Urban Comfort

What's in a Name?

I'm taking a blogging break today as I complete some work projects. But I wanted to put the Better Homes and Gardens contest in front of you again. If you feel so inclined, please vote again!  (You can vote here.)

This also seems like a good day to address a more personal issue - how to pronounce my name. I periodically get emails asking this question (and then I cringe to think what everyone else might be calling me - the ones who haven't asked).  So here it is:  My first name is pronounced Suzahn (rhymes with Yvonne) and my last name is just like Sterling, only spelled with an i to confuse you. Back to my first name - please don't make it a dramatic Suzaaaahhhhhnnnn as some are prone to do. It's more laid back than that. And for those who want to put a name and face together, my photo is hiding in the "About" link at the top of my blog.

Hopefully, I will see you tomorrow! 

Smoked Tomato Soup

I don't eat a lot of soup, but when I do crave it, this is my go-to recipe. It's from Dan Barber of New York's Blue Hill and it's one of my all-time favorite recipes, ever. I can't get enough of this soup during the fall and winter months. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Smoked Tomato Soup
(makes 1 quart) 

1/4 cup apple, pecan, or hickory wood chips (1/2 in. or smaller)
10 large plum tomatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs.), halved and seeded, 8 coarsely chopped
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large leek, halved lengthwise & thinly sliced crosswise
1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds
2 garlic cloves, smashed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh or drained bottled horseradish
1 cup chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
Pinch of sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Small basil leaves, for garnish

1. Scatter the wood chips in a medium cast-iron skillet and cover the skillet tightly. Heat the chips over moderately high heat until they're smoking. Put the four tomato halves on a rack (I use a round, metal baker's rack) and set the rack in the skillet. Cover and let the tomatoes smoke for 2 to 3 minutes, or until barely softened. Transfer the tomatoes to a plate and let them cool slightly. Peel them.

2. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion and the leek and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened but not browned (about 10 minutes). Add the coriander seeds, garlic, bay leaves and horseradish and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock and sugar. Cover the pot and cook over moderate heat until the tomatoes are softened, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.

3. Puree the soup with the butter and smoked tomatoes until smooth (if you don't have a large capacity blender, work in batches). Strain the soup into a clean saucepan; season with salt and pepper. Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the basil leaves. 

The Halloween Costume

I knew it would happen eventually and this year it did - my son decided he wanted to buy a Halloween costume instead of having one made. He's going to be Batman. The purchase has been made, he's ecstatic, and while it's one less thing on my to-do list, I'm already feeling a little nostalgic for the costumes of past years.  And so, to mark the end of an era, I offer you a trip down (my) memory lane:

The Pilot:

Ten weeks into the haze of new parenthood, I remember that this costume was the only thing my husband and I accomplished that day beyond the feeding and diapering. We were exhausted, but didn't want to let the first Halloween slip by unnoticed. I'm glad we did it because I still laugh when I see this photo. And the costume was so easy - I simply created an iron-on decal for his onesie, used a pilot's cap that someone had given us, and made goggles from felt (which I had attached on the inside of the pilot's cap with a little Velcro).

 

The Scarecrow:

I saw this costume in Parents, years before I actually had a child, when I first started working with the magazine. I loved it so much that I clipped it and saved it for the future - and finally made it. I loved this costume on him, but our evening was almost derailed when he declared he was going trick or treating in his pajamas. At the last minute he changed his mind (much to his mother's secret delight).

 

The Pirate:

Last year was the year I begged him to just let me buy a costume as I was neck deep in work and deadlines. He declined and casually suggested that I could just make something. This was the result of some last-minute maneuvering and he couldn't have been happier.  I put him in a pair of sweatpants that were a size too small (therefore, too short), bought some striped women's socks and pulled them up right over the sweatpants, made a coffee filter jabot that I attached to the front of a plain white T-shirt, added a fabric sash and bandanna, and purchased pirate accessories. He loved it - especially after he'd ditched the Pirate's hat and gotten rid of his face paint.

 

Now, if only he'd let me make that owl costume I've had my eye on...

 

Pumpkin Pancakes

The arrival of fall always brings pumpkin pancakes to our weekend breakfast menu. This recipe comes from Martha Stewart Living. It's easy and supremely satisfying.  

Have a great weekend!

