Thanksgiving board on Pinterest. Then I post my favorites here. You can see last year's Thanksgiving centerpieces here and one I wrote two years ago here.

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I thought I would start with the most pinned picture on my board. I think this centerpiece is clean, easy to recreate, fairly inexpensive, and the colors are soothing and natural.

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I loved this idea of planting branches in long vases that are filled with wild rice and then hanging small pumpkins from the branches. Simple and stylish.

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I happen to have a collection of vintage bottles that I use all the time in my tablescapes. I think filling these amber and green bottles with bittersweet is delightful.

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This gorgeous Thanksgiving table stetting uses turquoise bottles and fills them with orange and brown flowers. I am obsessing on turquoise with brown and orange this Thanksgiving and this photo is my inspiration.

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Here is another way to combine turquoise, orange and brown. I think their use of terracotta pot plates as chargers is brilliant!

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In my family we serve Thanksgiving dinner buffet style. I love the use of pumpkins as tray holders; elegant and unexpected.

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I have been dying to get my hands on a tree trunk so I can make these wood chargers. Notice the use of gourds and squash as soup bowls! Great idea.

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I end this year on an unexpected color choice. Don't like fall colors like orange, yellow, brown, and olive green? Well go with what you love, like pink! The pumpkin gives this centerpiece a nod to the traditional Thanksgiving arrangement but the pops of pink are unusual and alluring.

Are Blogs Destroying Martha Stewart Omnimedia?

2012-11-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, apparently Martha Stewart is in big trouble. According to this article:

Living Omnimedia Inc has seen its revenues drop every year for the past five years. Omnimedia will stop publishing its monthly Everyday Food magazine as a standalone publication, instead periodically wrapping it into the company's flagship Martha Stewart Living magazine.

I happen to adore Martha Stewart and consider her to be a paragon in the media industry. I remember when my mother received Martha's first book Entertaining for Christmas over twenty years ago. I am not sure if my mom ever read it, but I memorized it cover to cover. I have been reading her magazine since it was first published and I am devastated her cooking magazine is going to be discontinued because I buy it every month. I swear, between Martha and Rachael Ray, those ladies taught me how to cook.

I have noticed a downturn with Martha. It started a few years ago when frankly I found her tv show to be both boring and uninspiring. I love the Martha look but they haven't updated or changed it in years. Plus I noticed the women in the audience were much older than I was. It was like Martha hadn't bothered to cater to a younger crowd.

I have also been surprised Martha hasn't backed anyone to take over her empire. I mean the woman is in her early 70s! I'm not saying she doesn't look amazing or have valid contributions anymore, but it seems to me her ego is keeping the company stagnant by not looking to the youth and catering to their needs as well as Martha's older core audience.

I also question why Martha hasn't embraced the Etsy community. I would think she would love this handmade mini empire because I know many of the people who create these beautiful items were influenced by Martha. I almost wonder if Etsy would exist without Martha Stewart. I mean she is really the first and largest proponent of handmade crafts. But when her American Made contest winners were announced I checked them out and yawned. I wasn't inspired by any of them.

And the lack of inspiration is what I think is the crux of Martha's problem. I read dozens of blogs that I find way more interesting, relatable, and creative then my beloved Martha Stewart. For example The Glitter Guide speaks to my girly sparkly side and their constant twitter updates are always interesting and relevant to my life. For food ideas I often turn to The Kitchn which finds the best of recipes online- usually curated from blogs. I also find Sweet Paul to be incredibly inspiring. His photography is stunning and fresh and makes me want to see more.

Here

I have often wondered why there hasn't been a new Martha. My guess is there are plenty of bloggers online (myself included) that would love to step into the Martha ring but the men who control the media just don't understand this audience and don't know how to create a show that would be successful. If I was to produce my own television show I would focus on bloggers, Etsy artisans, up-and-coming fashion designers, and fresh interior designers. I would have a feature where a regular person, like Making It Lovely, fixed up their home. Personally I think there is huge audience for a television show like this but I don't think this will happen anytime soon. Like I said, men just don't get it and they really are the ones who are creating content on tv.

So what do you ladies think? Do you agree or disagree with my premise that there is better and more inspiring content on blogs then what is being produced by MSO? And would you watch a television program like the one I outlined, or are you over tv and would prefer all of your content online? If you could produce a show what would you do? I would love to hear your thoughts.

What's The Word, Bird? With LINK PARTY!

