Plain & Fancy Living

Pink Bar

2012-02-09T21:08:00.001-04:00

Make a pink bar for the weekend. Add a little color to your beverage area in celebration of Valentine's Day. A pink tray, pink flowers and a colorful print can make a pretty pink bar instantly.

Add a colorful print. I love this one, "Live What You Love".

Happy Weekend!
xoxo

My Weekend

2012-02-08T14:44:00.000-04:00

My sweet little neighbor came over on Saturday. We decorated cookies, made strawberry milk and valentines. I decorated a little apron with a painted heart and some ribbon. It turned out really cute.

Here are a few Instagrams from my weekend:

xoxo

Louis XVI Chair

2012-02-07T22:11:00.000-04:00

{Canadian House & Home}

Photographer:

James Tse

Source: House & Home February 2008 issue

Elva Fields

2012-02-06T05:30:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone had a great Super Bowl Weekend! We cheered our teams on with our amazing friends & neighbors. We certainly count our blessings having them in our lives.

I bought myself a little something for Valentine's Day. I figured that I deserved something from Elva Fields. I am sure that you are already familiar with the brand, such a lovely story behind the lovely name.

Honestly, I have been looking at all the beautiful pieces available on the website and I just love everything. I am drawn to the idea of vintage infused with new. Brilliant designs. Also, it appeals to me that Elva Fields jewelry is made here in Kentucky. It would be a crime not to support local business:)

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love a pretty package. I was so excited and happy to see this pretty little box waiting on me to open. I was even more excited when I opened it....

{Vintage Brass Leaves}

I had a guest post this past Saturday:

In case you missed it you can read all about it HERE. Big thanks to Mrs. Limestone, she is a real sweetheart!

xoxo

Bridesmaids Movie Party

2012-02-01T22:29:00.003-04:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More bridesmaids

This party was featured on Anders Ruff this past Friday! I just have to say that the Anders Ruff Team is so nice and sweet! You can see the feature HERE.
Party pics are posted in my Party Pinterest Board to be pinned.

Again, BIG THANK YOU to Liz Thomas Photography! Liz is a great friend with great talent.
xoxo

Forever 21 & A Giveaway Winner

2012-02-01T08:35:00.001-04:00

Recently, Forever 21 opened a local store in our area. I am really amazed just how cheap everything is. It actually made me wonder just how they can sell everything at such little cost. I did find a few things that I thought would make cute gifts (although these were purchases I made for myself).

{All under $5}

You just try to tell me who doesn't need a BIG, enamel, black, heart cocktail ring?!

Yes, we all need one. Enough said.

{Bridesmaids' Movie}

I also scored a shirt very similar to this one for about $14. It reminded me of this scene and it made me smile, so naturally I had to have it. BTW you will want to come back tomorrow for the Movie Party post. It has a little something to do with this picture. *wink*wink*

And the winner of the the super cute MEllen Design Valentine's Day Cards is.....

Stephanie JimenezJan 30, 2012 03:32 PM

I would love to win these! I very much enjoy handwritten cards

Yay for Stephanie!!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and a BIG THANKS to Mary Ellen! Stay tuned. Mary Ellen gave me a sample of some of the other cards that she offers. I will also let readers have a chance to have those as well. I can't wait to share them with you because they are just as cute!

xoxo

MEllen Valentine Cards Giveaway

2012-01-30T05:30:00.008-04:00

I am so happy to announce a super sweet giveaway for Valentine's Day! Thanks to the generosity of the lovely Mary Ellen, owner and designer of MEllen Designs, we have a fantastic box of Valentine Cards, set of 10, to give to a PFL Reader. I met Mary Ellen via Twitter and it turns out that we actually live in the same area. It is a small world.

{Inside Reads: Happy Heart Day!}

These cards are absolutely ADORABLE. I think that anyone would love to have these to give to friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. You could even use these cards as a cute invite. Please visit the MEllen Designs website to see all of the available designs. Mary Ellen sent me a sample of her cards that I will share with you soon!

I am going to make this super easy. Here are the rules:

(1) Leave a comment for a chance to win.

(2) Spread the word by blogging, tweeting, posting a link on facebook about the giveaway for an extra chance (please leave an additional comment to let me know).

(3) Live in the United States (I only say this because of shipping. I want the winner to have these in time to mail them to friends. I DO appreciate my readers who live outside the U.S.).

Giveaway ends on Wednesday, February 1st. I will announce the winner on Wednesday, so please check back to see if you won:)

Good Luck!

xoxo

Sweetheart Breakfast Collage

2012-01-28T05:30:00.001-04:00

Sweetheart Breakfast Collage

xoxo

Sweetheart Breakfast

2012-01-27T05:30:00.001-04:00

Sweetheart Breakfast

Well, you may have guessed...my "sweet" idea for Valentine's Day is to host a breakfast for your "Mr." using ideas from previous posts this week.

Use wedding flutes to serve mimosas.

Heart to Heart Garland pinned to the tablecloth.

Serve your favorite breakfast foods.

Cover the table with lots of heart confetti.

Use your Valentine as a place card.

Layer fun plates with wedding china for a Valentine place setting.

XOXO

Pink Shelves and Easy Heart Art

2012-01-26T05:30:00.002-04:00

Another super easy and bright idea for Valentine's Day decor is to line cabinets that have glass doors with a colorful paper. It is temporary and easy to change out. I used hot pink and I love how it looks against the white cabinets.

I printed and framed my Heart to Heart Garland picture and I love how it looks. Just another cheap and easy way to decorate for seasonal celebrations.

