All Images Credit: Christopher Halloran Photography (c) 2011

I was recently invited to a cookie exchange — my first. The party sounded like fun, but I was completely stumped by what to make.

Let’s face it, everyone knows cookie exchanges are basically beauty contests for baked goods, and even though this one wouldn’t involve judges or prizes (thank heavens!), I didn’t want to be the one bearing the ‘platter of shame.’

I needed to find a recipe that didn’t just taste good, but looked pretty, traveled well, and was unique — yet easily mass-produced.

After polling friends and family for suggestions and experimenting with several different recipes (including these White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal cookies which were very good but rather homely), I decided to stick with tradition: a Swedish butter cookie. I’m a quarter Swedish and my family has been making a version of these old-fashioned cookies — pressed with a fork and dotted with red and green maraschino cherries — nearly every Christmas for four generations.

I started with my great-grandmother’s original recipe which calls for cake flour, an egg and very little sugar and (for me, at least) yielded doughy, flavorless lumps. Not exactly what I was going for.

So I decided instead to try a fresh take on tradition by adapting this recipe. I increased the maple syrup to enhance the flavor and add some chewiness (it’s still not at all maple-y tasting), added a dash of vanilla and salt, and dipped a corner of the finished cookie in melted chocolate to make it a bit more festive — and decadent.

The result? A crispy, slightly chewy, buttery cookie that resembles shortbread in flavor but is lighter in texture.

They were a big hit with the at-home taste-testers, and although I think we were all too sick of making cookies to actually eat them at the exchange, mine passed the most important test: I came home with an empty platter.

Just one batch yields 48 – sufficient for most cookie exchanges. [Note: There are no eggs in this recipe.]

[Not So] Traditional Swedish Butter Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt

For decorating:
6 oz. good quality chocolate (I used a combination of ½ dark and ½ milk)
Neutral vegetable oil (optional; for thinning chocolate)
2 oz. white chocolate chips (optional; for drizzling)

In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add vanilla and maple syrup and mix well to combine. Add 1 c. of the flour, the baking soda and the salt to the creamed mixture and mix until dry ingredients are incorporated. Add remaining flour and mix just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (At this point the dough can be refrigerated, tightly wrapped in plastic, then allowed to rest at room temperature before proceeding.)

Preheat oven to 300°F. Divide the dough into eight equal portions (I patted it into a disk, then cut the disk into eight wedges) and form each portion into a semi-log shape.

Flatten the logs (I used a rolling pin) to make 9”-long rectangles and place about 1.5 inches apart on two ungreased baking sheets. Don’t worry about making the rectangles too perfect — they’ll flatten and im-perfect themselves during baking. Just part of the homemade charm.

Bake at 300°F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Use a pizza cutter to trim ends (if needed) and cut six cookies from each rectangle; cool on wire racks.

While cookies are cooling, put 6 oz. of chocolate in a glass bowl (a coffee mug works perfectly for the size and shape of these cookies) and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat and stir, 15 seconds at a time, until completely smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slightly. (You can add a small amount of vegetable shortening or neutral vegetable oil, such as canola — ½ teaspoon at a time — if chocolate is too thick.) Happy accident: When baking my last batch, I needed more chocolate but didn’t have the time or inclination to make yet another trip to the grocery store. I used 3 oz. butterscotch chips and 3 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli) — just enough butterscotch flavor to complement the buttery-ness of the cookie without overpowering.

Dip a corner of each cookie into chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes.

Put white chocolate chips in one corner of a snack-size Ziploc bag and microwave about 10 seconds or until melted. Snip off a tiny corner of bag and drizzle over the chocolate portion of each cookie.

Image credit: Christopher Halloran Photography (c) 2011

Linking to Kate’s Cookiepalooza Party at CentsationalGirl.com.

As is the plight of many homes in Arizona, the street view of our house is dominated by a three-car garage. Blech.

Our lipstick-on-a-pig solution was to paint it a solid color and attempt to dress it up with modern mission-inspired light fixtures and windows. But since the garage still makes up nearly half the facade, the front entrance needs to be a standout to get noticed at all.

While cleaning up the aftermath of a recent haboob (which is way more fun to say than it is to experience), I realized our entry was standing out — just not in the way I’d hoped.

Our front door is looking tired and neglected, the welcome mat is not welcoming anyone, and the weathered bench is barely holding it together.

Time to spruce it up — starting with the door hardware.

Our existing solid brass handle set — the Schlage Century — originally had a satin-nickel finish. A couple years ago the nickel finish started wearing off so I MacGyvered a quick fix using some hammered bronze metallic spray paint.

It looked great — for about a year. Now it’s peeling and has worn off in places:

Since I still really like its clean, modern profile, I considered just replacing it with the same one in a different “aged bronze” finish but the $120 price tag — along with the hassle factor of installing a new set — left me open to other options.

Like painting it. Again.

