BookWormz

Are you betting on the ponies today?

2009-05-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

I am! I'm definitely betting on Rachel Alexandra since she's not only the fav, but also shares mi nombre... :). Here I am at the "mudbug" otb in Chicago. Sketchy, huh? :)

In line at Stanley's

2009-05-09T13:50:00.001-05:00

Officially the best and least expensive produce market in the city!

Skinny Girl Margarita Party!

2009-05-08T09:08:00.003-05:00

Told you I'm obsessed with eating healthy lately. I had a couple of girlfriends over for dinner on Saturday, and we had a fab time! Everyone had some Skinny Girl Margaritas, courtesy of my favorite Real Housewife of New York, Bethenny (prob. butchered the spelling. Sorry!).

Isn't it so much fun to throw a dinner party? I love setting the scene, but I'm just learning how, as evidenced by my "beginners" set-up on the bar. I did love the colors, though, and had to share. What is your favorite drink to serve at a dinner party?

Spring has sprung!

2009-05-07T09:55:00.001-05:00

This is right outside our buildings front door! I'm feeling all twitterpated!

Did he do it??

2009-05-07T08:04:00.002-05:00

Ok, so Kate can definitely be a wench, but with the responsibility of 8 kids hanging over her head, I can definitely understand how being a little blunt becomes part of your personality. Regardless, I absolutely LOVE watching that show. I love watching the kids, and I'm so sad to think of the possibility that Kate and Jon would divorce! Kate seems to be one of those chicks who won't stick around if her man is a cheater, so I hope its not true. :( So.... do you think he did it?

Also obsessing over flowers in the house lately!

2009-05-06T10:19:00.001-05:00

Isn't this a pretty way for your home to say "hi" when you walk in the door? :)

What I'm obsessing about these days

2009-05-06T10:01:00.003-05:00

Does anyone feel that every time they discover something new it becomes an obsession for a while? I feel like my obsessions change often, and these days I'm obsessing about the following:

1. My new iPhone! The apps are INCREDIBLE! I downloaded one called "Lose it", and it allows me to keep track of my calorie intake and excercise output each day. REALLY easy, too - it already has most foods in it's system, and its really easy to add specific foods that aren't in there, like "Trader Joes Greek Pizza" for instance. It also tells you exactly how many calories you need to consume to meet whatever your goals are. I want to lose about 6 pounds, and I want to do it at a rate of 1/2 a pound a week, which means I can eat exactly 1,683 calories a day! SO fun and easy.

1.5 A natural spin off, due in part to the iPhone is a renewed motivation in terms of diet and excercise. As my wedding approached, I discovered that I really could lose weight by changing my diet, and now that I've gained it all back, I'm really motivated to get back to that wedding weight. This time, however, I'm also adding in excercise (I was too busy when planning my wedding to exercise and lost all the weight by not eating much).

2. (HEALTHY) Cooking and cleaning! My husband and I did a HUGE spring clean two weeks ago, and I'm trying my hardest to keep it up! It does not come naturally to me. :) Ask my Mom and all my former roommates. (By the way, I also downloaded the Epicurious app on my iPhone - it has all the same recipies as their website, and you can also make shopping lists directly from their recipe!) My major malfunction lately is that I clean the kitchen BEFORE I make dinner, and then I get too tired to clean it after. It's a vicious cycle.

so what are your current obsessions? Do you do this too? Become obsessed with one or two things in your life?

P.S. Funny pic, huh? ;)

Jen Lancaster's new book due out today! Get it while its hot!

2009-05-04T22:19:00.004-05:00

Ok, so its always going to be hot - I mean, get it while its hot off the presses! :)

It is no secret that I have a platonic girl-crush on Jen Lancaster. You can read my previous reviews of her books HERE and HERE. I CAN'T WAIT to pick up the latest - "Pretty in Plaid", and YOU should too! Trust me, you're gonna love her.

Just got an IPhone!

2009-05-04T19:52:00.001-05:00

This is my first mobile post... From my spare bedroom. I'm really venturing out of my little bubble here! Do any of you have the iPhone? What is your favorite app?

Our living room

2009-05-02T16:49:00.003-05:00

Hi gang - been spending a lot of time decorating and perfecting lately. I'm going to post some pics and I want YOU to tell me what YOU would do to our apartment! Only catch is: you can only add to it, you can't take anything away. :) This way, we'll get some awesome decorating tips from a whole bunch of creative minds! Feel free to blog about this on your blogs so that you can add pics, etc - just be sure to leave a link in the comments! Thanks, and go nuts!

Updates!

2009-04-30T13:02:00.003-05:00

1. BookWormz hit 100 sales on April 22! Congrats NotNessie and Shhh - I'm Reading! Please shoot me an email with your choices of BookWormz and address - pick anything in my store with the exception of Couture pieces and the "Flags of Our Fathers BookWorm"! :) My email address is rachelswormz@gmail.com

2. Went to see Britney Spears last night with some girlfriends! It was a good show, but I saw her Onyx Hotel tour and I have to say it was better. Her costumes were amazing, though, and the opening by Perez Hilton was so fab. :) My husband called me when we were on our way to the arena and sang "Ooops, I'm the oldest one there", which made me giggle. Surprisingly, my 30 year old girlfriends and I were NOT the oldest ones there (okay, so the older ones were moms. To teenagers... KIDDING), and there were lots of groups of girls around our age. I think if a single guy wanted to meet girls, there may be no better place than a Britney concert.

3. I took today and tomorrow off. Just for the heck of it. :) Off to enjoy! Talk to you all soon! xoxo

off to get my nails did

2009-04-25T09:38:00.002-05:00

:) Sorry I've been neglecting my lil blog - I've been a VERY busy girl. This morning I'm going to get a mani/peddie with some of my girlfriends and then out to lunch, but I PROMISE this weekend I'll do some updating. I have a special announcement to make, so stay tuned! Hopefully my nails do not look this... artistic... when I'm done!

pretty spring Tulips

2009-04-21T10:12:00.003-05:00

Just love this bouquet - I put it together at Crate and Barrel (they have a flower section in the one I go to), and I just think it is so simple and sweet and spring-like! :) Hope you enjoy like I do! :)

Book Review - Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

2009-04-20T17:13:00.002-05:00

(note, the full name of the novel is as follows, but if you'd like to buy it, you can just look for "Such a Pretty Fat" haha)

"Such a Pretty Fat - One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big" or "Why Pie Is Not the Answer" by Jen Lancaster - 5!!!!

Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouldn’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!

"Such a Pretty Fat" by Jen Lancaster absolutely lived up to my expectations. I've read a few of Jen Lancaster's books, and I laugh out loud on pretty much every page. This can be very embarrassing when you're in public, and it can also keep your husband up at night when you're reading and he's trying to go to sleep. :) You've been warned.

"Such a Pretty Fat" is a memoir about Jen's struggle to lose weight. Let me clarify - Jen is incredibly self-confident (as she should be! She's totally fabulous - I got to meet her at a book club in Chicago once. Loved her. If this were a Lancaster book, this aside would be a footnote at the bottom of the page haha) and while searching for her next book topic, decided to submit an idea to her publishing house for a book that documented her personal weight loss journey. If she didn't have to write about it, she wouldn't have felt it was necessary, because she knows how totally awesome she is as documented in the following: "My teeth are superwhite, my hair is bouncy, and if I saw me on the street, I'd totally think I was cute. If I were single, guys would want to date me because I wouldn't be the kind of pain in the ass who orders the lobster, takes a bite, and declares herself full. Clean-plate club, baby!" (p. 77). That's what you love about Jen, as you live through this gruelling, but ultimately triumphant, weight loss struggle. You just can't help but fall in love with her honest, quirky observations and experiences.