{Heart Stamp}

I am really excited about tomorrow's post! I hope that you will check back and I hope you will love it!

xoxo

Paper Hearts

2012-01-25T05:30:00.010-04:00

Paper hearts big and small.

Let's start small and work our way to the big stuff. I made some heart confetti to display in jars and scatter about. You can buy confetti already made or make use of the scrap paper you have from other projects. I made mine while watching some shows I taped and time flew by.

Heart Confetti

I bought poster sized paper and traced out large hearts. I thought these would be a great way to decorate on the "cheap" and have a "big" impact.

Poster Sized Hearts

Notice the heart & doilies garland? Do you have any guesses what I used them for? I can't wait for you to see the whole picture on Friday.

Hope you are having a great week so far!

Heart Garland

2012-01-24T05:30:00.000-04:00

A really easy way to decorate for Valentine's Day is to use paper. I made a two different garlands using paper hearts. Fun, easy and super cute!

Garland:
Heart to Heart - string colorful hearts with simple curling ribbon.

Heart to Heart Garland

Heart & Doilies Garland - Alternate doilies between colorful paper hearts and string together with curling ribbon.

Heart & Doilies Garland

Check back tomorrow to see another way to make easy decorations using paper.

P.S. I will show you on Friday how I used my two garlands....

Sweetheart Photo Display

2012-01-23T05:30:00.001-04:00

This is "Sweetheart" week on PFL! I am going to give you an idea each day that you can incorporate into your Valentine's Day celebration. Each post will be progressive to the next, by the end of the week you will see how all of these ideas can be used to create something pretty sweet for your "sweetheart".

Materials Needed:

apothecary jar(s)
crinkle paper
ribbon
black & white photo(s)
paper hearts

crinkle paper

photos & paper hearts

Sweetheart Photo Display

Check back tomorrow to see another "sweet" idea:)

My Collection

2012-01-19T05:30:00.001-04:00

My only collection.

Soup Tureens

Office Closet

2012-01-17T21:11:00.000-04:00

My Office Closet:
I call this "my" office closet because my husband has no possessions in this space. I have been begging him to install adjustable shelves for months. Finally, over holiday break he put the shelves in the closet.

All of this stuff had to go back into the closet.

Check out the "get it together" link party by Rene of Cottage & Vine.

2012-01-16T05:30:00.001-04:00

Hope you enjoy your holiday today!

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.'… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today." I Have A Dream, 1963

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Friday!

2012-01-13T11:04:00.001-04:00

Are you ready for a long weekend? I am. I have seen and read so many wonderful things this week. I fall in love quickly and here are some of my new favorites that you may enjoy looking at this weekend.

Rifle & Radford

{via R&R's Etsy shop}

I am seeing something Amethyst in my near future:)

Architectural Digest had a tweet chat with my all time design love Kelly Wearstler this week and they asked her my question. "What is your next big project?" She replied, "I'm working on a townhouse in Manhattan. The beautiful, historical architecture of the building is amazing." I was just thrilled. I know that is kinda silly but I am a huge fan and it was fun to think she answered my question. I would love to see the townhouse, I am sure it is crazy cool and amazing when she is finished. Thanks AD!

If you have been under a rock this week, let me be the first or like 100th person to tell you that Design Darling is launching an online boutique in March. All the Tweets and Blogs are a BUZZ! We will all be on that shop like bees on honey!! Let's all support each other shall we:)

In B-I-G NEWS, Trad Home is opening up nominations for the top 10 up and coming interior designers for 2012 to bloggers. Yes, you read that correctly. We, the bloggers have the opportunity to nominate a designer to be featured in the upcoming issue of Trad Home. I know who I am nominating. Do you know who you will nominate? This is a great opportunity to promote someone's design talent that you really believe to be the best of the best. You can go HERE to read all about the deets!

{via TradHome}

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

Mini Skirt

2012-01-11T11:22:00.000-04:00

A wonderful PFL reader sent me some pictures of a DIY utility skirt that she made using the idea from this POST.

Myrna said that her adorable little dog, a Frenchy, named Boomer, liked chewing on the legs of her utility sink. If you look closely at the picture you can see the bite marks on the legs. I know how that is. My dogs have chewed lots of things around our house:)

Myrna made a "mini" skirt for her sink, just enough to cover the legs and hopefully keep Boomer from chewing. This is a great way to keep the skirt from getting messed up while using the sink for dirty jobs. Great idea Myrna!!

I think the corner detail is just perfect.

Look at that sweet little face. It sure makes it hard to be mad when they chew things when they look up at you with those eyes. I want to thank Myrna for sharing her project!

XOXO

Beautiful Combination

2012-01-09T05:30:00.001-04:00

Roberto Dutesco Horse photography

{pinterest}

I think this room has a beautiful combination of design elements. The classic molding, clean lines of the furniture, room layout, AMAZING photography by Roberto Dutesco and the natural light throughout the space. I could be very happy in this room.

Focal Point

2012-01-03T21:30:00.000-04:00

House & Home

Designer: Julie Charbonneau
Photographer: Andreas Trauttmansdorff

Dr. Seuss

2012-01-03T05:30:00.001-04:00

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T12:20:00.000-04:00

I just want to say...

{Kate Spade Thank You Cards}

I really appreciate my blog friends. Thank you so much for reading PFL and for your sweet comments. I have had such fun with all of you. I look forward to making 2012 the best year yet!

