I don’t buy bedding often, but when I do there are two truths I expect to take place the second I pull the trigger on a new look. First, the instant my credit card is charged for the purchase, the item will become available in a snazzy new color that I will undoubtedly love (hello, steel blue!). And second, that I will change my bedding aesthetic just as opinion shifts in the opposite direction. (Having an item the item I bought at full price go on sale would be the third part of the buyer’s remorse trifecta, but I digress). I am very pleased with my most recent acquisition, but like clockwork, just as I’ve signed on to the fluffy, disheveled duvet trend I stumble upon this Wall Street Journal article in which Sara Ruffin Costello makes the case for a switch back to the clean, sleek look of blankets and coverlets. While I love my new duvet, I do agree that I sometimes feel like I’m sleeping in a wood-burning oven, and I also like the color and texture coordination options that layering blankets offers. What do you think, readers? Do you prefer duvets or blankets on your dream bed?

See the end of the article for a five step how-to for help creating a stylish bed, and not for nothing, West Elm’s offering 20% off all bedding for a limited time! –Sarah C.

Image: Boyle + Gardner for The Wall Street Journal

I’m not usually a mid-century type of girl, but I’m totally smitten by these vintage school science charts. Etsy seller Scottie in a Canoe has several available including my personal fave — gravity. Posters are 12.5 x 15.5” and just $20. You can find more vintage school art on Etsy by searching for “school posters” under the vintage category. — Sarah L.

1) Portland residents give Portlandia a thumbs up. Our very own Ginny F. reports from the field: “As a new Portlander, I am totally digging this show. The bird thing, as well as most of the other sketches, seem right on with what I’ve noticed around here. (Almost bought a skirt with a bird on it at Saturday Market this summer). I am so bummed I missed tonight’s episode. It looks like Amazon has them for free though. (At least the first one.)

2) While planning a weekly menu sounds great, most of us are flexible when it comes to meals. Megan B. asked how much planning goes into your meals, and you’d like to, but many tend to keep options around and cook on the fly. ModFruGal says, “I’m exactly the same, well stocked pantry/freezer so I can mix it up. I love to be organized, but I can’t commit that far ahead on food.”

3) You love the simplicity and usability of list making tool Teux Deux. Planners rejoice! The sleek and simple program design of the tool makes it easy to keep those tasks straight and get them done. Krista says: “I love Teux Deux! I’ve been using it for months – I have it set up as my home page so that every time I open a window or tab I am reminded of what is on the agenda for the day. I love the clean minimalism of it and it is so satisfying to cross items off the list once they’re done.”

4) Ninjas make apt replacements for v-day chocolates? You say yes. Katie D. introduced the Pocket Ninja as her stuffed animal of choice for Valentine’s Day and we have some fans. Jennifer says: “Equal parts deadly and adorable.” HAHAHAHAHA I love it, and they ARE adorable. “

Image courtesy of Kletia Garies.

NPR Pictureshow featured the work of Dutch artists We Make Carpets, temporary “rugs” made from unconventional materials such as pasta, mustard seeds, and pine cones. Ephemeral, fun, and beautiful — LOVE.

We’ve eaten some strangely delicious things in our day, but we can’t say we’d be totally willing to throw down $12/plate for broccoli gratin topped with cheetos. At the Kitchn.

Speaking of strangely delicious, why not treat your sweet to one of these oozing, anatomically correct heart cakes we spotted over at Boing Boing.

Renovating done right at Decor8. Particularly loving the tiny city kitchen with the serious stove/ hood and the mini smeg fridge.

Over at Treehugger we spied this super-groovy & green NYC apartment with salvaged subway doors, deli counter floors, and a ground floor jacuzzi for sale. Um, where do we sign up?

Casa Sugar has a great DIY to rehab a boring medicine cabinet into a fab modern number.

