vacation - here i come!

I'm signing off a little early this week.

Why, you ask? Because I'm leaving on a jet plate. And I'm heading here:

La Villa del Valle in the Guadalupe Valley, Mexico.

"A secluded, relaxing sanctuary" in Mexico's wine country.

All I want to do is this:

And drink a lot of wine and take a lot of naps, too.

See you next week!

recipe to try: cookie dough truffles

Bite-sized chunks of cookie dough covered in chocolate? Where do I sign up?

After I watched Paula making these easy-as-can-be-yet-so-delicious-looking-I-can-hardly-stand-it cookie dough truffles, I vowed that these would be my next dessert treat to try, and I ran right over to my laptop to get the recipe. {Well, I went online right after I cleaned up the puddle of drool on my coffee table.}

Don't they look amazing? Any cookie dough lover out there will appreciate these. We no longer have to feel guilty for our batches of cookies that yield half as much as the recipe calls for because we ate too much of the dough. This is dough that's meant to be eaten! And because sweetened condensed milk is added as the binder, we don't even need to worry about getting sick from raw eggs. {Getting sick from eating too many? Well, that's a different story.}

I can't wait to try the recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out... but if you beat me to it, please let me know what you think!

Cookie Dough Truffles
from Cooking with Paula Deen March/April 2007

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1-1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour, mixing well. Add chocolate chips and pecans, mixing well. Flour your hands because dough will be sticky and shape into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper and let chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in refrigerator.

Makes 5 dozen truffles.

euphoria

I wish my computer was scratch and sniff.

If it was I would surely rub a hole right through the screen from trying to smell this all day. It's Euphoria by Calvin Klein. My new favorite scent!

Now, I know it's only August and my birthday isn't until November, but I sure hope a certain somebody remembers this when he's shopping. {wink wink}

Euphoria Eau du Parfum Spray ($75) available online at Sephora.

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Even though it's well into August and the stores have already stocked the shelves with back-to-school and halloween, we've still got a few more weeks of summer. Enjoy every minute of it!

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock

(Running Ahead of Oneself by OrangeAcid on Flickr.)

Have a lovely weekend. See you Monday!

good things

Martha Stewart Living always impresses. I love cracking open each shiny new issue to see the bounty of lovely images and ideas that are piled up inside. The stylists are the cream of the crop. Purrdy pictures abound. And the brains behind the mag come up with one amazing decor, holiday decorating, organizing, gardening, cooking, baking, collecting - you name it! - idea after another. MSL is the inspiration bible.

Every year for Christmas my mom renews my subscription, and until just a few days ago, I kept every issue. There were stacks and stacks... all organized by date {Martha would be so proud!} and full of dog-ears, notes and bookmarks. But all good things {hee hee, no pun intended!} must come to an end, and the neat-freak in me decided it was high time to bid adieu to those stacks. But not until I went through each one and tore out the ideas that I wanted to keep. After what seemed like endless page-turning, I finally got through every last issue, tearing out pages as I went along. Now the only stack that's left is the one on the curb for recyling.

Here are a couple of my tear-outs that I think are share-worthy:


I love this idea of using an old chair as a bedside table. Here it's used in a guest room, set up with essentials that welcome. I could also see doing this in a master bedroom with a lovely vase of flowers and an alarm clock on the seat and a stack of books or magazines below.


They manage to make even under the kitchen sink look pretty! I know that mine could use some organization like this. And what fun to go about grommeting. {Sorry, I realize how craft-nerdy that just made me sound.} But I do think it would be nice to have a place to hang my rubber gloves and a dish towel or two rather than stashing them in a drawer across the room.

Old metals cans are transformed into a collection of simple white vases that are perfect for showing off flowers from the garden. And just think how green you'd be if you held on to those old soup and coffee cans and turned them into something beautiful. Now if only I could get my hands on so many gorgeous hydrangeas...

on friendship

I’m a little blue. I should be full of happy, but actually I’m a little sad. I was away last weekend – spending a blissful three days with my dearest high-school girlfriends – and it was, as it always is, a perfect weekend. But now it’s over. And oh how I hate to say goodbye. I adore these girls. Ahem, women. We are all grown up now, after all. But each year we trek back to Wisconsin from wherever life has led us just to be with each other. That’s all the weekend is about… simply being with each other. There are no special events to attend or formal dinners to put on. It’s a-ok to stay in your pajamas all weekend. There is no judging. We’re each loved and accepted for exactly who we are. And always have been. We laugh. We cry. A few laugh so hard they end up crying. Together we look back and smile on our pasts and look forward to our futures. Friendship really is life’s dearest gift.

