Some Great Websites

Even though my favorite type of design and style is modern, mid-century modern, Scandinavian, etc., I also love just about anything with some history behind it. Some people would say that the styles don't mix, but I think you should have things that you love and that mean something to you, rather than buying or not buying something just because it does or doesn't fit into a certain style.

I was excited to find the website for P.O.S.H. Chicago, a company whose founder seeks out tableware from manufacturers, flea markets and wherever else he can find items that have a story to tell.





Another fun site actually belongs to a new coworker of mine at Walter Drake. She was hired about a month ago and last week we found out that she sells her own designs on The Spotted Olive(TM), ranging from t-shirts to mouse pads to holiday cards and much more. I've already found at least 10 things I want to buy!



I've had the CHiA'SSO site in my list for a while now, but I bought my first product from them recently, these fabulous aluminum and steel windmills for my garden. They're one of the first places I've found to offer more modern garden and outdoor products, instead of cute frogs and cherubs and the like, and they also have tons of other great items for your house.



Links to all sites can be found in the Websites list to the left. Enjoy!

Close Encounters of the Political Kind

I'm so excited to have been able to participate in one of the most historic and important elections in my lifetime. No matter what, history would have been made. If McCain and Palin had won, we would have had the first female Vice President. Now that Barack Obama has been elected, we have the first African American President. (As my boss told me yesterday, he'll be sworn in on steps that were built by slaves. What a long way our country has come.) I had never even voted before I met Steven and now I'm adamant about speaking out for what you think, even if it's only to cast a vote for the candidate or amendment or issue that you feel strongly about.

Since we weren't able to see either McCain or Obama when they campaigned in Colorado, we jumped at the chance to hear Michelle Obama speak at an auditorium just a few blocks from our house. (We usually didn't even know the candidates were in town until they had already been here and were gone. We heard about this rally the day before.) About 3,000 people came out, and we wound up being part of the crowd that had to stand outside. Thankfully, Colorado was enjoying one of its last warm, sunny days so it was actually very pleasant. And she stopped outside to see us first! It was funny to see the stereotypical security guys with the curly earpiece, fancy suit and everything. You could spot them a mile away. She was an excellent speaker and didn't use a prewritten speech, something I greatly admired.

A Fascinating Discussion

I found this discussion on one of my favorite websites/blogs the other day and felt that it was something others would appreciate and could benefit from. The dialogue is between the blog author and a fan of hers who is an avid chef but happens to be blind. As many complaints as I have sometimes (my kitchen's too small, my knife isn't sharp enough, the pan I wanted to use isn't clean), they all pale in comparison to the issues this gentleman faces constantly. And he has such a great attitude about it! I hope that if something terrible were to happen to me one day and I lost my eyesight, I would be able to develop the same attitude and not just feel sorry for myself. If you can't click directly on the link, cut and paste it into your browser window, or click on the main website in the list to the left and search for How the Blind Cook.

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2008/10/how_the_blind_cook.php