Pumpkin Pancakes
(makes 8 to 10)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch of ground cloves
1 cup whole milk
6 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter (+ more for pan)
1 large egg

Whisk dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the milk, pumpkin puree, melted butter, and the egg. Fold the wet mixture into the dry. 

Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat; pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.  Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side. Serve with butter and syrup.

 

 

Family Portrait

Not long ago, my son expressed his desire for a family photo. I know this is usually the domain of the mother but I've always been happiest behind the camera, not in front of it. Still, who turns down a request like that? Then I stumbled onto this photo of the Holden family, taken by the (amazing!) Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made. I thought it was such a lovely and poignant photograph and it reminded me that a family portrait can be whatever you want it to be. 

The good news is that children generally respond well to this type of photography, similar to the way in which they're creative and spontaneous in their artwork - until they learn the "rules" and become more literal in their interpretations. 

This type of photography works for me as well. For years, I've been shooting photos of people from behind. Somehow, they've become some of my favorite photos. I just find that there's much to discover about a person when you take away the distraction of the face. (It's possible you're shaking your head at this point and thinking I'm rather bizarre. You wouldn't be the only one - I made a C in my commercial art class in high school, precisely because I refused to draw faces.) I guess I'm just better at divining the essence of a person from their body language rather than their expression. 

So we're going to take that family photo. It probably won't end up in our holiday card (confession number two - I rarely ever get our holiday cards out at all), but hopefully it will capture the essence of who we are as a family and how we relate to each other. And hopefully, years from now, I won't look at it and think how dated it feels, but rather how timeless it's become.

 

Bone Garland

I'm slowly beginning to decorate for Halloween, trying to shake off the remnants of Christmas and spring assignments and get into a seasonal frame of mind. I thought I'd start with a project that's simple enough for kids to participate in, a garland made from bone shaped dog biscuits. Here are the directions:

Materials:

bone-shaped dog biscuits that have holes at each end (I used Ol' Roy brand, which I found at Walmart. I don't know how good they are to feed your dog, but they're great for crafting!)

water-based, acrylic craft paint in warm white or ivory and a slightly deeper color (optional) for accenting

small natural sponge or craft paintbrush

narrow-tipped awl or a long nail 

thin cord or waxed twine

scissors

Directions:

1. Pick out bones that are in good shape (I used mostly intact bones, but using some that are chipped at the edges will only add to creepiness of your garland) and paint them with warm white or ivory paint, using either a dampened natural sponge or a paintbrush. (You can usually find small natural sponges at craft stores. I like to use them to paint because they eliminate harsh lines and brush strokes.) Set aside to dry. When the paint has dried, you can dab on the slightly darker color paint (using a sponge is best for this) to create an aged effect, if desired.

2. When the bones are completely dry, use the awl or a nail to gently push through the hole that's already on each end. This is how you'll string your garland together.

3. Cut your cord into 7 or 8-inch lengths and tie the bones together, knotting each piece of cord in the back and trimming the ends. (Leave a slight gap between the bones so that the garland can curve gracefully.) Hang, using cup hooks or nails.

 

This idea was first featured in a Halloween story that I worked on for Parents magazine.  See more fun decor ideas from that feature here.

Thrift Store Finds

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have discovered the joys of bona fide thrift stores (better late to the party than never, I say). It's all part of my plan to be thriftier, force myself to think more creatively, and leave a lighter footprint. As a rule, I try to make the rounds every couple of weeks. Some of this I do for work, some for myself (because if I'm honest with myself, I have a glassware addiction and I'd rather find something that pleases me for $2 instead of $20). 

The mirror shown above - I bought it for $15, thinking that I would paint it and use it over my mantel. It sat propped against my living room wall for months and somehow, I just couldn't figure out what to do with it. I needed a mirror above the mantel, but alone, it felt too heavy for the fireplace. Then one day I finally accepted that I liked it just the way it was and that I'd make it work. I propped it on the mantel, then layered a couple of photographs over it (I suspect that all the white matting in the photos keeps the mirror from looking too dark).  I like it.  Actually, for $15, I love it!

Now, back to my glassware addiction. I always find tons of glassware and kitchen items at one particular thrift store. It occurred to me the other day that it was probably because it was close to so many restaurants. Basically, I think that people discard their unwanted possessions close to home. So whatever you're looking for, go to a thrift store in the appropriate neighborhood. It's just a theory, of course, but see if it works for you. 