I highly recommend that you go "Barefoot" for your New Year's celebration. The Pink Moscato is the best tasting champagne that I have ever had. I usually don't like champagne but this one is really good and it is really CHEAP too!

Cheers!
xoxo

Pretty Paper

2011-12-28T17:59:00.000-04:00

I bought a few things to motivate me to stay on track for 2012. I figure a pretty planner can't hurt. I really wanted to find a green cover but this pink is a great second choice. Bonus: It only cost $6 so it was a clear winner. All purchased from Barnes & Noble.

I am going to write some pretty sweet "To Do Lists" with these lovely paper selections if I do say so myself.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T11:47:00.000-04:00

{minted}

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas

and wonderful holiday with your family & friends!

Easy Sour Cream Layer Holiday Cake

2011-12-19T17:33:00.000-04:00

This is a super easy cake to make and really pretty. All of your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen. The sour cream just keeps the cake moist and light and the jam in between the layers gives it a little bit of sweet to compliment the sour and the powdered sugar glaze is just the perfect icing to go on top. I love how you can see the pretty colors of the jam. This cake will be a great compliment to my Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer table setting:)

*Also as a exciting side note: This cake is on the

Southern Living website. Go HERE to see!

Happy Friday!

2011-12-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!

8 days until Christmas. I hope to finish up some last minute gifts this weekend.

It's "go time" people!

We are running out of time.

Kokoon

2011-12-15T05:30:00.000-04:00

One of the awesome things about BlogLand is the free swag that you can win from fabulous companies. I have been fortunate to win a few great giveaways here and there.

I was especially happy to find out that I won a credit to be used with Kokoon. The giveaway was hosted by The Zhush. I have looked at the Kokoon clothes through advertisements on several blogs and thought that I would love to try their clothes. This was just the perfect opportunity to try something that I otherwise may not have bought (mostly because we do not have a local store that I can actually go to, to try the clothes on).

I am so HAPPY with my selection and I must say that the Kokoon representative was so nice and accommodating. You know that I love good customer service and high quality products.

This is what I selected to use the credit towards (so many great sweaters to choose from):

The Carriage Jacket

I love the way the sweater jacket ties in front. The weave has little flecks of silver.

I highly recommend this sweater jacket, it is really soft and cozy. I plan to spend lots of time in it:) A big THANK YOU to Sue @ The Zhush and to Kokoon for this awesome giveaway!

Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

2011-12-14T05:30:00.001-04:00

Delicious side dish for your holiday meals.

I made this Maple Roasted Brussels Sprout Recipe via Forgiving Martha. It was easy and everyone liked it. It looks festive and tastes great. Jess is the writer for the Forgiving Martha blog. She is super talented and she has some amazing recipes that she generously shares. I highly recommend you check out her blog when you are planning your meals or if you are looking for a creative recipe.

White Lights & Vintage Ornaments

2011-12-12T05:30:00.001-04:00

I finally started decorating for Christmas over the weekend. I mentioned that I purchased some items at Finderskeepers Market during their holiday open house. I was so mesmerized by the lighted branches and vintage ornaments, I just couldn't stop taking pictures. I thought it just looked so cool!

I think that the branches are the perfect compliment to my Sarah Griffith prints. I am really happy with the muted sheen of the vintage ornaments that I hung on the branches. Finderskeepers is having a sale this week and I hope to find time to hop over there to grab some bargains. Also, the owner of the store, James started on Twitter this weekend, so do follow him for blog updates (The New Victorian Ruralist) and unique finds.

What's Your Type...

2011-12-08T09:54:00.000-04:00

of garland? So many different kinds to chose from, so many different styles.

{Pom Pom}

{Vintage}

{Tinsel}

I think I am more of the vintage type. I love the shiny silver and sparkle from white lights. What is your type?
Only 16 days until Christmas! Yikes!

Behind the Scenes of Holiday Decorating

2011-12-06T09:04:00.000-04:00

I would love to think that everything just works out perfectly. We play Christmas music, everyone drinks eggnog, glitter and shiny ornaments everywhere, smiles on everyone's faces....effortless decorating filled with peace, love and joy!

My dear friend Carissa sent me these two pictures of her front door. She decorated over the weekend. Here is the BEFORE:

She said that her husband was watching football the entire time, an outlet would not work, the foam would not keep the trees upright in the urns and her baby girl stood in the doorway crying the whole time. I love this picture, it just makes me smile. She said no one ever shows the reality of what they go through to get the house decorated.

I love how the front door turned out! She made the wreath and somehow managed to get it all together so it looks effortless. Job well done friend!

Setting the Table

2011-12-05T05:30:00.001-04:00

I am playing around with different table setting ideas. The colors I am using this year are turquoise, red and silver. I found a set of blue taper candles that were priced less than one dollar and that has set the color palate (funny how something like that happens). Nothing is set in stone as of yet...this is what I have come up with so far. *Please forgive the yellow tone of the pictures, candle light just casts this warm glow, also it was dark and raining outside when I was shooting:)

I was trying to think of a way to re-purpose the extra Christmas cards from last year. I cut off part of the card without writing, using the pretty red & white chevron pattern, adding a scalloped round sticker, writing a name, serving as a place setting card. I think it turned out okay, but I think I will continue to explore other ideas.

Do you like this color combination? The place setting with the red ornament in the center makes me think of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

I attended a wonderful holiday open house for Finderskeepers Market on Friday night. I found some really great pieces that I just could not resist thanks to the hospitable owner's, James and Randy. I will share those with you next week. I am not going to officially decorate for Christmas until this coming weekend. I am hosting a non-Christmas event at our house on Friday that I want to decorate to suite the occasion. I will share all those holiday goodies with you later.

