The Heart and the Bottle

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Another book I'm excited about, but haven't received yet, is the latest by the talented Oliver Jeffers... The Heart and the Bottle. En route from Amazon now. Can't wait to see his new creation.

For just one day, I'd like to be....

I just checked in at Babyccino and was reminded of a book I've been meaning to post about.

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My friend Clare introduced me to the book For Just One Day and my daughter and I both love it. The story is great and the illustrations are so colorful and creative.

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It's short and sweet, rhymes and has fabulous pictures. What more could you ask for?

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Arthritis? Back Pain? Anxiety? Acne? Allergies? Try Acupuncture!

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Coincidentally, I came across the article "Decoding an Ancient Therapy" about acupuncture just hours before my own acupuncture appointment. I'm a fan of acupuncture and don't really care whether it's truly legit or the placebo effect. Whatever it is, it works for me and lots of people I know. More and more insurance companies are recognizing acupuncture as a legitimate form of treatment for health issues and are covering the cost. If you're experiencing anything from an injury to migraines, look into your insurance policy and see if you can give it a try.

Farmers Market Goods & Weekly Meal Plan

Sunday
Tomato sauce with onion and butter
Steamed broccoli with butter and chicken bouillon

Monday
Hearty veggie soup (ribollita minus the bread)
Roasted cauliflower (recipe below)
Chicken caesar

Tuesday
Leftover soup
Roasted cauliflower (recipe below)
Tagliatelle with lemon and parmesan (I didn't follow exact measurements. Just used lots of lemon juice and zest, parmesan, olive oil and pepper with fresh fettuccine noodles. YUM!)

Wednesday
Chicken enchiladas
Cumin black beans
Kale Chips

Thursday
Crisp Black Bean Tacos with Feta and Cabbage Slaw (using leftover black beans)

Friday
Dinner out



Roasted Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower, cut into large bite size florets
1/4 cup olive oil
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
red chili flakes
5 or 6 cloves garlic, chopped
juice from 1/2 or 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 450.

Toss cauliflower with olive oil, salt, pepper and red chili flakes. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. Meanwhile, chop garlic and soak in olive oil. Stir cauliflower and bake for 7 more minutes. Stir in garlic and extra olive oil. Bake for 5-7 minutes. You want to roast the cauliflower and add the garlic at the end so the garlic doesn't burn. Remove and toss with lemon juice (start with half and add more to taste).

Stella for Gap

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The Stella McCartney for Gap Kids summer collection is here, and once again, there are some gems. Check it out.

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J'adore!

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I love the designer Isabel Marant and her amazing collections. I'm crazy for her boho style.

I just discovered there's a children's collection. Oh, if only I could justify the expense, I'd buy it all.

I love.........

If the shoe fits (but the color is off)...

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I've been neglecting the Elle Shoe Diary so I took a quick look-see to catch up. I'm crazy for these boots, and get this - they're Pierre Hardy for The Gap! The clever owner had them dyed dark brown. Genius. Even a dark charcoal would be great. I never think about changing the color of a shoe. If I don't like the color, I just don't buy the shoes. But sometimes an okay shoe could be a great shoe if only it were a different shade. So hats off to you lady for inspiring me! I tried to get a pair of my own to dye and no such luck. Any broads out there with a size 40 shoe need some hot boots? Buy 'em and dye 'em!

What a guy!

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"I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It's time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!" - Jamie Oliver
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I caught the series premier of Jamie's Food Revolution that aired last night and can't wait to watch the full season. Tune in to see how Jamie takes on our nation's most obese city: Huntington, VA. It's a disturbing scene watching the chefs at the local elementary school preparing lunch for children. I shudder at the thought of what I ate for 12 years in the public school system. I'm loving that Jamie is taking on this issue. It's about time someone does, and hopefully he can help faciliate some change.

Read more here.

How to Cook Up a Food Celebrity

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I enjoyed the article "How to Cook Up a Food Celebrity" from the NYT's magazine on Sunday. I can't wait to try her award-winning burger recipe one day. Looks delicious.

Happy St. Patty's Day & Corned Beef Hash

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I emerge from the depths of darkness. I came down with the 24 stomach bug that's scootin' around town and have been in bed allllllllll day long. It bites. I needed a few seconds of sanity so I started working through some of my favorite blogs. Mixed Greens offers this delicious recipe if you have leftover corned beef from dinner tonight. I'm a breakfast-for-dinner kind of gal so I'd do it up for dinner if I had any. Reubens are another classic for leftover corned beef.

