Hey, I like this.

Have you guys seen Joss & Main yet?  It’s like the all-home version of Gilt.com (awesome discounted designed clothes/home stuff/kid stuff) or TheClymb.com (awesome discounted outdoor stuff) or Fab.com (awesome design-inspired, overall cool stuff).

LOVE IT!

I splurged on these puppies yesterday:

We all know my love for all things wood, especially slices of wood. (HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE, etc, etc) So, I really just couldn’t NOT buy them at more than 50% off.  I plan to put them in a big white bowl on our wood dining table- can’t wait!

I also got this guy:

We are still loving our pellet stove. (HERE and HERE and HERE) What I don’t love about the pellet stove is this:  When we refill it, an entire bag of pellets doesn’t quite fit in the hopper.  So, the remainder of the bag sits in the corner of the dining room until it gets used up.  This functional and adorable “Coal Scuttle” should fix that issue!  The extra pellets can go in here and sit pretty next to the stove until I need them.  This works toward my other New Year’s resolution of reducing clutter in my life and finding a permanent home for things.   Cute and functional… ta da.  (Ok… so the wood balls aren’t functional at all…. but they make up for that in awesomeness!)

So… not a member of Joss & Main yet?  CLICK HERE for an invite!

Interesting!  It seems there is already a Starbucks on every corner, but they have added one more- with quite a different look!

Check out this new drive-through Starbucks in Washington made from shipping containers.  (Seen on Apartment Therapy)  Think they will make more than one?

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be better about planning meals for the week, as well as bringing my lunch to work.

I have seen this idea a couple places recently and I thought I would give it a try!  (Check out the video on The Kitchn, picture below)

So… you go to the farmers market, or grocery store and end up with a bunch of veggies.  Some take longer to cook than others.  And then you need to plan how to fit them into your meals for the week.  Why not cook them all at once to save time?  Yesterday, I roasted up a storm and have a stockpile of delicious veggies that are ready for me to use and throw into a meal.  (Ok.. the planning part didn’t really happen yet.. but this should make it easier)

What I have to play with this week:

• Braised/Roasted beets:  (Giant) beets cooked for 1.5hrs in a dutch oven with balsamic vinegar, OO, S&P and garlic  (I am thinking these will end up in a goat cheese/hazelnut/beet salad as a side)
• Roasted brussel sprouts: halved, tossed in OO, S&P and topped with garlic and slivered almonds (side for some grilled chicken)
• Sauteed Kale with garlic and S&P  (I put Kale in everything… so who knows haha)
• Roasted potatoes:  Little potato assortment, quartered, tossed in OO, S&P and rosemary (side for a baked fish fillet perhaps?)

Have you tried this cook-all-at-once approach before?  Any other tips you’ve found helpful for meal planning? 

Since the holidays are rapidly approaching and xmas shopping is on the brain, I thought I would post some of the very cool and random things I have found on Pinterest lately. Let’s call it a gift-guide, if you will

Invisible bookshelf! Check it out HERE:

Acoustic Iphone Speaker:

Amazing magnetic lenses for your iPhone camera!  HERE:

Adorable Robot Tea Infuser:

  iPhone case with built-in bottle opener- brilliant!

Hate not having enough pockets in your workout clothes?  Check out Underfuse on Kickstarter:

Awesome boot socks- love these!

Such an amazingly cool bracelet!  Made of wood-

Keep your coffee hot for hours with these Coffee Joulies:

Oh-so-cute!!  I LOVE these custom illustrated house prints on Etsy.

They would make an amazing housewarming gift!

Wine is a key ingredient for a good bath. Of course you need somewhere to put it:

I hope your holiday shopping is going well!  Find any great and unique gifts?