Simple Arrangements

As much as I do admire gargantuan formal flower arrangements bursting with exotic tropicals and fragrant petals, there is definitely something to be said for the simple and the small. This time of year, especially, it is so nice to be able to brighten our rooms with little hits of spring in all our little corners: on the mantel, on the coffee table, on the nightstand or on the window sill. With most of the continent still firmly under Winter's thumb, venturing outdoors to snip a few sprigs of loveliness from the garden is rarely an option - the southern states excluded, of course. Florists carry a wide variety of flowers that many vendors will sell by the stem, or at least by the half-dozen.  Once you've selected your favourites, choose a pretty vessel and arrange the stems casually to help impart a feeling of relaxation. Don't fuss with formality. The idea is to keep the arrangement as simple as possible. Below are some examples of pretty little arrangements of a single stem, or a single variety of flower or a single colour. I hope they inspire you to create your own little burst of spring indoors.

Lily of the Valley (left) is a fragrant, delicate flower. One of my favourites. The stems look lovely in this mercury-glass vessel. On the right, a single apple tree branch, all in bloom, emerges from a plain glass jar, lending a subtle scent and an interesting shape.

Not sure what these are on the left, but I love the spherical shape and the monochromatic palette. A trio of small glass jars is each filled with a trio of stems. They look terrific in a group like this, or you could place them in different rooms. On the right, white ranunculus bring a delicate and feminine touch to this pale, sunlit room. 

Thistle flowers on the left create a marvelous mound of texture in quiet shades of lavender and green. The vase used is a non-glazed ceramic pot. On the right, beautiful dark-red hellebores lend just a small dose of drama.

Don't tell Madonna, but sprigs of Hydrangea are actually quite lovely, shown at left. A single stem in a glass milk jar looks almost treelike. On the right, a large collection of ranunculus looks gorgeously wild in this very large glass canister.

If you do live in a region that has an abundance of wildflowers this time of year, take good advantage of them. A blue glass jar on the left proffers a variety of summery wildflowers. On the right, the blossoming branch of a fruit tree brings certain drama to this rustic kitchen. The glass bottle with its narrow shape is the perfect vase for it.

Get Organizing!

The latest special issue of Martha Stewart Living is all about organizing. It is on newsstands now and contains a vast collection of organizing and clutter-cutting techniques for any household. Its release is strategically timed to coincide with the debut of Martha's new organizing products at Staples:  a wide array of folders, binders, labels and storage units for your home office. 

The booklet is free of advertising, like all of Martha's special supplement magazines, and is printed on thick, high-gloss paper. It's quite beautiful. It begins with an introduction from Martha, followed by an overview of organizing basics called Organizing 101: cut the clutter, store it where you use it, etc. Then, it heads through the house, room by room, starting with the entryway, providing the best solutions for keeping the space clean and organized. Even kids rooms are included. Each of these chapters then concludes with a series of "Good Things" for organizing that particular room: little tips and ideas to help you keep everything in its place. There is also a six-page spread devoted to Martha's houses and how she keeps her busiest rooms organized.

I consider myself a very organized person but this magazine is still useful to me. It's a refresher course and a reminder that without organizing there can be no real enjoyment of a space. How can you decorate a space if it is not organized? How can you function in a space if it is governed by chaos and mismanagement? Organizing really is the first step to keeping a home functional and enjoyable. You shouldn't stress about organization, but you should realize that disorganization is the result of stress and only continues to feed stress. Organization is Zen! Organization is peace of mind! Get Organizing! Do you have any organizing tips to share?

Gael Towey, Chief Creative Officer for Martha Stewart Living, has a gorgeous kitchen. The magazine takes you 'behind closed doors' to reveal how she keeps everything in its place.

Pegboard is used in this sunny bathroom to keep soaps and bath toys corralled. The linen closet beyond reveals basket storage and shelves with neatly-folded towels.

A boy's room, on the left, features a storage unit with large bags made of sturdy oilcloth that hold his toys. On the right, magazines and supplies in this home office are kept supremely organized in labeled storage units.

My Favourite Stationers on Etsy

Each January, I spend one morning, usually towards the end of the month, gathering sources for great stationery. I do this to prepare myself for the year of birthdays, holidays and special occasions that lies ahead. I never like finding myself scrambling for a greeting card at the last minute, so I definitely plan in advance, often buying unique cards when and where I see them, stocking up so that I have extras for those impromptu occasions. Inevitably, I always return to Etsy. I like buying stationery at Etsy because there is so much on offer, usually with very unique designs that you simply can't find in stores. The fact that most of the greeting cards are handmade, often using time-tested printing techniques and tools, only makes them more special. Below I've shared some of my favourite stationers on Etsy. (Many of them have a lot of cards on offer for Valentine's Day!) Please take a moment to view them. 

YEE-HAW PRINTMAKING: Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, this stationer and printmaker has Southern sass to spare. Many of her prints and cards contain witty puns and campy charm but there are still favourites for the traditionalists. These oversized postcards above are ideal for Valentine's Day. Click here to see her store.

