adorned abode

John Robshaw Textiles

2012-02-15T07:22:00.000-05:00

I saw this Dhurrie Duffel bag in Country Living a while back and loved it. Similar ones below...

I'm sure I'm behind the times in checking his site out but O.M.G. Textiles galore. Furniture is ah-mazing. I am in LOVE.

I've been on a huge morrocan kick lately so these products don't disappoint! All images and products from John Robshaw.

Happy Hearts Day!

2012-02-14T17:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Enjoy a little heart art...

Images from Pinterest and Etsy.

My Crafty Space

2012-02-12T16:59:00.000-05:00

We're still slowly settling in. The plan is to finally do some more painting of the upstairs next weekend since we have a three day weekend. No promises though.

I have been getting my crafting area together. I'm thrilled to have a proper spot for it in our new house.

I've started to feel more creative just sitting in the spot looking at pretty ribbon and inspirational images I've posted on my bulletin board.

I love the colors in these tamari balls my friend Leslie gave to me as a gift from her wedding. It is still beyond me how she made these things.

I love using special things like this crystal dish of my grandmother's to hold every day items like my scissors and safety pins. It makes this area feel even more special to me.

Grandin Road

2012-02-10T18:01:00.000-05:00

Ever since we moved and registered our new address with the post office, we've gotten all kinds of catalogs offering us special "welcome to your new home" discounts. I've gotten Grandin Road before but never saw anything I was really crazy about. I also thought it was mostly outdoor furniture and accessories. Well, if you thought the same, it is time for a second look. Here are a few of my favorites. Good thing I have a 15% off coupon!

They have a bunch of different sizes of these cool antiqued metal letters. Would be a great addition to a gallery wall.

I really like these beveled mirrors - especially how they've displayed them in a group.

You know I love animal print! This mirror is unique in that the metal that is placed over the mirrored glass is cut so that it replicates a zebra print.

Another great mirror. A cool take on the sunburst.

As soon as I can figure out what color I am painting my kitchen, I want to get new bar stools. These are some of the favorite ones I've seen so far.

Cute little side table for a kids room or a game room - dice!

Outdoor stackable chairs that mimic oh so popular indoor ones. Love.

I'm pretty sure I want this to be my firescreen. I'm working on my husband still but it is in the running.

Kilim print chairs. These are fabulous.

And kilim throw pillows.

Lucite stools. Another option for the kitchen. Depends on if we go more modern or traditional.

Love this crown inspired outdoor bench.

Vintage inspired chairs and stools. Would be a great accent in any room.

So this other cool thing that they have is paintable wallpaper. I love how it gives texture but in any color you want. I might have to figure out where to use some of this. These are just a few of the styles.

Have a great weekend everyone!

New Bedroom Drapes

2012-02-07T18:29:00.000-05:00

My bedroom is one room that I feel like is coming along. I got my new bedding which I adore for my anniversary last year. (Remember?) I've dropped off two chairs to have them recovered. I've picked this great neutral but textural quatrefoil pattern. Which brings me to my drapes...my latest purchase.

They were on sale at Z Gallerie!

Before and After: Utility Room Redo

2012-02-06T07:54:00.000-05:00

I'm embarrassed to say it but I still have a few boxes that I haven't unpacked yet. Yes, we moved over two months ago. I also haven't taken as many pictures of my new house yet because everything seems to be a work in progress. For example, we got the basement walls done, fireplace done and carpet in but we have no furniture down there so there is nothing to take pictures of.

However, last weekend we did get one big chunk done. It isn't the most exciting transformation but it has really made a big difference. It is amazing what a shelf can do. You may remember that we built a wall in the back of our basement to close off the utility area. The hot water heater, furnace and washing machine and dryer are all back there along with a little hallway and another little closet. The idea behind building the wall was two-fold: 1) hide the unsightliness of the necessary but not pretty need for utilitarian storage and appliances and 2) block the noise of the appliances so that my husband can work quietly in his office space downstairs.

Here was the space B.S. (before shelves):

And here it is now:

The best part of the whole thing? Being able to close the door and ignore it all.

We got the shelf at Crate and Barrel. It was affordable, is sturdy, and was easy to assemble (well, easy for my husband to do).

A Rifle Valenetine's Day

2012-02-05T14:36:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day is almost upon us. Whether or not you have a special Valentine, it is still a great time to think of all those in your life that you love and care about. I posted about Rifle Paper Co. a while back. But, have you seen their Valentine's cards for this year? I adore them.

All cards can be found on the Rifle Paper Company site.

Phenomenal Pheromone Design

2012-02-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

Another find from the Atlanta Market. Some of them if you think about what they actually are are kind of gross. But it is neat to see the beauty in things you would otherwise overlook.

All pieces by Christopher Marley on his Pheromone site.

Going Dark.

2012-02-02T06:21:00.002-05:00

This is the color I'm thinking of painting our den (maybe even this weekend - but don't hold your breath). It is called Gibralter Gray from Olympic Paint. Do ya'll think I'm crazy for going so dark? I think I'm willing to risk it...after all, it is only paint.

Turned on toTurned Wood

2012-02-01T11:00:00.001-05:00

I've really got a thing for turned wood furniture these days. It has this antique feel that is modern at the same time. And I'm seeing it everywhere. Wisteria has two great pieces that I am loving lately:

There's just something about the detail of these pieces that elevates them to a new level of greatness.

image via Pinterest

image via Traditional Home

image via Houzz

Tuesday Tip: Wrangle Your Wrapping Paper

2012-01-31T06:50:00.001-05:00

This tip is so obvious and so ingenious at the same time. Cut open an empty roll of toilet paper and use it to keep your wrapping paper from unrolling.

Image from Pinterest.

Maileg Toys

2012-01-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

Danish designers are behind these adorable Maileg toys. I first saw these little matchbox mice at NoFo in Raleigh and fell in love.

I rediscovered the Maileg brand at market in Atlanta. These little mice are just a fraction of all of the toys they have. If you had asked me if things like mice, foxes, badgers or even bats could be cute as little toys, I might have been doubtful. Not anymore...

Dew Drop Designs

2012-01-26T17:19:00.000-05:00

Today there is a sale of some of Dew Drop Designs products on One King's Lane. I bought a few of the passport and travel wallets as Christmas gifts this year and they were a big hit. Not only is the leather super soft, the colors and prints are beautiful and timeless. Lane and I met owner Gillian Stevens at Market in Atlanta. She couldn't have been nicer and I love the new products they have this season. She also gave us the real scoop on my idol, Martha Stewart. She really is nice after all! Music to my ears. Anyway, you can take advantage of some great sale prices for Dew Drop Designs on the Travel Market page on OKL today or visit the Dew Drop Designs site to shop for new products.

Green Box Art

2012-01-26T07:43:00.001-05:00

I want this painting for over my fireplace in the basement soooo badly:

I can't tell you how much cooler it is in person....especially in a really large size.

Have you heard of GreenBox art? They print these images on canvas but because they are prints, they are much more affordable than original art (although because they are on canvas, you'd be hard pressed to tell that they aren't original). Oh, did I mention ow affordable they are?!

I love so much of their art, it would be hard to pick just one.

[how friggin' cool would those kale leaves be in a kitchen???]

Atlanta Market Find: Ice Milk Aprons

2012-01-25T07:31:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure which is more precious about these little mother/daughter aprons - the aprons themselves or the mason jar packaging they come in. They were definitely a memorable find in Atlanta.

