An Uncharacteristically Sappy Post, or, Why My Girlfriends Rock

There is something to be said for having girlfriends. It has been scientifically proven that women need other women around; it's not just a casual thing. Women really do need other women around to help us keep our lives from spiraling out of control. Get more than two women together and you have a sisterhood, a pack of she-wolves who protect one another, celebrate each other's triumphs, console each other, grieve with each other, fight with each other. It's instinct, pure and simple. Women know that there is strength in numbers, so that's why we hang with our chick-pack. And also why we go to the bathroom together at bars. Instinct.

When I look at my life, I see a clear preference of my friends. I always gravitate toward other strong women. Sure, I've had my share of guy-friends, we all need them, and having guy friends serves a great purpose (built in body guard, general repairman, drunken hook-up). Some of us even marry our guy friends- lucky girls :) But if you're a woman, take a look back at who you've spent most of your life with. It's other women. Your mom, your sister, your best friend. These women are our pack.

I keep referencing a "pack" mentality because I think there is some truth to it. When you think about a family or a clan or whatever you want to call it, the center of that clan is always a woman. A mother, usually. Men say they are the head of the clan, and sure, they can be. They bring home the bacon, the paycheck, the hunt, whatever. But the woman is always the one who keeps the family together and running smoothly. She is the reason the family can continue. What a powerful thought!

Our girlfriends are the reason we can continue. I truly believe that. I know that there have been so many times in my life where I just simply couldn't go on. Life hurt so much that I didn't want to shoulder the burden anymore. But my best friends have always been there to shoulder it for me for a while, until I could get back on my feet and keep on. That's what girlfriends are for.

My very best friend Lisa, over at If Only Life Were A Movie says that girlfriends are our mirrors, that they tell us the truth no matter how painful, and it's true. Lisa never sugarcoats things for me, and she tells it like it is- and sometimes that is painful to hear. But it's what I need to hear, and she knows this. True girlfriends don't say things to be malicious- they tell us what we need to hear because we NEED to hear it.

True girlfriends stick with us when the rest of the world decides not to. My dear friend Kat over at Tiers of Joy is my sorority sister. When we first met, we intimidated each other because we're such strong personalities. However, the more I got to know her, the more I saw myself in her- she is another mirror. Our friendship was born in the "bonds of sisterhood", but has outlasted the "sisterhood". When I had a falling out with a member of the sorority and the majority of the sisters sided with my former friend, Kat stayed by me, and never faltered. Though we both lament the loss of our closenesss with our sorority, our friendship is stronger because of this hardship. And even though Kat lives two time zones away, we're still close. Sometimes the closest friend is one who is far away. Lisa is the same way. She lives three hours from me, but whenever I see her, it's like I just saw her yesterday. There's no exhilarating "Hi how are you I've missed you!" or a tearful goodbye with us. I know I'll see her again soon, and talk to her even sooner. She's a text-message fiend.

My sister Shelley, who writes the blog Life of a Water Baby is also my girlfriend, by default I suppose. But just because she's my sister doesn't mean she's always been my friend. We've had our ups and downs, but now that we are older and wiser, her friendship is important to me not because we're blood, but because we genuinely like one another! And who else can you laugh with about things from childhood than with your own sister?

It's always nice to add new friends to the pack. A lot of the girls I consider great friends are ones I've met within the last two years. Friends from grad school, friends who resurfaced after college, etc. It's important to let the pack evolve and change and grow.

I've had girlfriends come and go. These women have left impressions on my life that have shaped who I am. I miss them all, but I understand that they had a purpose in my life, and having accomplished that, they moved on.

I know this post has waxed sappy. I don't normally do this. I'm not one to be super sentimental because normally I don't feel a gushy, saccharine love for my best friends. I adore them, but it's a comfortable affection that doesn't need to be expressed because it just IS.

I guess my point with this is that we should celebrate our friendships with the women in our lives. They are our greatest supporters. And think about this: if you have a group full of strong, successful, great women, then you must be too, because our girlfriends are our mirrors. They show us what we are, and what we can be.

