I love Ruby Love's Modern Baby Books

I'll admit that I'm a big fan of documenting everything (I'm a lawyer, after all!) and I cherish the baby books my mother and grandmother made for me. But a lot of the books on the market today just strike me as a bit too cheesy, a bit too...well, babyish. Cue a random (but most welcome email) from my blogging buddy Laura over at JourneyChic a few weeks ago recommending Etsy seller Ruby Love's gorgeous baby books. Needless to say, I ordered one immediately and I love it so much I just had to pass the recommendation on to y'all. There are, of course, a lot of great baby books available on the market today, but here are a few reasons that I think Ruby Love's makes the top of my list:

1. There's a wide assortment of styles/colors to choose from -- and plenty of not-so-cutesy options that may appeal to your more sophisticated side. [By the way, if you're interested, I happened to select the "Ryland" option for myself.] Because let's face it, you're going to have to live with plenty of cartoons, and kid stuff for the next, oh, decade, so I say pick what you like now before your baby forms his or her own opinion.

2.  The books come as 3-ring albums, which means you can customize, add or subtract pages to your heart's content. I love that I'm not constricted by stupid prompts or left staring at blank pages because I didn't get around to documenting Baby Conn's first sneeze (just toss that page!). This leads me to reason #3...

{Baby Book Holiday Pack}

3. While the standard album comes with plenty of great prompts (personal favorite includes "This Day in History", which reminds me of my Grandma saving the major headlines of the year of my birth -- something I will always treasure) and lots of blank pages for your photographs, there are loads of supplemental pages you can purchase to beef up your album and even extend it into your child's toddle hood (assuming, of course, you haven't completely abandoned documenting your child's every move out of to sheer exhaustion).

If, however, none of Ruby Love's albums strike your fancy but you're still looking for something modern and fun, I'd suggest checking out my two runners up: Baby's First Book over at Rag & Bone and the Binth Baby Book. Any of these would make a wonderful holiday or shower gift for an expectant or new mom.

Love is....

L'Amour et Psyche by Fine Art Images

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

~ William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is....

The Magic Hour by Irene Suchocki

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,

Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum

Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead

Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

~ W. H. Auden

Love is....

"Twins" by Unravelling

I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair

Don't go far off, not even for a day, because --
because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long

and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

Don't leave me, even for an hour, because
then the little drops of anguish will all run together,
the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift
into me, choking my lost heart.

Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach;
may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance.

Don't leave me for a second, my dearest,

because in that moment you'll have gone so far

I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking,
Will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?

~ Pablo Neruda

Love is....

"Enter" by Irene Suchocki

"Politics"

How can I, that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms,
But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!

-William Butler Yeats

Round Up: Valentine's Day Cards

Okay so Valentine's Day may be 10 days away, but consider this a friendly reminder that it is just around the corner. I do not, as a general rule, put a lot of stock in Valentine's Day as a romantic holiday -- which is lucky for Dave as his first Valentine's Day gift to me was a blender. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy Valentine's Day as an excuse to buy and send cards and stationery. Even if it is just a "Hallmark Holiday", Valentine's Day is just as good a reason as any to let the people you care about most in your life that you...well, care about them.

If you're still looking for the perfect card or cards, I'd suggest foregoing your local Walgreens or CVS in favor of searching out a card that's a bit more personal and unique. And remember: cards are even better when you take the time to include a handwritten note. This year, while I'll be writing a few cards by hand, I think I'll send most of my cards virtually. Iomoi has a wonderful selection of Valentine's Day motifs (like the one above) for its virtual e-cards and, at $15 for a yearlong subscription, you could send Valentines to everyone in your address book.

Source list (from top left): 1. TTV Photograph Valentine's Day cards from Maile Lani ($12/set of 3). These are practically art-quality and would make great seasonal decorations. 2. Like card from Michelle Brusegaard ($3.25). The perfect card if your relationship is still in its nascent stage. 3. I Love You My Dear letterpress cards from Tara Hogan ($14/set of 5). I can't resist a cute pun...especially when it's on letterpress! 4. Love All Lovely cards from Up Up Creative ($9/set of 4). The retro-70s vibe of these cards is great and the color palette is a nice change from sticky sweet pink and red. 5. Vintage-Inspired Candy Shop Valentine's cards from Two Poodle Press ($4/set of 10). A great price; perfect if you're buying for an entire class. 6. Pride and Prejudice Valentine from Stars and Stillness ($3). What girl wouldn't melt for Mr. Darcy? 7. Laugh Love Dream notecards from Orange Beautiful A great take on the typographical trend that's still raging hot. I love the black and white card paired with the hot pink envelope. ($10/set of 6).