Found at Ice Milk Aprons here.

Mt. Airy, North Carolina: MawMaw and PawPaw's House

2012-01-24T06:32:00.001-05:00

This post is really personal to me. I'm sure it won't mean much to anybody reading this blog but this past weekend was really special. My husband and I drove to Mt. Airy, NC (aka Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show) to visit my grandmother's house. My grandmother, affectionately known as MawMaw, sadly passed away on Easter last year. My family is now selling her house. We went this weekend to spend some time there before the house sold and I asked my husband to take some pictures for me. I love how some of them turned out.

There's nothing fancy about the house. It is the only place left in my family that's still around from my childhood. I have nothing but fond memories there. I loved my grandparents and all of my many trips to Mt. Airy. Not only do I miss them very much, but I am so sad to see this place go. As my grandfather always proudly said of the house he built so many years ago, "you've never seen such a naturally air-conditioned lot". He was right - to this day there is no air conditioning because the breeze just makes its way up over the golf course, across the cornfield, and up the hill to MawMaw and PawPaw's house. I'll miss it but will always remember this place I love so much.

On a cheerier note - I got the giggles looking at these pictures. So many of them have little pup dog down in some corner - it's like Jack was playing "Where's Waldo" with the dog in the pictures!

Atlanta Market Find: Home, James!

2012-01-23T07:10:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure which I liked more, the name of the store or the products they sell but Home, James! left an impression on me after AmericasMart in Atlanta last weekend. Based in the Hamptons and Dallas, Home James! has some great dishes and linens. The prices are high-end but their products have a really chic look that I love.

Knitted Scarf

2012-01-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

I finally finished this frilly knitted scarf for a friend of mine as a belated Christmas present. This tutu yarn was awesome and made a really cool scarf. It is shorter than a normal scarf so I bought a vintage owl pin to hook it together. I think it turned out pretty well but the pictures don't really show how cool the yarn is. I do love the little owl.

Everywhere I Look: Designer Allegra Hicks

2012-01-21T11:31:00.000-05:00

Maybe it is because Designer Allegra Hicks has a new book out...

...or maybe it is because of my recent love of West Elm for which she designed these pillows and duvet covers...

...or maybe because I spend most of my free time looking at fabric these days for my new window coverings and furniture reupholstery...

but I swear she is everywhere! Don't get me wrong, I love her fresh take on earthy-looking prints in fresh color combinations. I might just have to get that book.

Product Love: Illume Candles

2012-01-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

One of my most favorite products at AmericasMart in Atlanta last weekend was finding Illume's Boho Candle Jars. So many candles smell divine and have long burn times and they may have cool packaging on the outside but rarely are the actual glass holders as pretty as this. And they were some of the most affordably priced candles we saw. And can I mention again how good they smell?! Any girl would be lucky to get one of these as a birthday gift, housewarming present or hostess thank you.

And they gave us free samples which made me love them even more!!

The boho candles jars were part of their new collection but they have every kind imaginable to choose from.
See all of the options on the Illume site.

How To: Counter Remnants as Fireplace Hearth

2012-01-19T07:05:00.002-05:00

As part of our continuing basement "renovation" of the new house, we decided it was time for the fireplace to have an update. Here's how it looked after the handyman ripped the brass cover off:

Yeah, not too pretty of a sight. At first we thought about having someone come tile the entire fireplace. We went to pick out some tile but I wasn't sure I was going to like how it looked even with my idea of white marble tile with a dark gray grout. Plus, we would have had to purchase the materials and pay someone for the installation (I don't think our DIY skills are that great yet...despite what the hubs would tell you).

We did a search for stonemasons around and came up empty handed as far as options. I kept saying I wanted white marble with some dark gray in it to match the color we chose to paint the paneling. Then my husband had the idea of searching for a countertop remnant since he could picture what I was looking for on a counter. We headed to USA Marble and Granite in Fairfax, VA. Not only was the selection great, it was kind of fun rooting through a warehouse of remnants to find just what we were looking for.

After searching...

and searching...

we decided on one that was just right for us:

For $280 (WELL over half of what tiling and labor would have cost us), they cut the stone, beveled three of the four edges (we left the fourth one flat so it would sit flush against the fireplace), and polished the stone.

All that was left was the install. The floor in the basement was tile. We knew we wanted to carpet it but we had to get this stone down first so that the carpet guys could work around this. We bought QuickSet cement and a trowel at the handware store. Then we laid the stone down at the fireplace hearth where we wanted it to go and traced around the edges with a pencil. We used an old bucket and mixed it with water and used the trowel to even everything back. We set the stone back on top and voila! We have a new (and much improved) fireplace hearth. I've got lots more work to do in the basement and certainly need to decorate the fireplace more (and get a screen) but here's what it looks like now:

Here's a close up of how they tacked the carpet underneath the new hearth so that everything is flush.

Close up of the beautiful gray marbling in the stone:

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Beef and Vegetable Soup

2012-01-18T07:07:00.000-05:00

My grandmother, MawMaw, was the queen of vegetables. If she were still here and cooking those veggies for me everyday, I'm quite sure I could live as a vegetarian. They were just so good. But when she only had a small amount of different types of vegetables leftover, she would make vegetable soup. She had one of those old stoves that had a place for the pot to fit down into the top of the oven and she'd let it simmer all day long.

I took a cue from her to use up some of my different leftovers I had in my fridge - hence the name, Everything But the Kitchen Sink Soup. You could modify this soup to use whatever you have on hand. Some other additions besides what I used below might include corn, lima beans, tomatoes, broccoli, and peas.

What You'll Need:
1 pound stew beef (you could also use chicken, ground beef, or go solo-veggies)
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
4 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 zucchini squash, diced
1 cup green beans
5 medium russet potatoes, diced
1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
2 32 ounce containers of beef broth
1 cup red wine
salt and pepper to taste

What You'll Do:
Heat olive oil in a large pot. Brown onion and beef together. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add garlic, carrots and celery and continue to brown for about five more minutes. Add potatoes, cabbage, zucchini, and green beans. Season again with salt and pepper. Stir in beef broth. Let simmer for about 2 hours until all of the veggies are softened. Add in the red wine and simmer for another 20 minutes. Do a taste test and add additional salt and pepper if needed.

Adorned Abode Etsy: New Baby Hats Added

2012-01-17T19:42:00.000-05:00

I've added a few more baby hats to my Etsy site today. If you need a baby gift or need something for your own little one, do consider my hand-knit hats! I also take special orders.

Notes from Atlanta Bloggers Panel: How Everyday Inspirations from Blogs Change the Industry

2012-01-17T06:31:00.001-05:00

The other really exciting part of my trip to AmericasMart in Atlanta was getting to see three of my favorite bloggers in person!

Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic, Maxwell Gilingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy, and Christiane Lemieux of DwellStudio presented on: Daily Design: How the Everyday Inspirations from Blogs Change the Industry.

It was a helpful discussion and gave me some really good ideas about blogging. A few take away points that hit home to me were as follows:

1. Be authentic. Don't try to be someone else - just be yourself.

2. Be who you are and be consistent. Pick a topic/style and stick with it.

3. Don't try to get creative with your post titles (something I am guilty of). Search engines will find you better if you state exactly what the point of your post is. Use keywords.

4. Post regularly - you don't have to come up with unique content every day but you do need to be consistent so that people know you are there. You can point people to other interesting information that someone else has written on days that your creative juices aren't in full flow.

5. Brevity is better. You are not writing a novel or a dissertation - pictures can tell much of your story and you can just give a few sentences describing them.