Nay

Inspiration and Laughs, Priceless.

A lot of my inspiration for do-it-yourself projects comes from catalogs for stores like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrell, Restoration Hardware, places like that. In other words, over-priced, suburbia stores. Still, they make beautiful things. And while I can't always afford the $250 desk lamp or the $100 throw pillow, I can certainly dream.

And laugh. Because really, home improvement doesn't have to be expensive.

And so, in the spirit of good humor, I give you Catalog Living, a photo blog of lovely catalog pictures and hilarious captions of what it would be like to live in the photo. Check it out, it really is hysterical! Thanks to my friend Shelby for cluing me in on this great site!

Enjoy!

Nay

My Adventures with Spray Paint, or, Why People Buy New Furniture

My project this summer is refinishing my bedroom furniture. I have a chest of drawers and a dresser circa 1980 that have seen better days. The dark wood stain looks dated, and makes my room very dark and heavy. However, the bones of the furniture are still good, and really all they need is a fresh coat of paint and maybe new drawer pulls.

Therein lies this week's problem. Drawer pulls are cheap individually. But when you need 20 of the same pull, the price escalates quickly. So instead of buying new pulls, I decided to paint the originals.

Original brass drawer pull

I used Rust-oleum American Accents Metallic spray paint in Satin Nickel to paint over the original brass. I wasn't looking for a high-shine, but more of a brushed satin look. I got what I wanted, but not without my share of trials.

Learn from my mistakes.

Mistake One: DO NOT PAINT ON YOUR DRIVEWAY. You'll get all kinds of crap stuck in the paint.
Solution One: Hang the drawer brackets by their pull on a stick. That way you can spray all the way around the pull and not get clumps or lines. See picture.

Mistake Two: Holding the spray paint can close to the drawer pull makes the paint run. But how else are you supposed to hold a tiny drawer pull and spray at the same time?
Solution Two: Ingenious solution, courtesy of my mom. Take styrofoam plates or bowls and thread the screw through the top of the plate, then screw the pull onto it's screw. It will hang from the plate, that way you can spray paint around it. See picture.

I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in how this project turned out. Don't misunderstand, the final product looks great, and I am pleased with the color of the drawer pulls. But the process itself was challenging and I was frustrated with myself on more than one occasion. I blame HGTV for making do-it-yourself projects look so damn easy. However, practice makes perfect.

And if I decide I hate the drawer pulls later, I'll paint over them.

Or make mom and dad buy me new ones :)

Coming soon: priming and painting the bedroom furniture... and the odyssey that will be.

Paintingly yours,
Nay

Summer in Virginia

Some pictures from around the house in Virginia. Happy summer :)

(photos by Nay)

Great Recipe for Overflow Zucchini

Summer gardens mean an abundance of fresh veggies. Here's a great (and easy) way to use up some of that zucchini. I make this dish often. It's easy and it makes a lot of quiche. It's also fun to experiment with. Today, instead of regular cheddar, I used smoked cheddar and mozzarella, and added bacon. Sundried tomatoes would be good in this too. Anyway, enjoy!

Zucchini Quiche

3 cups peeled and sliced zucchini (shredded works too)
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Cheddar, or whatever kind of grated cheese you have
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Pepper to taste
Optional: crumbled bacon is SO good in this dish.

Preheat oven to 350.
In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Grease a 9x13 pan or a deep-dish pie plate. Pour ingredients into dish. Bake for about 40 minutes.


Hope you like it!

Deliciously yours,
Nay

Hot Summer Reads for Bookworms

Summer boredom got you down? Can't find a thing to do? How about read a book? Yes a real book!

Here are my summer reading picks. Just a heads up though. I'm not a "beach-bum, paperback about lusty pirates and damsels in distress" kind of reader. Those stories just don't do it for me, though I do admit they can be good brain candy.

No, my idea of a good summer read is one that makes me think, and one that, when I've put it down, can't wait to pick back up.

