PopBetty

A Love Letter to Pop Culture

Hayao Miyazaki Craft Round-up, Part I

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PopBetty - Hayao Miyazaki Crafts Round-up
From left to right, row by row: Nausicaa Ohmu bento box by Anna the Red // knit Totoro baby cap by Hello Yarn {via} // Howl’s Moving Castle papercraft by Ben Millett // amazing Miyazaki-themed nail art by AttackedAstoria {via} // paperdoll sweater pattern Totoro hack by Marianne (UPDATE: tutorial) // Catbus cake by Coco Cake  // Catbus embroidery tutorial by Chelsea Bloxsom // Totoro crochet plushie instructions by heavens_hellcat {via}.

Right now, I’m putting finishing touches on the next Queen of Reversals recap (expect it tomorrow!). In the meantime, here’s a roundup of awesome crafts inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki. All relevant links & info should be in the caption above, save for two notes: one, that I’ve previously featured Anna the Red’s sleeping Totoro bento box; and two, as the original model is no longer available, here’s an alternate free papercraft model download for Howl’s Moving Castle.

Welcome to Atlanta: The Reid House

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The Reid House is a historic Atlanta condo, designed in 1923 by key Atlanta architect Neel Reid. My childhood library was the AFPL‘s Peachtree branch, which happens to be right across the street from the condo building. That, plus the fact that my dad is a residential architect meant I was always aware of the property & its significance.

I heard recently that some units were for sale, some for incredibly low prices. This turned out not to be true, but it got me looking at the available units, and my goodness, they are gorgeous. My favorite was the unit below, which has by far the best windows.

Reid House in Atlanta: Entry Hall

Reid House in Atlanta: Door Knocker

Reid House in Atlanta: Apartment

Reid House in Atlanta: Kitchen

Reid House in Atlanta: Windows

I DIE. The place has lovely vintage details, well-done updates, and tons of natural light. I’ve also heard that the building’s walls are sound-proofed with sand, meaning that despite the central location (on Peachtree Street, right across from the High Museum), the inside is quiet. See the full listing with all photos here.

Recipe: Houston’s Grilled Chicken Salad Copycat

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Houston's salad copycat

I love Houston’s Grilled Chicken Salad.

I know it is one of those “bad salads” that morning talk shows are always discovering (“1000 calories for a salad?! Outrageous!”), but I do not care. I love the crisp textures (tortilla strips, lettuce, carrot sticks), the grilled chicken, and of course, the combination of the two dressings, Honey Lime Vinaigrette & Peanut Sauce. However…

Long ago, the salad used to be $9. It is now hovering at $16, and what’s more, the portion size has shrunk. Economic realities of the restaurant industry aside, I hate spending $16 simply to get some dressing.

So I decided: I had to learn how to make the dressings myself. And, after only one failed attempt, I hit the jackpot.

[Read more…]

House: Citrus Tree Inspiration

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Citrus Tree Inspiration | PopBetty

With their dark leaves and bright fruits, citrus trees are beautiful and functional additions to any home or garden. They are not demanding plants, given sufficient light, heat, & humidity, and certain dwarf varieties can be grown indoors. Some images to inspire you, from left to right, row by row: