I have a thing for cute kitchen storage jars. You can say that I feel under the spells of Opus Storage Jars.

World-famous designer Ole Palsby put its signature style in designing the elegant clean-cut Opus Storage Jars. The stainless steel Opus Funnel comes handy for neatly filling the jars with dry food. How cool is that!

I continue my exploration of Rosendahl catalogue when I spot the Grand Cru Egg Cup, a new addition in Spring 2008.

All the items of the Grand Cru range feature distinctive grooves. The stylishly utilitarian tableware collection can be dress up and down. I paired it for a brunch with the Grand Cru Crystal Dessert Plate to eat fruits with yogurt. That plate with high edge looks at its place at a casual breakfast or a dinner party.

Winner of IF Design Award 2007, the Opus Carafe and Opus Tumblers are part of a complete clear glass and fine bone china tableware family. This is a style that anyone can live with for years to come.

Use these as inspiration to set your table for a casual family brunch on Mother's Day. Better yet, give her one of these items on May 11th. 

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Opus Storage Jars at Zwello – price: $21.95 USD for a set of 5
Buy online: Opus Funnel at Zwello – price: $27.95 USD
Buy online: Opus Carafe with Lid at Zwello – price: $29.95 USD
Find: Store locator for Rosendahl products

Categories: GIFT ideas  TABLEWARE  FAMILY style 

I came across this little design studio in Vancouver that is making cute, 100% organic cotton handkerchief. Hank and Cheef can also custom make handkerchiefs for weddings corporate events and promotions.

A Little Bit of History

Kleenex was intended as a facial removal tissue at first. It became a handkerchief substitute later when some employees with allergies at Kleenex started to use the disposable tissues.

Let face it, handkerchief should never be used in our modern societies to blow your nose. What about our other facial little cleanup needs?

In Our Daily Life

We use disposable tissues for things that we could do with a piece of cloth. So maybe for these facial tasks, we could envision a more eco-friendly alternative. People with allergies and parents with young children will find them useful for drying the tears.

I am not ready to do it at this point. Maybe at some point, handkerchiefs will become fashionable as the reusable shopping bags. I cannot predict.

One thing for sure is that if you want to try the experience, Hank and Cheef makes it easy for you. The current collection is split in 7 themes. Each handkerchief on a pack display a different illustration. You can distinguish them all the time. Everything is designed, printed and sewn in Vancouver, BC. The patterns are cute, modern and fun.

What do you think of this product? Do you think the eco-friendly movement will revive the handkerchief?

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Organic Cotton Handkerchief at Organically Hatched – price: $39.99 CAD for box of 7
Learn more: Hank and Cheef – navigation is at the bottom of the page
Via: Sustainable Sniffles [Savvymom.ca]

Categories: FAMILY style  LINENS 

The computer entered the kitchen a while ago. Unfortunately, what is on the market is not really practical nor innovative.

The solutions so far are either small retractable under the counter screens, a computer integrated in an odd place like the fridge (who wants to stand up while browsing the Net) or use too much counter space.

Keep it Simple

The ultimate solution must be small, movable and support voice commands. And to gain mass appeal, it must be cheap. Enter Nintendo DS.

I am huge fan of the DS. After my surgery, my husband gave me a crimson DS Lite to occupy my mind. I am so happy with his gift. The DS Lite screen is easier to read than my old DS.

Nintendo DS already attracts the non gamer crowd with games like Brain Age. The other day I was at Future Shop looking at DS games and a woman in her fifties was buying a DS for herself. With the Wii and the DS, Nintendo is committed to serve a broader audience. I think they will bring exciting stuff in the future.

Learning How to Cook on a DS

The time where you get your recipes on a DS is not far away. Last week, the PR firm of Nintendo in France La Boite Com Concept invited journalists for a tour of the upcoming Leçons de cuisine. In the kitchen of a rented loft in Paris, they greet one or two journalists at a time. Each journalist prepared a recipe in order to experience the digital cookbook.

From what I have read, Leçons de cuisine targets the beginner cook. Leçons de cuisine explains culinary terms. The recipe adjusts automatically to the number of servings you need. A truly handy feature! There is no need to type any command while you are cooking; everything is voice activated.