{ All Things Bright and Beautiful }: Calling all Angels...

2011-12-03T21:57:00.000-04:00

Please help spread the word to help this sweet family. I tweeted about it and blogged about it. I plan on donating as well. I just can't imagine what this family is going through.

{ All Things Bright and Beautiful }: Calling all Angels...: I have a favor to ask...and it's a big one. So earlier this week I told you all about Matthew ...since then, this beautiful family has got...

Friday Favorites

2011-12-02T10:50:00.000-04:00

It is Friday again friends! Lots of great blog posts, DIY's, giveaways, recipes and such.

Here are my Fav's of the Week:

Pom Pom Presents Tutorial from Kate via Domestikatedlife.

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting to Go from Jess via forgiving martha. Looks seriously yummy & pretty!

A sweet & lovely giveaway from Rene via Cottage and Vine.

Great Advent Calendar idea from Emily via Jones Design Company.

I am sure I will see lots more goodies over the weekend I will want to try! We are shopping for a fireplace surround and maybe a television this weekend. Decorating the outside of the house. Also, I won a crazy good giveaway from Kokoon on Sue's blog, The Zhush and I won a Parker Pen via twitter thanks to Cassandra of Coco + Kelley.

Tis the season for giveaways! I will be hosting one next week, so be sure to check back. Lots of good stuff next week!

XO

Liz Thomas Photography Giveaway

2011-12-01T05:30:00.001-04:00

Do you remember my friend Liz? She is the professional photographer that took our family photos this year and we are crazy happy with our images!

She is such an awesome, talented, sweet and hard working person. She is hosting an amazing giveaway on her blog. If you are in KY or if you are close enough for a short drive, winning a portrait session with her would be worth it. She has made it so easy to enter her giveaway, practically giving you 11 chances to win.

Go HERE to read all the giveaway rules and start entering to win one of the numerous gifts she has included in this extremely generous giveaway. You can follow Liz HERE on facebook to see tons of sneak peeks of her photo sessions.

Also, Liz just had some of her beautiful images featured on Kara's Party Ideas. This party, {Pink Glam 1st Birthday Party}, was planned and hosted by my dear friend Carissa. Liz really captured the celebration in such a memorable way through her lens.

{How adorable is this faux fur & pink car?}

I highly recommend you have a professional photographer (if it is in the budget) for the milestone birthdays and celebrations. Most moms don't even have the opportunity to get in the pictures because they are the ones taking the pictures.

XO

Silhouette Gift Tags

2011-11-30T10:50:00.000-04:00

{Sweetfindings}

Etsy

Super cute tags for your holiday gifts!

Friendship Mix

2011-11-29T05:30:00.003-04:00

FRIENDSHIP MIX

Layer dried cranberries, pistachios and dark chocolate. Package the healthy snack in a 4 ounce jelly jar, label and tie a ribbon to garnish. Ready to give to friends for the holiday's. This is a great alternative to high sugar treats.

Enjoy!

Mood Lighting

2011-11-28T05:30:00.003-04:00

I am loving the ambience of candles lately; the reflection, the movement of the light flickering back and forth, the glow of the warmth of the flame, it is mesmerizing. Candles are inexpensive, fragrant or plain, big or small, short or tall, bright colors, sparkly or nothing fancy at all. Alone or placed in a beautiful container, a candle can set the mood and create an surrounding from nothing at all.

Let your light shine this week. Cast a warm glow on this holiday season and spread your joy to others.

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T05:30:00.002-04:00

{via Lonny}

{Eddie Ross & Jaithan Kochar}

This is one of my favorite table settings because of the rich colors and warm tone.

I wish Eddie Ross was dressing my table.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mini Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-22T05:30:00.002-04:00

I think that mini pies are the new cake pop. Small is all the rage these days, especially in BlogLand. My dear friend, Carissa, submitted this easy recipe that anyone can make.

These little pies are made in a muffin pan to give you just the perfect portion. I think this is a great idea because you usually have lots of dessert to choose from and it seems that we always eat more than one dessert anyway. Enjoy!

Check out all the yummy recipes over on 33 Shades of Green's Tasty Tuesday's. You can find lots of great food inspiration:)

Gobble, Gobble,

Serving Pieces

2011-11-21T05:30:00.001-04:00

I love pretty serving pieces. Let's face it, if you have something pretty, now is the time to bring it out and put it on display. My top pics are silver, white and glass. I like to mix a combination of the two. I don't like everything to match. I have been eyeing several pretty pieces that I would love to have. Here are just a few from my Pinterest Board.

{Williams Sonoma}

{Pottery Barn}

{Williams Sonoma}

I will be bringing out a few silver pieces this year that we have acquired as gifts and from weekend thrift sales. I think it's fun to collect the pieces you love as you discover them along the way.

Do you have any special serving pieces that you use at this time of year?

Gobble, Gobble,

Friday Favorites

2011-11-18T05:30:00.002-04:00

This week has just flown by. It always seems to speed up when a holiday is approaching and you have a huge list of things you need to do before it gets here. I certainly did not accomplish as much as I had hoped but rest assured it will all get done.

I always think to myself each week, I need to note all of the things I saw that made me say "wow" or "I will have to try this".

Some of my favorites for the week:

I am going to buy some of these thick disposable hand towels to set out when I have guests over.

I want to try all of these gluten-free recipes via Forgiving Martha.

