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Monday, February 01, 2010
In the January issue of Martha Stewart there was a list of 9 things to do in January. I wanted to do as many as I could. Here is how it went.
1. Dress your bed with pretty sheets - I put our flannel sheets on the bed. They have sledding penguins on them. That's pretty right?
2. Make a big pot of soup - Aaron made a cold cucumber mint soup for detox, but I don't think that is what they meant.
3. Recycle old electronics - I meant to recycle my mom's old computer but I left it at their house.
4. Try a new winter vegetable - We tried a lot of new veggies on detox - is Swiss Chard a winter veggie?
5. Visit a historic home - well we moved into a house built in 1900. Does that count?
6. Take one closet - I totally did this! I organized our downstairs coat closet and my upstairs clothes closet.
7. Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products - we already used eco-friendly products so we didn't have to make a switch. I do want to try the new Method laundry detergent though.
8. Peruse seed catalogues and plan spring plantings - we looked through my grandma's seed catalogues, I think we are going to try beets this year.
9. Spend more time with family and friends - definitely tried to do this.
Ok so I was a little off on some but I gave it the old college try.
After indulging over the holidays and in Las Vegas it was time for Aaron and I to detox. I decided we would start the Martha Steward body + soul magazine Whole Body Action Plan. We bought a juicer and Wii Fit Plus and we are on our way.
The plan starts with a four day detox diet of soup, juice and smoothies. The smoothie at the top is a mango smoothie... or so they claim.
The liquid on the right is how the mango smoothie we made turned out. Seeing as how it also has avocado and swiss chard in it, that shade of green is not surprising. I don't know how they got theirs to be such an appealing color. On the left is the cold cucumber and mint soup we had for lunch on day two of detox. It wasn't horrible - but I won't be craving it anytime soon. We are sticking with the plan - it is only four days. Four days of things like carrot/beet/cabbage/watercress juice.
Martha Stewart now has a green line of cleaning products. Everything from toilet bowl cleaner to glass cleaner. You can only order it online though so I doubt if I will be trying it soon.
I just had to go and take a peek at the Martha Stewart Xmas ornaments at Kmart. I liked this one the best, a teeny little sewing basket. It would be great to do a tree of just craft ornaments.
These are my new favorite Christmas tree decorations. CUPCAKES! They are so cool, they don't hang, they have clips on the bottom so they sit on the tree branches. Disgustingly cute! Blech!
Oh and they are from Martha! The Kmart collection.
The owl obsession continues. My mum found these three little guys that I zip tied to our gate.
And look at this owl lamp! He's missing two beads, but I think I can find replacements. So cute.
I picked up this owl ornament at Kmart from the always fabulous Martha Stewart collection. You can sorta see one of her mini kitchen utensil ornaments I got on clearance after Christmas last year.
I have been collecting plastic deer for a few years now. My mom has
found quite a few for me at yard sales and flea markets. I even decided
that they would play a big role in this years Christmas theme.
So you can imagine how surprised I was when I saw this spread in this
month's Martha Stewart Living.
Little plastic deer everywhere.
Sometimes I feel like she is watching me.
But I am using her Michaels craft stuff for my "Woodland Creatures"
Christmas themed projects so it's all good.
I am so enamoured with the Martha
Stewart line at Macy's. I liked her stuff at KMart, now this
Tiffany blue at Macy's... it's got a hold on me. I can hardly stand it.
I am also pretty excited about the Vera
Wang collection at Kohls. Her clothes are so elegant. I could
definitely get used to this high end designer at everyday stores trend.
When I got my latest issue of Martha Stewart Living, I
discovered they included a free issue of her new Martha
Stewart Newletter. At first I thought "I so don't need another
subscription to something... but then I read it and I was hooked. It
comes with "behind-the-scenes news, exclusive photos, product pics,
Martha's calendar..." basically a more in depth peek into Martha's
life. I found myself talking like I had been chatting with her over a
cup of tea... "Martha doesn't need a lot of sleep... but she lets her
dogs sleep in her bed." "Martha really likes those Orka silicone oven
mitts." "Martha was just in China." Just what Aaron needs to hear all
day long.
I also find her magazine body
+ soul more and more interesting. It has lots of information
about green, sustainable living. This month's issue has tips
for a cooler, greener home, natural remedies and the best organic ice
creams. I also love the cover with sea shells and starfish. (Reminds me of my vacation... *sigh*)
I heard Martha
mention her Michael's
craft line a few weeks ago.
We have lots of Michael's in Rochester so I was pretty excited. When I
went and saw an entire aisle of Martha Crafts I was estatic.
The craft supplies are great and the packaging is amazing. I
had to get a few things, my favorite of which is a bone
folder. She
uses one all the time, but I was never able to find one. I am sure it
is going to make all the difference
for my crafts.
Well, I didn't get to talk to her, but I did get to
see her again since she
was back in town for an Ad Council luncheon and to film the
lilacs at Highland Park. (of course Tina and I hot footed it from the
luncheon to the park to trail behind her and peek from behind the
bushes at her and her film crew)
She just left all her lilac bushes at her recently sold Turkey
Hill home, so they gave her several to take back with her. The mayor
also declared today Martha Stewart Day. AND there is a lilac variety
named after her.
The lilac segment will air on her show on Thursday.