Here's the list:

La Cucina by Lily Prior. I've read this book a thousand times, and I will read it a thousand more times. It's that good. Set in 1930's Sicily, a young farm girl moves to Palermo after the love of her life is murdered. She consoles herself with delicious food, detailing for the reader how to make these sumptuous dishes. Working as a junior librarian, she is homely, lonely and sheltered, until she meets "L'inglese", a man who will bring her out of her dowdy shell and change her life forever. Written in a conversational tone, ripe with sex, food, and crazy Italians, this book is delicious from page one to done.

The Children of Henry VIII, by Allison Weir. Though this book is non-fiction, it doesn't read like one. Instead, you're drawn in by the intrigue and seduction of the Tudor court, and the lives of these royal children: puppets in a game not of their choosing, yet loyal to each other and to their not-so-saintly father. It's a great read and if you're into history, specifically the history of the monarchy in England, this is a must read.

The Four Seasons by Mary Alice Monroe. This story is very touching. Three sisters reunite to bury their fourth sister, Merrie. As the sisters get to know one another again, old secrets and grudges resurface, and the sisters have to come to terms with the death of their beloved baby sister, and with one another. It's not all gloom and doom though. This story is full of love, affection, growing pains and that wonderful/terrible bond between sisters, that only sisters can know. It was great, I cried my eyes out and loved it. You will too.

That's all for now. I'll give some more suggestions in the coming days. Until then, Happy Reading!!


Bookishly yours,
Nay

Keep My Picture in a Frame

What to do with those old picture frames you found in the attic. If they're not too cruddy, here are some New Uses for Old Frames!! Ideas courtesy of Real Simple.

1. Use on refrigerators! Glue magnet strips to the edges so they stick and then put postcards, pictures or even recipes behind the frames. Fridges look so much nicer with fancy frames than bills or lists.

2. Use a larger gilt frame as a decorative tray. Lay flat and put colored paper or fabric inside between the glass, and store pretty perfume bottles or vases of flowers. Tres chic!

3. As a key holder (I'm so doing this!!) Framed hooks will keep keys organized―and looking decorative. Eliminate the glass and paint the backing or cover it with fabric or paper. Then attach the key hooks using an extra-strong glue.

4. As decor in it's own right! An empty frame can be as pretty as a picture. Group together a selection of painted and vintage styles of various shapes and sizes. Layering them on top of one another and mixing in other objects, like vases and small prints, makes a bold graphic statement.

Old picture frames are easy to refurbish and find. Yard sales, antique stores, junk shops- all have old frames no one wants. Buy sturdy ones that are not falling apart. Or, buy them as-is and fix them with nails or glue. Then, apply a quick coat of paint. I find that spray paints are the easiest to work with with big frames, but glossy paint in a can is just as affective. Remember, color is your friend, so buy that can of canary yellow and pair it with a sparkly brushed nickel. And because it's paint, if you don't like it, TRY SOMETHING ELSE!!

Have fun!

Framingly yours,
Nay

The Nose Knows

(photo Food and Wine magazine)

I'm a subscriber to Food & Wine magazine (because if you know me, you know that magazines are like crack for me), and I received my July issue in the mail on Friday, and inside the Wine Matters section was a wonderful article by Lettie Teague, the wine columnist for the Wall Street Journal, titled "The Sniff Test". It compares wine and perfume, two of my favorite things. I had no idea how similar the two can be, and the cult following some wines and perfumes have. It was "scentsational!" (Sorry I just couldn't resist!)

Anyway, it was an interesting read, and I think you should check it out. Also you should check it out because Lettie Teague is a really nice person. I should know because I emailed her after I read the article, thanking her for an interesting and well-written read, and SHE EMAILED ME BACK! I love it when celebrities (are newspaper/magazine writers celebrites? How about writer-ebrities) are kind and write back.

So, because she was so kind, here is her article on prosecco (probably my most favorite style of sparkling wine) from the Wall Street Journal

Enjoy!!