So here's to you, my dear ones - Aimee, Jill, Jody, Sarah, Tera, and Tori – your friendship is priceless, and I love you with all my heart.

(What Happiness Feels Like by DazeyChic on Etsy.)

design inspiration: colorful bedrooms

So, I know this may seem contrary to my usual love of white interiors, but I guess I'm in the mood for a little color today, and these bedrooms look just perfect to me. They are both fine examples of how to use a bold color on the walls. The blue room is beach house casual with white beadboard, industrial-inspired reading lamps and striped fabrics. It's all about simple lines and clean living. The pink room, on the other hand, is boho-chic with an antique iron bed, mounds of flowery pillows and a crystal chandelier. The pink-panel wall, collection of mirrors and plaid curtains add feminine charm and add to the cozy appeal of the space.

(Posh Living's Beach House Bedroom on Flickr.)


(Tammy Manet's Pink Room on Flickr.)

design inspiration: coastal living

Sitting in the doctor's waiting room this morning, I started paging through a copy of Coastal Living and was so smitten by the photos, I just had to go online for more. I was instantly enamored when I saw this:

What can I say? You know I love the nearly all white palette and cannot resist the pared-down look of this casual cottage getaway. The architecture boasts clean lines, and the décor is informal – a mix of flea market and antiques store finds.

I imagine how cool the salt-bleached pine floors would feel beneath your feet and how the ceiling fan overhead would softly whir day and night. We’d all plop down on the comfortable slipcovered sofa after a long day of playing on the beach and use the huge coffee table to set up board games or to nosh on snacks. The antique pine wardrobe would be filled with blankets for cuddling up after the sun goes down.

It’s about living simply. Making your home a cozy and peaceful retreat.

design inspiration: flickr finds

Here are few that I'm loving today. So without further ado...

Calm and Collected. Love. love. love. Soft white walls. Ebony floors. A weathered glass cabinet holding a tidy collection of glassware and dishes. And just that little peek into the dining room beyond leaves no doubt that it is as beautifully appointed. To me, this is design perfection. And pure inspiration.

(From the adorable Hannah of Honeypie Living on Flickr.)

Cottonblue. What a great idea for a wall of storage! I don't think I ever would have thought to put three mismatched bookcases side by side, and I'm amazed at how terrific they look together. Totally loving these colorful cases filled from top to bottom with trinkets and books.

(My Shelves by Cottonblue on Flickr.)

BrocanteGirl. Oh peaceful kitchen, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… I love thee from the wall of contemporary white cabinets to the old wooden rack with its collection of plates and serving pieces. I love the country table with its weather-worn painted top sitting beside a bold black and white runner. The layering of neutral colors – grays, beiges and taupes – and easy pairing of modern and vintage styles is design at its best. Anyone would feel at home in this kitchen.

(Untitled by BrocanteGirl on Flickr.)

design inspiration: muted patinas

Today kicks off a week of design inspiration photos that I am simply loving and wanted to share with you. Let me know what you think!

Peeking past an old shuttered screen, you can see the harmony of soft colors in the bedroom of this small Parisian apartment. Simply decorated, only a few pieces are gathered on the oak parquet floor: a frosty white painted side table and chair and a bed made with pure white bedding and a dark indigo coverlet draped at the foot. The white walls are the back drop for a collection of framed artwork hung like a collage on the wall, and a hodgepodge of vases and candlesticks are gathered on the bedside table.

(Chambre from Marie Claire Maison.)

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"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." ~James Dent

(Summer Fun by Living the American Dream on Flickr.)

I hope your summer weekend is perfect!

etsy wishlist

this and this from The Little Stitch
this, this, and this from Little Black Duck.
this from Bailey Doesn't Bark.

The talent out there amazes and inspires me. Thank goodness for a place like Etsy to showcase it all.

the magic of polaroid

I remember when I was in sixth grade spending the afternoon at my best friend at the time’s house. Like most middle-schooler’s we quickly got bored with whatever it was we were doing and started looking around for something else to do. We eventually found her mom’s Polaroid camera, and spent the next few hours photographing all sorts of things and then waiting in anticipation for each little picture to develop. I actually still have a few of those pictures tucked away in a box in the closet. Every time I pull them out, I feel a surge of happiness remembering that lovely day. We’ve lost touch over the years, and I never knew whether she got in trouble for using up all her mom’s film, but what I do know is that seeing those pictures form from nothing right in front of our eyes was like magic, and we loved every minute of it.