Source list (from top left): 1. Valentine's Day card from Jen Rotert ($3.50). Sometimes it pays to keep it cute and simple. 2. Letterpress Friendship card from Sycamore Street Press ($4). A great friendship card that's more sassy than sappy. 3. Valentine's Day Personalized Cards with Keepsake Mailbox from Ink Spot Workshop ($21/set of 20). The kid in me loves this whole set: the stickers, personalized cards and mailbox to keep them in. 4. Happy V Day card from Sweet Perversion ($4). The simple exterior belies the bold message inside this card. 5. Sweetheart Ribbon Card from Anna Cote ($5.50). Just plain pretty. 6. You Fill My Heart with Love card from Just Another Day ($3). I love the modern, clean look of this card. 7. The Bee's Knees Valentine Card from Lily Jane Stationery ($3). I love how the bee's path is in the shape of a heart. 8. Do You Still Love Me? letterpress card from The Sherwood Press ($4). This card would be perfect for my bug-loving hubby.

This coming week I'll be doing something a bit different in honor of Valentine's Day: I'll be posting some of my favorite love poems and accompanying artwork from favorite Etsy sellers. I've long been a fan of poetry (indeed, this blog's name is the first 3 words in one of my favorite Latin love poems from Catullus), though admittedly I have not shared my passion for verse on this blog before. Poetry has a way of capturing the real rhythms of love (and loss) in a way that prose quite simply cannot. And so, I thought I'd take this Valentine's Day as an opportunity to share with you a few poems that have meant a lot to me over the years. But don't worry, if you're not a fan of poetry I'll still be interspersing the poetry with my usual posts on design, shopping and style.

The Story of A Few Throw Pillows

I realize that I haven't posted any updates on decorating my new house in the past few months, and that's because that progress ground to halt sometime back in November when work and social obligations overwhelmed me and all but shut down my decorating élan. But with the start of the new year has come an fresh burst of inspiration as I've made a number of great finds for the new house. Today though, I thought I'd share the latest additions to my family room: a pair of pillows I picked up from Plum Cushion (who I found via Jenny at Little Green Notebook). And I love them. The pillows are Chiang Mai Dragon from Schumacher. The print is one of my all-time favorites and, while the aquamarine colorway is admittedly ubiquitous, I don't see the China Blue colorway very frequently.

Isn't it gorgeous? If it weren't so pricey I'd probably be buying this in bulk for curtains. In any case, I was incredibly impressed with Melanie's finish work on the pillows; the self-welt and the hidden zipper are immaculate. I also appreciated how she centered the dragons front and center:

Despite the latest additions to my sofa, I still had that gut feeling that something was missing. It looked good, but the sofa still needed that little extra oomph to really put it over the top. And that's when I had a Eureka! moment this afternoon and pulled this out of my closet:

Three yards of KWID Imperial Trellis II in Navy that I scored at discount from Pink Wallpaper back in June! The larger-scale geometric fabric works perfectly with the Chiang Mai Dragon; like nectar and ambrosia, these two fabrics are the perfect pairing. Even better, Melanie accepts custom orders and a customer's fabric so I'll be shipping these three yards to Oregon tomorrow and in less than two weeks I'll have two 18" pillows for the couch and a small lumbar pillow for my wingback chair. I'd also consider the price for fabrication to be more than reasonable (perhaps even a steal) given the amount of work that clearly goes into her pillows.

Ultimately, this "story" of my new pillows is illustrative of what I love most about the Internet: it connects you to all sorts of talented (and kind!) people and opens up doors you assumed were closed to you. Through the magic of the blogosphere, I've been connected to individuals who have allowed me access to "trade only" fabrics and bespoke pillows at prices well within my budget. Kind of amazing when you think about it, isn't it?

