Toward the end of winter, I need little pick-me-ups to get me through the rest of the season: comfort food, colorful clothes and lots of chocolate. Another must-have during this time is fresh flowers. Every week or so I pick up a single-variety bouquet from Whole Foods for our kitchen table (and I always snip a few off for a bud vase in our teeny vintage bathroom). In times like these, though, we second-guess such discretionary purchases. But I don’t think I can give up flowers. They add so much life to our space and are a constant reminder of the soft, breezy days to come. What about you — do you have a fresh-flower habit? Have you cut back on it lately? — Michelle V.K.

Wow, I am in love with the newest Marimekko designs from Sanna Annukka, which are just in at AlwaysMod. I think my favorite is the Taikamylly Throw Pillow, $34. And I love the Kanteleen Kutsu Orange Tea Towel Set, $25, and Kitchen Cloths, $10, too! See all the new work from Sanna Annukka here. –Mary T.

We know that you love movies nearly as much as you love decor, so here’s a fun recipe suggestion from a new contributor, Lisa Cericola of adinnerparty.blogspot.com.

For my Oscar night festivities this weekend, I’m making Slumdog Millionaire-inspired treats: curried roasted chickpeas and mango lassis. The chickpeas are the perfect (healthy!) thing to mindlessly nosh out of a big bowl if you’re watching the Oscars by yourself. If you’re having a party, you can scatter them around your living room in small vessels. The creamy mango lassis can be served as-is or spiked with a shot of vodka stirred into each glass, if you want to be a little less virtuous.

Thinking about combinations for other nominated movies, you could do Lambrusco and fondue for Milk, deviled eggs and martinis for Revolutionary Road, oysters Rockefeller and hurricanes for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Manchego and Albariño for Vicky Cristina Barcelona… What are you eating on Oscar night? –Lisa C.

Click through to the next page for Lisa’s yummy recipes! (more…)

I’ve told you before how I own more kitchen gadgets than actually fit in my apartment’s kitchen. Now that I’m in culinary school, I’ve realized just how few of them I actually need. Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t love finding new ones to covet. This post over at Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn introduced me to several new gadgets. I think my favorite is the cutting board with the integrated scale. It’s still in concept form, but it’s one I’m gonna keep an eye out for. –Erica P.

I’m a big fan of bringing my own bags to the grocery store. I’ve collected quite a few canvas totes that I keep in the hall closest, and a great nylon one that rolls up into the smallest little ball for stashing in my purse at all times. Well, readers, I might have to make room for one more. This little number packs up as a cute rabbit for storing, and when you need it as a bag, the bunny goes along for the ride! Designed by Eding:Post, the Picnica Tote Bag is available through Greener Grass Design for $55. –Erica P.

Not all of the quirky items that Brooklyn-based Uncommon Goods sells are my style. But I absolutely love the custom Vintage Toy Shadowboxes by artist Kelly O’Neal ($150). The colorful assortment of toys and trinkets against the decoupage background and wooden box remind me of the carefree days of childhood. And it’s customized with your little one’s initial. We’ve started decorating our son Cashion’s room with vintage (and vintage-style) toys and furniture, so this would blend right in to our decor. The one for boys is just as cute as the one for girls (in photo). –Michelle V.K.

Okay, so you know we love Orla Kiely, and here’s a great example of why: Look at this fab idea of hers in the new issue of Rachael Ray magazine. You take a little flower pot and wrap it in a colorful sock. Snip the bottom (the toe) so it rests flat on table. Finally! Something to do with all those unmatched socks in the drawer! — Angela M.

P.S. Come back next week to enter our Orla Kiely at Target giveaway!

A few weeks ago, I was laid off from my day job. I’m sure that there are plenty of readers in a similar situation; that’s simply the unfortunate reality these days. It hasn’t been an awesome experience. But to my surprise, it hasn’t been completely dire, either. My layoff shocked my husband and me into suspending all costs that aren’t absolutely necessary — no eating out, no buying twice-as-expensive prepared meals at the deli, and no impulse buying for the house. (We did call a plumber when a drain backed up — that’s a necessary expense!) Along the way, we’ve discovered a few things:

We’re actually decent cooks — and it’s fun.
My mom was right: all it takes to be a cook is a recipe. And a stocked fridge. We’ve taken to buying a lot of frozen staples in bulk — fish and spinach are big ones — so we can whip up easy meals. We’ve dusted off our cookbooks, and who knew — it’s not that hard, it doesn’t take that much time, and even though we’re eating a ton, because we’re not eating out, we’re losing weight!

Not spending forces you to be creative.
We’re getting movies and books we’ve always wanted to try at the library. We’re going to parks or to free gallery walks. And we’re finally getting started on a few inexpensive house projects (think paint and doorknobs).

It was possible for us to save money all along.
Are you one of those people who wonders all the time, “How does the money go so fast?” So was I. It’s just amazing to me that, now that we’re actually thinking hard before every purchase, our money is lasting and lasting. I never realized just how much we were spending on small daily items like coffee drinks and muffins.

Would I rather have a job? Of course; and I’m working on it. But these are all lessons that I have to say I’m grateful I learned. –Mary T.

Image by Marek Wojtal.

We’re always happy to help out a reader in need, but we know some of our best ideas come from you guys. That’s why when reader Marisa T. sent over an email asking for help planning her self-catered wedding menu, we decided to open the discussion up to all of you. We’ve tested some reader picnic recipes before during our Picnic Recipe Contest and ended up with a delicious 2nd place winner, an outstanding 1st place entry, and a knock-your-socks-off grand prize winner. We bet you have even more to offer.

We’re getting married in May and will be self-catering our home/ garden reception, and I’m looking for picnic-type side dishes. Can you point me in the direction of recipes that can be served at room temperature, can be prepped ahead of time (at least a day, preferably more) and that can sit out for a couple of hours without getting yucky or unsafe? –Marisa T.

Leave your suggestions for Marisa in the comments!

I wish I had this when my children were in daycare! Until you have an infant, you never know that babies have more wardrobe changes in a day than a Madonna concert! These are by O.R.E. Originals and are $16.00 per set at bunnyburybaby.com. Made from embroidered linen, they’ll sort out any diaper bag nicely. — Holly D.