Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bumbershoot Music & Arts Fest - Seattle, WA




Bumbershoot is this coming weekend, Sept 3-5, 2011. I know. I promise to start doing these road trips a little further in advance so you can actually, oh, I don't know, maybe PLAN to go!

Anyway, Bumbershoot is one of the granddaddies of the current music fest trend. Held in Seattle, WA, 2011 is the 41st year for it. Bumbershoot is now the largest urban arts festival in North America. Covering all forms of art - from music to dance, comedy and film, spoken word and visual art (painting, sculpture, etc.), there's something for everyone.




Once you get in, the senses boggle with the vast array of things to do! There are several stages - some indoor, some outdoor - all with varying performances. BUT! There's more! Add in indie craft & artisan vendors and tons of food and you never want to leave. Bumbershoot also has less of the "Let's get messed up!" vibe that a lot of fests have. People are there to have fun and seem to be on good behavior.

Tickets start at $35 for one day.
Bumbershoot site

Wordless Wednesday: Zona Rosa


This crown is part of the decor at Zona Rosa shopping center near Kansas City. It's suspended over one of the street intersections.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Berry Crisp: Breakfast of Champions


I love Berry Crisp. I find it to be one of those foods that is good for dessert or for breakfast. It's gotta be better for you than sugary cereals, right? Or is that just a good excuse to have dessert for breakfast?

This is my recipe.

Ingredients

2 - 12 ounce bags frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries or a mix)
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

½ cup butter or margarine (1 stick)
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup flour
¾ cup rolled oats
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger

A couple of ingredient notes:


Yes, you can use fresh berries. They're gonna get cooked down, though, so I use frozen and save the fresh ones for a recipe where presentation matters.

This is a little more on the tart side. That's my preference and it sweetens up nicely with ice cream or whipped cream. However, you could add a couple tablespoons of sugar to the berries for a sweeter crumble.

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine the frozen berries, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Stir to coat the berries in the cornstarch, and divide the berry mixture between 6 ramekins. Set on a cookie sheet.

Soften the butter in the microwave (or leave on a counter for a couple of hours). Put in a mixing bowl. Add brown sugar, flour, oats, and spices to the bowl.

Using a fork, break up the butter, and mash everything together. It should be crumbly; it can have little pea sized lumps for butter, but you want all of the ingredients incorporated. (I mash it so the butter squishes between the tines of the fork, giving it a little stir every so often. If you keep squishing and mashing, it will take about 2 or 3 minutes to mix the topping.)

When the topping is mixed, start spooning it over the berries, trying to distribute evenly over the tops, with a similar amount on each crisp.

Put your cookie sheet, with the individual crisps in the oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for about 20 minutes until the berry filling is bubbly, and the tops are nicely browned. If the tops are getting too dark, cover them with foil, and turn the oven down to 325 degrees.

Remove from oven and let cool about 30 minutes. Great when served with ice cream, whipped cream, or even plain!

Optional - you can put the berries into an 8 inch pan, then cover with the topping. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes, till the center is bubbly.

Makes 6 servings

Giveaway Reminder

Here's a list of the current giveaways. The Swan Mini Harmonica Necklace ends tomorrow night!

Swan Mini Harmonica Necklace - Ends 8/31

Baby Buddha Cosmetic Bag - Ends 9/7

Golden Coral Gold Filled Earrings - Ends 9/14

Mystery Box of Goodies - Facebook Fan Drive - Ends 9/30

Sunday, August 28, 2011

GIVEAWAY! Win Golden Coral Drop Earrings



Win these great Golden Coral earrings.  Coral drops dangle from delicate gold-filled chain, accented with gold filled round beads.  Hangs from 14k gold-filled earwires and about 2 3/4 inches in length.  They hang very nicely, being evenly weighted.

I wish I knew more about these - like where they came from.  They came to me in a goody bag at a ladies' shopping event.  If I had pierced ears, I would keep them!




I put an ARV of $35 on these, as I've seen similar items in that price range online, as well as much, much higher. If you do not complete all of the mandatory entries, none of your entries will count.






I received no compensation for this post, unless you want to count my goody bag from the event.