Artist Spotlight: Oh, kirby! {and Giveaway}

Elizabeth R ($70, original painting on wood panel)

I first became acquainted with oh, kirby! artwork via decor8 way back in 2008 and have been charmed by Sarah Kirby's original work every since. My attraction to her art is partially based on a shared fondness of similar historic periods and figures and partially because her style recalls the many, many paper dolls that I cut and played with as a girl. Knowing that anyone who regularly paints the likes of Anne Boleyn and Marie Antoinette is a girl after my own heart, I got in touch with Sarah after making a recent purchase on her website and asked her if she'd mind doing a little interview for Odi et Amo. Fortunately, Sarah was happy to indulge me and my amateur attempts at interviewing and I hope you enjoy her responses as much as I did.

By way of a brief introduction, Sarah is an artist, vintage clothing dealer, and freelance costume designer from Georgia. Although Sarah is a self-taught artist, she has an undergraduate degree in art history and master's in museum studies from St. Andrew's University, both with a special focus in historical clothing. Drawing upon her historical background, Sarah creates lovely, stylized portraits of both famous and ordinary historical figures that possess a certain undeniable charm. Any oh, kirby! print or original painting would be lovely additions to any space where you're looking to add a little bit of timeless whimsy. Be sure to check out Sarah's other Etsy shop oh, kirby! the vintage shoppe, which features vintange clothing, as well as her lovely blog.

The Lady Who Had Her Cake and Ate it Too ($18, 8 x 10" print)

Odi et Amo: How did you first become interested in historical clothing? When and how did your interest in painting historical figures and costumes begin?

Sarah Kirby: I've always been fascinated by history and the clothing of the past. I've been sewing historical costumes since I was a young teenager, but even when I was little, when we would visit museums I would find myself gravitating towards displays that featured historical clothing. Now that I’m older, I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work with historical clothing in museums, and being able to lovingly prepare them for storage and learn the stories about the people who wore them has only increased my love for it. Likewise, I've been making art all my life. I've done everything - landscapes, portraits, abstracts, etc - but if you looked inside my sketchpad, all my doodles were always of costume illustrations and historical characters. A few years ago, I decided to do a few pieces inspired by my sketchpad doodlings, and haven’t stopped since!

Blackbird, Victorian Mourning Lady ($85, original canvas painting)

OetA: What historical periods and types of fashion are you most interested in? Why?

SK: There are so many that pique my visual interest. I don't think I could pin down one, or even a few, periods in fashion history! But if I had to choose, I have always been very drawn to the Rococo period and the Renaissance period. It's quite funny, too, because they are so different from each other. One is the epitome of decadence, frilly and pastel, and the other is very rigid, with more earthy, realistic colours. I also love the Victorians, because their frills had a strange, pinned-up, gothic quality, and I find this inspiring both for my art as well as my own personal style.

Marie Antoinette necklace ($18)

OetA: What do you think future historians will have to say about early 21st century fashion?

SK: I think they will write that fashions in the early 21st century were very much influenced by the 20th century, but that there were a few rebels, such as Alexander McQueen, who broke away by creating designs that were completely ground breaking and truly modern. With that said, I like that the 20th century still plays such an important role in fashion, because it means that vintage continues to be relevant! I think there is room for both ground breaking and old-fashioned, and that is what is so great about 21st century fashion. Anything goes.

Miss Austen ($18, 5x7" print)

OetA: What's your favorite piece currently available in your store?

SK: I would probably say Miss Austen. I just love the simplicity of the portrait, and the colours -- and of course, the Jane Austen reference. When I painted her, I knew I couldn't sell the original, and it is now in my bedroom!

OetA: Your store mentions that you're making room for lots of new pieces -- can you give us a preview of what's to come? Do they represent a departure from what you've been offering?

SK: I am working on a few projects that will be appearing in the next few months. In November I will be introducing my holiday themed card and original art collection. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, and I’m very excited! As far as whether or not my upcoming projects will be a departure, I don’t know. I just paint as the inspiration comes to me! Sometimes a piece will seem wildly different from what I usually do, but then sometimes it will be cozy and familiar.

Sarah, modeling some of her own vintage finds

OetA: What attracts you to vintage clothing as opposed to modern, "of the moment" fashion?