I think I also loved this book (and all Jen's books) because it takes place in my city - Chicago. I completely relate to her stories about public transportation (like the one where her adorable husband gets spit on by a homeless lady on the "El", which is our version of the subway, or the stories of people-watching in weird neighborhoods with her husband when they go to get gelato). Jen is a master at making the scene come alive, and as I read this book, I found myself involuntarily shouting "YES! I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!" while laughing hard enough to make milk (ok, wine) come out of my nose.

Here are a few of my favorite passages:

(after explaining that she hated her recent trip to New York and being told she couldn't really blame the city for her bad trip) "Fair enough. However, this was the first time I didn't come home wanting to move there afterward. Loving New York has been such a constant in my life that the trip was weird. It's like I've had a crush on New York for years, and we finally hook up and I find out he still reads comic books, has skid-marked undies, and smells like summer sausage." (p. 185)

(talking about how her husband's closet is perfectly organized) "I bet he'd never shove his dirty wedding dress in a garbage bag and stuff it on a shelf in the back of his closet for five years until he just now remembered he should probably get it cleaned." (p. 177) (ummmmmmmmmm - awwwkwaaaarddddd......)

Honestly, there are so many passages that are hysterical. I can personally relate to these two, so they really stood out for me, but I can almost promise you'll end up in giggles every time you open this book. Overall, the theme of this book is that even though we all have things we can work on, we should be happy to be ourselves, and we should work towards being the best version of ourselves possible. I highly recommend this book - a lighthearted read with a great underlying message.

Celebrity baby name or computer virus - can you tell the difference?

2009-04-17T16:34:00.003-05:00

Click HERE to find out!

What to do with a sick husband?

2009-04-17T09:30:00.004-05:00

I've never had one before. He has a cough and the chills, and since I've never had a sick husband before, I'm not quite sure what to do with him. I'm forcing lots of liquids down, but he's just not cooperating...

*****fine print - this is not actually my husband. I googled "sick" and this is what came up. Awesome huh? :) The article that came attached explains that this is a bodybuilder named HUGO and that he wasn't feeling well and was debating whether or not to work out. Looks like someone needs to get to the gym to me... I mean, how out of shape can one man BE? ;)

Look into your crystal ball...

2009-04-15T18:21:00.003-05:00

So I have 94 sales on ETSY right now. I'm going to run a contest for my blog readers - if you correctly predict the date of my 100th sale, I'll send you a free BookWorm! So warm up your crystal ball and get crackin on a guess, ok? Just post a comment below with your guess and your email address! Good luck!

Any Recessionistas out there?

2009-04-14T08:53:00.003-05:00

You might want to check out Stuff Under Twenty - A Blog for Recessionistas. They're an a - dorable little duo that posts affordable products for home, to wear, to use and to impress your friends with. :) Coincidentally, they are also currently featuring my Hounds of Baskerville BookWorm, which is pretty fabulous. ;)

POLYVORE fun!

2009-04-13T16:23:00.001-05:00

My first outfit created on Polyvore.com! Enjoy - all sorts of shopping fun without the buyer's remorse!

How To Use Polyvore by BookWormz featuring J Crew tops

Just a reminder

2009-04-13T11:56:00.004-05:00

You can find a beautiful surprise in the most unexpected of places. :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Give it a watch - I almost cried the first time I saw it. The looks on the judges faces are truly priceless. Sorry, I couldn't find an embedded link, so you'll have to click to see it. The surprise comes about 2 or 3 minutes in...

Book Review - "Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult

2009-04-13T08:42:00.005-05:00

"Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult - 4

Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouldn’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!

I struggled with the rating scale on this one. I'm not sure if it is possible to "love" a book like this. Like "Still Alice", it was pretty tough to read. I have to say, I've never read a poorly written Picoult book. She's one of those authors that has a gift for words, and also a drive and professionalism that shows in the VAST amount of research that appears throughout her novels. Given those factors, I can't responsibly say it wasn't a good book, because it was an EXCELLENT book. I just probably wouldn't read it again, because it was so incredibly sad on so many levels.

"Handle With Care" is about a family with a little girl who was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. It is a disease that very few people have, but it causes the bones of the victims to break at almost any moment - from turning over in bed to bumping a leg on a couch. Obviously, the story is also about the effect that this disease has on the family. The teenage sister struggles with self-image and feelings of jealousy and abandonment. The parents' marriage takes a dark turn as the Mother explores a lawsuit that, if won, would change the family's financial situation dramatically. In addition to the family's struggles, "Handle With Care" explores the moral dilemma of whether or not to sue the family doctor (and the Mother's best friend) for "wrongful birth", which essentially means that the parents would have chosen to terminate the pregnancy if they would have known about their daughter's disease in time.

One of the signature features of a Picoult book is the exploration of all sides of a moral dilemma. Each of her novels explores a different issue, but instead of presenting only one arguement for or against, Picoult manages to lay out the moral landscape from a birds-eye-view, thus allowing you to draw your own conclusions of which side is right and which is wrong. "Handle With Care" left me unable to decide what I would have done if I were in this Mother's position. On one hand, I can understand why she would want to change her family's dire financial situation (if for no other reason than to provide a better future for her disabled daughter), but on the other hand, I don't think it is right to essentially lie (she had to say she wished her daughter was never born) in order to win a lawsuit.

Not only was it difficult to read about the pain and difficulties this poor little girl has to go through every day, but as a newlywed, I found it truly heartbreaking to read about the marital difficulties that this poor couple dealt with. As the reader, you can see that both parents love each other deeply, but they can't agree on a fundamental moral issue. I wanted to reach through the pages and shake them. Because of these painful issues, I have a tough time telling people to read the book. It harbors so much sadness and so much reality that it isn't able to provide the "escape" that I treasure so much in my reading travels. On the other hand, I would absolutely NOT discourage you from reading this wonderful novel. Just read it with the understanding that it will probably make you cry.

For a quick read about the book signing I went to for "Handle With Care", just click HERE!

Tea at the Drake - PINKY'S OUT!

2009-04-12T17:00:00.004-05:00

This has been a SUPER busy weekend, and SO much fun! I'm sad it is ending tonight at midnight. I feel like Cinderalla. Let me give you the rundown...

Friday night I was feeling the culinary itch, so I decided to try a recipe I read about on a blog last week (sorry, I can't remember which blog!!) for spinach gnocchi, which turned into a bit of a debacle. It took me about three pounds of butter and cheese, two hefty glasses of cabernet and 4 hours. The sauce was pretty excellent, but the gnocchi just wasn't quite right... We ate it anyway, but it was definitely not my best kitchen performance... :)

Saturday was SO much fun! My girlfriends and I threw a joint baby shower for two of our best friends at the Drake in Chicago! It was a library-themed shower, so we got them Bukushuns (bookends that look like fluffy pillows!) that you see above for the group gift, and each got them a children's book to go with them. Since they're both having little boys, I got them "Where the Wild Things Are", because, well, it's awesome! Favors were candy and Book Plates, and in general, it was all pretty fabulous. How can you go wrong with tea at the Drake? Here are some pics of our fabulous shower. Don't you love the flower arrangements we chose for them? haha

Then Saturday night we went out with some friends - Mexican dinner (fajitas, guac and margaritas - um - YUM!) first, then some random loungy bar called Crimson, where we had a GREAT time drinking too much Effen vodka (my drink of choice? Vodka, soda, lime. Easy, breezy, low in calories haha) and rubbing the walls, which featured FLOCKED wallpaper! So fun! It was a 30th birthday celebration, so after Crimson we somehow ended up in a limo to our next bar, where my hubby and I wisely decided to duck out before it was taken to the next level. :)

Today, EASTER celebration with family - my husband has a HUGE family (like, oh, 30 people), and we had a great time playing with the kids and eating Easter breakfast, snacks, lunch and more snacks. :)

Phew - see, told you it was a long weekend! :)

WOOT - gotta love my fellow bloggers!