How to Paint Metal Door Hardware

Materials:
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
- Lint-free cloth
- Painter’s tape
- Newspaper
- Primer (if needed)
- Spray paint (Rust-Oleum Bright Coat Metallic Finish in “Dark Bronze”)

Prep. I started with medium-grit (60) sandpaper and sanded down the jagged edges of the peeling-off paint job, then followed it with a fine-grit paper (180) to smooth the surface, being careful not to scratch the brass.

Next I wiped it down with a damp, lint-free cloth.

More prep. Using painter’s tape, I taped the door around both the lock and the handle making sure to get the tape as close to the base of the metal as possible (slightly under it, where I could) so there would be no overspray on the door.

To keep paint out of the keyhole, I cut a double circle of tape to cover it. (This results in the keyhole being a different color from the rest of the handle set, but I can live with that for a lock that works.) I also taped off the thumb lever, since I learned the hard way before that the horizontal surface collects all the extra paint.

After taping off the handle and lock, I added large pieces of newspaper to protect the door, door frame and entry step from overspray.

Choosing the Paint. Although the hammered finish I used the first time was effective at hiding the surface flaws of the metal, I never really loved it – it always looked spray painted. After reading how much the Young House Love-ers adore Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic spray paint and its fancy trigger spray nozzle, I decided to give it a try — in “oil rubbed bronze.”

I took off the red safety slide, shook the can per the instructions (plus some more), and tested the spray on a scrap piece of paper. At first it wouldn’t come out, then I got a bunch of splotchy splatters — not at all the look I was going for on the door. I shook the can some more, tested it again, and got only slightly better results.

I really didn’t want to go back to Home Depot, so against my better judgment I decided to give it a shot on the door. Bad call. The paint splattered everywhere. I wiped off the wet paint with the damp cloth and headed to the Depot.

After I explained my situation, the HD paint expert store helped me test another can. Again, same problem. I don’t know if I just tested a bad batch, but I’m not a fan of the trigger spray. Sorry, Sherry and John.

I chose a different Rust-Oleum option: Bright Coat Metallic Finish in “dark bronze.”

Paint. After testing the new paint on my scrap paper, I sprayed three thin coats 10 minutes apart and I really like the results. Although the finish is called “metallic,” it actually sprays on much more matte – more like real oil-rubbed bronze. Finally, I removed the painter’s tape from the thumb lever and holding a piece of scrap paper underneath to protect the rest of the handle, I gave it one quick spray to coat.

To prime, or not to prime. One of the benefits of the ‘universal’ spray paint (the first kind I bought) is that it contains both primer and paint. When I made the switch to the new stuff, I asked the HD paint pro if I needed a primer too. He said that as long as I scuffed the surface enough to allow the paint to stick, it would be fine. I trusted him. So far, so good.

After letting the paint dry for several hours, I removed the paper and tape. Voila — “new” hardware!

Well, “like” new-ish. And while I’m pleased with the overall result, next time (if there is a next time) I might try using a solvent to completely remove the old finish(es) before painting for a completely smooth look.

Next up: Sanding and varnishing the front door.

Image ©2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

My Aunt Stewart was a born hostess. She made entertaining seem effortless — a trait she passed along to her children. My siblings and I have fond memories of her huge holiday shindigs where she welcomed with open arms every friend and family member who happened to be in town.

She had a quick wit, a deep, throaty laugh, and a classic, honeyed Southern drawl. She took a genuine interest in people and had a knack for making them feel unique and loved.

Heartbreakingly, she succumbed to cancer on New Year’s Eve 1997, just one day after her 64^th birthday.

I adored her, and miss her still.

Me and my Aunt Stewart, circa 1989.  Hence my ‘Talking Heads’ jacket.

One of my most prized possessions is a book she gave me: The Words Worth Eating Cookbook by Jacquelyn G. Legg. Published in 1987, the cookbook is a compilation of recipe cards Ms. Legg created for the beloved (and sadly, now gone) Virginia-based Ukrop’s supermarket chain.

Like all truly great cookbooks, my copy of Words Worth Eating displays the ravages of its usefulness. The back cover has long since gone AWOL, and nearly every page is dog-eared and scarred by food splotches and grease stains.

I can’t open it without thinking of my aunt, and I’m grateful to have this frequent reminder.

Image ©2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

The cookbook also contains the recipe for one of my favorite desserts: Fresh Fruit Tart. It’s perfect for summer when most fruits are at their peak, but I’ve also made it in the dead of winter. No one complains.

As Ms. Legg comments: “Easy and spectacular! You won’t have any leftovers.”

I love how the simple, buttery, shortbread-y crust complements the creamy filling and the sweet-tart fruit. It’s quick to put together — a mixer helps but isn’t essential, and the most time-consuming part is arranging the fruit on top.

I’ve been making this recipe for more than 20 years now and I know it by heart. But for some reason I still open my cookbook to page 246 every time.

