{ Cat’s Cradle by Nick Lu }  { Cover by Lucytown }

Clockwise from top: { A Cold Day for a Drive Limited Edition Print from Elizabeth Bauman }  { Vintage 40′s Oxford Heels from Ginger Root Vintage }  { Bubble Beret in Charcoal Grey from softspoken }  { Upcycled Fur Cowl from zaama }

We’ve been blessed with a few new readers as of late (hello, new readers!), and I realized that they may not know the Shopping Sherpa yet! It’s been a while since he’s come to visit, so I figured this the perfect time to reintroduce him.

So who is this Shopping Sherpa? Well, he’s mysterious and a little hard to nail down. I think he’s really a little part of all of us, like a little shopping conscience.

He first came to Westervin to enable my budding Etsy habbit, but over the years he’s helped me see the joys in all things handmade, locally made, and green. I didn’t realize it at first, but the Shopping Sherpa is here to help us all spend a little more thoughtfully.

Now, the real reason for his absence is that I’ve been a little lazy. I’ve been buying cheap disposable clothing and accessories from large retailers. For shame! This realization came during a recent class discussion on the ethics of cause related marketing. (Bear with me. My schoolin’s coming out). Through this strategic marketing tool, companies partner with non-profit organizations to offer a product from which a portion of its sales are donated to said non-profit. The company benefits from additional exposure, and the non-profit benefits from additional funding.

But critics balk at the marriage of charitable giving and consumerism. Some argue that the real solution lies not in spending more and donating a little, but in curbing our unnecessary spending and donating time and money directly to charitable causes. There’s no denying that this is a truly noble course of action. But it’s also a very challenging course of action. One that many, myself including, don’t always feel they can accomplish.

At the end of the discussion, I believe we agreed that this cause marketing model does provide important funding that wouldn’t have existed otherwise, and it’s only one of many models in place to effect positive change.

(Are you still with me? Good! The point is coming…)

All this is to say that small choices really can make a difference. And, sometimes, lasting change is more easily made through baby steps. So let’s soldier on with our wise Shopping Sherpa and enjoy the simple pleasures with thoughtful spending! (See the lovely handmade, upcycled, and vintage items above.)

{ Ramona’s Bright Idea by Pattie Lee Becker }  { THE MORE WE WANDER detail by Monica Canilao & Kyle Ranson }

I did it! Please join everyone else in congratulating me on reaching twenty-six years of age. While that in and of itself might not be much of an accomplishment, this last year sure has been. As you all know, and are maybe tired of hearing about, I married my co-blogger and the all-around lovely lady, Sarah. Since this past year was such a big one, you may be a bit worried about me. You may be wondering what my twenty-seventh year could possibly bring about to top all the goings on of twenty-six. Well nothing, of course, could top the wedding, but I assure you that’s not going to stop me from livin’!

Starting Things Right: My Stupendous Birthday.

For me, birthdays are pretty nostalgic. I like to think about the past year, sure, but also about past birthdays. This fact is why I generally eschew a cake and insist on having a birthday cookie. At some point in time, I must have received a birthday cookie and decided it had the winning formula of taste, irony, and quirkiness that I was looking for in my birthday food. Well ok, it’s really just that I like cookies, and really big cookies are even cookier!

Lest you worry that all I did for my birthday was eat a giant cookie, Sarah was kind enough to document a few of my presents *just in case* I wanted to share them on this blog.

Oh, the excitement….

Lunch portables.

Lately Sarah and I have been trying to take better lunches to work, and to do that you need a good way to carry all of your stuff. We’re going to try out these bento box and jar combos and see what happens. I’m sure you’ll here more about these things.

Rye Whiskey.

Check it out, this is a tiny fancy bottle. It also turns out to be really tasty. Highly recommended.

I also got some clothes and the watch from my Christmas wishlist, but unfortunately I don’t have pictures of any of that. Yet.

While I didn’t have a big celebration, it was a great birthday because I got to spend it with my family. And a giant cookie. I’ll put this one in the win column.

{ Continuum by Ryan M. Reynolds (found via Booooooom) }  { Untitled by Rikard Lilja }

Earlier this month, B-bops and I braved the cold and snow venturing to the Handmade Market in Chicago, which is hosted every second saturday at The Empty Bottle. What a fine city we live in! So many craftastic opportunities. We were not disappointed with our little trip, and I discovered some fun new craftspeople! But I don’t mean to rub this in your face, seeing as how you probably couldn’t come. Luckily for you, I’m about to take you on a virtual visit to the Handmade Market by introducing you to my 6 favorite booths!

