This Fish...

Table for One

fashionablyliberal — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:57:25 +0000

I’ve gotten pretty used to eating alone and no longer hesitate to go out to eat alone. Yesterday I had a rather enjoyable early St. Patricks Daymeal of beer, fish and chip and a good book.

What We Eat When We Eat Alone By Deborah Madison

(read while in Madison, Wi and eating alone fittingly enough)

It reminded me that there can be a certain romance that can exist in the self-indulgence of eating alone. It has occured to me the I feel a little like I’ve forgotten how to cook for someone else. (Now don’t get me wrong, dinner for 10, I still have confidence enough for). But this book, as it described the quirky meals people make for themselves, made me consider my own solo meals. Many of which are as, Madison puts it, “very personal foods… and are not easily shared” Such as my diner before my rock climbing date on Friday: a wedge of laughing cow cheese and two soft boiled eggs eaten with Frank’s Red Hot. Eggs, in any form, though usually boiled and never for long enough, with Frans are one of my most frequent meals. So far what I love about this book is that some how it makes me feel warm and fuzzy, almost protective, about my two egg meals or “wine in the bath” dinners.

I’ve gotten pretty used to eating alone, being alone. Its nice to find something that makes me value my alone time. Instead of just accept it.

Stick to It! (tape trend)

fashionablyliberal — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:29:59 +0000

Tape has popped up on a number of blogs I follow recently. And I love it! Its so simple, so cheap! Only true creativity can make such interesting things from the stuff most of us use to close boxes, so that one kid in high school made wallets out of. (we all had that one kid in our class right?)

masking tape!

High End Tape! Kate Spade!

someone will have to stop me from applying this to notebooks and various peices of furniture in my new apartment. (please stop me)

cold hands become busy hands

fashionablyliberal — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:04:16 +0000

Maybe this renewed want to knit is because my office is freezing…

I’ve been excited about going to Lakeside Fibers since weeks ago when I posted about Madison. Talking to my boss yesterday she brought it up, which only stoked my interest. And then searching for pillow inspiration… I love my job!… I found these little fellows

do they count as pillows?

All of this combined has done plenty to stoke my interest in taking up knitting again. I also found this amazing chunky loop scarf this morning which of course I can’t find now… but it followed by the bear above I’ve decided will be my first two projects. I’ve decided that if I make it and pretend it is a pillow it is ok for a grown (sort of) woman to have a teddy bear on her couch.

Report on Lakeside will come Monday!

Brrrews!

fashionablyliberal — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:55:10 +0000

Madison is cold… I’ll admit that! But the low temperatures are made up for by the high brewery to population ratio! So many new brews to try! (still working on finding people to drink with… drinking alone is a little sad)

Cool Material found the perfect companion for my journey in exploring Madison’s many offerings. Ok so it is a paper companion and not a living, breathing one but if these notebooks were a man I’d totally let him buy me a drink or two.

beer workbook!

Handmade and heartfelt

fashionablyliberal — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:28:27 +0000

Valentine’s Day is just over a week away. Time to send those cards if you are going to. Last year I hand painted 22 valentines for friends, none of which did I photograph before mailing them. With the up coming move I will spend this weekend packing rather than being crafty and this makes me a little sad.

For those of you who have the time, Design* Sponge‘s guest blog today is wonderful inspiration:

Mad about Madison

fashionablyliberal — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:27:46 +0000

I’m moving to MADISON, WI

state st.

and I’ve been a bit preoccupied researching the city and planning the move. I’m so excited about all of the little treasures this city has to offer. Below is just a taste… a few ideas for my first weekend there.

Happy Mouth and Busy Hands

I’d never heard of a coffee shop and yarn store combination before, but it seems logical, hence why Madison has a few:

The Sow’s Ear 125 S. Main St., Verona, WI

located in the near by town of Verona this little shop offers fresh brews, yummy cafe fare, including a few vegan friendly options, and all the knitting supplies you’ll need to take one of their classes. I feel like I could lose a few Saturday afternoons to this place.

Lakeside Fibers 402 W. Lakeside St.