Man caves ’round the world are aching with desire: the fridgecouch. A franken-design hybrid of car seat, couch and fridge that really works. At Thrillst via Nick The Ring.

photo courtesy of We Make Carpets

Portland and its many charms is a frequent topic here at Shelterrrific, from advice on the most crafty neighborhoods to the latest trends (like portable stores in trucks). So imagine our delight when IFC unveiled its new comedy series last week, Portlandia. Created by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, it pokes fun the northern city’s penchant for all things organic, homemade and PC. For a sample, check out this hysterical promo site, Put a Bird On It, which allows you to place a lovely bird shadow on any URL of your liking. Yes, silhouetted bird figures are definitely a decorating trend we are tired of! — Angela M. (on Twitter: @angelamatusik)

Watch Portlandia on IFC’s Friday at 10:30. (Or DVR it like us so you can watch over and over!)

Are you from Portland? Let us know what you think of the show!

Just in time to chase away the winter blahs, another online magazine. Matchbook just launched as “the field guide to the charmed life.” I haven’t digested it enough to know if it lives up to the initial promise, but so far so good. There’s a feature on the 10 secrets to a charmed life from Miles Redd, a spread devoted just to books (that alone will bring me back for the next issue!) and a recipe from Sophie Dahl’s cookbook for monkfish that sounds positively yum. Have you read Matchbook yet? Let us know what you think. I’m firmly in the more the merrier camp. — Sarah L.

In our house, we pretty much make everything we eat ourselves. Mostly it’s a budget thing, but I have a few food sensitivities, and find it much easier to cook at home. I don’t know how we’d survive if I didn’t work in a grocery store — it makes it easy to grab the ingredients for what we need on a whim. I’ve tried making a weekly menu and done one big shop, but I find I often deviate from the plan, and sometimes end up having to throw ingredients out. I’ve looked at some of these helpful plans from SimpliFried, springpad, and Organized Home which may help me better stick to my plan. But honestly, I really prefer keeping a well stocked pantry and grabbing my fresh produce and proteins as needed, “European style”, so to say. How do you plan your meals? Are you regimented or flexible? Any helpful tips to sticking to a plan you’d care to share? — Megan B.

photo courtesy of Kletia Garies

Although it’s not uncommon to see antique silver trophies — or loving cups — priced in the thousands, you can find nice silver plated cups online at Etsy, ebay and Ruby Lane for under $60. (The one in the top picture was $60 on Ruby Lane but unfortunately, was marked “Sale Pending” by the time I spied it.) With a little luck and persistence, you can even find ones engraved to the winner of a tub race, chicken show or local regatta. So what to do once you find one? If you’ve got the skills, you can buy flowers and make your own arrangement. If your inner Martha doesn’t extend to flower arranging, give your local florist a call. Chances are, you can drop off the cup and they’ll create an arrangement to fit.

Another option? Ditch the flowers altogether and create a “bouquet” of objects. For the DIYer, a trophy cup filled with red and blue screwdrivers. For the artist, a set of fanned and fine-tipped brushes or colored pencils. For the cook, wooden spoons, mini dough whisks or a combination of both. — Sarah L.

This is the type of thing you should serve your sweetheart: instead of being filled with empty calories and saturated fat (I’m looking at you chocolate), this salad is filled with fiber, antioxidants, and yes, the secret ingredient of love. In addition to being visually appealing for Valentine’s dining, it’s a dish designed to help enhance romance! Fennel, beets, and honey are all reported to have an aphrodisiac effect, as well as tasting pretty darn delicious together. The earthiness of the beets and licorice-tinged crunch of the fennel are rounded out by tangy, jewel-like red and pink oranges and slightly bitter Belgian endive; while the crumbled goat cheese adds a creaminess that’s downright sexy. So bust out the champagne, the romantic music, and snuggle down in front of the fire with a big plate of salad! — Megan B.
click for the recipe, after the jump!

My biggest goal for 2011 (other than winning the lottery and retiring): to be more productive and organized. It’s a lofty one, I know, but thankfully I’ve got help — in the form of web-based productivity assistant Teux Deux. Instead of my perpetual scrap paper list-making cluttering my desk, pockets and recycle bin; I’ve got a minimally-designed running list on my browser, which is where I’m spending the bulk of my computer time anyway. Even better, I’ve got it synced up with the iphone app, so I can cross off those nagging to-do’s as soon as they are complete! Best of all, the site is free (though the mobile app has a nominal fee) — and did I mention it’s the brainchild of one of our favorite bloggers, Tina Roth Eisenberg, also known as swissmiss? — Megan B.