Pentel...do tell

In the midst of packing up my work materials for my trip to San Diego I noticed that the pencil leads in my Pentel Twist-Erase mechanical pencils needed to be replaced. I quickly reloaded the lead and the eraser tips since those were pretty much wiped out as well.

It was while I was replenishing them that I realized I've had these same two mechanical pencils for about 5 years. Of course, it is only with intense safeguarding over the years that I still have them. Many co-workers  throughout the years had tried to waltz off them, but I was quick to retrieve my coveted pencils.

I was taken with the Pentel Twist-Erase mechanical pencils from the moment I used my first one. Not only is the grip oh so soft and comfortable but it is latex-free. It is so easy to refill the lead and let's not forget the refillable eraser. I can't tell you how many refillable pencils I'd tried prior to the Pentel that didn't have eraser refills. As if we need to add more to the landfills.

The Pentel Twist-Erase mechanical pencils range anywhere from $3.54-$5.25 depending on where you purchase them. I purchased mine in a two pack at Staples. To read more about Pentel's Twist-Erase or to purchase visit:
http://www.pentel.com/catalog_product.php?id=719

I was excited to see how many more colors are available now. Of course, I'm hoping I won't need to purchase new ones for at least another five years!

Nuts about CB's peanuts

Jumbo in-shell peanuts and sea salt are the only ingredients in CB's small batch roasted peanuts. Maybe that's why they are so good and so addicting!

I had seen CB's peanuts at a local market and I have to confess, being a graphic designer it was the packaging that first caught my eye. I love the rustic peanut logo and I'm always a sucker for kraft packaging.

I'd never really been a big fan of shelling peanuts but while my Mom-in-law and I were out running errands in Kingston one day I noticed the CB peanuts store. I quickly turned on my blinker and whipped into the tiny parking lot. The store is very small, but the people are very knowledgeable and friendly. They also let you try the various nuts and organic peanut butter. After sampling the various nuts I immediately fell in love with the "robust" roasted variety. They are the same delicious peanuts, only they roast them a bit longer. The extra roasting gives them a more toasty, "robust" earthy flavor which I can only imagine would be amazing sprinkled on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

CB's nuts not only taste good, they are good for you. They are naturally cholesterol-free and high in good fats. They are pack with fiber and have one of the lowest ratings on the glycemic index, which makes them a good snack for people with diabetes. They also contain phytochemicals which are said to help protect against certain types of cancer. Peanuts are also high in protein and contain zinc and phosphorus which are good for building strong bones.

To find out more about CB's peanuts or to order them visit: http://cbsnuts.com/index.php. Be advised, they are addicting!!!

Crazy about cloth napkins

Let me begin by saying this is one of my favorite blogs, as I absolutely love cloth napkins. I prefer the feel of them over paper napkins and of course there is the fact that they are better for the environment. I began my napkin obsession a while back after using them on a regular basis at my mother-in-laws. She has a huge drawer filled with napkins she has collected over the years. My dream is to have a drawer filled with an array of colors and designs like hers.

You can find cloth napkins just about anywhere. I found the fabulous hand-printed organic muslin napkins on etsy (above). They are by a young artist named Katherine who offers an array of eco-friendly home decor textiles. If you are interested in purchasing the Citrus Blossom Napkins visit her store at: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42935894&ref=sr_list_32&&ga_search_query=napkins&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title but you better hurry, I have a feeling these will go fast!




If you are the crafty type you may want to try making your own napkins. There are endless fabrics out there. My mother-in-law found these whimsical veggie fabrics at her local quilt shop and made my husband and I this set for Christmas. I found this great site with easy instructions on how to make your own napkins: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/04/20/make-your-own-cloth-napkins/ they have great step by step photos and they even show how to make mitered corners. I can't wait to get a sewing machine!

You're never too young to start doing your part to preserve our planet. Get your kids used to using cloth napkins while they are young. Here are a couple of sites that have great napkins for kids lunch boxes: http://www.fabkins.com/ and http://www.twogreenwitches.com/lunchboxnapkins.aspx.



Once you have a nice collection of cloth napkins you'll want to show them off. And who says the napkins have to take second place to the center piece? Visit: http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/ to get step by step instructions for 27 different napkin folds. With such a variety of cloth napkins and different folds it's easy to make an ordinary meal extra special!

Zip the landfills and taxi to greener pastures...

Did you know it is estimated that each year over 500 billion plastic bags are consumed worldwide? That averages out to over 1 million per minute. Where do they all end up? Well, each year about 4 billion of them end up in the landfills. Personally I find that appalling, which is why I made the switch to wax paper bags a couple of years ago. I have since discovered "Snack Taxis"! And, although I still love and use my wax paper bags every now and then, with Snack Taxis there is literally no waste, which is much better for the environment.

