Dear Darling Design

Here Comes the Judge

admin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:01:39 +0000

WEDDING SEASON IS HERE! IT’S HERE! RIGHT NOW!!! AREN’T YOU SUPER EXCITED?!?!?! YES, your answer should always be yes. I am going to show you a few of my favorite engagement, wedding, bridal shower, personalized gifts, what have you. I lump those all together because I am 34, have been to over 20 weddings in the couple years and yet can’t figure out the damn gift etiquette. (Oh yes, I think have heard of Gogle. oh it’s pronounced Google? Yea, well hmmmm, I’ll have to check that out later.) Of course it would be easier for us to just grab a ________ gift card and throw it in an envelope. Unfortunately for all of you getting married, I am one of those annoying people who prefers not to shop off the registry. TA DA! Yup, I may be the reason you didn’t get the full towel set or that fourth hand mixer (thank goodness). Guys! If you thought Etsy was a “chick thing”, think again. There are some epic gifts for dudes getting hitched as well. Strap yourselves in, here we go! Oh and remember a lot of these come in variety of colors so can customize it for the happy couple.

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I’m Going Cuckoo

admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:59:36 +0000

I think we all get the flutter of nostalgia when we see things from our childhood. For me there are three things that warm me with great emotion. One item is small Irmi lamp fitted with a retro orange lightbulb. It was on the nightstand at my grandparents house in the room that my brother and I shared while visiting. I had spent many a night falling asleep staring into the orange glow. The other is a Black Forest cuckoo clock from my grandparents basement, just at the bottom of the stairs. I had always loved it even though even as a kid I remembered thinking it was kind of old fashioned looking. The third isn’t a visual but a taste, a smell…Jack Daniels. This was not my grandpa’s favorite whisky nor can I even remember it ever being stocked in their bar. Still, whenever I drink that specific brand it takes me back. You see, for me it tastes like how the dusty records in my grandparent’s basement smell. I know it sounds weird but it’s true.

While Irmi lamps are a vintage collectable now, the cuckoo clock has been given new life with the help of a lot of color and sometimes a lack thereof. It’s not often I say I MUST have something but these bad boys have me squealing with excitement at their sight.

Stephan Strumbel-Hello Petie-Gallavanting Girls-Plain Fancy Emporium-Marisol Spoon Makery-Carl Gruettert-Betty Octopus-Pedro Meahla-Decoy Lab-Dolan Geiman

Sometimes fashion over function actually makes sense. Especially when it comes to this batch of cuckoo clock art work.

Fantastic Toys-Pronounced You-Bright Barnaby-Jamie Zeff-Tiny Modernist-Purdey and Blue-All Cut Up by DG-Annie Poon-Rosie Plus the Boys

And sometimes fashion is just awesome.

Daliee Dose-Mini Blings-Crafty Cuts Laser

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HEY HO! LET’S GROW!

admin — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:08:35 +0000

Last week someone I know on Facebook was complaining about a shopper with an Smart Phone using a Link card to buy their groceries. While this does seem a little unusual to me too it made me wonder about something else entirely. I started to think about all the times I myself went to Aldi and peered into someone else’s shopping cart, judging. Truth was, I was also there to buy the cheap crap food that is pretty much the same as regular stores but priced higher. In my cart was chips, pastas, breads, essentially carb heaven. Looking into others baskets and carts I saw groceries one would call “typical” if stereotyping by our class systems. The truth is, most people buy what they can afford, what goes the farthest in your household. Of course healthier foods like fruits and vegetables cost more than a case of Ramen noodles. It may not be the healthiest but at least your family will be fed. Now, those foods ultimately harm your health in the long term. Obesity is on the rise on this Country with no signs of stopping. So again, why do we do it??? Money. This made me again think about my own financial situation and weighed it against my health. One effects the other and vice versa. How can everyone including myself save money while still getting the healthy food we all obviously deserve, our children deserve??? (Hey parents, need a little perspective? watch this TED Talks with Jamie Oliver.)

So What’s The Answer? GROW OUR OWN FOOD! Quit rolling your eyes and hear me out. Let’s talk about urban gardening and indoor gardens. One of these is for you!