There are 25 photographers out there who feel exactly the same way about the magic of Polaroid and together they compiled a book of arresting and inspiring photos titled “For the Love of Light – A Tribute to the Art of the Polaroid.” Created and edited by Jenifer Altman, the book invites us see the world through these talented photographers’ eyes.

I can’t wait for my copy to arrive. You can order one too. Just click here. You’ll get a limited edition numbered copy (one of 500) and a limited edition 5x5 print from the book.

offensive + delightful

I got a real kick out of this kooky, hip, witty, retro-inspired line of greeting cards from Offensive + Delightful. They're definitely not intended for anyone who takes himself too seriously. Or maybe they're just the thing for that somebody to get 'em to lighten up!

My faves: Hey Baby * So Old * Welcome * Happy * Thank You

I spotted these first on Design Crush... a very lovely blog full of very lovely things.

photo inspiration

I've never been more inspired to take a photography class than I was after I started looking at these amazing food shots at Dapan's Kitchen on Flickr. {That and I've never wanted to lick my computer screen more!} The images are simply delightful. And of course, I went right to the "Sweet by Dapan" set and haven't been able to think about anything but getting something sweet to eat since.

Wouldn't it be lovely to see a few of your favorites printed and framed? Here are mine. The calm simplicity of the photos is really just beautiful.

Black Sesame Cookies & Chai Cake

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"Summer is Back" on Hele's Flickr photostream.

"Summer afternoon... to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

Have a wonderful weekend!

let's shop: mothology

I have been oohing and aahing over this site for months now and thought it was high-time to write a little bit about it. I don't need to say much... one look and you'll be hooked. But just in case you need a little extra urging I will say this: the vintage French table ware, linens and home accessories are out of this world.

My faves are {drumroll please}:


These hand-blown translucent blue milk glass vases and hurricanes.
A petite white ceramic pot de crème with a teeny birdie finial.
This delicate, sky-high glass pastry stand .
A newly made table runner that looks like antique French linen.

Check out everything else from Mothology here.

smitten kitten

Who doesn't need to jot down a note here or there throughout the day? I'm always scribbling phone messages and notes from my boss down on whatever piece of paper happens to be lying on my desk, and as you can imagine I've misplaced a few of those messages more than once. I wouldn't have to scramble for a spot to jot if I had one of these cute memo pads with a vintage wallpaper cover from Smitten Kitten. And I love the pencil holder!

(Memo pads shown are Deco and Picnic.)

design inspiration: bathroom decorating

Before I can get to the point of this post, I have a confession to make - one that I'm embarrassed to admit to anyone who is not my husband or my dog (and frankly, the only reason they know is because they live with me). I’m just going to throw it out there {like ripping off a band-aid, right?} My favorite show on TV right now is "Denise Richards: It's Complicated".

I cannot believe I’m admitting this.

I remember months back seeing the commercials and thinking, oh good lord, here's another one looking to get another 15 minutes. What on earth could she possibly do with a reality show? {Am I really so quick to forget how deliciously addicting reality TV can be?}

So anyway, there I am a couple weeks ago doing some Sunday night channel surfing, when I end up on E! and an episode of “It’s Complicated” that was about 5 minutes in. Denise was in her reality-TV splendor, and I was hooked. Now I’m even Tivo-ing it.

A lot of the episodes feature scenes in Denise’s bathroom, and every time there is a bathroom scene, I find myself completely enamored with its loveliness. First of all, it’s huge with soft white walls framing a dark wood floor. The extra-long vanity is on one wall with an enormous framed mirror hanging above. On the counter sit vases of roses and framed family photos. A large round tufted ottoman swathed in soft, ultra-feminine shabby chic fabrics sits in front of a white fireplace and is the place for friends to perch and talk. On one end is the shower and on the other is a soaking tub with white painted cabinets that are perfectly distressed on either end. The bathroom exudes femininity and is just so pretty.

