Compass & Coffee Spoons

Something to Live For

Now, despite the title of the post, I KNOW you're supposed to eat to live and not live to eat. At least that's what "they" say. But, let's face it, sometimes something good to eat is the little thing that will help us get through an otherwise blah day.

I'm an emotional overeater--i.e., if I am having an emotion, any emotion, I want to eat. I'm working on this, but I've had to find some alternatives to coax myself away from what I really want to binge on. Like, oh, off the top of my head, a half gallon of peanut butter chocolate ice cream (yes, it's been done).

Here are a few of those things:

1.) Vitatop by Vitalicious in Deep Chocolate. I don't buy these all the time because they're rather on the pricey side (a box of 4 at Harris Teeter is somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.50 or more), but they're good. They're 100 calories, chocolatey, cakey, and don't taste fake like some lower calorie sweet treats. I just had one of these. These have the ability to quelch a passing "I want a muffin/chocolate cake" craving. Not at your store. No worries--available online here or at 1-877-VITA-877.

 

2.) No Sugar Added Fudgsicle. Again, these don't taste fake, and I have successfully averted many-a ice cream craving on the way home from work by promising myself one or two of these. That's the fantastic thing: at 40 calories, if you eat 4, you're still ahead of the game--not so with 4 servings of ice cream. More info here.

3.) When the weather is too cold for Fudgsicles, I turn to No Sugar Added Hot Cocoa. Nothing says "cozy" like a cup of hot cocoa. And, at 60 calories per serving, you won't need to shovel too much snow to work it off (oh to be doing that in this 90 degree heat!).

4.) The last few things have been chocolate, but this one's Ginger--as in Diet Ginger ale. I have had to go a bit cold turkey on this because I was drinking wwaaaaaayyyy too much, but it had a great run for awhile in helping me avert cravings. (By the way, Canada Dry is great, but I get the store brand.)

5.) For a hankering for crunchy potato chips...Barbeque Soy Crisps. Shown are Genisoy, but I am partial to Whole Foods 365. Trader Joes also does a version, a bit cheaper I think, but I don't like them as much. Genisoy is good, as is Glenny's. Each brand has its merits. I am always sure to buy the smallest bag possible, though, despite the greater expense because I KNOW I'll eat the whole thing.

There you have it. Five treats you won't regret tomorrow! What are some of your faves?

Nutritional Know-How

I wanted to let my blog readers in on a good resource, the "Eat This, Not That" website. Part of Men's Health magazine, the column was made into a book. I was first clued into this by my cousin Jennifer, who used the book to successfully shed calories (and pounds) that lurked in unknown places. I consider myself to be relatively calorie-savvy (as in, aware of them as they're entering my mouth), and even I was shocked by some of the information.  For example, the "Turkey and Swiss Sandwich" at Au Bon Pain, clocking in at 850 calories and 41 (yes, 41) grams of fat. I could see myself ordering this and thinking I was doing okay--maybe slightly more calories than a sandwich I'd make myself, but not bad. Boy was I mistaken! I was also disheartened to find out (though, not surprised) that my favorite ice cream: chocolate peanut butter swirl, is one of the worst options at Baskin Robbins. That's one of those things I'd rather just save up for than waste any calories on an inferior ice cream!

p.s. Sorry for the lack of posting--I've been busy with trip-planning and my mom's visit. More on those later!

Cool Tool

Ask.com has this cool feature where you can calculate walking directions and distance. It's pretty spot on too. I just did my route to work and was going to show it until I realized that, um, I shouldn't post my home and work addresses online. I did do that walk today, though, and it takes about an hour. The estimate was 57 minutes, which I could definitely do if I stepped it up a bit.

So, here's a hypothetical walk from Pittsburgh to New York:

You can get there in 185 hours if you want! Pretty cool, huh?

Resource: Archival Storage

I recently bought some archival file boxes from University Products. They sell archival products to, as their name suggests, university libraries and museums. However, they're also a good resource for home organizing and crafts. I got several of the same (or at least they appear exactly the same) file boxes that the Container Store sells for $19.99 each for $5.20 each. They give volume discounts (for small to large orders), and my mom and I split an order of 10.

I particularly like these because they look unobtrusive on a shelf. And, when you split up your files into different boxes, they aren't as heavy or bulky, which I feel is key to actually using the files. Having separate boxes gives you flexibility that drawers just don't.

In addition to these, they sell all kinds of useful products, including,(Beware, this can excite "oh hey look at this, I need it" syndrome):

• Display cases and stands
• Photo and scrapbooking supplies
• Bone folders, cutting tools and other things used for paper crafting/book binding (including cool French marbled paper)
• Framing supplies
• Stools and shelving

Check 'em out!

Everything is Coming Up Roses

I watched Stranger Than Fiction on DVD this weekend. Great film--I was pleasantly surprised. However, what I couldn't get out of my head was the scene where Will Farrell's character is singing to Maggie Gyllenhaal's character. Yes, it was a romantic scene, but more than that I was in love with her house! Very boho chic. Not my style, but still fantastic. My favorite thing was the afghan with crocheted roses on it. Instant obsession! I was going to post a pic I took of my screen, but I don't want Sony Pictures on my ass. But, I did go looking for versions on the web. I didn't find one exactly like the one there (it was black with pink roses), but I found several other versions.

On Etsy:

There's this one from Etsy seller Craftedfrom TheHeart.

Or, this from butterfield house.

I also found this from a place in Texas called Country Village Mall. Of all of them, this is my fave.