2009-04-10T08:52:00.004-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - my boss was in town, and it was a very busy week! I'm so lucky to have blogger friends like you - I just wanted to give a shout out!

So for those of you who LOVE to read, both books and plentiful blog posts, I highly recommend that you follow THE BOOK RESORT! She is a BookWorm fan, and she's posted the nicest review of her BookWormz HERE - you should definitely give it a peek! I love that she reviews just the kinds of books that are so fun to read (Twighlight anyone?), and she is a super active member of the blogging community. She leaves lots of comments which make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :)

The second blog recommendation I have today is KEEP THIS ON THE DL! She's an American living in Italy, and is currently giving away two BookWormz HERE! First, we're very grateful that she's ok after that horrible earthquake in Italy, and second, she's MORE than ok, since yesterday was her 25th BIRTHDAY!!! :) She writes book reviews and funny, cute little tidbits about her life.

Check these two awesome bloggers out today - I don't think you'll regret it! :) This weekend should be a very busy one for me (helping to host a baby shower, 30th birthday dinner and Easter!), but I'm REALLY going to try to get the "Handle With Care" review up! Ok, have a great day, all! :)

SeekingDesigners Press Release about MOI???

2009-04-06T16:04:00.001-05:00

Check it out - I think it looks FAB! :) Click Here to Ch-Ch-Check it out!

Spring cleaning

2009-04-06T14:26:00.002-05:00

You know what I've discovered about myself? I've discovered that the activities I enjoy the most in life are those that make a mess. Delicious dinner for my husband and I? HUGE mess. Making BookWormz? Won't even go into it. Entertaining friends and family? Dishes for days.

The problem is that I do NOT enjoy cleaning. Cleaning and I are not good friends. I enjoy a clean house tremendously, but the huge process that it takes to get it clean...makes me want to crawl into a hole and cover myself up with the mounds of dirty laundry sure to be strewn about the floor. Here are a couple of pictures of the BookWorm factory (a.k.a. - our dining room table), please don't judge me.

How am I ever going to make friends with cleaning? We've been frienimies my whole life! I hate cleaning, but I love the results. What to do with myself? Oh, before you suggest it - a housecleaning service is out of the question - I'd rather spend my benjamins on ribbon, any day.

Wii, Eating Healthy and Other Random Topics

2009-04-04T17:11:00.003-05:00

My right arm is currently throbbing just a little from a particularly rousing laser fight with my husband on Wii. At first, he was kicking my rear, but by the end of the match, I dominated, as is my birthright. We just got the wii yesterday, and so far, it's a lot of fun! It's not quite as addicting as I thought it would be, but that turns out to be a good thing, as I have about 7% of a normal person's willpower.

In other news - I am try try trying to eat healthier in preparation for bathing suit season...er...summer. :) Seeing as how I can rarely motivate myself enough to get to the gym more often than once every 6 to 8 days, I figure my only chance at fitting in to last summer's clothes is to eat like a rabbit. Breakfast was 0% fat greek yogurt topped with fresh mango, blueberries and almonds (YUM - if only all healthy food was this delicious - pictured below, just before I ate it all up), and lunch was a delicious Quinoa salad with lemon, cucumber, olive oil and other such delicious roughage. Anyone have a favorite healthy recipe???

Also, I promised to share the name and location of the ONLY current place you can buy BookWormz retail .... drumroll please....... Gallimaufry Gallery!!!! If you're a Chicago dweller, or if you're visiting our fair city (we have the peeps from the Olympic Committee here this weekend deciding whether or not we'll be the hosts of the 2016 Olympics - Oprah is said to be helping entertain them. If that doesn't get them, WHAT WILL??), you can find the Gallimaufry Gallery at 4712 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago. Go check it out - they feature all hand made and fair trade products! Pretty cool shop!

Ok, don't forget to link me up to your fav. healthy recipe!

Whaaaa??

2009-04-03T08:58:00.002-05:00

Husband: "Did you hear the news?! The Bears signed Cutler!"
Me: "What's Cutler? Did they all sign it?"

hahahahaha

Book Review - Internet Dating is not Like Ordering a Pizza by Cherie Burbach

2009-04-02T10:41:00.004-05:00

Cherie Burbach's book, "Internet Dating is not Like Ordering a Pizza" is about how to create a successful online dating profile. The first few chapters were a little hard to get through for me, because I felt like the author was pandering to the lowest common denominator. Most of the early chapters were about why she felt it was necessary to write her book, and they each ended with a teaser: "So let's get started!" or "Now read on to see how you can fix it." or "And I'll show you how to do all that... step-by-step.". It was a little distracting, and felt a little more like a manual than a book.

As I read on, however, I started to really like Burbach's message. I was an English major in college, and while I clearly am not the best writer, I did learn how to use structure to give my writing (letters, blog posts, book reviews) shape. What I think I forget is that not everyone has that background, and thus could really use a refresher course. Also, although some of her advice seemed a little common sense (like "While you don't need to be too clever, charming, or poetic in your profile, you do need to sound like yourself."), I began to realize that many people DO need this advice. I REALLY liked the fact that she explained what she meant and then followed her advice with both good and bad examples. Actually, by reading her do's and don'ts, I started to critique some of my own writing and realized I could use some brush-ups myself on how to make my writing interesting to the reader.

I am happily and newly married, so I definitely wasn't the target audience for this book, but I would have to say that anyone who is currently looking into online dating, or isn't satisfied with their current results, should pick up a copy of Burbach's book. It really is like a cheat-sheet or instruction manual on how to create a compelling online profile. This book offers guidance and an outside perspective of what makes a successful profile. Outside perspective is invaluable when you're creating something so personal; it can be all too easy to overlook your own mistakes without guidance like Burbach's.

You can find this book at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or from the publisher HERE

Happy Dance

2009-03-31T09:05:00.001-05:00

Woo HOO!!! Hit 100 Followers today! :)

Sneak Preview

2009-03-31T08:47:00.002-05:00

In addition to hosting private sales (like the one going on right now until FRIDAY), if you sign up to Be a BookWormz Boutique Fan on Facebook , you'll also be the first to see many of the new designs being introduced, BEFORE they hit the market! So.... if you fall in love with a certain design, you can just let me know, and I'll put it up as a special listing, just for you. :) Like this one:

Which hasn't been posted yet, but may have already found a new home!

The Help by Katheryn Stockett - An Audiobook Review

2009-03-30T08:22:00.002-05:00

For those of you who don't know - I absolutely ADORE ww.audible.com. Audible is a website where you can pay a monthly fee to have access to a huge selection of audio books. the places/times I use mine most often (always on my ipod, although you can use any mp3 player, or you can even download them and burn them onto cds!) include:

1. In the car - I drive a lot for my day job.

2. When working out - especially if it is a REALLY good story.

3. When cleaning the house - it makes the time fly by.

4. When cooking - if I don't have to pay too much attn to the recipe.

Ok, anyway, enough of the commercial. :) The book I most recently finished on audible was "The Help" by Katheryn Stockett. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Seriously, it was on par with "The Time Traveller's Wife" and "Water for Elephants". I feel that reviewing an audiobook will be a little different than a conventional book, because I can't refer back to specific passages. This is my first attempt, so hopefully it isn't a useless review. :) Alright, kids, buckle up.

"The Help" is about America's deep South - specifically, Mississippi - and the relationship between African American and white women in the early 1960's. It is a story that shows the courage, humor, ignorance and frustration prevalent on both sides of the racial divide of that time. It made me laugh aloud, and it made me cry. How often can we find a story that does both, and that keeps you hanging on, wishing the book would never end? The narrators in the audio version of "The Help" were breathtaking. Truly actors, they allowed you to FEEL the story, in the tradition of the great storytellers. You know that experience of sitting around a campfire when you were a little kid, and hanging on to every word of some fantastic tale? That's how this story unfolded.