Happy Happy St. Patty's Day!

The Fabulous Great Jones Home

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Check out the fabulous photo spread over at Swoon showcasing Great Jones Home, one of my favorite stores in Seattle.
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Celebrate!

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Glitter letters from Romp. Love!

I Heart Leather Bookends

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Adorable leather bookends by zuny. So cute in a child's bedroom.

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The Quiet Book

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I just bought a boatload of gifts at my fave gift store Stuhlbergs. I bought the sweetest little book called The Quiet Book for my daughter to go in her Easter basket. The illustrations are so sweet. I know she will love it.

While the cat's away...

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While hubby is out of town on business, I stay up late cruising the Internet, blogging, and making the occasional purchase...

I couldn't resist this ASOS Slash Neck Breton Stripe Top on sale for $22.

Getting Sidetracked

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I love sites like this Paul Costello photography site. Burn a few minutes checking out some cool photos. Found by way of You Are My Fave (not sure how I got there even but I love it).

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Restoration Hardware: Steppin' up the Style

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Wow - a look that doesn't scream "Restoration Hardware". Love the room, the style, the Kensington sofa! I wish I had a room big enough for an ultra long, uber chic sofa.

Trouble for Teens with a Capitol T

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Do you have kids at home on the computer? Have you heard of ChatRoulette.com? Read up. Kinda creepy.

Interesting Fact, Interesting Article for Blogging Moms

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Well I feel better. Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting away my life reading blogs and writing my own. Looks like I'm not alone....

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"According to a 2009 study by BlogHer, iVillage and Compass Partners, 23 million women read, write or comment on blogs weekly."

- New York Times article Honey, Don’t Bother Mommy. I’m Too Busy Building My Brand

Crazy for....

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I'm currently pining over for the Mulberry Alexa bag (above) and the Proenza Schouler PS1 purse (below).

Miso Glazed Black Cod - To Die For

.Photo courtesy of Rasa Malaysia

I had the best piece of Miso Glazed Black Cod in Hawaii so I tried to recreate it last week. Mine wasn't as good, but it was still fantastic. Black Cod is so moist and buttery and this preparation is light and flavorful. I loved it. Can't wait to get my hands on more Black Cod from my pals at Wilson Fish.

I looked over numerous recipes and settled on a version of my own, based on these three...

1) Mark Bittman
2) Food & Wine
3) Rasa Malaysia

C's Miso Glazed Black Cod

2 fillets fresh caught Black Cod, skin removed
1/2 cup organic white miso
1/4 cup sake
2 T honey

Whisk together the white miso, sake and honey in a bowl. Transfer to a large ziploc bag. Rinse fish and pat dry, then add to ziploc. Move fish around to cover in marinade and refrigerate for 24-48 hours.

Preheat oven to 400. Remove fish and wipe off excess marinade. Heat a small amount of oil (I used canola) in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add fish to pan and cook for roughly two minutes per side. Transfer fish to a baking dish and place in oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove and serve with white rice and an Asian style vegetable (bok choy, cabbage, etc).

* I think next time I will try to marinate for two days instead of one. Also, most recipes call for mirin. I used Mark Bittman's recommendation and used honey instead. Next time I might try the mirin just to see how different it is.

Farmers Market Goods & Weekly Meal Plan (revised)

Where does the time go? I blink and it's Sunday night again. Right back at it...

Sunday
Braised Halibut with Fennel & Tomato
Brown Rice

Monday
Sunday leftovers
Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Red Pepper

Tuesday
Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup with Kale & Cannellini Beans (recipe coming soon)
Salad w/ Grapefruit & Blue Cheese

Wednesday
Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday
The Best Ever Chicken Broth Soup
Salad w/ Grapefruit & Blue Cheese

Friday
Delancey or Volunteer Park Cafe

Custom TOMS & Converse

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I love bouncing around the Internet from article to blog to article to blog and discovering so many new things (although it's the world's biggest time-suck). I just came across these custom TOMS and Converse from Green Eyed Monster by way of Dooce. I love how creative the TOMS are and think the Converse would be pretty darn cute on a little tot.

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Koo Koo for Cocoa Puffs

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I've got to start watching Hoarders. I'm strangely fascinated with these types of shows. Tune in Mondays 10/9C on A&E.