Over the years I’ve changed it up a bit so I included amounts from the original in parenthesis next to my version.

Image ©2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Tart

(Adapted from The Words Worth Eating Cookbook by Jacquelyn G. Legg (c)1987)

Crust:
½ c. butter, melted (original recipe calls for ¾ c. butter but it seems greasy to me)
1 ½ cups flour
3 T. sugar

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened (original recipe calls for 11 oz. but I prefer the higher fruit-to-filling ratio. I also usually substitute lower-fat Neufchâtel with great results.)
5 T. sugar (original recipe calls for 7, but I reduce due to using less cream cheese)
1 ½ t. vanilla
1 T. fresh lemon juice (not included in original recipe)

Topping (choose 3-4 from list):
1 pint strawberries, washed and thinly sliced
2 kiwi, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pint blueberries, washed
1 c. seedless grapes, washed and cut in half
2-3 peaches, peeled and thinly sliced
1 small can mandarin oranges (not called for in original recipe but so pretty!)

Directions:

Crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees (350 if using a dark pizza pan). Combine butter, flour and sugar; mix well. Use fingers or the back of a wooden spoon to spread on a 12-inch pizza pan (or form a 12-inch circle on a larger pan). Bake for 12-15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool.

Filling: Blend softened cream cheese (or Neufchâtel), sugar, vanilla and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled crust to within ½-inch of edge.

Topping: Arrange fruit over cheese layer. (Tip: A quick Google search of “fruit tart” or “fruit pizza” images yields lots of creative inspiration for arranging the fruit.) The original recipe also calls for a glaze made by heating ½ c. apple jelly or orange marmalade mixed with 1 T. water, then pouring it over the fruit when cool. I’ve never used it.

Serves: 10-12 (original says 12-14 but I’m highly suspicious.)

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Jacquelyn Legg concludes the cookbook’s introduction page with this quote:

“Use these recipes with love to entertain those in whose company life is most enjoyable.”

Come to think of it, that sounds just like my Aunt Stewart.

Image ©2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

Problem is, all that freedom and flexibility means my business — and busy-ness – can fluctuate wildly so when work comes in I tend to take it.

Perhaps that explains why I took on nine major new client projects last month.

But, like a bad infomercial, that’s not all!

In the same time span, my only child graduated from high school, I hosted house guests for 15 days, and I dealt with the deaths of three people I loved. Between funerals and commencement ceremonies, there were times I wasn’t sure I would get through it.

I worked 18+ hours a day to meet deadlines. I do not recommend this schedule — it results in nervous tics and causes inadvertent two-month blog-cations. It leads to neglect of loved ones, in particular my husband, my son and my parents (who traveled 2,300 miles for the privilege) — all of whom were incredibly gracious, supportive and understanding. I didn’t eat right or exercise nearly enough. Or sleep.

But oddly, the one thing I did do amidst all this self-inflicted insanity was start another new writing project – a list.

Working so many hours for so many days in a row opened my eyes to just how much time I’d been wasting before. And I decided that if my life were ever restored to my pre-project “normal,” I would start making better use of my time.

So during this crazy busy spell, whenever an idea popped into my head for something I could/should/wanted to be doing instead, I wrote it down.

It’s not a particularly remarkable list. In fact, it’s a rather hodgepodge jumble of to-do items, thoughts and ideas. It’s a life list of sorts, but it’s not at all glamorous in the traditional life-list sense – no exotic travel destinations, no skydiving, no triathlons.

Rather, my life list is made up of ways to use my time to improve my life — projects I need to finish, routines I want to simplify, blog posts I’d like to write, and relationships I want to nurture: “Cooking w/CDA before college” “Paint the guest bathroom baseboards.” “Learn Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah on the piano.” “Finish bookshelf redo.”

Mundane, yes. But the past two months have been an effective wake-up call for making every minute count. Funerals will do that. You have X number of minutes in your life; use it or lose it.

And that’s why I made my list.

My list is uniquely mine – captured at a time when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And now a constant reminder to be grateful that now I can.

A non-expert’s tips for making a non-traditional life list:

Keep it free-form. Although my inner control freak threatens to take over and organize everything in categories, I’m finding it’s a good exercise to run through the entire stream-of-consciousness list each time. And since there’s no particular order, I can keep adding ideas as they occur.

Keep it simple. Wherever you decide to keep your list, make sure you’ll see it often and can update it easily. I’m old school — I still like to physically write my lists. This one lives on an ancient steno pad that never leaves my desktop.

Keep it realistic. This list is not about that trip to Paris. Rather, it’s for capturing things that are meaningful, that need to be done soon, and that can be accomplished in a relatively short time with few resources.

Just keep it. Most people have a much better chance of accomplishing things if they write them down. I’m no exception and I’m guessing you’re not either.

Image © 2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

About four years ago I did a stint at Weight Watchers. What I liked about the program was that it worked – it forced me to think about every single thing I put in my mouth and I dropped the weight in about three months.

