Palm Beach-y Keen

While a lot of you were enjoying a nearly-record warm spell in the Northeast this weekend, my husband and I got a taste of some clouds and cool temps in Palm Beach, Florida. The sun didn't really break through until mid-day Sunday, but we rushed poolside and I still managed to get a little sunburn. And I'd still take my weekend over yours- no offense.

We stayed at the Breakers Resort, which is a gorgeous old-school luxury spot that's been around for 100 years. Here, I'm standing in the long entry to the hotel (and no, I'm not pregnant or putting on weight- a gust of wind made my blouse fly out like that- I probably should have photoshopped). While resort vacations might seem like an unnecessary luxury these days, there are tons of great deals to be had all over the warm-weather world. Check out LastMinute.com or Priceline.com for surprisingly good deals on hotels and plane tickets.

While one might feel compelled to never leave the resort (there are croquet and bocce courts and a spa and an insane breakfast buffet that costs a majillion dollars and 50 swimming pools- okay, five), it would be a shame not to take in the spectacle of the town of Palm Beach.

Worth Avenue is home to almost every major luxury retailer, and the shops are tucked into pretty arcade gardens or under pastel-striped awnings, making for very pleasant window shopping (or actual shopping, you high roller, you). Even the pooches are pampered in Palm Beach- there are little doggie drinking fountains all over town!

And there are tons of great spots to eat (and not all of them a majillion dollars...) We ate at Cucina dell'Arte, a great Italian spot which turns into really fun bar after hours.

It felt terrific to grab my guy and split town for a couple of days of real downtime (especially since we'll be spending Valentine's Day in Utah skiing with a group 0f 20 friends! Fun? Yes. Romantic? No.)

More on Palm Beach Style later this week!

Hard(ly) Boiled Eggs

Not since the Egg Cream (a beverage that contains neither egg nor cream) has a food item been so mis- named as the poor hard-boiled egg. That's because to make the best (non-rubbery, no green/gray yolk) hard-boiled eggs, you really shouldn't boil them barely at all. That's right- you heard me, barely any boiling, people.

Place the eggs in the bottom of a saucepan (room temperature eggs are less likely to crack than cold ones) and run enough cold water over them to cover them by 1 inch. If you want you can add a teaspoon of salt to the water, to make them easier to peel. This sounds gross, but eggs that you've had in your fridge for a week or so will also peel a lot more easily than super-fresh ones.

Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring just to a boil. Immediately cover and turn off the heat. For hard-cooked eggs, let sit, covered, for 17 minutes (for soft-cooked eggs let sit for 5 minutes), then drain the hot water, and run cold water over the eggs until cooled (or throw a bunch of ice cubes in with them).

Keep them refrigerated, and they'll be good for at least a week. I love a soft-boiled egg with salt and pepper and a slice of good toast for a simple, easy, and delicious breakfast (or even lunch). I throw hard-boiled eggs into salads and eat them raw for a snack. I also make a mean egg-salad, and heavenly deviled eggs (ha-get it?), but those recipes are topics for another day. Let's just master the basics first, shall we?

Presto Chain-jo!

What's better than buying new jewelry? Reinventing the jewelry you already have! For free! Almost any bracelet can be changed into a necklace really easily (and then changed right back with no problem), using things you already have at home. If you have a pretty chain (maybe something that has a removable pendant on it), simply attach the claw end of the chain's clasp to the hoop end of the bracelet's, and the claw end of the bracelet's to the hoop end of the chain's. If the hoop is too thick to fit in the claw (like on the acorn bracelet/chain combo above), just thread the claw through the hoop and clasp it to its own chain.

Or, for something more romantic looking, thread a length of pretty ribbon through the hoop and claw clasps and tie pretty bows or knots with the ends. Most ribbons will hold with no problem, but if your ribbon is really slippery and your bracelet is heavy, you might need to use a needle and thread to put one quick stitch in each bow to prevent it from untying (or just opt for a simple knot instead). Once the bows/knots are how you want them, trim the ribbon ends at pretty slants or in "v"s.

I discovered this trick when I wanted to wear my mom's charm bracelet (pictured above), but found it too noisy to wear around my wrist while typing at a computer (or, rather, my office-mates did). In the end, I found that as a necklace it's even more, well, charming, to wearer and office-mates alike.

