I’ve re-webbed patio chairs and I’ve written about chairs woven with belts, but this is the first I’ve seen leather belts used to web patio chairs. Lori Wyant has the how-to at Green Is Universal. I confess I’m slightly on the fence about the finished project, but I think it could be a lot of fun to search out funky belts at thrift stores. Just be sure they’re long enough to use as webbing! And if you need a little more instruction, revisit our chair webbing how-to. — Mary T.

I remember distinctly the first time I tasted a sour ale, at one of our weekly beer tastings about 7 years ago. None of us there really enjoyed it at all — in fact, it was collectively declared to be “redolent with notes of SweetTarts”. Little did I know on that night, but that distinct, sour flavor would grow on me; causing me to reject the piney, hop-bomb, palate-killing IPA’s of my past for something lighter, and MUCH more food-friendly. Sour ales got their start in Belgium, where beers are fermented spontaneously in open wooden barrels. The wild yeasts (notably brettanomyces) and bacteria (such as lactobacillicus) that collect in these barrels add a dryness and complexity that is only enhanced further through a secondary bottle fermentation. The resulting brew is unlike any other beer you’ve tried — think actual Champagne rather than Miller High Life. Recently, American craft breweries like Russian River Brewing Company and New Belgium Brewery have championed the style, and it’s slowly but surely been gaining a passionate following among beer enthusiasts everywhere. If you’d like to sample a sip of this mouth-puckering delight, then I’ve got some choice recommendations:

-Russian River Brewing Company, Temptation Ale (pictured above)

-Duchesse du Bourgogne, a Flemish red ale

-New Belgium Brewery Lips of Faith “La Folie”

-Monk’s Cafe Flemish sour red ale

And if you do try some, make sure to serve it in a tulip or goblet, not a pint glass — and pour slowly, allowing the sediment to remain in the bottom of the bottle! — Megan B.

Any recipe with the word ‘magic’ in the title has got to be good, right? And it is, it so is. I spotted this recipe last year over at Serious Eats, where baking maven Dorie Greenspan has a regular column. I was drawn to it immediately, because the recipe has no wheat ingredients (last year around this time I was on a wheat elimination diet), and because it was a perfect no-flour recipe for Passover Seder. The key to the cake is all in the cookie: amaretti, an Italian cookie made with almonds and apricot kernels. The cookies get a quick blitz in the food processor, are mixed with the chocolate and other ingredients and ready to bake in a flash — literally, you guessed it, 15 minutes. After baking, the cake is cooled and glazed with a decadent chocolate ganache and is ready to be enjoyed slice by fudgy, almond flavored slice.

When I made my version of “the Magic” last year, I couldn’t help brighten up my version of the torte with some edible pansies from my garden, a quick and impossibly simple way to decorate the spartan pastry. I never snapped a shot of the interior before serving, so thankfully, I found a treasure trove of images around the blogosphere thanks to the tireless efforts of Tuesdays with Dorie, a network of food bloggers who each week collectively bake a recipe from the pages of Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From my Home to Yours. Apparently they’ve been working their way through the book for quite a while, so I must be living under a rock or something. — Megan B.

Wanna make a little 15 minute magic yourself? Go to Serious Eats for the recipe.

Second photo courtesy of My Baking Heart

I have a huge glass coffee that I absolutely love. It’s perfect for a messy craft project, spreading out work papers, or having a casual dinner while watching a movie. But, after a while, I got tired of having to constantly clean it b/c my coasters weren’t measuring up. While cute, they didn’t absorb any moisture and left me with watery rings to constantly wipe away. But — ta-da — enter a crafty solution! I went to my local Flor store and picked up three 6×6″ carpet samples (for $5), cut each sample into quarters with a sharp utility knife, and voila – cute coasters that actually do their job! Flor has a huge selection of colors and textures that would fit almost any decorating style, and because they’re so inexpensive, than can be switched up when room styles change. So, what do you think of my new coasters? — Rebecca F.

Photo credit: Rebecca Firlik

I can’t do down filling so over the years, I’ve tried bed pillows from most of the major stores, all with limited success. Then, in a fit of frustration and with a sore neck from a firm pillow that quickly deflated to flat, I snagged a Target bed pillow. Extra firm. $9.99. And miracles of all miracles, made in the U.S.A. First night? Great. Second? Third? Third month? Still great. So I tried replacing the flat pillow lovers’ pillows next. Different tag, same result. $9.99 worth of perfection. So until, heaven forbid, they discontinue or muck them up, I’m sold. But enough about my pillow love. What’s yours? — Sarah L.

