Stylish Compost Pail?

Seattle has finally started collecting food scraps for compost. It is a great service, but leaves us with the stinky problem of what to do with our food scraps. It isn't always convenient to run outside to the yard waste bin, every time you cut an apple. So, I've been hunting for the perfect counter top compost "pail". Here is what I've found...


I love this bamboo option from Olive Barn. With convenient features like a liner that can go in the dishwasher and a charcoal filter to keep the stinkys away, it is a great option!


This stainless steel pail is a classic from Crate & Barrel. The entire pail goes in the dishwasher here...love that!


There is the hammered copper option from Gardener's Supply Company for the country kitchen.

Or a brightly colored ceramic option...


My favorites however are these beautifully hand made ceramic options from Rabbit Creek Studio...



Looking much more like sculpture than a bucket on your counter, these lovely pieces are complete with holes in the lid for air flow and an area to insert a charcoal filter...perfect!

All that Glimmers

I love gold...I always have. Ever since high school when everyone was wearing chunky silver jewelry, I was still sporting dainty gold pieces. That is why I am in LOVE with the new "Hold" line from Prismera.




Featuring the ever perfect theme of glamourized organic elements, all of the pieces are absolutely stunning! My favorite? This gorgeous "Cherish Bangle".



SO BEAUTIFUL!! I love how they look stacked.


I'll take a few please....okay?

Time for Spring!

Even though is is raining in Seattle and snowing in New York, today is the First Day of Spring! I like to believe this is what is happening outside my door as I sit here working...



Just keep thinking, "time for Spring!", "time for Spring!". Maybe we can beat Old Man Winter. Happy Spring all!

Bean Stalker

This is one of the strangest, yet cool products I've seen in awhile. SMP's Bloom in a Can Message Bean is so creative!


Found online at the A+R Store this crazy bean is laser engraved with one of eight messages from "Dream" to "Best Wishes" to "Love" or "Good Luck"...a message that is revealed after the magic bean is planted in the provided container and grows into a beautiful little plant!




Isn't that clever? Who would think of that? What a sweet gift for Valentine's Day. You can plant a seed and watch your love grow! Awww....

photos provided by A+R Store

Feelin' Frosty

I don't know if I just haven't noticed, but it feels like we had our first frost of the season in Seattle today. Brrr...it has me thinking about new scarfs to keep me warm and fashionable as it gets colder and colder. I'm loving the short "neck warmers" as I call them...


This one from Homelab on etsy is so cute and feminine. I love the color and the big bow...


This darling neck tie is so simple. I think the bright pop of yellow would brighten up even the darkest Seattle day. Find it at Anthropologie. Then there are the real warmers, full of abundant knit. They just make me want to wrap up in them and get cozy!


This Tousled Scarf, also from Anthropologie is so elegant. I love the overflowing fabric...luscious! Finally, my favorite...




I love this hood from pixiebell on etsy. Doesn't it look so warm? Cute too. A perfect combo of hat and scarf. I can't wait to get one for myself. Stay warm out there!

Feeling Woody!

As I admire our new cedar fence that surrounds 80% of our house, I wonder at the beauty of wood. What an amazing natural resource with so many uses. Check out these designs...all of you guessed it: WOOD!



I love this mobile called Samara from Adrift Mobiles. My Dad had a cool mobile of various pinecones hanging in his living room as I grew up. This reminds me of it in a sleek, modern way. I can just envision it hanging in the corner of my office. You can pick your own up here.



These wooden USB Sticks from OOOMS Dutch Design Studio are ingenious. Who would have thought of that? I love the mix of nature and technology. Soo great!


I guess I'm inspired by my surroundings, because this wood stapler would work perfectly in my office as well. Do I feel a theme coming on? Pick it up at the Curiosity Shoppe.

I could go on all day, but this is my favorite...





How great is that wood clutch? I mean really, how do people come up with this stuff?! This groovy little number can be snatched up here and comes in ebony or zebra wood with white or black leather lining or maple and walnut with gorgeous screen printed details. Yummy!

Project Runway

In honor of the Project Runway season finale airing tonight...I offer you this...


