Odd News Of The Day

Does old age have a unique scent? According to a recent study conducted at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Sweden, yes. In fact, most of the participants in the study rated the scents of those aged 75 and older as pleasant and not overpowering. Fascinating stuff!

Yodamelon

Watermelon will never be the same! Isn't this a great way to turn a sweet summer snack into something fun? See how it's made at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

Custom Coasters

Blueprint Crafts has a cute idea for turning plain white tiles into custom coasters.

I've been obsessed with finding the perfect coasters for our living room for years now so this seems like a great solution. Granted, coasters don't need to match a room perfectly, but what can I say? I'm picky! :)

The best part about this project is that you can get exactly what you want and it doesn't cost much at all. In fact, you could probably even score a few free tiles from your local ceramic store if they have any batch leftovers or old inventory they're looking to unload.

You can read more about the supplies needed for this project here. Doesn't it look like fun?!

Elsa Mora Paper Art

Can construction paper or a piece of felt be awe-inspiring? If artist Elsa Mora gets her hands on it, the answer is definitely yes. Her unusual upbringing in Cuba combined with her adventures all across the world have helped to shape her talent, which is certainly very unique. Every piece she pulls together speaks to a meaningful journey of some kind, often with a positive spin. Needless to say, her work is positively contagious. I can't get enough of it!

DIY Aged Terra Cotta Pots

Check out this great tutorial from At The Picket Fence for making aged terra cotta pots. Aren't they gorgeous? They're also incredibly cheap! These same pots would sell for a minimum of $40 at a gardening center. I looked recently on a trip to Home Depot and couldn't justify the price, but this project is much more cost effective and allows for customization. I love the addition of pale greens and blues, but any pastel or pale color would work.

Mixology Monday: Wine on Draft

This weekend we took Mike's parents out to a wonderful steak dinner and we ended up ordering wine. When the waitress came to take our order, she told us about a something called draft wine. It's essentially wine that's been preserved in a large, reusable, stainless steel keg versus an individual bottle.

We were told the process cuts down on the total number of bottles used, the wine lasts longer (up to three months after uncorking) and due to the way it aerates in the steel keg, it actually tastes better. Taste aside, Seattle has always been a very eco-friendly city so it's easy to see why they would serve something like this here.

While we didn't compare a standard bottle with the draft we tried, the draft was absolutely delicious and went down smoothly. Well worth trying if you've never tried it before.

Dangerous Beauty

At first glance, this colorful phrase carefully pinned to a plain white background looks nice enough.   However, closer inspection reveals the art installation's true character - it's made entirely from knives wedged into the wall. Beautiful and creepy at the same time. Still, I can appreciate the contrast and the story. Not everything is as beautiful as it seems, right? What an interesting piece!

Mini Blueberry Tarts

You may have noticed the absence of blog posts recently. Based on how sick I've been the last few days, you'd think I caught SARS or something equally life-threatening. Thankfully, it's just a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad cold and I'm finally starting to feel better! 

Now... where were we? Ah yes, inspirational things. Like this miniature blueberry tart. Doesn't it look refreshing? It's so compact and cute, perfect for a summer patio party and festive enough for something like a 4th of July celebration. You can get the full recipe at Baking with Blondie. 

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be nice to put together a little montage of fun gift ideas for anyone out there (like me) who hasn't found the perfect gift for mom yet. Enjoy!

1.  Wheelbarrow salad bowl from Uncommon Goods
2.  Longchamp tote from Nordstrom. Perfect for running errands!
3.  Better than sunscreen hat from NatureMoms
4.  Chocolate chip oatmeal quick bread from Sunset - DIY
5.  Lavender roses from Teleflora
6.  Chocolate strawberries from Shari's Berries
7.  Chic circle pendant from Bliss Living
8.  A year of seeds from Red Envelope
9.  Merrell Lauley Jacket from REI

Mixology Monday: Italian Greyhound w/ Rosemary Sugar

Good morning, readers!

I'm back from Boston and feeling energized and ready to take on the world. The trip was a blast, but now it's time to kick it into high gear and get things done around the house.  We have family coming to stay with us next week.  We're also hosting our very first housewarming party.

I've been searching for the perfect spring cocktail to keep on-hand for our guests and partygoers and I came across Family Style Food's Italian Greyhound with Rosemary Sugar. Doesn't it look delicious?

The sugar rim is made from 1 tbs chopped rosemary and 1/4 c of sugar.

"Pahkin' the cah in hahvahd yahd"

I'm off to Boston this morning for a work-related event called ROFLCon. It's a conference mash-up of many brilliant minds who have helped define internet culture over the last few years. Memes, anyone?

I'll be back to posting next week. Cheers!

Breathing New Life Into Bud Vases

I was bouncing around online looking for the perfect set of candlestick holders for our fireplace mantle and I came across this cool idea on some UK-based site (apologies, the source escapes me). Why not just spray paint a pair of single bud ceramic vases and use them as candlestick holders instead? The result below is a little too modern for my taste, but bud vases come in all shapes and sizes and you can customize your colors. I love it!