Thanks to all the panelists for a great presentation! They were also doing a book signing but since I had already received the books for Christmas and had them at home, I decided not to buy them over again.

Trip to Atlanta's AmericasMart: My Idea of Heaven

2012-01-16T19:04:00.000-05:00

This weekend my aunt and her business partner, Cherie, let my friend Lane and I tag along with them to Atlanta to go to the annual Gift Market. I don't think I've been so excited about much else in my life. It has been a dream of mine for so long to go to market and it didn't disappoint. I have never seen so much furniture, gift, housewares, accessories, clothing and just STUFF in one place - - three sky scrapers full! To my husband's delight since you had to have a business license to purchase anything, ALL I COULD DO WAS LOOK. Pure torture.

I was so excited for the first day and a half that I didn't even think to get out my phone to take pictures. I took some below of a few show rooms but these pictures don't do the spaces justice nor do they give you any idea of the amount of goods there were.

Even though we were just on lookers, it really gave you an idea of how exhausting and overwhelming market can be. It gave me a new found respect for my aunt and Cherie and what they have to go through. That said, there's already talk of a trip to New York in July and if I get the chance to go, I would jump at it!

Chilean Sea Bass with Sherry Cream Sauce

2012-01-11T18:26:00.001-05:00

I don't typically do New Year's resolutions. However, in light of the fact that I have nothing kind to say about 2011, I decided it is time to start switching things up a little in 2012. Therefore, I have resolved to try to start branching out a little more in my cooking.

The other day we were at Balducci's trying to decide what to have for dinner. We had a delicious skirt steak the night before (courtesy of the hubs) and so I was not interested in red meat. We both looked at the usual, some version of pork or chicken. We briefly discussed veal but I just couldn't go there. At the same time we both turned and looked at each other and said "what about fish?". We perused the options and finally decided on two (albeit rather pricey) nice looking pieces of chilean sea bass. And here's how I fixed it; you could do this sauce for any mild white fish in my opinion.

What You'll Need:
fish filets
salt and pepper
olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp sherry
2 Tbsp cream
1 clove garlic, diced finely

What You'll Do:
First take your fish filets out of the fridge to get the chill off.

Next pat them dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper.

Heat 1 Tbsp butter and a drizzle of olive oil in a pan for searing. Sear each side and then turn down the heat to cook all the way through. Remove from heat once fish is cooked.

In the same pan, add remaining Tbsp of butter and melt. Sautee garlic for about a minute. Add sherry to the pan and use it to deglaze the pan. Add cream at the end and serve the sauce over the fish.

Tuesday Tip: Walnuts as a Wood Repair Tool

2012-01-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

Check it out: Use a walnut on scuffed wood and watch the blemishes vanish.

Sneak Peek...

2012-01-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

at my new rug! It makes the room 100% better in both my opinion and my hubby's. I think the little man agrees as well:

I actually thought I ordered it in a different color but now that it is here I LOVE the color blue. This is going to take me in a whole new direction color-wise for the room. I'm thinking in the gray family...

Progress.

2012-01-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

The basement is dry walled and is being primed as we speak. Paint fumes have been swirling through the air for hours so if I seem loopy in this post, you'll know why.

I have decided on the color scheme for the basement. The carpet man came today and I picked a berber carpet for the basement (see below). The paint chip at the top is the color that the trim will be, the one to the left is the color of the walls (the middle color) and the bottom color (darkest) will be the color of what used to be ugly, dated wood paneling.

You can get a glimpse of the old wood paneling below. Our handyman, Bill, ripped the old fixture off the fireplace and pulled up the broken marble at the base. We are hoping to have it tiled next week. My husband has to clean it out first though...

Here's Eddy doing some more dry walling. You can see the new door to the utility area at the back and more wood paneling.

Another view of the dry walled basement.

My brother and his girlfriend came to visit for New Year's so we had our "Christmas" then. Here's a look at our mantle and fireplace. Look at my new sunburst mirror that my husband gave me!! It is a Suzanne Kassler one from Ballard Designs and I am in love. I am waiting for the room to be painted before I hang it.

Plow and Hearth has these color cones that I gave my husband for Christmas. They are so cool - they make the fire turn all kinds of blues and greens. They're a great gift if you know anyone who loves fires.

One night we made a cajun chicken pasta dish from the Pioneer Woman. It was delish. Recipe here.

I made it with penne instead of fettucini. I wish we had "cajuned" it up a little more...note for next time.

My knitting protege, my little cousin Jillian, knitted Jack a fishing hat. It was quite possibly the cutest thing I have EVER seen. Jack loved it too.

We got a standing rib roast from our butcher for New Year's. Jack cooked it on the grill...it was ah-mazing.

My boss sent us a whole ham for Christmas. We used the ham bone to fix our black eyed peas.

My mom always loved doing the crackers at Christmas time. Since we had to do our Christmas a little later, I pulled them out for New Year's.

I am so happy to put 2011 behind me. I am looking forward to a much happier 2012. Happy New Year to you all!

Chicken and Broccoli Ritz Cracker Casserole

2011-12-29T16:26:00.001-05:00

Saw this on Pinterest via Get Off Your Butt and Bake (a great blog!). I made it and it was deeeelicious! Not very healthy, mind you, but yummy nonetheless. My pictures aren't nearly as beautiful as Jonna's but here goes. I also added some fresh parsley I had on hand which gave a good color to the cracker crumbs along with the poppy seeds. I also made my sauce in the same pan that I cooked the chicken and I think it added some great flavor (plus, one less dish to clean up).

What You'll Need:

1 lb. fresh broccoli, chopped

3 chicken breasts
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 tubes Ritz crackers
1 stick melted butter
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

SAUCE:
1/3 C. Butter melted
1/4 C. Cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 C. COLD Water
1/3 C. Chicken Broth
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
2 Cups Milk
1 1/2 cups of the above Cheddar Cheese

What You'll Do:

Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and cook chicken.

Remove from heat. In greased glass pan, layer the broccoli and chicken, then set aside.

As an aside, I cannot tell you how much more fun it is to cook in a house that actually has kitchen space! I love the island:

In the same chicken pan heat butter for sauce over medium heat.

Combine the cornstarch dissolved in water, chicken broth, seasonings, and milk. Stir well, and continue stirring until sauce has thickened.

Turn heat down to low, and add 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Stir until melted. Pour over the chicken and broccoli. Top with 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese.

Melt the remaining butter, add the poppy seeds, and stir well. Crush Ritz crackers in large zip-lock bag but don’t crush too small. Add crumbs to the melted butter along with the fresh parsley and stir.

Sprinkle crumbs over the top of the grated cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

I served with garlicky rice. YUM!

When the Rubber Meets the Road...

2011-12-28T14:12:00.000-05:00

This.is.it. This is the moment I've been waiting for for my whole life. My first chance to pick paint colors on a home of my very own. And now that the opportunity has presented itself, I am choking. I'm nervous and second guessing myself. I am starting with the basement so maybe I shouldn't worry so much.

In fact, all the work in our house has been on the basement so far. First, we took out the wet bar:

This was no small feat since that sucker was wired with electricity, plumbing for the sink and liquid nailed down to the tiles on the floor. Not to mention two walls of mirrors behind it that had to go. The space is so much bigger feeling already!