2012-11-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six.

Now that Halloween has passed my thoughts are turning to autumn and Thanksgiving. But I did manage to squeeze in two Halloween posts before the 31st, one on Steampunk and one about vintage Halloween cards. On Sunday I wrote about the link between self discipline and being lazy and on Monday I posted my top 20 winter coats. I also wrote two food posts, the first was a pumpkin zucchini bread tutorial and the second was a deviled egg recipe round-up. But the big surprise of the week is my Lessons From Madame Chic Give Away! This is one of my favorite books and because it has been reissued I am giving away one book to the ladies here in the United States and one to everyone outside the country. So be sure to enter to win.

I am continuing my Friday Link Party but I am curious about something. I know many of you have blogs but are not linking to them in the party. Is there a reason you are not linking? You wont hurt my feelings by telling me your honest opinion, I consider it a learning experience and am wondering why so many of you are not linking.

Weekly Links

I thought this article on geometric fruit art was pretty cool!

Speaking of food, a bigwig at McDonalds is taking on sustainable fast food. I wonder if it can work?

Marie Claire Australia has an amazingly chic photo spread you should peruse.

And finally, for your dose of laughter this weekend please enjoy looking at Miss Meadow's cats that look like pin-ups.

Link Party!

First of all I want to thank everyone who linked up to my Friday Link Party! Here are this week's faves:

I have really been into felt and owls this fall, so when I saw this adorable felt owl purse at The Domestic Fringe I fell in love! So cute!

I am not much of a cake eater (I am an ice-cream kinda girl) but when I saw this post on pumpkin cake with pumpkin cream cheese frosting I knew it was going to be a winner! And look how festive it is all rolled up! I bet the kids will love this.

I happen to have at least a few navy skirts, so when I read this post on Nine Ways To Wear A Navy Skirt I knew I would have to share it with you kittens.

Lets get on with the LINK PARTY!

Rules

1. Please link directly to your post and not just to your blog.

2. Please link back to The Glamorous Housewife. I will be featuring my favorite links next Friday but I will only feature them if there is a link back to my blog on the post you linked. You can see how I list the links to the blog parties I attend HERE (scroll to bottom of post).

3. Please don't link to the same post you did last week.

4. Please visit the three party goers before you and leave them comments. That is what makes the link party so fun- you get to explore new blogs and find new friends!

Because I am just starting out lets keep the party wide open and link about anything fashion, food, or craft related. It does NOT have to be vintage or vintage inspired.

It's Deviled Egg Day!

2012-11-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is officially deviled egg day! I thought I would celebrate by rounding up the yummiest sounding deviled egg recipes. I think I am going to try the sriracha deviled eggs tonight. Which one do you think looks the best?

Sriracha Deviled Eggs

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Garlic Butter Deviled Eggs

Old Bay Deviled Eggs

Caviar Deviled Eggs

Sweet Relish Deviled Eggs

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** Be sure to enter my favorite book give-away HERE**

Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

2012-11-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I realized I had a zucchini left over from a dinner I made and thought I should make some zucchini bread. After googling a few recipes I settled on this one for pumpkin zucchini spice bread.

I started by mixing 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1 cup of AP flour and 1 cup of oat flour together with 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp cloves.

To that I added 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder and 1 tsp baking soda.

This is what it looks like all mixed up.

In a separate bowl I mixed together 3 large eggs, 1 cup pumpkin from a can, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 Tbsp vanilla.

I was supposed to have a softened stick of margarine but I forgot to leave it out so I microwaved it and the results were not ideal.

After incorporating the wet and dry ingredients together the melted margarine seemed ok.

I folded in the shredded zucchini and baked for 60-70 minutes at 350.

The bread came out spicy and warm, but I prefer it a little sweeter. I think I will add another cup of brown sugar if I make it again. The margarine fiasco didn't seem to affect either the taste or the texture, which was very moist and almost falling apart when warm. I served it with warm apple cider to my boys who pronounced it "delicious" which I was thrilled about because they (strangely) don't like sweet bread very much. I preferred it with a shmear of cream cheese and a cup of tea.

The original recipe can be found HERE.
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**Be sure to enter my favorite book give-away HERE**

Lessons From Madame Chic GIVE-AWAY!