I’d love to have a bathroom like this to call my own, and if I did… I’d fill it up with these:


Mirrored Vanity from Lorin Marsh.
Neblina Chandelier from Ironies.
Rustic Bleached Out Bonnetiere From Heather & Company, Inc.
Cloverleaf Ottoman from 1st Dibs.

Alltop Women

In case you haven't already, check out Alltop for "all the top stories". Described as "a digital magazine rack," its got tons of websites and blogs ranging from all different topics from A as in Anime to Y as in Yoga (sorry, there aren't any Z's!) The very organized site is super easy to use. I love going to Alltop Women, where I've seen a lot of my favorite blogs plus found others that I never would have known about. If an article looks interesting, you just hover your mouse over it to read a blurb of the story, and then you can decide whether you want to read more. There's LOTS of reading enjoyment here! Go ahead - see for yourself!

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Ahh... Friday!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

It's gonna be a hot one.

Happy Girls Under a Rainbow by Pink Sherbet Photography.
Check out the rest of the amazing - coloful! - photography here.

(I'm going to be away on a work trip for the next couple weeks and will have little to no access to a computer while I'm gone. I've got a few posts lined up for you and look forward to getting back into the swing of things in August. See you soon! ~Kristin)

recipe(s) to try: brunch delight (with Smitten Kitchen)

How many synonyms are there for the word yummy? Hmm... Let’s see. There's delicious, delectable, lip-smacking, and scrumptious. Mouthwatering, tasty and toothsome. And still many others I'm sure. You get the point - there’s a lot. Well, you’re going to need every one once you start scrolling through Smitten Kitchen.

I love to look through recipes and have tons of bookmarks and favorites saved to show for it. Not to mention the countless copies that have been printed off and stuffed into my recipe keepers at home. Smitten Kitchen is always one of my go-tos when looking for a new recipe. So, naturally, this is where I stopped when I wanted to find something to make for brunch this weekend. I actually found twelve somethings. But with only one oven? Looks like I’ve got some narrowing down to do.

From top left: Raspberry-Topped Lemon Muffins * Rich Buttermilk Waffles * Leek and Swiss Chard Tart * German Pancakes * Big Crumb Coffee Cake * Pumpkin Muffins * Dream a Little Dream of Scone * Boozy Baked French Toast * Coconut Macaroon Pancakes * Spinach Quiche * Zucchini Bread * Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

Thank you, Deb, for the wonderful recipes! Your photos are just dreamy!

bottoms up!

I’m so not the type who waits for a special occasion to break out the bubbly. It’s too tasty to have only at weddings or for ringing in the New Year. Nope, I’ll enjoy a glass any old night of the week, for no special reason at all.

And after finding these, now I really want to have a glass: Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup.

Just drop a bud into the bottom of a glass, pour in some of the sweet pink syrup, top it off with champagne (or anything else that fizzes), and watch as it slowly blooms into a dazzling flower. The makers say the edible buds taste like raspberry and rhubarb… a perfect complement to champagne.

At only $13.95 for a jar of eleven, I think these are definitely worth a try. Cheers!

Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup available via Firebox

let's shop: pedlars 2

Just when I thought I'd seen everything there was to see on Pedlars, I went and spotted these.

Truly loving the perpetual calendars - great vintage industrial designs that would look perfect on any modern-day desk. And they're green too! You can use these good-lookin' gadgets over and over and over again.

let's shop: pedlars

What fun it is to go "window shopping" across the pond right from my cozy desk seat! Actually, it’s about all I can do with the dollar/Euro exchange rate being what it is now-a-days, but I digress. Anyway, let’s talk about the oodles of goodies over at Pedlars.com. Organized by department (home life, out and about, pure fun to name a few), it’s easy to wander through the site ogling the lovely objects along the way. Here are just a few of my favorites that I found while scouting around this afternoon.
A collection of mismatched printers' blocks. Spell whatever you like with the lovely assortment of perfectly patinated blocks. They’re all a bit distressed and loaded with character.
The folks over at Pedlars say this copper bowl was hand-hammered in Istanbul from 50 year old Turkish copper. Sounds just delightful to me. I love the hammered pattern and could see a collection of these displayed on a kitchen wall.
I can’t say that I’d actually use this vintage wasp catcher as it was intended, but I do fancy the gorgeous hand blown look and could certainly see using it as a candle holder or putting a few together on a shelf as a whimsical collection of corked bottles.

