Here are this week’s Thursday Things:
1. Fishs Eddy. Don’t click on that link unless you want to be tempted to buy copious amounts of adorable stuff for your kitchen that you probably don’t really need.
2. Nut bowls are totally practical, right? They’re an ounce each, perfect for this ‘n that’s.
I mixed ‘n matched some colors for my this’es and that’s. At only $2.95 each, it’s cheap thrills.
3. Moucharabieh Coasters from Harabu House.
“TFrom Lebanese designer Peggy Raphael Dabar for Images d’Orient, these heat resistant coasters keep your counter or table surfaces safe while adding an intriguing accent. The moucharabieh is a screen generally built out of small wooden elements turned and assembled according to a complex geometrical scheme. It allowed the viewer to observe without being seen, thus its nickname, Jealousy Windows. This meticulous technique was used on windows, balconies, ceilings and vaults as well as furniture. These coasters are waterproof, heat resistant and dishwasher safe. It is also handmade with small variations, characteristic to its uniqueness..”
4. I went to Discount Fabrics and like kitchenware and housewares stores, I had to exercise massive restraint not to buy a yard or two of this ‘n that.
5. This was my stash. Florescent lighting and iPhone photography are not a match made in true-color-translation-heaven, but so far the items from my stash I’ve used, have been photographing nicely.
6. I came across this New York Times article about a 12 year old who wrote a book, with a little help from his mom, called Portion Size Me: A Kid-Driven Plan for a Healthier Family. I think many adults could use a little kid-friendly advice on portion sizes.
It’s interesting because I get asked very frequently how I make and bake all the desserts that I do, yet not weigh 900 pounds. My answer is always the same: moderation and portion control. I don’t eat two dozen cookies, a 9-by-13 inch pan of Nutella brownies, and Cinnamon Bun Pie in their entirety, all on the same day.
I have a bite, a taste, a piece or two, and then I move on. After that initial few bites of anything, my craving is satisfied and eating three more cookies isn’t going to taste any better than the first one, and in fact, things go from the this is great to the what was I thinking state pretty quickly.
The authors, Marshall and Alexandra Reid, are going to be on the Today Show on Monday, May 14 at possibly 8am and definitely at 10am, on ABC’s Revolution on Tuesday, May 15 and on CNN on May 15.
7. Have you seen Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding? I happen to think Kim is quite hilarious and I laugh out loud at some of the things she says.
Nut bowls, fabric remnants, and some trashy reality tv.
I keep it classy like that.
8. When I’ve got my DVR cued up with Kim or the Bravo Housewives, a bowl of White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (GF) makes life a little better. I love popcorn like Kim loves her wigs.
9. The charity bake sale I participated in last weekend raised $2469.43 at the sale itself (including the donations brought in cash by bakers from their friends/families/coworkers) and $495 in web-based donations/payments.
Our grand total was $2964.43
That total is just for the San Diego chapter alone and there were 40+ chapters across the country hosting sales. I suspect lots of money was raised and every little bit counts especially when the money goes to hungry kids.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the sale and showed your support; either in San Diego or in any of the bake sales in your areas.
10. Thanks for the Kitchen Knives Giveaway entries
What are your Thursday Things? Have you made anything delicious or done something fun? (links welcome)
How are you at portion control?
Could you spend hours and hours in a fabric store, thrift shopping for antique dishes, furniture shopping, or housewares shopping?
Strolling the aisles of Bed Bath & Beyond or the housewares section of TJ Maxx is one of my favorite pastimes. It’s a good thing I have almost no storage space which reduces the temptation to load up a little bit.
Have a great (almost) weekend!
mmmm fabric stores. I go once a month and give myself a small budget of $20. Then I have to get all creative in finding the great deals and bribing the sales people to give me 0.25meters instead of the recommended 1meter. I LOVE those nut bowls!
Ahhhh! This post makes me want to go SHOPPING! :)
Ahhh, I love Fishs Eddy. I have been known to spend a lot of time in their NYC store ;-)
My Thursday thing is my Vermont Yoga retreat that I’m hosting this weekend. Exciting! Have a great weekend.
Ah, portion control. I have usually been horrible at portion control – especially because of that little voice in my head that says, “if you leave it on the plate, it gets thrown away.”