Here are some of my other recent finds. The sets of glasses weighed in at about $2 per set and the set of glass domes were mine for $6. A little pleasure for less than the cost of a movie ticket (and I've given a home to someone else's trash).

 

I love the base of these sweet little glasses. There were only five, but I'm partial to odd numbers.

 

I found a set of four matching champagne coupes and etched them (See my earlier post for directions). I think these would make a perfect hostess, housewarming, or engagement gift.

 

There were five of these available, each slightly different. I decided not to be too greedy and bought three. I'll use them as props, to display and protect interesting items, cover food...I love them. 

 

Have a happy weekend!  Hope you get a little thrifting done.

A Bug's Life

One of the Halloween projects I did for my feature in the October issue of Family Circle was a series of framed bug prints. They're so easy to make and certainly not limited to Halloween decor if you select a bug that's more beautiful than scary. But since this is the Halloween season, I thought I'd round up some suitable graphics for you to make your own. 

To begin with, simply download your desired bug graphics. If you have photo editing software, you can resize them, turn them into black and white, or clean up the background, if needed. After that, print them onto vellum sheets (using vellum that's meant for an Inkjet printer). To create the background, download paper ephemera - postcards, addressed envelopes, prescription pads, ledger pages, and the like.  Again, resize or change the hue, etc. (I changed most of my backgrounds to luminous greens and blues) and print onto white cardstock. Layer the vellum bug print over the printed background and frame. That's all there is to it. 

And now for the good stuff...Click on the images below to enlarge to full size.

From The Graphics Fairy: 

 

From The Vintage Moth:

From Vintage Printable

From Vintage Collective (This is only a sampling. Click through the link to find wonderful sets of bugs, spiders, scorpions, butterflies...)

Ephemera: (I found these in my files, but can't determine the origin. It's possible they're from one of the sources listed above.  If not, my apologies.) 

I also like the downloadable collection, Ephemera 1 from The Vintage Workshop.  It's not free, but you get eight re-sizeable files for $7.99.

Back to School

With all of the back to school activity, I find myself thinking of chalkboard paint...again.  I thought the whole chalkboard trend would have disappeared by now, but instead I keep bumping into it, reinterpreted in new and often simpler, more focused ways. I admit, I like the look. Much in the way that I'll probably always love vintage industrial, labware, galvanized steel, and the color gray - whether or not it's in fashion at the time. But I do wonder if we're so hooked on the nostalgia of a chalkboard simply because the rest of our lives are becoming so polished and technologically advanced. Perhaps a way of keeping one foot in the past? Regardless, I think it's a timeless look, with the ability to be both casual and sophisticated at the same time. A little of the old world, a little of the new. A bit like most of us, I bet.

 

I love the whimsy of this chalkboard "headboard" from Canadian House and Home.

Beautiful without any chalk marks at all.   {via The City Sage}

Perhaps not the obvious choice for a dining room, but I think it works!  {via SFgirlbybay}

A chalkboard backsplash is a clever way to save on tile.  {Domino magazine}

A mix of vintage and modern in the kitchen {via Vintage}

 

 

Useful on a pantry door. {Country Living}

An easy DIY project in both classic black and a custom color  {Wisdom of the Moon}

 
 
 

A mix of both magnetic and chalkboard paint create even more options, such as this DIY spice display {via Flickr}

 
 
 

The kids won't be the only ones who get to draw at this table. {via Gadora Wilder}

 
 
 

Decidedly rustic when applied to this vintage find. {via Attic Mag}

 
 
 

Upcycle bottles and create your own sculptural art. {via Curbly}

 
 
 

A way to communicate with everyone at once. {via Attic Mag}

 

 

If you have the talent (or have a talented friend), this type of treatment could turn an inexpensive wardrobe into a conversation piece. {via Domicidal Maniac}

A repurposed coffee table finds new life in a playroom. {via Odeedoh}

{Title image from Anthropologie}



 

Blog Love

If you're anything like me, you have hundreds of blogs bookmarked and filed away. There's so much wonderful inspiration out there, sometimes too much, I think. But occasionally, I stumble across a blog that hooks me right from the start and off I go, through the many rabbit holes, lost in Wonderland. 

