Please DON'T knock my socks off.

Lately I've noticed some attention being paid to knee-highs. What age do you think is too old for pulling off this look?(Photos via Copenhagen Street Style)

Got Le Creuset?

I used to have their whistling tea kettle in cobalt blue. Very nice--though it eventually ceased to whistle.

[**By the way, some of you may be interested in reading last week's New York Times article about the expense of eating with celiac disease.]

(Photo via Apartment Therapy)

Weekly links

Hope your weekend is going along swimmingly! Here are the links...

turn plastic colanders into hanging spheres at The Sampler via Curbly

make gluten free diver scallops grilled on rosemary at MyRecipes

learn how to apply dewy make-up at Cupcakes and Cashmere

hang a frame without leaving a mark at Apartment Therapy

make a recycled wine bottle torch at Gerardot & Co. via Craftzine

learn 10 ways to customize a rental at Apartment Therapy

turn Saran Wrap tubes into napkin rings at Merriment Design via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

Brooklyn Penthouse on the Market for $765,000 (It has one bedroom.)

OK. Let's see...how do we sell this one? The building is pet-friendly, has a live-in super, AND there's a bathroom to go with your bedroom. Killer views of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
(Photos via The New York Times)

I have something in common with Meryl Streep.

Glamour Magazine's September issue is on newsstands today and has a fun food piece with the women of Julie & Julia. First, I'm thrilled to report that most of the recipes featured in the article appear to be gluten free. For example, Ms. Streep's tarragon chicken salad and mushroom risotto, and Amy Adams' guacamole, are naturally gluten free. (Just be sure to use GF mayonnaise, sour cream and chicken stock.) There's also writer-director Nora Ephron's 10-minute spaghetti dinner recipe in which spaghetti and breadcrumbs sans gluten may be substituted. Love the 10-minute part.

Now for the similarity between Meryl and me. She writes:

"I am a terrible cook. I can cook, but I fear that, as with video gaming or hard-core rap, I have no natural affinity...I’m in direct line with my mother on this one: She had a needlepoint pillow that read, I’m making my favorite thing for dinner: reservations."

I do love rap though.

(Photos via Flickr)

Weekly links

Hope you're having a lovely weekend. Here are the late links...

turn old Frisbees into new bird feeder at Make-Stuff via Curbly

make gluten free watermelon gazpacho at Karina's Kitchen

discover 40 ways to carve a watermelon at Watermelon Lovers via Curbly

make your own chandelier style earrings at Kotori

turn cardboard tubes into a chandelier at Instructables via Craftzine

turn crap into a craft station at Craftynest via Curbly

spruce up a picnic table at Apartment Therapy

(Photo via weheartit)

Top 5 Reasons to Advertise on Absolutely Not Martha

#5 Your ad will receive greater attention (than on other blogs) and not get lost in the clutter of numerous ad buttons.

#4 Your ad size will be 150x100, larger than ads on most other blogs.

#3 ANM enjoys a diverse readership which continues to grow.

#2 Attractive rates

#1 You LOVE Absolutely Not Martha.

So feel free to email me (Jackie AT VanillaSpoons DOT COM) if you're thinking about advertising on Absolutely Not Martha.

(Image created by JKLDesign)

A random recipe for gluten free grown-up fig cookies

I usually save the gluten free recipes for Weekly Links or my other blog Vanilla Spoonfuls. But here's one from 101 Cookbooks that I wanted to post here. And now.FIG SPREAD (start 24 hours in advance of the cookies)
1/2 pound dried figs
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup port
1/4 cup meyer (or regular) lemon juice

To prepare the fig spread chop the figs into quarters, removing any knobby stems that might remain. Put the pieces in a medium bowl or Mason jar and cover with the liquids. Soak the figs for 24 hours, or at least overnight. Before you make the cookies, drain the figs of the liquid, except for a few tablespoons. Put the figs and remaining liquid in a food processor and blend to make a thick paste, somewhat like a tapenade consistency.

FIG COOKIE DOUGH
1 cup brown rice flour
1 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
scant 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons molasses

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Set aside.

Put the softened butter into a mixer. Add the brown sugar and cane sugar to the butter and cream together. Cream until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times if needed.

Add the egg, vanilla, and molasses. Mix until blended. Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Split the dough into two pieces, wrap each in plastic and then refrigerate the dough for at least one hour. This is key with gluten free doughs.

After you've chilled the dough, roll out half the dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a Silpat or piece of parchment paper. Slather the fig spread over the surface of the dough, stopping just shy of the edges. Roll out the second half of dough to roughly the same size as the first. Lay it over the fig spread. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal in the fig spread.

Slide the baking sheet into the oven for 15 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure the dough isn't browning too much. Remove when the edges are just starting to get nice and golden. Let cool for 10 minutes. When the cookies have cooled, cut the edges off to make straight lines. Slice the giant cookie into small squares.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

By the way, the answers to yesterday's Map That Outfit!:
1. Paris
2. Milan
3. Rio de Janeiro
4. Copenhagen
5. New York

(Photo via Flickr)

Map That Outfit!

The cities are: New York, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Paris and Milan. Answers will be posted tomorrow.Which outfit best describes your style this summer?

