in a nutshell. | shel and stone

1.06.2011

For the Mad Men lovers...

So... I have only seen the first season of Mad Men and, of course, I loved it. Stone and I both loved it. If you have not seen an episode and are wondering what all of the fuss is about, rent it and you will become a crazed fan too, I am sure of it. I saw this illustrated book based on the TV show and thought I had to share, especially because I know so many of my friends are die hard Mad Men fans. The book takes a look at the culture of the 60's by offering up things such as drink recipes, women's hairstyle tips, appetizer menus, and paper cutout dolls of the office manager, Joan. Love it!

Now Stone and I just need to rent the next season and catch up with everyone else.

Go here to buy!

1.05.2011

French Breakfast Puffs

These muffins have been a New Years breakfast tradition for my family ever since I was little, and since Stone and I have been married I have carried on the tradition with him. They are delicious, and Stone is always wanting me to make them more than just New Years morning... but, that is what makes them a tradition and so special, right? Here is the recipe, just in case you want to try them out, and trust me, you do!

1/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix shortening, 1/2 cup sugar, and egg thoroughly in a large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg alternately with milk. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Grease the pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon. Dip muffins into melted butter then into cinnamon sugar. Yumm!

Design Inspiration: Unique living.

This sneak peak into a family home sitting atop Seattle's Smith Tower is so incredible. Most of the materials for this home were salvaged from other stories in the building. The family travels up 38 floors in order to make it up to their cute little home with a personal 360 view of the city. I love all of the old fixtures and windows throughout the home, it seems like a very fun and creative place! Could you even imagine growing up in a home like this?

Go here to see more.

1.04.2011

Tuesday tunes.

Such a great video. Love it!

Ooo Lala!

My sister-in-law just sent me a link to EmersonMade's new spring line! I am in love. Seriously. I have put four things on my wish list (including that polka-dot skirt with scalloped trim!) and there are more to come! I cannot wait to see. Ge here to see more. xo.

1.03.2011

January's Playlist

The playlist this month comes from Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the Top 50 Songs in 2010. There were so many on there that I had never heard of (except Tightrope, I just added it because I like it so much!) so I thought I would share them, just in case you were as out of the loop as I am. Enjoy!

Also... go HERE to see Stone's top photos of 2010!

Holiday wrap up.

We are back home! I have to say, traveling to two different states over our Christmas vacation this year was wonderful... exhausting, but wonderful. Stone and I have yet to divide Christmas up between our families and I kind of like it that way, it is so great to be able to spend time with both of them. In Colorado we made homemade pizzas, went to Christmas Eve service at our old church in Boulder and played ping pong at Cooper Smiths Pub with Stone's friends from high school. In Texas we visited my grandma in Wichita Falls, went to the Nasher Sculpture Museum, saw Little Fockers (not nearly as bad as the critics are saying!), and spent time with friends at Times Ten Cellars.

We flew back the night before New Years Eve (thank you AA for the free first class upgrade!) and rang in 2011 with friends. I have not yet officially put together my resolutions for the new year, but I have been thinking of them and will write them all down soon. One that did come up last night was to choose to be happy. It sounds kind of lame, and probably seems simple, but I really think it can make a difference. Last night I spent a couple hours making Wendy's Green Chili Enchiladas, they are so delicious and I made extra to last us a few more days this week (love leftovers!). Well, when the time went off and I was taking the dish out of the oven , I cant really say what happened, all I know that I lost my gripping on them and the entire glass dish dropped out of my hands and onto our kitchen floor, breaking into a million pieces. My first reaction was to walk out of the room and cry, of course. So, I did... for only about a minute and then I took a few breaths and walked back into the kitchen to clean up the delicious disaster. About an hour later we ended up eating frozen taquitos in silence. Looking back, I really wish I had reacted differently, I wish I had laughed about it cleaned it up and moved on happily. But, I let it effect my mood for the next few hours. So, one resolution in 2011 is to choose to be happy, even when you are eating frozen taquitos at 8:30 PM.

xo :)