Aside from the artistry of the story and the narration, "The Help" is an excellent reminder that all people are created equal. It manages to highlight the perspective of the underdog exceedingly well, which is a perspective that those of us who are lucky in life often forget. I'm very blessed to have parents who tried their best to teach me the importance of having and upholding your own convictions, and "The Help" is an excellent way to remind yourself of how ESSENTIAL it is to stand up for what you believe in, even if the consequences are sometimes unfavorable, to say the least. In this day of political correct-ness (is that a word?), where we often live in shades of gray, it is a reminder that often a black and white answer does exist to a right and wrong question.

I absolutely loved this book, and I'd highly encourage you to read it, or if you're anything like me, and strapped for time, why don't you try this as your first audio book? :) Have you read it? What did you think?

BookWormz Going Retail!

2009-03-28T12:33:00.004-05:00

Can't tell you where yet - but I'll spill the beans next week! Here is my first shipment - all prettied up for you! :)

YUMMMMMMM!

2009-03-28T10:59:00.004-05:00

I must admit I do love my Cooking Light magazine. I have found some AMAZING dishes, and last night, I just found another keeper. For those of you who get the magazine, the recipe is on page 138 of the March,2009 magazine. For those of you who don't - well - here ya go. Oh yeah, and this photo is theirs, not mine. Unfortunately I'm not that talented of a shutterbug.

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs plum tomatoes, peeled and halved lengthwise

3 tblspns EVOO, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

6 quarts water

12 oz uncooked spaghetti

1/4 cup minced fresh basil

6 tablespoons grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Squeeze juice and seeds from tomato halves into a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl, reserving juices; discard seets. Finely chop tomatoes.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large non-stickk skillet over medium heat. Add garlic to pan: cook 30 seconds or just intil garlic begins to brown, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, reserved juices, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 15 minutes, or until liquid almost evaporates, stirring occasionally.

3. Bring 6 quarts water and remaining 2 tablespoons salt to a boil in an 8-quart pot. Add pasta to pot; stir. Cover; return water to a boil. Uncover and cook 8 minutes or until pasta is almost al dente. Drain pasta in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.

4. Add hot pasta and reserved cooking water to tomato mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until sauce is thick and pasta is al dente, tossing to combine. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with basil; toss. Place 1 cup pasta mixture on each of 6 plates. Drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon of remaining oil; sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

Calories 313

We actually changed it up a little - instead of the parm, we added little mozzerella balls, which we chopped into 4 pieces each, and about 1 minute before the dish was done. It added a lot of chewy deliciousness to the dish. Also, we didn't really follow the pasta cooking instructions. We just boiled water, threw in the pasta, and then strained it.

It was seriously one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had - my husband said if he had ordered this in a restaurant, he would have been thrilled.

Also, it took about 40 minutes from start to finish. Try it tonight! Do you have a favorite recipe? Link me up - I'm always looking for new ones! :)

UPDATE: EVOO = Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Is this heaven???

2009-03-27T15:45:00.002-05:00

I was just sitting there, reading through some comments on my blog, when I came across http://chachingqueen.blogspot.com/ . As I'm reading through her fabulous ways to SAVE MONEY (yep, you read it right - all in one easy spot) - I see this: BooksFree
Like Netflix but for books. 20% off your first month at Booksfree.com. Use coupon code: CJ86

What?! Netflix, but for BOOKS? Excuse me - I may be hyperventilating a bit. Can't wait to bury myself in their virtual bookshelves. Have fun, fellow readers!

Will you be my fan?

2009-03-26T14:31:00.004-05:00

*bats eyelashes at you* Hi lovely blog readers! I just started a fan page on Facebook - Will you be my fan? Just click HERE! Loves ya, and THANK YOU!

pst.... my fans will have EXCLUSIVE access to sales! yessssssssss!!!!

Contributing Photographic Editor

2009-03-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

When asked how the pictures of my latest creation looked, my husband added this prop. What a nut. :) By the way, you can find the "Tropical Sensation BookWorm" in my 1000 Markets Shop!

I Wish...

2009-03-25T22:41:00.003-05:00

I was a better writer. I used to be decent (at least in my own little head), but I fell out of practice, and these days I find myself sounding like I just graduated 8th grade when I write. :) (Note excessive use of emoticons. Sorry - I really can't help it. It's an illness) I only mention this because I stumbled across this great blog,The Dangerous Pages Review , and I instantly fell in love with her writing style. Bonus - she likes the same books I do! Sigh... I totally have a (platonic) blogger crush.

Steal This Idea - of the day

2009-03-25T11:24:00.003-05:00

Not sure where I got this idea - I think it was in a cookbook? Anyway - loved it, and thought I'd share it with you!

You know when you buy fresh herbs (or grow them in your garden for those of you who don't live in a shoebox like me), and you just know you're not going to use them all in time? Well, what I've started doing is chopping them into ready-to-use sizes, and then freezing about 1 tsp of the chopped herb into an ice cube! Then, when I need fresh herbs, all I do is throw an ice cube into whatever I'm cooking! This will make me feel a lot less guilty about spending $3 at the grocery store for sage that I'll only use a little of. :)

Mine happen to be heart shaped, b/c that we have an automatic ice maker, and those are the only ice trays I own! :) I bought them for a party once, and they've turned out to be very useful!

Jumps on Couch Like Tom Cruise

2009-03-24T09:11:00.001-05:00

I got a wholesale request today for between 500 and 1000 BookWormz!!!! Not sure if what they want is something I'm capable of, but working hard on finding out! Holy Cow!

Dear Husband

2009-03-23T16:22:00.002-05:00

I have to say, that husband of mine is SO FUNNY! I'm such a lucky girl. He makes me laugh all the time. Example:

Husband: Why do I find out more about you by reading your blog than by living with you?
Me: giggles and sheepishly grins with a shoulder shrug thrown in for good measure

He's also getting handier as time goes on. Not only did he forage for a new grill in the foreign land of Home Depot this weekend, but he also actually PUT THE GRILL TOGETHER! I don't know about you, but I find this very impressive.

Also he is strong and handsome. But he won't let me put his picture up (I think he is afraid of the legions of screaming tweens that are sure to stalk him if his picture goes public). So instead, here is our new grill which we have used every night since we got it. :)

New spotlight - a Tribute to my new last name!

2009-03-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

Baby Shower Today!

2009-03-22T09:52:00.002-05:00

I currently have two very good friends who are due in May with their first children. Both of these girls were in my wedding in October, and both were preggo during it! :) I just can't wait to meet their little dudes (yep, both boys!)! Today, I'm going to Cortney's shower. Her auntie is a professional chef, so I had a veeeery light breakfast in preparation for the feast! ;)

In honor of my two wonderful friends, I'd like to share one of my favorite videos. You've probably see it already, but I soooo love it. I love any funny videos, so please feel free to share yours! :)

Wowza!

2009-03-21T21:13:00.002-05:00

*blushes* Thanks, Book Resort, for all the high praise! Check out The Book Resort here for an awesome writeup of my BookWormz! She also has a super cool blog, so show her some love! :)

Introducing your NEW Sous Chef!!!

2009-03-21T12:06:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited to introduce a new product category!! This lil beauty enables you to mark up to 4 recipies in one CookBook! What do you think? Oh yeah, if you covet this and wanna BUY it - click HERE !

Just applied at my first two "Brick and Mortar" shops!

2009-03-20T08:16:00.003-05:00

It's an exciting day for BookWormz - I just approached two "Brick and Mortar" shops in hopes that they will carry my BookWormz! I'll keep you posted. In the mean time, any of you other handmade artisans out there, check out Renegade Handmade ! You can apply to be a featured artisan right online. They have an adorable little shop in a busy shopping district in Chicago, so you'd have that added bonus as well! :) Good luck!

