1. David Trubridge, Body Raft
2. Poul M. Volther, Corona Chair
3. Sprout Design, The REEE Chair
4. Stokke, Peel Chair
5. Uhuru Design, Bilge Lounge
6. The Baobab Tree, Louis Chair

A lot of these chairs came from the book ‘Eco Designs’ by Alastair Fuad-Luke (#’s 1, 3, 4, 5, 6) and have numerous environmentally sustainable aspects. For example, the book states that “5.3 lb of polycarbonate or ABS plastic are recycled to make one REEE Chair.” This type of plastic, for those who don’t know, is a very strong material seen in a multitude of common objects, including computer parts and helmets. Finding ways to reuse materials is a big interest of mine. If you are also interested in recyclable or reusable products, the book ‘Eco Designs’ was a lot of fun to read, and is constantly kept up to date through new editions.

1. Keds, Women’s Champion Sneakers, zappos.com 2. Walmart, 6-Piece Bright Towel Set, $30 3. H&M scarf 4. Vera Bradley Pencil Box in Twirly Bird Pink, verabadley.com 5. Zara Home- Cushions zarahome.com 6. The Blue Trumpet Paradise Lotus Tea Light, aldeahome.com 7. Bunny- Pink on Natural, designpublic.com 8. Chain Grainée, mytheresa.com 9. Old Navy Rainboots, oldnavy.com 10. Balenciaga Dress in Cream, matchesfashion.com

If you’re like me and buying handmade is your thing, Etsy has great honeysuckle items. Click on the thumbnail to go to the site. **Side note, I think I am in love with the elephants!

Magazines and Blogs, including Elle Decor, have already started designing rooms incorporating Honeysuckle.

So far, I am pro honeysuckle, but I have been reading that the men out there see it as too feminine and therefore won’t be using this hue in 2011, or in general. What is your opinion on masculine/feminine choices for the color of the year? Does it matter? Should it be taken into consideration at all? Have a fantastic new year!

Do As One- The Universal Om Room Allows you to relax, breath, and mediate to gentle ‘om’ chanting. You can customize the color and volume, as well as set a timer and include an ‘intention’ (for example, unconditional love, harmony, etc.)

Lumosity is a site packed with brain games that boost your mind’s productivity. You choose which aspect of your brain you would like to develope or excersize, and Lumosity supplies short games that increase your focus, memory, speed, attention, creativity, flexibility and other mental components. Note: Lumosity is through subscription only, but you are able to try out the site free for five days.

I found this while cruising on stumbleupon and used it as background music for the rest of the day. The music on Niyaz is a soothing Indian-esque melody (excuse my ignorance if this is incorrect), and through the arrows on the bottom of the screen you are able to switch tracks.

Of course, a hot bath, a good book, fine dark chocolate, a nap, or a massage do the trick as well These sites won’t help for everyone, 100% of the time. Try them out and tell me what you think! Maybe they will help you focus your mind and stick to your New Year’s resolution.

This past week I was in New York City visiting some family for the holidays. On Sunday, through the blizzard, I braved the weather to wander The Met for the afternoon. After looking at one of my favorite paintings, The Dreamer by Picasso, I ventured upstairs where I found a large John Baldessari show. The show was packed with mixed media pieces, photographs, and videos. I never had seen his works in person, or all together. Seeing his pieces condensed in one area was a hundred timed better than seeing them in a publication, or on the internet. The retrospect was incredibly strong, and extremely inspiring. Some of my favorites included ‘Prima Facie (Fifth State): Warm Brownie / American Cheese / Carrot Stick / Black Bean Soup / Perky Peach / Leek’ 2006, and ‘Prima Facie (Third State): From Aghast to Upset’ 2005, both shown below.

The Duress Series: Person Climbing Exterior Wall of Tall Building / Person on Ledge of Tall Building / Person on Girders of Unfinished Tall Building

After the show, I bought a pack of ten postcards, and a large eraser with the word ‘WRONG’ printed on the front. I may have to go back and buy another so I won’t feel guilty using one!

Again, I would strongly recommend checking out this exhibit before it closes on the 9th! It was worth the freezing wind and snow!

Only Catch- they are hand crocheted mini treats. Norma Lynn Hood makes Cake Sachets and sells them into order to raise money for non- profit orgainizations including the Kittatis Country Friends of Animals, and the Wine County Greyhound Adoption. Not only can you buy the cakes, but Hood has some free patterns on her website.

Click Here to visit the site!

Now if only I could crochet.. Well, this looks like the perfect reason to learn!

