Hmmm, yes, it’s been quite some time since I posted. I’m not where my online life will go in the future, but I wanted to leave anyone still stopping by a “see you later” note.

First, the chai recipe. OK, this is a little foggy as it’s been a few months, but the general recipe is pretty similar to what you’ll find online in lots of places. I’d say if you know you really like, or really don’t like specific spices you should adjust as needed. It’s pretty hard to make a sweet spiced tea that is bad using these spices.  To start peel your ginger (you’ll need a 1/2 – 2 inch piece, depending on how much you’re making and how ginger-y you want it to be. Use the edge of a spoon to peel it, then you’ll need to smash it a bit (I use a mortar and pestle). Put the ginger and your whole dry spices in a coffee filter. We used cinnamon sticks broken into pieces, cloves, green cardamom, star anise and black peppercorns. Simmer the spices and your black tea in a saucepan of water for at least 20 minutes, and longer if you’d like your mix to be stronger. Remove the spices and teabags, sweeten liberally, mix about 1/2 and 1/2 with hot milk, and there you have it. (this is also super-yummy chilled with milk!)

OK, I feel better now.

I guess the only other thing I really need to say is thank you so much, my few readers. I do think I’ll be back online at some point in the future, probably at homeanddryblog but for now my energies are needed offline. I wish you all good things.

Sarah

 

I’ve been having such a hard time posting for the past few weeks. I’m sorry I’ve been slacking off. Sometimes it’s an odd thing, this blogging. I really do love it, I love that I have a reason to write, and that I get to share things that inspire me. Then again, there are times that I simply need a break from being online. Like so many people I spend my workdays in front of a computer. Sometimes the last thing I want to do when I get home is get out my computer and start in again, even if it’s something I enjoy. So for the past few weeks my home computer has been off and in the corner, and I’ve spent my evenings and weekends mostly offline. And just to prepare you, I have a lot going on between now and December, so posting will continue to be a little less daily.  The good news is everything I have going on is inspiring and I’m already excited to share! I hope you enjoy today’s little sneak peek, starting with the colors and textures above that have me inspired to redecorate (maybe…).  

 
Top Chef Just Desserts and Lucent Dossier - flaming desserts and smokey sensual sideshow awesomeness – what more can you ask for? 

State Parks – cool crisp air just begs to be enjoyed, don’t you think? This past weekend I went we headed out to see this waterfall and I’m hoping the future will hold trips to see colorful maples, and this Indian lodge. 

Holiday crafting! My sister and I just bought a Cricut machine  and  we’re going to start by using the machine to cut out designs from Contact paper for a glass-etching project similar to the one above from Martha Stewart (I’ll share a tutorial with you next week!) 

Etsy emails make my day. I especially love the collections in Etsy Finds – they give me a fix on those days when I don’t get a chance to explore on my own, and introduce me to things I may never have even thought of. I found this fine silver leaf ring and this modern macrame last week.
 
I think Cooking Light will be my new magazine addiction. We’ve been trying to eat healthier lately, and it’s so nice to have the calories, fat, and all that other stuff figured out for you without having to eat prepared processed meals. 
 
Always inspiring is Marie Claire Idees. I stalked the bookstore last week waiting for the latest issue to appear on the shelves. I dog-eared so many pages I may as well have marked the whole magazine! If you can’t find it where you are the blog has lots of beautiful inspiration, and lots of French practice!
 
I can’t remember how I found the blog even*cleveland, but once I got lost for almost an hour! I love the smooth flow of posts, a beautiful stream of consciousness that carries the reader along with it. For me it’s becoming my mid-day resting place, when I need an escape from the day’s drama. 

Chai tea recipes – it’s so easy to make from scratch, and I’ll share my new favorite with you later this week.
 
And finally, my recent personal soundtrack…

Matt Pond Pa
Courtyard Hounds
Band of Horses  
Sam Phillips  
Nina Simone 

Hope you find something to inspire you among these links!

This vibrant tree was painted by my talented cousin, Katie (the Texas one – I have two cousins Katie!) and is currently on loan from my parents. I have it in my bedroom, where I see it first thing every morning. I hope you enjoy.