Pantry Perfection

One of the things I've learned about myself through the process of, well, being me, is that having organized thoughts doesn't necessarily translate to being an organized person (and I am sure my husband would agree). Just because you own a label maker and spend obscene amounts of time and money at the Container Store does not mean that your things will just naturally put themselves away properly and attractively. I know, it's a harsh reality. And it's one I have come face to face with multiple times within the last three months as I stood before my pantry cabinets in utter despair and desperation. "Where oh where is the almond extract?," I cried, as I rummaged through cluttered and messy cabinet after cabinet. And, "I wonder if we have any canned tomatoes," I pondered as I stared into the daunting depths of my corner cabinet, before going out and buying three more cans which I promptly put into the abyss and could never find again. Well, today, I finally put a stop to all of that foolishness. I pulled everything out of my kitchen pantry cabinets and cleaned, consolidated, reorganized, re-shelved and labeled. I had some shaming moments (who knew we had four honey bears?), and a big cathartic throwing-out of the expired, gross or nearly empty, and now I have cabinets that I actually think make sense. After blowing the dust off of it, I used my label maker to label the tops of all of my spices where I can actually see them, so I don't have to pull them all out to find the one I need. I also made a list of what goes on each shelf, which I taped to the back of the cabinet door. I left space on it so I can make additions and notes, which I'll replace when they get too messy. So next time I'm headed to the store and I think "do I already have a jar of dried thyme leaves?" I can look at the list and see- ah, yes, I already have two.The kitchen mid-cleanup. I only show this to you as a form of penance, because the first step is admitting you have a problem. I'm not trying to candy-coat this for you, people- it was an ugly situation.

Shower Hour

There are a lot of reasons why I can't wait for Winter to be over and Spring to come, but the biggest by far is the much- anticipated arrival of my first baby niece in March. This past Saturday I co-hosted a baby shower for my brother and sister-in-law that only increased my impatience to meet this little person!
The party was nontraditional in a lot of ways- it was co-ed and there was no big present-opening- both of which made it a lot more fun and festive than a typical baby shower. But the sentiment was the same- everyone was there to share their excitement and welcome this little girl to the world.

I made these little felt baby booties as one of my little gifts- they were remarkably easy to sew on a sewing machine. It's hard to imagine the feet small enough to fit inside them. Click here to download the pattern.

I also made these cute bird's nest cupcakes for the shower (among several other desserts). For the cake, I used this Coconut Cupcake recipe from Martha Stewart (I got it from the current issue which has a whole feature on cupcakes). I used my own basic buttercream frosting recipe (1 stick butter, 2 cups confectioner's sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla), and topped it with a toasted coconut "nest" and little chocolate eggs (or you could use jelly beans, instead).

For party favors, I wrapped store-bought chocolate bars with labels I printed featuring the baby pics of my bro (blue) and sister-in-law (pink). I think this would be a sweet favor for a birthday party or bridal shower, too ( it helps that both of them were really cute babies).

My SIL's mom made a huge Italian feast, and her friends decorated with the cutest clothesline strung with baby clothes (new ones and special things that had been saved from when she was a baby) and everyone toasted the baby with champagne and peach "belly-ni" cocktails. I don't think anyone missed the gift opening.

Best Beds (with Houseguest Blogger My Mom)

In the midst of an action-packed weekend that included my sister-in-law's baby shower, reupholstering an ottoman, rehab-ing a wood table, and having friends over to watch the Superbowl last night (more on all those topics later this week), I managed to convince my mom that for the privilege of sleeping on my Murphy bed, she was obligated to contribute to the blog (in addition to all of the aforementioned projects I conned her into). Among her many talents, the woman is famous for making a seriously comfortable and luxurious bed, and she's helped me turn my own into a downy dreamy cloud, so I asked her to share some tips with us.

Me: Starting from the bottom, what are the layers that go into a really comfy bed?
Mom: You can make a pretty comfortable and beautiful bed, even if all you've got is your old mattress from college. I recommend getting a 2" memory foam mattress pad (you don't need to buy the fancy brands- you can get one pretty cheap from Overstock.com), and covering that with a featherbed mattress pad (or you can use an old comforter, if you have an extra).

Cover all of that with an old fitted sheet (just make sure the pocket is deep enough to accommodate the extra padding underneath). That sheet will hold everything together, will keep your mattress pads and mattress clean, and is a snap to throw in the wash when needed, unlike a mattress pad which is too bulky to go in most washing machines.