2012-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

Last April I read a wonderful book called Lessons From Madame Chic and fell in love! I blogged about it here and the author, Jennifer L. Scott contacted me after reading the post. She told me the book was being reprinted and said I could host a give-away once the book was (almost) available for sale. Last week I got an email and sure enough, Jennifer's book is being released November 6th! She kindly sent over my own copy and offered to give away one book to anyone here in the States. I thought I would offer up another copy for anyone living outside of America. So I am actually giving away two books!

As I mentioned in the first post I wrote about Lessons From Madame Chic, this book is so inspirational. The basic premise is a tale of when Jennifer got to live with not one but two Parisian families and the book is her top twenty lessons she learned from her French mentors. My favorite chapters include Chapter 5: Find Your True Style and Chapter 20: Live A Passionate Life. Many of the lessons Jennifer shares with her readers are the same I espouse on this blog.

In order to be eligible to win, all you need to do is tweet, Facebook Google +, or blog about this give-away and then leave me a comment letting me know which one you did. You also MUST LET ME KNOW WHAT COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN. I am going to separate those living inside the US and those outside so I can be sure to give both books away properly.

As you can see, Ariella has already read the book and is dressing accordingly.

Good luck!
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13 Vintage Halloween Cards

2012-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat! Here are 13 vintage Halloween cards for you dolls to enjoy on this festive day.

Here

Steampunk Halloween

2012-10-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

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I found the Steampunk movement a few years ago when I first started my blog, which you can read about here. Then last year I decided to continue my Steampunk love right before Halloween. So I thought I would continue the annual tradition and bring you some of the gorgeous gadgets the followers of the movement make. I find the way they take modern technology and create something so old fashioned and haunting to be a stunning testament to the creativity in the Steampunk genre.

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Can you imagine being able to blog on this flat screen and keyboard? The inspiration would be endless!

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If you are going to have a Steampunk computer, you have to have a Steampunk mouse! Those round bead-like things on springs are the left click/right click buttons!

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This is an iPhone case. Stunning. And for sale!

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This might be my favorite because it says "Pac Gentleman". And you wind it to play!

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I am at a loss for how to describe this meticulously made and gallant earphone.

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Can you guess what this is? Go on, I'll give you a minute.

It is a Steampunk USB drive! Amazing.

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I leave you with a Steampunk Gameboy! How cool is that? My boys would love to play one of these.

Hope you enjoyed this Steampunk Halloween tradition. Be sure to enter your blog in my Link Party! My favorite posts that are linked at the party will be featured this Friday.

The Best Winter Coats

2012-10-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Original Here

Even though it is a balmy 80 degrees here in la-la land, I thought I would bring you a winter coat round-up so you can see the array of gorgeous winter coats being offered right now. I broke the collection into two groups: black & white and color. I happen to like to accentuate my waist and I think it is the most flattering look on most women, therefore you will notice that silhouette over and over. But I made sure to think about all sizes and shapes so there should be something for any housewife looking to be more glamorous this winter.

1. Betsey Johnson Faux Fur Coat
2. Houndstooth Swing Jacket
3. Vintage 1940s Princess Coat
4. Brass Button Coat
5. Deep Plum Coat
6. Black Wrap Coat
7. Oatmeal Vintage Princess Coat
8. Tweed Cape
9. Military Inspired Jacket
10. Ruffled Collar Coat

1. Teal Boucle Coat

2. Bright Cobalt Jacket
3. Blue Wool Swing Coat
4. Plaid Pea Coat
5. Long Military Coat
6. Burberry Wool Coat
7. Think Pink Double Breasted Jacket
8. Oxblood Fit And Flair Coat
9. Red Rose Coat
10. Vintage 1960s Mod Jacket

Aren't all of these toppers divine? I bought the teal boucle coat in black but I haven't had a chance to wear it yet. I hadn't purchased a winter coat in at least five years so I thought I would treat myself. What I like about all of these garments is they are classic so if you invest in a really nice piece it should last for a very long time.

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*Affiliate links were used in this post.

An Epistle On Self-Discipline

2012-10-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Original Here

But there’s a discipline involved…you can’t touch your face with your hands as often, which is good, because you won’t get sick as often. It’s like wearing high heels: there’s a ladylike discipline involved with wearing high heels or a corset…or pencil skirts. Suddenly you have to change the way you are in the world, and I think makeup and hair are a little like that.

-Dita Von Teese

I read this interview with Miss Dita the other day and though the point of the article was a discussion on Dita's make-up and skin care, I found myself pondering her quotes on discipline. For a while now I have been thinking about how being organized, having a routine, being disciplined, and being lazy connect with one another.