Popular in Japan

The cookbook also comes with a few mini games. The French cookbook/game is an adaptation of a Japanese version. The recipes and techniques have been adapted to the European market. No words if or when the title will hit the stores in North America.

I would wait for a more advanced cookbook in terms of recipes. But I think the concept shows great potential. It certainly proves that you do not need a fancy computer in the kitchen. You simply need some interactivity. As far as making grocery lists, the old pen and paper work the best.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Nintendo DS Lite Crimson & Black at Amazon.com - price: $129 USD
Buy online: Nintendo DS Lite - Crimson Black at FutureShop - price: $139.99 CAD
Pre-launch Ad: La Boite Com Concept
Kitchen photo: Video on Elle TV France - Rights reserved
Via: Marianna [Tastespotting] + Leçons de cuisine [INpact Virtuel]

Categories: FOOD + drinks  GIFT ideas 

Perhaps you remember a TV show that's become a bit of a cult classic. The Joy of Oil Painting was a How-To show hosted by hippy-dippy artist, Bob Ross.

On each half-hour episode he'd complete an oil painting – usually a landscape with lots of "happy trees". He made it looks so easy! Suddenly I had a great idea for a party.

Tag Team Painting with Bob

Why not host a painting party? Fine art is so refined, right? Not in this case, because in order for this party to be truly fun, alcohol is a must. Best of all, no artistic talent is needed. I call this party Tag Team Painting With Bob (Drinks on the Side). 

Basically, your guests are divided into groups of two or more. The show begins and painter number one paints along with Bob. After five minutes, the next person takes over while the first imbibes. And around they go until the show is over.

The team with the best painting is declared Master Pieces and wins a prize. Caution: your guests will want to paint another one, so have supplies ready.

Party Preparations

First, rent or buy a copy of The Joy of Oil Painting. All the TV seasons are available in DVD on Bob Ross’ Web site. Skim through the episodes until you find one or two you like. Then, make a list of the paint colors and brushes 'ole Bob uses.

You don't need to spend lots of money and you don't have to use oil paints. Acrylic paints in large bottles and cheap brushes are perfect. The same thing goes for canvases. They can be expensive, so substitute with large sheets of watercolor paper or poster board. Michaels is a good place to shop. And they often have coupons. A good prize is a frame for the big winner.

You need easels. I borrowed mine from a private school via a friend. You can buy tabletop easels made of foam core. Or, have your guests pull double duty as both artist and easel.

Party Time

Be sure to serve the Pisco Sours, or your favorite adult beverages, as your guests arrive. The dip and other nibbles can be set out, too. I recommend serving the dinner in between painting sets. Don't skip on the prizes! A frame for the winner is nice – you know they'll want to hang it over their mantle. Or, have a trophy made up. They're very inexpensive and lots of fun.
Peace, love and painting, dude!

Menu

Feel free to go wild with this menu. The idea is munchy food to go along with our mellow, hippy artist scene. Groovy.

• Shooters, or Pisco Sours
• Cheese and Bean Dip (sounds gross but it's awesome)
• Sliders
• Homemade Frites served in cups or the Classic Beer Batter Fish and Chips (about 3 bites per fish piece)
• Fruit (if you must)
• Rice Krispies Treats
• Chocolate cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting [Barefoot Contessa]
• All your favorite nibbles

Recipes by Jennifer Mitchell

Pisco Sours Recipe

• 3 parts Pisco (a Chilean brandy that packs a punch)
• 1 1/2 parts lemon juice
• 1 -2 tablespoons fine sugar

Cheese and Bean Dip Recipe

• One 8-ounce package cream cheese, sliced in thin slices
• One can Hormel Chili – no beans
• One package of shredded cheddar cheese
• One bunch of green onions – chopped (just the green part)
• Two bags of tortilla chips

Layer the ingredients in a baking dish in the order given – excluding the chips. Bake in a medium oven for about a half hour. Or, nuke in the microwave for about 5 minutes until melted. Serve with chips.