There are two blogs that have made it onto my radar lately, both from bloggers in the Carolinas, one North, one South. I discovered the first, French by Design, through Pinterest. I noticed that I kept pinning photos from the same source and located this blog, which is a treasure trove of design inspiration. I enjoy the varied aesthetics presented and I appreciate having the author to turn to when I'm too tired or busy to follow up on every design blog and magazine out there. She's so prolific that it's like catching up with a week's worth of inspiration all at once. It's quickly made its way onto my daily reading list.

The second is Cottage Industrialist. I can't believe it took me so long to find this blog, but I love the author's eclectic mix of topics and smart writing. You'll find cooking, crafts, design, and insights on life - the kind of blog where you feel you're catching up with an old friend, or at least someone you'd like to be old friends with. It's a lovely home the author has created and I think you'll enjoy your finds there as well.

And now that I have inspired you to go elsewhere, I'm off to finish my project for Round 2 of the Better Homes and Gardens contest. See you tomorrow!

(Title Photo via}

Jambalaya

By now, many of you are starting to feel the first hints of fall - a little nip in the morning air, trees starting to change color...This isn't happening here in the South and probably won't for another six to eight weeks. But psychologically, I begin to switch into a fall frame of mind right about now, even if the weather isn't cooperating.  For me, it's all about the food.

Fall brings heartier dishes, definitely more meat, and always jambalaya. Truthfully, I love jambalaya year round, but never more so than in the fall and winter. It's just so incredibly satisfying and I can't get enough of it.  Like most regional dishes, everyone has their own way of making it.  But this is the way I make it - and don't even think of adding tomatoes to mine!  I like the Cajun version, brown instead of red. And as far as regional dishes go, it doesn't get much easier than this.  Bon appétit!

Jambalaya
(Serves 6-8)

1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 cups chopped yellow or white onions 
1 cup chopped bell peppers
3 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons cayenne
1 pound andouille sausage (you can substitute another smoked sausage for the andouille), cut into 1/4-inch slices
Approximately 1 pound boneless smoked ham steak, cut into small cubes
Approximately 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken meat (all white or a mix), cut into 1-inch cubes
3 bay leaves
3 cups medium-grain white rice*
6 cups water
1 cup chopped green onions 

*You can use long-grain rice instead of medium, but the texture will be different.  Medium-grain makes a slightly wet jambalaya whereas the long-grain makes it a bit drier. It's really personal preference.

1. Heat the oil over medium to medium-high heat in a large cast-iron pot. Add the onions, bell peppers, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon cayenne. Brown the vegetables for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions have caramelized and are a dark brown. Add the sausage and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the pot to loosen any browned pieces.

2. Season the chicken with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. Add the chicken, ham, and bay leaves to the pot. Brown the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes (but it's not necessary to cook the chicken all the way through).

3. Add the rice and stir well to combine and coat the rice evenly. Add the water, stir to combine, and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot, and cook for 20-30 minutes, without stirring, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand, covered, for a few minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Fluff with a fork.

4. Stir in the green onions and serve.

REMINDER:  PLEASE take the time to vote in the Better Homes and Gardens contest by following this LINK. Voting for this round will continue through October 10th, and you may vote for your favorite mask once a day.  Thank you for the support you've already shown me.  I greatly appreciate it!

It's Voting Time!

Admittedly, I've been a lazy blogger this week. Yesterday, all I could think about was football, so I played hooky and spent the day downtown with Saints fans. I do love this town. It doesn't hurt that we won, either. 

But now it's back to business and the business of the day is VOTING!  The first design challenge for the Better Homes and Gardens' contest has been posted on their site and I need your support.  Follow this LINK to cast your vote for your favorite mask.  Voting for this particular project will go on through Sunday, October 10th, and you can vote for your favorite once a day, every day, until that time. Our second project will be unveiled on October 11th.  I hope you'll forgive me in advance for getting the word out over and over on this blog. But it's a contest, after all! 

The parameters of this first design challenge were that we all had to work with the same inexpensive base and that we'd be designing a mask for a tween. It's clear that we were all channeling the same nature goddess and I can find no clear winners in this first round. I think everyone did a great job.  But of course only one person will win this contest.

So, vote and have a great weekend!  I promise not to be so lazy next week.

