KNITTING IS CHARMING

I think anyone with anxiety should knit. It's relaxing. It promotes meditative thoughts. It's fun to do with friends or all by yourself. I have a friend who used to go to knitting group and they'd all sit around chatting, knitting and getting stoned. Whatever your pleasure; knitting is for everyone. The very best thing about knitting comes in two parts. It's easy; the sound the needles make when they clink together is fabulous.
NPR promoted Tracey Ullman's new book Knit 2 Together, a book she wrote with her knitting friend, Mel Clark. You can listen or read the story here. The book offers charming designs like this darling knitted apron. I can't imagine actually wearing it for fear of ruining it, but I might because I'd look so cute.

ENERGI TO GO

They've gone and done it. Energizer has created a product I must have before I jetset off to Spain next Saturday. Energi to Go is an emergency charger for your phone and MP3 players which will come in handy, especially on my longer-than-life flight to Barcelona.
Energi to Go takes 2 AA lithium batteries which can be a bit trickier to find and will definitely cost more. But if I'm faced with a long flight taken in silence or a steep ticket price for lithium batteries...I'll pay the dough! Read a review here.
Currently Energi to Go adapts to most phones; if you've got a Sony Erickson, you are out of luck!

Even though the product is supposedly available at Target, don't hold your breath. You can find them at Lowes and they are $20.

PRODUCT RED {So Rad}

If you haven't "fallen into the Gap" lately, you'll want to come October 14. Gap, along with Motorola, Geogio Armani, American Express, and Converse are all launching Product {Red} in the US. Masterminded by Bono {of course}, Product {Red} is launching a clothing line with Gap which is made from 100% African cotton and actually made on the African continent. 50% of revenue will go back to Africa to fight AIDS among the women and children there. Likewise, Motorola is offering a Red sliver cell phone, Armani is offering accessories {sunglasses and watches}, Converse has their classic shoes available with African patterns, and American Express has a Red card {for now this card is only available in the UK}.
A musthave from the Product {red} line are the red t-shirts. Each has a word that ends with the word red and they keep the word red in {parenthesis}. Stacey said she found the shirt that will be mine on October 14. Hamme{red}. That sounds about right!

WHIRLEY POP

I don't make popcorn very often because it feels decadent, but when I do make it, I make it right. I'm not really a fan of the microwave type popcorn unless I'm starving and at the office. For the best popcorn you'll ever taste, use the Whirley Pop popcorn popper and olive oil. I like to pour my extra virgin olive oil in the Whirley with a sinful amount of salt. Then I add the popcorn and mix it all up with the handle crank. Once the popping is complete, there is no need to hand-stir any melted butter or additional salt. It's ready as-is! Clean up is even easier; just wipe out with a paper towel.

HOME OFFICE

{I think this may have been cuter if everything on the inside was painted white or something a little bit cleaner. }










Martha Stewart, as usual, has come up with what I think is a fabulous idea for a home office. Especially if you have limited space. She suggests outfitting an armoire with shelves and a hinged desktop. This little tiny office space is much, much more organized and pretty then the room Nate and I have dedicated for work. Another goal I have is to make our office particularly attractive in our new home. It's right off the entry-way and it has a door with in-layed glass so everyone will be able to see it.

HOME OFFICE PART 2

Jordan already blogged about this desk, but it's worth mentioning again. It was showcased in Blueprint Magazine which is a Martha Stewart publication and worth a look. This home office and desk are my style because they are feminine and sophisticated. I'm not really a girly-girl, but I like my surroundings, when possible, to be pretty and inspiring {i need help with my grey cubical at work}. Read about it at Marthastewart.com here.

CITRUS PRESSES

I love these citrus presses {orange, lemon, lime}. Besides being color coded, they are also sized for their particular fruit. This is the best way to assure you get the most juice out of your citrus. Between $14 and $16, this set would make a darling house-warming gift in a basket of fresh oranges, lemons, and limes.

LINEN CLOSET

I'm guessing I'll have a nervous breakdown when we move into our new house. I have so many things I want to do to make it pretty and organized and I can't imagine trying to get it all done. Nate and I really need to consider bringing in a second wife {just kidding}. Here, Martha Stewart has three tips for organizing your linen closet. Look at the cute bundle of chalk hanging in the upper right-hand corner of this photo. So cute.

MAGICAL BABY SHOWERS

If you have a baby shower to hostess, check out Martha Stewart here for some great theme ideas. With each theme she suggests recipes, decorations, etc. Some of my favorites include,

• French Countryside Baby Shower
  
• Daisy Baby Shower
• Alphabet Baby Shower
• Pink Baby Shower
• Baby Bird Shower
• All in White Shower
  

JANIE AND JACK

No, this isn't my way of announcing any expectant little Conger babies. I happened to go to a baby shower a few weeks ago and one of the gifts was from Janie and Jack. The tissue paper and box were precious and I couldn't take my eyes off them.
This site is really cute. All the colors and patterns are just sweet like a little baby should be. There are some very adorable baby clothes here but you must be prepared to spend their college tuition to get them. Well dressed baby? Smart baby? Which will it be?

MUG SHOTS

Admittedly, I'm just a little obsessed with old mug shots. There is something kinda artistic and cool about them. After Nate and I move into our new place, I want to get b/w prints of some of my favorites and hang them as art. I think all of these are lovely.

Bugsy Siegel













Frank Sinatra













Jane Fonda {how cool is she?}













Johnny Cash
















Patty Hearst














Rosa Parks

TOOT TOOT

Yes, I am tooting my own horn. The latest Novell Connection magazine just hit the newstand and both Nate and I have articles. For anyone NOT into technology or reading about such things, the magazine is worth it just for the beautiful design. Thank you for letting us write for the mag Eric and McKay!

