We've Moved!

Visit us at our new site that now includes our two doors down directory! 
www.twodoorsdowndirectory.com

Thank you for continuing to support local living!

Liz & Kari

The two doors down directory is LIVE!

Finally, after many painstaking hours, the two doors down directory website is up and running! The website combines the directory & blog to provide our readers with the "how to" and the "where to" on living local. With this exciting change, we are requesting you visit the new site, spend time exploring and subscribe! Please click here to discover the new blog & subscribe to daily reads on living local simply. We appreciate your continued support!


-Liz & Kari

The Clay Cottage

The recently opened Clay Cottage gallery and pottery school is a wonderful annex of Charleston's Creative Spark - a non profit center for the arts offering everything, from art classes to music and theatre, for kids and grown-ups of all ages. The Clay Cottage offers individual and adult pottery classes, group classes and couples' night. Grab a bottle of wine and gather your friends, or your honey, for an evening of creativity and ignite your creative spark! Here are some pictures from a recent pottery class led by potter Michaela Kuhn at the Clay Cottage.

The Best Tip for De-Cluttering your Closet

Did you know you wear 20% of your clothing 80% of the time? According to my favorite organizing guru, Peter Walsh, this is a fact. So how do you know what to keep and what to purge? Here is a great tip from Peter Walsh on pairing down your wardrobe to what you really wear. Turn all of your hangers in the opposite direction (round side of the hook towards the wall) and after you wear an item put it back the right way (round side of hook out). At the end of six months all of the items still facing the opposite way need to go! Simple and very honest! You can do the same with shoes; turn them all toe out on the rack and, as you wear them, return them heel out. This is a great way to see what you really wear and what needs to head to Goodwill or the local consignment store. A great time to do this is at the change of season because you can then see at the end of each season what you truly wear and what just sits there year after year collecting dust... 

-Kari & Liz

D.I.Y Composter

A while back my son, Baylor, decided to make a composter for a class project. The project's goal was for each student do something that would have a positive impact on the earth. After doing some research online he gathered the materials and put it together. The process is shown below....

First, he drilled holes into a large garbage can for ventilation (organic matter needs oxygen in order to break down)

Next, he decided to paint the composter to give it a personal touch

He placed straw in the bottom of the can to promote drainage

In went the organic matter we had collected from the kitchen

It is amazing how little trash we have now once we have recycled and composted! The composter has been a real success. It requires a bit more muscle than one that rotates with a hand crank since it needs to be turned regularly, but manual labor never hurt anyone. We have been able to use the "black gold" in our yard and nothing feels better then seeing nature come full circle. Do you compost? Please share your tips with us!

-Kari

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day is a day for picnics and being with family and friends! Hopefully, you are lucky enough to have the day off from all of your labors! Jazz up your picnic this year with a side of blue cheese cole slaw. This side dish will taste great whether you are doing bbq, burgers or dogs! Now, if you are like my Mom, and do not like blue cheese, you can substitute with some feta (but oh what you're missing!). This recipe is from my good friend Suzanne Cook.

Blue Cheese Cole Slaw

One 5 oz container of blue cheese (use to taste)

One bag cole slaw

3/4 cup to 1 cup mayo

1/4 cup dijon mustard

2 tbl sugar (white or raw)

2  tbl cider vinegar

Enjoy!

Liz

Easy Panzanella Salad

Even with neglect somehow my garden still produced tomatoes this past summer. Plump romas and super sweet yellow heirlooms were ready to be picked daily. I also still have basil growing like a weed. My intention is to make some yummy pesto to freeze but in the meantime I have been cooking italian regularly. I decided to experiment with a panzanella salad considering the stale loaf of bread on the counter and the harvest from the garden. Here is what I came up with, easy and great with a simple spaghetti pomodoro.

Easy Panzanella Salad

A bunch of tomatoes sliced in half

Fresh Basil

Mozzarella pearls

Crusty bread torn into small pieces

Olive oil drizzled on top

Balsamic Vinegar to taste

Sea Salt and Ground Pepper

Toss all ingredients together and serve!

close up of the salad

the perfect meal to enjoy on the porch!

-Kari

Kevin Morrissey's "Last Splash" at Lime Blue Gallery, 62b queen street, charleston, Friday Sept 2nd 5-8 pm!