Then, over that put another nice fitted sheet (the one you're actually gonna sleep on)- having all that stuff underneath will stretch the fitted sheet nice and tight creating a comfy smooth bottom layer. And when you wash and change your sheets, you can just pull this one off, and the one underneath will hold the rest of your bedding together.

Then lay the flat sheet on top of that one "face down". In the winter, I'd cover that with a nice wool blanket and a blanket cover or bedspread (again, so the easy-to-wash bedspread or cover will keep the hard-to-wash blanket clean). Fold about 6-8" of the top sheet over, covering the top edge of the blanket, for a pulled-together look.

Tuck in all the layers with "hospital corners" at the foot of the bed (click here for an illustration), to keep everything firmly in place.

I also always put a nice feather comforter in a duvet cover folded at the foot of the bed, or you can pull it up and use it instead of a bedspread. In an apartment, I would opt for the less-expensive summer weight comforters, since you can use it all year with the addition of another blanket for especially cold nights. Also, if you share your bed with someone, it's not a bad idea to go one size up for top sheets, blankets and comforters- you'll avoid fights over stolen covers.

For pillows, everyone has their own personal favorites, but whatever they are, cover them with removable pillow protectors to make them last longer and stay cleaner. A couple of shams, or nice big Euro shams propped up against the headboard or wall will make your bed look like it's right out of a fancy hotel.

Me: How do you choose the best sheets?
When it comes to buying sheets, my rule is that you can't go wrong with pure white cotton (or even linen). White always looks crisp, is so much easier to maintain, won't fade, and you can always use a little bleach on it if you fall asleep with a ballpoint pen in your hand. In the end they will last you so much longer than colors, which always get wrecked (this is my rule about bath towels, too).

I only use natural fabrics- I don't ever put synthetics on a bed because they just don't let your body "breathe" right. Cotton, linen, down and wool are my favorite bedding materials, but there are good bamboo options now, too.

I think that thread-count thing is a real rip-off. The best way to find nice soft sheets is to go to the store and feel them for yourself. I think the Company Store, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and Garnet Hall all have nice affordable bedding, but I say go to an outlet store first and get a bargain, if you've got one near you. For fancy things, I love Schweitzer Linens, or I find fabulous old embroidered and monogrammed linen sheets on Ebay for something truly special. They feel great, aren't at all difficult to care for, and those old things are so beautiful and so well-made that they last forever.

Me: How do you care for your bedding?
Using removable covers that you can throw in the wash goes a long way. When you wash your sheets every week or so, spot treat them before you wash them in nice hot water (to kill dust mites and really get out any soiling). Then, take them out of the dryer while they are still a little damp (or hang them out to dry if you can) and fold them neatly to prevent them from getting wrinkly. Stack them with bars of nice-smelling soaps or sachets.
When you put the sheets on the bed, use a spray mister (I like the industrial spray bottles) to spritz the top sheet with a light misting of water. Then run your hand over the sheet, gently smoothing out the wrinkles. After about 5 minutes the sheet will have dried completely crisp and flat and it will look like you were ironing all afternoon. You can do the same thing to your duvet cover and pillowcases (and even a men's dress shirt, in a pinch).

Also, not to be too much of a mom here, but making your bed every day will keep your bed feeling fresh, clean and pulled-together longer. It's a simple pleasure getting into a made bed each night.

Me: Any tips for taking care of house guests?
Mom: On a guest bed, try to have at least one soft and one firm pillow. And I like to put out a few things by the bed to help guests sleep: Hearos ear plugs, an eyemask, some water, and a bottle of Schiff Knock-Out vitamins.

Me: ...And don't make them write your blog for you.
Mom: Right.

Radio Silence

Hey, I'm sorry I've been late in posting today- I'm quite busy with my mom in town and preparations for my sister-in-law's baby shower tomorrow. I promise to make it up to you with scintillating guest blogging from my mom and lots of cute shower details come Monday. Deal?