So incredibly sad.

2009-03-18T19:25:00.002-05:00

What a loss for our world.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

2009-03-17T16:57:00.001-05:00

Mexico vs Korea

2009-03-17T08:02:00.002-05:00

Yes, my husband forced me to watch the "Mexico vs Korea" baseball game. I can handle Cubs vs. whoever, but MEXICO vs KOREA??!!! Come on!!! Thats comparable to me forcing him to watch a subtitled version of Gossip Girl! S'ok, though - I did get a chance to read a little more of "Handle With Care". Grumble, Grumble.

On a positive note - I have a Corned Beef in the slow cooker! It's gonna smell goooooood tonight! Happy St Patty's, everyone!

I met the cutest Doctor this weekend!

2009-03-16T07:54:00.005-05:00

I mean, couldn't you just melt? Meet Dr. Michael, baby Marlo's brother. He's a doll. I absolutely adore him. :) I definitely feel that he will be a Doctor, a CEO or the President of the US. You just wait and see. :)

Best. Day. Ever.

2009-03-15T22:06:00.005-05:00

I actually got to meet one of my very favorite authors. I'm a sucker for Jodi Picoult books. All of 'em. Jodi is currently on tour promoting her new book, "Handle With Care", which is about a little girl who is born with osteogenesis imperfecta (a defect that causes brittle bones). I, yes, I, humble reader from Chicago, had the opportunity to meet her today!

Jodi is really inspiring! She's one of those women that is so self-assured, so brave, so strong, and so likeable that you can't help but think: "I wanna be just like her when I grow up"! She also seems to have a great sense of humor! She opened the 20 minute reading by saying "I'm sorry for those of you who can't see me. But if you can't see me, I'm six feet tall, very skinny and blonde." She was prompted by what appeared to be a super-fan to tell a very funny story about one of her earlier nights on tour that involved a rat in her hotel room. :) Nice to know stuff like that even happens to famous authors, isn't it?

She seems like she is so down to earth! She has a very pleasant voice, not really high, but not low and throaty. Although her voice may be diffent from normal, because she had a terrible cold. Her 20 minute reading was punctuated by bursts of coughing, which she quelled by sipping a hot tea. I caught a glimpse of a note that was paper-clipped to one of the first pages in her copy of "Handle With Care", presumably written by her husband, that said "Jodi, I love you". :) How sweet that she takes a bit of home with her while she's on tour! She was also very cute! She was wearing a great outfit of jeans, a black floral top with a black jacket over it, and friendship bracelets on her left arm. I never knew this about her, but in her former life she was an 8th grade English teacher! I really admire her ability to bring the issues that we are facing to light in a non-partisan way that grabs your attention. She presents all sides of an arguement or issue, and enables you to empathize with characters you would never identify with in other circumstances. She said today that when she wrote "Keeping Faith" one of her goals was to offend all religions equally. :) I know she was kidding, but I actually really admire that. You'll never know, from reading one of her books, who's side she's on.

During the Q & A session, a couple of interesting topics came up. One of her earlier novels (and one of my favorites), "My Sister's Keeper" is going to be coming out on the BIG screen soon, and one of the audience members asked her about the rumor that an alternate ending was given to the screenplay. Jodi confirmed this: "I wrote the book with a certain message in mind, and when you change the ending, you change the message a little." Later she ended the topic by confirming that she had made peace with the ending, and that we should all go see the movie, but: "The movie is never as good as the book!" :) You go, Jodi!

A few of my favorite quotes from the Q & A:

When asked how she chooses the topics of her books: "They are the issues that keep me up at night. There is no shortage of controversial issues to write about."

When asked for advice for aspiring writers: "Carve out some time every day. Even if it's only 20 minutes. Also, take a writing workshop." She also suggested that even if you start a story and think it's no good, to finish it out to the end.

I walked out of the signing today soooo excited to have had the opportunity to meet such an outstanding and thoughtful writer. I had the added bonus of spending ALL day with two of my girlfriends, Jenn and Courtney, who got there with me at 9:30 am to get in line. :) Here we are with our books, and here's the picture I got to take with Jodi (NOTE THE BOOKWORM ON THE TABLE!!! She said she loved it and that she always has a book, so it will come in handy!)!

Oh yeah, and the last picture is of BookWormz making their (faux) debut at Borders (yeah, that's my goofy self). Stay tuned - they were a huge hit! One girl bought one from me on the spot - and I didn't even go there to sell them! :)

"Your Dad's Tie" BookWorm winner!

2009-03-14T11:05:00.003-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to post it! Congratulations........... (drum roll) NINJA JENN!!!

Check out her blog! She's got a great tutorial on RSS feeds, which, dummy me, I just learned about. :) Congrats, Jenn!

Book Review! Still Alice by Lisa Genova

2009-03-14T10:29:00.005-05:00

"Still Alice" by Lisa Genova - 4

Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouldn’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!

I'm a big Stephen King fan. I love being scared to death while sipping a cup of tea. :) Usually, though, when I read a horror novel, it is for the pleasure of escape from reality through fantastic situations. "Still Alice" is a horror novel that could truly become a reality. The only reason I didn't give this book a 5 is because I didn't couldn't actually enjoy reading about a horrific situation that could easily happen to anyone I know, including myself.

This book had me crying from the beginning. "Still Alice" is about a woman in her 50's who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. It is so incredibly moving to read about her experiences from the perspective of the sufferer. I've read books or watched shows about Alzheimer's before, but they've all focused on what it is like for the families of those stricken with the disease. This is the first time I've ever really considered or empathized (through Genova's writing) with the victim. I suppose I've always thought about how awful it must be to have to care for someone who didn't recognize you, but "Still Alice" brings you along on Alice's downward spiral. It's incredibly sad, disorienting and disturbing, and if nothing else, makes you so grateful to be of sound mind and body.

One of the major plot lines in the book involves Alice's family's decision to undergo genetic testing to see if they have inherited the gene for Alice's disease. I always find myself pulled into stories like this. How would I react? Would I make the same decisions as the characters? This is a very Picoult-esque dilemma to me. If given the opportunity to find out if you're a carrier of a gene that would, in all likelihood, rob you of the very memories that comprise your life, would you do it? Would you take the test?

My poor cook books!

2009-03-12T09:43:00.002-05:00

They just can't get no respect... (yes, that was an intentional grammatical error) ;) They're crammed into a little cabinet above my stove along with all of my back issues of Cooking Light. Poor cook books. My favorite is the Bon Apetit series. I can ALWAYS come up with something delicious.

Couple questions for you: What is your favorite cook book (and the yellow pages don't count!)? Where do you keep you cook books? Do you subscribe to any cooking magazines, and what is your favorite?

Quote of the Day

2009-03-11T07:24:00.002-05:00

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." - Mark Twain

Coming attractions

2009-03-10T09:59:00.002-05:00

My Mom is super crafty - I owe all of my craftiness to her. So naturally she's very interested in my little BookWorm business, and we did a lot of brainstorming over the weekend. I've decided to change my strategy a little. I love the BookWormz, and they'll still be my primary focus, but I'm going to start including other book-related items in my shop. I'm changing the tag line to read: BookWormz - the Reader's Boutique, and adding a few more items. First up - glasses holders. I'm calling them Pearls of Wisdom, and the picture above shows the first one. We also discussed personalized photo buttons for the BookWormz, and possibly gift baskets for your favorite reader. What are your thoughts about this strategy? Do you think I should stick with just the BookWormz, or do you think I should start expanding? Do you have any other ideas about products I could offer in my little Boutique?

