What Can You Do with Your Teeth and Some Ice?

Cold day in sunny San Diego – although I suppose we have nothing to complain about considering that most of the East Coast is struggling to dig themselves out from under “Snowmaggedon.” 

Courtesy of British artist Andy Goldsworthy, here are some wintery reminders that complex art can be created out of the simplest of materials. These temporary sculptures were made using only Goldworthy’s hands, teeth, and found tools. 

You Are What You Buy

This  NYT article profiling the financial success of arts and crafts website Etsy does a great job simultaneously highlighting the shift in consumer behavior post-recession. 

Many Americans no longer simply want to acquire a large number of material possessions, instead they want to acquire a smaller number of possessions that are of higher quality and are congruent with the way they want to be perceived by others.

Robert Kalin, the co-founder and chief executive of Etsy, said the site was catching on because many people now want their buying habits to reflect their values, as indicated by the surging interest in farmers’ markets and local clothing designers.

“It’s not just ‘you are what you eat’ anymore,” he said. “You are what you buy, and these things define you.”

Santa's New Ride

I think that Santa would approve of this holiday themed Vespa. I know it would certainly make me jolly to find it under the Christmas tree.

It gets 75 miles per gallon, drives up to 59 miles per hour, and is reasonably priced at $4,399. 

Santa, I have been a REALLY good girl this year, right? ♥

Affordable Art

Given and grateful for the task of decorating the new apartment, I have been poking around on Etsy for some affordable and inspiring pieces of art. Some lust-worthy options:

Little Fox Prince, by This Year's Girl

The Butterfly, by Ella Moss

You've Gotta Have Heart, by Ella Moss

Here There Be Dragons, by Racey Tay

From plastic bottle to messenger bag

Since I have moved a little farther north, I no longer have the luxury of running home every time I need to change clothes for the yoga studio, or swimming, or as is the case today, braving the torrential downpour soaking Southern California.

In my quest to be a prepared and organized nomad, I could not be more excited to have found this awesome bag from Timbuk2 – the king of messenger bags. Currently on sale for $20 (from $30), the crossbody bag is made from recycled plastic bottles, and folds up into a tiny pouch when not in use. Genius.

5 Foods and Beverages to Avoid During the Holidays (and After)

1)      Tonic water. The popular mixer in alcoholic beverages has as much sugar per serving as two glazed donuts. Who knew?

2)      Spinach and artichoke dip. 300 calories and 19 grams of fat per serving. Angioplasty anyone?

3)      Pecan pie. I think I might gain weight even reading this – one serving contains, brace yourself, 810 calories and 65 grams of fat.

4)      Bagel and cream cheese. Typically this breakfast staple contains 500-600 calories, while an egg and cheese English Muffin is only 300 calories.

5)      Eggnog. Tastes good but at 343 calories and half your daily recommended cholesterol intake per serving – totally not worth it. 

To Toss or Not to Toss?

According to a new estimate released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  about 48 million people get sick and more than 3,000 die each year from food poisoning in the United States. That means that one in six Americans become ill each year from tainted food.

I have a tendency to get sick to my stomach easily, so I always err on the side of caution when it comes to throwing food in the fridge away if it has been sitting there longer than I deem appropriate. But truth be told, I am not really too sure about what an “appropriate” shelf-life is for a lot of food. I am possibly throwing away a lot of food that is in perfectly suitable condition for consumption.

Apparently I am not alone. Whole Living Magazine says that Americans waste roughly 14 percent of their food purchases annually, and 15 percent of that includes products that were within their expiration date.

The next time you are wondering if that milk, cheese, or spinach should go into your nightly meal, or into the trash, look it up on shelfadvice.com. The site was created by a college professor (not a crack-pot) and includes recommended shelf life of most ingredients, as well as up-to-date info on food safety recalls and storage tips to maximize freshness. 

The Feminine Art of Quilting

I recently received an incredible Christmas gift from a co-worker – a patchwork quilt that she had made by hand. It reminded me of the beauty and simplicity of feminine handicrafts – and of the days of yesteryear when my grandmother and her friends would create crafts together as a way to socialize.

I keep tossing around the idea of joining a “Bitch N Stitch” group  - but until that day of motivation comes, I will tide myself over by admiring these beautiful pieces are art. Truly, some of them are awe-inspiring: 

Whispering Willow by Joann Fisette

October by Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover

Serenity Bridge by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics

Californians manage their finances better than peers?

A headline in our local paper, The San Diego Union Tribune, caught my eye today as it encouragingly announced that “Californians manage finances better than peers.”

That ain’t saying a whole lot though. According to a study released today by an arm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, my financial woes are more the norm than the aberration. Apparently, most people in the state are trying to “keep up with the Jones’” and despite outside appearances are actually living hand-to-mouth.

Highlights of the study include:

• 50 percent of Californians are living paycheck-to-paycheck - spending more than or roughly equal to their household income each month - slightly below the nationwide average of 55 percent
• 21 percent of Californians say that over the past year, they have spent more than their income, not including borrowing for major purchases such as cars or homes. That's roughly even with the national average of 20 percent. 
• 58 percent of Californians lack a “rainy day” fund, roughly equal to the nationwide average of 60 percent.
• 36 percent of Californians are dissatisfied with their current mix of debts, assets and savings.

My (Imaginary) Christmas List

I have been trying to be an especially good girl this year.  To continue the trend, I am determined to stick to my Christmas budget and not go overboard spending on myself or others. So I will get out some of my material lust by sharing these - a few picks from the multitudes of gifts I have seen floating around the Web. Sharing is caring - and in this case, sharing is also free!

Coin Purse: French English, $22

Good Luck Charm: Pocket Buddha, $4.99

Scallop edge: Simple Brrlin suede boots, $85

Art: Paris is For Lovers, $30

Comic Relief: The Fantastic Mr. Fox, $13.99

Tiffany's: Elsa Peretti Bean pendant, $100

Cozy Feet: Clark's Faraway Hill boots, $140

Heavenly scent: Kai Perfume Oil, $45

Have a heart: Indonesian Cuff Bracelet, $49.99

Fiesty and Foxy: Knit Winter Critter Hat, $32