the_asp's Profile

YES, YES, YES! to all of this. I grew up in NE and we had a huge cedar closet in the attic where we packed all of our woolens and winter cothes for the summer, and put our summer dresses for the winter. When I was in my 20's, I moved a lot and never really settled in to a "home", so I got out of the habit. This also happened to be the time when my wardrobe was the most disorganized and least useful to me. Now that I have settled in to a home, I have started packing away seasonal clothing again, and it delights me to no end. I love the ritual of it. I love that I get to clear out the closet a few times a year and give it a deep cleaning. I love that I get to reassess often and therefore my wardrobe is the smallest and the most useful it's ever been. And I love that every time I open up the trunks of seasonal clothing, everything old feels new and exciting again.

@milo.delara - Hear! Hear! I am still wanting to know what that countertop material is. Materials and source lists should be a given, IMO.

Much nicer! Can you tell me about the countertop on the vanity? Is it marble or some marble look-a-like solid surface?

@Griffin - Yup! Go for it! I make pestos all the time with whatever greens looks best in the garden at any given time of the year. Mustards, parsley, kale, arugula, cilantro...and then whatever nuts I have on hand - arugula-hazelnut is a favorite. I've made one with mustard greens and cashews using sesame oil (omitting the cheese) which was awesome.

Thanks for this post! I think I will be making a winter greens pesto for my Friday night pizza tomorrow - topped with shrimp and maybe ricotta.

Ugh. I LOATHE dishracks. Awful, ugly, hulking, clutter-gathering space hogs. For years, I just put a cloth down to set any drying dishes on, but that was not so good on my butcher block counters. So, I finally settled on a cookie sheet topped with a dish cloth and then a cooling rack that fits perfectly in the sheet. I change out the cloth regularly so it never ooks grungy. This solution is nice and low-profile.

I do think I need to get a boot try...

Can anyone tell me where to find those curtains? Or the fabric to make them?

Thank you! I am OB-sessed with leafy greens. I cannot eat enough and I am always looking for ways to incorporate them into every meal. This morning's breakfast was a kale and parsnip fritatta with a radicchio, orange and golden beet side salad. Breakfast salads have been on heavy rotation around here.

Can't wait to try some of these recipes.

I just remembered another tip I saw recently for inexpensive art: Staples does "engineer" prints, the largest being 3' X 4' for $4.99. I saw it on Pinterest and here is the link: http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2012/03/shaped-frame-family-photo.html

Holy moly, this was hard for me. I have been hemming and hawing all day about what to choose. There is so much that I want to do! But, at last, my gut says to re-upholster the dining room chairs. I have the roll of fabric sitting there and I think this will do a lot to spruce up the room. We did a major remodel on the living and dining rooms this summer (they are connected) and while the living room has been carefully and thoughtfully put together, the dining room still feels unfinished. The table and chairs are in place and the buffet is there, and one piece of art, but otherwise it just feels kind of...bare. It's a tiny space (8' X 12') so I really need to think long and hard about what objects go in there. So, it seems like the chair seats are a good start - right now they are an ancient brown pleather, cracked and nasty. I bought a roll of fabric with a colorful, mod-ish pattern on it with fun colors. Once those are in, I think I will have an easier time deciding on a floor covering, possible window coverings, a light fixture, artwork and a "feature wall" that I have been dreaming up. Having never upholstered anything before, I am a little dubious, but it's only the seats, which can be removed. Then it is just a matter of adding new padding, cutting the fabric and stapling it in place, right? How hard can it be? <<famous last words! ;~D

As someone who has had people look at the "before" pictures of my kitchen and say "Oh my gosh, it was so cute! Why did you change it?", I am chuckling over here. Yes, there are elements of the "before" that I actually like, namely, the copper and silver backsplash - I would have tried to recreate that in some way with new ceramic tile. Could be really cool! However, I KNOW what old, worn-out kitchens are like and how they can just be disgusting and nonfunctional when you are living with them. There are things that you cannot see in a picture: the faded spots on Formica, the dirty corners that stay dirty no matter how much you clean, terrible and torn linoleum underfoot, the dents and dings that are not charming, just sad. So, while I find the "after" terribly bland, I would never say that the "before" is better. And it has nothing to do with "pops of color" for me. (@granola suicide - I have been hating on that phrase of late, as well) I would just like something with a little more character, something unique, some texture, maybe with a smashing light fixture instead of the staid schoolhouse light. Luckily, some of these things can be added over time. I am sure it is a wonderful kitchen to work in.