But I read something in one of Bethenny Frankel’s books that was “just the thing” for getting the value of portion control through my head. She calls it the point of diminishing returns – in other words, at what point am I no longer enjoying the deliciousness of what I’m eating, and just eating? Not only has that made me more attentive to what I’m eating, but it’s also reminded me to take/order less food to begin with…I can always get more, but starting with less means I don’t let food go to waste.
Isn’t it strange how you can hear and hear and hear something, and then finally, years later, one specific mention of it makes sense?? =)
the point of diminishing returns = that is what I was trying to say in the post and didn’t have the words for it, but those are the perfect words for it. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th ++ portions are not any better and in fact, are worse.
I can always get more = I mention that every year around Thanksgiving on my blog. The over-eating is rampant and I always remind folks, there will be more. And this is not the last time you will ever have access to stuffing and sweet potatoes. You don’t need to eat 25 things on the buffet table at one meal. There will be another meal. In about 4 hours for most of us in the USA :)
You really need to make a trip to NYC just for FIshs Eddy. It’s my happy place!
I would need to buy extra suitcases just to get it all home! :)
I’m not great with portion control. My problem is that I think every single bite is just as good as the last. I know I’m supposed to be okay with a couple of bites, but I’m a total volume eater. If a little is good, a lot is a whole lot better!
you are the best little shopper. I would like one of each please, and the coasters!
A little too good, if you know what I mean :)
My current Thursday thing is feeling guilty for deleting possibly my best video ever!: https://betterfitpersonaltraining.com/2012/05/03/workout-wednesday-crosstrainer-good-or-bad/
That portion control book sounds fantastic! What an inspiration and so great that his mom gave him great support. Amen to your approach to portion control- so much better to enjoy a healthy amount of the naughty things in life than to pretend that you can go without them forever- or to totally overdo it and end up with health problems!
I’m loving the multi-colour kitchen items!!
Yes life is about moderation and keeping it all in balance. Gotta have a few treats every now and then :) People who swear off all sugar or all desserts or all name-their-vice often end up rebounding I’ve noticed and end up worse off than where they were!
The Fish’s Eddy outlet store is right by where I work on Staten Island.
I would never have a paycheck if that was the case!
Super post Averie, I am still giggling at the warning “Don’t click.. unless…” Yea, right, like I can restrain myself or be objective on what i NEED. My power will when shopping at the TJ Max, fabric store or Williams Sonoma is the same as in a cat that is left alone near the bawl with a milk. I’ve learned to walk through those stores, look, touch pretty things and say “no-no-no-no-no-…” and not to buy it. Trust me, if I walked by a cute bag as you’ve seen on my blog, I would get the third or forth job to have it!
That is some really nice fabric you’ve got, all my colors too! The bottom one, mash type is so cool! Love it.
Portion control? Well, have to! My husband is actually very good at it, much better than I am. I can’t do what he does, so I run..:) And do water aerobic, and yoga…:)
Have a lovely Thursday Averie, and thanks for your visit!
Thanks for the great comment, as always. And that bag on your blog was super cute. I have better restraint on a second or third cookie than I do on a second or third handbag :)
Bags and shoes does not make anyone bigger…, only happier! :)
OMG I clicked on the link, and I can’t find my way back, so many cute things, my credit is going to die today!
Girl. Tell me about it.
I love those nut bowls!
so cute!
I love thrifting, fabric shopping, and finding vintage pieces as much as you do. Those look like some great back drops for photos. I’ve been into using delicate lacy napkins for photos lately.
I’ve been on the hunt for some frilly antique-ish napkins that aren’t all stained or don’t look too “cookie cutter” plain Jane. So far, not finding “the perfect” ones.
LOL – thanks for the link warning ;-) I love going into fabric stores, or looking through scrapbooking papers too. I get bored with furniture shopping, but love antique stores
Those nut bowls are so cute! I love tiny bowls and plates…even though they’re pretty impractical :-)
Unless you spend hours on end photographing little bowls of nut butter or candied nuts or dips or sauces…which I am guilty of. So I justify :)
I went to Fish’s Eddy with one of my NYC friends and actually made a wedding registry there – the nutbowls were the only thing I got, but they’re SO cute. :)
Mine still haven’t arrived yet via UPS. So excited for my little bowls. Why didn’t I know about this stuff 11 years ago when I got married…