DID YOU KNOW? You can grow some vegetables from your leftover scraps? Me neither! Thanks to Garden Swag and Savvy-Living you are well on your way. Just click on the vegetable to get directions…

Apples Tomatoes Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes Green Onions & Leeks Carrot Tops Pineapple Celery,Romaine Lettuce and Cabbage Avocado Lentils Pumpkin Ginger Garlic Bok Choy Mushroom Lemongrass Basil Onions Beets

I live in an apartment. WHERE THE HELL AM I GOING TO PLANT FOOD??? Good question, you angry city living reader. The answer is…anywhere! Here are a few window/indoor gardening ideas and tutorials for you. You. Are. Welcome.

Don’t forget to Google upside down planters or the more commercial As Seen On TV Topsy Turvy. For info on how to make a window box garden click here for the Vegetable Gardener’s instructions.

The visit the people at Window Farms for instructions on how to make your own. TODAY!

Let this Aussie show you how to make a garden using old plastic bottles. Reuse and recycle my friends. Woohoo!

So, it is not in English but you get the idea. Check out Barreau & Charbonnet. There site will get you inspired to make your own.

HAVE A PATIO/BALCONY/SQUARE PATCH OF CEMENT? That’s good news! You only need a little space or a wall even to make your own garden oasis.

Use one of those old pallets you find all over the city to make a vertical garden.

Rain gutters? What??? That is so easy!

Take a que from these guys and make planter boxes for your patch of land.

GROWING OUTDOORS? Let the professionals do some of the work for you. There is a website that will tell you when you seed, plant and harvest your food specifically for your city. Each area is different due to climate, soil etc and the people at Sprout Robot have your back. Just type in your zip code and let the professionals help that black thumb or yours become green.

HAVE A YARD? You lucky sonofabish! The world is your oyster and you have no reason to not be gardening already. Get to it!

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope you got some good ideas on how to make your own urban garden.

Damn the man! Your food is free!

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Well that’s just crazy

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:38:50 +0000

Here are five things that will blow your mind.

1) Did you know that you can recycle your old smokes? No, really you can! The crazy can-doers over at Terracycle created the Cigarette Waste Brigade and figured out a way to make useable items out of your left over buds. They even send you free shipping labels. Boy do I pity the employees who have to smell old stale cigarette butts eight hours a day. I may include some air fresheners on lanyards with our shipment.

2) Remember when you saw Waterworld for the first time with all of its wonderment and awe? Bahahahaha. I am crying laughing right now. I am still mad at Kevin Costner to this day for making such a bad movie and tainting my Field of Dreams memories. Still, if you build it they will come. I am speaking of the Lilypad, “a floating ecopolis for climate refugees”. The architect Vincent Callebaut has big plans for floating cities come the day we have our very own Waterworld crisis. Check out his full website to see the full plans for the Lilypad and other sustainable city blueprints.

3) Yan Lu is scaring people into being conscientious about their water consumption. If you leave the water on while brushing your teeth you could kill your pet Goldie. Egad!

4) Oh great. Now our bad ass prison guard jobs will be taken from us. Thanks a lot South Korea. I was being sarcastic when I said thanks. Obviously I don’t mean it. Does Johnny 5 get maintenance insurance with that job? The “Guard” is just being tested in prisons right now. I hope Chuck Norris doesn’t ever get arrested. He would high kick some dalek head right off.

5) The firefighter profession just took a nose dive. Millions of young boys are realizing they don’t have to fight fire in order to use a slide as an adult. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Again! Again!

I know what you are thinking right now. Nothing. Your mind has been blown. You. Are. Welcome.