Q1: {Tonia article only}
Q2: {Tonia article only}
Q3: {Nate and Tonia}

FLATWARE

Oh Happy Day {hosted by cute Jordan Ferney} had a post about flatware. My first choice was this set but once I discovered it was no longer available I found a beautiful set called Imperia by Ricci. I can get a 5 piece place setting for 12 for $229.95.

Picture me sitting at my new dining table, surrounded by family and friends and delicious food. We are talking and laughing and in our hands we are cradling these beautiful tools.

MY DISHES

I love my butter cream colored dishes. They are made by Demdaco. Nate and I got enough dinner plates, salad plates and bowls for eight but I plan to get another eight for bigger gatherings. I am looking for some beautiful white dishes as an alternative. Any suggestions?

RABBIT HOLE

Salt Lake Acting Company is doing a run of Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire. A story about a family dealing with the death of a small child. In 2005, Rabbit Hole was nominated for a Tony Award in NYC for Best Play and Cynthia Nixon {Miranda Hobbes on Sex and The City} won a Tony for her performance. After a lot of tenacity, SLAC was able to get the play in Utah for a season. I'm hoping Nate and I can see the play before it closes on October 8.
See it while you can. Get your ticket here. Read review here.

10 LBS THINNER, 10 YEARS YOUNGER

I remember the first time I met my friend Angela. Something about her seemed so feminine and graceful and she felt important to me. After I stared at her for a while I realized it was because she had great posture. I slouch and I hate it. Here are six ways to improve your posture so you can look 10 lbs thinner and 10 years younger.

1. Strengthen your Rhomboids: the muscles between your shoulders
2. Strenthen your Spinal Erectors: the muscles running along side the spine
3. Use External Tools: use small pillows to tuck behind your lower back for support
4. Keep a Straight Car Seat: your seat should be as erect as possible
5. Sit With Your Feet on The Floor: when you sit at your monitor or in a chair, maintain your feet on the floor.
6. Do Yoga: successfully practicing yoga can improve your posture and strenthen muscles

SHOES AT BLUEFLY

Yum. At Bluefly.com for a mere $459.

EDIBLE SAN FRANCISCO

If you want to see what San Francisco would look like if it were made of jello, click here.

BRUNETTE IS THE NEW BLONDE

We all have lived long enough to see hair style and color, like fashion, change with the ticking clock! With so many blonde beauties walking the streets it was tough to tell that brunette was the new blonde. But it is. You see it peaking up all around you if you pay attention. The natural red head, Lindsay Lohan, has taken her locks for a walk on the dark side and I really like it. Other traditional blondes going dark include Nikki Hilton and Mandy Moore. Oh, and me, of course {not pictured}. Hooray for the glamorous brunettes!

LAST-MINUTE TRAVEL

Travelzoo sends out an email once a week that offers some amazing last-minute travel deals. A sample from this week includes $899 for a week in Peru (includes flight, hotel, meals, and tours), $19 flights between four Hawaiian islands, $799 for Rome, Venice and Florence (nine nights with flights). I recommend you get a subscription if last-minute travel appeals to you. Click here to join.

COFFEE TABLE BOOK

I know Amie has the Pop-up Book of Phobias. It sounds very interesting to have a spider or snake pop-up at you when you open the book. I'm adding it to my Amazon.com wishlist.

THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY

A clever and sarcastic book by Ambrose Bierce showcasing entertaining definitions like:
YEAR, n. A period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments.
CURIOSITY, n. An objectionable quality of the female mind. The desire to know whether or not a woman is cursed with curiosity is one of the most active and insatiable passions of the masculine soul.
ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.

Get it here.

GLITTER PUMPKINS

I think Glitter Pumpkins would be the prettiest center pieces to usher in the fall. I can't wait to make things like this for my new home.

LIQUID BAN RELAXED

With just days to spare the liquid ban on airplanes has been relaxed. According to CNN.com, "passengers can carry lotions and gels onto airliners again-- but only in tiny containers of 3 ounces or less and only if they're in clear zip-top plastic bags." You can also carry-on beverages if they are purchased after you pass through the security check. This means I can fly in fashion with my moisturizer, lip balm, and big bottle of water. All that's left is getting my Ambien perscription refilled (so I can sleep on the plane) and I'm ready to go. For a complete list of what you can and cannot carry with you on a plane, click here.



Barcelona here I come.

MR COFFEE'S COCOMOTION

Maybe you've only heard of Mr. Coffee's Cocomotion. If this is the sad truth, it's time to get one for yourself. Nate and I gave them as Christmas gifts last year and then discovered we didn't have one for ourselves. They sold out everywhere here in Utah so when we saw them at Costco last week we grabbed one up quickly and have been sipping on perfectly whipped cocoa for a week now. A steal at $20.

PUMPKIN PANCAKES

I got my October issue of Martha Stewart Living and layed in bed for a solid hour thumbing through the pages of decadence. One of these weekend, when Nate and I are both home and not in a hurry, I'm going to make Pumpkin Pancakes with rich maple syrup and we are going usher in autumn in style.

THE ART OF MARC CHAGALL

Marc Chagall was born in 1887 and lived to be nearly 98 years old.












A jew born in Russia, he spent most of his years in France. I first saw a Chagall painting in my art appreciation class my freshman year of college. I was overwhelmed by the whimsy, the color and the ever-present dream-like quality. Here are some of my favorites.