“ideal”

I am excited to tell you about a great new groupon-like, daily-deal website called Ideal Network. When you buy from this website not only are you getting a great deal, but 20-25% of what you spend goes to help support your favorite non-profit or school. So today...if you buy the Seattle "ideal" which is $35 for 5 yoga classes ($65 value) at Sutra Yoga, $8.75 will go to a non-profit of your choice.

Ideal Network is brand new, with Seattle being the first city with a site up and running. New cities will be added soon.

Right now the Seattle Ideal Network is featuring the Ashoka Seattle, Youth Venture. This non-profit is doing exciting work with youth in the Seattle area, helping them design and start lasting collaborative ventures that will lead to social change.

Please feel free to re-post this post. I think this is all important work and I want to help spread the word. And I'd love to hear your comments.

If you're lucky enough to be in Portland on Sunday, Feb. 6th...

This week I was at Ellington Handbags where I found out some exciting news that I'll tell you about at the end of this post. I also learned about the BARGAIN HUNTING  event Feb. 6 at the Crystal Ballroom.

Artwork by Jill Bliss, vendor at Bargain Hunting

If you a lucky enough to be in Portland, Oregon next weekend you might want to stop by this event. Over 60 local, indie vendors will be selling their products at clearance prices. It will occupy 2 floors. You can even sip a cocktail while you shop.

Sunday (Superbowl Sunday) Feb. 6

12-5pm

Crystal Ballroom

1332 W Burnside

Now for you Ellington fans...

Low budget kitchen remodel

I spotted this dramatic, low budget kitchen remodel on Apartment Therapy. What a fantastic improvement. I love that they have a painted floor. Learn more about this project and see step-by-step photos here.  If you read thru their MANY comments you will get more ideas and sources.

Photo: Apartment Therapy

Photo: Apartment Therapy

Valentine's week long trip to warm and sunny Las Vegas?

Full Kitchen at Tahiti Village, Las Vegas

I have another great deal on a week long get-a-way to tell you about.

Feb 12-19, other dates available.
7 nights at Tahiti Village Resort in WARM and SUNNY Las Vegas for $388 TOTAL. This price includes taxes.
1 bedroom, with a full kitchen, sleeps 4.
This property is a few minutes south of “the strip” and offers half hourly shuttle service to and from “the strip”. (They drop you off and pick you up near New York, New York.) We loved it's lazy river, huge swimming pool, barbecue area, fitness center and in room washer/dryer. There is a pool side bar as well as a bar and restaurant on site.  Email me if you are interested.

 

DIY Mushrooms

Photo from Fungi Perfecti

Did you know you can buy indoor mushroom-growing kits and actually grow your own mushrooms? Seems these delicious little morsels thrive indoors in temps between 55 and 75 degrees. And they don't require any special lights to grow. (Mushroom spores can cause allergic reactions, so growing your own is not for everyone.)

I found out all about this in an article in today's Wall Street Journal: “The Science Project You Can Eat”.

And did you know mushrooms are low in calories and rich in antioxidants?

Evidently Whole Foods sells a variety of kits. You can also buy kits and learn more about starting your own mushroom patch at Fungi Perfecti.

What do you think? Will you give it a try?

Oohh the lights!

Aside from the bright, clean and airy feeling of this newly remodeled kitchen...I especially LOVE the pendant lights!

Photos from Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine

The Benson Pendant from Restoration Hardware. $239-$569

Help! Veggie recipe needed!

I'm looking for a great veggie-main-dish-kind-of-recipe. It would be great if it's also gluten free but I can make the necessary adjustments to make it gf. Email me or leave a comment. Thank you!

Add a coconut to your shopping list...and a few other things

Don't these coconut pancakes from Cookie + Kate look amazing? A perfect weekend meal don't you think?

photo used with permission of Cookie + Kate

Visit the delicious and beautiful blog of Cookie + Kate for the recipe. I've added several of the ingredients to my marketing list and am going to give these a try. Because I have to eat gluten-free, I'm going to use Pamela's Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix in place of the wheat flour.

Have a happy weekend!

Some kitcheny Valentine ideas

Peacock Plate by Catherine Reece. $46

Hand embroidered flour sack dish towel from Craftie Laddie. $6.40

Hand stamped vintage silver plated spoon from Beach House Living. $8

“Love” in sign language dish towel from Twiddle and Tweet.  $8

Salt and Pepper Shaker...babuschka style from Art Mind. $50

Today's Living Social deal...

