Tsunami! False Alarm

The Tsunami triggered by the quake in Chile never quite materialized here in Kona. A blessing, to be sure, but a bit of a let down nonetheless. We were all on high alert here; there were lines at the gas station, runs on canned goods and water at the grocery store, endless yammering on the radio and television and then nothing but a bit of muddy seawater along the coast. Glad everyone is safe and sound and thinking of those affected in Chile. Donate if you can.

Fancy Pants Sugar Cookies by Sweet Ambs

I cannot seem to make gorgeously iced sugar cookies featured in the pages of Martha Stewart Living. Mine always end up a sad gloppy, oozing mess. Sure, they taste great. But pretty? Not so much. Not to mention what a huge ordeal it is to make, roll, cut, bake and ice sugar cookies. Ugh!

So I admire these decadent little works of sugar artistry from Sweet Ambs even more. I think they'd be a refreshing alternative to the usual flowers for mother's day this year. Or for a fancy all girls Marie Antoinette inspired tea party!

A Blog Award & A Giveaway from Art Snark!

Many thanks to my friend Art Snark for this post. Feel free to join in the fun if you wish. She also has a wonderful giveaway from Elle Moss- one of my favorite Photographers on Etsy- that you should definitely enter! Have fun trolling the internet today my dears!

Shoe Clips for Fun & Whimsy This Spring

Have you ever used shoe clips? I remember seeing them a lot as a kid- they usually involved grosgrain ribbon and big pearls edged in gold rope. Suffice it to say, they were not elegant. But, pick the right pair and inject a little whimsy into your wardrobe and freshen up a boring pair of shoes.

Forgive these "stupid pictures of feet". It's darn hard to take a photo of shoes you are wearing! These are vintage earrings that I didn't wear much, so I simply hot glued them to a pair of shoe clips and...

I think it makes these retro inspired heels (snagged on clearance at Target this summer for $6.95!) just right for spring. Here's to re-invention! Have you found new uses for old things lately?

Wedding Gowns Under $350

It's official! One of my best friends is engaged! I'm so excited for her and her fella. They are a wonderful couple destined to have a long and happy life together. Congratulations you two!

Since we are separated by an ocean, I'm offering up ideas virtually. Any one who has ever planned a wedding knows that the minute you begin hunting for "wedding dresses" the prices seem to spiral into thousands of dollars. But search for "white dresses", and all sorts of lovely ideas pop up. All the following options are under $350.

This gown's sweetheart neckline is super flattering, as is the rouching at the waist. I also love the short flirty hemline.

This one is Grecian goddess meets Hollywood Starlet. Aren't the straps a sophisticated touch?The chiffon is so light and ethereal too. It would certainly be fun to flounce around in.

This gown's horizontal ruffles are feminine without being girlie. I'd probably replace the sash with a nice sumptuous satin ribbon, but keep it edgy with some fantastic heels.

Have you stumbled across any pretty white dresses lately?

Movie Review: Billy the Kid

I admire most anyone who is comfortable in their own skin, and Billy the Kid is certainly is good at being himself. He's also incredibly socially awkward. It's immediately apparent that he doesn't fit in well with his peers. (A point hammered home in the inevitable lunching alone cafeteria scenes de riguer in any movie about pained adolescence.)

His unabashed love of pop culture- from his Steven Segal inspired ponytail to breaking into "Memories" from the Andrew Lloyd Weber extravaganza known as Cats to impress a girl- doesn't necessarily help matters.

But toss in his tender relationship with his mother and some oblique references to an abusive father figure and a learning disability, and you find yourself rooting for the little dude. Not necessarily a brilliantly crafted documentary, but an interesting character study of a fellow who beats to his own drum and kinda digs the sound it makes too

Kringla

Some friends of ours here in Kona host a monthly themed potluck. It's a grand affair on their porch in the mountains overlooking the sea, their verdant vegetable garden, and their crop of pin cushion proteas (one of my favorite tropical flowers). They have an outdoor Portuguese oven and everyone brings along bread to cook in the scalding 500 degree furnace. Shiny golden and black Roosters and chickens peck happily at the volcanic soil, cheerfully guarded by two tiny fearless mutts.

All that to say this past month was Scandinavian themed and I brought along my Grandmother's Kringla. There were no leftovers- always a compliment at a potluck! This is a nice cookie/tea cake to enjoy with a strong pot of cardamom laced coffee. It's quite subtle, but moist and shaped like a curly que. Let me know if you try it out.