Fab Five Vol 3



1. Chicago. Considered by many to be the jewel of the Midwest.  Great architecture, fantastic food, excellent shopping.  Tons of things to do that aren't necessarily expensive.  And, it can be family friendly, romantic, or great for a girls/guys trip.


2. Focaccia.  I love good, fresh bread and baked goods.  I find them practically irresistible. 


3. Dirty Dancing.  Quite possibly my favorite move.  Definitely in my top 10.  I even think Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights isn't too bad.  That may say more about me than the movie, though.



4.Dachshunds.  Sweet, ridiculously proportioned, Rambunctious.  And feisty, definitely feisty. 


5.Berry Crisp.  Berries, cinnamon, streusel topping,  Mmmm mmmmm good!! 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Facebook Fan Drive for More Giveaways



I'm looking for more fans for my facebook page.  Yup, that pretty much sums it up.  Soooo...we're gonna have a little contest.  The person that gets the most people to sign up for the How Was Your Day? fan page is going to get a box of goodies! 

"What's in the box, Greta?" you ask.  Welll...I don't know yet.  I go to a lot of events and get a lot of goody bags.  It may be great things from those bags that I have duplicates of or just can't use.  There will most likely be some jewelry and bath & body items.  Possibly accessories or maybe even a gift card or gift certificate. 

To enter, it's simple: Recommend the How Was Your Day? fan page to your friends.  Make sure that they tell me who referred them by posting something like "Greta B sent me."   I will keep a running tally. 

The contest will run from now through the end of September, with the winner being announced on or around the 3rd of October. They must still be a fan when the contest ends. 

An added bonus: When I reach 250 Facebook fans, I will start my Giveaway a Day.  Yep, there's a company that is going to sponsor a new giveaway every day between now and Christmas.  The quicker we get there, the more giveaways I can do!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Fashion Friday: Caftans

I know, I know.  Caftans?  Are you crazy?  Honestly, I had the same reaction!  I was totally like "NO way am I gonna be caught out in a caftan!" These aren't your mama's (or grandma) caftans, though.  They're cute, and dare I say it, kind of hot. 


Iconic Sequined Caftan - Sir Alistair Rai

Silk. Sequins.  Great new, neutral color.  

I'd pair this with skinny jeans or leggings.  Maybe a wide or skinny belt, too, to change up the line.



Tallulah Print Caftan - Roberto Cavalli

Love love love this!   Floaty sleeves with a flattering boat neck.  It has a self tie belt for some shape definition.  And the print, oh the print.  It's to die for!  If not for the price tag, this would be my go-to piece for the fall.  And winter.  And probably spring, too.  

Now, I know what you're saying.  Greta, I don't have $700 to spend on a top or $200 for a dress.  Neither do I!   There's great choices under $50, too. 



DG2 Ikat Print Linen Caftan

Take Ikat, linen, bright colors, and beading and you have a good thing.  Add in the fact that it's $50?  You have a great thing!  Available at HSN.com in sizes from XS to 3X. 

Green Floral Top - Old Navy
Another winner.  We all know Old Navy - inexpensive, pretty decent clothes, on-trend styles.  Almost everyone has one close by.  You can throw this in the washer and dryer.  Dress it down for running errands or work, dress it up for date night. 

Bisou Bisou Chiffon Batwing Dress
 
Floaty chiffon with smocking at the waist gives definition while the bold, vertical pattern elongates and slims.  And it has paisley.  Paisley!!  From JC Penney and around $50 on the website.  Stores may have it cheaper and there's a ton of coupons out right now for an even better deal!




2 Truths 1 Lie - 8/25 - REVEALED!

Sadie over at Randomosity is hosting this fun blog hop.  Everyone has played this before, right?  If not, the name is fairly self-explanatory.  There's 3 statements, 2 of which are true.  You have to guess which one is false.




1. I ate cereal for breakfast
2. I love anything with peanut butter.
3.I love to swim.

Take your best guess in the comments.  I will reveal which is which on Saturday, so come back and find out!

 ***********Revealed********

#1 was my lie.  I actually had brownies for breakfast.  Yes, plural.