Olfactorically yours,
Nay

Old Chair Gets New Look, or, My Adventures with Upholstery

Need a fresh start? Maybe you're tired of the same old look in your living space? Do what I did- buy some amazing upholstery fabric and re-upholster a same-old-same-old desk chair!

This ridiculously simple improvement cost me $5 and maybe 10 minutes labor.

My desk chair is a simple wood chair from an old dining set. Here's what I did:

Materials:

1 yd. upholstery fabric (you'll have TONS left over)- I got mine from JoAnn Fabrics; it's called Maryann Confetti- love the name

Phillips head screwdriver (or flat head, depending on your screws)

Heavy duty staple gun

Vodka martini (optional, but maybe necessary if this stuff is too hard for ya)

Step 1: Unscrew the seat from the chair. These are usually phillips head screws. Remove previous fabric if you want to. I just covered over it
Step 2: Lay out your fabric, print side down. Place chair seat on the fabric, bottom side up.

Step 3: Fold your fabric down on all sides to create a small seam. This just makes the seams more uniform.

Step 4: Fold top edge down over the wood, staple along seam. Repeat this for the bottom edge. Staple.

Step 5: For the sides, you don't want to just fold the sides over. The corners look funky and the fabric edge shows and could potentially fray. Instead, take the corner of the fabric and stretch it over the corner of the seat. Staple, then gather the sides around it and staple. See video. It's hard to explain. Repeat this step for all corners.

Step 6: Refasten the seat to the chair with the screws. Et voila!  A fresh new look for an humdrum chair!

Fear not, friends who are not craft inclined- You're talking to the Queen of the Craft Challenged. But this is EASY, trust me.  But if you're still afraid, just chug that cocktail I mention in the materials list. Nothing like liquid courage :)


Re-upholsteredly yours,
Nay

New Look for A Book, and a Shelf

I'm always looking for clever ways to use old things. So when I saw this photo that combined two things I love (new uses for old things and books), I had to post and share! What a great idea!

It's very simple to do- all you need are L-brackets and old books. Use ones that are different sizes and different colors for a pleasing variation on the walls. Here is the website with instructions.

Since we're on the subject of books, I found these great techniques for organizing your bookshelves. I have bookcase after bookcase just filled with books (it's an obsession, really) and I'm always looking for ways to organize them. I've promised myself never to organize by title or author. This is not the public library for heaven's sake.

If you only have a few books:

-Layer to create dimension- Prop picture frames off center behind stacks or rows of books and cluster collectibles, such as bud vases, to add visual punch. If you don’t want pictures and artwork to be obscured, place translucent, clear, or colored glass objects in front of them.

-Paint the insides- This adds contrast and sets off the objects within. You can also cut pieces of fabric, wallpaper, or wrapping paper to fit and affix with glue or double-stick tape.

-Pick a color and tie everything together. Using objects d'art that are in the same color family makes a bookshelf seem more cohesive, rather than a shelf full of random things.

If you have books and other media:

-Hide anything ugly, like wires, remotes or instruction manuals.

-Think ahead- if there are things you use frequently, don't put a picture frame or decoration piece on top or in front of it. You'll just end up moving it out of the way all the time.

-A multimedia bookcase doesn't need to be cutting edge. Mixing new electronics (like iPod players, etc.) with antique touches (old film canisters, ancient Instamatic cameras, etc) can be charming.

If you have lots of books:

-Mix and match alignment- stack some books horizontally on the shelf to spark interest. You don't want your shelves to look like a public library.

-Add decorative objects. Never place more than 30 books on a shelf without breaking up the line with a knicknack or a picture frame. Just don't over do it on the cheese factor- leave those "I Got Hammered on Hilton Head" shotglasses someplace else.

-Treat books well- lay heavy or large folio books on their side horizontally so the pressure is off the spine.

Bottom line: Organizing bookshelves doesn't have to be stuffy or stodgy. Think color, pretty decorative touches and coordination. With a little planning, your new library will be your favorite spot to curl up :)

Bookishly yours,

Nay