Archives for January 2011

iomoi

Do you know about iomoi? Oh my heavens, do I love iomoi. I am actually quite surprised I haven’t told you about it yet. It’s just one of my favorites. This is such a wonderful place for all things monogrammed. Terrific for gifts for loved ones, and even yourself on occasion! I love their address labels most– have bought them for friends, and even have a pattern of my own.

“iomoi is the go-to destination for your lifestyle: for you and for your gifting needs. A luxury, lifestyle brand, iomoi is defined by a timeless aesthetic with a modern twist and a wink.”

Here are some other really nice gift ideas (for a friend, or for yourself!):

super fun coasters

golf balls!

adorable matchboxes

custom stationary

pretty, pretty scarves

canvas pillows

and my personal favorite, personalized address labels

…I mean really, the possibilities are endless. And adorable!!

spring rewards are HERE!

I happily came home this afternoon to my spring rewards card from j.crew! GLEEE!!!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been to the store. The high waisted shorts pictured above are certainly a new fashion piece for 2011, but I think I am more partial to the fun orange skirt. It’s more me for sure. I wonder what will strike my fancy when I skitter over there to claim my prize. I can’t even wait to find out!

warm colors for everyday living

All of these rooms make me feel cozy. And on a day like today (20 degrees in Boston!) I think we need all the cozy we can get. I found all of these photos through the blog House of Turquoise, which is fast to become one of my favorite daily visits. The home decorating inspiration is endless. HEAVEN!!

(photo credits in order: Design New England, Hillary Thomas, Homegoods, Ideal Home, Janet Hiltz)

What are you doing on this frigid Sunday? I am going to be Zan’s sous chef in making chicken pot pie tonight, so that should keep us warm and satisfied!

Ina’s corn chowder

This is the perfect soup for this cold winter day. It’s fairly simple too and it makes a LOT.

(below is the exact recipe from Ina, however, I recommend using less chicken stock as the chowder is more soup-y than chowder-y. Also this makes a TON. I had it for lunch and a few dinners all week long. You may want to consider cutting the recipe in half, although as a leftover it is delicious!)

Ina Garten’s Cheddar Corn Chowder (from food network)

8 ounces bacon, chopped
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions (4 large onions)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 pounds)
10 cups corn kernels, fresh (10 ears) or frozen (3 pounds)
2 cups half-and-half
1/2 pound sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmeruncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.