In our shanty of a rental apartment, it’s always summer. No matter what time of year it is in a city that enjoys four distinct seasons, the apartment’s one shining constant is that it will always, without fail, feel a balmy 85°F in the shade. And while one should get used to the temperature differential after a while, it has at times led me astray in the wardrobe department, and on those days when I’m flying out of the apartment in the morning, there’s nothing I’d love more than an accurate (and cute!) thermometer to shoot me straight. The Basic French gets it right with these colorful enamel options. Mercury-less and usable both indoors and out, $28 gets you a sleek design and peace of mind. Now if only I had a place to mount one! Woe. Manhattan, you win. Again. – Sarah C.

Years ago I started using the Real Simple Keepsakes list. Operative word: started. While a great idea, I just found the longhand process daunting and without being able to pair it with photos, less than ideal. Hoping that Real Simple had turned their list into an app, I checked the App Store. No such luck. What I did stumble across was the Allstate Digital Locker. While it only had three stars, it was free (bonus) and there were enough four and five star reviews to make me decide to give it a go. A week later, I have most of my keepsakes list transferred to the iPhone and paired up with photos. And thanks to the comment field, next time I’m with my Mom and mother-in-law, I can get their help in more accurately describing some of the family items they’ve given to me over the years. The app is also available for other mobile devices and once completed, can be e-mailed so you can print or store a copy. The only bummer? Thumbnails won’t be part of the e-mail. — Sarah L.

In the picture: A turned-wood pencil holder that belonged to my great-grandfather.

Have you hopped on the bar cart craze yet? It seems in every magazine I read — whether digital or printed — there’s at least one. A search for “bar cart” or “serving cart” on eBay returned the usual multitude of results. While Etsy returned considerably fewer vintage options, the difference in style and price of the $75 garden cart and $750 mid-century cart are a good showcase for the options you’ll find. Me? I like the idea of a bar cart but am afraid all those glass bottles are inviting disaster. — Sarah L.

It’s time … time to clean off our decks and patios and get ready for summer barbecues and relaxing outside! Why not make your outdoor space a little more enjoyable with some outdoor decorations? Here are some of my favorite sites to get you started.

Pearl River
Located in New York City’s Chinatown, this store has a great selection of Chinese lanterns and garland that would be perfect for decorating a covered deck.

Save-on-Crafts
A gold mine of planters, pots, string lights, birdcages, and solar lanterns, all at great prices!

The Macbeth Collection
Looking for something you can customize? The Macbeth Collection has tubs, buckets, and vases that you can have made with your favorite colors and patterns.

And, a good standby of course is Cost Plus World Market, whose consistent stock of outdoor carpets, string lights, and patio furniture fits almost any budget. What are your favorite places to shop for outdoor decorations? — Rebecca F.

Photo credit: Rebecca Firlik

1) The keys to snagging that next McCoy vase? Get to the flea market early and learn to spot a fake. Js says: “Be warned, there are A LOT of fakes out there. Read up on how to spot a fake, because the real McCoy doesn’t always say “McCoy”, and some that do aren’t.”

2) It’s time to invent a square lip balm. The round tubes keep falling off our night tables. Susan says: “I just had to tell you all I laughed out loud about the lip balm rolling off the nightstand. Happens all the time to me…does anyone make a square tube?” What’s on your bedside table?

3) Beautiful tile adds a personalized touch to any renovation, and Motawi Tile has our number. Hypothetical Woman says: “Beautiful tile – I looked all through the Motawi store and unfortunately couldn’t find that one. Pity, it would look lovely in my new bathroom makeover! This is the first time I have an opportunity to do over a bathroom of my own and I’d love to get at least one handmade tile to properly print my personality onto it.”

4) Adding some minor embellishments to your morning coffee can make the day even better. Once again, chocolate is a universal cure. Linda says: “I (sometimes) add a teaspoon of cocoa to the cup before pouring my morning coffee. Mmmmm.” How do you improve your morning coffee?

5) The Rub Away Bar banishes smells, but any stainless steel object will do. Tracylee says: “According to my grandmother, all you really need to do is rub your hands on the sink faucet – works like a charm! (that may have been a Heloise hint, now that I think about it, I’m not sure where she picked it up years and years ago).”