Petra Boase

I was doing my 5 o'clock blogging and went over to Print & Pattern and found these super cute mugs from Petra Boase! Ive been kind of obsessed with mugs lately and I think I would probably smile my face off if I drank out of these. too cute!!

Musical Reading

I like to read. Since graduating school I've gotten back into reading more often. I mainly read to and from work when I am riding the el, and subway. I tend to pick one artist to listen to on my ipod the entire time I am reading one book. The music always fits how I imagine the book to be in real life. It makes me feel like I am there, with the characters, as it's happening. I just finished East of Eden a few weeks ago. I listened to Iron and Wine the entire time. The folky, mountain-man music totally made me think of the Trask farm, and the Salinas Valley.

I've begun to read Les Mis with some friends, and have yet to find my music. I've had a hard time reading the book so far because I'm trying out different music and nothing fits right- and so I am distracted. My co-worker Jeff (if he only knew all the callouts he gets from his coworkers on here!) over the past week has given me about 5 Beirut albums on my request for one song! I have listened to it non-stop and it is the sound Ive been looking for to read Les Mis to. Im now in synch w my Les "Mizzy" music, and ready to read!

Chris Uphues

Chris is an artist that hails from Chicago and I found these ADORABLE pieces he did and had to share. Too cute!!

Keep

About a year ago when I first moved to Philly, I was up in Boston visiting some friends, and found these awesome shoes by a company called Keep . I've since bought a few more pairs of shoes from them, and they have a new pair out that I absolutely ADORE!


The shoes are 100% cruelty free, and are made in Brazilian factories that respect their workers and environment! Something to feel good about..

Mandy Gerth

A little local post!

I picked up some adorable Christmas cards this last year at Art Star by Mandy Gerth. Mandy is based out of Philly, and sews fabric onto the cards to make adorable little scenes. This is the one I gave to my b!


Check our her new ones for Valentines Day on her Esty Shop .

Nutritional Yeast

Is another thing I am semi-obsessed with. This flakey nutritional supplement is a deactivated yeast that can be used as a condiment or ingredient! Its a good source of protein and vitamins(especially the B-complex ones!)

I use it as a cheese substitute, on pasta etc. My FAV is to sprinkle it on my popcorn!! You can pick it up at Whole Foods in the bulk aisle.



YUM!

coffee.

I drink way too much of it, and I'm trying to cut back. Generally I feel that if I "need" it in the am to wake up, then my body is not resting enough, and I should be getting more sleep. To aid in the unhealthiness of the addicting, jolting treat I have substituted creamer with soy creamer, and replaced sugar with agave nectar. It’s a natural sweetener that comes from the agave plant. There are many benefits to using this over sugar!

Agave Nectar has a Glycemic index of only 27! Glycemic index is how high our blood sugar rises when we eat certain foods. Rice has a GI of 83, an apple 54, and agave only 27!

Agave Nectar is composed of 90% fructose sugars and 10% glucose sugars respectively. Because fructose is 42% sweeter to the human brain than granulated sugar, less is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness.

So there you have it. My new alternative to sugar. (safe and good for baking too!)
You can grab it at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or any other health food store!

busy bee

Sorry Ive been absent lately from the blogging world. Its been a good busy start to this new year. Something Im REALLY excited about this year is the Highway 127 Yard Sale. Its a 630 mile/5 states/4 day yard sale. Doesn't that sound amazing?? Its August 7-10 from Ohio to Alabama. Check it out
here !

In other news: Im on the search for a house! My main goal for this year is to take the steps, and purchase a house. I think about it day in and day out, and Im really excited for that to happen!

We've been getting really nice weather recently and although I adore the winter, its made me want to put on shorts and sandles, and lay in the sun. I got my new Spring Catalog from Urban Outfitters in the mail this week- and Im pretty much obsessed with it! Its something to look forward to..