When I first saw this brightly colored-dinnerware, I thought it was melamine and ruled it out. Then I gave it a closer look and saw that it’s actually 100% recycled glass. While VivaTerra’s festival colors make a bold statement, I have to admit that it’s the softer-hued celestial and serene that really have my attention. Mini bowl and saucer sets are $49 and a 16-piece dinnerware set is $198. — Sarah L.
In the winter I love to have a hearty breakfast … something really filling, or super crunchy, to start my day. I’ve been eating a lot of steel cut oatmeal, eggs, and even leftovers, but my most recent favorite has been granola. The prices in the grocery store have been wearing on me (why so much for such a little bag?), so I decided to make my own. After some internet research, I picked Alton Brown’s recipe to make, and made a few tweaks to suit my taste. I have to say, it was pretty freakin tasty. Crunchy. Not too sweet. Filling. Delicious! The recipe is really easy … try it! — Rebecca F.
Click to see the recipe, after the jump! (more…)
A long-haired, giant dog: doesn’t that sound like grooming fun? Well, we have two of them — Fluffy Mastiffs who have long, thick hair and weigh 180 and 140 respectively. For obvious reasons, I was happy to test the new Long Hair Giant Dog deShedding Tool from FURminator. We already had a regular-size FURminator that works pretty great, so it was nice to compare the two. The most obvious difference you can see above: the Giant Dog tool is wider to make the work a bit faster. The second nice bit is that it comes with a push-button so you can quickly drop the hair that builds up in the tines without breaking your stride. Dahlia, pictured above, is a lot less shaggy and a lot more pretty in the “after” photo on our patio (and you can see some of the prize-winning take of hair we pull off her, too). Disclosure: I was sent a FURminator tool to try out for free, but these honestly are my favorite tools. A lot of hair comes off the dogs fast, and I’ve noticed a lot less in the house since they got spruced up four days ago. You can find the right tool for your long-haired pup at the FURminator site, about $40-74. Thanks, FURminator! — Mary T.
After years of working in bookstores (RIP to my ol’ Borders), I amassed quite the book habit. One genre in particular holds a special place in my bibliophile heart: the graphic novel. I’ve got posters and prints and signed first editions, but now I can take that black and white to places it’s never graced, like the bed, for example, with this Fresh Ink Duvet at CB2. Featuring art by Chicago illustrator Yann Legendre (which took a month to hand render), the image is said to be “a stream of subconsciousness… urban industrial fantasy”. I think I’d have some pretty graphic dreams with these linens — but for those who find the bedding too bold, there’s also a large-scale clock featuring the same comic-inspired design. Do you think it would read well in your home? — Megan B.
Daydreaming is my favorite past time. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been a master daydreamer. Back then, they were mostly about being a professional trapeze artist or having the uncanny ability to talk to a narwhal, but now that I’m older the bulk of my daydreams are about outfitting my fabulous apartments located all over the world. My new favorite place to wish list browse for fantastic (and strangely appealing) home décor is etsy shop blue bell bazaar . With a 7,400 square foot showroom located in Chicago, blue bell bazaar puts the best of the best of their gorgeous stock online for everyone to get a fair shot at. From a 1940s roulette wheel to vintage modern oil paintings to porcelain glove molds, there’s always something new to covet at blue bell bazaar. –Katie D.