Sliders Recipe

Makes 12 mini hamburgers a la White Castle

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 package cheddar cheese slices
• One package Parker House rolls, or other type of dinner roll.

Mix the hamburger with salt and pepper. Make 12 little meatballs and flatten to form patties. Sauté the onions and set them aside. Cook up the burgers and add cheese, if desired. Place burgers on rolls, along with the onion.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy in stores: The Bob Ross Travel Easel at Micheals
Find: Store Locator of Micheals
Recipe: Classic Fish And Chips by Man-Made Food on FoodTV.ca
Recipe: Kellogg Original Rice Krispies Treats
Photo credits: Omer de Serres – art supplies pictures except the easel
Photo credit: Pisco Sour en casa by Capienzzo on Flickr – Some rights reserved
Photo credit: Cupcakes photographed by Quentin Bacon - Rights reserved picture
Guest Blogger: Jennifer Mitchell [Design Hole]

Categories: EVERYDAY  FOOD + drinks  PARTY ideas 

Recall my story last month about Menus Bébé, a brand in France that produces Ready to Serve Gourmet Baby Food. I have found a similar company in California.

Why to choose Pomme Bébé?

Pomme Bébé produces small batches of fresh organic baby food. The food is simmered slowly to retain the maximum amount of wholesome nutrients that your baby needs.

You get the basically same advantages that Menus Bébé provides. The food is more nutritious, displays vibrant colors and is tastier. The menu changes every season at Pomme Bébé. Their menu relies heavenly on the freshness of seasonal produces.

You can buy Pomme Bébé food at their Newport Beach store, online or by phone. The food can be opted for next day delivery at your door or quickly pass by the store for a curbside pick-up.

Bébé Bar, Bébé Lounge

What is cool about Pomme Bébé for Newport Beach residents is their cool store. Sit your baby in an egg shaped high chair and indulge in a tasting session. Your baby can try out fresh food samples at Pomme Bébé bar. There is also a Bébé lounge where parents can meet in a hip and inviting atmosphere to enjoy a wholesome treat or fresh-squeezed juice.

Bébé Party

No need to clean your house for your next playdate. Simply host a playgroup at Pomme Bébé. Your kids will be able to sample their organic ready to serve baby food, you will receive nutritional information and the babies can play with toys in the nicely designed Baby Lounge.

Pomme Bébé
2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 106
Newport Beach, CA  92660
p  949.200.7430
open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm, Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Pomme Bébé online store – price: $3.25 - $4.50 per 4 oz container

Categories: FOOD + drinks  BABY showers  FAMILY style 

I am thrilled to have my first guest blogger, Jennifer Mitchell of Design Hole.

I'm so happy to be guest blogging for Kim. I write about interior design and this gives me a chance to write about my second love – throwing dinner parties for friends. Did I mention that I love to cook? I do.

My favorite dinner party is the one I throw every January, when it's my turn to play hostess for my book club. In our book club, the hostess chooses the book. And, while we all always enjoy the associated discussion, for us the evening is really all about the food.

I like to plan the menu around the location or theme of the book. Sometimes it presents a bit of a challenge, but it also makes it more fun. Here is one of my favorite book club ideas.

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Most people read this book in high school. But it's amazing how much more you take away from it as an adult. This Southern Gothic novel was drawn largely from Lee's childhood memories. Her life-long friend, Truman Capote, makes an appearance as Dill.  I also recommend Mockingbird, an excellent biography of Lee written by Charles Shields.

A southern novel calls for southern food. My favorite cookbook for authentic recipes is The Gift of Southern Cooking, by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock. This is the real deal, with an excellent Lane cake recipe. I have my own recipe for fried chicken (which I have my southern born grandmother to thank for). The cake is a particularly good choice because it's mentioned in the book as a secret recipe, and can be made several days in advance.

Menu

• Toast cups with shrimp salad
• Fried chicken
• Steamed asparagus
• Biscuits
• Lane cake

Jennifer Mitchell’s Fried Chicken

Throw your diet out the door – at least for one night. This recipe takes time, but don't skip steps. Trust me, it's worth it. Thanks go to my grandmother, who grew up in Bessemer, Alabama.