Great Grandma Hertle's Kringla:

2 c sour cream

1/2 c buttermilk

1 1/2 c sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

Flour to thicken (grandma doesn't specify, but I used about 6 cups of flour plus more for rolling out)

Add flour until thick enough to roll into logs and shape into figure eights. Bake at 350 degrees for 10- 12 minutes until lightly golden.

A Signature Piece: My Lobster Necklace

This lobster necklace has become one of the signature pieces in my wardrobe. I get comments on it all the time- probably because it's so eccentric- I dare anyone NOT to notice it! It's from the Erickson Beamon line for Target from this past summer.

When I first got it, I timidly paired it with a plain white tee, but now I'm finding myself wearing it with all my favorite sun dresses and even the wild tie dyed chiffon top above. Their regular line is way out of my budget, but I'm totally thrilled to have this charming fellow reeling in compliments for me.

Do you have a signature piece of jewelery? Or a favorite go to accessory?

Jewelry Reinvented

I've been doing re-configuring some of the pieces in my jewelery collection, and have been quite pleased with the results.

I bought these two charm bracelets in Shenzhen, but both were starting to look a bit shabby, so I thought I'd combine the two.

I combined the charms onto the silver link bracelet, added a few rhinestone encrusted beads from the odds and ends I had on hand. I think the result is much more polished and wearable.

Ditto with these lovelies- fine, but perhaps a bit tarnished and dull looking.

Now reinvented into a cheerfully jingling charm bracelet...

and a keychain worthy of Helen of Troy. Have you re-invented anything lately? Do tell!

When only the best will do.

I once read an article byPeter Mayle(a leading expert in all things hedonism and a personal hero of mine) describing five things one should always buy the very best of. If I remember correctly it was shirts, fountain pens, soap, stationery and I've forgotten the last. Perhaps chocolate. Or those rare truffles one hunts down in rubber boots with pigs on leashes.

In any case, Eric and I generally lack the means to buy the best of anything, but soap is one place I make an exception. Ordinary dove, dial or ivory are fine of course, but there is something really lovely about unwrapping a bar of fresh triple milled lavender soap with a pretty crest imprinted in it. The lather seems richer somehow and the scent stays on your skin so subtly it won't be noticed unless someone has leaned in very close indeed. All this seduction and intrigue for under ten dollars. (I like to store them in my dresser drawers to scent my clothes and lingerie as well, especially since they often come in such pretty wrappers. If not, I re-style them myself. Remember this project?)

I came upon these lovelies at a going out of business sale for fifty cents a pop. The colors reminded me of beautiful candies so I snapped up a whole range of them for our guest bathroom. What do you only buy the very best of?

Here's Whats in My Makeup Bag

Does In Style magazine still have the "What's In your Makeup Bag?" feature? My make-up bag isn't stuffed with expensive brands, nor does it benefit from a product stylist making it glossy worthy. However, there is a place for everything and every single item shown here (including all the lovely gift with purchases Momma D sends along! Merci!) gets regular use.

-Bronzer -far too dark for my face, I mix a few drops in my body lotion after a shower to even out the color on my legs. They are always inexplicably pasty, despite the increase in beach time since the move to HI.

-Foundation, cosmetic sponges, shadow brushes, brow brush

-Tweezerman- truly the best most precise grip ever, well worth the extra money.

-Eyelash curler-I once read that if you have no time for any other make-up, curling eyelashes and adding mascara has the most impact, and I'm a firm believer. Your eyes look so much bigger with a nice fan of lashes.

-Eyeshadow-I love purples and golds with my green eyes.

-Highlighting powder (cool way to eliminate dark spots or shadows, learned during that What Not to Wear binge I'd rather not recall in too much detail.)

-Instant up-do hair pins worn after our wedding ceremony for reception and now used to keep hair off neck in humid Hawaiian weather.

-Four lipsticks: nude, red, raspberry and pink- I'd love to add one of those very vivid peachy colors for spring- does anyone have a favorite to suggest?

-File, cuticle stick, nail scissors

-Peach Fuzz Trimmer(a brilliant invention for those witch whiskers that really do seem to grow in overnight from nowhere) and brow attachments

mascara, mineral blush and bronzer brush

Whew! I'm proud to say that even with all these goodies in my bag of tricks, it takes me less than five minutes to do my makeup each day. Do you have any favorites in your make up bag? What is your best make-up tip?

How about a little Romance?

I've always looked as Valentine's Day as a moment to celebrate all the love in your life- why limit it to romance? But this love letter from James Joyce to Nora Barnacle was too beautiful not to share. Can you imagine receiving a letter so passionate? It gives me goosebumps- and makes me want to read all their correspondence! (Or a collection of love letters like this one.)

"You are my only love. You have me completely in your power. I know and feel that if I am to write anything fine or noble in the future I shall do so only by listening to the doors of your heart. ... I love you deeply and truly, Nora. ... There is not a particle of my love that is not yours. ... If you would only let me I would speak to you of everything in my mind but sometimes I fancy from your look that you would only be bored by me. Anyhow, Nora, I love you. I cannot live without you. I would like to give you everything that is mine, any knowledge I have (little as it is) any emotions I myself feel or have felt, any likes or dislikes I have, any hopes I have or remorse. I would like to go through life side by side with you, telling you more and more until we grew to be one being together until the hour should come for us to die. Even now the tears rush to my eyes and sobs choke my throat as I write this. Nora, we have only one short life in which to love. O my darling be only a little kinder to me, bear with me a little even if I am inconsiderate and unmanageable and believe me we will be happy together. Let me love you in my own way. Let me have your heart always close to mine to hear every throb of my life, every sorrow, every joy."

Wishing you Love love love, today and everyday.

Valentine's Day: Salted with Tears or Sweet as Honey?

Do you have any big plans for this weekend? Eric and I are throwing a "Sweet & Salty Party" because Valentine's Day seems to taste a little different to everyone. I asked our guests to bring something sweet and/or salty to share- oh how I wish I could get my hands on a few of those decadent Sea Salt Caramels! I'm making chocolate covered pretzels, bacon wrapped dates and pouring a happy variety of Champagne cocktails. Photos of our big soiree will follow shortly. Wishing you a very happy Valentine's day. Make sure to tell someone you love them.

P.S) Garison Keilor has been sharing famous love letters from history this week. Kafka's are my personal favorites- so forlorn! It's too bad that letter writing is fading from daily life- when it was the only way to communicate it really forced people to be clear and insightful. Have you ever received a great love letter?

Etsy Stories: Cupid's Work

Our heroine has been doing Cupids work in secret to surprise the one she loves this weekend. Care to follow along?

First things first. She dug out her Vintage Cookbook Collection and began menu planning. Perhaps a nice juicy steak covered with pistachio pesto, a side of oven roasted garlic rosemary potatoes, an arugula salad, lots of crusty bread and a few nice bottles of icy champagne...

Followed by a beautiful fruit tart served on her favorite Take out China topped with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

She puts their Moss Covered Initials on the bedroom door. So romantic!

She spreads the table with white linen and sets a table for two with her best china. She twists these Paper Roses into tiny napkin rings and fills the silver ice bucket.

Then she sits down to write him a letter on her best stationery and affixes a series pretty vintage stamps. It's almost like curating a miniature art wall on the envelope.

Oh my! Just look at the time! She'd better get dressed!

She slips into this stunning Green dress- pink and red are such a Valentine's Day cliche!
Alright, but who can resist just a splash of pink and red when it's done up in rhinestones and curly ques as in this statement brooch?

He loves her, so he knows what she loves- this Bunny is her Valentine's day card. All signs point to an excellent weekend.

Make Your Own Ribbon Covered Gift Box

I don't know about you, but I can't resist the tiniest scrap of ribbon. I even save the little ribbon hangers from the inside of a new garment. The same thing goes for those tiny craft paper boxes jewelery and truffles come in- you know what they say about small packages! That's how these ribbon covered gift boxes were born. Here's how I made mine...

You will need a pile of ribbons in complementary shades, good sharp scissors, a small paper board box, and a way to adhere the ribbons. I adore my Xyron sticker maker, but double stick tape or a bit of finely applied hot glue would probably be just as good.

With my sticker maker, I just slide the ribbon through and it puts a lovely tacky layer of adhesive on the back.

Ready to go!

Make sure you have enough ribbon to cover the box.

I like to stick it on the inside of the box for a nice finished outside edge.

Repeat on the other side.

Continue layering and overlapping ribbons as you go to create the pattern you like. With plaid all the rage lately, I thought that would be fun to try.

Mine still needed a little extra something...

So I used a tiny daub of hot glue to add a silk millinery leaf and flower. The humblest starbucks card would seem pretty darn special arriving in such a pretty box. don't you think? If you don't have time to make your own, mine is available over at The Fab Miss B.

What is your favorite way to turn odds and ends into something spectacular?