Just a Taste

2009-03-09T13:29:00.002-05:00

Hi all! I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I'm back from my mini-vacation in Florida, and I have lots of fun posts to work on! I have to work this afternoon, but here's a little teaser to keep you interested in reading my lil blog... :)

Check out this website http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm - it will tell you what song was #1 on the charts on the day you were born! So fun - mine was "Hot Child In the City" by Nick Gilder. Very appropriate since I live in the city, and since I'm a big kid at heart!

On my way to FLORIDA tomorrow!

2009-03-04T09:16:00.003-06:00

So excited. I get to see so many people I love in one vacation! I'm staying at my Parents' house in Cape Coral Florida, and on Thursday night we're making fajitas and margaritas and having people over on my parents' lanai! My b.f. Stephanie is coming in from Tampa, another of my best friends, Alaina, is bringing her son and daughter over, and my friend Liz from Naples might join us as well! It's a party!!! :) We'll probably put on some Buffett or maybe a little Jack Johnson, enjoy those fajitas and guacamole, and I hear rumors of an amazing grilled banana/hazelnut desert... danger... I bought a cute dress on SUPER sale from Off 5th Avenue - it was less than 1/4 of the original price and it's ADORABLE! Wanna see?

Are you ready for spring? What are you most excited to wear? Post on your blog and link me up! Spring is one of my FAVORITE seasons! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Quote of the Day

2009-03-04T07:58:00.002-06:00

Americans like fat books and thin women. ~Russell Baker

(bummer. looks like I might have to move to that place Oprah showcased last year...)

Quote of the day

2009-03-03T09:46:00.002-06:00

"There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love." Christopher Morely

Quote of the day

2009-03-02T14:29:00.000-06:00

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. ~Mark Twain

Meet my beautiful niece!!

2009-03-01T16:47:00.004-06:00

Word on the street is that she can't wait till she can read so she can get her own BookWorm. ;)

Book Review! In The Woods by Tana French

2009-03-01T13:57:00.003-06:00

In The Woods by Tana French - 5

Rating Scale: 1 – Didn’t Finish. 2 – Meh. 3 – Kept my interest, but probably wouln’t read again. 4 – Would Recommend. 5 – LOVED IT! Added it to my list of favorites!

In The Woods kept me captivated from page one. Tana French has a true gift of language. She makes the scene come alive so that you swear you were actually there – tasting the salty air by the sea or hoisting yourself up over a stone wall at the edge of the woods. But let’s face it. Just because an author has a way with words doesn’t mean they can tell an entrancing tale of suspense and domestic horror. French gift wraps her story for us in a quirky wrapping paper and ties it with a bow of surprise.

The story is about a young, confused detective with a dark and stormy past. It’s the stuff of mystery legend. As a child, he was involved in a horrific crime that robbed him of his memory and much of his innocence. The crime remains unsolved, and the trail cold, until a particularly haunting murder occurs in the very same woods of his childhood attack. The rest of the story involves several dead ends, a few twists and turns, and some truly fantastic characters.

One of the things I liked most about French’s writing style was her ability to ensnare the reader into a sense of empathy for her (sometimes not very likeable) characters. Even though Detective Ryan turns out to be a somewhat confused and self-involved character, I was rooting for him the whole way. I always had the sense that at heart, he was a genuinely good person. Cassie, his partner, was a whip-smart, quirky and funny counterpart. Overall, French’s talent for setting a scene, combined with her excellent character development, kept me feeling personally vested in the outcome of this truly mesmerizing story.

Quote of the Day

2009-03-01T12:46:00.001-06:00

TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book. ~Author Unknown

BookWormz EVERYWHERE!

2009-02-28T13:22:00.002-06:00

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. I made the FRONT PAGE on http://www.byhand.me/!!! Click HERE to check out my interview with Rebecca of Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen!

I've also been featured on a fellow Book Blogger's blog! Click HERE to check out {Insert Book Title Here}'s very cool blog. I love that it focuses on Young Adult literature - great site for all you Mom's out there to check out!

Also wanted to announce that last night I reached a milestone. 50 SALES! In less than two months! I'm really proud of myself. Thanks to all of you who've supported me along the way! Oh yeah - that's me clapping for myself. And those are my man hands. hahahaha

Confuzzled Shannon Custom piece

2009-02-28T11:02:00.004-06:00

As you (should) know (by now - haha), I love to read. I follow many book blogs - ever in the quest for my next favorite book. One of my most-read book bloggers is Confuzzled Books. Shannon asked me to make a bookworm incorporating "fairies" (check out her blog's banner - you'll understand) and "lavender". Here's what I've come up with - what do you think?

I actually don't think this photo accurately represents the color of the ribbon. The button is pretty spot-on. It's also hand-painted! The ribbon is more like the color of the elastic - I'm still kind of new to photography, so I'm not really sure how to fix this. Off to do some photo-googling! ;)

Phase two of Total Body Makeover Revealed!!!

2009-02-27T13:19:00.002-06:00

New packaging!!! Ahhh - I love it so much!!! What do you think? Etsy seller, and owner of UWIB, Erin Keys just purchased this adorable Cosmo BookWorm, and she'll be the first to see the change in packaging (from no packaging to THIS - in one day!) Erin, this lil beauty will be arriving at your house soon! :)

Sooooo..... whadda ya think of the new BANNER??

2009-02-26T23:14:00.002-06:00

I LOVE it!! Designed by an awesome Etsy Seller: McPrincessMaree! You must check her out. You're gonna love her. :) More changes to come! Stay tuned! Oh yeah, and don't forget to sign up for the BookWorm giveaway two posts down! :)

Total Body Makeover Coming Soon!

2009-02-26T22:39:00.000-06:00

Stay tuned!!! :) xoxoxoxo

Having Trouble Entering the Contest Below?

2009-02-25T08:27:00.002-06:00

A couple people have mentioned that they're having trouble entering comments for the BookWorm giveaway below. If you are having trouble entering the contest, please feel free to log on to my ETSY site and convo me your entry. Or feel free to email me at rachelswormz @ gmail . com. Thanks for playing! :)

Your Chance to Win a BookWorm!

2009-02-23T09:18:00.010-06:00

I love love love the vibrancy and sheen of this silk fabric. The only problem is that I think the silk may be a little too fragile and might fray over time. Thus, I don't want to sell it for fear that it won't hold up like my other BookWormz. Thus - a giveaway was born! So you feelin lucky, punk? This BookWorm was actually going to be introduced into my Couture Collection, because the ribbon is made of silk, I won't be able to get these buttons again, and the components are very expensive. It's called "Your Dad's Tie BookWorm", for obvious reasons. :)
Ok, so here's the deal. Winner will be drawn Monday, March 2nd. You have to leave a comment below with two parts:
1. What was the last book that you read and what did you think on a scale of 1 - 10?
2. Stop by my SHOP and let me know which BookWorm would best fit the plot of the last book that you read.

You can also earn extra entries by:
1. Tweeting about this giveaway
2. Blogging about this giveaway
3. Buying a BookWormz
Also, I'm having a sale until St. Patrick's Day! Buy two or more BookWormz, write "Indie" in the comments to seller, and I'll ship for free! Thanks for playing, and LUCK O' THE IRISH to ya!

Also, I've been told some people are having some trouble leaving comments on my blog. If this is the case, please feel free to convo me at my ETSY shop or email me at rachelswormz @ gmail . com for your entry! Thanks!

The Bag Meme

2009-02-22T13:53:00.004-06:00

Ironic, isn't it, that just after I posted my "I'm not so materialistic" post earlier today, I post a Meme about bags! haha! But you'll see I paid almost nothing for it, and I didn't buy it recently. So there. :)

Here are the rules:

1.Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No you can't go into your closet and pull out your favorite purse. We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.
2.List how much it cost. And this is not to judge. this is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story o go along with how you obtained it,we'd love to hear it.
3. Tag some chicks and link to this page so people know why the heck you're showing everyone your bag or just tag yourself!