My friend Kate, who I met in NYC this Summer, hosted another fab bridal shower. It was pink, pretty and yummy!

My blog friend Christine gave us a look at her BEAUTIFUL home. I love her style and she has the most wonderful collection of art and furniture.

You must check out this great gift guide via Apollianas, it has a little something for everyone.

If you like this Marc Jacobs sweater, you might like the similar sweater from Ann Taylor Loft for less.

Marc Jacob's Uma Sweater Reg.$248, Sale $173.60

Ann Taylor Loft Cable Sweater $59.50

You will have to decide the winner of this sweater match. I have the ATL sweater and for the price, it is close enough for me:)

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Wine + Market

2011-11-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

I had lunch at a really cute place this Summer called Wine + Market (no website). It was really cool and the decor made me feel like I was in Europe. I took these pictures with my phone, intending to write about it much sooner, but alas sometimes we have to change our plans. The exterior was so pretty, blue with the red accents, the interior was somewhat Scandinavian in design. Lots of white, big mirrors, antlers and subway tile!

Love how they write the daily menu on a giant mirror.

I enjoyed the

#2 Mobier Cheese, Pear, Baby Arugula, Black Olive Bread Panini with Tomato Bisque.

YUM! It was pricey but good.

This place also has a wine tasting on Friday's of which I have participated in.

I already miss the Summer...come back, come back, wait for me!

100 Layer Cake

2011-11-16T05:30:00.001-04:00

I would like to recommend that you have your cake and ~~eat~~ drink too this holiday season. I usually prefer white wine, something sweet, such as a Riesling, but I ventured out a bit when we had company over for dinner. I tried a Malbec once before and I didn't mind the slight dry flavor quite as much as I would have thought. It is a perfect mix of sweet & dry, something both my husband and I could enjoy. If you are looking for a new red in your life, I recommend you try 100 Layer Cake.

Cheers!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Scones

2011-11-15T05:30:00.001-04:00

I bought two gluten-free cookbooks by Elana Amsterdam, aka, Elana's Pantry. I made my first recipe from, the Gluten-Free Almond Flour cookbook, Chocolate Chip Scones.

Ingredients:

Mix all dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls, then fold dark chocolate into the mixture.

Chocolate Chip Scones

2 1/2 c. blanched almond flour

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/3 c. grapeseed oil

1/4 c. agave nectar

2 lg. eggs

1 c. coarsely chopped dark chocolate

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-17 minutes on parchment lined pan.

I honestly think this was a really easy recipe and it was so yummy! I highly recommend that you try this. I am excited to try the next recipe.

Loved these!!

Fireplace Plans

2011-11-14T05:30:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, we went to a store that specializes in installing fireplaces. Yay!! We discussed our plans with an associate and scheduled an in-home consultation. The representative told us that because we want custom woodwork and the holidays are weeks away, we probably won't have a finished project until mid-late January....wha, wha, wha. We should have started this last month. Lesson learned.

Our current living room (so boring, so blah and stark):

This is what we hope our living room will look like after the fireplace is installed via my "Fireplace" Pinterest Board (we could not even plan this without Pinterest):

You must check out the rest of this house via the Alice Lane Home Blog, just gorgeous!

We want the actual mantle to look like this picture:

This particular room was designed by Caitlin Creer. You should visit the Tiek Built Homes Design Blog to see more awesome images of their work. I was drooling all over my computer. Beautiful work!

We want the television to be recessed into the wall with molding surrounding, like the first inspiration picture. The actual mantle will be custom built to look like the second inspiration. Also the insert will be a light grey herringbone design like the second inspiration. The surround will be a solid stone (we have not selected this yet but it will be a light color like the first inspiration).

I am really excited to get this started and I will be even more excited to have it finished.

Brad's Raw Leafy Kale

2011-11-11T05:30:00.001-04:00

I just tried these kale chips this week and I must say they grow on you. It was not love at first bite, but I did begin to grow fond of Brad as time went on.

The chips are crunchy, cheesy, and a little spicy with red pepper flakes. I recommend you all go out and get your "kale" on this weekend. I may try to make some homemade chips. Have a great weekend!

Peter and Faux Shell

2011-11-09T05:30:00.001-04:00

I saw that Designer's Attic was selling 3 yards of Peter Fasano fabric and it kinda made me a little sick.

{photo via Designer's Attic}

I wanted only one yard of PF fabric for a pillow in the guest room. Of course we all know that there is a little minimum yardage requirement so I had to make a decision to pay a cutting fee (money I could have burned) in order save some dough.

This is a terrible picture of the guest room. I can't share what the whole thing looks like because I don't like it and it is going to be changing soon. The diy headboard will have to be re-covered and I want to use some of the Caitlin Wilson fabrics for drapes and a duvet cover. I can't wait for the swatch box.

Does anyone remember this? I posted about wanting a faux turtle shell long ago. I finally found one that my blog friend, Interior Designer Kim Lemmon, was selling through her shop. I noticed it on one of her blog posts and I contacted her, she shipped it to me and that is how I finally found my faux shell.

I guess if you just wait long enough, you will find what you are looking for:)

Gluten-Free Breakfast Casserole

2011-11-08T20:53:00.000-04:00

I prepared a gluten-free breakfast casserole Sunday morning. I found this recipe at Fire and Salt. Shredded potatoes are used in place of bread, making the casserole gluten-free. It reminded me of an omelet and hash browns combined into one dish.

