Seize the...new year!

I'm very happy to share my Seize the Day calendars, published by Sellers Publishing, for 2013.
This year there is a new format that I LOVE! It's the weekly planner and I couldn't be happier with how it looks, the quality, and the format. I am a person that thinks and plans for the week on the weekend before so this is a great format for my life. I like seeing the week at a glance and I use it to even note things like what I'm planning for dinner for that week so it makes my shopping easier.

My friend Rebecca said she uses the pocket on the planner calendar all the time. It's got lines for everyone in her family, but the pocket is the thing she uses the most for permission slips, notes, etc.

The daily format has new images for each day with new inspiration. And of course there is still the monthly wall calendar. Enjoy and happy 2013!!

Simple Asian Cabbage Slaw

I've been working at incorporating more raw vegetable dishes into our diet. This was the latest experiment and it is simple and quite tasty! The sesame oil gives the salad a wonderful flavor and it's crunchy, colorful and fresh. The cabbage also lasts well for a number of days in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!

Simple Asian Cabbage Slaw
Green cabbage, about 1/2 a head, sliced into thin strips or grated.
Shaved carrots (I used the precut bagged ones from Trader Joes), about 1/2 to 1 cup
Sugar Snap Peas, 1/2 cup cut diagonally into small slices
Sesame seeds, shake in to desired amount
2 TB Sesame Oil
3 TB Rice Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Love in the grocery store

I was cruising down the magazine aisle in the grocery store and my eyes immediately caught sight of the it. The masthead I remembered so well.

domino.

Oh, my old friend! Could it be you have been brought back to life? I loved domino magazine with it's fresh perspective and decorating that doesn't take itself too seriously. Creative, open, colorful spaces. It was a sad day when I got notice as a subscriber that the magazine was going to stop publishing. Instead they were replacing my subscription with House and Garden, which also went bye-bye. I was equally as sad when Metropolitan Home ceased to exist.

So this new domino is a Fall/Winter special publication with heavy weight pages and only two or so ads by Target. I figured it would be a lot of recycled images from the earlier magazine and maybe it is, but it's been awhile so they all look fresh and new to me!

I know we have everything at our fingertips with the internet so people feel they don't need to buy magazines anymore. Save a tree and use less paper. But I have to say I felt like I was reaquainted with an old lover and my heart skipped a beat as I lovingly flipped the glossy pages back at home. I hope others buy this on the newstand because I for one want to see another issue out in the spring and continue my newly rekindled affair...

Fab.com Sale on Veggie Kitchen

I love Fab.com! Fun and colorful inspiration and cool living... and now my designs are on there too! Check out the Studio Oh! kitchen collections. They are selling my garden variety recipe keepers and tear off placemats. Who doesn't love a sale?! Sale ends in 2 days, 22 hours... 21 hours... you know...

www.fab.com

Farmer's Market weekends

Part of our journey towards healthier eating is buying and preparing more organic and local produce. We are fortunate to have some wonderful farmer's markets nearby on the both Saturday and Sunday and this weekend the one in Calabasas was full and lively with a "Food Revolution" event (Jamie Oliver linked, check it out here: http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/news-content/food-revolution-kid-s-day-at-the-calabas) with lots of activities for kids. I love to go and have a treat for the senses- everything looks, smells, and tastes wonderful. Vibrant. And it's fun to buy and try new things I wouldn't find in my normal market. This weekend's new ingredient to try is a package of flavored Thai ginger salts. The guy said he does a nice dish with udon noodles, sesame oil and some green onions and a little of the thai ginger salt on top. Yum! I'm thinking of adding thinly sliced carrots and mushrooms.

My mouth was also watering at the hummus man's stand. Green olives look so good. That night we had a lovely salad with fresh red lettuce, balsamic vinaigrette, pistachios and sliced juicy peaches.














So inspired by the abundance at the market that I am working today on designs for market bags. I want to order some to take on our next outing! In the meantime, enjoy the sights from a few of the stands. And support your local farmer's markets! http://www.rawinspiration.org/

Red Roses

Blooming up good wishes! New Red Roses designs are available on LittleRedTulip.com!

I've been in a summery mood and loving the blooming flowers I see on trees and in gardens. It makes me smile to see the world in beautiful color and splendor with fragrant sweet smells drifting in the breeze. Ah, so inspiring! I felt like a new flower group to go with my Modern Garden lines and came up with modern red and yellow roses. They are available now on littleredtulip.com in a variety of stationery and desk products. Enjoy the bouquet this May!

Christmas in March? My Atlanta Gift Show Fun!

How can it be March?? This year started out fast and full of great new energy! In January I went to the Atlanta Gift Show (my agent was exhibiting there) and got to see samples in some showrooms of new products that are coming out with my designs! Yay! Please excuse my delay in posting these but I still want to share my excitement!

The giftware company OneHundred80degrees launched my new Christmas collection of seasonal birds and woodland friends. Imagine yourself in a snowy forest with happy snowmen, perky red birds, fanciful trees and colorful snowflakes. Add in a smiling red fox and his friends the badger, raccoon and little miss porcupine...

This winter grouping has ornaments, figurines, advent calendars, handing decorations, wall art, candle holder and trays. I couldn't be more excited and pleased with how everything looked!

 

Birds, birds and more birds make a joyful noise...

 

 This advent tree has hanging decorative triangles for each day. The top of the tree lifts up to reveal a box inside for storing your decorative side panels.