Classic, yes. Bohemian? Uh…

I just took the HomeGoods style test (to help me determine my style, as part of the Apartment Therapy Home Cure). Some of it is dead-on, but some of it feels–wrong.

Nicole, you are a Bohemian Classic

You have a refined sensibility and bring a sense of history and tradition into your decor. You appreciate how symmetrical arrangements and beautiful, well-crafted pieces create a solid foundation to a room. But you like to shake up this restraint with objects and accessories that express your personality and your love of other cultures. When traveling, you seek out unique objects that reflect what you love, and you use them in a sophisticated way. You want people to feel comfortable in your home, and cozy chairs, ethnic fabrics, unique pieces, and even a little touch of quirk or humor give your house a laid-back, Bohemian flair.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

Putting Your Style to Work!

With your style and needs in mind, here are a few tips that will help you make your home a little happier.

1. Your Design Challenge: LIGHT Think about borrowing light and reflecting it. Placing mirrors across from windows multiplies whatever light you do have and can extend the view, or try two mirrors across from one another. If you find a big frame you like, you can have a mirror cut for it. Consider putting sconces near mirrors or candles or even lamps in front of them to enhance their light. Hanging chandeliers are nicer than recessed lights, and lots of small lamps work better than one big light source. Go for a few choice, sparkly accessories like candlesticks, boxes, frames and trays in silver or gold.

2. Your Happy Place Make this room as comfortable and inviting as possible by bringing in some real furniture like an armchair or a sofa if you have the space. A little lamp on the counter or decorative hanging light can set the mood. Stools are great perches and can easily be moved around. Don’t forget to bring your personality and style into this room: hang some art or display a collection of family photos in mixed frames. Consider bold, happy colors in the kitchen as well, like brightly colored pots and pans, big bowls for corralling fruits and vegetables, and trays for spices, oils, teas and pepper mills.

3. Be Party-Ready All the Time! Food: Devote space in your pantry or on a shelf for go-to party essentials: crackers, dip, chips, nuts—whatever you like to serve. Keep on hand a collection of attractive bowls and cocktail napkins, and you’ll be able to set a spread—instantly!

Drink: The simplest and chicest thing is to have a drinks tray or table always set up. Include a mix of pretty glasses, an ice bucket, a lovely pitcher, and bottles of soda and water. When the bell rings, just add ice and limes.

Mood: Nice, flattering light makes us feel good. So nix the harsh, direct light from overhead fixtures in favor of the softer glow from floor and table lamps. Also, keep some votive candles and a couple of hurricane lanterns for setting around the room.

Scent: The first thing you notice about a home is how it smells. Use naturally fragrant cleaning products. If you find a scented candle or fresh potpourri you love, stock up on it. Any scent you like, whether perfume or linen spray, can be used on upholstery, bedding or just spritzed into the air.

I want: An organized craft room

Uber organized craft room, from Unplggd.com

Unplggd just posted this phenomenal craft room. I love the robin’s egg blue and red (a favorite color combination right now) and the uber organized supplies. A crafty girl can dream.

Kale, pine nut, and bacon penne | Recipe-free cooking

Mark Bittman’s reading tonight made me realize: I eat a lot of meat. Especially for someone who used to be a vegetarian.

So rather than finishing off the beef and dark beer chili I made last night (for bros’ night — bros + Nicole), I decided to use up the piles of kale I had leftover from when I made Bittman’s potato kale soup last week. I was thinking about his note about pine nuts in his pantry-cleaning article for the NYT. If only I had some sun-dried tomatoes, I thought. Then I looked in my freezer (to get the cubes of homemade stock, also Bittman) and found my last three pieces of turkey bacon.

I have a meal! I thought. And I did. And it was delish. Here’s the recipe. Bear in mind, that I didn’t measure anything, so all quantities are approximate (the exact quantities won’t matter, as long as its roughly in these proportions).

Kale, pine nut, and bacon penne

Serves: 3 (to serve 4, use a full pound of pasta, 4 strips bacon, 3 cloves garlic, full bunch of kale)

Time: Less than 30 minutes

• 3/4 lb. penne or other pasta
• 1/4 cup pine nuts (about a handful)
• 3 strips bacon (turkey bacon is OK)
• 1 cup chicken stock (plus some extra water, if needed)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• about 3/4 of a bunch of kale, stemmed and chopped up into small pieces
• pecorino, romano, or parmesan for the top
• salt and pepper, to taste
• splash of olive oil

1. Start boiling the water for the pasta, then cook the pasta. The rest of the meal will be ready just about when the pasta is done cooking.
2. Heat a large skillet for a minute over medium to medium-low heat. When it’s evenly hot, toss the pine nuts in, swishing them around in the pan until they are semi-evenly toasted. Set aside.
3. Turn the skillet up to medium. Cook the bacon evenly until done. Remove, chop into small pieces, and set asi
4. Splash some water into the skillet to get all the bacon drippings. Then add the stock and bring to a simmer. Add the chopped garlic and cook for a minute or so.
5. Put the kale in the skillet, stirring to help it wilt evenly. Add salt and pepper to taste, and add more stock or water if necessary. You want a little bit of liquid to stay with the kale. When the kale is evenly wilted, add the chopped-up bacon and pine nuts and cook until heated through.
6. Drain the cooked pasta and put individual servings on plates. Spoon the kale mixture on top. Drizzle with olive oil, then grate the cheese on top. Add more pepper if you like.
7. Eat with a big ol’ salad and yummy bread and enjoy. Mmmmmmm.

Someday, I will learn how to get the lighting right in a food photo.

Sarah Palin: Running for Vice President or Miss Teen USA?

Two softball questions, two inarticulate answers. Compare Gov. Sarah Palin’s command of foreign relations in this video clip, from CBS:

To Miss Teen South Carolina’s answer on a similar question in the Miss Teen USA 2007 pageant:

I’d like to point out that although reports of the CBS interview say that, when the interview segment was over, Couric mentioned that they double-checked Kissinger’s position on talks with Iran and Syria, and that he confirmed that he supports talks without preconditions. However, that correction was left off of the video segment on CBSNews.com.

Fact-checking the Convention Speeches

I love it when fact-checking is put to good use, such as in debunking the myths perpetuated in political speeches (especially convention and campaign speeches).

Here’s the Associated Press’s fact-check of speeches by Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mike Huckabee,and Gov. Mitt Romney. I guess “Thou shalt not bear false witness” is one of the many of the seemingly managably small ten commandments the religious right feels don’t apply to them.

As a quick aside, Palin got 1,500 votes TOTAL in two elections for mayor of Wasilla and she says that experience is more applicable than Obama’s community organizing? Really? Oh, and Mike Huckabee, perhaps you should have invested more in Arkansas’ educational system. You are a smart guy, so I don’t understand how you confused the greater than and less than sizes in comparing Palin’s and Biden’s votes.

Here’s the AP’s fact-check of speeches by Sen. Hilary Clinton, Gov. Ed Rendell, and others at the Democratic convention.

Call me a moral relativist, but the Democrats’ sins of omission are a bit better, though still unethical, than the Republicans’ sins of commission.