Ingredients:

• One 3-pound (1 1/2 Kilo) chicken, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1 quart/ liter buttermilk
• 1 1/2 pounds (3/4 kilo) lard
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Step by step instructions

1. Brine the chicken (this tenderizes the meat and is essential) by soaking the pieces in a large bowl of water (about 2 quarts or liters) mixed with kosher salt for eight hours, or overnight. Drain and rinse out the bow. Return the chicken to the bowl and cover it with the buttermilk for another eight hours. Drain the chicken.
2. To prepare for frying, mix the flour with the salt and pepper in a bowl.  Heat the lard in a skillet (I use a well-seasoned cast iron one) to a temperature of 350 F (175 C). The temperature is really important.
3. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and fry it for about 10 minutes on each side. Start with the skin side down, fry in batches – skimming the browned bit in between.
4. Drain in a single layer on crumpled paper towels, or wire racks. Do not layer until you're ready to serve, or the chicken will steam itself and lose its crispness.
5. Keep it warm in a low oven, until ready to serve. It's good at room temperature, too.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee at Amazon - price: $11.16 USD
Buy online: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields at Amazon- price: $10.50 USD
Buy online: The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great American Cooks by Edna Lewis at Amazon - price: $19.77 USD
Guest Blogger: Jennifer Mitchell [Design Hole]

Categories: EVERYDAY  FOOD + drinks  PARTY ideas 

I told you that I was busy all day last Thursday for an important appointment. In fact, I had an ACL Reconstruction Surgery. I am happy to report that my surgery went well. My recovery is doing fine.

A Little History

In February 2007, I jumped a cliff while skiing. Unfortunately the back of one of my skis got stuck on 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) of heavy snow. I tore my anterior cruciate ligament. I often felt that my knee was "giving out" in my daily activities. Because I enjoy mogul skiing, it is important to me to have strong legs.

The surgery grafts a piece of my tendon on my torn ACL. My full recovery depends of doing lots of post-surgery exercises to stimulate the growth of tissues. More than 90% patients return to full sport activities after 6 to 12 months.

I will continue to write daily on At Home with Kim Vallee. I am telling you all that because I may sometimes deviate from my blogging schedule for my physiotherapy. So be patient with me.

Greeting Cards on Etsy

I am taking this opportunity to feature adorable Get Well Soon handmade products from etsy. I could not resist the cute Nurse Penguin designed by teenybeak. People staying at the hospital for a while typically enjoy having a teddy bear to comfort them.

I bought a Get Well Soon card a few weeks ago for a friend and I did not like what I saw at the stores. So, I regret not stocking some at home. You never know when you will need it. I am presenting you two artists who used the Red Cross symbol for their cute and modern Get Well Soon cards.

Bytheairport created a Get Well Soon Nurse Post Card Set. Screen printed with Gocco on archival card stock, the front includes a collage of a red paper cross against the black ink.

ArtMind did a fabulous job with her Get well soon package. This Belgian artist tucked away a small hand sewn 'red cross' made out of felt. A charming idea!

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: nurse penguin by teenybeak – price: $20 USD
Buy online: Get Well Soon Gocco Post Card by bytheairport – price: $6.50 USD for a pack of 3
Buy online: Get well soon greeting card by ArtMind  – price: $6.50 USD

Categories: PAPER goods  OFF topics 

Summer is almost here so it is time to complete your outdoor entertaining kits. A Sunday afternoon at the beach, the park or the cottage with friends and family feels like heaven.

If the weather allowed, why not plan an outdoor party for Mother’s Day? After all, a day at the beach or the cottage encompasses joy, laughs and sharing a meal together.

A few outdoor entertaining accessories will make the day feels more special. I gather some cool stuff from Macy’s and Pottery Barn that your mother can reuse all summer long.

Gift Ideas

The Garden Party Lanterns at the top come with a 5 oz. bag of famous key lime cooler cookies.

Another solution for lighting that you can put on a table and hang is the colored tapered glass Pressick Lantern. Do not forget to buy the lantern stake sold separately if you want to hang the Pressick Lanterns. If you do not like these styles, there are 7 more models of candlelight lanterns and 3 string light lanterns at Pottery Barn.