What I didn’t like so much was attending the weekly weigh-in meetings. They were long. They were rah rah. And they mostly seemed to be about hawking goods or services rather than providing genuinely useful suggestions.

Somewhat ironically, nearly every meeting would end with a free sample and coupon for some new diet snack.

Since this was the beginning of the 100-calorie pack phenomenon, they were frequently the snack sample du jour. Most of them tasted fine — I even bought a couple boxes — but I didn’t like getting so little for my money, even with a coupon.

Neither did this Consumer Reports 100-calorie pack reviewer who concluded:  “If you can buy snacks in their regular packages and use an ounce of willpower, your wallet will stay fatter.”

Logical? Yes, but it’s that “ounce of willpower” that seems to be the sticking point. After all, if I’d possessed an ounce of willpower, I probably wouldn’t have needed to join WW in the first place.

So I tried a little experiment to see if I could encourage my willpower a bit and save a penny or two:

The contenders: One box of  Cheez-It® 100 Calorie Right Bites (on sale for $2.50) versus one box of Cheez-It® Reduced Fat Crackers (on sale for $1.99):

Image © 2011 Christopher Halloran Photography

The results:

Taste. The crackers in both boxes tasted exactly the same – slightly drier and more salty than regular Cheez-Its, but fine for filling the snack void. The ingredients listed on the boxes are also the same.

Yield. The prepackaged 100-calorie box contains six snack packs with 22-25 crackers in each for $.42 per pack. The regular box produced 16 snack packs of 22 crackers each for about $.12 per pack.

Savings. Doing it myself saved three and a half times what I paid for the pre-packaged snacks. And the really good news is that this works for pretty much any snack – nuts, pretzels, chips, popcorn, cereal, dried fruit, etc.

I’m guessing the how-to here is pretty self-evident but just in case — here’s the lowdown:

To make any snack a 100-calorie pack you’ll need:

• Bag or box of your favorite snack
• Zip-top snack or sandwich bags
• Calculator (Optional if you’re good at math. Not optional for me.)

1. Determine the number of snacks per bag. Look at the nutrition label on the package and find the recommended serving size and the number of calories. (For the reduced fat Cheez-Its, it lists a serving as 29 crackers for 130 calories.)

If the calorie count listed is already 100 — your work is done. Just put however many snacks it says you get for 100 calories into the zip-top snack bags. Easy peasy.

If not, grab your calculator – here’s where the math comes in. First find the calories per cracker by dividing the number of crackers per suggested serving (29) into the calories (130) – in this case 4.5 calories per cracker.

Then divide 100 (total calories) by 4.5 (calories per cracker) to get the number for the 100-calorie pack – in this case, 22.

2. Count the snacks out and seal them in the bags. I promise this goes really fast. It’s even something kids love to help with, though you may have to factor in a few extra for on-the-job sampling. Store the filled packs in the original container.

Hello instant portion control.

Counting out my snacks first works great for helping me avoid whole-box disaster scenarios — I’m the type of gal who can easily consume an entire container of Reduced Fat Wheat Thins in a sitting (they are ‘reduced fat’ after all).

Used snack bags go back into the container as well. Not only do the empty bags let me know exactly how many 100s of calories I’ve consumed, but they also can be reused for the next batch.

Final note: I presented this tip at my final Weight Watcher’s meeting and won the prize for “tip of the week”: a box of 100-calorie packs. Who says there’s no such thing as poetic justice?

I had a very short-lived career as an interior designer — it was great until I discovered that making it my job sucked all the fun out of it for me.

But I still love design, and I’ve amassed hundreds of magazine tear sheets over the years. I store them in plastic sheet protectors and file them by category into three-ring binders. Call me OCD, but they’ve been a great resource – not just for me, but for friends, relatives and even the occasional client.

About a year ago I was leafing through a binder to find a paint color for a friend when I stopped, mesmerized by a painting in a room I’d clipped nearly five years ago:

Art: Drip Circle by Mario Uribe; Designer: Kelly Wearstler; Source: Western Interiors Sept/Oct 2006

Although the color is incredible, it was the fluid, incomplete circle that really pulled me in. The room was designed by Kelly Wearstler, who commissioned the painting — aptly called Drip Circle – from artist Mario Uribe.

After some research, I learned that the circles Uribe paints are a type of ensō, a symbol commonly found in Japanese calligraphy and one of the most prevalent symbols in Zen art.

And thus began my fascination with ensō.  As both a form of artistic expression and an ideology, ensō represents peace, elegance and the wholeness of existence. According to one definition: “Ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create.”

As I paged through the rest of my (10!) binders, I found more rooms featuring ensō-inspired artwork.

Turns out I’ve been collecting it — subconsciously — for more than a decade:

Interior design and art by Charles R. Aber; Source: Decorating, Nov/Dec 2002

I love so many things about this room — the cool, silvery gray walls and Roman shade; the warm golds; the pops of green; the twig chandelier; the natural elements — all anchored by the fabulous (and huge!) abstract ensō painting. I clipped it almost nine years ago, but it’s still just as fresh and relevant today.