Tinsley TV

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Rats! I missed the premier of Tinsley Mortimer's new reality show "High Society". I think she's a little crazy, but I do LOVE her style and covet her wardrobe. Can't wait to tune in on Wednesdays.

Photos courtesy of Style du Jour by Mimi

29 Gifts, Helper's High, & Yummy Yummy Cake

I completed my 29 days of "29 Gifts" on January 29th. It was fun and rewarding. I even experienced some days of "helper's high". There are no rules about what counts so any favor, gift, or anonymous gesture counts, big or small. The point is to just think about doing something nice for someone else.
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Coincidentally, my 29 days started and ended with my favorite cake - the Brownstone Front Cake from Volunteer Park Cafe. Who wouldn't love a slice of that cake delivered to their doorstep?!

If you're ever in a rut or up for something new, try doing 29 days of thoughtful acts. I promise it will make you feel great.

Eating Your Way Through La La Land

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My husband and I love going to LA for the weather and the food. We were both drooling over this month's Saveur magazine featuring short articles and reviews on all sorts of LA based restaurants. If you live there, or travel there, get yourself a copy and get ready to gorge yourself. Start with the Mozzas, two of our personal faves, then work your way through the magazine's highlighted eateries. We're dying to.

(Thanks Kara!)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

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I didn't fall in love with the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" until I listened to the CD. Now I can't get the words or the songs out of my head. My daughter is obsessed with the CD, and I find myself singing the words while trying to go to sleep at night. Kind of a nightmare. Anyway, it's a cute book with a catchy tune so buy the book/cd combo. Great for little ones learning their ABCs.

Attention Seattleites

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If you haven't tried Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream yet, you're missing out. It is so creamy and delicious. We love Scout Mint, Cardamom, Vivace Coffee, Theo Chocolate and more. I'm currently crazy for the coffee and chocolate served together. Eating it right now actually. Baby in lap, ice cream in mouth, life is good.

Unique & Clever Knife Holder

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My friend Tara has this Bamboo Box Knife Holder from Viva Terra. This is so much cuter than a big wood block if you store your knives on the counter top.

Consignment in the City

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My friend Jen got the cutest sweater cardigan at a local consignment shop called Oh Bella. It looked like a pricey purchase but she got it for a steal. Intrigued, I stopped in the store a few days later, bringing items I wanted to sell and hoping to find some gems for myself. I was lucky on both ventures.
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The owner took a ton of my clothes to sell on consignment. I called the next afternoon with a question and the owner said she'd already sold four of my items - earning me $100 in less than 24 hours! A few weeks later and I'm over $300 now. aaaaaaaaaaawesome.

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While in the store, I found the cutest gray vest (channeling my fashion icon Kate Moss) and the most lovely Prada suit. The suit wasn't even my size but it was too cute and too good a price to pass up. Alterations, here I come.
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If you've never been to a consignment shop, track one down in your city. Great place to find a deal and sell items you never wear or can't fit into anymore. Remember the one year rule! (I actually don't follow that rule either.) Call ahead for an appointment if you're bringing items to sell. Most consignment shops won't take walk-ins.
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Attention Seattleites - Oh Bella is looking for more merchandise to sell so there's some motivation to start spring cleaning your closet early this year.

The Oscars Best Dressed: My Personal Fave

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Photo courtesy of CelebrityGossip.net

The Problem with Coffee Cups

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Check out the article "The Basic Problem with Coffee Cups" from Sustainability is Sexy for yet another reason to invest in an espresso machine.

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Discovered via Mixed Greens.

Farmers Market Breakfast of Champions

My daughter and I really outdid ourselves this morning. This is why I exercise - to eat like this...

• Delicious sage & garlic breakfast sausage - Stokesberry Sustainable Farms
• Eggs - Stokesberry Sustainable Farms
• Raspberry apple juice - Rockridge Orchards
• Milk - straight up for my daughter and in a latte for me - Golden Glen Creamery
• Toast on oat bran bread with strawberry freezer jam and butter - Golden Glen Creamery

Get on down to a local farmers market and you, too, can gorge yourself on local, sustainable, delicious food for the most important meal of the day.

Lunch: Five Minute Veggie Fried Rice

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I'm turning into my mother...

It was time for lunch one day and I had leftover white rice from the previous night's dinner. I didn't want to waste it and needed lunch for my daughter so I decided to make a quick veggie fried rice. It took less than five minutes and she gobbled it up. I liked it too and made it for myself a few days later with more leftover rice. It's not going to knock your socks off but it's one of those things to have in the back of your head when you have leftover rice. You can also add leftover pork, chicken, prawns, peas, broccoli, carrots or anything else that sounds good.