So after you grab a beer from the bar (or your fridge), let’s hop on over to Rar Rar Press‘s table for some chuckle-inducing letterpress. I actually recognized some of these cards, because the creator Rebecca is a Columbia alum and sells her work at ShopColumbia. So, if you ever find yourself visiting the Windy City, you can giggle with your gals in person at pick up a card sans shipping.

Next, we’re gonna mosey on over to Pajaro Negro where April shows off her hand-painted plaster sugar skulls. Now that is some show-stopping artistry!

If skulls aren’t your thang, then let’s keeping moving to Broad Street‘s table, which is full of rustic, flea-market charm and some glitzy surprises.

Ooooh, I really love this piece! You too? Do you think I should get it? You’re right. Let’s keep looking and come back to it before we leave! You’re such a good shopping buddy.

Mmmmm! These look yummyz. BUT DON’T EAT THEM! Alewyfe has fooled us with their organic soaps and bath bombs. Yeah, I’d bathe with that ball of cookie dough.

Now here’s something pretty! Organic beauty products by Bonnie? Yes, please. I think I’ll get one of the tinted lip balms. Have you found anything you like yet?

If not, I think this next table will put a smile on your face before we leave. Anna Todaro‘s got some prints and accessories with enough color and whimsy to lift your spirits.

Spock hopes you had a pleasant shopping experience. Please come back again. And live long and prosper. Obvs.

{ mapping 6 by Stefhany Yepes Lozano }  { Skateland by Christian Patterson }

Let me ask you a question. Do you like flavor? Of course you do. You have a mouth. (Hopefully.) Second question. Are you a vegetarian? Yes? Ok, you may want to leave the room. The rest of you, come with me . . .

This recipe will punch you with some flavor and warm you up, transporting you away from all of the cold and snow that seems to come with this time of year. Trust us, it works. I particularly like the raw onion and lime garnish. I think it adds a nice crunch to the stew that keeps it from getting really heavy. So get ready to kiss winter goodbye, even if only for a meal or two.

Cuban Black Bean Stew

• 1 or 2 meaty smoked ham hocks (about 1-1/2 pounds), we actually used a 1lbs of ham steak, and 1/2lbs of thick bacon (which we removed before eating) and it worked just fine
• Good tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 medium to large onions, chopped into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 small to medium green bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 small to medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 14-oz. cans chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 6 large garlic cloves, coarse chopped
• 3 bay leaves, broken
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 3/4 to 1 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
• 3 generous tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 limes halved, or about 1/2 cup sherry, wine, cider or palm vinegar

Garnishes:

1 cup chopped mild onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
Hot sauce

1. Trim the meat away from the ham hock bone, cutting it into small pieces. Don’t be too fussy; leaving some on the bone is fine. Film the bottom of a 10-quart stockpot (If you have only a 6-quart pot, do step 1 in a big sauté pan, then combine the sauté with the beans and broth in the 6-quart pan) with olive oil and heat over medium high. Stir in the meat, bone, cloves, onions, peppers, and salt. Sauté 8 minutes (stirring occasionally), or until the vegetables are sizzling and there’s a brown glaze on the bottom of the pan (vegetables need not brown, and take care not to let that glaze blacken).

2. Add a little of the broth along with the garlic, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and tomato paste. With a wooden spatula, scrape up the glaze as you simmer the mix on medium high for 3 minutes. Then add the beans and the remaining broth. Adjust the heat so the soup bubbles gently. Cover the pot tightly, and cook for 20 minutes.

3. Stir in the juice from 2-1/2 limes, or 1/3 cup of vinegar. Taste soup for seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper, and add more lime or vinegar to your own taste.

4. Ladle the soup into bowls, topping each serving with a heaping tablespoon of chopped onion and a little fresh coriander. Have hot sauce on the table.

From: The Splendid Table’s How to Eat Supper

{ Untitled by Vanessa Ramos }  { Untitled by Irina Schmitz }

GIVEAWAY TIMEZ!!! I’m giving away THREE (count ‘em) necklaces made by my own little hands! Why? Well…. responses to our Reader Survey aren’t coming in quite as quickly as we’d like, so we thought we’d give you some incentive.

What you’ll win:

One of the three necklaces above. You pick your favorite!

Please note: the winning necklaces will be made-to-order, so to speak, so they may differ slightly from those pictured above.

How to enter:

1. Complete our Reader Survey below

2. Leave a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win) and your necklace pick.

3. That’s it!

If you have already completed the survey, just leave your comment below!

This giveaway ends Sunday, January 29th at 11:59 pm, CST.

THREE WINNERS will be chosen & contacted on the following Monday. Like those odds? Get started on this wee survey!