SK: There are so many reasons, yet somehow I find this question hard to put into words! Simply put, I’ve always found that vintage fashion just suited my shape and my look better than modern styles. There isn’t a single item of clothing that I feel more comfortable in than a full-skirted cotton 1950s dress. I also love how unique each piece can be. When you wear vintage, the chances of meeting someone else who owns the same dress is very slim!

OetA: Tell me a little bit about your vintage clothing Etsy shop. Where do you find most of the pieces? Do you have any helpful hints on vintage clothing shopping in general?

SK: My vintage items come from thrift stores, estate sales, antique malls, and personal friends. For example, I recently acquired all the clothing items from the estate of a friend’s mother, who was an antique dealer, so I suspect those will be keeping me busy for quite a long time.When looking for vintage clothing, I try to go with an open mind and persistence. You’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, after all! Sometimes I go to five different shops and find nothing, and other times I go to one shop and find thirty items. Also, certain vintage items may not look fabulous on the rack, but keeping an open mind can bring about so many more fashion possibilities – sometimes a simple hem is all you need to completely change the look of an item!

Just because it's Tuesday, I thought I'd give away one 5 x 7 print of Kirby's original artwork. To enter:

1. Head on over to Oh, kirby!'s Etsy shop and select your favorite 5 x 7 print.

2. Come back here and leave me a comment, letting me know which print you'd select if you won.

3. If you'd like a second entry, become a follower of Odi et Amo (and be sure to let me know you have by leaving a second comment).

I'll be taking entries until midnight CST, Sunday, October 25, and the winner will be announced Monday, October 26, 2009.

Peacock Stationery

Rust and Teal Peacock Enclosure Cards ($5/set of 5)

Ever since I blogged about my newfound love of all things peafowl, I've continued to see peacocks (and peacock feathers) pop up just about everywhere -- from the hottest fall fashions to upholstery fabric and now to stationery -- so I know I can't be alone in my obsession. Fortunately for peacock-freaks like me, Michelle Brusegaard's Etsy shop offers up an array of gorgeous and inexpensive fixes. Card enclosures, personalized notecards, birthday cards, sticky notes and calling cards all feature gorgeous peacocks or peacock feathers in a variety of thoroughly modern colorway like fuschia/gray, rust/teal and chocolate/curry.

Personalized Flat Notecards - Twin Peacocks in Gray and Fuschia ($17.50/set of 10)

Happy Birthday Flat Cards with Peacock Feathers ($17.50/set of 8)

Twin Peacock Sticky Notes ($3.50/set of 50)

Teal Peacock Feather Calling Cards ($25/set of 50)

I'll take one of each please. Be sure to check out Michelle's entire peacock collection over at her Etsy shop for the full array of colorways and products.

Ideas for Mother's Day

Generally speaking, I don't put a lot of stock in "Hallmark holidays" like Mother's Day (which will fall on May 10 this year) or Administrative Professionals' Day (which was Wednesday, actually -- whoops!). Despite that though, I find it's generally dangerous to ignore the occasion altogether lest someone get their feelings hurt. Accordingly, I like to acknowledge the holiday with a card and/or small gift to mark the occasion, which assures the intended that I planned ahead and thought about it (it being the thought that counts, and all that), but I don't tend to go all out.

Mother's Day Cards. I think a card is particularly appropriate on Mother's Day because what any mother really wants -- and yes, I'm making an assumption here since I'm not a mother myself -- for Mother's Day is for her child(ren) to spend time with her and let her know they care. So, in the absence of (or in addition to) hanging out with dear old Mom this Mother's Day, I'd suggest sending a card that let's her know how you feel. [And yes, I do think you should take the time and effort to write more than just "Love, Junior"; after all, you ought to at least make it worth the stamp it cost you to mail it.]

Happy Mother's Day card by Bean Sprout Studio ($4)

So this year I thought I'd pull together some of my favorite Mother's Day cards from Etsy. Any one of these cards has the benefit of being a lot more special than your run-of-the-mill Hallmark greeting. And since you can't just run to the 7-11 to pick one of these up en route to Mother's Day Brunch, you'll look like you put some real thought into the card this time. I love the one pictured above from Bean Sprout Studio with its 3-D paper flowers and smart chartreuse envelope.