Bag to the Future

Do you know what's bad about disposable shopping bags? Everything. They are flimsy and sometimes break (leaving you chasing produce down the sidewalk), they end up in landfills getting eaten by dimwitted seagulls, they cut into your hands and wrists, and they take up space in your house if you feel to guilty to throw them away (because you like seagulls). Bad, bad, bad.
I have finally seen the light and have a lovely collection of reusable shopping bags, and I actually use (and reuse) them. Here's what's great about them:
1. they are very sturdy, so you can fill one with a six-pack of (um) seltzer, and then put your eggs right on top, and not worry about it breaking.
2. They make you feel like you are doing your bit to save the environment.
3. They aren't just for groceries- I take them to the drug store and the hardware store, and I have started carrying one in my purse for impromptu shopping trips.

4. They go over your shoulder, which is a lifesaver when you're carrying tons of groceries up four flights of stairs.

Here are the ones I like:
The LL Bean canvas bags (about $30), shown above, are classic, washable, insanely durable (I think my parents have one from the 40's in our basement in Michigan). You can choose your favorite colors, and have them monogrammed (or personalized with tags like "meat", and "veggies", if you're organized like that).
The Reisenthel line of bags (about $8) is made of lightweight ripstop polyester, and fold into their own little mini-bags for your convenience. They (and many other great options) are available at www.reusablebags.com.



Of the bags sold as grocery stores, Whole Foods' Better Bag (99¢) is really great. It's made from recycled soda bottles and feels kind of flimsy, but I've had several for over a year and they have held up amazingly. I prefer the larger size, because the straps will go over your shoulder.

I also love these RuMe bags (3 for $29), which are actually cute and can hold up to 50 lbs. I tend to prefer bags that don't shout with slogans like "I'm so Green", which feels sort of smug and self-satisfied, and rings of the user trying to get credit for their bag from all random passersby- so these pretty patterns are right up my alley.

Stylish, comfortable, convenient environmentalism? It's in the bag.

London Calling (with Houseguest Blogger Amy)

My good friend Amy was in town last night and stayed over at the manse. So I thought it would be fun to create a new feature called "House Guest Blogger" where I make all my house guests contribute a post to the blog (hey, listen people, there's no such thing as free lunch)! Amy has a "bi-continental" lifestyle, splitting time between Philly and London, and she decided to share her favorite tips for visiting Londontown.

Me: Why is now a good time to visit London?
Amy: Well the exchange rate is really good right now (about $1 =£ 1.42), and plane tickets are really affordable (check out US Air). Plus, the Spring is my favorite season in London- it isn't too crowded like in the Summertime, and at least the rain is warm rain.

Me: What are your favorite tourist attractions?
Amy: There are a few tourist-y things that are expensive but worth it. The Tower of London is amazing (admission + a tour costs £16.50), and I was blown away by Churchill's Underground War Bunkers (admission £12.95). The views from the London Eye Farris wheel (tickets £15.17) are spectacular- you can see the whole city (but if you have a window seat flying into Heathrow, make sure you look out as you land- you might see the same views for free!) There are also a ton of great things to do that don't cost a thing. My favorite museum is the Victoria and Albert Museum of decorative arts, where admission is free. There is an incredible Chihuly chandelier in the main rotunda that is worth the trip itself. I played soccer in college, and my husband and I love get into the British "football" experience. We go to games of the Queen's Park Rangers, a local "minor league" team. The fans are wild and the games are great- the season runs roughly from August through March. In my opinion, the best park in the city is Battersea Park, on the south side of the Thames. It has beautiful gardens and fountains, and a great rolling lawn which is perfect for picnics. It's also less crazy crowded than crazy Hyde Park (which is crazy).

me: What's the best way to get around?
Amy: The tube is by far the best way to get around London. It runs on a schedule, so you can plan your trip out ahead of time on http://tfl.gov.uk. Make sure you buy a daily or weekly pass, as they are almost always more cost-effective than purchasing single-ride tickets. If it's a nice day out, London is a great city for walking- which you might want to do during rush hour when the subway is insane. You might think you have seen a crowded subway in New York, but you have no idea. Cabs are expensive, but to and from the airport, there is a great service called Just Airports which will take you for about £27, rather than closer to £50.

me: What do you like to do at night?
Amy: London has a pub culture that is really great. I like the Duke of Clarence and the Drayton Arms, which are both on Old Brompton Road. They both have a young clientele and good food. There's a great website, Fancy a Pint?, which rates, reviews, and maps all the pubs in London, so you can find one that suits you in any neighborhood. If you're going to the pubs you need to anticipate that the service is usually pretty slow and lax. On the bright side, you can pretty much hang out at a pub table for hours without anyone hassling you, if you want to.

me: Any tips for avoiding jet lag?
I always book a window seat on the red eye. I bring my noise-canceling headphones and an eye mask, and sometimes I'll take a Tylenol Simply Sleep. Once I land, I go right to bed and take a 1-2 hour nap, which tides me over until I go to bed that night. I find that the adjustment is a little harder on the way back, so I try not to book anything important right after I get back.


