Christmas Flowers

 roses

pointsettia

images: personal

Thank You...

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends and family! Although this has been a roller coaster of a year I have so much to be thankful for; for both the good and the bad, because each experience has allowed me to grow as a person and has given me the opportunity to become a better "me". 

images: Note to Self, My Morning Routine

Life Starts...

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall"
-Jordan Baker, The Great Gatsby

images: suziebeezie, 2 & 3: Note To Self 

Give Me Books...

Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather, and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.

- John Keats 

 image: The Pursuit of Aesthetic

I Think It's Fun...

“I think it’s fun to dress up. It’s an exercise in creativity, and it makes you feel better. Sometimes you’re in a funk and you put something on and twirl yourself around, and bam!”
- Iris Apfel, Advanced Style Fashion Film

image: luveluveluve

Get figgy with it!

I took a cooking class at Whole Foods with a Sur La Table chef the other week and we prepared a 3 course meal. The class highlighted summer produce and figs are in peak season right now. This appetizer is as visually appealing as it is delicious and it couldn't be simpler to make. Serve it up at your end-of-summer get togethers!

Ingredients: 

-8 figs

-8 thin slices prosciutto

-8 tbsp ricotta cheese

-16 leaves of fresh basil, finely shredded (chiffonade)

-1 tbsp fresh thyme

-1 tbsp lemon zest

-3 tbsp aged balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction

-8 pieces of honeycomb

-Sea salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl blend ricotta, thyme, and lemon zest. Set aside. 

Arrange 1 slice prosciutto on each plate

Trim stems from figs. Beginning at stem end, quarter figs, leaving them connected at the very bottom. Center 1 fig on each plate, open the segments like a flower. 

Spoon 1 tbsp ricotta mixture into each open fig. 

Drizzle balsamic over fig and prosciutto, sprinkle with salt and pepper, garnish with chiffonade of basil. 

Balance a tsp chunk of honeycomb on top of each fig. 

Ta-da! Serve as first course. 

"Party Animals"

One of my favorite blogs, The Sweetest Occasion, posted a DIY tutorial for 'Party Animals'. 

It's a nice break from the cupcake toppers and bunting flags that have been floating around the party blog world, and you'll never guess what they're made out of! Follow the link for the super easy how-to!

images: Hank + Hunt for The Sweetest Occasion

Everything is Going to be All Right

The sun rises in spite of everything
and the far cities are beautiful and bright.
I lie here in a riot of sunlight
watching the day break and the clouds flying.
Everything is going to be all right.

-Everything is Going to be All Right, Derek Mahon

Blog Crush: Dear Photograph

I love this blog filled with people revisiting places and photographs of past memories; some happy and some sad, all very touching.

Dear Photograph: 

images: Dear Photograph,

A little sparkle for ya!

images: personal, The Contemporary Home via Design Crush, A Common Thread

Happy Weekending!

Happy weekend to you! 

A fancy treat to beat the heat; Prosecco poured over frozen popsicles!

images: Angels, Southern Living

Product Crush: Jessica Durrant Watercolors

I like to browse Esty every now and then for various purposes; to get inspired for my own DIY, drool over the art selections, and they even have a great 'vintage' section. Today's home page showed a bold blue watercolor of a vespa by Jessica Durant. Never did I imagine what I'd find when I clicked over to her shop:

How amazing are these watercolors? Although Jessica is inspired by travel and fashion, one could only dream to see ombre like this in real life. 

all images via Jessica's etsy shop. 

Bike Basket Alternative

How great is this alternative to the typical panniers or milk crates? 

Instructions from Martha Stewart can be found here

Summer Afternoon

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

images: Note to Self, personal, Your Heart in My Heart, Crush Cul de Sac

Lobster (Chair) Love

As I signed into Rue La La today, just like I do everyday, I was expecting to fall in love with some piece of clothing, probably a dress, and certainly didn't think I'd find anything to obsess over in the 'home decor' category...and that's when my world was turned upside down by these beauts:

They are beautiful but expensive (even on sale). I'm thinking that if you have an armchair you're tired of, or find one on the cheap somewhere else, grab up a couple yards of the fabric below from On Board Fabrics, attempt a DIY (or find a an upholstery shop), you'll have a pretty new chair! 

double lobster coral

brittle star navy

yacht club navy

soleil stripe 

With Freedom...

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon,

who could not be happy?

-Oscar Wilde

images: Souls Like the Wheels, Modern Hepburn, Luxury Monograms, unknown, Release Yo Self

Recipe: Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Last night a few friends (and fellow True Blood fans) came over for a Season 4 Premier viewing party. I had grand schemes of serving beignets as an ode to the Louisiana locale where the show takes place but was told that reheated beignets would be a failure. I had promised guests dessert, and dessert I would deliver...in the form of mini cherry cheesecakes! 

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 mini cheesecake crusts
Canned cherry pie filling

Beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla until creamy and without lumps. Spoon equal amount into cheesecake crusts. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes. When cool, top with cherries and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Oysters and Anchors

This inspiration shoot over at one of my favorite blogs, Style Me Pretty, is romantic and rugged at the same time. But what I'm most interested in are the food offerings: the combination of oysters, anchors, and pearls just may be my dream come true. 

all images via Style Me Pretty

Cape Cod Bound!

I'm off to Cape Cod for the weekend to celebrate a best friend's last few weeks of single status! I'm hoping to see tons of beautiful hydrangeas, cute shake shingle houses with white picket fences, and sandy coasts with chilly water.

images: personal, Note to Self

Vignette > Instagram

I downloaded a new app to my Droid called 'Vignette' and I've been shutter-happy ever since!

effect: yearbook

effect: dreamy

effect: bleach bypass

effect: swap red/green

effect: sepia

Same photo with different post-production filters using 'Vignette'

*ps, search for 'vignette demo', its a free version but still with a bunch of effects*