I like just about anything with peanut butter.  During the warmer months, I practically live in the water. 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

My Ugly Place: It's Time to Change



I recently moved from "our" house into my apartment.  Our house that had the great furniture that we had hunted down and lovingly refinished.  The great artwork that went perfectly with the refinished furniture.  The pillows that made everything homey and oh-so-comfy.

My new place has, well, me.  And frankly, it's kind of sad. I've yet to put up any artwork.  I haven't made - or even purchased - any pillows.  No tchochkies.  Heck, I've only unpacked the things that I really needed.  Well, that's about to change!  Here's a few inspirations for a freshening up of your space:



1. Bottlecap Tray from Sweet Something Designs
2. Wheat Pillows from V and Co.
3. Chickenwire Memo Board from Under the Sycamore
4. Gather Up Pillow from Pink Chalk Studio

lead pic from BHG.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

You Can Make It: Stickers



Have you seen those big, fancy stickers that people use for seals on their packages?  Have you priced them out lately?  Wanna know a secret?  They're super-simple to make.




You'll need the following items:
  •  Something decorative.  I'm using scrapbook paper in these pictures but have used everything from fabric to old book pages to maps.  You can even use photos!  
  •  A Xyron or similar.  You can use double-stick tape sheets, too.  
  • Assorted decorative punches 
  • Scissors
Now, to start!   Trim your paper down to size.  The xyron I'm using is 5 inches wide and my paper was 6x6.  I simply folded about 1 1/4 inches and used my fingernails to make a sharp crease so I could tear it.  If you want to be fancy, you could use a papercutter, but a smooth edge isn't important. 


Feed the paper into the xyron.  Turn the knob until the paper comes out the back.  It will now have adhesive on the back, plus a peel sheet. 





    Voila!  Now, choose a punch and punch out your shapes! 


    These are the punches I got out at the beginning of the project.  Hmmm...I think I'll use the circle. 


    Line it up, then punch your shapes out.  Try to get them close without overlapping. 


    Stickers!  Just peel and stick!  They make a great base for stamping, too.  If you use heavier paper, they are easier to peel.  Just a tip. 

    Total time - 5-10 minutes
    Price - practically nothing once you have the xyron. 

    Wordless Wednesday: So Sweet, Baby Donkey


    Tuesday, August 23, 2011

    Sawdust Festival - Laguna Beach, CA



    The Sawdust Festival has been an annual summer celebration in my family. In fact, I made my first visit when I was just a few weeks old! We usually go one of the first two or three weekends of the fair, then a couple more times during the run.

    The Sawdust Festival has been around for 35+ years, yet continues to be fresh and cutting edge. Showcasing more than 200 artists and artisans in all fields of creativity, there's something for everyone. They even have a guy that does glass blowing in the middle of the festival grounds!



    My first memory of buying something (at all!) was a sterling whale ring at the Sawdust Festival. Wyland, the famous Marine Life artist had just done a mural locally, and I was obsessed with whales and dolphins. The ring needed to be sized and the metalsmith asked us to come back in about half an hour. Being 3 or so, I really didn't understand and thought I wasn't getting my ring. I cried and carried on while we looked around. Finally, when we went back to the booth, the guy felt so bad that he gave me a pair of dolphin earrings, too. I was in 7th heaven!

    Over the years, some of my favorite items have come from the fair.  A personalized set of notecards - no one ever has Greta items!  A scarf.  The whale ring that I had until it was recently (~2 years ago) lost in a move.  My first toe ring.  The first piece of grown up art.  And, probably most importantly, my absolute love of things that are quality, unique and handmade.

    This is the last week for the summer show.  If you're in the area, and have been thinking about going, do it! 

    The summer show runs from the last weekend in June through the last weekend in August. Hours are 10am to 10pm daily.

    Tickets:
    $7.75 Adult one-day
    $6.25 Senior one-day (65+)
    $3.25 Children (6-12)
    Free Children (5 & under)
    $15.00 Season pass
    $20.00 Annual pass (Gets you into the Summer & Winter fairs)

    Info:

    Sawdust Festival
    Laguna Beach, CA


    Photos, clockwise from top left: Christopher Jeffries - Glass Blower, Olivia Batchelder - silk painter, Annette Wimmer - painter, Catherine Reade - jeweler.