Five Minute Veggie Fried Rice for One

1 egg
1 cup white rice
1 T butter
1 T soy sauce
1 T chopped green onion
toasted sesame seeds

Melt butter in a non-stick skillet. Beat egg and add to pan. Cook for a second, continuing to stir. Add rice to pan and stir until egg is starting to cook/scramble and rice is heated. Add soy sauce and green onion. Transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Right Around the Corner

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Invite your friends over for a delicious St. Patty's Day feast and some ice cold brewskis. Delish!

Famers Market Goods & Weekly Meal Plan

Home from vacation and back to the grind. I had some great miso marinated Black Cod in Hawaii so I couldn't resist buying some fresh caught Black Cod at the market yesterday. Can't wait to try it. I planned on having it tonight but after reading over several recipes I learned that most require the fish to marinate overnight. Oops. I guess we'll be having that tomorrow. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Sunday
Delancey (the Brooklyn with sausage added - YUM!)

Monday
Potato & Kale Soup
Salad w/ Grapefruit & Blue Cheese

Tuesday
Miso Glazed Black Cod (this recipe or something like it)
Bok Choy
Cabbage with Hot Sauce
White Rice (with butter, chicken bouillon, & chopped green onion)

Wednesday
Dinner out with friends

Thursday
Tomato Soup w/ Poached Eggs & Croutons
Kale (chips or sauteed)

Friday
In or out - undecided

Love & Love

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Adorable pieces in fun patterns from Kit + Lili and Lucky Wang available at Nonchalant Mom.

What's next in the long line of problems with America's food system?

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Read this quick New York Times article:

"Bribes Let Tomato Vendor Sell Tainted Food"

Out with the flip-flops, in with the Toms

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Oh how I love Toms. I loved the white Tiny Toms my daughter putzed around in all last summer. They couldn't be cuter on those tan little legs. And pour moi, I love the natural colored Toms for sunny days at the pool or beach. I brought them to Hawaii and have been wearing them day and night. Light-weight to pack, easy to slip on and oh so comfortable. Not to mention the brand's One for One movement. For every pair you purchase, they send a pair to a child in need.

I was just checking out the Toms website and noticed you can host a Style Your Sole party. Buy solid white canvas Toms and have all your friends over to paint them. Fun birthday party for kids. Think of all the creative designs they could come up with.

Lavera: Baby-Safe Mineral Based Sun Protection

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I know I'm supposed to avoid BPA, parabens, pthalates, pesticides and more but the growing list of chemicals that are bad is more than I can wrap my head around. I can only read and retain so much. So I defer to the professionals for guidance when it comes to buying certain products. I have a lot of confidence in the naturopaths at Pharmaca. They're well-read and up-to-date on the latest research so I consulted them on which sunscreen to buy for our vacation. They recommended Lavera for kids and adults. Like most natural sunscreens, it takes a bit more effort to rub in so if you're lazy like me you end up sitting around the pool with a white tint. Oh so attractive on an already pale body! The price you pay I guess. Lavera products are sold at Pharmaca, Target, Whole Foods and more.

Advantages of Mineral Based Sunscreens:

• Safe for the whole family including babies & children age six months and up.
• Mineral pigments protect as they build an almost invisible film on the skin’s surface, reflecting harmful UV-A, B and C rays without the need for chemical filters. Skin is protected against UV damage, sun-induced aging and sunburn.
• Free of oxybenzone and cetyl cinnamates, which mimic effects of estrogen in the body.
• Waterproof formulas protect immediately upon application, unlike synthetic sun-protection with requires a half hour to become effective.
• Ideal for sensitive skin, wide range of sun protection factors from SPF15 to SPF40.
• Product is completely biodegradable.

Interesting Facts About Synthetic Sun Ingredients:

Recently released scientific studies by Switzerland’s Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, conducted in 2001, prove a link between synthetic sunscreens and hormonal disturbances in the body. The chemical compounds in synthetic sunscreens have been found to accumulate in body fats and in breast milk, and, by mimicking the effects of estrogen, can induce undesirable hormonal changes.

Synthetic Sunscreen Chemicals with estrogen mimicking effects:

• 4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor(4-MBC), Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-3
• Homosalate(HMS), Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates(OMC)
• Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid(OD-PABA)