My husband has informed me that we are no longer going to live like "hoarders". We weren't before - it is just that I had a bunch of furniture and things piled up in the basement which made it impossible to have a normal living space out of it. Our new basement has to have a nice space for my husband to work (since his new job requires him to work from home), a comfy tv area (for me to send him when he doesn't want to watch HGTV - ha ha), a crafting area for me and storage. And there's a full bath down there but that's a story for another day.

First problem is lack of storage. Second problem is that the heating/air is loud downstairs where my husband has to work. So...(I have to give my husband credit for this since it was all his idea) we built a wall and doorway to the back to a "utility area" that will house our washing machine and dryer a tool closet (existing but we will likely outfit it with peg board) and the hot water heater.

On the wall opposite where the wet bar used to be (which is the future home to my crafting area), we built a large closet that will give us plenty of room to hide Christmas decorations, suitcases, boxes, etc.

Here's a look at the work in progress (Bill and Mike are hard at work):

But that ain't all that is going on (and if you heard all the banging and clanging going on right now, you'd believe me). All of the basement walls are covered by dated dark wood paneling on the bottom and horrible, textured plaster on the top. Case in point:

It took a little convincing but I finally got my husband's buy in that the textured plaster HAD to go and that the wood paneling had to get painted. So while Bill and Mike work on the wall to the utility room and the closet, Eddie is busy dry walling the entire basement before he paints it.

And this is where we stand now:

I swear the dry wall is so much better than the plaster, it wouldn't even bother me if we didn't paint it. :) Not really but it is a DRASTIC difference already.

So, here I am back at the paint choices. I have to decide by Friday. Initially I thought I was going to paint all of the woodwork white and then do a color on the dry wall up top but the painter is trying to convince me to do a color on the woodwork that is darker and then a lighter color up top. Ahhhh...so many choices!! I am going to go to Home Depot and get some paint samples and go from there. I'll keep you posted.

New Abode

2011-12-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

So we moved into the new house a couple of weeks ago. We're slowly settling in and definitely still unpacking but I am having so much fun so far. I can't wait for a week off work next week to hopefully get more done. Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea...

Kitchen:

Master:

Guest bedroom:

Christmas tree:

Mantle:

Console table by the front door (with the gorgeous Christmas cactus my sweet friend Diana gave us):

We've already started on a few projects and I can't wait to see the finished results. Lots more posts to come in 2012 about the house, I'm sure!

Heading to New Mexico for Christmas tomorrow - Merry Christmas to all!!

Chairloom

2011-12-04T14:06:00.001-05:00

I love Chairloom. They reupholster old furniture into new and hip pieces. I especially adore these extra long x-benches that they have been featuring recently. I'd never seen those but I adore.

Updating vintage furniture is definitely something that I want to do in my store one day! :)

Go West...Elm

2011-12-02T18:19:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty much loving all of West Elm lately. There are tons of things I want! I know this is not the season to shop for oneself but I have the new house to look forward to so that is my excuse. We close next Tuesday and move in next Friday. Ahhhhh!! Finally a house of my own to decorate!

Have a great weekend!

Everything found via West Elm.

So true.

2011-11-30T16:29:00.002-05:00

My friend Liz sent me this today. Oh how much truth there is in this little cartoon.

I'm back...

2011-11-28T20:08:00.000-05:00

Hello my little blog and blog friends. I have missed you! To say things over the past three weeks have been nuts is an understatement. However, with the upcoming Christmas holiday season and the prospect of closing on our new house in a week, things are (hopefully) looking up. I hope you all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

I'd just like to take a minute and say how much I miss my two family members that I lost over the past couple of weeks - my dearest grandmother, Ma, and my cousin, Chas. The whole family loves and misses you.

So, in addition to all that has been going on in my personal life, my computer life - previously taken up with blogs and blogging, has been overtaken by Pinterest. I can't stop. It is like a disease. It doesn't help there is an app for it on my phone. Is anyone else as addicted as I am? It is great for design inspiration, craft ideas, recipes, and gift ideas to name a few.

Like tonight, we tested this recipe for Lime Honey Crusted chicken that was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest.

Lime Honey Crusted Chicken
1 pieces chicken with skin on (I used breast/drum stick combo)
juice of 2 limes
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
4 Tbsp honey
salt and pepper to taste

Marinate the chicken in the all of the ingredients. I just threw the lime skins right in the bag after I juiced them and threw them out later. Marinate over night at a minimum.

Grill the chicken breasts and let caramelization occur on the crust.

Tuesday Tip: Easy Candle Holder Clean Up

2011-11-15T07:35:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Real Simple for this idea:

Cooking Spray as Candlestick Cleaner

Celebrating by candlelight? Spray the inside of a votive holder with a thin coating before dropping in a tea light. After the candle has burned down, the remaining wax will slip out.

There is a whole list of other great tips and tricks that Real Simple compiled - found here.

Tuesday Tip: Ice Proof your Windows

2011-11-08T05:38:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've done a Tuesday Tip, huh? I dried up for a while. Anyway, here is a good one:

Fill a spray bottle with three parts white vinegar to one part water & spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they'll be clear of ice!

No more scraping!!

Ruby Beets

2011-11-06T16:01:00.000-05:00

I found the Ruby Beets Old and New Shop in a search for these beauties:

Acrylic bamboo ballroom chairs. YES.

Then I saw two other awesome acrylic pieces that I also want:

My lustful search didn't stop there...how amazing is this bookshelf wallpaper?!!

More great pieces:

I really, really wish this was my coffee table...

Driftwood lamp - hello pretend beach house!

Still not enough for you? See all of what they've got here.

Teddy for Lawson

2011-11-01T22:06:00.000-04:00

My friend Reeves is having another little girl this week. I made her daughter to be - Lawson - a little knit teddy bear from her auntie Camer. Can't wait to meet you, Lawson!

Happy Halloween from Adorned Abode!

2011-10-31T18:44:00.000-04:00

from our home to yours...

Happy Anniversary!

2011-10-24T17:34:00.000-04:00

My husband and I have been married two years ago today. I couldn't be happier or luckier to have him. And to top it all off for my anniversary present he got me the bedding I've been coveting from Restoration Hardware!

The color is fog and I really like how it looks with the white nailhead headboard we got. I posted about it here.

Still a work in progress but I'm making some headway! It is amazing how much more grown-up and put together it feels sleeping in a bed with a headboard.

Exciting news...

2011-10-23T08:22:00.000-04:00

They accepted our offer on the house! We had our home inspection yesterday and everything went pretty smoothly - the roof isn't falling down, the heating and air conditioning units and appliances are fairly new so barring any unforeseen issues (c'mon, this is MY life we're talking about, you know) then we'll be moving in a month or so to our new digs. I'm dreaming of all of the decorating possibilities!

For example: I found this in a magazine lately (I think it was House Beautiful or Traditional Home?) and I can't stop looking at it. I think this is sort of the direction I want to go with our master bedroom except our headboard is creamier with nailhead trim. But I like the neutralness that can be feminine or masculine...

(Don't mind the shot of the tablecloth behind it.)

I feel like going neutral will be more timeless...or is it too safe? Decisions, decisions.

Giddy.

2011-10-13T17:21:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling giddy today. It is an excited and nervous feeling. Why you ask? Let me tell you.

1. Today is my husband's last day at his old company. He starts a new job next week. I am so thrilled for him but it is going to be a big lifestyle change for both of us - he'll be working from home half the time and traveling the other half. Here's hoping I get to accompany him on some cool trips (and that we get to rack up air miles).