Thanks, Amy! Future house guests, stand warned!

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

In anticipation of a visit from my mom this weekend, I am deep cleaning the two bathrooms in our apartment today (alas, this beauty is not one of them- it's from the Poetic Home blog). If your bathroom is less-than-lovely, here are some of my fave cleaning products that really do the trick.

Just make sure you open a window or get the vent working, as some of these things will make you light-headed if you spend too much time in an enclosed space. I'm making an effort to start using greener cleaning products in other parts of the house- for the health of the environment as well as ourselves. But in all honesty, when it comes to the bathroom, my products can't be harsh and toxic enough- beach? chemicals? Bring 'em on! (Seriously, though, if you find green cleaning products that really work- let me know).

For mold and mildew that seems to sprout in the tiles, I use Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover. Spray it on the grout and caulking around your tub whenever things start looking a little icky. It's a miracle in a bottle.









If you have a glass shower, I like Soft Scrub Deep Clean Spray. I just spray it all over the glass right when I finish taking my shower, and then rub the whole thing with the scratchy green side of a kitchen sponge, and rinse with the shower head. You only have to do it every few weeks and it totally gets rid of that gross fogginess caused by soap scum and lime and calcium deposits.




In between, I use a Shower Squeegee to dry the glass on a daily basis- call me crazy, but I think it's kind of fun.

For the least pleasant part of the job, I use Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner. You just squirt it in the bowl and then give it a quick once-over with the toilet brush and flush- about as easy as it gets. For the upper part of the toilet and the seat, as well as the sink and bathtub, I use Antibacterial Fantastik.
It works like a charm, and leaves everything sparkly clean. Maybe you'll actually use that tub to take a bath.

Now all you need is a pretty new soap and some crisp clean hand towels, and you're guest ready! On to the kitchen...

Half a Marathon (Double the Fun)

Yesterday, I got one step closer to my goal of running a marathon when I completed a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in Central Park. I finished in 2 hours and 23 minutes, and placed 4061st (of 5000), which I am choosing to interpret as there were over 900 people who finished after me (including a fellow dressed in a cardboard structure of a lighthouse). I think I finished after the 90-year-old man who walked the whole thing, although we were in a dead heat for a while there.
But it was 14 degrees out (all of the water froze in the cups at the water stations), and I ran 13.1 miles- something I wouldn't have thought I could ever do.
I only started running about a year ago when I moved offices and suddenly found myself in a situation where I had to take the subway to go to the gym. It seemed like such a waste of time- I was decidedly a non-runner, but logic prevailed when I realized that I could get a better workout just by putting on some sneakers and running out the door. We used to live close to the Hudson River, and I started running along the path there. I considered myself to be in pretty good shape when I started, but running is pretty good at making you humble- I could barely run a mile without turning into a wheezing mess. But the more I did it, the more I could feel myself getting stronger and better endurance (so much more rewarding than some Belly Dance Aerobics class at the gym).
As added motivation, I also got the Apple Nike + iPod System- a sensor which goes in your shoe, and a chip which attaches to your iPod- the system provides constant feedback about your distance, running time and pace. For me, it was a huge motivator to set and meet a goal of running, say, 3 miles in under 30 minutes, as opposed to "I'm gonna run to that bridge and back". The information is displayed on the iPod's screen, and a voice pipes in periodically to let you know how you're doing. And there is no denying the motivational power of running with music. I also more recently started running with my friend, T. We like to run at about the same pace, and have a comfortable no-talking policy (I am incapable of chit-chat while running, if no time else), but running with someone is inspiration to get out the door, and to keep going, even when you really really want to stop.

What's the shortest way to get from being a couch potato to completing a marathon? Well, running, of course.
T and me, approaching the finish. See how there are people behind us?

(For you Nancy Drews who notice that I am wearing a different hat in the top pic and the bottom, and that the time on the finish clock above is wrong, that's because the top pic is actually from a 5-mile race I ran a few weeks ago. I just liked the iconic quality of seeing the finish line sign. I took some editorial liberties, okay? So sue me.)