Breakfast Casserole:

1/2 pound of meat (Bacon, Sausage, Ham, or a combination of any)

1/2 cup onion (chopped)

1/2 cup green bell pepper (Chopped)

12 eggs

1/2 cup milk (I use 1%)

1/2 cup water

1 package (about 16 ounces) fresh hash brown potatoes or frozen hash browns-thawed

4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp dill weed

Baking Directions:

Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 30-40 minutes

*I did not have dill weed so I substituted ground dry mustard instead.

I am participating in 33 Shades of Green's Tasty Tuesday's. Please visit Alissa's blog for lots of great recipes each week.

Decor and the Dog

2011-11-07T22:23:00.000-04:00

I would love for you to meet one of my new favorite blogs to read and inspire. I am sure if you don't already read this blog, you will.

Michelle, Nate and Ike (adorable Wire Fox Terrier) are the creators of Decor and the Dog. Together, this family completes some pretty fantastic projects.

I would like to share a few of my favorites:
Powder Room Make-over
The molding is a perfect upgrade.

Reupholstering a Wingback Chair
Ugly duckling to swan.

A West Elm Inspired Headboard
Perfection.

These are just a few of my favorite things. I am sure you will find a few of your own.

Some Stuff I Pinned

2011-11-04T05:30:00.001-03:00

HAPPY WEEKEND!

CWD Swatch Box

2011-11-03T11:41:00.002-03:00

I just ordered this.

{Photo: CWD}

I was thinking about emailing her today to see when the fabric swatches would be available. Luckily, she posted about it HERE today. I have plans for some drapes in a couple of rooms and possibly a duvet cover. I can't wait to get these swatches!

Thanksgiving Table Setting

2011-11-02T22:02:00.000-03:00

We will be hosting my family for Thanksgiving again this year at our house. We did this last year for the first time because my mother broke her arm and we thought it would be less stress for her. I am already thinking about what I would like the table to look like for the meal.

I have these selections in my Pinterest "Entertaining" Board:

I can picture a big arrangement of flowers in the center of the table...like this.

{Source}

Halloween Treats & Sweets

2011-10-30T21:05:00.000-03:00

Canadian House and Home has some yummy recipes available on their website. Here are some of the Halloween recipes.
Caramel Apple Delight

Scary Spider Cake

Sweet Pumpkin Bisque

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Fiorella Jewelry...Again

2011-10-28T10:05:00.000-03:00

I found another statement necklace from Fiorella Jewelry that I just could not resist. The color is so pretty, it looks fantastic against a black shirt or sweater. I just love this Etsy seller (Clare) and I highly recommend you check-out her shop because you will not be disappointed. She has just the perfect piece for a special family photo or if you just want to have a go-to statement necklace.

I am sure you remember the first necklace that I purchased. Honestly, I have worn this pink three-strand necklace a ton already. It just seems to go with everything and I think it made the pictures look so much better with a pop of color (I like saying that:).

{Liz Thomas Photography}

Happy Weekend everyone! Try not to eat too much

Halloween candy.

Ketti Camera Bags

2011-10-23T21:11:00.000-03:00

I would like for you to meet my new camera bag:

She is a Ketti Bag. I have been wanting this particular one for quite some time now. It takes a lot of skill and luck to score one of these bags, I am not joking. These bags are all handmade and in very limited quantity. A few patterns are available for purchase on the business website every Monday at 9 a.m. Pacific (this is noon for all of us on the East Coast) for about 2 seconds.

You can really learn lots of tips from reading the Facebook posts from the previous Monday sales. You can read about triumph and defeat. The system of purchasing these beauties is like a sport. First you have to wait for the bags to be listed as "available" on the the site but you have to already be on there waiting to pounce constantly hitting the "refresh" button until you see that it is "go-time". You may think that you are "home-free" if you actually are lucky enough to have a bag in your cart...not so fast! You are no where close to owning the bag in your cart because if someone else can type faster than you, they can take it right out of your cart. CRAZY! Yes, you cannot stop to look around, you just have to type faster than everyone else and have all of you credit card info ready or memorized. Do not use Paypal because it is too slow.

I would love to say that I actually bought my own bag, but I did not, my good friend Carissa actually scored my bag for me while I was on vacation in Miami. She is a crazy fast typing machine. I probably would not have this bag if she had not been ready to make the purchase for me. She sent me a text on vacation that said that she got it and I was in total disbelief. I would also like to take a moment for a shout-out to her husband CHRIS. He has been wanting to be a guest on Plain & Fancy for a long time:) This is your lucky day!

Go check-out the pretty bags from Ketti and good luck to you if you want one, be really fast!

Happy Monday!

Happy Weekend

2011-10-21T10:48:00.000-03:00

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb.

It's where all the fruit is."

~Shirley MacLaine

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

The Boss

2011-10-16T22:01:00.001-03:00

Fiorella Jewelry

2011-10-11T05:00:00.000-03:00

I purchased a gorgeous necklace on Etsy from Fiorella Jewelry for our family photo. I just want to share with you the amazing buying experience I had with this seller, Clare Hayes. As you know, I was searching for my outfit at the very last minute and I wasn't sure what kind of a necklace I would need. I started looking around and found this beautiful three strand beaded necklace and I instantly knew that I wanted to have it for the picture.

I bought the necklace and left a message for Clare explaining that I needed the necklace very soon and she literally shipped it out to me so I received it two days later. I am so appreciative of such good customer service and consideration. I think the quality of the necklace is excellent and the color is stunning. I am a happy customer and I already have plans for my next piece.