I also tend to under bake all the cookies I make because I can’t stand crunchy, hard cookies. (P.S. cookie tip- microwaving hard cookies softens them up for a minute or two!) Instead of baking them for 15-17 minutes, I went for 13 and a half minutes. Perfectly soft!

Click HERE for the recipe!

More and more people recently have found out they are allergic to wheat. For anyone who reads this blog and fits this description, soon I plan on trying out a gluten- free recipe.

A beautiful color to be sure! Although it is getting to be the end of 2010, it’s still not too late to incorporate this color throughout your home.1. plate, crateandbarrel.com 2. bracelet, net-a-porter.com 3. rainboots, hunter.com . 4.kitty pillow, designpublic.com 5. kettle, amazon.com 6. sheets, walmart.com 7. pillow, gracioushome.com 8. bracelet, fantasyjewerlybow.com 9.retro clock, amazon.com

Here are some home -DIYs- to try out; all in turquoise of course! click to try :]

I’m in love with a lot of things in life, and I think turquoise might become another favorite of mine! As I was searching for more turquoise for this post, I happened upon home and design blogs dedicated to the color! I almost died with happiness. My favorite is the House of Turquoise who designed this incredibly cute nursery.I can’t figure out where to get those huge hanging fluffy turquoise orbs.. I have a mesh shower poof in the same color, but I think instead of hanging those around a nursery I might figure out a DIY for these oddly endearing spheres…

A beach house from countryliving.com . Great contrast with the yellow and lime green while still being sophisticated. All this turquoise makes me want to redecorate my room for the 100th time!

Origami flowers have a lot of pros- they are low maintenance, they keep their color throughout the year, and if you’re like me and lack a green thumb, there’s no way you could possibly kill them. I’ve sent bouquets of flowers to relatives, and given single flowers to teachers at the end of the year. They are a beautiful versatile  craft. Since I’ve made about a million this summer during downtime at work or at home, I’ve built up a colorful bouquet for myself (the bottom right picture.) Here’s how I’ve made them:

Start with a square piece of origami paper.

1. Fold diagonally in half
2. Fold the resulting triangle in half again.
3. Take one of the flaps and press it flat, making a square. Repeat with the other flap on the reverse side.
4. Hold the resulting square so the flaps on the bottom point down.
5. Take one of the folded flaps and flatten it so as the crease line lies in the middle.
6. Repeat step 5 with all the remaining folded flaps (there will be three more) so as the square now looks like picture #7.
7. Take the the sides of the front and fold them into the center. This is a tricky step, but once completed it should resemble picture #9
8. Repeat with all like sides (there will be three more)
9. On every side, fold down the triangular flap (four sides) so the paper resembles picture #10.
10. Fold back one flap, so as you are on a ‘blank’ side of the shape. Here, fold in each side into the middle.
11. Repeat for all ‘BLANK’ sides of the flower- not the sides with the triangular flap. The flower should resemble picture #12.
12. Fold down the top half of each side. These are the petals.
13. With a pencil, roll up each petal and release to create a gentle curl.

If you have any florist’s wire, loop over the top and stick it right through the bottom of the flower to make a stem. To keep it in place, either use a glue gun or wrap the bottom in florist’s tape. Enjoy!

I hope my instructions were clear. It is the first time I’ve ever made an origami DIY. If this doesn’t work for you, don’t hesitate to ask me for clarification. Also, google other directions for different flowers- they’re so many to try!

You Will Need:

1. Old Magazine pages
2. Scissors
3. Glue Stick
4. Glue Gun

1. Using the old magazine, find and rip out pages that can by coiled  easily- stay away from perfume ads and thicker paper. Also, ads and fashion spreads are usually the best because they pack enough color.

2. Cut each page into three equal strips. 1/3 of a page is all you will need per coil.

3. Start rolling a coil by first folding down an edge of about 5 mm. Roll it a second time, and then run the glue stick over the remaining paper. I find that when the magazine paper is sticky, it keeps its shape better and is easier to work with.

4. Repeat this process until you have enough coils to start with (begin with around 5.) Once you’ve made a basic base, you can make the specific amount of coils you think will be needed to carry out your bowl size.

5. Take one coil and tightly wind it up in a spiral. At close intervals, apply hot glue to the strip before firmly pressing it into the rest of the spiral. Remember to go easy on the hot glue.

6. To start a new coil on the bowl, insert a fresh strip under the end of the old and continue to glue and add to the spiral.

7. To create the sloped edges of a bowl, glue each new strip 1 mm or so above the last.

My finished dish is about 10 mm in diameter (4 inches) but it certainly packs a punch and is a great desk or vanity accessory. With this technique, it is possible to expand and make other objects. Enjoy!