Introducing Nora Catherine

I first heard about Nora Catherine jewelry after my mom returned from Eugene, Oregon with a new pair of her earrings. When your daughter owns a jewelry shoppe, something has to be pretty fabulous to warrant purchasing it from the competition. And these earrings were just that! Organic, contemporary, comfortable to wear, and handmade in Oregon. They were interesting enough to warrant a second look, but not so out there you couldn't wear them everyday. (The price was right too!)



We are excited to announce the arrival of Nora Catherine's bronze, copper, and sterling earrings at Bon Lemon. Starting at just $27.00. They are available at www.bonlemon.com. We predict they will be a new Bon Lemon favorite.



Happy Saturday!

Something Tasty: Where to Eat in Great Falls, Montana

Since I spend a lot of time on the road, I like to profile different places along the way. My hope is that our travels will overlap and you will have some good recommendations to take with you. For today's, "Something Tasty" we head to Great Falls, Montana. You might travel here for the C. M. Russell Art Auction in March (a world class event), if you are following the Lewis and Clark trail, if you are fond of bird hunting or fishing, or maybe on your way to Glacier National Park.

Great Falls is not known for its dining options. I would call it the mecca of chain restaurants. The best place to eat in town is my boyfriend's sister's house. Followed closely by the produce aisle at the natural foods store. (One of my biggest concerns about the possibility of living in Great Falls has been the food.) That being said, there are a few diamonds in the rough. Suki Cafe offers darn good asian food. (I am excited about their new steak and seafood restaurant.)



A real find is Wines by Wednesday. You can order discount wine online and pick it up in the store. They also have fab olive oils, cheeses, crackers, pastas, beer, and local beef. A picnic (either indoors or out) from Wines by Wednesday might give my boyfriend's sister a run for her money.



Last week we went to try Crooked Tree Coffee and Bakery for breakfast. They had a nice herbed biscuit with salami for a savory option and the latte looked like it was straight out of Seattle with a cute leaf design. (And coffee from Seattle's Herkimer Coffee.)



They did a great job with the decor and they are downtown, which I love! With a few more grab and go food options for breakfast and lunch and they will be set.



And today we are going to try out Faster Basset which sounds fantastic. Savory and sweet crepes and Stumptown Coffee. They used to run their business out of a food cart and now they have a cute, cute, cute brick building over by the river. Um, yes please.



If someone could just open up a decent dinner place, I could live here. Anyone? Anyone...

Next time you are in Great Falls, check these places out.

Hump Day Half Off Special: Ernesto de Barcelona

Hump Day Half Off Special.

Ernesto de Barcelona Bracelet
Regularly $64, today only on Facebook $32.

I Want That: Tie Dyed Hair

I realize that on some level, tie dyed hair is trashy. But I still want it. Oh, yes I do. Because on another level, it is just so dang fun.



When you have fine hair you are always looking for things to spice up your locks. I normally go for a Pretty Little Lion hair flower, hair extensions are on my short to-do list, and my newest craze is this whole tie dyed hair thing. It gives a whole new meaning to low lights....



I am sure there are those who will disagree. This look probably wouldn't work too well on the golf course or in the board room. But what fun for a night on the town or a special event. (Or just a week in September.) Has anyone tried it?

In the Know: Norway Shooting

-The Scene-

A man in Norway went on a rampage Friday killing over 80 students at a Labor Party summer camp, after a bombing in Oslo. The police arrested, Anders Behring Breivia an anti-Muslim, right wing extremist who allegedly set out to stimulate political change via his actions. This is the worst attack on Norwegian soil since WW2.

Read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/world/europe/23oslo.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14259356


-Breivia-

Something Tasty: S'Mores Thingey

I spent yesterday driving from Missoula to Great Falls. Via Hamilton. Oh my, did that make for a long day in the car. But it was well worth it, because I got to see my Big Brothers Big Sisters Little Sis who I haven't seen in months, and I got to meet up with my luva. Success!



One of my favorite places to stop on I-90 is the Rattlesnake Trading Company in Missoula. My love affair started with the Breakfast Thingey, their eggy, cheesy, morning delight I would grab on my way to law school. My love quickly spread to the S'Mores Thingey. (I am not even sure if that is what it is called, but that's what I call it.) It is a staple snack on my road trips.

Golden Grahams + Marshmallows + Mini-Chocolate Chips = Delicious Goodness. The perfect highwaywoman snack.

Hump Day: Everybody's Favorite Cocktail Ring

This ring has been one of Bon Lemon's best sellers.

Regular price, $28. Today only, for the Hump Day Half-Off Special, it is half off: $14.



It has a stretchy band that fits everyone and is just fab.

Available only on Facebook. Use the Shop Now tab.