You see, I consider myself a lazy and fairly scatterbrained person. I don't like to do difficult things, I don't like to fight or be annoyed, or get lost or waist time. The goal of my entire day is to get through it as painlessly as possible. Therefore I have found coping mechanisms to achieve this goal of not being flustered.

One way I stay on track is having a routine. Monday through Friday my days all flow in a similar fashion. This way I know what to do next. Is it 11:30? Time for lunch. Is it 2? Time for tea. I start dinner at 4. Kids get home around 5. Homework is at 6. I retire to my bedroom around 8. Without this routine I find myself lost and I waste time surfing the internet and looking at too many cute cat pictures.

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Another way I try to control my scatterbrain is to make lists. I almost always have a notebook on me and I am constantly writing down my random thoughts. When I am driving I dictate things to Siri at red lights. I make a to-do list almost every single day, in order of action. For example I will write everything I need to do and then rewrite the list in order of how I am going to drive to each one so I don't back track too often. I usually start with the errand furthest away and then I work my way home. I find this to be an efficient way to use my time and therefore I am able to get my stuff done with very few problems.

Having a routine and following a schedule takes self-discipline. I have a friend who is the least organized person I know. She literally wakes up every morning and has no idea what she is going to do that day. I swear her kids barely get to school on time and then she spends two hours drinking coffee at Starbucks and then doesn't understand why she can't get all of her errands completed. I tried helping her Super Nanny style by going over her schedule, putting up a written routine, organizing her calender, and getting her a coffee maker. She lasted about two days and then went back to her original habits.

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Obviously there is something about not being organized that works for her. Maybe she likes feeling helpless so others will help her. Maybe she likes spending time at the coffee shop. Maybe having a routine is boring and she likes feeling free when she wakes up every day. Whatever the case may be, she wasn't ready to choose the discipline it takes to keep a routine and be organized. Ironically by choosing to wing it every day she ends up being less free to do the things she really wants to do because she looses time by not being organized. For my friend making the choice to be disorganized is easy. Methinks she found the discipline of choosing routine too difficult. That isn't to say she has zero self-discipline. She has a very high position in her job and that must take discipline. But in this case there is a disconnect between her work discipline and her home discipline.

I speak about my friend not to tear her down, but to explain that while having a routine and schedule is boring and somewhat confining, it ultimately gives me more time to pursue my blog and be creative- which is my ultimate passion. But this takes discipline to achieve. I have to choose to follow my own routine and choose to keep track of my day. I am not judging her choices- they work for her. I am just using her example as a way to compare and contrast my own choices.

Making these choices brings me back to the quote I posted at the top of the post. Dita finds putting on her face and doing her hair a form of discipline. Same goes for dressing well each day. It is easy to choose to not wear make up. It is easy to throw on a pair of sweatpants and a old sweatshirt. But the question you need to ask yourself is how do you feel when you choose to not present yourself in your best light. Do you feel good about yourself? If not, why do you continue to choose the sweats? It must give you some sort of comfort or pleasure. What is that pleasure for you?

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Personally, I think having discipline is one of the most important traits you can teach a child. I know self esteem has been in the forefront of education for years, but I think it is time to teach kids how to discipline themselves and how their choices make them who they are. If you have something about yourself you don't like but you continue to choose to do whatever it is that makes you feel bad you need to make the choice to change and then have the discipline to make that change every single day for the rest of your life. I make a choice and use discipline every time I make a list and get through my day with few problems. Dita makes a choice and uses her discipline every time she puts on red lipstick and heels. Both choices make us feel better about ourselves. Instilling and cultivating self-discipline take time and effort, and if we teach this to our children they will be much better off.

So my question to you is, is there something that you want to change about yourself, and if so, what is holding you back from making that choice and doing it every day? Is it discipline? Is that issue really something you want to change or something others think you should change? Is the original behavior a coping mechanism, and if so is it helping or hurting you? Once you can answer these questions you are one step closer to recognizing true change and creating the discipline to achieve that goal.

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Why Don't You....

2012-10-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Unknown

Order yourself a gorgeous bouquet from the florist, not the grocery store?

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Take glitter pictures.....of yourself?

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Stick Japanese hair pins in your hair?

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Put on your old wedding dress and lounge around the house?

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Decorate your bathroom with vintage fashion plates?