Pepper Design Blog - Page 101 of 438 - A Little of This & That... Renovating, Decorating, DIY Projects & Family

All of that Easter Candy…

May 7, 2014 by Morgan

I have finally figured out what I should do with all of that leftover Easter candy. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this earlier :).

This weekend a large chocolate bunny and (many smaller ones) refilled my baking supply stash. They became chocolate chips (that’s the nice way to put it).

The Reese’s and Milky Ways will make for some excellent cookies as well.

I feel silly sharing this… but I have been candy liberated! Maybe this idea will help someone else out, too. Candy is no longer sitting in a basket in our pantry and I no longer consider just throwing it out. The solution feels way to simple. The only thing I have left to say is: Halloween, you have been warned.

PS believe it or not this blog actually has a Food Tips & Tricks category. This post is being filed in it. The rest can be found here.

Weekend Fun: Peace in the Desert

May 7, 2014 by Morgan

We did something unusual this past weekend. We left the city and we spent two days doing absolutely nothing. Oh man that feels so good. It was a step out of the ordinary and in so many ways brings so much calm to a life that can be a little crazy.

Friends of ours have family that have been visiting this particular little stretch of the Colorado River along the California-Arizona border for over forty years. We are lucky enough to accompany them once a year or so for a weekend of checking out.

It is quite literally in the middle of nowhere. It is beautiful in its own special way with that minimalist desert landscape and that stark contrast of sky and land.

But most importantly it is usually empty. Not a soul in sight. Just us, the reservoir and the wild donkeys (seriously). We enjoy a few water sports, get caught up on our reading, spend too much time floating in the water discussing life. On Saturday night we have our annual chili cook off (after that hot sun sets and the cool breeze emerges), then we toast marshmallows and warm our feet by the fire. No cell reception, no laptop electrical power, no time to work. Purely recharge mode. And this year, lots of mud.

PS Here we are two years ago at the same wash! Amazing how much has changed.

Two Favorite Sunglass Styles for Small Faces

May 6, 2014 by Morgan

I’m a little predictable when it comes to sunglasses. I have a smaller face and most sunglass frames feel overwhelming on me. I feel pretty lucky that over the years I’ve found two brands that I feel really comfortable in, they’ve sort of become my sunglasses uniform (a little boring, I know). Inevitably one pair is always missing while the other pair is right where I left them.

Forgive the randomness :), I would have loved to have found a post just like this ten years ago (shaking fist at all of those department store sunglass counters and Target turnstiles with mirrors the size of matchboxes).

The first, a classic take on Wayfarer sunglasses by Carerra. They have a similar look and feel as the typical Ray-Ban style but the frames are more petite than every other brand that I’ve tried. They’re also a little snug on the head at first purchase, but nothing that a little molding and a hair dryer can’t handle (or that heat machine at the actual department store if you want to get fancy). Sometimes I feel like I went shopping in the children’s section for these, but I love them nonetheless.

The second, a pair of aviators by Marc Jacobs. These are my favorites and I’ve been wearing this pair for four or five years (or longer?). Well, not the exact pair I have on me today, I seem to be replacing them too frequently. Thank goodness they’re half as much online as they used to be :), perhaps that means that I should stock up? this style isn’t going anywhere, is it? I wear them all of the time (as evidenced here, here and here).

Sunglasses are so personal. They are also unique in that they will probably always be a bit synonymous with grabbing your keys and phone off of the counter on your way out the door – they’re one of those staples that you don’t leave behind any time of the year, and in my book, you’re fortunate if you can feel as comfortable in them as you do your favorite pair of jeans (sigh. is that not the best feeling).

Good news! They are still a bit big on the munchkin. Perhaps my head is more of a normal size after all :).

I need to find the kids non-breakable version of these stat. I love that photo.

PS I’m clearly excited for summer.

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