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To Sir With Love

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:00:33 +0000

“Print is dead.” A phrase commonly used by my boyfriend whose career is based in web design. I disagree. These days when I get postal mail it’s because there is a baby shower/wedding invitation or bill enclosed. A couple times a year I will get a notebook in the mail. This is the same notebook my friend Gena and I started in 2001 or was it 2002. She was moving back to California and we wanted our own special way of keeping in touch. So a couple times a year she sends me the notebook full of old letters, photos, trinkets, stickers and Korean keepsakes from her trips to give me the latest news. I try to update her on my latest goings on and trials and tribulations and celebratory news in return. Of course we could send messages on Facebook or by email but this is better. For some reason it just seems more thoughtful, more loving and more tangible. I miss getting letters from friends and not just the occasional card around the holidays. Facebook and Twitter are great for instant updates about your newest bad haircut, how much you hate politics and kidstagrams but I am greedy and want more. I love writing letters, poems and doodling pictures of my dog along the edge of the page. Thinking about it those actually look nothing like him. Why start and stop at writing friends though. I found this guy named Justin who travels the world and will send you a postcard from wherever he is at. He has me seriously intrigued with his site Postcards From A Stranger. Sounds a tad creepy but I love the idea. This guy must have thousands of Facebook and Twitter followers. If you want to keep that snail mail love alive across the globe sign up for Global Pen Pals to correspond with some total randoms. Woah! I just found this amazing project on The Elevated Envelope for artists to exchange envelope art. I am going to sign up now for the next round in September. I can’t wait for my first piece of mail. I am going to go sit by the front door now and wait for the postman. I can say postman because our mail carrier is Tyrese, one hunk of a man. He makes you want to put your face on before answering the door. You know what I am talking about ladies(insert sly wink here).

Now I will leave you with a great penning project for Valentine’s Day. A sweet idea with whole lotta heart.

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Day 31: The End

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:23:42 +0000

HOORAY! Today is the last day of the 31 Days of Change self challenge. It is actually pretty shocking how many little changes I have adapted this month. The task was daunting, I really hadn’t thought it through a little more. Some things were incredibly unrealistic. My attempt to stop swearing lasted almost exactly one hour. On the other hand I have become attentive and incredibly polite when it comes to phone usage now. I still make the bed daily but I couldn’t bring myself to go to dinner alone. I am just too big of a wuss. Implementing recycling is slow going, I still need to figure out reasonably non smelly indoor composting. I learned a lot this month and also learned that all change should come in moderation. So thanks for reading this month and coming along on this insane ride with me. I will still post but not nearly as often. It really can turn into a full time job. Now I am going to lay on the couch, lazily drink my coffee and relax now that the blogging horror has subsided.

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Day 30: Smile

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:05:48 +0000

I love seeing these strong, thoughtful, hilarious ladies each month. They come from the suburbs, far edges of the city, they rush from work, they brave Chicago’s crazy weather. Many take what precious time they are given to sneak away from home having to hire baby sitters. A warmth grows in my chest a little at just how wonderful they all are. For most of us this is the only time we see each other. This could be the first time we have ever met or it’s last time we will see them for awhile. Life has a way giving us busy work. For today’s change, one of the very last changes I will have made this month I promise to renew C.B.C.’s dedication. Our dedication to support our community, the earth and each other. Crafting for a cause…

This month we proudly support Operation Smile. This is an organization which performs surgeries to repair cleft lips and cleft palates to those who either cannot afford the procedures or live in a part of the world where it is not readily performed. Remember how self-conscience you when you had acne in high school or even now? Now imagine if you felt like that for the rest of your life. By donating you not only help these people make a physical change but you help give them higher self esteem on the inside as well. I hope you visit their site today and support this very special group of people and their cause.

For our craft we learned glass etching. We repurposed items we already owned with almost no waste being made. Here are a couple blog tutorial links on how to etch from Thistle Wood Farms and Say Yes to Hoboken. Check out what some of the Beavers made below…

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Day 29: Table For One

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:45:36 +0000

I am 34 years old and I have never been to a restaurant alone, a movie, a museum, or on a trip by myself. I love having people around me, I adore the noise. When friends tell me they went to see a new release by themselves I always think about how boring that must be. Why would I go out to eat without a companion? It just doesn’t make sense. It just seems so lonely and kind of sad. There must be something more to it. Is it simply about enjoying your own company? Honestly I have no idea but I am going to take myself out and see what it is all about.

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Day 28: Paper or Plastic?

admin — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:38:19 +0000

You are probably wondering where day 27 went. It went by very slowly at an alarming hangover rate. Now hear me in write this in the voice of Roger Murtaugh, “I’m too old for this shit”. The only change I was making yesterday was couch to recliner to bed.