    Monday, August 22, 2011

    GIVEAWAY! Win a Baby Buddha Cosmetic or Pencil Zip Pouch

    I think this pouch is fantastic!  I love the fabric that has Baby Buddhas.  The size is fabulous - big enough to carry your daily makeup or pens/pencils.  It even has a small pocket inside.  And the beaded zipper pull?  Super cute!



    I have a couple of these that I carry in my own, somewhat cavernous, bag.  These pouches have made it so much easier to find a pen when I need one quickly!


    Lined with a coordinating hand-dyed fabric.  100% cotton, and made in the US! If you do not complete the mandatory entries, all of your entries will be void.

    How to enter:








     You can tweet every 8 hours (3 times a day)

    I entered to win a Baby Buddha Cosmetic or Pencil bag! @gretasday #giveaway #howwasyourday #win http://bit.ly/o0c1Nw



    I received no compensation for this post. 

    Sunday, August 21, 2011

    Fab Five



    1.  Starbucks.  I'm not a huge coffee fan, unless it's a fancy frou frou coffee drink.  Even then, I'm rather picky.  For some reason, I just really like Starbucks.  It may be the ease of paying with a card, so it doesn't feel like real money.  Perhaps it's the convenience of the drive thru.  And yes, I sucked it down before I took a picture.  HA!


    2. Nail Polish.  This may fall under the make-up of last week, I'm not totally sure.  But I loooooove nail polish.  Especially loud, crazy, wild colors.  Yes, I'm the girl working in the office with bright teal nails! 



    3. Paper.  I admit it, I am a huge paper snob.  Linen, laid, vellum...like music to my ears.  That doesn't even touch terms like deckle, handmade, chiyogami, florentine, etc.  I'm smiling as I write this.

    4. Ikea.  I totally want to live in their catalog. Living most of my life in an area that had multiple locations fairly close by, I took the store for granted.  Never again!!!  Now I have to plan a long weekend to visit a store.


    5. Sawdust Festival.  The absolute best fair I have ever been to.  I made my first visit when I was just a few wees old and it has been an annual event.  All handmade items from local artisans in one of the great areas of America.  Jewelers, glass blowers, painters, fashion designers, and sooo much more! The show only runs through August 28th, so go this week if you're in the Laguna Beach, CA area!

    Images courtesy of Nars, Sawdust Festival, unknown Ikea pic.

    Thursday, August 18, 2011

    Fashion Friday: Shoes

    There are certain styles of shoes every girl should have. Of course there's the black pump, a good athletic shoe, casual sandals - like flip flops, nice sandals and a pair of clogs. But there's others, too!



    Stilettos

    Every girl needs a pair of super sexy stiletttos.  These Badgley Mischka shoes add a fun pop of color, but are still fairly neutral in both color and style.  A fantastic secondary basic.  


    Mules
    Mules are a great alternative to boots or clogs.   Great with jeans and a fun pair of socks on cold days or  casual skirts.  Born has several cute styles in their line. 


    Boots

    Where do we even start with boots?  Cowboy boots, motorcycle boots, riding boots, booties, the list goes on and on.  Madden Girl Boots has many of the styles covered, but these are one of my favorites.  Western styling with a bit of city styling.  Cute with skirts, leggings, jeans, even cutoffs in the summer.  



    Storage

    You can keep your shoes on the floor in your closet, but soon you run out of room.  You can get one of those plastic over the door shoe organizers, but...really?  C'mon.  No.  Your shoes deserve a fantastic place to hang out!  Some place like a wonderful shoe cabinet!  This one almost looks like a wine cabinet.  There's a style to fit every decor from huge glass cases to small stackable units. Plus, a shoe cabinet keeps shoes neat and organized.

    Wednesday, August 17, 2011

    Wordless Wednesday: Dinner!



    Tuesday, August 16, 2011

    My First Blog Hop

    Kelly's Lucky You is hosting Stumble Tumble Tuesday. 