I Want That: MAXJENNY Cape

I want that: MAXJENNY cape from www.yoox.com. I realize, this cape isn't for everyone. I realize it is a bit bold. A bit edgy. A nod to the 70's but so now. I realize this cape is not for the faint of heart. Which is why... I LOVE IT! I am absolutely obsessed with it. How great would it look with, oh, i don't know, every outfit in your wardrobe? Jeans. Dresses. Birthday suit. Winning! Love, love, love. And it is on sale too! Must have.



P.S. I also love this little sequined number by Etro. (Have I mentioned how much I love Etro? And by love, I mean, I lust over it and hope someday I will score an invite to the sample sale. Hint. Hint.) It's on sale too. Bascially losing money if you don't get both...

I want that.

In The Know: Debt Ceiling

Most of you have heard of the debt ceiling. But, what is it?

Back in 1917, a law was passed that limited the debt the federal government could carry. (This was designed to protect our country from over spending.) The debt ceiling has been increased over the years. Our national debt continues to grow, because we are spending more money than we have. Soon, we will reach the debt ceiling. If we do, there could be deep economic consequences worldwide.

The politicians in Washington are scrambling to come up with a solution. Some want to increase the debt ceiling. Some want to increase taxes to raise more money. Some want to cut spending to save money. And some are promoting a cut-cap-balance proposal that would cut more than $110 billion in 2012, cap future spending and require congressional passage of a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution that would be sent to states for the lengthy ratification process.

If we do nothing, we will bankrupt our country. What would you do?

Additional reading:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/04/12/135314575/the-debt-ceiling-explained
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/16/gop-voters-as-divided-as-candidates-on-debt-limit-debate/

Chew Beads Are Now Online!!!

For those of you who have been waiting for the Chew Beads... They are here!



And we are selling out fast. You can see why. So cute! And safe for your baby.



If you want a particular color you don't see, email me and I will add it to my next order.



They are great layered or alone. And make such a wonderful shower/birth gift. (Puts a new spin on the push present.)



At $29-$36, they are affordable too. Available at www.bonlemon.com.

Something Tasty: Lemon Curd with Guest Blogger Chef Jen

For your Daily Dose of Something Tasty, we have a guest blogger: Chef Jen! Chef Jen and I became fast friends upon my return to Olympia. (Mostly because she is a fabulously fun and considerate person.) She has the skills and ease in the kitchen that make her get-togethers not to be missed, for the food, presentation, and most of all the company. Today, she is going to show us how to make lemon curd. Yummy!



Chef Jen says: I feel very honored to be asked by my proprietress friend, Miss Amy Evans, to "guest" blog on her cool website, Bon Lemon...I will admit the pressure got to me a little and I had a bit of a block, but in the end the lemons inspired me! I have made a quick and easy lemon curd from one of my favorite cookbook authors and chef's, Alice Waters. This recipe comes from her fabulous and informative book "The Art of Simple Food." I highly recommend the cookbook, it has wonderful recipes but also great instruction about many cooking techniques which tends to help inspire me.



The recipe is as follows:

4 lemons, grated for zest and juiced (about 1/2 cup juice)
2 eggs, room temp
3 eggs yolks, room temp
2 T milk, (I used whole milk)
1/2 C super fine sugar
1/4 t salt
6 T unsalted butter, cold and cut up



Zest and juice the lemons, set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, add your eggs, yolks, milk, sugar and salt. Beat until all is incorporated then mix in lemon juice and place in a medium heavy bottom, non-reactive sauce pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture starts to thicken then add the butter until melted, KEEP STIRRING, DO NOT let it boil. When curd is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, pour in a jar or small bowl and let cool completely before storing in the fridge. Will keep up to two weeks.



I love this recipe because I have usually only made recipes that require a double boiler and this does not. Simplifies the recipe and less dishes, awesome!



*A cook's note...I love having this in the fridge. Put it on ice cream for a quick dessert, dip with shortbread cookies or biscotti, on top of fresh berries! This particular time, I added it to homemade vanilla frozen yogurt and it gave the yogurt the most luxurious flavor, yum! Or play around and invent a new use for good ol' lemon curd, it really is delicious! Plus the beautiful lemon color will give you a little smile!



So, when life gives you lemons... make some lemon curd. Enjoy!



Thanks, Chef Jen. Can't wait to try it out!

Hump Day Half Off Special: Gold Frog on His Cushion Ring

It's time for your Daily Dose of the Hump Day Half-Off special.

How cute is this froggy ring? On a stretchy band, so it fits everyone. Regularly, $24. Today only, $12.

Every Wednesday. One item. One day only. 1/2 off. Get it while it lasts... Exclusively for our friends on Facebook.

