Cute Bag and an Announcement

How perfectly adorable is this bag for summer? I could see taking it to the pool or the beach, the farmers market, to the park for a picnic...just about anywhere!

*****

You may have noticed that my posting has been extremely light of late. Apart from having real-world issues to deal with, I just haven't been that excited about blogging. It's a surprising amount of work to put together a good post, and considering the small readership that this blog receives, it just doesn't seem worth the trouble most days. I'm thinking about taking things in a new direction, but I'm still somewhat hazy on what that direction might be. I promise to keep you posted. xoxo

DIY: Refurbished Chair (Update)

Remember the chair I bought off of Craigslist a while back? I promised to post an update after I finished refurbishing it, and, well...I still haven't. Three months later. I never could find the perfect fabric for recovering the seat, so I decided to wait until I move and choose the fabric based on the decor in that future home instead of my current temporary one. In the meantime, it is hanging out in my bedroom, acting more as sculpture than functional furniture. Oh well...I still think it looks pretty cool!

Step 1 - Giving the chair a thorough cleaning with a toothbrush and warm soapy water (and the assistance of my mom's dog, Lola)

Step 2 - Priming with Kilz Original Primer Spray to create a clean surface for the paint and to block the smoke odors that remained from the previous owner (I used one full can)

Step 3 - Painting with two coats (one full can) of Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch flat white spray paint, allowing to dry for 10-15 minutes between coats

The not-so-finished product

Dreaming of...Mexico

I've been thinking about Mexico a lot lately...the mountains, the desert sunsets, the beaches, the cities, the art and design (and, um, the margaritas). It all just sounds so vibrant and exciting.

Clockwise from top left: 1) Knit chair from Pirwi; 2) Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses, $98 from Nordstrom; 3) "Poolside" dress from Steven + Brown, on sale for $89; 4) Del Mar vase from Emilia Ceramics, $125; 5) Matiko Fringe T-Strap Sandal from Urban Outfitters, $128; 6) The courtyard at ex-Hacienda Las Trancas, suites from $300/night; 7) "Javanica" Tote from Anthropologie, $88; 8) The Collected Poems of Octavio Paz, 1957-1987 from Amazon.com, $17.79

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Five Under Five: Breakfast

Stuck in a breakfast rut? Here are five easy (and healthy!) ideas to shake up your routine, each with five ingredients (plus freebies like salt and pepper) or less...

Hummus and Sprouts = 1. whole-grain bread + 2. hummus + 3. alfalfa sprouts + 4. Swiss cheese + 5. avocado slices (or substitute tomato slices when in season) + salt and pepper
Toast the bread, slather it with hummus, top with sprouts and a slice of cheese and pop in the toaster oven or under the broiler until cheese starts to bubble. Top with avocado slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Egg & Grits = 1. quick-cooking polenta or grits + 2. chicken stock + 3. baby spinach 4. minced shallot + 5. poached egg + salt and pepper
Prepare polenta or grits according to package instructions, substituting an equal amount of chicken stock for the water called for in the recipe. Sauté spinach and shallots in a bit of olive oil. Top polenta or grits with sautéed spinach and poached egg then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Super Smoothie = 1. 1/2 cup frozen blueberries + 2. 2/3 cup low-fat raspberry or strawberry kefir + 3. 1/4 cup pomegranate juice + 4. 1 Tbsp. flax oil + 5. dash of honey or agave nectar (if needed)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and let it whir away until thick and luscious.

PB&B Waffle = 1. whole-grain waffle + 2. organic peanut butter + 3. banana slices (buy fair-trade bananas whenever possible!) + 4. honey or agave nectar + 5. chopped walnuts
Toast waffle, spread with peanut butter, and top with banana slices. Drizzle with a bit of honey or agave nectar and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Breakfast Fried Rice = 1. 1 or 2 eggs + 2. minced ginger + 3. cooked brown rice + 4. thinly sliced scallions + 5. tamari or soy sauce
Heat a few drops of vegetable oil in a skillet and add ginger. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds and then add rice. Cook for a minute then crack eggs into the pan. Scramble eggs with a spatula, mixing in the rice and ginger. Remove from heat, top with scallions, and sprinkle with tamari.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Oops

Looks like I should have extended my blogging hiatus a bit longer. Sorry for the lack of new posts this week...I've been visiting friends in Maryland and D.C. since Sunday. I'll be back on Monday with some fun things, including what I did (and ate) in our nation's capital. Have a beautiful weekend!

"Whatever's in the Fridge" Pasta for One

As the name suggests, I threw this pasta together last night with whatever I could find in the fridge and pantry. It actually turned out pretty tasty and satisfying (plus it's quick and nutritious) so I thought I would share it here with you. Happy weekend!