I Love You, Mom letterpress card by Ilee ($3.50): Ilee has several cute Mother's Day cards, but I particularly like this one with its bright colors and cute design. Besides, who can resist some letterpress?

Thanks Mom flower ribbon card by Anna Cote ($5.50): This is a nice modern option from Anna Cote that gets right to the point. The fold-over style leaves you plenty of room to expound on the topic of gratitude.

Custom Mother's Day Card by Just Another Day ($3.50): Tired of all the hooky and overly sentimental Mother's Day cards? Then make your own! If you're not particularly artistic, Courtney Williamson from Just Another Day will make one for you. Just let Courtney know what you want the front to say and she'll customize the sentiment to your specifications.

Letterpress Happy Mother's Day Card by Sycamore Street Press ($4): Sycamore Street Press consistently creates letterpress cards that are just, well, pretty. And of course, I love the combination of pink & brown; it's just a classic.

Personalized Stationery. If you're looking to earn some brownie points this year with your mother, why not give her the gift of stationery? Personalized stationery is one of my go-to gifts for just about anybody and for just about any holiday: it's thoughtful, always useful, and you can never have too much paper. Even better, there are tons of affordable (i.e., under $30) options on Etsy for custom stationery that's sure to make your mom smile. It's also a nice change of pace from the standard gifts of flowers or candles/bath products.

Custom Wood Type Stationery letterpress cards by the Paper Peony ($24/set of 8): I love the simplicity of the single lower case letter (how e.e. cummings!). Choose from all 26 letters and a variety of ink colors. A spare envelope is included for any mistakes.

Zig Zag Personalized Notecards by Just Another Day ($20/set of 10): I'm tempted to pick up this set for myself. I love the Missoni-style zig zags in bright Easter egg colors.

Paradise Flower Personalized Notecards by 12fifteen ($18/set of 12): This one by 12fifteen satisfies my current craving for all things red and turquoise.

Whimsy Family Personalized Notecards by Ink Spot Workshop ($17.50/set of 12 + return address labels): This stationery seems just the ticket for the "super mom" with the super family. Even better, the set comes with coordinating return address labels and comes in your choice of 4 colorways. (I like the gravel and magenta one best.)

Blind Impression Simple Custom Letterpress Notecard Set by Simple Song Designs ($27/set of 15): You can't get any more streamlined and modern than these cards. Blind impression is letterpressing without ink, which creates an indentation in the paper without coloration. These, by Simple Song Designs, are the height of minimalist chic (and a great deal for letterpress!).

Callings Cards. If you're looking for a gift that's a little more unusual than custom stationery, what about customized calling (or business) cards?

100 Personalized Calling Cards by Happy Girl Greetings ($20/set of 100): You can really stretch your dollar with these babies, which come in a pack of 100 for a mere 20 clams. There's an almost infinite number of choices for graphics, but I love the old fashioned typewriter, which goes so well with the ecru paper and traditional font. Very sophisticated.

Birds and Branches Calling Cards by Michelle Brusegaard ($20/set of 50): This is a great option if you're looking for something a little cuter. The square shape will be sure to stand out amidst a sea of business cards.

What about you? How do you typically celebrate Mother's Day? Any good tips on great gifts or activities to mark the occasion would be most welcome!

Good Design For Less: Ruffle Pillows

I've had my eye on this pillow from the Amsterdam-based textile line Onomono (available through Burke Decor) for months now, but I've been unable to pull the trigger on a $150 pillow that I really don't have a specific place for.

On the other hand, it's a lot easier to justify another unnecessary throw pillow when it's priced at a mere $14:


Granted, the Ruffles Natural Cotton Jersey Pillow from Hettle (via Etsy) isn't an exact match to the Oromono, but it's pretty close and it definitely imparts a similar cozy and feminine vibe. Sized at a nice 14 x 14, the cover does not include the pillow insert, but you can easily pick one up at your local IKEA or Bed Bath & Beyond for just a few dollars (which also means you can avoid paying shipping costs on such a bulky item) or purchase one through the online shop for a mere $5 (with free shipping on the cover). Hettle offers other styles and fun colors and custom orders are available. I particularly like her pink candy stripe ruffle pillow, which would be darling in a little girl's room.