Interior design and art by Charles R. Aber; Source: Decorating, Nov/Dec 2002

Another abstract ensō by Charles R. Aber anchors this entryway.

Art: Cercle, 1998 by Takesada Matsutani; Design: Juan Montoya

Designer Juan Montoya says of this painting, “It gives the room scale. Everything was designed around it.” Love how he used the single, graphic textural pillow on the humongous sofa.

Art and interior design by Doug Wilson

This room, by Trading Spaces designer Doug Wilson, features a painting he “swiftly executed” for the space. (To me, it’s a split ensō.) I also love the orange tissue paper-covered walls.

Artist: Ken Tate

The abstract ensō painting helps give this room its Asian vibe. I like the strong visual contrasts and how the colors in the painting are repeated throughout the room.

Artwork: Fraser Taylor; Interior design: Matthew Leverone; "Western Interiors" Sept/Oct 2006

I originally clipped this room for the Poulson Artichoke chandelier and Christian Liagre chairs; now I notice the art and how it mimics the table shape.

Intrigued by my tear sheets, I bought a book to learn more: Ensō, Zen Circles of Enlightenment by Audrey Yoshiko Seo (she’s also the source for the Wikipedia article). It features more than 50 examples of ensō created by monks — and a nun – complete with background stories and interpretations.

In the foreword, Zen Master John Daido Loori writes,

“[The ensō] symbolizes enlightenment, power and the universe itself. …it is believed that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true one.”

The way ensō is drawn — whether the circle is complete or has an opening, whether it’s done in a single brushstroke or several, whether it’s a perfect circle or more of an oval — is also supposed to reveal all sorts of things about the artist.

After reading the book, I bought some Japanese calligraphy brushes, ink and art paper. While living in Japan, I’d learned how to write the basic Japanese calligraphic syllables – hiragana and katakana – so I already knew how elemental characters were formed.

How difficult could it be to draw a circle with a big, fat paintbrush?

As it turns out, quite difficult.

I wanted my ensō paintings to look like those in the book — or the magazines. But they were lumpy or oval or incomplete. I started to worry about what my imperfect attempts revealed about me, my character, and my mental and spiritual wholeness.

These worries were quelled a bit after I found this wonderful video clip on Mr. Uribe’s site wherein he describes how he came to do what he does. One of the things that struck me most was his description of American art versus Asian art.

He says that with American art, “You can erase lines. You can start over. … The end result is what’s important.” With Asian art however, “You do something and you accept it. The honesty or the integrity with which you approach whatever it is you’re going to do — that is what’s important.”

So that’s why I decided to kick off this post with the lumpy, clumsy ensō I painted yesterday. Although I was sorely tempted to keep re-doing it until I had a better one, I followed Mr. Uribe’s advice: I did it and I accept it.

Tomorrow I may make a better one, or maybe I won’t. Perhaps I’ll not even try. I still have a long way to go before achieving spiritual and mental wholeness.

But with ensō — and with life — I’m finally coming to understand that what really matters is that I’m progressing, and the honesty and integrity with which I approach the journey.

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Making your own ensō art is easy. All you need is:

1. A brush. I use a set of bamboo calligraphy (or sumi-e) brushes I picked up at Hobby Lobby. They are also available online at dickblick.com. I’ve found they’re the best for achieving an interesting “point” at the starting and stopping points of the ensō. But truthfully, any brush will do — I have also used watercolor brushes, an angled trim brush and even (in a pinch) a kitchen basting brush. They all work for achieving different, interesting effects.
2. Paint or ink. I like to use sumi-e ink because it’s thin and easy to work with, but it’s generally waterproof and NOT recommended for young children (or your sanity). Watercolor paints work well for little ones. I’ve also used acrylics and craft paints.
3. Paper or canvas. Because I tend to use water-based paints and inks for this project, the paper matters. For my “daily practice” I’ll often just use printer paper — which tends to wrinkle after drying — or a sketch pad I keep just for enso painting. But if it’s something I want to make more permanent, I like to use special paper created specifically for sumi-e. The only drawback is that it runs about $15 for 20 sheets, so it makes me more nervous about “messing up” which is sort of the opposite of why I’m trying to do it in the first place.

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Special thanks to Mario Uribe, Kelly Wearstler and all the other artists, interior designers and authors who introduced me to ensō — even before I knew what it was.

Art: Drip Circle by Mario Uribe; Designer: Kelly Wearstler; Source: Western Interiors Sept/Oct 2006

Sharing this post at Centsational Girl’s Paint Projects Party.

It’s going to hit 95° later this week in Phoenix, so the last thing I’d intended to be writing about today is a sweater. Or anything fashion-related, really. But a bargain this good simply must be shared.

