Project #1 Level: Easy

Dear Hannah, the decorating guru,

Here is my first project of the summer. I have loved this shelving unit from IKEA. I got it from my dear friend, Melanie in St. Louis about five years ago. It was in her adorable house in University City and held all of her dishes, glassware, etc. Very functional. It was the backdrop of many wonderful dinner parties in my college days.

Yet, we live in the present. The blond wood finish does not match the rest of our furniture, which has a dark walnut or cherry finish (nothing matches!). I definitely have a sentimental attachment to the piece, but does it need to go altogether? What do you think? To say it is cluttered is a gross understatement. Embarrassingly, there are both Christmas and Easter decorations still scattered about on it. I love displaying our tchotchkes, books and photos plus I need a place to store blankets, but I hate how it looks! Help!

Also, I'm painting. I'm thinking neutrals. Thoughts?

love,
Ellen

White

Dear Hannah,



This made me think of you: winter white

xo,
Ellen

May Faves Round 2

Dear Hannah,

Now that it is SUMMER, I have time to think about my favorite things for this May. I have a lot!
1. My messy fridge
2. Mango lassi
3. Hannah's candle
4. Heirloom pitcher from Arnell (Whitehall/Colony)
5. Miss Kathy's Earbobs (all proceeds go to charity)
6. Peach cobbler
7. My cookbooks in my new hutch
8. When fortune cookies touch a nerve
9. Jenny's kitschy red gingham flower napkin holder
10. My calendar (summer time!)
11. Baby orchid (bloomed after 2 years of waiting)
12. Jenny and Charles' wedding invitation
13. Trader Joe's chocolate covered pomegranate seeds
14. Funny feet in the dressing room at the GAP (totally bizarre)




I think I'm starting to notice some patterns... What do you think?

love,
Ellen

ps - I updated my April faves too just for fun... go to the archives :)

Mr. Slugworth

Dear Hannah,

Last night we went to an awesome cookout/potluck at our friends' Jenny and Charles' house. This little guy came home with us on the bottom of a grocery sack. It's especially funny because we had a LONG conversation about slugs at the party. Have you ever kissed a banana slug? I hear it's a California thing. When we got home, I heard, "Ellen, come here!" with that there-is-something-strange-afoot tone in Matthew's voice. Mr. Slugworth was then quickly removed to the back deck. He was at least 3 inches long and kind of cute.


slug hug,
Ellen

I saw the sign!

Wow, my blog updated and I have seen for myself. School's out! Woot!! Can't wait to talk!

School's Out for the Summer

....Like, for real? I got your message, and I am having a hard time believing it. Your first year of teaching: you did it!!! You did it? Is it really over?

Signs

Dear Hannah,

On my way home last night, these signs made me happy. I took them from my car (safely - you know I love safety), so their quality is not the best. And yet...



love,
Ellen

Potatoes: A Response

Dearest Hannah,

Potatoes were first cultivated in South America from a nasty, little, bitter tuber, which I find interesting in light of the massive amount of genetic engineering that has gone into these little spuds over the centuries. To answer your question, YES, green potatoes are poisonous: see urban legend article for why.

According to the Joy of Cooking:

"Select potatoes that are firm and heavy for their size, with taught skin and no cuts, dark spots, cracks, mold, or other signs of spoilage. If there is a greenish cast to the potato or a green patch on it, avoid it - the green part was exposed to the sun and will be bitter (even mildly toxic). Avoid those that have sprouted; they will be soft and even bitter. Store potatoes, unwashed and unwrapped, in a cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated place. After storing, should you find your potatoes have turned green or begoun to sprout, cut off the green or sprout with 1/4 ince of the flush beneath it (or discard them)." p. 407

Rombauer, I. S., Becker, Marion, R., & Becker, E. Joy of Cooking. New York: Scribner, 1997.

