Thanks to reader Emily, who wrote me with info about Les Bernard Inc. (the manufacturer of the vintage bracelet I found at the antiques mall in Ohio). She directed me to illusionjewels.com, which is a great source of info for researching costume jewelry.
Above, textured gold earrings with white glass center stone by Les Bernard Inc. Can be purchased here.
At Queen Anne’s Lace in Berlin, OH, we found some ideas for next year’s Halloween costumes.
Some other unexpected uses for Alka-Seltzer:
- Drop a couple of tablets into your toilet bowl and let sit for 20 minutes or so before cleaning with a toilet brush.
- Soak your dull jewelry in a glass with a tab of Alka-Seltzer to add shine.
- Apply a mix of Alka-Seltzer and water to insect bites to soothe the itch.
While poking around Kendrick’s old bedroom (yes, with his consent), I discovered that my husband was slightly more accomplished than me in high school. I can’t decide if I think this is a) super cool, b) a little intimidating, or c) totally infuriating.
Oh, my goodness
This flask, sold at Collectors Decanters & Steins in Sugarcreek, OH, reads “I loves Jim Beam.”
I think that everyone should have a collection (if only because it makes it easier for your friends and family to buy you gifts), and beer steins are as good a collector’s item as any. Kendrick and I stumbled across Collectors Decanters & Steins in Sugarcreek, OH, and were blown away by the incredible variety of fascinatingly kitschy designs available for purchase. They range in price from about $20 into the many hundreds of dollars, and are super, super cool…as well as a great gift for the friend or significant other who’s impossible to buy for.
Lavon L. Daugherty, the proprietor, is a very cool dude, and knows a ridiculous amount about the history of beer steins and decanters; I advise giving him a ring at (330) 852-9191 and allowing him to guide you though your options. Tell him that perky blonde girl who came in with her husband and freaked out over the Jack Daniels chess set sent you.
At the antiques mall in Schrock’s Amish Farm & Village I also came across this extraordinary ring for $15, but I was in present-purchasing mode, so I didn’t buy it. I am a little sad about this.
"Jordan" necklace!
Vintage bracelet
The first time I spent Thanksgiving at Kendrick’s parents’ place, I decided to impress my in-laws-to-be by making this crowd-pleaser side dish (even people who “don’t like Brussels sprouts” - a.k.a. people I think are weird - like it). Unfortunately, I didn’t boil the sprouts for long enough, so forty-five minutes after we were supposed to all sit down to dinner I was still frantically sauteing the damn things while Kendrick’s entire family looked on in pity. Don’t do that, please: even though food purists would frown on this advice, I urge you to cook the sprouts until they’re fork-tender before adding them to the pan. (This time, by the way, they turned out perfectly.)
JORDAN’S BRUSSELS SPROUTS w/ PANCETTA & MUSHROOMS
What you need:
1 package brussels sprouts, stemmed and halved