Yesterday I went to Old Navy — the plan was to exchange something there, then head to the In-N-Out drive-thru across the street for a cheeseburger. But when I saw the stacks and stacks of sweaters on the clearance table, the plan changed.

For years I’ve been searching for the perfect ‘chunky but not too bulky’ white turtleneck sweater (see inspiration photos, above) so I figured it was worth a shot.

I picked up a sweater and noted the price — $9.97. Decided to try it on. Wrong size. Tried on a different one. Fit perfectly – sleeves long enough for my monkey arms; neck loose enough but not too cowl-y; just the right length.

Exactly what I’ve been looking for since 2002.

Sold. The gal at the checkout register said “That’ll be $3.23.” Me: “Three dollars?” Her: “Yup. Kinda makes you sick, doesn’t it?”

I looked again at the price tag. Sure enough, it was marked $2.97 (from an original $36.50).

Here’s the proof:

Apparently the first one I tried on had missed the latest markdown tagging party. (I didn’t tell the checkout gal, but I didn’t really feel that sick.)

Although the photo isn’t posted on the ON site, the sweater was featured on AZcentral.com:

Photo by Michael McNamara / The Arizona Republic

It’s no longer available online, but there were tons left in five (or so) different colors and pretty much every size at my local Old Navy. The receipt describes it as “Cowl Neck” with these numbers: 809526-02-1.

So for $3, I opted for the sweater. I’m hoping it’s less fattening than a cheeseburger.

I was in Virginia earlier this year to lend a hand after my father’s heart surgery. I wanted to prepare a simple but nourishing meal for his first night home from the hospital, so my mom suggested I make his favorite white bean chili with chicken.

I glanced over the recipe she handed me — noting the extensive use of cans — and said somewhat skeptically, “hmmm, this looks … easy. Who gave it to you?”

My mom looked at me oddly. “You did.”

So despite my wariness and complete lack of recall, I followed “my” chili recipe. It was surprisingly good. And it occurred to me that at some point along the way, I’d become a recipe snob. I’d abandoned many easy, low-cost, delicious meals simply because they didn’t include exotic ingredients, or require sufficient chopping, or called for (gasp!) something from a can.

Luckily, my quest for simplifying my life has released me from such snobbery. Sure, I’ll always prefer fresh, local ingredients to canned, so if there’s time, I might still prepare dried beans the night before; or add a chopped, sautéed onion and some fresh garlic with the salsa; or substitute shredded, grilled chicken for the canned (or leave the chicken out altogether for my vegetarian son).

But when there’s not time, it’s still perfectly good – and perfectly simple – just as written.

The recipe is easily doubled, and freezes quite well too. It also makes a really nice white bean soup – just omit the cheese and add a bit more broth.

Recipe: 15-Minute White Bean Chicken Chili

1 (12-oz) can chicken breast, drained
2 cans Great Northern beans, drained and well-rinsed
1 cup prepared salsa (I use a medium salsa to give it a bit more kick)
2 (12 oz) cans chicken or vegetable broth (I substitute Herb-Ox bouillon and water)
1 ½ tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
½ – 1 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack and Mexican blend are all good)
Garnish: Fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro or scallions, sour cream, salsa

Place chicken, beans, salsa, broth and seasonings in pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors. Stir in cheese and add garnish(es), if desired.

Serve with a green salad and tortilla chips (we love the organic white corn chips from Costco). For a heartier meal, this is also good served over cooked white or brown rice.

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Linked up to Tasty Tuesday  over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

For 15 years, my beach ‘uniform’ has not changed: Swimsuit, board shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap and flip-flops.

This has suited me just fine – in my experience (which doesn’t include Miami Beach, btw) most people don’t seem overly concerned with what they wear to the beach.

But with a couple beach trips looming this summer – trips on which I will likely be with fashion-conscious people I actually know — I decided it might be time to step up my game.

Truth is the baseball cap neither keeps out much sun nor sufficiently contains my crazy, exploding beach hair; the board shorts and t-shirt tend to get wet – then sandy – then heavy; and the flip-flops fling sand everywhere.

So while admittedly this is not a blog about fashion — nor am I any kind of fashionista — it is a blog about simplifying my life. And coming up with something to wear to the beach this summer does simplify my life in a big way, especially since I’m likely to wear it for another 15 years. At least.

The Mission.
Find travel-friendly, affordable beachwear that offers sun protection, dries quickly and has a modicum of style.

The Inspiration.
A quick Google search revealed that there really aren’t a lot of photos of regular people at the beach –  at least not with a high enough SEO ranking to match my patience.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it meant I was pretty much stuck with celebrities as my inspiration. And most photos of celebrities on the beach are actually more depression-inducing than inspiring.

But I finally landed on these photos of ‘girl-next-door’ Elle Macpherson who, at 48, can still make anything look good. (Disclaimer: I have never lived next door to anyone who looks even remotely like Elle Macpherson.)