Christmas Cosy

I got my second cosy--the Christmas pudding one--before leaving for Thanksgiving. I LOVE it, and it keeps my tea toasty warm! This one is from Manda Holden. I'm just upset that neither of my cosies were for the smaller teapot I have--this is my fault b/c I was too lazy to check out the ounceage before buying. I guess it just means I'll have to buy MORE! :)

Cosy Cosy!

I had a "moment" last week where I somehow found myself on Etsy and felt the compulsion to buy tea cosies. I know...some people are "shoe" people; I have my own compulsions. I bought two. One, is shaped like a strawberry and the other, like a figgy pudding (for Christmas, of course!). Well, today, the strawberry arrived via Royal Mail from England and I literally giggled with glee! (yes, I giggled with glee). It was from White Doll Arts.

 

Bargain Weekend!

I went home to Western PA this weekend. My Aunt Jean had a 70th birthday party for my Aunt Shirle who is battling cancer. It was a nice simple affair with some delicious crescent roll-wrapped breakfasty things and great cake.  After driving Shirle home, I implored my mom to stop at the Salvation Army thrift shop. Boy, was I glad I did. I ended up with some great finds:

I found the pottery pieces first. I've been envying cool pictures in design magazines of groups of white pottery. It's been trendy, like this from West Elm, but I love how fresh it looks. I spent a whopping $4 on all 3 pieces. One is a Royal Haeger.

I've also been eyeing some white pottery lamps on Ebay...good thing I held out for this gem--4.99! I have to get a shade for it, but it's still a bargain.

And, last but certainly not least, this solid mahogany nightstand for $12.99. I am thinking of either stripping the blonde finish and staining it a dark ebony or painting it black. I've never done the stripping and staining thing so I'm not sure about that.

I rounded out my purchases with a set of 4 juice glasses with oranges on them for my mom at $1.99 and this mod thin scarf for $0.99.

I'm planning on using it in my hair or on a bag.

Mom and I also went to Marshalls, where I nabbed a set of Ralph Lauren floral pillowcases for $5, and to the Dollar Tree where I got a "pierced porcelain" looking votive.

I wish they'd had more of them, because I would have bought a few.

Now for the not-so-bargain. I got this alarm clock on ebay. It's very vintage and cute, but c'mon. It was one of those "in the moment" lapse of judgement things...

I tested the alarm--it works, though I doubt it would get me out of bed. And the ticking would probably drive me bonkers, so as ugly as my digital is, I guess I'll keep on using it!

Favorite Vintage Finds

I thought I'd share some of my favorite vintage finds that I have in my home. You know those things that you find while browsing at a shop somewhere and debate in your head about....and finally succumb to and you're so glad you did? That's these. (There are also the things you regret buying, but I'll save those for another time). So, here goes...

1. I got this ottoman at Who Knew Retro Mod, a very cool retro furnishings store in Pittsburgh (incidentially, it's in the 16:62 Design Zone, which has quite a few other fun shops). The proprietors sold it to me for $30 because they had it for so long. ...as I was buying the chair in number 6 at the same time.  I cleaned up the vinyl and brass buttons which were tarnished, and it looks great!

2. I bought this antique button when I was studying in England, from a shop called "The Button Lady" in Hampstead. I have it in a tiny frame, and it's very meaningful for me.

3. These cute little bird taper holders are vintage Pigeon Forge pottery that I bought on ebay.

4. This is rather a "former" favorite. I bought a little depression glass ring case when I was about 14 at a shop called The Apple Tree or something like that on Maple Street in my hometown of Greensburg, PA. I decided to put it on a shelf in my bathroom...and that is where the top met its demise. I have kept the shards to hopefully use in some craft project...

5. This lamp is part of a set of boudoir lamps I bought on an impulse when I was buying my coffee table at Miss Pixie's. They don't really fit into my boudoir, but I couldn't resist. Miss Pixie had them on a ebonized sideboard, and I fell in love. Someday, I'll find the perfect place.

6.  I really debated buying this chair. I was on a business trip in Pittsburgh and had to put it in the backseat of my car. I was staying with my parents during the trip, and they thought I was NUTS, but I loved it. I was looking at very similar chairs at Storehouse and Room and Board at the time that would have cost hundreds of dollars more...and would have taken up more of my apartment's precious space.

7. One of a set of small trays from England that I bought on Ebay.

8. I fell in love with this tiny gem when I recently went antiquing with Kim in Fredericksburg, VA. I couldn't get a good picture, but it's an antique measuring tape...and on the tape, one side says "Granola The Finest of All Digestives." I later saw this tape online for over $100...I don't know if it's worth that, but I only paid $19.

9. I bought this set of luncheon plates in Berkeley Springs, WV while on a "girls" weekend with my mom. If you'd described them to me, I never would have thought I'd like them, but I couldn't pass them up!

10. This is one of my purchases from Natalie Silitch's. A vintage French cafe plate. I use it as a candle coaster.

There you have it...what are some of your favorite finds?

Ding Dong! Produce at Your Door

I recently signed up for Washington's Green Grocer, a produce delivery service. For $35 a week for organic or $29 per week for conventional, you can have a small box of delicious mostly local produce delivered to your doorstep. While similar to a co-op in that you get regular deliveries of produce, in this case, you don't buy shares, and you can cancel any shipment or go bi-weekly. It's very flexible. The list changes weekly, and you can substitute things you like for things you don't like or add additional items to your list (even butter and other dairy products if you so desire). I got two boxes of produce so far (I went for the organic) and found the produce to be fresh, tasty, and not damaged (a concern--they were as nice as if I'd picked them out myself). I'll probably go to getting the deliveries bi-weekly, as I am having a hard time eating that much fruit (the veg is no problem, but I'm having a hard time with the fruit). Try them, you'll like them! They deliver to many places in DC, Maryland, and Virginia...ask if they deliver to you!