    Per KLY:

    o take part is simple.
    1. Add a link to a blog post that you would like people to stumble to the linky below. It *must* be a link to an actual post and NOT your main site. Please do not list giveaways.
    2. Stumble as many other posts as you care to, check to make sure that your stumble went through by clicking on the “Info” icon. Then leave a comment on their post saying, “I stumbled you, my post is _____(add link)”. The great thing about Stumble Upon is that it is fast and easy to do with the Stumble Upon toolbar. PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR LINK IF YOU AREN’T GOING TO STUMBLE ANY POSTS.
    3. Remember LINK TO AN ACTUAL POST, NOT YOUR MAIN SITE.
    4. PLEASE DON’T LIST ANY GIVEAWAYS.
    5. PLEASE ONLY ONE LINK PER BLOG.
    Important Note: If you are the first person to Stumble a post, please take a minute and fill out the Stumble Upon review page. This is a one shot deal so if you don’t fill it out, that particular post will never get the same opportunity again.
    Feel free to post about Stumble Tumble Tuesday on your blog and help us spread the word.
    Have fun with it and let’s discover and stumble some posts!
    This is a Blog Hop15 entries so far... you're next!

    Monday, August 15, 2011

    GIVEAWAY! Enter to win a Swan Harmonica Necklace - CLOSED

    As I mentioned previously, Harmonica necklaces are one of the things I like.  Now you have a chance to win one

    I love these so much that I got not one, but 3 for my birthday - a silver Hohner and 2 red Swans.  I kind of like the red Swan one better, as it adds some sass. 

    The harmonica is a genuine Swan brand mini that really plays!  It plays 4 notes and is on a 19 inch silvertone chain.

    How to enter:

    Leave a comment for each entry you complete.  For multiple entries (facebook, blog post, etc) leave multiple comments.  Please include your email address so I can get in contact with you, too!

    Mandatory
    Post a comment telling me something you like.  (1 entry)
    Follow on Google Friend Connect publicly. (1 entry)

    Extra Entries
    Follow me on Twitter.  There's a link in the side bar (1 entry)

    Like How Was Your Day on Facebook (2 entries)

    Comment on any of my other posts (1 entry)

    Blog about this giveaway.  Leave a link to the entry in the comment.  The blog post must stay up permanently.  (10 entries)

    Enter this giveaway onto any linky, giveaway site, etc.  If it's already listed, please don't enter it again. (2 entries per place)

    Like this  post on facebook.  Use the widget below and leave a link in your post. (1 entry)

    +1 this entry on Google.   Use the widget below.  (1 entry)


    Daily Entry
    Tweet about this giveaway,  Use this Tweet ( 1 entry per tweet)  You can do this every 8 hours (3 times a day)

    I entered to win a Harmonica Necklace! @gretasday #giveaway #howwasyourday http://bit.ly/oQYaH5

    This giveaway will run through 11:59 pm August 31st.  One winner will be selected via random number generator and announced  by September 2nd.  The winner will be contacted via email and will have 72 hours to get in touch with me.  If I don't hear from them, a second winner will be chosen.  ARV $20.  Open to everyone, everywhere. 


    I received no compensation for this post, unless you want to count my birthday gift from a co-worker. 





    Sunday, August 14, 2011

    Fab Five

    Since we're still getting to know one another, I thought I should share some of the things I really like. You may have a chance to win one (or more!) of these things soon.

    1. Lip Balm.  My favorite lip balm is one I bought in Seattle at a small store a dozen years ago. I carried the empty tin around for a while, comparing it to every similar lip balm I ran across. Alas, the tin is long gone and i never have run across the same one again.  A close second is Burt's Bees.  I love the tingle, the scent, the lack of taste, pretty much everything. At any given time, I have 3 or 4 different lip balms on me.



    2. Miranda Lambert.  Love her sound, her attitude, her personality.  And this song?  Yeah...


    3. Harmonica Necklace.  I totally dig these!  Sly.  Sassy.  Kitsch.  Plus, it gives you something to do if you're dying of boredom or need someone's attention.  And you never know when a jam is going to break out. 



    4. Makeup.  My favorite time of the year is Christmas.  Not for the season, particularly, but because that's when the cosmetic companies put out the big collections of makeup!  I have always loved cosmetics, even though I'm not particularly girly in my everyday life. 



    5. Old Buildings.  I adore old buildings.  Some have been remodeled, some have not.  All have a rich and varied history.


    How about you?  What do you dig?

     
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