How cool is this?

Um, confession: I'm not married. I'm not engaged. I don't have a boyfriend. But I read wedding blogs. I started off telling myself that I read them so I could be a helpful Maid of Honor for my sister's wedding. But really, I just love reading them! They have so many cool ideas that you wouldn't necessarily need to use for an actual wedding. You could use their ideas for any sort of fabulous party. And their party favor ideas would make cool Christmas or Birthday presents.

Like this:

I didn't even KNOW you could make your own vanilla extract! Turns out it's actually really easy. Only 2 ingredients: Vanilla beans and vodka. Seriously - that's all! Directions can be found here. Sounds pretty simple, so maybe this will show up in my friends' & family members' stockings this year!

Cool Tool for the Kitchen

I grew up in a really big family - 5 kids, 2 parents. All of us were healthy eaters. So it was practically impossible for my mom to make TOO much food. We were also all leftover eaters, so in the event she did actually make too much, the leftovers rarely went to waste.

So, I completely blame my family for my propensity for making WAY too much food. Um, I live alone, but sometimes I will cook an entire pound of pasta. Seriously. 1 person doesn't need a pound of pasta. (note: I do not actually eat all of it, I portion it out into tupperware & bring it to work/school) I've tried to make just 1 or 2 servings of pasta, but I just never can gauge how much one serving is...

Well, this tool might just change my life!

You see those little circles? They represent serving sizes for 1 to 4 people.

It's $35 and can be purchased here.

I found it through this cool blog, which I found through google reader. I've already learned all sorts of things, like how you should add steam when baking bread to get the best crusts. Granted, I've never actually BAKED my own bread, but if/when I do, I'll probably employ this technique. Ahh, the wonderful world of blogging. I love all the random knowledge I am accumulating!

I need this...

Ok, so I probably don't need this little clutch, but I certainly really, really want it. When I was in college, I lived with my best friend Heidi for one semester and we often had these 'want v. need' conversations. Our conversations would go like this:

Heidi: I really need ______ (insert something fun & fabulous).

Me: Really? Do you need it? Or just really want it?

Heidi: Um, I need it.

Me: Well, you need things like water, food, and a place to lay your head. But you probably don't need _______.

So if I employ that interpretation of want v. need, I really don't need this clutch. It's so springy, though, and would be the perfect accessory for a springy Easter outfit.

Image found via this blog, and could be purchased here... if it wasn't already sold out!!

Signature Scent Possibility?

The thermometer is still registering temperatures in the negatives, but I am feeling much better today. It sounds like we might hit the 30-40's by Friday. Thank God. I really hope that this February is like the February of 1988. Why would I remember such a February? Well, that is the February that Abby, my little sister, was born. I can vividly remember the day she was born (Feb 27th). I was outside, riding my bike through puddles, wearing shorts. I think it might have been in the 60's or 70's. I know we have a few weeks until we arrive at the 27th of February but darn I really hope this month turns out like that one did!!!

I made a great discovery this week - I think I might have identified a perfume that I need to buy....

Seriously - a scent that is called 'In the Library'? Sold. Unfortunately it isn't sold in any stores in Minneapolis, but I will be going to NYC in March or April and definitely plan to check it out & possibly purchase a lifetime supply. It's just so me, especially since I am often told that I have a 'librarian' look. When I am told this, I am not sure it is a compliment, but I take it as one.

You can read more about it here, if you are interested! It's pretty funny to read the 'story' of the scent. And yes - this is legit, it's not a joke. This is actually a perfume!!

The Color Purple

While I have read Alice Walker's book, "The Color Purple," that's not what this blog post is about. After my honest, but 'downer debbie' post last week, I figured I better write about one of the many things that is making me very happy these days. And that is the color purple. Purple has never been a favorite color of mine... which is surprising given the fact that my bathroom is painted lilac with dark purple towels to accent the color. I can't remember what drove me to go with that color scheme. (mom do you remember?) I have no idea. My favorite color for the last 10 years has been pink... so just one color family over from purple, so I guess it makes sense that I am gravitating towards purple these days.

If you've been out and about lately, you probably have seen a lot of purple. It's sort of the 'it' color of the season... But I would like to say, I have bought my purple scarf, sweater, and hand bag because I loved them, not because 'purple is the new black'. I'm far too practical to be swayed by such statements.

So here are a few things that have caught my eye lately... none of which I own. Apparently all the purple stuff I've bought in the last couple months is so fashionable, you can't find it on the Internet anymore! Ha... or they've been discontinued because I'm the only one who has bought them!

And, had I not bought a purple scarf already, I'd probably knit something up in this color...

I might do a re-read of "The Color Purple" since I was probably 14 when I read it... so you may see that popping up here in the future... if I ever get through the stack of books collecting dust on my book shelf. What can I say, my bookshelf runneth over...

Happy Monday everyone!