Recipe: Sunday Morning Smoothie

I buy way too much fruit. Often and repeatedly, because each time I think I'll eat it all before it goes bad even though I didn't the time before. Today, while staring sadly at the mountain of fruit in my fridge, I had an epiphany: smoothies! And since my lovely mama bought me a blender for Christmas (which I opened today), I could easily make one. This is my first smoothie ever, so feel free to share your tips! By the way, this one turned out very well - the flavor was mostly strawberry-pineapple.

I started by rinsing and cutting the tops off of 7 strawberries.

I peeled and set aside 2 tangerines.

I added 2 medium sized pieces of pineapple.

I added a splash of fruit juice.

I put it all in the blender, with the heaviest items on bottom.

I added two tablespoons of honey to sweeten it up.

Then blend! I couldn't tell you how long, just that it seemed about right.

Then, I added 1 cup of ice and blended for a long time. I checked halfway through and there were still chunks of ice, so I kept going.

When I was done, I had a delicious smoothie which I poured into my favorite vintage juice glass! This recipe yielded over 2 full glasses of fruity goodness. :)

What kinds of smoothies have you made? 

20x200 + One Kings Lane = AWESOME!

Have you heard of 20x200? Jen Bekman started this project back in 2007 when she had the idea (as she puts it) that:

(limited editions x low prices) + the internet = art for everyone.

New prints are introduced every week and each one is available in a variety of sizes. The smallest size is available for $20 and there are 200 limited edition prints made. Hence, 20x200. I love this site because it allows me to buy art I love without breaking the bank.

{YES (You Complete the Picture)}

{car free}

{gauntlet}

Yes, you can buy these beautiful prints for only $20 for an 8x10. But today, I have an even better deal for you! One Kings Lane is offering a $100 gift certificate to 20x200 for only $59! That's 41% off your purchase of already affordable art! Get it here and get it today! I know I will. :)

Guilty Pleasures

You know how sometimes, you can't think of anything but the one thing that is bad for you? It could be a guy, it could be something you can't afford, or it could be choosing to watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills over writing that paper due tomorrow. Or it could be... scooping a spoonful of chocolate frosting straight out of the container, no cake in sight. That's my guilty pleasure. Straight up chocolate frosting. On a spoon. I like to justify it by noting that the nutritional information states there's only like 140 calories in a tablespoon of this stuff. So, even though my scoop is on steroids, there can't be more than... 300 calories on it. And that's like... a snack... right? Sigh.

{via here}

What's your guilty pleasure?

Happy Presidents' Day!

Happy Presidents' Day! In honor of our forefathers, take a look at this awesome print I found! This would look amazing in a study or a kids' room!

{hail to the chief letterpress print}

Have a beautiful day!

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Happy Birthday to one of my new friends who I hope will one day be an old friend! :) Katie is sweet, fun, generous, awesome and beautiful. :) Hope you have a wonderful day!

We Have A Winner!

Our winner for the Art Garden giveaway is lucky #3, Left Costa Mom!

I will be emailing you right away to get your info! A big thanks to all who entered and to Art Garden for the giveaway!

We Have A Winner!

And the winner of the Laura Amiss Giveaway is....

Lisa!

I will be emailing the winner right away, thanks so much to everyone who entered and be sure to check out Laura's shop! A big thanks to the generous Laura Amiss!

Cart-Worthy + Heart-Worthy: Whale Edition!

Whales have long been a fascination of mine - they are intelligent, social creatures who have strong genetic links to primates. Long ago, I read a book called The Aquatic Ape, which detailed the author's theory that life began in the water and moved to the savannah. Why do we have a vestigial tailbone? Why do we have a subcutaneous layer of fat like other marine mammals? Why do we have a fine layer of hair all over our bodies? Why do whales have so much in common with human and non-human primates? These questions have always made me wonder. Are we part whale?