It’s raining again today – it’s been a very wet month here in Austin. Apparently the wettest on record since 1921. Central Texans aren’t exactly good at rainy weather – the traffic has been horrible – but I find this weather comforting. For me fall is supposed to be cooler, wetter and a bit more overcast. Now that summer is officially over, I’m enjoying this little bit of “real” fall.  

I snapped a few photos of the last flowering bush in our parking lot at work for you. The rain had mostly let up for a few minutes, and the sun was shining it’s brightest as it ducked behind the buildings on it’s way to sleep. I love the tiny drops of water on the flowers and leaves. Seeing the sun peek through all of that green took me, just for a moment, back to the woods I played in as a child.

When I got home this little guy was crawling up my storm door. He was moving pretty quickly for a snail – maybe I scared him getting all up close and personal like that. He never quite stood still enough for me to get a good, clear photo, but I thought I’d share with you anyway.

I hope you stay warm and dry tonight, no matter what the weather outside.

A big thank you to Lynette Schimming, the photographer who took yesterday’s gorgeous photo. Turns out that was a butterfly, not a moth. Oops! She was kind enough to share these photos, which actually are moths, and I was inspired to look up the differences.

It seems that butterflies normally have thin antennae with balls or clubs on the end. They usually have brigher coloring, thinner bodies, smoother wings with smaller scales, and fly around during the day.

Moths, on the other hand, have a variety of antennae, but usually without the clubs on the end. Their bodies tend to be fatter and furrier, the larger scales on their wings make them look fluffier and they are generally nocturnal.

There are more differences I found (wing structure, cocoon versus chrysalis, resting posture) but the physical ones are the ones I’m most likely to remember and be able to identify. I hope you enjoy these pretty moths (for real this time). Thanks again to Lynnette Schimming for the gorgeous photos! Happy Tuesday!

Photo by Lynette Schimming, found on bugguide.net

Happy Monday everyone – hope your week is off to a good start. I’m enjoying a little cool fall weather here in Austin – it’s only in the 80s today, and will dip into the low 70s tonight! I love the fall and it’s so nice to get a little taste of fall down here in Austin – it doesn’t happen very often. This cool(ish) weather, combined with the fact that October is fast approaching has me in full-on fall-fever. I’m toying with forest-related crafts ideas lately, and one that I thought of was making some felt moths for my yarn wreaths. Moths are one of those things I don’t immediately consider, but when I do I realize how incredibly beautiful they are. Something about them seems much more fall-ish and forest-y than summery butterflies. I’ll share some photos once I create some creatures. In the meantime you should check out bugguide.net for some great photos of moths and other critters.

Gift giving is a popular subject online – there are a lot of great ideas out there. I thought I’d share a few of my current favorites.

Author Seth Godin ruminates on the difference between a present, a favor, and a gift – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/06/gifts-misunderstood.html

I found The Gifted Blog after Charissa mented over here, and I’m so tickled I did – what a beautiful blog with so much gift inspiration!

Sites like Make, Craft and Instructables not only provide inspiration, but also detailed instructions on a gazillion projects.  Even though some of these are WAY outside my skill level, and most of them are not things I’ll ever make myself, I find lots of inspiration here, and more things that I feel I could tackle than I ever will have time for. (Bonus link – Jim Henson making puppets! http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/09/jim_henson_making_muppets.html)

I couldn’t even begin to cover all of the blogs with free instructions, patterns, downloads – internet-land has everything you might ever want to find, if you take the time to look for it. Some of my favorites are How About Orange , Jinjerup and Skip to my Lou.

I hope you find some inspiration in these links!

Hey everyone – happy Thursday!  I hope you’ve all had a good week so far. I have some amazing Etsy deals for you today, and a few tips for making the most of your spending while still supporting indpenedent creators. I have five amazing shops to share today, and I found every one of them by searching for “Clearance.”

