Monday, November 29, 2010

Announcing Our New Etsy Shop - Get 15% Off Today!

Isn't it cute? I love rustic ornaments.
We have those and much more in our new Café D Etsy shop, www.CafeD.etsy.com!

Those of you with a keen eye might have noticed our preview. Last week we placed a widget in the right bar showing some of our shop wares.

As you know, I've been a fan of etsy for a long time and we've featured various artists in the past. (And, they've offered Café D readers nice discounts - very much appreciated!)

Now we've decided to open our own shop catering to vintage enthusiasts...and handmade lovers out there!

Need an adorable sugar bowl for a country cottage or shabby chic friend?
Makes for a great candy dish in the living room. Or,  a salt cellar in the kitchen. How about a cotton ball holder in the bathroom? Maybe it would be perfect holding your loose change on your office desk? Or, paper clips or rubber bands!

Could your mantel use some sprucing up this holiday? Mine could - it really needs some greens surrounding those rustic decor balls. And, a puffy twine star wouldn't hurt. Better yet, in the blink of an eye, those are rustic ornament balls. Love it!
We're adding new things everyday. And, from looking at our coffers, next up might be milkglass, custom votive holders, and more vintage treasures.
Stop in today and receive a 15% discount.
Just enter the coupon code CYBER15 at checkout. Happy hunting!
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Monday, November 15, 2010

Hey Chicago foodies: Chicago Chefs Live!

Chicago Chefs Live!
Rick Bayless, Art Smith and Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter’s) talk about food, restaurants and fame with Frank Bruni, writer for The New York Times Magazine and former Times restaurant critic.

Followed by book sale and signing.

The Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
Friday, November 19th, 6:30 – 8pm

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through OvationTix

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Sears Corporate - Shame on You!

Dear Sears Corporate,
I can NOT believe what I saw yesterday - a sign in one of your stores indicating that you would be OPEN all day on Thanksgiving? How awful.

Give your employees Thanksgiving to be with their families. If you begin this trend, then all department and retail chains will have to be open on that day. Shame on you!

I am not a Sears employee, nor do I have any family members or friends who work at Sears. 
I am simply a Sears customer who apparently cares more about your employees than you do.
Sincerely,
DanaMc

Feel free to contact Sears by clicking Here.
Or, post it on the Sears Facebook page.
And, if so moved, put it as your Facebook status, too.

(Now, I *get* that many people work on that day. Gas stations, fast food, and many others are already open. But, they weren't when I was a kid. And, it seems the trend is to be open 365 days. Me? I don't need a rake or power tools from Sears on Thanksgiving. Heck, if my stove breaks it's not like I'm gonna get same day delivery to get that turkey roasted!)

Enjoy your holiday everyone - unless you are a Sears employee who has to work.

Update - There is some movement...
Sears reponded on its Facebook page as such:
We made the decision, based on our customers’ desire to shop for great values, to open Sears’ stores on Thanksgiving. In balancing our commitment to meeting customer needs with our commitment to our associates, we decided to only ...be open for limited hours on Thanksgiving (7 am to noon (local time)) and, where practical, to fill the schedules with associates who volunteered to work that day and seasonal associates. Given the tough economic times many folks are facing we have seen demand for associates who want the opportunity to supplement their usual income with the holiday pay premium.
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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Who reminds you to breathe?



Last night I went to toss a load of laundry in and noticed that...
The floor was wet.
By the boiler.

Drip. Drip.
Not good.

So, I stomped and I pouted. Because I was tired. And, because I'm tired of home repairs. And, I'm tired of things that go bump in the night in my home. I swear I have post-traumatic stress disorder from past repair issues. (I can remember all too well having the vans of 2 plumbers and a heating guy in my driveway at the same time from a repair gone bad, then worse, in January...in Chicago.)

Sometimes I forget to breathe.

So, last night, over-whelmed at the just thought - the thought - of having to call for a repair, I frazzled out.

I imploded.
Because of a drip.

In the morning I went to take the laundry out and saw the half-filled bowl that my new husband had thoughtfully put under the pipe last night while I slept. And, this morning he has calls in for repair estimates.

And, I treasure having someone else to help with the phone calls. But, more importantly, I treasure having someone who can remind me that this November day in Chicago, it's 70 degrees. And, that it's not an emergency. It's a drip.

My husband reminds me to breathe.
And he's generous - with his grace.

While I know that God has me in his hands, it's helpful to have my husband to hold.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  - Jeremiah 29:11

Luckily we have been frugal with our pennies.
(A wedding gift envelope that I've tucked away will probably end up being used for the repair. So, that's covered.)

Thankfully, we have know a good tradesman. Hopefully, our phone call will be returned and we can get this repaired in short order. And at a low cost.

Until then, I'll let my husband deal with the drip.
And, I'll be thankful I have him in my life.

Who reminds YOU to breathe?
Emily asked this today at Chatting At the Sky.
I'm linking up today - thankful for reading it. 

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Monday, November 8, 2010

The Cafe's Most Popular Posts



Take 31 Minutes or Less..
To Make Your Life a Little Easier!



Pomegranate Granita

The Perfect Pumpkin Martini


Kentucky Corn Pudding Recipe


Quick & Easy Greek Salad


Taste Alike: Corner Bakery's Pesto Cavatappi in 15 minutes!


Easy 5 Minute Danishes!


Homemade Spaeztle - With Recipe


Taste Alike: Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup


Taste Alike: Sizzler's Malibu Chicken


Our Thankful Tree


Mid-Century Door Tour and Gallery of Garages!


A Very "Hoppy Birthday" with a Sam Adams Cake



Scary Halloween Pasta

Christmas Pez Tree With Santa Yoda Bobble-head!



How I Saved $60 Bucks




Take a Peek at Our Etsy Shop
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I like free. How about you?