*For a limited time, you can donate $15 to Greenpeace through Groupon and you will $15 Groupon bucks back. It's basically a FREE donation to Greenpeace! 100% of this donation goes to Greenpeace. Help end commercial whaling, donate here!*

{whale key rack}

{on the whale}

{whale block}

{blue whale}

{wooden jonah in the whale puzzle}

{whale}

{a whale of a good mug}

{whale crayon holder}

{a whale, some strange birds, the moon and a broken anchor}

{whale toothpick holder}

{whale-i-copter love}

{vintage whale artwork}

{whale teething toy}

{spouts}

{whale stained glass night light}

{multicolor whale print}

{low ball glass - whales}

Focus On... Thunder Peep! {And A Discount!}

Michelle of Thunder Peep is just the nicest person ever! She shared a bit of her creative process with me and even offered a discount code for you lucky ducks! Read on. :)

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I'm a graphic designer by day - illustrator under the cover of dark. I like to play outside, watch scary movies, read printed newspapers and drink coffee.

{2011 calendar - on sale now!}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

I start with basic pencil and paper sketch to let the idea play itself out and then I re-create it in Illustrator. I love the feel and look of clean sharp lines and the contrasts that I get from digital drawings. It takes a bit more time, but time well invested.

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

I've been a big fan of etsy as a shopper and I like the idea that's it's not just about shopping. It's a real community. It's a great way to reach a wide variety of customers but it's also such an amazing community, I have learned so much from other sellers and artists on etsy.

{midsummer dreams print}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am a big fan of folklore and tradition. In particular Scandinavian folklore and design. It's functional, colourful, personal and quirky. Being that I live on the West Coast I also can't help but be influenced by all the shapes and shades of nature. 

What is your favorite music to craft by?

Lately I have been really getting down with The Sounds (from Sweden) and all the fun 80's tunes mixed into my itunes!

{lordy lordy}

When it's cold outside...

I am that rare person who loves the cold so I'd be outside. Walking the seawall or up the mountain snowshoeiing. I love being able to bundle up in my toque, scarves and mittens :)

When I'm hungry...

I stare at my cupboards looking for the easiest thing to make! 

{ice castle print}

When I need a boost...

I Skype. Good friends are the best motivators and pick me ups I could as for. Sometimes there are drinks involved ;)

{manon tissue cozy}

I wish I was/were...

more organized. I have a tendency to leave things to the last minute

{snowpeep adventuresome card set}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be...

2 minutes. Everyone is so rushed and attached to their technology these days, I would like to give everyone 2 minutes to just stop and appreciate the moment. It's sometimes the little things in life that have the biggest impact.

{kissing in a tree}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be...

my Grandma. She was such a great presence in my childhood, I would love to have that now, as an adult.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

A penguin. After seeing March of the Penguins I fell in love with the story of the Penguins. Their perseverance and sense of community. Plus they live in Antarctica, one place I would love to visit.

{manon notecard and clutch set}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

Hmmm... that's a tough question. The Ice Castle is my most recent piece and when it was all finished I literally wanted to live IN the image i was so excited about it.

{you're gross}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now?

CraftMBA has been a great learning tool for me as I attempt to make a business out of my art. Also on my list of regulars:

Decor8, Print Pattern, and the Calgary Flames Insider  - I'm a huge hockey fan!! 

You can find Thunder Peep 

on Facebook, 

on etsy, 

and on twitter!

And since Michelle is just the coolest car around, she has offered a discount code just for Kate and Oli readers! When you enter the code "kateandoli", you will receive a 25% discount on your order! So, head on over and get to buying!

Love... Whale Tissue Holders!

I saw these and almost died. Aren't they freaking awesome? I actually don't even use tissue - I don't own a single box. But I would go buy some if I could display it in this guy!

{whale tissue holders from Gnome Sweet Gnome}

*keep an eye out for a Cart-Worthy + Heart-Worthy: Whale Edition coming up soon!*

Happy Birthday, James!

Jamie is a dear friend who I met in high school. We used to spend our time lounging in Amy's backyard fort, reading those teeny tiny New Testaments the little old men passed out to us as we left campus. I remember listening to lots of Kansas, Jimmy Eat World and Blue Oyster Cult. James is a super friend and I hope he has a super birthday! :) 

I Invite You... To Zulily!

{pikos the hedgehog}

How could you turn down that little face? He is available today from the Les Deglingos sale on Zulily - an online store offering deep discounts with a slant towards moms and babies. No, I'm not either - but I am getting to that age where all of my friends are procreating, so it's perfect for gifts. Plus, I want this little dude all for myself! Even better, they don't only offer maternity clothes, they offer brands those of us who aren't expecting can still appreciate - so check it out here!