2. We put an offer in on a house last night. We haven't heard anything back yet so I'm just so anxious. I promised myself I would be rational about this but you gotta admit, it is exciting! All I can think about is FINALLY being able to pick out my own paint colors and make changes to a place that is actually mine (er - ours).

3. I know this isn't nearly as monumental as items #1 and #2 but this beeeeeautiful tablecloth that I ordered arrived today and I love it so much I think I might keel over...

PS do you like my little Halloween decorations hanging down? I do but my husband complains that the spider hits his head while he is eating.

All the pregnant ladies!

2011-10-07T18:28:00.000-04:00

I have quite a few dear friends who are pregnant now and a couple of them have mentioned to me different ideas they are having about their nurseries. These are some non-baby ones that I am obsessing over right now. Ideas for you girls?

Images found on pinterest linked from here.

Roasted Corn Chowder

2011-10-02T15:03:00.000-04:00

I concocted this recipe the other night and it turned out great. And it made plenty to eat off of for lunch for the week. Perfect for this chilly fall weather we are getting.

Roasted Corn Chowder

What You'll Need:
6 ears corn on the cob (shucked)
3 pieces thick cut bacon
1 large box of chicken stock
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
10-12 small yukon gold potatoes, chopped
1 cup light cream
salt and pepper to taste
fresh thyme
smoked paprika
2 Tbsp unsalted butter

What You'll Do:
Sprinkle the shucked ears of corn generously with paprika. Roast the corn in the oven for about 20-30 minutes (once corn is softened) at about 375 degrees.

Meanwhile, cook the bacon in the same pot you plan to make the soup. Cook until crisped and set aside. Clean out the grease but don't clean the entire pot. Melt the butter in the same pot and add the onions and garlic. Let the onions and garlic pick up the remnants of the bacon. Sautee for about five minutes and then add the carrots, potatoes and celery.

Add the entire box of chicken stock and let simmer.

Once the corn is cooked remove from heat and let cool. Then cut all of the corn off of the cob.

Add half of the corn to the soup mixture.

Carefully (since the liquid is hot!) use a stick blender to mix up all of the broth and veggies into a hearty soup base.

Add the remaining corn in afterwards so that there are lots of tasty corn pieces. That gives the soup a really nice texture - the creaminess of the base and the crunchiness of the corn. Add the cream, bacon (crumbled) and fresh thyme at the end before serving.

Rifle Paper Co.

2011-09-27T18:02:00.000-04:00

I know I have a problem with my obsession over stationary but I want it all.

More found on the Rifle Paper Co. site.

Animal themed baby shower

2011-09-26T06:32:00.001-04:00

My friend Michaela is pregnant and we hosted a baby shower for her over the weekend. The theme started after we picked out these invitations from etsy.

I loved the little animals so I created a centerpiece of pussy willow branches and little foam animals strung from it.

The lovely guest of honor:

And some yummy food thanks to Liz and Katie!

Love Mae

2011-09-25T14:03:00.000-04:00

How adorable are these wall decals for children's rooms/nurseries?

I love that they are basically indestructable. They will re-stick over and over and if they are crumpled up, they will just bounce right back!

More options found on the Love Mae site.

Chicken Florentine Style

2011-09-21T17:27:00.000-04:00

I should've known this was gonna be guuuuud. For one it has cream. For two I was lucky enough to live in Florence for about six months on a study abroad program in college and I didn't meet any food there I didn't like (as evidenced by some serious weight gain).

I saw this recipe from Giada DeLaurentis on the Food Network site. This is the first of her recipes I've tried although whenever I see her (albeit annoying) show, I always think her recipes seem simple and delicious. This fit the bill. I made a few adjustments (i.e. trading her recommended frozen spinach for fresh and substituting light cream for heavy cream) but it was still delish. This one is staying in my recipe reportoire.

What you'll Need:

4 thin chicken breasts
1 large shallot
2 large garlic cloves
1 cup light cream
1 package fresh spinach
3 Tbsp butter
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1 handful of chopped flat leaf parsley
3 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

What you'll Do:

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.

Chop shallot and garlic.

Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour and coat with a thin layer.

Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Once heated, add chicken and brown evenly on both sides.

Remove from heat and cover with foil to keep warm. Add the garlic and shallots to the pan along with 2 Tbsp butter and cook to soften.

Add the white wine and cook until half of the liquid reduces. Add the cream and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Heat remaining Tbsp of olive oil and butter in a separate pot. Add spinach and season with salt and pepper. Let wilt.

Add the chicken back to the pan with the sauce.

Serve the chicken with the spinach and cover it with the sauce.

It's [Urban] Electric!

2011-09-14T17:34:00.000-04:00

I found the image below on pinterest and was so distracted by the animal print on the stairs that I didn't even notice the great light fixture. Then I stumbled across Urban Electric and realized this is where the image came from. I adore so many of their lights...certainly not in my price range (most are over a grand) but still fun to look at don't you think?

Easy Beef Bourguignon

2011-09-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

I know...it is kind of an oxymoron - easy beef bourguignon. But this ain't Julia Childs' version. This one is in the crock pot - perfect for a make ahead weeknight meal.

What you'll need:
1 pound of beef - I used pot roast
1 onion
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 cups red wine
1 can beef broth
1/2 can tomato paste
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

What you'll do:

Brown the meat in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Remove and add to crockpot. In the same pan as you browned the beef, brown the carrots, onions, celery and garlic. Season also with salt and pepper. Add to the crock pot. Add beef broth, wine, tomato paste and bay leaf. Stir together and cook on low for 8 hours. We had ours with peas and mashed taters.

Practical and Pretty: Moroccan Floor Tiles

2011-09-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

My latest obsession is Moroccan Floor tiles. We are house hunting and I am constantly pre-decorating places in my head and figuring out where I can install this awesome tile. I really want some in a kitchen but here are examples in many other places. The style options and color schemes are endless. And I say practical because how easy would it be to clean up spills or sweep up dirt?

I like how they layered a moroccan rug over the tiles. Even more visual appeal and softens it up!

The tiles can be used on the walls, counter tops, and even the ceiling like this AWESOME outdoor space below. How 'bout that light fixture?

Does anyone have any experience in having these installed or know how they hold up to foot traffic? What about cost?

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

2011-09-06T17:46:00.001-04:00

I have a memory of my Dad and this Sour Cream Noodle Bake when I was growing up. I haven't had it in ages but I recently saw a picture on Pinterest of a similar recipe that the Pioneer Woman did and so I thought I'd try this -- with my own doctoring of course! Instead of transferring this to a casserole dish, I cooked it all in one skillet on the stove top and finished it off under the broiler to toast up the cheese. Less dishes - same goodness.

What You'll Need:
1 large yellow onion, diced finely
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 bag of egg noodles
1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
large handful of parsley, chopped or dried
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp herbs de provence
salt and pepper to taste

What You'll Do:
Sautee onions in olive oil until softened and beginning to brown. Add ground beef and cook all the way through. Season with salt and pepper and herbs.

Add the tomato sauce and let simmer to let the flavors meld.

Add the sour cream, cream cheese and cooked egg noodles. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Top with cheddar cheese and put under broiler for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned slightly. Enjoy!

North Carolina NoFo Featured Artist: Susan Dahlin

2011-09-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

I went to NC last weekend and had time to swing by one of my favorite stores - NoFo at the Pig. They had some paintings by Susan Dahlin and I really liked them so I thought I'd share. She also has prints for sale that are more affordable and I bought a few of her prints turned into notecards. I sent my grandmother the one of hte two pigs because I thought it was adorable.