De-cluttering Before a Move

"You should have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris

Whether you are planning on moving, or are in the process of a move, it is a good time to take stock in your stuff. Not only does a home that is clutter free sell more quickly, but releasing some of your baggage means less stuff to drag with you to your next home. Have you ever gotten ready to move and realized you still have stuff packed in the boxes from the previous move? Chances are you have clutter. Moving is a time for change and new beginnings, so why take your excess baggage with you? What exactly is clutter and how do we determine what stays and what goes? For every item in your home ask yourself the following questions: Does it celebrate you & what you are passionate about? Is it useful & functional on a regular basis? (Yes, a bread maker is useful and functional but not if it has been collecting dust for 5 years!) If it does not fit the above criteria, IT IS CLUTTER!!!! Remember physical clutter= mental clutter. So how do we start the process of creating a balanced home? De-cluttering before a move can be an intense process, so starting small and setting clear expectations is the key. Here are some tips for success: 

1. Set the timer and focus your attention on one area (a closet, drawer, cabinet, etc). 
2. Stick to the allotted time to conserve your energy and don't get sidetracked!
3. Have 5 labeled bins: Items to keep, Things to sell, Donation bin, Recycling bin, Trash. 
4. If you have not used it in the last year it needs to go! 
5. Pass on, donate or recycle before you change your mind. 
6. Have a written plan of attack and include the entire family in the process. 

Once you have slowly moved through your house de-cluttering every nook and cranny, it is time to donate the excess or have a huge yard sale. If a yard sale is the route you take, remember if it does not sell it gets donated! If you decide to share your extras with others, there are many organizations out there that specialize in making use out of consumer excess. Listed below are a few of my favorites:

www.excessaccess.org – helps you to locate local charities that need what you want to donate

www.fairygodmothersinc.com – finds prom dresses etc. for young girls

www.dressforsuccess.org – provides suits for individuals entering the work force

www.onewarmcoat.org – donates coats to those in need

www.hatsoff-to-chemo.org – provides hats to patients receiving chemotherapy

www.suitcasesforkids.org – provides foster children with suitcases

www.solesforsouls.com – donates shoes to disaster victims

Recycle all paper, plastic, and glass through your curbside recycler if you cannot find a home for it. Other items may also be recycled at www.earth911.org and they will tell you where and how. If the process is overwhelming and too much for you to conquer on your own, seek the help of a professional organizer. Allow this move to be a new beginning for you and your family.

Start Your Winter Veggies in a Sunny Window

As fall approaches, it is time to start planning for your winter garden. I found this picture on an adorable blog called The Lark. What a great way to recycle your tea tins! You can plant your starter seeds in these sweet tins until ready to transfer them to a bigger pot or bed in the yard. I also have been storing up toilet paper rolls to use as little pots for my seedlings to grow in. You can find a complete tutorial for starting seeds in toilet paper rolls on the ehow website. Here is a picture of their final product:

We have just begun prepping our raised boxes for our winter garden, pulling the weeds and clearing out the expired plants. I also plan to add some compost to enrich the soil. I will keep you posted on our progress and share pictures as well. I hope this winter we have large harvest of greens and root vegetables.


-Kari

Countdown to Launch!

We have been working, working, working! We are just a few days away from launching the two doors down website (if all goes as planned)! This week we will be back to blogging, so stay tuned....


Liz and Kari

Coming Soon the two doors down directory!

We will be on a brief hiatus this week while we prepare to launch the two doors down network. Stay tuned for the upcoming website launch! 

Book Club With a Side of Thai

Did you read Thrive with us? If so, we are sure you are as surprised and fascinated by Dan Buettner's findings on happiness as we are. His journey researching the worlds' happiest people and places took us across the globe. Surprisingly, each location has different factors that influenced their level of happiness. For example, in San Luis Obispo, CA., having a city with green-space, parks, bike paths and public gardens has promoted wellness and a sense of community. In Singapore, a safe environment contributes to the citizen's sense of well being. Their sense of security allows them to go outside and be active without anxiety or stress. In Monterrey, Mexico, faith and friendship create a joyous community. Denmark is another place found to house some of the world's happiest people. Not having to worry about health care, education, or retirement creates a sense of ease and security even with some of the highest taxes in the world. Denmark also has one of the lowest poverty rates, low unemployment, and a growing economy. After traveling around the world and delving deep into data on happiness, the top factors for happiness were found to be: economic freedom, low unemployment, tolerance, and quality of government. To learn more secrets Buettner discovered during his journey check out Thrive!

Surfside Glover Park

On a recent visit to Washington D.C., we were introduced to a local restaurant called Surfside.  Located in Glover Park, we felt as if we were at the beach while sitting on the rooftop enjoying the breeze and eating tacos. The menu is diverse and allows you to create your own taco, burrito or quesadilla. In addition to their flexible menu, they also use house-made sauces, organic greens, and fresh fish. Surfside has been noted by the Washingtonian as one of the 100 very best restaurants and the The Washington Post recommended it as a great place to bring kids. We took their advice and brought the kids to enjoy tacos, family, and some yummy margaritas. Here are some pictures from our meal on the roof.