The Eco-Friendly sandwich/snack sacks were created by Erin Kelley-Dill of Massachusetts, who realized that she was packing over 500 lunches a year for her family and wanted to find a replacement for all those plastic zip lock bags. She started making and selling Snack Taxis locally and now sells them nation wide.

Snack Taxis have a cotton exterior and are lined with a waterproof material that is free of lead and phthalates. They stay securely closed with a velcro closure. To clean them you can simply shake them out or wipe them with a damp cloth. If they are really messy you can soak them in the sink or toss them in the washer and let them air dry.

My most favorite part about the Snack Taxi company, aside from the fact that they are eco-friendly is that the owner is committed to keeping their business local and never outsourcing their labor. I wish more companies were like this.

To read more about Snack Taxis or purchase these great little sacks visit: http://www.snacktaxi.com.

Design & Inspiration

As a graphic designer people sometimes ask where my ideas come from. The answer is easy, everywhere. I remember back in college one of my first design instructors began the class by saying that at the end of the course if we didn't walk away with a different view of life and our surroundings that he didn't do his job. His goal was that we walk away with the ability to see design in everything, from simple daily mundane items to the most elaborate things. I am happy so say he exceeded his goal as far as I was concerned. I had always been attracted to design and details, but after that class I saw the world in a completely different way. There was design in everything, whether it was deliberate, accidental or natural.

Above are a few of my latest inspirations for design,texture and materials. The first two are weaved trivets that I came across at my mother-in-law's a couple of months ago. I love the design, the weave and the colors. Since she is an artist I can always find and abundance of inspiration when visiting. The Third photo is of a bracelet I've had for years. Although the design in the center of the brass band is appealing, I think I like the combination of wood and brass the most. I also like the swirl pattern on the earring bases, not to mention the deep turquoise blue of the beads.


Speaking of color, my most favorite places to get inspiration for color palettes are nature and food (especially spices). Why spend countless hours searching through swatch books for new color palettes when you can go for a stroll through the arboretum, a hike in the mountains or peruse your local farmer's market?

Hopefully I've inspired you to be on the look out for fresh design & inspiration, after all, it's everywhere!

Tangy Broccoli Salad

While I was at the market today contemplating what to make for dinner, I came across some really nice looking broccoli that was on sale. I remembered a salad I made for a picnic one day and since it had been a while I thought it was time for a repeat. I happen to love broccoli, even though it is messy, gets caught in your teeth and smells a little funky while it's cooking. Anywho, if you are a broccoli lover, or even if you're not you'll probably enjoy it prepared this way.

Tangy Broccoli Salad Recipe:

Ingredients
1 lb. fresh broccoli flowerets
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
1/2 cup red onion, sliced thin and cut in quarters (you can sub. yellow or white)
3 slices cooked bacon, sliced in small pieces (OPTIONAL)

Dressing
1/2 cup mayo
1/3 cup non-fat yogurt (you can use all mayo, but I like the tang the yogurt adds and it cuts down a little on the fat)
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 Tablespoon orange zest

Instructions
Blanch broccoli flowerets then immediately submerge in ice cold water until cool and strain. While it's straining mix all ingredients for the dressing.

Combine all ingredients, reserving a few of the almonds to garnish the top with. Refrigerate for at least one hour and serve.

Relief for a cough/cold

If you are part of the large majority out there who've started the new year off with a bang, I mean annoying cough/cold here are a couple of pointers that seemed to have helped my husband get through the night without waking up every half hour in a cough attack.

I'm no health expert and these are not guaranteed to work, but they are worth trying. First, rest as much as you can. While resting try and keep your upper body as erect as possible. Second, bundle up and try to stay warm. Next, try rubbing Vicks vapor rub on the bottoms of your feet and then putting on 2 pairs of warm socks (don't ask me where I got this from, probably from one of my aunts??). Also, rub some on your chest and cover it with a steamy hot towel. Re-rinse the towel when it starts to cool and repeat a few times to help with congestion.

While resting with the hot towels drink LOTS of water and alternate with hot tea and fresh lemon juice and a bit of honey.

Now, the most important thing... cough up all that yucky stuff! I actually set up a little trash bucket at my husband's night stand, this way there was no excuse not to spit it out. I know it's grouse, but your body needs to get rid of that yuck.

The whole process takes about an hour, but is well worth it. My husband finally stopped coughing enough to have some hot and spicy vegetable soup. After dinner I gave him some cough medicine and he passed out for the entire night without coughing and felt a lot better the next day.

If you aren't feeling well enough to go out, call a close friend or family member and ask them to stop by the store and pick up a few things for you. Heck, have them leave the groceries at the front door if they don't want to risk catching your cold. I'm sure the opportunity for you to return the favor will arise soon enough. If not this flu season, then probably next.