First up is the fantastical jewelry of ChYMieRa.  I have a soft spot in my heart for fantasy nightmarish fun, and I love these delicate and dark creations! Her other shop, MayberryGeneralStore, is a cool old-timey shop that seems a perfect, softer twin to the creepy cool of ChYMieRa.Tip: PIF = Pay It Forward, this is a clue that this seller is passing along some great deal in the past to you, in spirit, through her fabulous deals. The idea is that you do the same in the future. There are some great deals out there if you search PIF, and it’s a sweet concept.  Just don’t forget to pass along your good fortune to someone else! AmysPinPals has some great destashing going on right now. I have some of this owl fabric, but in color. So cute! Amy also does custom sewing projects and has some beautiful examples up in her shop.  Tip – search for destash and take advantage of other folks clearing out their unused supplies!

Wicked Soaps has some wicked deals right now on summery soaps and scents.  The descriptions are simply mouth-watering. I think any time of year is the right time of year for lavender martini soap and milk and honey lotion. Click over to her blog for more soapy goodness and some occasional Robert Pattinson. Tip: off season = big savings!  

Mama feels Bueno stocks beautiful trims and applique that could easily transform a simple garment into something drop-dead gorgeous. I love all of the beautiful butterflies too! Tip: Combine shipping! The shipping on these bits of trim is low to begin with, but when you look at how low it is with another item you’ll buy the shop out!

 Remember When Vintage by butterflyemoon is a nice assortment of vintage goodies, and every single thing in her shop right now is buy-one-get-one half price. I just love the Julie London albums - aren’t they cool! The drum-style ice bucket would be great on a retro bar, even if it’s not Christmas. When you have a moment check out her blog to learn more about her great eco-village learning center plans, and her other Etsy shop, Circle in the Wood for some pretty wire-wrapped jewelry.  Tip: look for storewide sales, and take advantage of them!

To sum up – search for what’s on sale. The terms: “Destash,” ”Clearance,” “Sale,” “Discount,” “BOGO,” “PIF” and ”Pay it Forward,”  are all good places to start. Combine shipping and look for things that could be categorized as last season. And above all, have fun shopping!

I absolutely adore a good theme. I tend to go completely overboard when it comes to the brainstorming and idea part of planning, and a theme really helps me focus. The best way to pick a theme is to find inspiration. Whether it’s finding that one item that would be perfect for someone (see the pirate themed gift below), or being inspired by a  broader concept that isn’t as obvious (see Family Feud-style gift below).

I once created a pirate-themed gift for my hubby. It all started with an eye patch. The kind you get in the drug store when you have a real medical reason to have one.  I made a polymer clay skeleton jointed with paper clips holding a stuffed heart, a homemade banner that spelled out “AARGH!,” stuck in some gummy skulls and used pirate stickers from the dollar store to decorate a plain bag. It was a hit!

I think it would be fun to do a Family Feud style themed gift. Perhaps for a foodie you could do, “Name something you would put on a pizza” and include a nice pepperoni, pizza crust mix, a pizza spice blend, tomato sauce and some beer to have with your pizza.  You could really get creative with these, just spend some time looking online for questions and find one that inspires you!

Often theme gifts are also container gifts, but container gifts aren’t always theme gifts. In this category I put gift baskets, stockings, gift bags, really any container filled with smaller gifts.  I am a fan of this type of present, and I tend to do some variation every Christmas for several folks. The container can be anything you can imagine. Think beyond the traditional basket and consider, for example, covering shoe boxes with fabric or decorative paper and embellishments, or using vintage trays picked up at a a thrift store to gather your items. 

One of my nieces loved was a pretty little purse filled with lip gloss, a change purse (with change), a key ring, a necklace, and a tiny stuffed toy.

The year that I gave everyone a stocking for Christmas was one of my favorite version of the container gift. I filled felt stockings with toys and games and candy. We spent the morning playing with paddle balls, punching balloons, trick puzzles, and noisemakers, all while hopped up on sugar. Good times.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing! I can google a “child of the 80s” list and spend an hour reminiscing (if anyone will listen). The key to using memories in your gifts is to know the recipient pretty well. It’s not enough to know their age and assume everyone who was alive in the 70s will go bonkers over something from “The Love Boat.” If you don’t know them very well, skip over this one. But if you know someone fairly well, and pay attention when people tell their stories, you can come up with gifts that are both ridiculously inexpensive and truly tear-worthy. 