Raw Honey

2011-10-10T21:52:00.000-03:00

My allergies have been crazy. I want to enjoy being outside and it seems like I always feel bad the next day. I have been reading about the benefits of eating local raw honey. I bought this raw honey and pollen on Open Sky. This honey is not exactly "local" for me but all the reviews are from various places that surround KY so I just thought that it would not hurt.

Wee Bee Honey has lots of cool benefits: boosting your immune system, improving poor digestion, oral health, sore throat, cough, allergies, etc. Go HERE to read more about the benefits.

I sprinkled 1 teaspoon of pollen on my salad for dinner and had 1 teaspoon of raw honey after dinner. Hopefully I will not turn into a bee. I would love to know if anyone reading this has tried honey to alleviate allergy symptoms.

Liz Thomas Photography

2011-10-05T21:54:00.000-03:00

First, I have some news. I did not make it to the finals for the Hickory Chair Design Challenge but my blog friend, Interior Designer Traci Zeller did! I am really excited and happy for her. I will try again next year and just keep dreaming...

Last week I posted about Fall Outfit Inspiration for some family photos. My friend and professional photographer Liz Thomas (remember I posted about the birthday party that she had for two of her adorable boys HERE) came out to our house to take some pictures of our family in our yard. Liz is absolutely relentless, honestly I could not tire her out. The only reason she stopped snapping photos is because the sun went down. She posted a few of our pics on her facebook page so I thought I would share.

Liz is a talented photographer and super sweet person to be around. I can't wait to see the rest of the photos. I know that I will want every single one. You can follow Liz's facebook page to see all of her latest work. She posts new pictures each week.

Monday Dreams

2011-10-03T11:27:00.001-03:00

I had a fantastic weekend and I hope you did too. The entire month of October is jam packed. I have something listed for every single weekend on my calendar. I had lots of fun comments from the "Outfits" post. I am pretty sure that most everyone loves the navy and orange combo and I don't think anyone could go wrong with pairing a turquoise necklace with black.

Exciting things happening this week. Hickory Chair will be announcing the winners of the design challenge. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed. I can't help but daydream about what I would use the $10,000 toward in furniture.

Perhaps a pair of these cabinets for my dining room...

I would mirror the back of the cabinets to reflect some light into room. I think this is a classic piece of furniture.

Or a dining room table...

We could use a new bed for our master bedroom, so I could certainly go for something like this....

I will take this in King Size please.

Actually, we could use a new sofa (already)....

I am thinking of a dark color like this because a light color in my house is like suicide for the furniture.

Okay, I guess I am finished spending money that is not mine for now. Happy Monday!

“I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.”

― Katharine Hepburn

Fall Outfit Inspiration

2011-09-29T12:07:00.000-03:00

My family is having a Fall picture made today. I still don't have an outfit...Yikes! I have lots pinned on my Pinterest Outfit Board but nothing in the closet. Also, something must be wrong with my clothes because they don't really fit anymore. Maybe there is some kind of weird airflow going on in the closet and it is causing my clothes to shrink. I will have to check into this a bit further and let you know.

*Please look at the board for the sources all these great outfits.

Painted Pumpkins

2011-09-27T21:40:00.001-03:00

I am in the mood for Fall. We are planning on painting some pumpkins this weekend with our lovely neighbors. I am not much of a carver so I figure painting is much more my speed. I have been collecting lots of inspiration on my Halloween Pinterest Board. *Click on the board link to see all sources for the pictures*

Do you prefer to paint or carve your pumpkins or decorate in another way?

Vintage Handkerchiefs

2011-09-25T22:27:00.000-03:00

I think this is a great way to display vintage handkerchiefs to add a bit of color, pattern and interest to a space. I found this on the Canadian House & Home website DIY Section. Click on the link for a full list of materials and instructions for the project in the photo. I love H&H because I can always find something that makes me want to make improvements or do something creative.

I have a handkerchief from my great grandmother. I think this project has inspired me to frame it. I really never see because I just keep it in a drawer.

DIY Picture to Canvas

2011-09-21T15:18:00.000-03:00

I tried another mini-project from my DIY Pinterest Board. This project takes a printed photo and using Mod Podge you transfer the print to a canvas. It was really easy and you can be as creative as you want to be.

Here is the original pin and idea via Blue Cricket Design. Click on the link for a full list of materials and a detailed tutorial. The Sassy Pepper did this original project and guest posted on Blue Cricket Design, be sure to visit both for lots of inspiring ideas.

Sassy Pepper Blog

Here is my version using my beautiful model, Tia Maria Sophia:

I am going to try this again and maybe do a grouping.

Miami

2011-09-19T22:17:00.001-03:00

Hubby and I took another vacation last week to our favorite destination, South Beach, Miami. Honestly we could not have had a more beautiful week. The water was gorgeous and the Lowes Hotel was like a resort, lots of pampering, rest and relaxation. Loved it!

Our 7th wedding anniversary was on Sunday the 18th so we decided that the trip was also in celebration.

Weekend Finds

2011-09-08T05:30:00.001-03:00

I went to a "tent sale" this past Labor Day weekend. It was crazy hot outside. My first find of the day was this pretty silver helmet pitcher. I decided to use it as a planter to display it all year round.

After the sale, I went to a local shop, Finder's Keepers Market. I found the perfect pillow for one of my ghost chairs in a leopard print.

I also picked up this yummy Voluspa candle in a Crisp Champagne scent. Who would not like the smell of crisp champagne? Really. I love these candles. Perfect to give as a hostess gift.

Happy Thursday lovers!!