(Image sources L to R: Photo by Bauer Griffin via  Stylebistro.com, Stylebistro.com, Babble.com)

What I like:

Hat: Big, floppy beach hats are a bit too ‘Paris Hilton’ for me. Elle’s interpretation of the cowboy-inspired straw hat trend is a bit more tailored — good not only for hiding my Medusa-esque beach head, but also for protecting my burn-prone scalp from the sun.

Cover-up: This one is loose and flowy but still has enough fabric to offer some sun protection. Also, one of my favorite suits comes with a cover-up skirt that doesn’t work with my board shorts but would work fine with this.

Bag: I already own a ginormous beach tote for towels, etc. These cross-body, Mexican-blankety bags would be perfect for stashing plenty of sunscreen, lip balm and reading material without the ‘huge’ factor.

Sandals: These look like they might both stay on better than flip-flops and fling less sand.

Jewelry: I really like those wood bead necklaces, too, but I must accept my reality: I will never accessorize that much for the beach.

The Shopping List:
Since I already have a swimsuit and sunglasses, here’s what I needed to find:

• White cover-up with sleeves
• Straw cowboy hat
• Cross-body beach bag
• Sandals

The Goods:
Twenty minutes after compiling my list, I walked into Target to buy gifts for some upcoming weddings. (Apparently it’s high season for weddings – we’re averaging an invitation a week – and since everyone seems to have registered at Target, I’m all about the one-stop shopping.)

As soon as I walked through the sliding doors, I saw this on an endcap:

Price tag? $12.99. Done. (It says they are sold out online, but there were still plenty at my local Target. Just click the “Find it at a Target store” button.) They also sell this slightly different version.

Both hats have adjustable wire brims, are real straw (vs. paper) and although they’re ‘one-size-fits-all,’ after trying on several, I finally found one small enough to actually stay on my head.

Here’s how it compares to the inspiration:

Image sources: Fashion-tips.co.uk; Target.com

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Update (April 16, 2011): Here’s Denise Richards’ version — nearly the same hat:

                         Image Sources: HQ Celebrity.com; Target.com

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I next headed to the swim section where I found a few cover-up options, but not quite what I was looking for. Hit the jackpot at the clearance rack where I found this — for $9.99:

I bought it (in medium) and love it — super lightweight (but not too sheer) and very, very comfy. It also works well paired with shorts, a longer skirt and skinny jeans for when I really want to cover up.

How does it compare? It’s close enough for me:

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Update (April 16, 2011): Looks like Denise Richards got the message on the white cover-up, too:

Image Source: HQ Celebrity.com

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It’s hard for me to overstate how unusual this is. I HATE to shop and I hardly ever find what I’m looking for. But this time I found two things in my first 10 minutes at Target – at just over twenty bucks for both.

I think I used up all my good shopping karma for the next 10 years on that single trip to Target.

As a result, the third thing on my list – the slightly funky, boho, Mexican blanket-looking cross-body bag took a bit more digging. Target had a couple contenders, but not quite right:

A couple days later, a quick Google search turned up the winner at Bleudame, an online boutique whose only storefront is in Canton, Georgia. I love the Internet!

While not a perfect match, it’s still well-suited for my beach needs. Plus, at $18, I’m guessing it cost a penny or two less than Elle’s bag. I’d imagine that something similar could also be found at a swap meet, flea market or on a quick trip to Mexico.

For a slightly more elegant – and, at $42.50, more expensive –  option, I also love this J.Crew farmer’s market tote:

As for shoes … I haven’t actually purchased any yet, but these are a few I’m considering:

Left to right: Old Navy ($23), American Eagle ($30), Target ($15)

(Although the Old Navy and Target versions aren’t real leather, this might actually be a bonus for the beach.)

Add sunglasses and a swimsuit and I’m good to go. At least until 2026.

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One more thing — if you’re looking for something a bit more uptown (say, for a cruise) this collegefashion.net post has some additional options, including this (I swapped the swimsuit for this one):

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Image note:  All images of Elle Macpherson are credited to the site where I first found them; they’re in so many places I couldn’t find the original source. If you are/know the original source of any of these images, please let me know and I’ll add the proper credit/links posthaste.

While living in Japan in the late ‘80s, I got really sick. Go-to-the-hospital sick.

When the doctor came in to review my x-rays, his expression was grave but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. (Even though I spoke Japanese, my medical vocabulary was, um, sparse.)

The one part I could make out was “gan mitai.” I knew that “mitai” roughly meant “looks like,” so I frantically paged through my Japanese–English Dictionary to find out what my illness ‘looked like.’

As is common with Japanese kanji characters, there were a bunch of different definitions for gan – wish, duck, alcove … even gun. But I was fairly certain which kanji he meant.

Cancer.

So I did what anyone in their early 20s would do when they’ve just been told they have cancer: I got a second opinion.

Turns out I just had a bad case of pneumonia, but I was still laid up for a couple weeks.