(Photos via The Sartorialist and Copenhagen Street Style)

Weekly links

Have a great weekend. Stuff you may wish to try...

learn how to clean a paintbrush at Do It Yourself via Apartment Therapy

make gluten free apricot chipotle chicken at Simply Gluten Free

reupholster a chair with ribbons at Home Workshop via Craftzine

turn coat hangers and chicken wire into fantastic bubble wands at Martha Stewart

use a bunch of old zippers to craft a lamp at Instructables via Curbly

make your own Moroccan pouf at Examiner via Apartment Therapy

rid shirts of underarm stains at Men's Flair via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

It's not a summer look, but I like it.

(Photo via The English Muse via The Sartorialist, I think.)

Etsy find

If metal (not heavy) is your thing, then you'll love the handmade urban rustic metal jewelry at Cindy's Art & Soul Etsy shop. She designs bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings using sterling silver and copper metal in addition to creating inspirational, custom stamped jewelry.

I...love Maegan's tutes.

The gorgeous and hilarious Maegan of ...love Maegan has the best beauty how-to's and DIY projects. This video tutorial on how to do a full frontal French braid is one of my faves.

Weekly links

Hope you have some fun in the sun this weekend! Your links...

turn a galvanized steel stock tank into a chlorine-free pool at Apartment Therapy

make a gluten free more-vegetable-than-egg frittata at Vanilla Spoonfuls

make a headboard out of books at Instructables via Curbly

perform sleeve surgery on a tee at Oh My Stars via Curbly

make a plaid pillow from a goodwill jacket at Flipt Studio via Apartment Therapy

discover 6 ways to make a staycation feel more like a vacation at Apartment Therapy

make your own viking shoes at Earth & Living via WhipUp

bake cookies in a hot car at Baking Bites via Craftzine (*Please note: The recipe is NOT gluten free.)

(Photo via Ms. Muse)

Do you have a beef with big cities?

Graphic designer Christopher Wade Sherron of Providence, Rhode Island takes a cue from hip-hop culture in creating posters intended "to provoke attention towards an unacknowledged city by starting beef with well-known, prosperous cities in hopes to gain notoriety."What would your poster say?

Because we seldom see boys on the blogs...

In case you're wondering, these are images of male models exiting the Dolce & Gabbana show during Fashion Week in Milan.

(Photos via Jak & Jil)

Weekly links

Enjoy your weekend! Any big plans? If not, these should keep you pretty busy...

make a knock-off Dean & Deluca spice rack at Mookie Moo via Curbly

make fresh chunky guacamole at Food Porn Daily (Naturally gluten free.)

learn to knit Monster Chunks at Rebecca Danger via WhipUp

turn a wok into a side table (or a bird bath) at Jonathan Fong Style via Curbly

stretch your shoes with ice at Craftzine (This is a video tute.)

create an outdoor theater on the cheap at Backyard Theater via Ohdeedoh

turn a toilet paper roll into a cord keeper at Unplggd via Curbly

(Photo via weheartit)

"I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof," says Maggie.

Last night we started watching Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Unfortunately, I fell asleep halfway through the movie (it was like midnight)--I hope to finish watching tonight. Have you seen this classic? While searching photos of Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, I came across this one of Paul which I love...(I'll get you later, Liz.)

(Photo via Flickr)

Laurel Canyon Dreamin'

When I first saw the movie Laurel Canyon, I fell in love with this Los Angeles neighborhood immedidately. Apparently George Clooney, Meg Ryan, Will Ferrell and Justin Timberlake (among many other celebs) dig the area as well. Here are a few pics of Shawn Gold and Amy Neunsinger's LC retreat featured last week on Apartment Therapy...Where do you dream of living one day?

Weekly links

Hope everyone's enjoying a splendid weekend! Here are your links...

turn a hanging pocket shoe organizer into a vertical garden at Instructables via Curbly

make gluten free summer squash gratin at Gluten Hates Me

pimp your shower curtain at Chez Larsson

make your own vintage blue canning jars at Bridal Buzz via Apartment Therapy

learn how to make guerilla cooking MonoMittens at Burda Style via WhipUp

turn pitiful pallets into dreamy daybed at Design Sponge via Curbly

make a backyard summer pavilion at Maya Made via Craftzine

Answers to Thursday's Map That Outfit!:
1. Los Angeles
2. Milan
3. Berlin
4. Stockholm
5. New York

(Photo via Le Love)

Map That Outfit!

The cities are Stockholm, Milan, New York, Berlin and Los Angeles. Answers will be posted tomorrow.Do you wear black in the summer? (I do.)

(Photos via The Sartorialist)

Flickr photo: Vanilla Spoon

(There's also this Vanilla Spoons.)

(Photo via Flickr)

Who knew that an orange chair with a red wall would work?

(Photo via Design Sponge)

Weekly links

I hope you enjoy a fabulous Fourth of July weekend! Here are your links...

refashion old shirts into chair cushions (a.k.a. rump roosts) at Sustainable Suppers via Curbly

make gluten free peach blueberry pie at Flour Arrangements

camouflage your shed at Apartment Therapy

make Fourth of July confetti popper rockets at Alpha Mom

turn three chairs into one bench at Country Living via Curbly

repurpose tea tins into charming pendant lights at JunkMarket Style via Curbly

make recycled wine cork keychain favors at Craftzine

(By the way, the Red Hot Paris outfit was created by my daughter--Hippie Chic by yours truly.)

(Photos via here, here and here)

Can you guess which outfit was created by me and which one by my daughter?

"Red Hot Paris""Hippie Chic"