I like free.
I figure, if I can't use a product I can simply donate it to the local food pantry.

So, here's a quick and easy free deal.
2 free Renuzit holiday cones.

Check out you local Jewel / Albertson's store. (You can even do this online.)

Chances are good - especially if you live in the Chicagoland area - that they are running a "Get 5 for $5" sale on Renuzit Cones.  Note: You can also buy 1 for $1 and 2 for $2...

Then head to your Facebook page and "like" Renuzit.
It's for the first 70,000 fans.

Print out your $1 off coupon.
You can do this twice.

Now, sit back and enjoy your 2 free holiday Renuzit cones.
I know where mine are going...the basement and the back hall.
Where will yours go?
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Friday, November 5, 2010

What's Your Guilty Pleasure?

A pal o mine was chatting about the McRib. And, I got kinda uneasy. Not from eating one! But, rather from the fact that I felt guilty...for wanting one.

Just the day before, I passed a McDonald's and saw the sign. "McRib Now Here!" and it had the price. (It was like $2.79 or something.) And, I thought, I WANT one of those. Yet, I didn't buy one. Cuz I think I remember that the last time I WANTED one of those i was very displeased. And, whatever the price was it was waaay more than I wanted to spend for 3 large bites of BBQ sauced McSammy.

So, I bought a Big Mac instead.
And, I loved it.
There's my confession for the day.

So, what's your guilty pleasure?
Fess up!
What causes a "rumbly in your tumbly" every time you think of it?

Oh, and I'll add Chinese food. Good greasy flavorful Chinese food. My hubby just introduced me to his favorite spot and we've ordered pork fried rice and egg foo young from them practically every week. Yum!

What's your (guilty) pleasure?
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Thursday, November 4, 2010

What do YOU put up there?

I love this kitchen.
This picture is from a 1949 US Department of Agriculture film demonstrating a U-shaped kitchen developed by the housing staff of the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics.

Whew! Wasn't that a mouthful?
I was watching the film, excepting to get a good laugh, but there are some wonderful ideas in there. I'll include the link below for you and you can check it out in a moment. But, for now, I'm wondering...

What do you put above your stove? You know, that (probably) large empty place that's almost too difficult to reach?

I used to put pitchers in there. (How did I end up with so many pitchers - and why haven't I donated them already?) Then I put bulk storage (read:lots and lots of cans of Folger's coffee that I bought on an amazing sale.) Lately, it's been home to a giant popcorn bowl and some other plastic odds and ends.

Let's see that picture again - along with another of some other counter space.

Looks like she has serving dishes up there.
Hmm. Good idea - as long as reaching up isn't going to make you scald yourself or catch on fire.  In that left pic, above the stove, I just can't justify having those boxes of food up there.  It's too hot.  Can you say...bugs.  Blech.

Yet, she is really making good use of space.  Those cake pans - in both pics - I love that they are in what I could call my "dead space."  I do need access to them, but not everyday.  Mine don't have to be rested on their sides - stacked will be fine.  My stove won't be on when I get them out for baking, so safety won't be an issue.  And, they aren't heavy, so weight won't be either.

Looks like I might have found a new place for my cake pans. And, maybe my 13x9s and glass pie dishes, too.

So, tell me, what do YOU put above your stove?
What ideas have you tried...and discard along the way? 
What is the most functional use of space in your kitchen?
I'd love to know!

Thank you to Pam Kueber, at Retro Renovation for this topic. After you comment, don't forget to enjoy the original 13 minute US Department of Agriculture film with a smile.
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Noodles and Company - Free Noodles!

From the "Noodlegram" above I just received in the email, looks like kids 12 and under can swap some of their candy for a free bowl of noodles. Wish I were 12! Yum. Are you gonna head there on Sunday, Nov 7th?

Thank you Noodles and Company!
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Warm Glow of Autumn

Candle much?
I do. I love them.
If I could have a bonfire out back every night, I would. So, I guess it follows that I adore candles. (By the way, I realize that one of the little cabin photos is blocked. It's on purpose to hide the munchkin.)

Log candles. Sigh. Now, I could have cleaned em all up. Got rid of all that drippy stuff on the side which splotched all over the cute little acorns. But, I'm just keeping it real, folks. Drips happen.


One of my favorite antiques.  I got it for a steal in Michigan many years ago.  I saw it in store, walked past and left town.  Hours later I called my sister and asked her to go back to the store to relieve my buyer's regret.  She mailed it to me and I've treasured it since.  It has cute little lions on it. (Come to think of it...did I ever pay my sis back?  It was a better bargain than I thought!)

Today it features some acorns.
In a few weeks, mercury glass ornaments will be all the rage.

What does YOUR autumn glow look like?
Linking today to the candlelight linky at WhisperWood Cottage.Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special
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Monday, November 1, 2010

What's Hanging on YOUR door?

I love in Chicagoland.
And, that means...like the politicians, the weather is temperamental.
I say this by way of explanation.
Why I'm blogging an idea - rather than a completed project.

You see, Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick blogged about beautiful front doors in Indiana. She included the pic above.

I was inspired by the sunflower wreath on the door.
Here's a close-up.
Pixelated blurry close-up, that is.
And, I imagined what my own fall wreath would look like. It would have all sorts of sunflowers going all sorts of ways.
Sort of like this one. Except my sunflowers would be all rusty sunset gold.

So, why don't I make it?
Well, in no time at all one of my two (yes, two) Christmas wreaths will be up on the door. And, it will be snowing. And, windy and blowing and VERY un "sunset sunflower-like." Gotta love Chicago.

Okay, truth by told, I *still* might make a Rusty Sunset Gold Wreath.
I love the idea so mush.
We'll see.

What do YOU have on your door right now?

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