$10 for a $20 Amazon.com gift card.
This deal is most likely good for today, Jan. 19th, only.

I love Living Social!
*This is your invitation to join Living Social -- it's free, all you do is click on this link. You get 5 Deal Bucks when you sign up and I'll get 5 Deal Bucks when you buy your first deal. Be sure to let me know if you join so I can say thank you!

Spoonful of Chicken Soup

I spotted this online deal on LA Groupon this morning, Wednesday Jan. 19th. I'm happy to know about this warm and cozy gift idea!

Spoonful of Comfort Chicken Soup

$35 ($74.93 value) package from Spoonful of Comfort includes:

• One 64 oz. Mason jar of chicken soup (a $34 value)
• Half-dozen made-from-scratch rolls ($6)
• Half-dozen oatmeal-raisin cookies ($6)
• One inspirational coin ($4.99)
• One pair of cozy spa socks ($9.99)
• Shipping ($13.95)

Looking for new lighting for your kitchen?

I've just started my search for a new dining room light and I came across this fun online shop...Shades of Light.* They also offer rugs, furniture and other goodies for your home. These are a few of their lights that caught my eye.

Sheer Champagne Shade Chaneelier. $595

 

Trellis Linen Drum Shade Pendant. $149

Mavelot 5 light Chandelier. It comes in 3 finishes. $839.

 *This is not a sponsored post. Just something I came across and wanted to share.

A fun blog....snacktive!

Adorable!  I love this blog!
Lots of great recipes!

http://snacktive.blogspot.com

These are my must do's when I'm in the Santa Barbara area:

#16...The Super Rica especial!

Order #16 at La Super Rica Taqueria...a hole-in-the wall place that Julia Child, who lived nearby, would frequent.

Browse local art at Gallery #113, a gallery that represents only local artists. There is a similar gallery in the Santa Ynez wine country, (45 min from SB) is Gallery Los Olivos that I always stop at if I'm nearby.

Also in Los Olivos is a WONDERFUL succulent nursery/garden shop...J. Woeste that is divine to walk thru.

My husband's latest J. Woeste purchase

Dine at Harry's Plaza Cafe. The stiffest drinks in town and a lively, fun atmosphere.

Ride a bike on any of the amazing bike paths around the area.

Have sushi at Sushi Teri.

Drink Barrel 27 High on the Hog wine (found in some wine shops in the area).

Shop at any of the farmers markets. There is one everyday of the week somewhere in the area.

Hike on any of the loads of trails around the area.

Visit the ugg/decker outlet in Ventura (45 minutes from SB)

Things I love about California

I grew up in California, in the Bay Area. As much as I love Oregon, I miss California. Last week, when the weather cleared in Oregon, we hopped in the car and drove back home to visit my parents then on to Santa Barbara to visit more family. Along the way I was reminded of all of the things I love about Callie...

warm sun thru the car window
Eucalyptus trees
Oleanders
Agapanthus
rolling hills with scattered oak trees
birds singing and flowers blooming all year round
the lonesome song of the mourning dove
the smell of the ocean even when you are not near it
bare feet on sand
sunglasses
palm trees set against a blue sky
surfboards on cars
the Pacific Ocean
and of course...the ever present sunshine

Agapanthus. Photo by Ferdi

Limoncello

More info on Limoncello on Mostly Food Stuffs blog. (Photo from MFS blog)

Last night we enjoyed an after dinner glass of homemade Limoncello at a friend of my father-in-laws. It was amazing! He sent us home with the OLD Italian recipe and a bottle of our own. Before we left he showed us exactly what we need to make our own, and showed us step-by-step how he makes his delightful concoction! Look forward to a future post where I will share this wonderful recipe! Happy Friday!

(I wish I had had my camera with me to photograph the beautiful little cut glass cordials that we drank from. They were from the 1800's.)

Tiny Houses

A  5"x5" book by Mimi Zeiger

It's probably because it's a new year and there is some reorganizing going on in my life that I find myself intrigued with the idea of living in a “tiny house”. I know I have too many things that I just couldn't part with to actually be able to live in a super small dwelling but...the idea seems quite appealing.

Country Living magazine

This 374 sq ft home is in Portland. See more photos here.

tinyhouse blog

A "tiny house" sure would make a lovely getaway place, guest house or art studio.