Frittastic Frittata

As we make our way through the bleak doldrums of winter between the long MLK weekend and the President's Day weekend in February, it's nice to make every weekend feel special with delicious meals at home. For special occasions, my mother-in-law sometimes makes this incredible Sausage Frittata/Egg Casserole that she found on Epicurious. It is in no way a "health food", but it's so rich and filling, that a little goes a long way.

The original recipe calls for sun-dried tomatoes, which I usually leave out, but feel free to sub in any veggies that sound good to you- it would be amazing with mushrooms, bell peppers or zucchini thrown in.

Serve it with a fruit salad and sourdough toast for brunch, or with a mixed greens salad for dinner. Or, since it's so easy to reheat leftovers and tastes just as good the second time around, have it for both!
(Serves 8)
You will need:
1 lb sweet sausage, with the casings removed
1/2 cup chopped shallots
2 garlic cloves
4 tablespoons chopped parsley
5 large eggs + 3 large egg yolks
1 cup half and half
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups grated mozzarella
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Sauté sausage in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until brown and cooked through, breaking up with back of fork into small pieces, about 10 minutes.

Add shallots and garlic to pan and sauté 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons parsley; stir 1 minute. Spread sausage mixture in the bottom of prepared dish. (All of this can be done up to 1 day ahead. Just cover and refrigerate until you are ready to finish cooking.)

Whisk eggs, egg yolks, half and half, whipping cream, 1 1/2 cups cheese, and salt in large bowl to blend well. Pour egg mixture over sausage mixture in dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese and 2 tablespoons parsley over. Bake until top of casserole is golden brown and knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve, then die and go to heaven.

Bloomin' Beauties

In New York City, almost every corner deli has a flower stand outside, while legit florists tend to be fewer and further between (and much, much pricier). While the quality isn't always great, the blooms can be tempting and there are lots of deals to be had (two dozen roses for $10?!?), if you know what flowers to buy and how to care for them at home.

I tend to prefer to buy single varieties of flower and either keep them as a monochromatic bunch or arrange them at home, rather than buying the mixed bouquets at the deli. I find that frequently the deli will mix older blooms with fresher ones, making them (and my enthusiasm) more likely to droop faster. Plus, a single variety is always sophisticated and elegant, while, unless done with care, a mixed bunch tends to project a "hospital gift shop" vibe.

The trick to making all flowers last longer is to trim the stems at least a couple of inches (at a diagonal angle, so the stem bottom doesn't sit flat against the bottom of the vase, restricting water supply) and remove all of the leaves that will be below the water level in the vase before immediately placing them in cool water (leaves will rot, turning the water bad more quickly). Ask the deli for the packets of "flower food" they give out, and use them. Replace the water and re-trim the stems every couple of days.

In between uses, make sure the insides of your vases get cleaned thoroughly.

When buying for someone else, I take the flowers home and remove the tell-tale plastic and "Say It With Flowers" paper-wrapping, trim the stems and re-wrap them in simple tissue paper tied with a pretty ribbon (I wouldn't call it lying, exactly, but there's no need for the recipient to know you got the "2 bunches for $12" bodega special).

My favorite tried and true corner-store varieties are tulips, spray roses (pretty in a bud vase on a nightstand), daffodils and lilac, (in Spring only), flowering branches (like dogwood or cherry blossom), and the very durable and long-lasting mums, carnations and alstroemeria (shown in the foreground in the main photo above).

Some of those flowers, like carnations and mums, have, in my opinion, gotten a bad wrap for being "cheap". I think if you take a single color (and they come in so many beautiful colors) and bunch them together in a low vase, you can create a really sophisticated looking arrangement (like the red carnations in the Martha Stewart photo above).

Another way to "elevate" cheap flowers is to place just a few buds in several small containers (like these bud vases from CB2, $2.50 each) and spread them down the length of a table or mantle. Shot glasses and egg cups work well, too.

What to look for when shopping for deli flowers:
Mostly closed buds
Firm stems
Bright green leaves

What to avoid (or, signs those buds are duds):
Dropping leaves or petals
Already mostly open buds
Soft stems (or straws or wires holding them up)
Bent or broken stems
Roses that feel squishy, not firm and meaty
Leaves or stems that are slimy or rotting
Flowers coming from a bucket with milky looking or smelly water