A FAVORITE DESIGN: Based in Chicago, this letterpress designer and printmaker was trained as a graphic designer. I've been a longtime customer of hers and I love the innovative and creative designs of her cards and stationery: a Valentine disguised as a movie ticket or a pack of cigarettes with the subheading, "You're Addictive." Brilliant! Click here to see her shop.

ORANGE BEAUTIFUL: Another Chicago great, Orange Beautiful has been around for ages with an actual store in that city on Damen Avenue. They operate a fairly robust business and offer a plethora of cards and stationery with designs that are modern but that speak to all sorts of tastes. Click here to see their Etsy store. Click here to read their blog, and here to see their website. 

LETTERPRESS DELICACIES: Based in Austin, Texas, these guys offer crisp, clean designs, each one printed by hand. I'm particularly enamoured of the depth of the embossing and the quality of their paper, not to mention their simple but original designs. Click here to see their shop.

SILHOUETTE BLUE: Megan Nutley in Forest Park, Illinois, is the proprietor of this lovely shop that specializes in personalized stationery and letterpress, such as the 'mixed tape' wedding invitation, above. What's interesting about this business is that it first began as a senior design project in art school! Her work is vibrant, colourful and bold. Click here to see her store.

WIT AND WHISTLE: "Stylishly quirky paper goods" is their tag line and that was enough to sell me on this stationer, Amanda Wright, based in North Carolina. She offers a wide range of greeting cards, journals and prints with a whimsical touch. Click here to see her store.

BY VIK INK: I've ordered greeting cards and card sets from this stationer in San Diego for years, including the designs shown above. She offers really terrific customer service and a great selection of cards for a number of occasions. Click here to see her store.

ARAMATO DESIGNS: Amy Armato is the founder of this little business based in Minneapolis. My 2011 Christmas cards were ordered here. Again, she offers wonderful customer service and plenty of personalized options for your stationery. Click here to see her store.

SATSUMA PRESS: I have yet to order from Satsuma Press, based in Corvallis, Oregon, but I surely will. I've fallen in love with the delicate details of her designs. She calls herself a perfectionist and a firm believer in craftsmanship. I'm sold! Click here to see her work.

SYCAMORE STREET PRESS: Heber City, Utah, is the home of this stationer, which I first discovered at work (Anthropologie) where we sell many of their cards. They use sustainable inks, which is nice, and their designs are so fresh and colourful with lots of imagination behind them, such as the letterpress fortune teller, above. Click here to see their Etsy store. Click here for their website and blog.

A Dynamic Duo: Black & Gold

When it comes to high-voltage drama, few colour pairings manage to inspire awe quite as successfully as black and gold. Inherently luxurious, seductively sexy and unquestionably daring, the pairing of sober black with audacious gold pushes elegance to its limits. With all its moody turbulence, winter seems like the perfect season to expound the virtues of this palette for interiors, with a few cautionary tales for good measure.

Achieving success with this pairing, whether in fashion or interiors, can be tricky. The lusty pursuit of gold shimmer can become a slippery slope towards tackiness if it isn't tempered with restraint. We've all recoiled, at one time or another, when faced with a room full of tawny brass baubles or an individual drenched from neck to finger in gold 'bling.' There is something to be said for understatement, even when dealing with a palette that is anything but.

Because it is a metallic, gold is usually the culprit when things go awry. Black, the darkest of neutrals, is safe because of its flatness and can be used generously. Gold gets randy and shouts to be seen, which is why it should be used as an adornment, like jewelry, brilliantly capturing light and warming it against the coldness of black, which creates the gorgeous tension of light and dark. It is the tension that makes it sexy and powerful.

The effect one achieves with black and gold will always be dramatic. It is not a combination for the blushing flower. If you want impact and glamour, this dynamic duo does it best.

Everyday Food Light: Review

Over the holidays, I gained seven pounds. That's not terrible, but it certainly isn't good. Unrelenting cups of eggnog, glasses of wine, hors d'oeuvres and very large dinner plates filled with comfort foods took their toll. (And don't even get me started on all of the baked treats I scarfed down over a 10-day period.) 

January is always a time to refresh and renew, whether it's your home or your body. Thankfully, the editors of Everyday Food magazine have offered up a new cookbook that is all about preparing light meals. It's caveat? That all of the recipes be no more than 500 calories. The salmon burger with yogurt-dill sauce and whole-wheat bun you see on the cover below, for instance, is just 332 calories. Pretty amazing.

To tell you the truth, I am not really a calorie counter. As Julia Child once said, "People who love to eat are always the best people." Very true, indeed. I love food more than I can really express. In fact, before I go to bed each night, I secretly plan my breakfast so I have something delicious to wake up to. This is why I am not generally a fan of 'diet' cookbooks, fearing the recipes inside will be flavourless, pulpy and filled with lists of hard-to-find ingredients. What I have come to love about Everyday Food (the magazine, and the three cookbooks the magazine has developed so far) is that I can rely on the editors to count the calories for me and to present an array of meal options that involve simple, at-the-ready ingredients, fast prep times and delicious flavours. Everyday Food Light does all of that.