4. Optional: You decide if you want to display the contents!

My bag was from the Gap, and I got it on super sale. It was originally something like $90, but I got it for $14. :) I actually remembered loving it when it first came out and being shocked by the price, so I was ecstatic to find it at such a bargain!

So inside my bag are: gift cards to the Olive Garden, several random receipts, my checkbook, a lipstick and a lip gloss, a very yummy flavor of Orbit gum, one earring, a pen, $10, my drivers license and last - a bunch of business cards from my last tradeshow... phew.

Your turn! Wanna play? Make sure you leave a link to your blog in my comments so I can check it out!

Feeling the Lurrrve!

2009-02-22T13:17:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Angela from Random Musings just posted the nicest review today! It is "random" (haha - told you I'm a sucker for puns) acts of kindness like this that can really brighten your day, isn't it? Thank you so much, Angela! What an excellent surprise! :) Go check out her Etsy shop, Clock Rocks, too - she's got some magnets I am lusting after! :)

Recession = Reprioritize

2009-02-22T11:23:00.004-06:00

You know, I'm definitely not proud of this, but I used to be a little obsessed with "wants". I want a new pair of jeans, I want those hot boots, I want I want I want. Since the recession, I really feel like the focus on material possessions has shifted. I no longer waste time and energy on thinking about the things that I don't have. For the first time in my adult life, I don't feel that pressure to buy buy buy and have have have. You know what? It's a great feeling. Very liberating! I have almost completely stopped reading the fashion magazines that come every month, because they just aren't as interesting. Do you think it is a shift in my priorities? Or do you think I am finally, truly growing up?

I went wedding dress shopping with a good friend last week (we think she found her dress and it is AMAZING!). The dress shops that we went to were in a very upscale neighborhood in Chicago - took some pics to share with my blog-friends. I was really surprised, though, because most of the time I end up looking longingly in the window at these shops, and this time - I just wanted to get some good pics! I really wasn't even interested in the products for sale!

This represents a seismic shift in priorities for me, and I have to say, I'm really proud of myself. Tell me, how do you feel? Are you experiencing a similar transformation, or are you still addicted to retail? Don't feel bad if you are - I pass no judgements - and I'm definitely not ready to say I'll never get the retail itch again. I'm just enjoying this brief reprieve... :)

Rice Crispy Treat gets sweeter!

2009-02-21T12:04:00.002-06:00

My husband and I got a LEEETLE crazy last night with the Rice Crispy Treats! I know - it sure was a wild Friday night! ;) We used the recipe on the inside of the Rice Crispy box, but instead of the usual 6 cups of Rice Crispy's we only used two. Then we added two cups of Cocoa Puffs and two cups of Golden Grahams. Closest thing to a s'more that you can get in a snowstorm! I highly recommend. Now go nuts - you're gonna love 'em.

Chicago Handmade Honeys

2009-02-21T10:14:00.003-06:00

Hi all! Created this spotlight of talented Chicago artists on http://www.byhand.me/! You can check it out HERE !

I'm in the Indie Gift Guide!

2009-02-21T09:24:00.002-06:00

Check me out on The Indie Gift Guide ! Be sure to take advantage of the promotional offer, too! ;)

Virtual Book Club?

2009-02-20T15:22:00.004-06:00

Thinking of starting one... anyone interested? Click here for details.

http://bookblogs.ning.com/forum/topics/virtual-book-club

Give the gift of CASH!! ;)

2009-02-20T12:08:00.003-06:00

So for those of us who are too lazy to think up a more personal gift than money - here is a great way to make your gift stand out!!! I just stumbled upon this Etsy seller, PaperAffection in the forums today - check out her super-cool Money Rose!! Next time I go to a wedding, I'm definitely hittin her up for one of these - the sweetest smelling rose I've ever seen! :)

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

2009-02-19T14:01:00.002-06:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free genealogy - Old pictures

So these are the celebs I "supposedly" look like... I WISH!!! :)

Custom Project for my Mother In Law Completed!

2009-02-19T13:39:00.002-06:00

My Mother-In-Law is an Interior Decorator, so I put this lil number together for her. I LOVE this ribbon (it's pricy, but SO fun). What do you think?

ahahahahahahaha

2009-02-19T09:56:00.002-06:00

Why do I think funny subtitles are so great???

by the way - I discovered this video from Twitter b/c I follow the actor, Rainn Wilson (Dwight Shrute anyone?). Thats right, I'm a twitter-stalker.

What was your favorite childhood book?

2009-02-19T08:02:00.002-06:00

Mine was Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I had the hardback book, and I probably read it somewhere between 150 and 900 times. I loved getting lost in Toad Hollow, and following the shenanigans of Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger. My Mom and Dad built me a window seat in my little bedroom when I was a kid - it had a cute little cushion and curtains that I could pull across the opening for privacy (all lovingly sewn by my Mom). I loved that window seat! :)

So what was your favorite childhood book? What did you love about it? Have you read it to YOUR kids?

Currently reading, and thoughts about:

2009-02-18T09:22:00.002-06:00

So I'm going to start a weekly feature to encourage myself to talk about BOOKS more! Because I LOVE them, and I want to make sure I'm thinking them through, rather than just devouring them! :)
1. Pillars of the Earth - still reading it (weeeeell, listening to it, anyway), and I'm on the final segment of the book. It's honestly starting to get a little long (I don't know what I expected from a 40 hour listen). I think it's been a fascinating tale, and very easy to follow. I'm not really able to draw many parallels between the story and my life, however, since it is all so very fantastic in their world.

2. In the Woods - AMAZING. I love how complex the characters are and how the story is unfolding inch by inch. The main character, Detective Ryan, is someone who is relatable, loveable, flawed, and rapidly spiraling out of control. Circumstances in his life are circling around each other like wolves, just waiting to pounce all at one time. Also, a new twist has just been revealed, which literally made me stay up until 12:30 last night, heart pounding, unable to put the book down. I then had to Etsy for 10 minutes so I wasn't afraid to go to bed. :)

3. Spin - this book is great so far. Its Sci-Fi, but is truly relatable. Interestingly, I find myself thinking about our present state of uncertainty relating to the economy. I'm just at the beginning of the book at this point, and the characters are in suspense, waiting to find out what recent changes in the world mean to them. The line that truly struck me so far was this: "So how do you build a life under the threat of extinction? The Question defined our generation.". I know, heavy stuff for a rainy Wed. Tawk amongst yourselves. ;)

Real Housewives of....

2009-02-17T22:33:00.002-06:00

Doesn't really matter - I'm addicted to all of em. I love watching these crazy women, and I'm really glad the NY ladies are back! Don't you think blogging is kind of like reality tv? It's kind of a teeny tiny peek into people's lives.

Shoulda Put a Ring on it!

2009-02-17T09:10:00.001-06:00

This guy's got it goin on! :)

Unique Women in Business

2009-02-16T21:07:00.004-06:00

"Unique Women in Business - Rainbow connection" - my first Spotlight on http://www.byhand.me/! What do you think? :)

I was featured in a blog! yessssssss!

2009-02-16T18:55:00.003-06:00

*pumping fist in the air running around the condo*
Please click HERE for a peek at Etsy Seller Shine Your Hiney Soap's very cool blog! ;)

Crazy Lady Misses Plane

2009-02-16T13:10:00.002-06:00

OMG - sooo funny. This is too hysterical. I think the funniest part is when they spell out her screaming... Wow. **takes a break**

Looking for some new music

2009-02-16T11:59:00.002-06:00

Gotta load up that new ipod! :) Any suggestions? New artists/songs that you can't stop listening to?

My first attempt at a video...

2009-02-16T10:19:00.004-06:00

How to use a bookmark and a brief explaination of sizing... hope it isn't too awful. ;)

My New Carrie Necklace!