For a class once I wrote a paper about my mother and the things she had taught me. It was basically a string of stories from my childhood. For Mother’s Day I printed up that paper book-style, and made a cover out of fabric glued onto cardboard. My mom absolutely loved it, and it cost me only time and a little effort. I didn’t buy a single thing for it.

I’m a big fan of handmade gifts. My mom is just about the most creative person I’ve ever known, and growing up we were pretty broke. We made A LOT of gifts. This is an area where some skill and knowledge can come in handy, but don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t make a nice handmade gift. I truly believe anyone can, if they are willing to put in the time and a tiny bit of effort. If you can follow basic instructions you can make a nice gift! 

My grandmother had a little decorative wall hanging by her front door for longer than I was alive. It was something I think my dad made for her. It was a trio of canning lids (the flat, lid part, not the ring) painted black, with flowers cut out and pasted into the center of each, glued onto a ribbon in a row. I think there was a bow at the top. It wasn’t a work of art,  but it was displayed proudly where everyone would see it every single day.

Regifting. There, I said it.  If you can get over the guilt you know you do it. I think there are some basic rules you can use to minimize regifting guilt. Don’t regift something that’s obviously used. Don’t regift something within the same group (don’t give your brother what your mom gave you last year, especially if she’s right there!). Don’t regift something that was given or received with sentimentality.  If it is meaningful to you, or to the person who gave it to you, don’t regift! At one point I used a system where I stored gifts I had received, new in the box, with a post-it on the outside saying who had given it to me, and the date. Then before I went shopping for a gift I would check out my regifting closet shelf.

Secondhand gifts can also be from thrift stores or yard sales. Really! That piggy bank on yesterday’s post – thrift store purchase, $5.00. It’s a cute vintage piece that cleaned up well. All it needs is a rubber stopper and it would be perfect for a gift for the right person. We once found a really cool bird feeder at a garage sale, cleaned it up, and gave it to a family member who loves to feed the birds. He was thrilled! I think the key here is to find things that are in good condition, and are good gifts for the intended recipient. Also, there are some people (you know who you are) that are never going to be happy with a secondhand gift. Just don’t even bother. Luckily you can pick something from another category!

Everyone likes food. Everyone. Handmade or store bought, sweet or salty, old favorite or new discovery. There is something out there to tickle the fancy of any person on your gift list. In most cases I like to make my own food gifts. Even if you’re not experienced I guarantee there are yummy treats you can make all on your own and even become famous for among your friends and family.  One of my favorite techniques for finding a new recipe for gifts is to head over to allrecipes.com and start poking around. Look for the recipes with a lot of stars and a lot of ratings. Then read the comments. The cooks who post there are usually quite adept at recipe adaptations, and with just a little research you can have a signature gift. I’m just going to throw this out there – Mom’s Zucchini Bread. Unbelievable!

A surprise party fits the bill here, so does a big trip or a ticket to a sporting event. But so does a movie marathon at home, help running errands, or game night. The key here is to make it truly an event, and make it something the recipient will appreciate. This year for my husband’s birthday I got everyone to meet up at the bowling alley. There was a vague “Big Lebowski” theme (Ok, mostly just the white Russians), cupcakes, little plastic trophies, and party favor buttons with bowling balls or my husband’s face on them. I didn’t spend too much money, and didn’t go all out and extravagant, but we had a blast.

I’ll admit it, I’ve maligned the gift certificate as a gift option. In the past I thought it was pretty much a cop-out. More recently I’ve found myself appreciating the well-thought out gift certificate. I pretty much only get a pedicure these days when I get a gift certificate for it. The important thing about giving gift certificates is choosing something the recipient will enjoy, and choosing something they may not splurge on themselves.

Coupons fall in this category too. You’ve seen the coupon books with cute little illustrations and promises to do one favor or another for the recipient. I’ve made them, given them, and received them. My experience has been that the thought is appreciated, but most of the time you would do those same favors regardless, and the recipient is probably not going to tear out a coupon and demand a favor. These really can be great on a budget though, and perhaps the coupons could be more of an announcement of something you are definitley going to do, maybe even with a specific date.

So tell me, do you have any other types of gifts you like to give? Any tips or tricks for giving on a budget or stories of your favorite gifts (given or received?).