Has a beautiful view of Monona Bay and the Capitol skyline and in addition to a large selection of knitting supplies and classes they have a selection of wine and beer. Evening knitting?

Splurge and “Dig”

Of course a girl has to look good at work and since I will no long need to wear business attire it seemly like a good time to spruce up the closet.

Bop 222 W. Gorham St.

is a location of the online store Shop Bop that I have lusted over for a long time. It’s nice to know that a little city like Madison still has access to the latest trends and with an actual store to visit maybe i finally will splurge since I am try the clothes on and maybe find a sale rack.

“Dig & Save” St. Vincent De Paul 1900 S. Park St.

,where clothing, books, and household items are sold by the pound. After splurging at Bop it might be time to spend the rest of the afternoon digging through the bins here to see what treasures I can afford with the change.

Domicile Dreams

For the first time in my life I will have an apartment that is MINE with my things in it. But here in lies the “problem” I don’t own anything to hang on the walls, or put on the coffee table… wait I don’t even own a coffee table. The following places seem like good places to start. There are others… but they seem a little out of my price range.

Satara 5621 Odana Rd.

has organic bedding and towels. At the very least I intend on spoiling myself with a bamboo towel.

El Kiosco 1348 Williamson St.

is suppose to have vintage and salvaged furniture and house wares… even if it’s not in top shape maybe I can find something to refinish

BEER and food

does this really need a clever title or explanation? In a town with multiple local breweries it only seems to make sense to end a busy weekend afternoon with a few suds and a bite to eat.

Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co. 123 East Doty Street

*much thanks so Design*Sponge for many of these recommendations in their Madison Design Guide

Boudoir and the single gal

fashionablyliberal — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:15:05 +0000

I WANT! Can't you just see yourself wearing this, while you sip tea on a Sunday morning?

I had a conversation yesterday with my fellow receptionist about how sometimes a girl just has the urge to buy beautiful unmentionables for herself even if no one is going to see them. And then Daily Candy fed me this in my email box this AM.

Feeling pretty doesn’t feel and less good just because you don’t have someone looking at you!

After work cupcakes

fashionablyliberal — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:07:50 +0000

I’m going to Red Velvet Lounge after work tonight for a friend’s b-day. They sadly don’t seem to have a website for me to troll or post a link to but the place has gotten a lot of great press, from the NY Times to Time Out NY. All of the drinks are served paired with cupcakes!! Can you think of a happier happy hour?! I will try to take some pictures, as well as I can on my phone.

but with cupcakes in mind… look what I found today! Cupcake wrapper bowls

I want!

*** The gate was down at RED VELVET LOUNGE so we went else where but… look what Daily Candy fed us today

mail order cupcake kits!

They are mail order cupcakes! You pick a cake, a frosting and a topping and they will send you triplets of your combination. BEST PART! … they have vegan cupcakes, so I can actually order them! *SMILES LIKE A FIVE YEAR OLD*

Drinks on Wheels

fashionablyliberal — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:10:35 +0000

The New York Times had an article about bar carts recently. And Design*Sponge had an entry on them not long ago (click picture for link)

drink up!

I love them!! I think at this point I just love anything that involves decorating an apartment and entertaining and they do both!!

Target actually has a ton of little rolling carts that are either designed to be a bar cart or could be made into one.

this is my favorite

but of course… I need things like a bed and a kitchen table… OH and an apartment before I get one.

If bar carts are TRENDY… then tasty cocktails must follow:-)

TRENDY/ TASTY THURSDAY

per some of my favorite blogs here are a few drink recipes to help you stock your bar

Design*Sponge calls it Wassail Punch... but I think it sounds like mom's cider for the big kids

mmm! Gin

Amaretto Sour : a personal favorite

(thanks Real Simple)

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Amaretto liqueur
1 ounce simple syrup (dissolve an equal amount of sugar in water)
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 orange slice
1 maraschino cherry

Directions

Pour the Amaretto, simple syrup, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Making the Maids!

fashionablyliberal — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:42:41 +0000

Dress options

Colors

SHOES!!!

Add a flower over the snaps?