Soy-glazed Tofu and Roasted Carrots: a light Asian dish packed with flavour, not calories.

The book divides its recipes by season, which is probably the most effective way to organize a cookbook, although organizing by meal, course or time of day is also handy. There are 203 recipes in the book, subdivided by meal within the seasonal chapters. And, again, each recipe is under 500 calories. The editors are very careful to boldly state the calories on each page and also provide helpful insight as to why the recipes are light and healthful: explaining the health benefits of certain ingredients and ways to enrich flavours.

Following an introduction from Martha, the book begins with a very excellent chapter that outlines a number of ways to cook healthier meals. There are the "Golden Rules for Eating Light," which I will outline below, and informative sections on healthy cooking methods: poaching, steaming, cooking in parchment, stir-frying, roasting and grilling. (No, folks, deep-frying is not on order.) There is also a helpful guide to the tools any kitchen should be equipped with in order to assist with light cooking (steamer baskets, roasting pans, parchment paper, immersion blender, grill pans, etc.) followed by an excellent list of flavour-boosters to help enrich the process of cooking light with that much-needed dose of deliciousness: marinades, dry rubs, herbs, spices, salsas, citrus juices and zests, etc.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to try their hand at lighter cooking or simply add a few lighter options to their repertoire. I also think this is a great book for anyone interested in vegetarian cooking. While it is not designated as a vegetarian cookbook (there are many recipes with meat and fish for the carnivores among us) most of the book highlights the goodness of vegetables and fruits, grains and meat substitutions, such as tofu and beans. Some of the recipes could likely be considered vegan, although they are not labeled as such. Check it out at your local book store or order it from Amazon here. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Below are the golden rules of eating light that the book provides in its introduction.

Herbed Pasta Salad with Mixed Grilled Vegetables

THE GOLDEN RULES OF EATING LIGHT:

Rethink your routine: Instead of frying or sautéing, try lower-fat cooking techniques such as steaming, poaching, grilling and roasting.

Make simple substitutions: Use yogurt instead of sour cream; instead of full-fat versions, use reduced-fat varieties of milk, cream cheese and mayonnaise. Try partly-skimmed mozzarella and ricotta cheese.

Pay attention to proportions: A serving of protein should be the size of a deck of cards, and a serving of starchy foods, such as rice and pasta, should be the size of a tennis ball. (Note: Nutritionists suggest that a dinner plate should be at least half filled with vegetables.)

Go easy on the oil: Rather than pouring oil straight into a pan when cooking, parcel it out with a measuring spoon. Or use a pastry brush to lightly coat the pan and the food with the oil before roasting. 

Up your vegetables: Increasing the number of vegetables on your plate and reducing the amount of meat is a simple way to cut fat and calories and increase the level of nutrients in your diet.

Opt for lean protein: Choose lower-fat meats, such as skinless chicken and turkey breast, or beef and pork tenderloin, instead of rib-eye and Porterhouse. Eat more fish and meatless proteins such as beans and tofu.

Slim down your salads: To keep your salad more healthful, make your own vinaigrette using less oil than store-bought versions, or use low-fat buttermilk in creamy dressings. Toss the salad with just enough dressing to coat and cut back on fatty additions such as cheese and croutons.

Add fat-free flavour: Instead of relying on fats like butter and oil, enhance your dishes with vinegar, citrus juices and zests, spices as well as fresh and dried herbs. 

Fill up on fiber: Beans, whole grains and legumes are relatively low in calories yet packed with fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer. 

Choose sweets wisely: Make a low-fat treat for dessert, such as angel-food cake instead of cheesecake, granita instead of ice cream, or enjoy just a few squares of bittersweet chocolate.

Cold Soba Salad with Feta and Cucumber

Martha Says No To Factory Farming

How many of us really know where our food comes from? Up until just a few years ago, I admit to having almost no idea about how the food I purchased in the grocery store was produced and harvested, or where it came from. While I have never been a big consumer of meat products (I simply don't enjoy cooking it) I have likely purchased beef and chicken products that were sourced from factory farms: vast, industrial plants that 'manufacture' meat for the masses, much of it used in fast-food production. Today, I make very careful choices about what meat I buy and where I buy it from. Living with someone who is vegetarian, my partner Tomas, has also raised my awareness about meat production and animal farming.

When a friend of mine sent me this link to Martha speaking about her support of Farm Sanctuary, an organization that works to prevent cruelty to farm animals and raise awareness about how society views and treats these animals, I knew I had to share it here. Be warned that  some of the footage contained in the video is disturbing, but please take a moment to listen to Martha speak about the subject and to think about the framework of the farming infrastructure in North America. Please also visit Farm Sanctuary to learn more about their organization and do what you can to prevent the wholesale cruelty of over 9-billion animals that are 'processed' on these farms each year.