Sunday's True Confession

Sometimes we just want to be someone else... when "that guy" hits on you at a bar, when the take-out person asks for your name before calling it out over the intercom, when that talkative cabbie wants to know information about you, we've all been there.  It can often be easiest to just use a fake name...

Even before these common occurrences, I adopted an alias for take out orders.  None of our names are difficult or uncommon in this country, but my name has constantly been butchered.  Going forward, I decided to be "Amy."  We all know an Amy, Amy is easy to pronounce no matter how it is spelled (Amy/Aimee/Amie).  It is short, simple, and pretty tough to screw up.  I decided Amy was going to be like my credit card:used sparingly, when needed.

Fast forward a decade or so into my adult life when I became a regular customer of Starbucks.  I now use my real name when at my neighborhood coffee shop and regular Starbucks locations on the way to work.  But, if I'm hitting a new venue or location for take out, I tend to be Amy.

For the record, I love my name and have no intention of ever actually being Amy.  But, truth be told, I just can't let her go quite yet.  I know I'm not alone, there are even blogs out there (here and here) with real life examples of this same pet peeve!  Do you ever use an alias?

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Spring Cleaning Guide

Well, gals, spring has FINALLY arrived!  The sun is out and is staying out on our commutes home from work.  I’m ready to embrace this as much as any Bostonian, but before you open your windows to let the fresh air in, you need to conquer the clutter on the inside!  Of course, you should start with a digital clean-up, so you’re truly working from the inside > out.

There is no right way to go about this, so searching online for a “spring cleaning guide” is a great start.  This will help you tackle surfaces you may often forget about (e.g., dust on TV screen, crown moldings, shelving between books).  One of my all-time favorite sources for inspiration and instruction is the magazine Real Simple (thanks to my Secret Santa this year, I was gifted a subscription for 2013!), who breaks tasks down by their estimated time.  That way, you have NO excuse for leaving your space to look anything but an oasis.

One of my personal goals is to buy less.  Close friends of mine may laugh at this, but I have actually curbed my former shopaholic tendencies since college.  I really want to live with less and want what I have in my home to be meaningful and stay with me over time.  This is admittedly a slow process, and I will therefore be taking my own advice in the coming weeks as I pair down things in my city apartment during my annual spring cleaning purge.

I don’t follow a specific regimen, but I've noticed I've developed the following (successful) pattern for my spring cleaning:

1. Minimize all of the STUFF (you no longer need used college notebooks or collection of candles you never use)
2. Move everything off of the surface (place in different room and purge more if possible!)
3. Use your guide for “how-to’s" on cleaning said surface (The Glitter Guide and Real Simple are my faves!)
4. Put items back in the same vicinity, but in a new way that is visually appealing (Pinterest offers endless inspirational examples)

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You may be wondering about what to do with your seasonal clothes.  Truth be told, a gal’s closet is a completely separate beast.  More on that in the coming weeks!  Now that your place is spic and span, get more out of your day while the sun is out.  Be sure to share your tips, we’d love to know what works for you!

- Meredith

JUGs in the Kitchen: Stuffed Night Potluck

The perfect way to do a fun dinner on a budget is to throw a potluck with your friends. It gives everyone a chance to try out a new recipe, without the pressure of hosting a full-on dinner party. Plus, not all us gals have enough space to host a real dinner party (I mean, seriously, North End and Beacon Hill apartments don’t often have enough room for a dining table that seats 4, not to mention one for 8 or 10!) So potlucks are perfect for setting up a buffet and letting guests wander and eat in a more parlor-esque setting.

Hosting a potluck sounds kind of drab, but there are a million ways to add flare to this age-old dinner tradition. For example, my friends and I recently held a “stuffed” themed potluck, and we all had to cook to the theme:

First course: sausage & cheese stuffed olives, goat cheese, almond, and walnut stuffed dates, stuffed mushrooms, and goat cheese & fig stuffed croissants.

Main course: stuffed peppers (vegetarian and meat varieties), stuffed shells, stuffed chicken breasts

Dessert: whoopie pies and lobster tails (both, obviously, stuffed.)

There was also plenty of wine, and a champagne toast for two gals that recently got engaged.

Needless to say, at the end of the meal, I was stuffed. It was a fabulous night and I’m already brainstorming ideas for the next potluck. Any suggestions?

- Cameron

Interior Obession: Amanda Dawbarn's Wall Art

How amazing is this gallery wall? It belongs to none other than the Amanda Dawbarn, blogger behind the fabulous wedding resource and inspiration blog, 100 Layer Cake. For more images of her life at home check out The Glitter Guide.

PS - I want a fancy bar cart like this one (below) so bad.

- Suzanne

All images by Jessie Webster for The Glitter Guide