The retro look of Acrylic Drink Dispenser captivates the imagination. These clear, blue, orange and green vessels are so useful for serving iced teas, cucumber mint water, punches and more. It is a must.

The BBQ Chipwood Baskets carry on the old restaurant style. Instead of complex barbecue equipment, travel light with a few stainless steel bucket-shaped charcoal grills.

If Mother’s Day is not sunny do not worry, you will be ahead for Father’s Day. When you plan an outdoor event, implement a plan B and think about how you will inform your guests about it.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Byrd Cookie Company Garden Party Lanterns with Cookies at Macy’s – on sale at $14.99 USD
Buy online: Pressick Lantern at Pottery Barn – price: $24-$34 USD
Buy online: Acrylic Drink Dispenser at Pottery Barn – price: $59 USD
Buy online: BBQ Chipwood Baskets at Pottery Barn – price: $12 USD
Buy online: Portable BBQ Grill at Pottery Barn – price: $39 USD

Categories: OUTDOOR  PARTY supplies  GIFT ideas  FAMILY style 

The owner and designer of Cartolina Cards, Fiona Richards sent me a wonderful set of card samples. These greeting cards invite us to a multicultural trip through the centuries that wraps up in a fresh, modern twist.

Ancient Meets Contemporary

You catch influences of ancient cultures, especially India in the work of this independent design studio from British Colombia, Canada.

Fiona Richards grew up in Scotland. Her grandparents were dealers in old world Indian textiles. She often visited her uncle who was an illustrator. So it is not surprising that Fiona Richards successfully interacts with vintage patterns and infuses them with a modern distinctive look.

A pattern is printed on the front and the back of the cards. Therefore, these cards feel luxurious. Whether you are looking for a Have a Beautiful Birthday card, to transmit a Bravo, to forward your Best Wishes, to send Many Thanks, to celebrate Love in Wedding Wishes, check out their one of a kind catalogue at selected retailers across Canada, United States and Australia.

Eco-friendly Cards

Better yet, these gorgeous and uniquely original cards are eco-friendly. They are printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified recycled papers, printed with vegetable / soy based inks. Their printer was named Most Environmentally Friendly Printer in Canada at the 2006 and 2007 Environmental Printing Awards.

The retailer catalogue of Cartolina Cards that I received shows 58 models of greeting cards, 18 note cards and 37 mini cards. Note cards are sold in single or box of 8. Mini cards are sold individually or as a six pack.

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Cartolina Cards – retailers list on their Web site
Buy online: Cartolina Greeting Cards at Tansu, a few models only – price: $5 USD

Categories: PAPER goods 

Dressing up your room with the right wallpapers adds sophistication to a dining room or living room. I typically prefer to put wallpaper on a single wall or two walls, depending on the room configuration.

British brands have a long history of making great patterns. Have a look at these patterns from Graham & Brown. This is a brand that teamed up with several designers to bring you striking designs.

A Look at My Favorites

Sophia from the Monsoon collection reinterprets Art Nouveau damask. You will be surprised how sophisticated a fuchsia wall can be.

No need to install wall paneling with Phantom from the Umbra collection. In case you did not already know, the uber stylish Canadian brand Umbra teamed up with Graham & Brown to produce its first ever wallpaper collection. The frame illustrations of Huddle pattern can bring something different to a room.

Mystique Avocado by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen takes its inspiration from the delicate lattices and Jali screens that help shade colonial plantation houses on the fringes of the Caribbean Sea. In a typical Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen design, he injected a jet look to this classic design.

The Red/Orange Alice designed by Marcel Wanders is highlighted by delicacy and intricacy in its detailing. The Marcel Wanders collection costs for £35 for a single roll; other collections are available for £30.

Hot pink Midsummer (not shown) adds drama. The beautiful leaf silhouette design fuse silver shine with hot pink matt.

Wallpapers are fashionable once again. The new wallpapers can be a great source of inspiration if you redecorate a room.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Online store of Graham & Brown
Buy online: Huddle Wallpaper at Umbra Online Store – price: $39 CAD

Categories: HOME decor  TRENDS