View all Susan Dahlin's work on her website here.

Filament Bulbs

2011-08-31T19:47:00.000-04:00

I got my new Restoration Hardware catalog (read BOOK) in the mail recently. It was all crunched up because it was so big that the mailman had trouble jamming it in my teeny tiny mailbox. It was sticking out of the top. And along came Hurricane Irene. Now that the catalog has dried out, I had a chance to look at it. I'd seen a few previews of it in blog land. I think it is still over the top (and waaaay too expensive) but fun to look out.

One thing that I could actually afford - and really might buy once I get a house of my very own are their filament bulbs - super cool, old school bulbs that would do Edison proud. I love the industrial, funky look of them.

And there are lots more to choose from. See more here.

Little Mouse

2011-08-30T19:46:00.000-04:00

I think it is my favorite thing I've knitted so far. I have a new found admiration for little mice (stuffed and dressed in such a stylish outfit, of course).

Tuesday Tip: Martha's Sewing Kit in a Jar

2011-08-30T07:09:00.001-04:00

This is one of my girl Martha's from back in 2006 but I saw it again recently and thought it was a cute and useful idea. Here's the how-to:

With just a little retrofitting, an old-fashioned Mason jar can become a new sewing kit with a built-in pincushion on top. To begin, separate the lid's sealer and screw cap. Trace around sealer on cardboard. Using a compass, draw another circle on linen or cotton, 1 inch larger in diameter than the first. Cut out both circles; make cushion by placing batting between fabric and cardboard. Turn screw cap upside down, and apply hot glue to inside edge of rim; quickly press cushion into lid until cloth protrudes smoothly above screw cap's opening and cardboard is flush against rim. Apply hot glue around edge of cardboard, fold over excess fabric, and press down. Glue top of sealer to cardboard. Fill jar.

Great shoe sale.

2011-08-29T22:00:00.000-04:00

I am far from a fashionista but if there is one thing I love it is a pair of cute and comfy flats. I've learned that if I go ahead and pay for a good pair that I will wear them often and get my money's worth. So today I bought these:

Have you heard of Oliver and Co? If not, check it out their site. They're having a big sale right now and their shoes are (in the words of my friend Leslie) adorbs.

Leslie Saeta Art

2011-08-29T19:45:00.002-04:00

I've been loving these boat paintings by Leslie Saeta for a while now. I discovered Leslie's work on Daily Painter's Gallery and she is by far my favorite artist that I've found on there. I finally went to check out her website and found a whole slew of paintings any of which I would love to own. Aren't they gorgeous?

I finally did it...

2011-08-28T19:55:00.000-04:00

...bought a headboard that is! It has been a long time coming. I had a long drive this weekend and I was looking at one of the sales on Joss and Main and my husband gave me the green light to ahead and get it. So I can finally check this off my wish list!

I hope I like it as much in person as I do in the picture. It has nailhead trim around pearly shantung upholstery. Yay!

Betsy and Rob's Banquette

2011-08-23T17:01:00.001-04:00

My friends Betsy and Rob recently moved to New Bern, NC. They had this banquette built in their kitchen and then Rob made the valances (talk about a handy husband) and Betsy got all the cushions made. I thought it turned out so cute that I would share it with you!

Call me crazy...

2011-08-22T20:18:00.001-04:00

but I kind of felt like fall is in the air today. So now I can't wait for this...

image via Porchlight Interiors

Help!

2011-08-22T06:02:00.000-04:00

Ya'll!! I need to source the painting over this bed. I NEED it desperately. Any ideas? Any similar pieces you can recommend? HELP!!!

Blabla

2011-08-21T17:00:00.000-04:00

Oh. my. gosh. I just read about this company called Blabla over on Abode Love blog. Hand knit toys and dolls and more. Have you ever seen anything so cute?

All items found on the Blabla site here.

North Carolina Designer Barrie Benson

2011-08-15T20:13:00.000-04:00

Not much time to write but thought I'd share a designer I admire from the Tarheel State! Happy Monday!

Check out more of Barrie's designs on her website.

Shop Ten 25

2011-08-08T18:55:00.001-04:00

I'm going to Dallas in November for a wedding. I hope this store has an real life presence in addition to its virtual one.

I read about Shop Ten 25 in the latest issue of House of Fifty shelter mag. You should look at both sites.

Here are a few items I'd like to add to my wish list from Shop Ten 25...I think I am feeling bright, graphics lately after reviewing my list!!

Just Peachy...

2011-08-07T09:55:00.000-04:00

I saw some really pretty peaches at the grocery store the other day so our dinner had two peach inspired dishes. I think I found them both in Better Homes and Gardens but I rip out so many pages from magazines and I alter all of the recipes some so I'll just give you what I did. They were both delicious!

Green Bean Salad (serve hot or cold so it is a great year round dish!)

What You'll Need
1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp fresh finely chopped rosemary
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 clove garlic, minced
1 peach, finely sliced
1/4 of a lime, juiced
salt and pepper to taste

What You'll Do
Heat olive oil. Cook onion over medium heat in hot oil until browned and softened.

Add the green beans, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper and chicken stock. Cook covered for about 10 minutes until green beans are al dente but cooked. In a separate bowl, add the peaches. Squeeze lime juice over peaches.

Remove green beans et al from heat. Either serve warm over the peaches or let cool and then add. Seriously, this was one of the best things I've made in a long time!

Cheesecake Stuffed Peaches

What You'll Need
3 peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 Tbsp cinnamon sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 package cream cheese, softened

What You'll Do
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Line peach halves on the baking sheet.

Beat cream cheese and all other ingredients with a mixer until smooth.

Remove some of the center of the fruit from each peach half.

Spoon a generous amount of cream cheese mixture into each of the peach halves.

Bake at 350 degrees for half an hour.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desired.

More Pinterest

2011-08-06T18:09:00.000-04:00

If you've got a recommendation of someone who has great design style, let me know via a comment so I can follow them too!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Sour Cream Muffins

2011-08-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

I spent a week at the beach with my step-grandmother and she taught me a couple of great, easy recipes. This was one of them.

Three ingredients is all it takes for these super easy and delicious muffins. They're more like a cross between a muffin and a biscuit but they make a great side dish for any meal and a super easy breakfast.

What you'll need:

1 stick melted butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cups bisquick

What you'll do:

Mix all ingredients and pour into greased muffin tins (I love the mini ones). Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until risen and lightly browned.

Summer Veggie Tart

2011-08-03T06:29:00.000-04:00

Those are some good looking 'maters, huh? Thanks. Actually my husband gets all the credit. But I wanted to find a recipe to use up some of them. I've made several batches of fresh bruschetta, ensalada caprese and Jack's made homemade pasta sauce but we still had an abundance left. So, I made this summertime tart.

more roma tomatoes with fresh chives and thyme from the herb garden

What you'll need:

2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced

1 vidalia onion, thinly sliced

4 tbsp olive oil

12 ounces puff pastry, thawed if frozen

all purpose flour

5 thinly sliced romas or 2 thinly sliced larger tomatoes

9 ounces ricotta cheese

1 cup freshly grated parmesan

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

2 tsp fresh chopped chives

salt and pepper to taste

What you'll do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss onion and red pepper in half the oil, season with salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes or until softened and browned.

Meanwhile, roll out the pastry crust, sprinkle with flour and put into pie pan. Use a fork to mash down the edges.

