Top 5: Etsy Shops I'm Lovin'

I'm scouring the Cyber Monday deals today looking for Christmas gift ideas. I'm coming up a little empty-handed, so while I click and browse again and again over here, I'll leave you with my good ol' Etsy standbys; my Top 5 Etsy Shops that I'm currently lovin'.


Laura Lombardi Jewelry


High Street Market


Debbie Carlos


Oh, Little Rabbit


Replicca

The Weekend: Art Vs. Craft

Get excited!

Outpost Natural Foods' Cranberry Sauce (with ginger!)

This recipe from Outpost Natural Foods, our local food store in Milwaukee, looks insanely easy. Therefore, there isn't any excuse to buy canned cranberry sauce (or as I call it, Cranberry Jello).

Cranberry Ginger Sauce

Ingredients:

1 twelve-ounce bag fresh cranberries

1 1/2 cups orange juice

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons ginger, finely minced


Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until honey dissolves.
Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is thick, stirring often and partially mashing the berries with the back of the spoon as you go along.
Remove from heat and transfer to a dish.
Chill and serve.

Per serving: 61 calories, less than 1 gram fat, 0g protein, 16g carbohydrates, 1mg sodium

MKE Style: Cabin Cozy

1. White Birch Rosemary Candle, $38
2. Bomber Fingerless Gloves, $98
3. Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg, $25.95 (hardcover)
4. Silver Melange Boyfriend Cardigan, $88
5. Patagonia Tranquila Leggings, $59
6. Highlander Plaid Boots, $175


Deer hunting season in Wisconsin is in full swing meaning that half of the state's male population treks up I-41 to have some "man-time" at the family cabin. If you're a woman and getting towed along, it's not a bad deal. Up North is a nice refuge from the cities and suburbs (albeit cold). Personally, I would skip the hours in the tree stand and morning hikes (unless I'm decked out in orange), but he brisk woodsy air and gatherings around the campfire are worth the trip. So, if you're going, here are some things to bring along so you can rough it in style back at the cabin.

Fine Line Magazine {Launch Party}

Last Friday, I popped into Studio Deep End for the Fine Line magazine launch party. I showed my support and picked up a print copy ($10) to take home. It has a sharp embossed cover and is filled with "gallery art" prints nice enough to frame. It's not only nice to see something this high-quality coming out of Milwaukee, but also to see that magazine print is not completely dead. I like that it's morphing into a niche product. 99 percent of the magazines I get, I could better use as digital copies, but 1 percent are artfully put together compositions and worthy enough to be placed on a bookshelf.

Read more about Fine Line:
Journal Sentinel article.
Milwaukee AV Club article.
Third Coast Digest article.
OnMilwaukee article.

Happy Weekend: Coffee and Doughnuts

Happy weekend, y'all. Almost every weekend, my father-in-law comes into town with fresh bakery doughnuts in hand for some Sunday morning coffee talk. This picture looks like it was taken right off my kitchen table. In actuality, it was taken by Neil at Front Room Photography. Remember Neil? He took my wedding photos. This photo was from another wedding he shot this past summer. You can't go wrong starting a wedding day off with Alterra coffee and gooey Honeydip donuts. Keeping it real.

Coffee Break: Alterra's Turkey Trot Blend

Thanksgiving is fast approaching so don't forget to buy coffee. I know, everyone loves that 2 hour nap after dinner, but some of us have to hit the road to see in-laws. I was at Alterra on Humboldt to grab some soup today and saw the Turkey Trot blend sitting next to their other new coffee this month, the Harvest Blend. Both look good, but the commentary on the Turkey Trot label sold me.

Vintage Decorating: Oil on Canvas Paintings

I often pass up oil portraits at antique stores. They're usually hiding in a large box on the floor with dozens of cheap prints and plastic picture frames. I just can't get past that it's weird to have a painting of a stranger in my house. But I do like the idea of grouping them with similarly painted oil on canvas pieces. Many old paintings in corner antique stores or flea market booths are the scenic or still life paint-by-number paintings from the 50's and 60's or the work of an amateur, long-forgotten local artist. They should cost under $60 depending on their size and condition.




These images are from the new-ish print zine, At Your Leisure from J3 Productions. It looks great and it's so nice to have print creeping back into the fold.

The Stylish iPhone Addict

I totally love the new Windows Phone 7 ad because I live that every. single. day. It's not me on the phone, of course. (FYI, I'm horrible at answering calls/emails). It's my husband that is on the phone--talking, emailing, texting, working, playing the "words with friends" game--and I'm the one saying, "really ?". Sometimes I pretend that I'm important, too, and so busy that I can't talk. Then he'll ask me what I'm busy doing and I'll say "shopping". So, if you're the one on the phone or the one saying "really ?", don't worry I've been doing the shopping for you.