Digging in! Chips with a trio of guac, salsa, and queso.

Fish tacos

Inside Surfside

Yeah! They even recycle!

-Kari

Simple Pantry Makeover

One way to save on extra trips to the grocery store, because you have run out of an item, or eliminate disappointment when grabbing a box of cereal, that was put back on the shelf empty, is to store your pantry goods in jars or other clear containers. This way, you know when you are running low on an item. No matter how many members are in your household, this is a tried and true way of keeping your grocery list accurate. There are lots of different sized jars available for cereals, crackers, rice, pastas, and more. Instead of looking at a bunch of boxes when you open your pantry door, you'll be looking at smart and simple jars. Try it and see if this method works for you and your family!  ~Liz

jars for tea

easy to locate items that you need

Patio Inspired by "Chocolat"

My close friend Lisa is moving. With a move comes a lot of purging and she has taken this opportunity to another level. She said "why move something you don't love or need?" I agree.  With her purge came a generous offering of furniture. She suggested that I take her old dining room table and chairs, as well as a console (more on that later). I briefly hesitated, since I don't need a table inside my house, and then she suggested putting it in the yard "Chocolat" style (as seen in photo still from the movie above). She struck something deep inside of me that longs to live in the countryside of France and eat alfresco every night. You might remember the movie that hit theaters in 2000, starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, and the enchanting scene of the party in the garden. That was Lisa's vision and now it is mine. I have consulted with my painter friend on how to restore and weather proof the furniture and have picked some outdoor fabric to recover the chairs with. Now the challenge begins. I thought I would share some before pictures of the dining set. Once this project is complete, I will share the final results! Any advice is very welcome!

the table also has two leaves to seat 8 or more

one of the chairs ready to be recovered


-Kari

Handcrafted Jewelry by Caroline Sandlin

A few years ago, while gathering artists for our Bloom’ in Art show, we were given the name of Caroline Sandlin, a jewelry artist out of Hollywood, South Carolina. Caroline dropped off her jewelry for the show on the front porch and then picked it up after we left the venue. Several years have gone by and only recently did we meet Caroline face to face at the Piccolo Spoleto Craft Fair. It was a joy to see her booth uniquely designed and her jewelry center stage. Caroline handcrafts all her pieces out of everything from sterling silver and copper to leather and pieces of pottery. Each piece is made by hand with the utmost care and creativity. Caroline's work is artsy yet classic at the same time. Here are a few pictures of her work. 

 -Liz and Kari

Sunbutter Cookies

 I love peanut butter cookies! They have always been a favorite of mine. When I was a child, I used to make them with my grandmother and remember using the fork to make lines on the tops before popping them in the oven. I have missed sharing this ritual with my kids since peanuts are out of the question due to their allergies; a common issue with many children. Since discovering Sunbutter, my world has changed a bit. Now I can make Sunbutter and jam sandwiches for school lunches, spread some on toast with bananas and honey, and even make mock peanut butter cookies. If you are not familiar with Sunbutter, it is made from sunflower seeds in a peanut-free facility. It is a good source of protein and essential fats while being delicious. Here is my recipe for Sunbutter Cookies. You can substitute with peanut butter if your home is allergy free. I also like to add chocolate chips!

Sunbutter Cookies

1 1/2 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

(sift the above together)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

(cream together)

add

1 egg

1/2 cup Sunbutter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend well and add dry to wet ingredients. Throw in some chocolate chips. Place on cookie sheet or baking stone and bake at 325 for 14 minutes or till golden on top. Enjoy!! Kari

Charleston's Country Bumpkin

My daughter Lee is an artist. She comes by it naturally as my mother is an artist too. (It skipped right over me). Lee attends Charleston County School of the Arts for visual art, and I could not be more proud! At the beginning of each school year, we receive a list of fabulous art supplies that she will need for the mediums they will be studying. Luckily for us, we have a wonderful arts and crafts store called Country Bumpkin. This locally owned store has been in business 25 years and counting! From jewelry design and tools, to paints, drawing pencils, canvases, sketch pads, and jewelry making classes, you will find what you need to get your creative juices flowing. County Bumpkin supports the community by offering discounts to guilds and non-profits while also supporting Coupons of Compassion . This adorable shop is situated amongst other locally owned shops in a community right behind the famous Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, SC. At Country Bumpkin, you will be waited on hand and foot by their knowledgeable sales staff and, if they don't have an item that you need, it will be special ordered for you ASAP. Convenient and fun to visit, drop by and tell them two doors down sent ya!

variety of paint brushes

paint, and more paint!

sketch pads

drawing and colored pencils

colors for fall!

beads galore!

Country Bumpkin

In the Common

217 Lucas Street

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843 884 8808


~Liz