Texas, Our Texas

Last night Dave and I went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with Chef Babs and her boyfriend P.W. (properly pronounced "Pee-Dubyah"). Attending the largest rodeo in the world has a way of making me feel very Texan -- albeit a Texan allergic to hay, horses and most of the other animals present at the event. In any case, a good time was had by all and even my husband, a native Floridian, admitted to enjoying the rodeo events. At the end of each rodeo, there's a featured performer (usually some of the biggest names in country music) and last night we got to hear Pat Green, a superstar in the Texas country music scene, and one of my personal favorites. For those of you unversed in "Texas Country", it's a sub-genre of country music which can best be described as "Texas is my girlfriend" music. True Texans can thus be distinguished from the rest of the world by their ability to not only tolerate this music (most non-Texans will find lyrics devoted to cruising I-35 and "letting Texas fill my soul" eye-roll inducing), but love it.

In any case, because I am feeling particularly Texan today and in honor of my Texas heritage (I am, on my mother's side, a fifth generation Texan after all), here are a few of my favorite Texas-themed pieces that I pulled off Etsy. Unlike most Texan paraphernalia, they avoid cheesy slogans and the over-use of our state flag.

The Duel by MagnusFoto (8' x 10', $55)

I can't get over how much I love this photograph, which was taken in Marfa, Texas, a small artist enclave south of El Paso (i.e., middle of nowhere). From what I've heard, Marfa is everything you don't expect to find in West Texas, and I would love the opportunity to visit it sometime. I suspect the landscape and subject matter here is "quintessential Texas" for most folks, but growing up in Houston, I tend to think of Texas as far more urban, and far wetter.

Houston Architecture III by Maritere Casillas Rice (8"x10" photograph, $25)

This is part of a series of shots taken here in downtown Houston and I love how the angles and play of light in this particular shot. This building is actually the old Rice Hotel (converted to lofts in the late '90s) and is one of the oldest buildings left here in downtown. Fun Fact: The Rice Hotel is situated on the site of the original Capitol of Texas, which was moved from Houston to Austin in 1839.

Come and Take It Note Cards by JessicaGM (set of 4, $8)

If you know your Texas history, you should know why I love these note cards by fellow Texan JessicaGM. For those not forced to take Texas history in 4th grade and again in 7th grade, the small bronze cannon pictured above the iconic Alamo memorializes the Battle of Gonzales (a small town located outside San Antonio), where a small Texan force resisted the Mexican army's attempts to seize their cannon (hence the cheeky "come and take it" slogan that became a rallying cry -- and a flag -- during Texas' fight for independence). I would argue that the slogan continues to be apropos for many Texans today. If you aren't familiar with the Battle of the Alamo, go watch John Wayne's The Alamo. Immediately.

Austin in the Morning by AWebsterTX (8"x10" photograph, $18)

I love Austin and this view of downtown Austin from Town Lake is particularly lovely. Some of my fondest memories of Austin are of Dave and I kayaking out on Town Lake in the spring and fall, when the weather was just perfect. If you've never been to Austin, I'd highly suggest making a visit. While there, be sure to hit up my favorite spots: (1) Lake Travis (and enjoy the beautiful drive over via 2222 and 620), (2) Barton Springs / Zilker Park, (3) the Capitol building and (4) South Congress (best strip of local shops and restaurants). For food, be sure to go to Trudy's (for the Texas martini), Kerbey Lane, Hula Hut (for the view of Lake Austin) and Amy's Ice Cream.

Miss Texas Original Collage by DadaDreams (4"x4", $20)

This collage was just too fun not to include in this list. The retro-styling also really reminds me of Austin. It'd be perfect hung up in a bar-area or game room.

Wind Farm by Marnic (5"x7" matted photograph, $8)

I actually have no idea of this photograph was taken in Texas or not, but it certainly could have been. Last time I drove through West Texas, I was amazed how many wind farms had sprung up along the high way. It's actually really beautiful. Just flat land, big sky, and wind turbines dotting the landscape, slowly spinning. For all the knocks Texas gets about its love of oil and gas, many may find it surprising that we're actually the leader in wind energy. I love the idea of the state that was at the forefront of the energy boom in the early 20th century should be the leader in developing the new energy in the early 21st.