Ingredients:

-2 oz. dry organic whole wheat rigatoni (or short pasta of your choice)
-1/3 cup canned Great Northern or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
-1/2 cup of broccoli and cauliflower, cut into florets
-1 clove of garlic, minced
-pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
-1 Tbsp. olive oil
-salt and pepper
-grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt and then the pasta. Stir occasionally.

While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a small skillet. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the crushed red pepper and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring. Add the beans and season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the beans hang out and cook for a few minutes.

When the pasta is about half done, add the broccoli and cauliflower florets to the boiling water with the pasta. Continue cooking until both pasta and veggies are al dente. Drain pasta and veggies (but not too thoroughly, you want a little bit of the cooking water) and add to the skillet with the beans, stirring until combined. Season with more salt and pepper if desired, add a splash more olive oil if the pasta seems dry, and serve with grated Parmesan.

Buon appetito!

Green Light: Baggu

In honor of Earth Day, I've decided to start a new recurring feature here on littlebits that I am calling "Green Light," in which I will highlight earth-friendly brands, products, and ideas. Today's featured brand is Baggu, maker of stylish reusable shopping bags, totes, produce bags, and now backpacks. I just ordered a couple of Baggu shopping bags last week, and already I am loving them. They come in a ton of fun colors (I chose the navy stripe), and they fold flat into a small pouch--just toss into your purse (or keep them in your glove compartment, gents) and go! Baggus are made of durable rip-stop nylon, and even though I thought that perhaps I should purchase reusable totes made of a greener material like organic cotton or hemp, I ultimately decided that the ultra-portability and style factor of the Baggus meant that I would be more likely to actually use them. Plus, when your bags wear out, you can send them back to Baggu and they will recycle them and give you a $1 credit per bag toward a future purchase! If you still need more convincing, Baggu is offering free shipping on all orders until midnight tonight with promo code "earth10"...happy shopping!

(Image via baggubag.com)

Maria Kitano

I'm seriously loving the work of German artist Maria Kitano. Her abstract oil paintings are inspired by nature--frozen lakes, waterfalls, trees, the night sky. Aren't they beautiful? (They're reasonably priced, too!)

(Clockwise from top left: Abstract 21, Forest 2, Waterfall, and Winter Reflections 2)

More Poufs!

Because there's more to poufs than Moroccan leather...

Calypso Home "Jodphur" Pouf, $375

Pier 1 Fat Stool, $29.98



CB2 Knitted Pouf, $79.95

Target Cube Storage Ottoman, $59.99

Pier 1 Round Rattan Pouf, $29.98

Missoni Home "Vevey" Cylindrical Pouf, $340
Anthropologie "Julah" Ottoman, $198

Inspiration Folder: Moroccan Poufs

I have been spending a lot of time lately daydreaming about my next apartment. I'm beyond ready to have my own space again, and I've been bookmarking all sorts of furniture and decor items that I would love to surround myself with. Even though Moroccan poufs have been quite popular for a few years now, my desire for one was recently rekindled when I acquired a couple of back issues of Blueprint (thanks, Jess!) and saw the turquoise pouf in the fourth photo below...so fun! I also love the pastel versions, because they make me think of candy :)

Candace Bushnell's apartment (Elle Decor)

Lonny editor Michelle Adams' apartment (Lonny)

Alexandra Wentworth's apartment (Elle Decor)

Editor Sarah Humphreys' NYC apartment (Martha Stewart)

Poufs as coffee tables (Domino)

If (or should I say when?) I get my own pouf, I think I will take a cue from Lonny editor-in-chief Michelle Adams and use it as a sort of side table and pull it out for use as occasional seating or an ottoman as needed. Color-wise, I really do love the turquoise, but I think yellow or red might be easier to incorporate into a room. And even though it's waaaaayyyy out of my price range, I can still fantasize about this super glamorous metallic version. Love.

Dear Readers,

littlebits will be on hiatus for a bit. I need to devote all of my energy to real-world things right now...I hope you understand. I still like you, I promise.

xo,
Rachael

Spring Breakup

Sorry for the lack of posting lately...I've been feeling a bit uninspired. What I need is a spring break, but sadly I am no longer a student and it's hard to take a spring break from life. At least the weather will be taking a decidedly summer-like turn starting tomorrow. Until then, it's brownies, movies, and gazing longingly at the pictures from my spring break trip to California last year. The above photo was taken on a perfect day in Coyote Hills Regional Park...if you live in the Bay Area, it's definitely worth a visit!