Rachiti's Profile

I'm astounded by the sexist comments on this post. Just because something has masculine or feminine elements to it, does not mean one sex would or would not prefer it over the other. It is only the US stereotypical mindset which creates this unnatural divide. Space should reflect the mood/tone it wishes to create.

I love the addition of the cherry blossom curtains to bring a little 'Japan' to his other home. I agree with others about the pillows though - especially in a small space - that many pillows is not only annoying in terms of having to shift them around at night but could also create a trip hazard when tossed on the floor at night.

The advice depends on whether you're catering this event or if you're doing this for a family member/friend and actually expect to attend the wedding & reception as a guest. If it's the former, then the sky's the limit. If, however, you're going to be a part of the wedding - realize that any attempt to 'gussy up' the presentation using various dishes (aside from the glass bakeware) will affect how long it takes to make it all happen. As for the ceramic pan display - unless you have buffet line attendants - it will just slow down the buffet line and get messy - especially if you're using flimsy foil pans. If you do want to 'dress up' the dishware, the easiest way is to decorate the table it's going to go onto.

As for the crumbles themselves, stick to fruit that will be in season then as it will have the most intense flavor. Also consider whether the guests will be dressed up as crumbles that are especially juicy may cause some people to forgo them in fear of ruining their fancy clothes.

As for the foil - the foil pans they use in catering are slightly thicker and hold up a bit better in terms of buckling than the kind you buy in the regular grocery store. I know this is a lot but I've worked as a wedding caterer in the past.

I love fresh herbs. I'm going to try beets and green onions this spring as I have some extra deep porch ledge boxes. For anyone looking for deep window boxes, I would recommend looking for these instead as long as you intend to plant two rows (one on each side) as the center line of the box is shallower to accommodate a porch railing.

I wish this could be the case for my small family (my husband and I) but distance and different palettes makes that nearly impossible. Once in a great while my mother will join us, but I have to plan the menu in advance as her tastes are more basic/bland than our own - and she's the "adventurous" one. I don't even own a kitchen table yet...but some day I will...and hope to have good friends to invite over by then.

Marrying a picky eater who is also a foodie is not as limiting, but still incredibly frustrating. Since part of my reason for cooking is relishing the look of bliss on my husband's face when he tries a new recipe (or a favorite one), I've given up trying to cook with foods he won't eat. As far as picky eaters go - he's actually flexible in that he enjoys food from many parts of the world - it's the ingredients themselves which pose the problem.

Sadly, his incessant teasing whenever I attempt to eat anything he finds inedible - be it squash, jasmine rice or vegetarian fare makes preparing or buying anything he does not like problematic. Anything organic, Mediterranean, or simply from a vendor which specializes in gourmet cuisine always requires a fortified mental defense on my behalf before the delectable nibbles enter our premise. I pine for a secret hideaway with all my favorites already prepared so that at least I could enjoy them without ridicule or the hours of effort that feel somewhat wasted when the pleasure of consuming them is not shared.

Granola bars, granola bars, granola bars :) Even when I have to resort to the pre-packaged kind, there are still some nice options. Unlike the doughnut/muffin/cookie(ish) options - granola bars don't go all crumbly if you're walking and eating. Also, even though they still have a highish amount of sugar, they're also usually packed with fiber and nuts. This will take longer to digest, give you a good jolt of protein for long-term energy (instead of just a short-term sugar rush), and still satisfy a morning sweet tooth. When the weather is cool enough, I stash some in my car for those crazy mornings where there just isn't time for breakfast (or sometimes dinner). I'm always recommending this 'trick' to younger co-workers who complain of a lack of time for a snack/meal between school and work.

Second kitchen - I LOVE the wallpaper. Since they only did one partial wall it doesn't overwhelm or seem as intimidating of a project. I have a whole new perspective on wallpaper now - I might actually have a use for it.

Love watching her cook...and love even more that she could go tit for tat with Letterman :)

@jane I'd be afraid of falling out too...but I had a lofted bed in college. It would be easy to add railings around the edge to reduce the chances. With railings my body adjusted to sleeping that way over time. The only other annoying thing is that there's no "safe" place for the little bedtime niceties like a cup of water or reading glasses since knocking it off with a pillow mid-sleep involves a loooong drop and broken things at the bottom.

Lady 3 - not to mention that sometimes soda is the only alternative available to coffee. As a child (when I loathed soda because we never had it at home so the whole fizzy thing grossed me out) I can remember family parties and even Catholic Order of Forester parties where the only options were soda or coffee. The same sometimes holds true for vending machines. If you want a cold beverage to carry around...soda machines abound but water isn't always an option.