Stani's Blog: April 2015

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Plant + Planters

I have a knack for killing even the most resilient of house plants, which is why I exclusively stuck to floral bouquets up until a couple of years ago. I'm thinking of adding some more greenery to the house and these are some of the plants and planters currently inspiring me.

string of banana + copper planter

fiddle leaf fig tree + modern planter

split-leaf philodendron + bright planter

yucca plant + basket

echeveria + eclectic small pot

pilea peperomioides + rustic planter

Thursday, 16 April 2015

The Impact Of A Positive Response

When we were doing work on our house, we had an electrician who would stop by nearly every day. Each time I'd see him and ask him how he was, he'd respond in the most enthusiastic, sincere way. "Couldn't be better!" or "I'm fantastic, thanks!" It always put me in a good mood to see him.

After the electrical wiring was finished and he wasn't coming around any longer, I missed his animated presence, which got me thinking about how I come across to others. When people ask how I'm doing, my response is more along the lines of "hanging in there." And sure, we're all busy and dealing with our own daily stressors, but I now realize it's not necessary to allude to that. One of my favorite quotes from Mindy Kaling's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, touches on this exact sentiment:

"I do not think stress is a legitimate topic of conversation, in public anyway. No one ever wants to hear how stressed out anyone else is, because most of the time everyone is stressed out. Going on and on in detail about how stressed out I am isn't conversation. It'll never lead anywhere. No one is going to say, "Wow Mindy, you really have it especially bad. I have heard some stories of stress, but this just takes the cake."

I'm certainly not pressuring myself to be perpetually cheerful, but our electrician's upbeat disposition made me realize that my response can have a profound impact on another person's day. I've been trying it lately and I've got to say, it actually works. It's gone as far as shaping the tone of entire conversations, and the simple positive response steers people away from the usual complaints of busy-ness (let's face it, if someone comes across as happy and carefree, the other person is less likely to go into full Debbie Downer mode). I'm a total convert and this small fix has garnered hugely satisfying results.

Monday, 13 April 2015

Links I Love

1. Why you should spend your money on experiences, not things. (fastcompany.com)

2. A Bloody Mary worth sleeping in for. (vanityfair.com)

3. A sweet gingham dress for summer. (anthropologie.com)

4. I love the look of this braided faux hawk. (jacquelynclark.com)

5. Who knew a toilet paper holder could be so cute? (designlovefest.com)

6. Adorable sushi towels. (thisiscolossal.com)

7. How good is your eyesight? (time.com)

8. Brilliant solutions for renters - especially love the sconce. (dwell.com)

9. Where to apply highlighter and bronzer based on your face shape. (maskcara.com)

Easy Steps To A Great Cup Of Coffee

{Coffee Must-Haves: Bona Vita Water Kettle, Hario Drip Tray Coffee Dripper, Hario Scale}

I love a really great cup of coffee on occasion. Whether it’s my normal decaf or a great cold brew during the summer, Although my coffee game isn't on point. Here are some things a coffee novice like me has picked up from watching baristas make a barista-grade cup.

1. Whole milk is better.

Fat equals flavor. Most likely, I won’t be able to tell the difference between a high quality, organic, grass-fed cow milk versus a generic brand, but skim-milk makes my coffee tastes much less flavorful.

2. Use filtered water.

Coffee is mostly water, so the better tasting the water, the better the coffee tastes. Straight tap water is fine, but often has a lot of additives and minerals, which can alter the flavor. Using a simple pitcher filter creates a noticeable difference.

3. Timing matters.

Most coffees should brew between 3-5 minutes or else you run the risk of brewing bitter-tasting coffee. I like medium roast coffee and typically let it drip for 3 minutes.

4. Buy good beans.

Great food comes from great ingredients, so this is an important area to focus. Good doesn't necessarily mean expensive and since everyone has different tastes, there's no one right answer. However, if you're seeking a better drink, avoid pre-ground, flavored beans. If you like vanilla, add some vanilla syrup or sugar after brewing your coffee. I'm partial to this roaster's African coffees, but there are some fantastic options from all over Central and South America as well as Asia.

5. It's all about the measurements.

Great flavor is found through the perfect balance of coffee:water:temperature. There are a variety of theories/preferences as to how much of each you need, but ultimately, you'll want to measure each component to find your preferred recipe. You could use this acrylic stand and scale and this electric kettle to gauge the various measurements, but a lot of drip machines have built-in tools that work well.

6. Small details are important.Whether it's adding hot water to pre-heat your mug, or making coffee ice cubes to avoid diluting your cold brew, these small details simply enhance the experience.

While this process is a bit overkill for most people, here are the steps we take to make a fantastic cup of coffee.

1. Fill kettle, heat to 202°F (or just under a full boil.)

2. Measure out 17.5g of whole bean coffee, pour into grinder.

3. Once the water reaches temperature, grind beans.

4. Place a paper filter into a dripper, add some hot water to moisten filter.

5. Add ground coffee to dripper, place over mug or carafe, then place mug/carafe on top of kitchen scale.

6. Turn on scale, tare to zero, then add 20-25 grams of water and let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds.

7. After blooming, continue adding water at a slow to medium rate, until you reach 200-250 grams (different weight depends on the type of roast you're using.)

8. Remove the dripper after 3-5 minutes and enjoy.

Monday, 6 April 2015

The Prettiest Personalized Jewelry

I’m a sentimental person by nature. I still have my mismatched champagne flutes that remind me of the beginning of college, a perfume that smells like my mom and all the notes and cards my boyfriend's ever written me. And now, I wanted to find a little something I can wear everyday. Here are nine pieces of jewelry that pay homage to those you love in a sweet, subtle way.

1. Initial Earrings ($98)

2. Letterpress Ring ($33)

3. Enamel Locket ($95)

4. Initial Bar Necklace ($13)

5. Family Birthstone Cluster Necklace ($N/A)

6. Signet Ring ($109)

7. Tusk and Stone Earring ($195)

8. Stacking Initial Rings ($96)

9. Simple Alphabet Necklace ($50)

Saturday, 4 April 2015

Links I Love

1. 39 people doing passive-aggressive way better than you. (distractify.com)

2. A photo booth for dogs. (imgur.com)

3. Cute espadrilles for summer. (shopbop.com)

4. What a great idea for adding a pop of color to a room. (lonny.com)

5. Chocolate raspberry tarts that are almost too pretty to eat. (pastryaffair.com)

6. Cost cutting strategies from a Hollywood house flipper. (remodelista.com)

7. 5 lipsticks I can't wait to try. (vogue.com)

8. A flow chart to help you figure out which coffee you should be brewing. (thekitchn.com)

9. 20 embarrassing phrases even smart people misuse. (inc.com)

My Wardrobe Staples

I know there are some basic guidelines for building the perfect wardrobe, but I've never focused on curating a balanced closet, but instead added pieces that I could mix and remix repeatedly. From a slouchy white tee that goes with everything, to the flats I’ve worn both to the farmers’ market and date nights, here are the clothes, jewelry, bags and shoes that I consider my closet mainstays and where you can find them (or similar alternatives).

CLOTHING