I don't even like hard-boiled eggs, but that doesn't mean I can't take a second look at these friendly little knitted egg cosies. Hello little chicken and kitty-cat!

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Laugh with friends * Sleep in * Relax in the sunshine* Be merry * Share your love

Enjoy every moment of your weekend!

Photo from girlhula.

this makes me happy

I could watch it over and over and over.

Thanks, Megan for passing this along.

You can also watch it here.

i'm addicted

Is there help out there for a girl like me? A girl who goes gaga every time she sees a lovely white piece of porcelain or pottery? I think I'm gonna need it... especially after spying this amazing set of Pierced Plates at Burke Decor. Each delicate, lacey pattern is different. And so purdy.

Want a set for yourself? ... just click here!

too cool for drool

With all the new mommas and mommas-to-be in my group, I'm always on the lookout for cute baby accessories. These definitely fit the bill! Sweet bibs and burpies from Bean Pickle Sprout. They're hand-made (sometimes from vintage fabrics) with adorable birdie appliqués. The made-to-order bibs are just $10.

thoughts on collecting

It all started when I was installing a Client in her new home. She was unpacking her exquisite milk glass collection, and as each piece was unwrapped I felt myself getting more and more excited to see what beautiful object would come next. Her collection is stunning. The mix of shapes and textures molded out of creamy white glass is so perfectly pretty. Each has a story, and she couldn’t have been happier to share some of those stories with me. And, oh how much I wanted a few of those pieces for my own!

That’s when I knew… I wanted to start collecting milk glass too.

I’ve always loved it… why not collect it? My mom’s “chicken bowl” is one of my favorites (the lidded bowl is shaped like a fat hen), and my grandmother has several covetable serving pieces that get brought out to the Thanksgiving table year after year. I’ve seen just how lovely a collection can look grouped together on bookcase shelves or in a hutch.

So that’s that. I’m going to collect milk glass.

Photo: "Things" on Fieryeyed's Flickr.

couldn't have said it better

Care to join me?

Getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend is always so hard. Wouldn't this be the perfect way to ease into Monday?

(photo from Eirarara on Flickr)

birthday wishes

Happy birthday, Jason!
May you always have plenty of cowbell.

(Photo from Danarah on Flickr)

the weekend is here

...and it's early!

Pop * Boom * Bang

Sparkle

Time to celebrate America!
Happy Fourth of July.

(Photo from Photo Machine.)

design inspiration: house envy

I am so gaga over the photos Moline posted of her home in Germany that I can barely see straight! Simplicity in the design and so very thoughtful in the details, what a talent she has. It was really hard to narrow down the pile to just a few favorites (if you call 9 a few!), but here they are!

(Be sure to check out the rest of her amazing collection here.)

what i'm reading

Do you ever find that when you near the end of a great novel you start missing it even though it isn’t even finished? You start reading slower to keep that last page from coming? And then when the inevitable happens, and you do finish that last sentence, that you read everything else on the book - the back flap, the author’s bio, the reviews – just to keep it going a little bit longer? That’s what great novels do to me. I get so caught up in the stories that sometimes they end before I’m ready. It’s like they’ve broken up with me and I don’t want to say goodbye.

This just happened to me with The Birth House by Ami McKay. I’m having a hard time putting into words why I loved it so much. Maybe it was the lovable characters and the enduring friendships they shared or maybe it was the style of writing –like a journal or even a scrapbook (as the author describes). Or maybe because at the heart of the story it was about mothers and babies and pregnancy and that’s the one thing I want most in my life right now but am having trouble getting. Most likely, it’s the sum of all these things.

I hope if you decide to read it that you love it too. I’d love to hear what you think.

The Birth House * Ami McKay
Read more about it here.
Order it online here.

recipe to try: strawberry cream cake

Strawberry Cream Cake from Everyday Food

Cake, cream and berries… triple yum.

Believe me – this cake is every bit as tasty as it looks. I made it for a potluck dinner with friends last Saturday night, and it got rave reviews. I just had to share the recipe with you. If summertime makes you crave fresh berry desserts like I do then you’ve gotta give this recipe a try.

It's a cinch to make, and you can even make it up to a day ahead. I made a couple modifications to the recipe: instead of eggs and whole milk I used egg beaters and skim. The buttery cake was perfect for soaking up all the sweet strawberry juices. And the dollop of homemade whipped cream was heavenly.

Find the recipe here.