2009-02-15T22:07:00.004-06:00

Please ignore the raggedy looking model, but I looove my new necklace by ETSY seller Erin Keys ! Please click over to her website - she's part of an awesome group of women called Unique Women In Business - basically a networking group that allows the members to bounce ideas off of each other, offer and receive support, and show off our products! If you'd be interested in joining, please let me know and I'll send you more info! Aaaaanyway - here's a pic of my beeeautiful necklace!

My first meme

2009-02-15T19:11:00.003-06:00

Never done one of these before, but courtesy of Tales From the Reading Room, I'm going to try my first. Ahem, I do confess I had to google "meme", so for those of you who don't know, according to The Daily Meme: "In the context of web logs / 'blogs / blogging and other kinds of personal web sites it's some kind of list of questions that you saw somewhere else and you decided to answer the questions. ".

Ok, so here goes:

The book that’s been on your shelves the longest. Easy. The Little Lame Prince by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik. Phew - they don't make names like that anymore! :) This has always been one of my favorite childhood stories. Other favorites include: The Wind in the Willows, anything Brothers Grimm, The Secret Garden... I could go on forever.

A book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time). Hmmmm, this one is a little more difficult due to my 9 moves and tendancy to give away books that I love to read. I suppose it would be Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiesen. I read it in college, and I loved my course of study and my professor. The book is rooted in ecology, and my professor really took the time to immerse us in the message. It was a great time in my education - I felt I was truly learning.

A book you acquired in some interesting way. Although I am a newleywed, my family is very excited for us to start having kids. My Nana bought us a children's book called Listen to the Raindrops by Kirk Lignell. It's intended for my future bambino (or bambina), and it's the only one we have for the future little one. :)

The most recent addition to your shelves. In the Woods by Tana French.

Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next. Current read: see above. Last read: Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson. Not sure what's next!!

If any other book lovers want to try this on your blog, please do, and let me know in the comments so I can read your entry! :)

Would you like to come to our Valentine's Day dinner?

2009-02-15T10:13:00.004-06:00

Rather than fight the masses of humanity at a restaurant in Chicago last night, I decided to cook a delicious meal for my husband. I sent him to the casino for the day (you can give me my wife of the year award any time now) so that I could cook and clean, and then when he got home, the table looked like this!

Since we're newleyweds we (ok, by "we" I mostly mean "I") still love to bust out our china and crystal, and I take every opportunity to do so! :) The menu included Filet Mignon with a Cognac Sauce, Cauliflower with Lemon Mustard Butter glaze, and Herbed Roasted Potatoes. We ended our meal with a delicious Mixed Berry Cobbler. Aren't those roses beautiful?

After dinner, we exchanged gifts and guess what I got! A PINK I-POD!!! The best part? Its super technical, compared to my last one (which I lost). You can twist it around and the picture moves so you can still see the screen, it's got really cool games, and I can download and watch tv shows or movies! Very excited.

Anyway, it was a lovely evening, and just reminds me again about how lucky we are in so many ways. :)

Win a Book!

2009-02-14T12:54:00.001-06:00

Just stop by Fashion Piranha's BLOG and leave a comment! Looks like a steamy one... ;) Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Introducing the new Couture Collection by BookWormz

2009-02-14T12:05:00.005-06:00

The Couture Collection features the most luxurious designer ribbons and buttons for the descriminating reader.

This beautiful Fluer De Lis ribbon is the first to be introduced in this new designer series. Please check back often for new additions! So tell me, what do you think of my first attempt? xoxo!

If you'd like to see the description, or if you'd like to purchase this beauty, click

HERE

SO FUNNY! Stoned kid leaving the dentist!

2009-02-13T18:21:00.001-06:00

Ok, most of this is really funny (who hasn't been here? haha), but at the very very end, I feel kinda bad for this cute lil guy. :)

The Button Shop!

2009-02-13T16:45:00.003-06:00

I looove the button shop. I have had some success with my BookWormz, but unfortunately I keep "investing" in new buttons, so I'm not turning any profit... haha! So we've established that I haven't thought through my business plan well enough, but I thought you'd still enjoy seeing where I get my unique buttons! Here's a little glimpse of Fishman's in Chicago. They also sell a ton of fabric. Yep - they're pretty awesome.

Reasons why ETSY is like a secret lover...

2009-02-13T09:49:00.003-06:00

1. I obsess about my ETSY shop. Really, really obsess about it.
2. I check for messages every chance I get, even when I'm supposed to be spending time with friends and family.
3. I feel a rush of happiness every time I am convo'd or an order comes through.
4. My husband suffers from malnutrition because I just don't have time to cook, clean AND ETSY.
5. I feel a little guilty when I ETSY all night, since it really is taking me away from time with friends and family.
6. I get butterflies in my stomach during that moment right before I sign in to ETSY at night.
7. I make out with my computer screen (KIDDING!!! That would be really creepy).

Anyone else in a similar predicament? ;)

Perhaps the funniest Letterman interview ever

2009-02-12T17:24:00.002-06:00

Normally, I prefer Leno - but I have to admit that Letterman scored big time with this hysterical interview. I'd highly recommend that you watch until the very end. SO funny.

Another Lucky BookWorm Winner!

2009-02-10T21:48:00.001-06:00

Please congratulate the winner with me at Bookish Kitty's blog! http://www.literaryfeline.com/2009/02/and-bookworm-winner-is.html

BookWormz

Are you betting on the ponies today?

In line at Stanley's

Skinny Girl Margarita Party!

Spring has sprung!

Did he do it??

Also obsessing over flowers in the house lately!

What I'm obsessing about these days

Jen Lancaster's new book due out today! Get it while its hot!

Just got an IPhone!

Our living room

Updates!

off to get my nails did

pretty spring Tulips

Book Review - Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

Celebrity baby name or computer virus - can you tell the difference?

What to do with a sick husband?

Look into your crystal ball...

Any Recessionistas out there?

POLYVORE fun!

Just a reminder

Book Review - "Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult

Tea at the Drake - PINKY'S OUT!

WOOT - gotta love my fellow bloggers!

SeekingDesigners Press Release about MOI???

Spring cleaning

Wii, Eating Healthy and Other Random Topics

Whaaaa??

Book Review - Internet Dating is not Like Ordering a Pizza by Cherie Burbach

Happy Dance

Sneak Preview

The Help by Katheryn Stockett - An Audiobook Review

BookWormz Going Retail!

YUMMMMMMM!

Is this heaven???

Will you be my fan?

Contributing Photographic Editor

I Wish...

Steal This Idea - of the day

*Jumps on Couch Like Tom Cruise*

Dear Husband

New spotlight - a Tribute to my new last name!

Baby Shower Today!

Wowza!

Introducing your NEW Sous Chef!!!

Just applied at my first two "Brick and Mortar" shops!

So incredibly sad.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

Mexico vs Korea

I met the cutest Doctor this weekend!

Best. Day. Ever.

"Your Dad's Tie" BookWorm winner!

Book Review! Still Alice by Lisa Genova

My poor cook books!

Quote of the Day

Coming attractions

Just a Taste

On my way to FLORIDA tomorrow!

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

Quote of the day

Meet my beautiful niece!!

Book Review! In The Woods by Tana French

Quote of the Day

BookWormz EVERYWHERE!

Confuzzled Shannon Custom piece

Phase two of Total Body Makeover Revealed!!!

Sooooo..... whadda ya think of the new BANNER??

Total Body Makeover Coming Soon!

Having Trouble Entering the Contest Below?

Your Chance to Win a BookWorm!

The Bag Meme

Feeling the Lurrrve!

Recession = Reprioritize

Rice Crispy Treat gets sweeter!

Chicago Handmade Honeys

I'm in the Indie Gift Guide!

Virtual Book Club?

Give the gift of CASH!! ;)

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

Jumps on Couch Like Tom Cruise