I hope this helps!

love,
Ellen

Old Potatoes

Dear Ellen,
Why are you not supposed to eat potatoes that have started to sprout? You said something about them being poisonous. Well, should I be glad that I am not dead, because usually I just cut out the yucky spots and still use them. And then the other day Amy said you are not supposed to keep them in the fridge, either. So, school me on taters, please.....

Delightful Dozen

Dear Ellen,
I was sorry to hear a message from you today informing me that a bird has taken a crap on your head. Hope things are looking up (haha) for you this week.

This month, my favorite dozen things are, in no particular order:
1. The J.Crew Summer catalog. These are my colors! These are my people...OK, carried away...
2. Everyday Food Magazine, and the fact that I actually make what's in it
3. Mail!
4. Chalkboard paint. Also, that moment you first start painting and realize this is the point of no
return.
5. Pink! Flowers! Pink Flowers! These roses and peonies are from Paul, my father in law.
Thank you Paul!!! Aren't they drop-dead gorgeous; amazing beyond belief?
6. Flip-flops. Especially when you realize it's too cool for flip flops....
7. Glitter! Specifically, my new wallet-clutch that my friend Ellen got me from Fire Finch in
Nashville. Thank you Ellen!!
8. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate. Thank you, Ellen!
9. White.
10. My new cable-knit lap blanket made by my talented cousin, Lynn!
11. My new John Robshaw pillow.
12. My new headband from Pangea in Nashville

Sad

Dear Hannah,


The flood story from these books is much more personal now. I can't believe it has been two and a half weeks since the flood here in Nashville that started the morning of May 1. So much has happened. So many changes. There was such a sense of nervous urgency while the rain came down and we watched the Cumberland and Harpeth Rivers rise. We were stuck at home for 3 days. It rained Friday night to Sunday night. We coudn't stop watching the media coverage. Then, on Monday the mayor asked that everyone stay home so the rescue workers could work unimpeded by onlookers. Feeling trapped and stir-crazy, we walked to the greenway on Tuesday and saw the bridge that was washed down the creek and then ate supper with neighbors. We stopped doing laundry and dishes. We went without showering or even leaving the water running while brushing our teeth because we were down to one water treatment plant for the county. On Wednesday, I went to our friends' house to help. It was a bizarre sight. Their house had been filled with 4 feet of muddy water. It ruined furniture, flooring, walls, books, appliances, bedding, clothes, and memorabilia. These pictures are from that afternoon.


During all of this, I got a new job, found my lost heirloom jewelry, and had much cheaper than expected dental work. Talk about yin and yang.

love,
Ellen

May Favorite Things

Dear Hannah,

First of all, your last posts are incredible and a little intimidating.

Okay, here are just a few of my favorite things for May:
1. You coming to Nashvegas for your hubby's graduation!
2. Volunteerism in Tennessee after the flood
3. My new poster from hubby made by our friend Mike D

You can buy one here: http://www.twelvecarpileup.com/

I love you and miss you!
xoxo,
Ellen

Thoughts on Inspiration Board

Dear Ellen,
Here are items, mostly magazine pages, that I have collected over the past 2-3 years. There are also some paint chips and other items that inspire me. If I could tack them to the wall, up they went! Since I have had most of these pictures, etc. for a while (and pore over them endlessly), I never realized how helpful it could be to see them all at once. It helps me isolate themes and trains my eye to 'edit' for what I love---really love, not some faddish thing I think I love. After going through this process, I notice these common elements: I love pale colors, but still a bit of pop every once in a while. I love pinks. I love any combination of red and blue, even if there is tons of blue and only the teensiest sliver of red. Or even if the combination is pink and turquoise. I love whites, but I am learning to not be afraid of the occasional dark wood or even black item. I love rainbows, but in small doses. I do like things to be edited but not austere, and I am and always will be a hopeless romantic. When people come over, I want them to feel, more than anything else, at home, taken care of, uplifted. If they admire my little pieces of artwork and vignettes, fine (or even if they hate them, fine). But I just want people to feel like they have a place in my home.