Functional Art

Heart Tea Strainer by Beehive Kitchenware Co.

If I had unlimited funds, there are so many trinkets and knick-knacks I would probably buy. But first, I'd hopefully splurge on items that actually serve a purpose. Take this adorable tea strainer, for example. It's just one of the many kitchenware items for sale on Beehive Kitchenware Co.'s etsy store.

Heart Measuring Spoons by Beehive Kitchenware Co.

Of course, I would need the matching measuring spoons. How adorable and completely necessary! I'm kidding, kind of. But if you cook or bake regularly, wouldn't it make sense to use utensils that make you smile?

Jessica's Favorite Salad

I've been having these salads for lunch the past few days, and they've been amazing. Here are the ingredients to make your own:

• "Sassy Baby Blend" lettuce -- substitute with your favorite kind of leafy greens, preferably home-grown! And none of that ice burgh junk. 
• Dried cranberries -- "craisins", if you will. These are key, and make a great snack when you run out of lettuce. They taste like Fruit Roll-Ups.
• Feta cheese -- Actually, any good sheep or goat cheese would probably do just fine. I find feta to be a safe bet, as some goat cheeses taste a bit too much like a barnyard.
• Raspberry vinaigrette -- This stuff changed my life. Well, my salad-eating life. I bought Old Cape Cod brand, but you could totally make your own -- which I plan to do.

That's it! It's very simple and tastes delicious. You may want to add a nut of some sort, maybe halved pecans or almonds. I'll have to remember to buy some next time I'm out.

Green amidst the Bleakness of Winter

I adore snow storms and I'm even more tolerant of the cold this winter, as opposed to winters passed. I was also able to stand the cold ocean this summer -- maybe my body has finally achieved an acceptable level of fat? Whatever the reason, it has kept me from hibernating too much this season. Leaving the security and warmth of my bed is a struggle, but there is work to be done!

Pictured above are the first sprouts of my recycled-bottle garden. I had originally planned on buying all sorts of fancy, indoor-planting supplies -- but why bother? I already have what I need.




I've always loved planting things. It amazes me how fast seedlings sprout up and start reaching for the sun.




Hopefully in the next few months, the snow will melt and the ground will thaw. I plan to build raised beds, since the dirt is less than favorable. I'm going to use recycled materials if possible, including some sort of fencing material to keep the neighborhood cats from using my garden as a litter box.




Until then, I will happily tend to my little chair-top garden. The smell of the organic soil makes my heart beat a little faster, and the vivid, green seedlings bring hope in the monotone winter.