Cibus Corner: Shower Food

Baby Shower Invitations by annacote

($15/set of 10 fill-in-the-blank invitations)

To make up for the belated posting of the weekly Cibus Corner (last week/weekend was rather hectic for me), Chef Babs and I have made it extra helpful. If you're like my sister and I, you're smack in the middle of planning the umpteenth baby shower or wedding shower for a friend or family member and you've had it up to here with shower games and finger foods. Well, we feel your pain and we're here to help with some fresh (and easy)food ideas along with some sophisticated (no storks or hokey rhymes in sight!) invitations from our favorite Etsy sellers.

Bella Donna Shower Invitation by MewPaperArts ($70/set of 20 personalized cards)

Chicken Salad
I have found that more often than not (and especially in the South), chicken salad is the cornerstone at any wedding or baby shower. My family has a recipe for chicken salad that we have used for years and no shower would be complete without it. Serve it chilled on a bed of lettuce with strawberries as a garnish and I promise, your guests will love it! The almonds and the grapes elevate the flavor of the chicken, and the sour cream provides a nice depth of flavor and enhances the mayonnaise. The result is a chicken salad that is elegant enough to serve at a wedding or baby shower!

Ingredients:

6-8 Chicken breasts washed, cooked, skinned and de-boned (cook with salt and white pepper)
3/4-1 c. seedless green or purple grapes cut into small pieces
1/2 c. chopped celery
1 c. sour cream
1 c. mayonnaise
2 small packages slivered almonds
1-2 tbsp. butter

Mix sour cream and mayonnaise together and pour over chopped up chicken, celery, and grapes. Mix well. Saute slivered almonds in the butter until golden brown and add to mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Yellow Poppies Baby Shower Invites by Michelle Brusegaard

($43.75/set of 25 personalized invites)

Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are an excellent dessert to serve at a shower, especially a baby shower. Lemon bars are easy to eat and they are more unexpected than a traditional brownie and more adult than a chocolate chip cookie. Here is my favorite lemon bar recipe, courtesy of Mrs. B.

Crust:
3/4 c. (1.5 sticks) softened butter
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar

Mix above together and press into 13x9” pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until light brown in color. Cool.

Filling:
1 1/2 c. sugar 3 tbsp. flour
3 tbsp. juice of lemon 1 tbsp. lemon pulp
3 eggs 1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together ingredients for filling by hand and pour into cooled crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cut warm and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Shower the Bride Invitation by armatodesign
($14/pack of 6 fill-in-the-blank invitations)

Lime Melt-A-Ways
Cookies are an excellent choice for shower food: they can be eaten in a few bites and, while simple, are still elegant. Thank you Aunt Joe Ann (yet again) for this recipe!

Ingredients:

3/4c. butter at room temperature 1 tbsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar, divided 1 3/4c flour
grated zest of two limes, plus 2 tbsp. lime juice 2tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream butter and 1/3 c. sugar until fluffy, then add lime zest, juice and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to butter mixture; beat on low-speed until fluffy. Place half of the dough on waxed paper and form into log (about 12” long and about 1” in diameter ). Repeat with other half of dough. Refrigerate both logs for at least one hour, or until firm. Once chilled, slice dough into slices about 1/4” thick and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Heat oven to 350. Bake 12-15 minutes until barely brown. Transfer to pan that you have sifted the other half of the remaining powdered sugar into and carefully coat the cookies with the sugar while they are still warm. The cookies are fragile so use a light touch. Let cool completely before storing.

"Baby Makes 3" Shower Invitation by InvitaPaperStudio
($39/set of 20 customized invitations -- see decor8 for a special 20% discount offer)

Tea Time Tarts
These tarts are worth making and keeping around even if you're not hosting a shower anytime soon. But if you do, guests will not be able to stop eating them! They are light, delicious and look fancy on any dessert tray.

Crust:
3 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese Package
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 c. sifted flour

Let cheese and butter soften to room temperature. Blend flour into cream cheese and butter and chill for one hour. Once chilled, press dough into bottom and sides of small, un-greased muffin tin (1 tsp. each).

Filling:
1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. brown sugar dash of salt
1 tsp. soft butter 2/3 c. finely broken pecans

Beat egg, sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Divide half of the pecans among the pastry lined tins, then add egg mixture and top with remaining pecans. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until done. Remove from pans when cooled.