Spaghetti Western

I feel like I've been running a marathon since May and yesterday, as I was sprinting to Fedex to make the final cutoff, I could finally see the finish line (or at least a reasonable facsimile). So while the rest of you are bemoaning the passing of summer and getting back to business, I am going to pursue (hopefully) that elusive thing called balance. I think I'll start it off with a celebratory cocktail this evening. 

This is the drink I'll have, the Spaghetti Western - itself, the definition of balance. Created by Kimberly Patton-Bragg, one of New Orleans' talented mixologists, it's smooth in all the right places and delightful to drink - rosemary and bourbon, orange, and just a hint of Campari. I know that bourbon is often thought of as a man's spirit, but I find that bourbon in the hands of a woman can take on characteristics that any female drinker will find palatable.  Of course, I'm a bourbon lover, so I might just be biased.  

Cheers!

 

Spaghetti Western

2 ounces Bulleit Bourbon
1/2 ounce rosemary syrup (see below)
Campari soaked orange slice

At least 8 hours beforehand, cut an orange into slices and add Campari just to cover.  Cover the bowl or container and let it soak in the refrigerator.  Orange slices will keep up to two days. 

In a cocktail shaker, muddle a Campari soaked orange slice with the rosemary syrup.  Add the bourbon and ice. Shake well; strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange peel, speared with a rosemary sprig.

Rosemary Syrup:

3 rosemary sprigs
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Add the rosemary sprigs immediately, cover the pot, and let it steep until cool.  Strain the syrup into a glass jar and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.  

 


 

Green Bag Lady and more...

I have a few things to talk about today - First, I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to comment on this blog. My Inbox has gotten a little out of control lately and I am behind on correspondence, but I want you to know that I read each of your emails and comments and I deeply appreciate that you've taken the time to express yourselves and make a connection. I'm slowly getting to know some of you and I notice when you make return visits (and comment), I read your blogs when you leave your blog address, and I marvel at the array of interesting, kind women who populate the Internet. Blogging is a wonderful creative outlet, but connecting with readers is much more satisfying than simply keeping track of the number of page hits. For that, I thank you. 

The second item on the agenda today is announcing the two winners of my inspiration box giveaway. The first winner is Jodi (#6), selected by a random drawing (I am not including the photo of the random number generator. You'll just have to trust me!).  The second winner is Pauline, whose comment I selected not because she said such nice things (which I appreciate), but because I find the idea of anyone discovering their creativity incredibly inspiring - especially when they didn't think the word "creative" applied to them:

After living for 48 years and saying, "I'm just not very creative", too many times to count, I've discovered I was wrong. I can be creative. Your blog is such a breath of fresh air. You have such a wonderful sense of style. I love to see what you do and use your ideas to help me find my own. I love to make little things to brighten the days of others - with paper and fabric scraps and beautiful little things. 

So Jodi and Pauline are the two primary winners in this giveaway, but because I had a manageable number of replies, I'm going to send a little something to each person who responded. It will take me some time to get through the list, so please be patient with me, but I will contact you in the order in which you commented (after putting together the boxes for the two winners, of course). 

Which leads me to the main part of this post. One of the respondents to my giveaway was Teresa, also known as the Green Bag Lady. Teresa mentioned that she'd like fabric, and of course I'm sending fabric to her because, quite frankly, anyone looking to change the world one bag at a time deserves all the support I can offer. Teresa is a college professor, a mother of three, and a blogger - and yet she's found the time to sew and give away almost 12,000 fabric bags! She doesn't make money from her bags - she gives them as gifts and asks only that you promise to use her bag instead of paper or plastic ones. 

She was kind enough to make a bag for each member of my family (mine is pictured above), and I love being part of what she's doing. I've had my reusable Whole Foods bags for awhile now, but I seem to consistently forget them (and then kick myself for doing so). Teresa's bag is so colorful and charming and just begs to be taken out. So far, I've managed not to forget to bring it along - and it feels really, really good! 

To pass on that good feeling, Teresa has agreed to give away a free bag to EVERYONE who leaves a comment on her blog through midnight (C.S.T.), September 4th. 5 winners, from a random drawing, will receive a bag similar to mine, made from Amy Butler fabrics (love Amy!!). A 6th winner will receive bag number 12,000.  Everyone else will get a bag of Teresa's choosing. Head on over to her site to enter. I think you'll be happy you did. (Thanks, Teresa. I think you're awesome!)