Scatter in the roasted peppers and onions, layer on sliced tomatoes. Top with ricotta cheese spread evenly over the vegetables. Freshly grate over the parmesan cheese and add additional salt, pepper, herbs and remaining olive oil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese and pastry are browned and bubbly. Serve immediately.

The Positive Side of Surgery...

2011-08-02T15:14:00.000-04:00

...flowers! Thank you to my wonderful friends and family for the beautiful bouquets! It has made my recuperating period all the more enjoyable!

Muntins

2011-07-24T11:37:00.000-04:00

I was reading this Kitchen Design magazine and learned something new so I thought I would share it with you. Do you know what a muntin is? I knew what it was when I saw it but I never knew the word for it. Here's the wikipedia definition:

Muntin or Muntin bar is a strip of wood or metal separating and holding panes of glass in a window.[1] Muntins are also called "glazing bars", "muntin bars", or "sash bars". Muntins can be found in doors, windows and furniture, typically in western styles of architecture. Muntins divide a single window sash or casement into a grid system of small panes of glass, called "lights" or "lites".

I think that it is such a cool way to add a lot of interest to glass cabinets and windows. A lot of time in windows they are taken for granted. But there are some cool ways to have some fun with muntins to keep things interesting in your decor. Here are a few examples:

Hooray for my hats!

2011-07-18T18:50:00.000-04:00

Check out the latest little watermelon hat I did for my friend Peg's grandbaby. And I got actual tags to put on them too from one of my most favorite etsy shops - MunkeeKid.

Come August you may be seeing my hats for sale at Bellies and Babies in Alexandria!

Closet

2011-07-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

Built-in, glass front drawers with lucite pulls in this closet. I want them. (And all of those clothes).

Start with a rug.

2011-07-10T20:16:00.000-04:00

I want to design a room around every one of these rugs. They are such statement pieces!

All rugs from Decorative Carpets.

http://www.decorativecarpets.com/

How many Swedish Kronas are there to a US dollar?

2011-06-29T20:39:00.000-04:00

That is the question of the day. Why you ask? Because of this:

Svenskt Tenn is a Swedish shop that has awesome textiles. Just look at those prints! I love that they are mostly nature inspired, whimsical and have really bold colors. What great patterns for accent pillows for a den. What about in a children's room? What about making it into a shower curtain in a bathroom?! My mind is spinning with ideas.

So the only question that remains is how many Swedish Kronas are there to a US dollar so I know if I can afford it!

Look at some of their other options:

Middleburg, Virginia

2011-06-27T18:36:00.000-04:00

On Saturday we went to Middleburg, VA for a day trip. I had heard rumors that there were more cute shops there than in Leesburg but I'll be honest, I prefer Leesburg. But that is not to say that Middleburg wasn't beautiful. Rolling country side with old stone fences line the road; this is some serious horse country.

The highlight of my day there was visiting the little town butcher shop. I felt like I was back in Italy for a minute.

Fresh meat...

Fresh herbs...

Old timey soda fountain...

Bacon covered doughnuts...(yes, you read that correctly - I am only sorry the picture didn't turn out better!)

A lovely day all in all!

A new addiction.

2011-06-22T19:37:00.000-04:00

Well, as per usual, new to me. This has been around for a while but my friend Taylor finally convinced me to give it a try.

Do you use pinterest? It'll change the way you use the internet. It'll change your life. Okay, maybe not change your life but it will definitely suck up any remaining free time you used to have. Try it only if you are a) not succeptible to addiction or b) you have an immense amount of spare time lying around.

Success on the Framing Project!

2011-06-20T18:44:00.000-04:00

Remember this post about decorating with empty frames?

Well, Lauren and I did a little shopping and found her some frames. She has a few more to purchase but I think her wall looks awesome. Just look at the transformation:

Everywhere I look...

2011-06-19T14:20:00.000-04:00

...I see Turkish Towels. And I want some. I first started paying attention to them after this episode of Dear Geneieve where she redid these people's masterbath into a total turkish bath. I gotta admit...I didn't get the vision at all. Until the end and it was amazing. Of course, I can't find a single picture of it to show you.

Anyway, she had these hooks along a wall with turkish towels hanging from them. They are supposedly incredibly soft. But I just love the look of them. This week Joss and Main had a sale on these beauties from Molori:

Shameless plug: If you aren't already a Joss and Main member, sign up via my invite here. It is like One King's Lane but lately I've been liking this better!

Here are some more images of Turkish towels to get you inspired:

Are you liking them too?!

Welcome to Miami.

2011-06-07T18:44:00.000-04:00

I'll be here for the next few days for a work conference.

I know, looks terrible, doesn't it?

In other beachy-type news, I've found a new addition for my [ahem, pretend] beach house. This is the koi bathmat I want in one of the rooms. It's from [where else?] Anthro. (Sorry the picture is kind of hard to see - trust me, it is awesome.)

And lastly, this was the highlight of my day today:

A new t-shirt my Dad sent me.

A New Twist on an Old Tradition

2011-06-05T17:34:00.000-04:00

In Mt. Airy at my grandmother's house everyone had their own silver engraved napkin ring with their first name. It is such a fond memory that I will always have with me and a tradition I'd love to carry on with my family. I've been thinking a lot about my grandmother since I lost her recently and I saw these personalizable (don't think that's a word but you get my drift) placemats the other day and thought what a neat twist that would be on my grandmother's tradition. And...they're just plain cute.

All placemats can be found on Mattie Luxe's site.

Chicken Slouvaki...with a twist

2011-06-02T18:35:00.001-04:00

I love Greek and Mediterranean food but my husband thinks he hates it. So, I made Chicken Slouvaki but told him it was with an Indian twist and he bought it hook, line and sinker. Not to mention, he loved it. Well, actually, what he said was "you can make this again" which is as good as "I love it" to my ears. I did love it! The only real change that I made was subbing fresh Indian naan bread for the pitas. And man, what a good idea that was!

Chicken Souvlaki (with a twist)

What you'll need:
1 pkg chicken breast tenderloins
plain or garlic naan bread (1 per serving)
1/2 cup feta cheese
3 cups of lettuce, chopped (I used romaine)

What you'll need for the marinade:
1 small bunch of mint chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
dash of red chili flakes
zest and juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon of ground coriander seeds
1 tablespoon tumeric
1 tablespoon cumin
1 cup plain greek style yogurt (I used fat free)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

What you'll need for the dressing:
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
zest and juice of one lemon
1 cup plain greek style yogurt (I used fat free)

What you'll do:
Marinate the chicken in a large plastic ziplock bag over night in all of the marinade ingredients mixed together.

Set the chicken out while the grill heats up. Meanwhile, mix up the dressing and refrigerate that until serving.

Chop the lettuce and set aside along with the feta.

Grill the chicken until cooked through.

Grill the naan until warm and toasty. Set up an assembly line to put it all together.

Get those creative juices flowing, girl!

2011-06-02T06:23:00.001-04:00

This one's for my friend Lauren. She recently moved to DC and has been kind enough to let me play around with giving her decorating ideas. And, even more fun for me, she takes a lot of them into consideration! We were looking for an affordable but impactful statement to make on the wall over her couch so I convinced her to give a collection of empty picture frames a try. We have now purchased almost all of the frames she needs but she needs a little inspiration to get them hung.

L, the first thing I'd say to that is: BEFORE you start hammering nails into the wall, consider doing a little sample layout with paper cut out like the shape of the frame so you can get an idea how it will look ala:

Lauren's doing her frames in gold...I picture it to be sort of like this but more spread out. BUT, this is Lauren's place not mine so I wanted to give her lots of different inspiration.