So let’s start anew today. Feeling peppy and productive I want to talk about a very simple change. NO MORE BAGS! I cannot recall the last time I was asked if I want paper. The production of bags these days is so poor that they double them as part of procedure. This is doubly bad for momma earth. Did you know that plastic grocer’s bags are banned in California? Genius! If you go shopping without bringing your own bags be prepared to leave with with things stuffed in your pockets with arms full. I have heard rumor of this eco action spreading to Oregon too and threats that Chicago wants to join the cool club too in the next couple years. Not soon enough I say. Snag those reusable bags for your groceries and say goodbye to the under the kitchen sink clutter of bags. Bye bye baggies! I bought some from Joann’s Fabrics for only a buck each, they were on sale. They fold up to fit in your purse, your truck, and your glove box. They even fit in the pocket of some of my jackets depending on the brand. Get with it Chicago! Let’s do this thing!

You can find the bags below at Joann’s, Reuseit, and the Global Bag Project if you want to support a not for profit as well.

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Day 26: The Getalong Gang

admin — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:58:31 +0000

Since 1997 I have had well over twenty roommates, probably closer to thirty actually. My first apartment was in Chicago. Ah, sweet freedom. We spent all of our nights going to shows at the Fireside and all of our days sleeping off the night’s debauchery. From there it was a brief stop in Mount Prospect. There I would try veganism, get sick from malnutrition and have my parents nurse me back to health. Apparently noodles cannot sustain you. Who knew? Years later I would live in a two bedroom apartment with four people, sometimes more. The hippie lifestyle of tapestries tacked to the ceiling to create additional floor sleep space was not uncommon. We had kids coming through on Phish tours with dirty dogs looking for a friendly place to stay. Rock n rollers and dreaded haired hippies cohabiting with only one rule, no patchouli. It was easier back then because with only one rule it means everything else was fair game. It was like we had our own little Whole Foods frat house with jello shots for breakfast, a mac n cheese diet, and beer flowing like water. We just sat around arguing music all day. Two of the roommates became mortal enemies and our perfect party palace would fall apart. I can’t remember if I lived in the motel before or after the last place mentioned. It was all an floral duvet blur. How can you not want to invite twenty five people over every night when you live in a motel. It all just screams “TRASH ME!”. Then I moved to a big and bright apartment at California and Milwaukee. That song California Love by Tupac came out that year. We found ourselves singing, “California, knows how to party” far too often. Here is where I start to actually remember things I don’t like about roommates. The annoying girlfriend who doesn’t go home. She eats your food, uses your shampoo, doesn’t do her dishes, racks up your phone bill, takes your tampons and is annoyingly loud in bed. We get it, you exist! Sheesh. This is apartment where I realize how vengeful I can be. I removed all of the phone jacks in the main rooms, replaced our bedroom door knobs with keyed door handles and kept all of the food in our rooms. To show us she wasn’t going anywhere she would lay around on the couch all day doing nothing but blare the tv and make dirty dishes. My retaliation was juvenile and crass and I keep the photo to remind me of just how bad I let it get… I spray painted my entire couch with a message just for her. “Stay off my couch you whore”. Needless to say that couch did not make the move with us to the next apartment. Since that year I have had some pretty great roommates and some pretty broke ones too. I had an absolutely perfect one once. Just once. I think he ruined me, I compare all others to him. I long for the days I would come home to freshly baked pies, the smell of warm laundry in the air and not a dust bunny in site. DAAAAAAAAAVE! (sobbing, slobbery cries inserted here) Now I just try to be more understanding as to why they do the things they do. Obviously they must have an allergy to cleaning bathrooms. They probably feel like they don’t use the floors enough to necessitate having ever to sweep or mop them. Yes, the trash actually does walk itself outside in time to catch the garbage truck. It just likes to wait until everyone is sleeping to do so. Lastly, if you share a room with someone it is like they don’t exist and so they don’t have to contribute in any way. The truth is that I love having roommates. I love the antics, the stories, their endless drama, the commune feeling and noisiness of Sunday brunches. As much as I am ready to live alone with my boyfriend and our furbabies I don’t think I can give up the live telenovelas just yet. So today’s change… tolerance. Now I am off to do Magoo’s laundry, throw away the take out leftovers in the fridge, and sweep the house. (sigh) Tolerance.

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