Great Minds Think Alike

Don’t you just love it when you pick up a magazine and see something that you’ve done in your own house? Makes you feel like maybe you’re on the right page?

 

This Crate & Barrel catalog arrived in the mail the other day, and on the cover there were lemons similar to what I have in my living room right now. Interesting…

 

And then inside they had used the EXACT colour combination that I have been rocking in my kitchen: turquoise, lemon and green. (ignore the red plate peeking through…but that is very similar to the colour of the new plastic plates I bought for my picnic basket).

This isn’t the only time that I’ve seen it this month. I was flipping through Martha Stewart Living at a doctor’s office the other day and there was an entire page devoted to lemon and turquoise! I’m not a particularly trendy person, so when I get it right, it feels good 🙂

The next day I picked up one of my favorite magazines and there were a few more little coincidences…

 

Now, all of my out of province and US friends won’t get this, but anyone living in Ontario knows the awesomeness that is Food & Drink. Best part – its free. The LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) releases a few editions every year and they are always full of fantastic recipes, ideas and interesting new wines and spirits. They are so coveted, that people keep entire collections of them. I have all of mine on the bookcase in the living room…my mother keeps them in her home office….my ex had stacks of them throughout his basement. They are inspirational to say the least. Several of my all-time favorite recipes have come out of them (see Peppermint Bark) and I am always excited to try a new recipe in each edition (check back tomorrow to see what I made this month). But you have to act fast because they fly off the shelves within a few days. Don’t live in Ontario? Don’t despair…they have a recipe search online!

 

The first thing I saw when I opened the magazine, were these fantastic paper lanterns. They are just like the ones that I am hanging up for my birthday party next weekend. I’m planning to hang them up in the trees at the cottage to add some light to the festivities. Fingers crossed it doesn’t rain!

 

I even saw a little write up on serving mini salads as appetizers, and there was one that looked very similar to the tomato, basil, mozzarella sticks that were served at my friend Sarah’s bridal shower a couple of weeks ago. Super yummy and easy to make, but look great!

As for seeing my spring colours in Martha Stewart Living, it reminded me of a few times that my mother has done something and within days finds out that Martha is doing it too. We joke about it, saying that Martha is hiding behind a bush, or over the fence listening in, because it happens THAT often. Once we were out front at my parents’ place re-covering some fabric lounge and directors chairs, when the mailman arrived. In his little bundle was the latest edition of Martha Stewart Living, so my mother and I decided to take a coffee break and glance through it. I kid you not, we turned the page and Martha was doing the SAME THING. She had painted the frames the same as us and had chosen almost the identical light floral fabric. We both looked at each other and almost got a shiver, it was that eerie. The chairs were still sitting on the driveway with the fabric half done.

Well, I’m off to pick up some more goodies for the May 24th Long Weekend. I’m having a whole gang of people up to the cottage for a bit of a Summer kick off (and my 25th birthday! woohoo!). I’m looking forward to a break from the city, lots of good food, great friends, and heading out on the lake.

(Be sure to check back tomorrow when I share what LCBO recipe I made this time. Its a good one – perfect for the Summer!)