I want to go to there: Copenhagen with the Botwins

Tonight is the season 6 finale of Weeds, the show I once enthusiastically loved and now patiently tolerate until the awesomeness returns. Hopefully tonight will be the night with their hairbreadth escape to Copenhagen. The show has seemed like a never ending road trip from California to Mexico to Seattle to Montana and now Dearborn, Michigan. But, if they end up in a beautiful city like Copenhagen, I think I could tolerate that. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that great city. Here are a few highlights and photos of Copenhagen. I totally want to go to there (especially if there's popcorn on the plane).


The Royal Cafe


Copenhagen Street Style


Amager Torv

And a few guides from:
Design*Sponge
New York Times

Etsy Window Shopping: mgmy

I just love this planter from Etsy seller, mgmy. At $32 plus shipping, I can't justify getting it for myself, but it would probably make a great Christmas present for an avid window sill gardener. Speaking of Christmas presents, I'm working on another gift guide this year including lots of local goods. It should be up the week of Thanksgiving (friends and family take note).

It's Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day, I'm sharing my friend CJ Foeckler's Vet photos he took in the Zablocki VA library in September. They were used to promote the Veterans Day parade that occurred last weekend. They've also been making a few high profile appearances. But, bottom line, I think they capture what this day is all about.

Milwaukee Faves: Magikist

photo: Nuclear Art

When I first drove past this store, I laughed so hard. "A Magikist??.......uhhh, do you mean a 'Magician'?"

Turns out joke's on me. They really did mean to say Magikist. It is a real, legitimate business--a rug cleaner that supposedly kisses the carpet clean through magic, however they sold the business and name to a car wash equipment manufacturer. The red lips logo is hundreds of indoor/outdoor commercial rugs in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas.

You win this round, Magikist. However, I may someday use the word Magikist for someone I find magical and awesome.

Decorating: Conan's TBS set

Lulu Tweed Chair, Moon Light, Vintage Toby mug, Noguchi Table

It was great to see Conan back on the air last night. I have missed you, Coco. And in honor of your return, I may just include a moving paper moon into my living room decor. Because why not.

Rx: Need more Vitamin D, STAT!

Vitamin D2 (gotta say, not as cute as Vitamin D3)


When we turned the clocks back yesterday morning, all I could think about was the extra hour of Sunday morning sleep that was coming my way. Then, when the afternoon came so did the sunset. At 4:30 it was already getting dark. Goodbye, Sun and Goodbye, Vitamin D.

What does Vitamin D do?
Helps calcium absorbtion. Protects against Rickets. May protect against
heart disease, depression, and cancer.

How do you get Vitamin D?
A type of cholesterol in our epidermis can be converted to about 10,000IU of Vitamin D3 with adequate amounts of sunlight. However, anyone north of the Mason-Dixon will probably get less because the UV rays are usually not as strong and therefore less effective at helping our body make Vitamin D. You can also eat Vitamin D rich foods like salmon, tuna, mushrooms, eggs, and milk.

How much Vitamin D do you need?
Here are the current recommended intake guidelines based on your age, although some studies say these amounts are too low. Because foods, sunlight, and supplements all yield different amounts and types of Vitamin D, it's best to get a combo of all 3.

Need some recipes? I thought you'd never ask.


















Cooks Illustrated Simple Pan-Seared Salmon(above right)

Warm Quinoa, Spinach, and Shiitake Salad(above left)

Food & Wine's Double Mushroom Soup With Sauteed Shiitakes

Emeril's Tres Leche Cake

Whole Foods' Grilled Tuna Nicoise Salad(below)

Lulu the dog wants Anthropologie, too

Anthropologie now has a a limited assortment of clothes and accessories for dogs! I'm guessing that Lulu is pretty pumped about this. She does always lie on my clothes and not Matt's clothes. She's got good taste.

Have A Drink: Blackberry Smash

After the political apocalypse on Tuesday (especially in Wisconsin), I think we all need a drink. This recipe is from Hi-Hat's bartender/mixologist/awesome dude, Dan Dufek. I can't wait to try all the complex flavors in this drink. So make it at home or order it from Dan, and solemnly raise your glass to Russ Feingold.
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Blackberry Smash

Ingredients:
2 Blackberries
3 Mint leaves
2 parts Maker's Mark Bourbon
2 teaspoons Fernet Branca
1/4 parts fresh Orange Juice
1/4 parts fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 parts rich simple syrup (2 parts Demerara sugar to 1 part water)
Mint sprig and blackberry for garnish

Directions:
Muddle the blackberries and mint leaves in shaker. Add all other ingredients except garnishes. Add ice. Shake. Double strain over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Skewer the blackberry with the mint sprig for garnish.

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*found via OnMilwaukee

Travel Style: Duffel bags

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.


If I was stranded on a desert island and could only bring 5 things, I would certainly bring a duffel (duffle) bag. I have a Gap duffle from like 10 years ago that I pack "just in case" or use to lug around laundry or stuff from my trunk. Admittedly, some of these duffels are a little too nice for "lugging", but I guarantee they'll last no matter what you carry in them.

Cast those ballots....

Vote poster, $15 from Jason Hill Design