How fantastic is that? I have to say, beside the drama and the sometimes fantastic fashion, Tim Gunn is my favorite part of the show. The Vintage Pearl captured his famous line "Make it Work!" perfectly with this darling charm necklace. Find their etsy shop here and get one for yourself. You'll need it to get you through until next season. Enjoy watching tonight!

Strip Teas

I was visiting my favorite coffee shop, Muse Coffee Co. this weekend on Queen Anne and discovered Brent is carrying a new, hip, spectacular, fun, yummy tea called Strip Teas.


The design of these little puppies is just ingenious. In a tall aluminum foil perforated pocket, the entire tea "strip" is environmentally sound and 100% recyclable. The unique shape allows for the tea leaves within to unfurl releasing the fantastic flavors into the water and is the perfect shape to act double duty as a stir stick!



Packaging is just charming and the teas come in six spectacular flavors including Masala Chai (a black tea with ginger, pepper, basil and a touch of cinnamon), Pushkar Rose (just as it sounds, flavored with rose) and Maristar (with marigold petals and sweet anise).

Strip Teas is the brain child of Emily Koteff who lives here in Seattle, so support a local business woman and pick up a cup of Strip Teas at Muse Coffee Co. today!

The Oxford Project

When visiting Revival Home and Garden last week, I came upon a book that made me think, laugh and thoroughly impressed me...The Oxford Project.


This genius book was created by Peter Feldstein in 1984 when he set up a sign offering "free portraits" in the town of Oxford, Iowa. His intention was to photograph all of the town's 673 inhabitants. By the end of his campaign, he had captured the images of 670 of the townspeople. None of them were posed, simply caught in their natural light.

The real magic happened when Peter came back to the town 21 years later in 2005 and re-photographed many of the same folks. Some had passed and most had changed, but amazingly a large number of them still lived in the small town. Peter invited writer Stephen G. Bloom to accompany him to capture the subject's narrative on their own life. The only parameters..."to tell the truth." And so The Oxford Project was born.

Pat Henkelman offers a story of infidelity, faith and daily life here.


Hunter Tandy speaks of his life's passion, his second cousin Ashton Kutcher and life in a small town here.


Darrell Lindley speaks of his gruesome but necessary job, life and death, the war and his favorite pass times here.


The stories are touching and eye opening and are a glorious look into the daily lives of those around us. I particularly enjoy the photos of children in '84 who are now grown. The way they recount their hopes and dreams and reveal how life has turned out reminds us all of our past and dreams for the future. I've added The Oxford Project to my list of must haves and will pick it up for sure!

Yummy Or Creepy?

I came across these Vanishing Creatures commemorative chocolates by Walteria Living...


The series of chocolates including busts of a pygmy hippo, mountain gorilla and koala bear commemorate endangered species. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of the chocolates go to aid WSPA.

The cause is wonderful and really the relation is a bit uncanny (the hippo is kinda cute). What do you think...are these yummy or creepy? I can't decide! Find your own at Unica Home.

Light My Fire!

The German company Rephorm has recently posted a new item that is just spectacular!


The urBonfire runs on smoke/fume free bio-ethanol and can be used in any exterior or interior space from your deck or patio to your living room. How groovy! Find it here.

Jennifer Murphy

Sometimes you stumble upon something that you absolutely don't need, but you absolutely love. That is how I feel about Jennifer Murphy's charming and whimsical cake toppers. This darling stork baby shower cake topper is about the sweetest thing I've seen.


You can customize the interior of the base to feature the child's name etc. What a wonderful gift to a new little family!


They are a bit of an investment, but they truly are of heirloom quality and something that would be passed down through the generations. More of Jennifer's stork toppers are featured on her etsy site.

Jennifer also creates the cutest little bird wedding cake toppers and ring boxes...soooo sweet!




How charming are they? And what about her spectacular stuffed animals!?







Mattie the Bunny is so dang darling I can hardly stand it. This woman really has an amazing talent and has her finger on the pulse of cuteness! Order your own custom piece on her website here. If you can't afford one of her originals, she has just launched a line of mass produced items too which you can find here.