Geek or Chic? Twittering Plants

It's been a while since we've had a viable candidate for Geek or Chic around here, but my friend Q sent a great tip along today that fit the bill perfectly. This little gadget has a spoke the gets dug into your potted plants, recording their water levels and other vitals. With its uber-geeky component, it creates a Twitter identity for the plant and sends updates depending on its needs--"water me, please!" or "give me sunlight!" might be silly Tweets, but they're mighty useful when you're stuck in an office looking at a computer all day.




So, what do you say? Geek or chic?

Recipe Lust: Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Welcome to a new week, everyone. Today was the kind of Monday that felt like an entire week. Office tension made the day feel overly heavy, even if it was cut an hour short. It's days like these when I'm demanding to meet the person who decided we should work 5 days and get off 2. Really? The 4 to 3 ratio is so much more pleasant.

I digress. I came home wanting one of two things: a nap, or something like it. If an alcoholic cupcake is anything like a nap, which, in my mind it is in many ways (therapeutic on two counts!) then this is the recipe I'm turning to. I'm not sure how these Irish Car Bomb cupcakes would go over with whiskey haters like myself, so if I make these consider the whiskey nixed and the Bailey's doubled.

Happy Monday, everyone! To make your own Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, click here.

Design Porn: Post #200

Earlier this week, I found these beautiful images of Matthew Williamson's new rug collection, being sold through London-based The Rug Company. The patterns remind me of Moroccan and Persian rugs, but modernized and with a brighter, splashier color palette. I'm crazy about this one:


but these are pretty fantastic, too:


Check out the collection here, or click here for more of Williamson's work.

Have a great week, and if you go out, have a toast for eatmyword's 200th post :)

DIY Project -- Fanciful Modern Chandelier

I'm surprised that I somehow managed to miss this in last week's issue of Time Out New York, but I'm almost glad I did (this week's letters to the editors had some crucial clarification on the project!).


Either way, this funky chandelier made entirely out of splitters is a great project that likely costs peanuts (I mean, really, peanuts can even be kind of expensive these days. Is it an apt metaphor?). I'm going to go the extra mile to say that this project costs ramen. How about that? And it looks damn cool too. I'm envisioning it over a Eames chair in a comfy corner devoted to late-night reading, or the breakfast nook in my dream kitchen with tons of white and colorful accents. I think I've told you about it before?


Here's the finished product, and for the steps, click here. That letter to the editor asked about the light bulbs you'd want to use, and the important answer is eight-watters. They create that signature hazy glow. Love it!

Budget Finds: Pretty Pink Disposable Cutlery

I can't believe it, but I'm starting to plan my first Passover Seder without the help of another cook in the kitchen. Since the holiday will fall on a Wednesday night this year, efficiency is going to be key--and plastic forks and knives would most definitely be in order if they weren't flimsy (or if I didn't have a dishwasher). If I were choosing, I'd pick there--and reuse them. Too pretty to throw away, and too stylish to resist, $18 doesn't seem so terrible.


Check them out here, along with all sorts of other great home goods like these below:

Link of the Day

If I titled this post, "On Mussels and Medicine," you'd probably think I'd made a typo. "Muscles and Medicine" makes a lot more sense, but this article here might change your mind. As a seafood lover, I tend to fight a few close friends who hate the thought of eating mussels and clams (especially razor clams, which I ate for the first time this weekend!). However, I'm pretty sure everyone will think this is a pretty nifty development, regardless of seafood preferences. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Good Enough To Eat... Again! Red's Mediterranean Salad

This weather has been crazy--hot, cold, hot, cold. Even if I only win 50% of the time, my mind refuses to give in to the cold weather on the less pleasant days. I'm still wearing a lighter coat, I've worn skirts and open-toed shoes, and I'm even making springy salads for lunch. The one I'm toting today was kind of a random stroke of frugal inspiration, so I figured I'd share it with you.


Red's Mediterranean Salad



What You'll Need

1 cucumber, chopped....................................$0.80
2 small or medium tomatoes, chopped........$1.00
1 small red onion, finely chopped.................$0.75
juice of 1 lemon..............................................$0.25
about 5 ounces marinated feta, crumbled....$3.00
salt
pepper

Total Cost...........................................$5.80
Cost Per Serving.................................$1.93


What To Do

1. Chop all vegetables to desired chunkiness and combine
2. Add in crumbled feta, as well as some of the oil and spices it has been marinated in
3. Squeeze in some juice, add salt and pepper to taste, and viola! You're done!

Optional: Add olives, parsley, basil, or whatever additional seasoning you may be craving!

By the way, this is a great way to get rid of extra stuff in your fridge! Enjoy!