Does anyone else have tips or experience in a project like this for Lauren?

Out with the new and in with the old.

2011-06-01T18:04:00.000-04:00

I think my most exciting part of the holiday weekend was the purchase of my new silverware. I've been eyeing the Maxfield flatware from Pottery Barn for a couple of years now:

I couldn't justify the $95 per place setting price tag so I never moved ahead on purchasing it. Then I got to thinking...why do I have to pay this much money for something that is new and made to look old and mismatched? I should just buy old, mismatched flatware that has the same effect at a much more affordable price tag. I floated the idea past my husband who, much to my surprise, liked the idea.

Now, $68 dollars later, I have a whole 12 piece place setting of beautiful, vintage flatware! (The pictures don't do it justice!)

While I'm on the topic of finding better bargains than Pottery Barn on new-old things...may I remind you of our purchase a few months ago while visiting my grandmother in NC?
Our soda crate fits just perfectly under our coffee table and holds magazines and remotes just perfectly. And for the bargain buster price of $5!

Have you seen that Pottery Barn is selling the same thing for $24?!

I hate artichokes.

2011-05-31T17:30:00.000-04:00

They're mean. Sure, they taste good but those suckers are worse than crabs about making you work for the meat.

The Franklin family introduced me to this grilled artichoke recipe like the one here that they make at Houston's Restaurant. Try it if you dare. But don't say I didn't warn you.

I made the remolaude dipping sauce and set it in the fridge thinking about how good this was going to be and how this was going to impress my friend Liz and her mother when they came over for an appetizer and one of my husband's famous margaritas. Then I set to work on prepping the artichokes. I had sort of read up online about how to prep them and the recipe I was following had vague instructions but I spend a lot of time in the kitchen so I was not intimidated by them. But I should have been. Those things tore my hands to shreds. So, being that I have the smallest amount of patience of anyone on the planet (save for my father), I got pissed and threw them away.

But since we were having company, I had to come up with a new appetizer. We had planned to make my husband's favorite rattlesnake eggs and take them to our friend Lane and Brandon's housewarming supper on Sunday night but I had to go ahead and dip into that plan since I was under a time crunch. Rattlesnake eggs are similar to jalapeno poppers - they're stuffed with cream cheese. But instead of deep frying them, you wrap them in bacon and grill them. They're good.

I set about prepping the jalapenos while my husband finished up his round of golf. I cut off each of the tops and stuck my finger in the jalapeno to clear out the seeds and the membrane so they wouldn't be too hot. This was going swimmingly until about the fifth jalapeno in when my fingers started burning uncontrollably. It took me a minute to realize that this was because my fingers were covered in itty bitty knicks from the #@&! artichokes.

As if that wasn't enough, all of I sudden I started choking from the heat that was emitting from the sink from the pulps of these peppers. It got in my eyes and up my nose and I couldn't stop coughing. I called my husband to tell him about the horror of it and he simply couldn't understand and said he'd take care of finishing the appetizer when he got home. I must have washed my hands 85 times trying to get the jalapeno juice off and trying to stop my hands from stinging but somehow at this point my lips and face were also burning because I guess I touched it.

No, the saga does not continue. But, if you're still reading at this point, it is a miracle.

My husband finally gets home and goes about finishing prepping the rattlesnake eggs. Shortly after he finishes removing the remainder of the membrane (he informed me that I did not do it properly), he starts choking from the heat of the peppers in the air. He finally gets them stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and on the grill. But, he did have some more sympathy and quit telling me that I was acting crazy about the burning sensation on my hands and face and in my throat.

We grilled 'em up and Liz and Penny arrived to have their margarita and rattlesnake eggs (wow, it sounds like such a great thing to invite people over for). The app was actually a pretty big success and tasted yummy. But then those pesky jalapenos reared their ugly heads again. Poor little pup got wind of some jalapeno juice (or maybe he licked somebody's mess up off the deck) but his throat closed up and he started wheezing and couldn't breathe. My husband is perhaps a leeetle overprotective of that dog because he's worried that I'll have some kind of mental breakdown if something happens to him. So he starts running around like a chicken with his head cut off screaming that we have to go to the emergency vet. Thankfully the dog quit choking and we got him calmed down. For about ten minutes. At which point, after all of the excitement, Liz and her mother had politely excused themselves and went on to dinner. The second attack the dog had prompted my husband to throw us both in the car and drive us to the emergency vet. We made it to the vet only to turn around because the dog was fine and I didn't want to toss away $500 plus dollars for an emergency vet visit.

I'll quit going on about these jalapenos in one more second. Because clearly everything I've just outlined to you so far wasn't enough torture. Did you know that the juice of jalapenos can stay around for a while. It especially likes to get under your fingernails. I didn't know that. But I will always remember it now after I got up the next morning and put my first contact onto my eyeball. It gave new meaning to great balls of fire....ow!!!!!!!!

No more artichokes for jalapenos for me in the near future. But, I still blame the artichoke.

A little more craftiness

2011-05-30T20:59:00.000-04:00

I embroidered another onesie. This one is for a first birthday.

I also took a try at applique without my teacher Reeves there. This is heavy duty applique so I haven't had to get out the sewing machine yet. I adore this batik fabric I got and I think it looks just perfect with a beachy seahorse. I'm liking it so much that more like it are to come for sure!

My Mom's Vidalia Onions

2011-05-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

I love grilling in the summertime and I love all of the fresh veggies that you can grill. But grilling vidalia onions was always one of my mom's favorite summertime treats. So delicious, so easy, and so nearly fat free!

What you'll need:
1-2 sweet vidalia onions (1 onion serves 2 people because you cut it in half)
beef bouillon (either a cube or sprinkle some loose - you could also substitute chicken or veggie bouillon)
olive oil
salt and pepper

What you'll do:
Cut off each end of the onion and then cut in half. You'll have two halves that will sit flat. Lay down a piece of aluminium foil under each onion half. Core out the center of each half.

Sprinkle with bouillon, olive oil and salt and pepper.

Wrap the onion in the foil to make an individual little pouch.

Place on grill for half an hour or so (can extend if you are cooking something that takes a little longer - it is only going to get yummier!). Serve each person their own little onion pouch where they can sop up all of the juices in the foil with the onion.

Goes great with just about anything! Like ribs. Okay, well, really, my husband was so proud of these and he just wanted me to show a picture of them.

Of course, I forgot the after pic of the onion but you can just imagine how yummy and delicious it looks...and tastes! Try it!

An Arrangement

2011-05-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

I know ya'll are sick to death of me taking pictures of flowers in my house and yard but I just love them so much! It is my dream (among a million and one other dreams) to one day have a huge flower garden that I can have fresh cut flowers for all the seasons for my house. In the end, I think it saves money when you don't have to buy them from the store. Anyway, I put together this arrangement using things cut from my yard - snapdragons, hydrangeas mint, flowering cilantro and some bush clippings. In addition to looking pretty, the cilantro and mint smell amazing!

Does any one have any recommendations for good plants that flower often for cut flowers? I bought my peony bush but so far I've only gotten two blooms out of it and I don't know if I'll get any more. Sad.

I've been given a long awaited green light.

2011-05-24T19:08:00.000-04:00

Say hello to my new headboard. It isn't here yet but the hubster has given me permission to move ahead with the order.

Which clearly means I'll have to have new bedding as well...