Focus On... Art Garden! {And A Giveaway!}

Art Garden is a beautiful shop that makes you feel peaceful just browsing - imagine how you'd feel if you saw one of these beauties everyday! Lupen, the lovely lady behind Art Garden, has lavishly offered to permanently loan you one of her beautiful prints! Okay, that was my strange and slightly sad attempt at alliteration - but basically, you could win your very own print from Art Garden!

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

My name is Lupen, I grew up in Portland Oregon . When I was 20 I moved to Lopez Island in Washington state , a very small Island only 14 miles long at the longest distance. I lived there for 15 years, gardening , farming , crafting , collecting seaweed , kayaking and sleeping under the stars on summer nights . My husband and I left the Northwest a few years ago for sunnier skies however .... and we are now living in a small town in northern California , there's alot I miss about the Island , but I don't miss the 9 months of winter :) 

{ceres cactus flower}

What kind of mediums do you use and why? 
I am a self taught artist experimenting with lots of different mediums. My main mediums seem to be colored pencil, ink and acrylic paint. I got my first set of 'Prismacolor' pencils when I was in grade school and been in love with them ever since, I like that they are so portable to take out into the field to draw plants. I also like the bold colors of acrylics and use them mostly for doing large pieces. 

{botanica exotica}

What made you decide to sell on etsy? 

I stumbled upon Etsy a few years ago ..... and I knew right away I wanted to join and be a part of the community. I was already selling my art at farmers markets and craft fairs and this seemed like a great venue for my work. I was so happy to find a place with so much creativity and handmade goods.

{hollyhock - my fave!}

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Alot from nature and my garden . I love the macro close up world of plants and seed pods , vintage photographs , and different color combinations I may see throughout my day , can inspire my pieces . Reading Hafiz and Rumi poetry inspires me with some of my figure drawings.

{buttercup}

What is your favorite music to craft by? 

I usually have my music on shuffle, which is wide variety of things like French music , Hawaiian , Carla Bruni, Micheal Franti, Habib Koite, Celtic , and some of my old favorites like the Cure and the Pogues.

{dressing up to do the laundry}

When it's cold outside... 

I love to go out for long walks.

{mandala print - sri yantra}

When I'm hungry... 

It seems like I'm always hungry :) snacking and cups of tea are part of my day between meals to keep me going

{green hellebore sketch}

When I need a boost... 

I like to spend time outside, it seems to give me the the boost I need usually , I also meditate , and I will look through my sketchbooks for ideas if I'm not feeling the creative flow and see where I can pick it up again.

 {mustard and bloom}

I wish I was/were... 

more confident and had less self doubt .

{rainbow om}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... 

unconditional self love 

{centered in peace}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... 

All my girlfriends I miss and love dearly on Lopez Island.

{dogwood branches}

If you were an animal, what would you be? 

I would be a river otter, because they get to enjoy the water and the land, and eat as much fresh seaweed as they want.

{coral tree}

What's your favorite piece of your own? 

My 'Vision of home' Painting is my favorite piece , I painted this a few years ago when we were living on Maui ( we were there for a couple years before we moved to California ) and not really realizing it until a while after we moved in to our house here in California ... it is the house in the painting most things about it..it is so weird ! ..minus the red walls. The vision of home really worked.... 

{saraswati - lotus goddess}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now?

http://www.geninne.com/

http://touchstonesofthesacred.com/

{lotus}

You can find Art Garden

on her blog, 

on etsy!

Lupen has offered to giveaway one 5x7 print of your choice to a lucky winner!

{dusty rose}

- To be eligible for entry, you must be a follower of my blog through google friend connect or through your preferred RSS reader. -

- Make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win. -

- Please leave separate comments for each entry. - 

First entry (mandatory):

- Visit Art Garden, select your favorite item and tell me about it.

Extra entries (optional):

- Follow the Art Garden blog.

- Sign up for the Kate and Oli mailing list.

- Follow me on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

- Add my button to your blog.

- Like Kate and Oli on Facebook.

- Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link. 

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends at 11:59pm pacific standard time February 11, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on February 12, 2010 and will be emailed promptly.