To help with my recovery, a gaggle of adorable grade-school girls gifted me with a true labor of love – folding and stringing together 1,000 origami cranes. Called senbazuru (sen = 1,000, tsuru = crane), they are believed to bring good luck or health.

Since tradition says the good luck and health is intended for the person who actually folds the cranes, the girls insisted I learn how to make at least one. So they taught me. Very patiently.

And thus my love for origami was born.

It’s a love I tried to pass on to my son. Problem was I wanted him to start with something easy, like a three-fold mouse, but of course he was only interested in making the 35-fold T-Rex. This aspect of his personality helps explain why I’ve been unable to help him in math since he was 5. It also helps explain why, 25 years after returning from Japan, I still have 500 sheets of origami paper stacked in my craft cabinet.

So when I saw this charming handmade Year of the Rabbit card at NotMartha.org (made by Matthew Moore), I knew it was destiny:

I was born in a year of the rabbit — and had all the supplies on hand? This project was definitely a no-brainer for me.

If you are among those who would consider sending a New Year’s card in March unfashionably late (although the Year of the Rabbit didn’t even officially begin until Feb. 3), this can also make an Easter card. Or place cards,  anniversary/wedding cards, birthday cards, good luck cards, etc.

It’s pretty much a bunny for all occasions.

I first tried replicating the inspiration card, but couldn’t quite capture the cool, slightly quirky Asian calligraphy vibe. Mine ended up looking more like a botched third-grade art project.

So I made up my own cards using scraps I had on hand, like this red and tan gingham wrapping paper:

Gingham Origami Rabbit Card – View #1

Gingham Origami Rabbit Card – View #2

Gingham Origami Rabbit Card — Message

My origami paper came in two sizes — 4.5” and 5.75” — so those are the dimensions I used when cutting the other paper, but any size square will work. You can also use any paper you’d like – newsprint, wrapping paper, computer paper, etc. – but thinner paper is easier to work with.

These graphic B&W origami rabbits came together quickly from IKEA and Hobby Lobby wrapping paper remnants:

Origami Rabbits from wrapping paper

Print your own paper. For my brother’s upcoming anniversary, I used my favorite free typewriter font to print ‘custom’ origami paper on regular printer paper. I then cut the paper into 5.5-inch squares and voila! — an easy, no-cost way to personalize their card:

Personalized origami anniversary card – Front

Personalized origami anniversary card – Inside

Place cards & name tags. Brightly colored origami rabbit place cards would be fun for an Easter party or egg hunt:

Origami Rabbit Place Cards

I had some patterned card stock left over from my wedding, so I decided to put it to use as a birthday card for a friend whose signature colors are brown and green. The white origami rabbit is made from a scrap of textured Japanese rice paper. (The other rabbit I attempted from the card stock remnants turned out okay, but proved my theory that thinner is better — at least when it comes to origami paper).

Rice-paper Origami Rabbit All-Occasion Card

The ‘pressed for time’ collection. Every time I go to the store to buy cards, I get sticker shock. $4.59 for a greeting card? No thank you. But the 99-cent cards are so cheap and cheesy, I often leave the store empty-handed.

I created a quick Word template with a thought bubble that I can personalize for nearly any occasion. Add an origami rabbit and I’m done:

More ideas: Easter, Birthday, Farewell and Good Luck cards

There are many ways to tweak this to make it your own, but I really like the abstract, back-of-the-bunny version – clean, simple, modern and a bit tongue-in-cheek. (Which means that some people will have no idea it’s supposed to be a rabbit.)

It is one of the simpler origami projects I’ve attempted, and I’m guessing it would be fun even for young-ish children.

So happy Year of the Rabbit. And happy folding…

Instructions. (Adapted from these.)

1. Position paper square (patterned or colored side down) like a diamond. Fold the bottom point up to the top and crease to make a triangle:

2. Fold the left point of the triangle to the right, then unfold. (This creates the crease you’ll use to align the ears.)

3. With point of triangle facing up, fold the bottom edge up about a quarter of the way. (This determines the size of the ears, so you may want to experiment first with some scrap paper to see how big/small you want the ears to be.)

4. Fold the bottom left up and in, toward the center crease; press firmly to create a fold.

5. Repeat with the right side. You may want to align them to help the ears match up — as I clearly did not:

6. Fold the lower tip up to form the flat bottom of the rabbit and glue or tape into place. This makes it easier to attach to the card. (If using thicker paper, it helps to first glue or tape the center to ensure it stays together when folding up the bottom.)

7. Flip the rabbit over and attach tail to bottom center using glue stick. I used a hole punch to make the tails from some leftover card stock and foam scraps. Circle stickers or tiny white pom poms could also work if you are so inclined.

8. Attach rabbit to card of choice.

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Photo credits:

Images © 2011 Christopher Halloran Photography.

“Happy New Year Card” from Megan at notmartha.org.