I Want That: Asos Kimono Sleeves

The other day, a friend of mine was lamenting how her mother always buys her clothing for gifts, and the pieces she picks are SOOO not her style. Another friend agreed. My mother, on the other hand, knows my style almost better than I know it myself. She always manages to remember something I have been pining over for years. Or she finds something so cool, I have never even heard of it. I can't remember the last time my mother bought me something and I went, "Oh...thanks mom. That is so... uh...nice." My mother would, no doubt, affirm my love for today's Daily Dose of I Want That. She knows my affinity for kimono sleeve tops and dresses. And even though I hadn't heard of it, she probably already knows about asos.com.



I discovered asos.com where I discover lots of great things: Facebook. And judging by the fact that Asos has almost 1,000,000 fans, I am not the first to discover this online fashion mecca. (I am a little slow sometimes.) But I sure am glad I stumbled upon this site. They carry a wide array of fashion forward pieces in all price points and appear to have great customer service policies. Where else can you get a coral romper for under $75?



One trend that never goes out of style (at least in my book) are kimono sleeves. I think it has a lot to do with the way they move. Every time I put on something with kimono sleeves, I feel dressed up. I feel elegant. And dainty. (Dainty isn't something I often feel.) You can imagine my lust when I did a little search for kimono sleeves on Asos and I found all of these great pieces.



I want.



This one even makes me want to be prego so I could wear maternity clothes. Okay. Not really. But it sure is cute.

Asos.com. Kimono sleeves. I Want That.

In The Know: Join Bon Lemon's Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Team

For our first Daily Dose of In The Know, we have some Bon Lemon news. (This might not be the life or death, or getting picked up by Anthropologie, you all were expecting from our Facebook post, but... we are excited.) Drumroll... Bon Lemon is forming a team of yellow clad men and women to run/walk the Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Las Vegas on December 4. 2011! It is on the strip at night. How sweet is that!



I tend to be a bit of a slug when it comes to running. I think I have a mental block. But many of my friends run. And one of my friends in particular told me about the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. And she is a former "slug." She used to hate running. But she got over the mental block, and now she's a runner. (I don't trust those lanky gazelles who can whip out a half-marathon for fun while on vaca. Ahem. Alexis.) My non-runner friend is my motivation (along with some mysterious love handles) for doing the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll run. You know who you are.



So, I ordered a new pair of Vibram Five Fingers, because my other ones have holes between the toes, and today, I went running. And I am committing to running enough to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll in December. Are you with me? (you get a cute, yellow, Bon Lemon shirt... and you get to run on the strip at night...)



The primary reason I am running, is because I want to eat pasta alfredo whenever I want. (Exercising is so much better than dieting.) The secondary reason, is because I thought it would be fun to create a healthy, motivational event through Bon Lemon. Bon Lemon is all about being, in the words of Marie Claire, "more than a pretty face." We want to be smart, fit, and wear cute accessories. And let's be honest, I need a kick in the butt to get back in shape, and committing to you all forces me to commit to myself.



I think it would be really cool to have a bunch of Lemon Lovers (what I am now calling Bon Lemon's loyal fans) from all over the country running, in Vegas, at night, all wearing yellow Bon Lemon shirts. And if you need another reason to commit, there are great fundraising opportunities associated with the run.

If you register for the Rock 'n' Roll in Vegas, send me your shirt size and you will receive a yellow Bon Lemon shirt to wear in the race. This could be the day to lose the baby weight (or the I-turned-30-where-did-that-roll-come-from weight), run to remember a lost loved one, raise money for Crohns & Colitis, or just have a healthy excuse for being in the land of blackjack and free cocktails.

I had planned to run the full marathon, because go big or go home, right? But the cut-off time is 4.5 hours, and I don't think I will be averaging ten minute miles, when I am currently at about 13 minute miles. And when I say miles I mean 1 mile. 13 minutes for 1 mile. (Yes, I am fully aware you can walk faster than that. It wouldn't be very motivating if I were already a stud runner, now would it. Makes you want to run with Bon Lemon in Vegas, doesn't it?) So, I am committing to the half. And if I get fast enough to make the cut off, I will bump it up to the full. The 20 week, marathon training program starts next week. The half-marathon training is only 12 weeks. You choose. It is going to be sooo much fun! (Hollis are you with me?)



If I meet my Bon Lemon sales goals prior to the run, I plan to take all of the Lemon Lovers to dinner. (Okay, it might not be Joel Robuchon, but somewhere good.)



And if I don't meet my sales goals, we can all meet for a fried Twinkie and a Budweiser.

Winning either way! See you in Vegas.

This I Believe

"I believe in my fellow citizens. Our headlines are splashed with crime. Yet for every criminal, there are ten thousand honest, decent, kindly men. If it were not so, no child would live to grow up. Business could not go on from day to day. Decency is not news. It is buried in the obituaries, but it is a force stronger than crime." Robert A. Heinlein from the 1950's series of This I Believe.