Sweet Inspiration

2011-09-07T16:40:00.001-03:00

These are just a few of the photos I have saved in my "Food Photography" board on Pinterest.

Rolo Cupcakes...shut the front door! Seriously.

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes...Heaven perhaps.

Layered Chocolate Cake...I loose count of all the layered goodness, oh my!

Stacks of Love...Yes, I am in Love!
Speaking of inspiration. Check out this lovely online magazine called Styled.

I am completely smitten with the gorgeous pictures and easy tutorials about entertaining ideas. The current issue is #2 for the magazine. Check it out and get inspired to do something sweet for Fall.

Designer Traci Zeller

2011-08-30T18:17:00.000-03:00

I know that I already asked you to vote for my chair design in the Centennial Design Challenge from Hickory Chair. I want to say THANK YOU to every single "thumbs up" I have received!

I am now asking you to vote for my blog friend and real designer, Traci Zeller.

Please visit Traci's blog to see how she transformed this beautiful piece into a show stopper! Go to her post HERE to see the rendering and follow the link to cast your vote.

Luckily because Traci is a real designer we are in separate categories and we both can win. I am in the general category and quite frankly would not want to go up against such talent. If you are not already familiar with Traci's work be sure to check our her portfolio. Traci has a classic style that would be timeless in your home design. I was so happy to meet her in person in NYC. She is super nice! I voted for her if you haven't already guessed.

I Need Your Vote

2011-08-19T09:39:00.000-03:00

I entered The Hickory Chair Furniture Centennial Design Challenge and I would really appreciate your vote.

I took the classic design of the Louis XVI end chair and re-designed it to have a starburst backrest. This is something that I have never seen before and I thought it would be a little "outside of the box". The front of the starburst would be upholstered in fabric or leather and the backside would actually be a mirror. I think this would be really cool in an show house or really formal dining room.

Please follow this link and click on the "thumbs up" to cast your vote HERE. The contest has three different categories, Designer, Student and General. I am under the general category. Please...pretty please:) I would be extra grateful if you tweet a link to this post or mention it on your blog.

Thanks so very much and have a wonderful weekend!

Nook Before & After

2011-08-15T21:33:00.000-03:00

I did this little change-a-roo some time ago. I used a little collection of lovlies that I like to look at and put them on a wall in the living room that I can see every time I walk into that space.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I may put this table/desk in my master bedroom ~~when~~ if we ever get to decorate that room. I would like to put an upholstered ottoman under this table to hide the lamp cord and hide the wall.

Crate & Barrel Artwork

2011-08-10T11:28:00.000-03:00

Crate & Barrel has some new artwork that I would love to have somewhere in my home.

Reflection Print

Silver Lining Print

Creamsicles Print

Forward Motion

Vein of Truth

Excelsior Print

DIY Chalkboard Halloween Tags

2011-08-09T05:30:00.002-03:00

I am in the Halloween/Fall planning mood for some reason. I think I am just tired of the heat. I found these little wooden Halloween cutouts (.29 each) at Michael's over the weekend and I thought they would look really cute as tags for a dessert table for a party. I have been wanted put chalkboard paint on something for a while anyway, so this was just the opportunity.

I lightly sanded the edges of the pieces to smooth out the surface prior to applying the paint.

I used a chalk marker instead of actual chalk to avoid the chalk dust & I think it is easier to write with on such a small surface.

I wanted to experiment on a melamine plate to see what that would be like. I found this plate for $1 at Michael's in the discount isle.

I applied two coats of paint. The first coat went on smooth, but the second coat had a few spots. I am not sure how to avoid that from happening. Luckily it is a black surface and you don't notice it very much.

Easy and re-usable.

Stripe Sales

2011-08-08T05:30:00.001-03:00

$10 at Old Navy

These will look really cute with my black capri pants.

$1.99 at Michael's (reg.$4.99)

These pots are great for Fall decorating. I love just about anything striped. I think these would be cute to insert tissue paper and fill with edible goodies or flatware for a buffet and the obvious would be to actually put a plant in them:)

Tension Rod Organization

2011-08-07T14:23:00.001-03:00

Do you actually try the things you "repin" or "like" on Pinterest?

I decided to try a few this weekend.

I have this organizing tip in my "Organize" board...go figure.

The area under my kitchen sink isn't too cluttered to begin with,

but I still wanted to test this out.

You have to get the rod really tight before you put it in the cabinet. When the spray bottles are full, they can be heavy. I was afraid this would fall in the middle of the night and wake everyone, but alas it did not. It is a cheap and easy solution to add a little space under your cabinets.

I will rate this project an A+

EmersonMade Coin Necklace

2011-08-05T09:20:00.000-03:00

I finally took the plunge and splurged on a coin necklace from EmersonMade. I love it! I purchased the Golden Balloon on an 18" chain.

BALLOON & STARS COIN: “Animum Debes Mutare Non Caelum” --

“Change your state of mind, not the sky” -- Master your thoughts, change your destiny

(1” diameter)

{photo & description are from the EmersonMade website}

I honestly think the EmersonMade Company is a great business and I highly recommend shopping with them. You know I am a sucker for nice packaging and marketing. My necklace came with a sweet handwritten note and it was delivered super speedy. The muslin bag has the balloon stamped on the outside making it ideal for travel. I don't like my necklaces to touch and become tangled when I pack them for a trip.

I am wearing the necklace as I write this post. I would love to collect them all but I will settle for one. I wanted this particular coin because I always say to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. Sometimes the problem I have is that my mind is racing in so many different directions, I have a hard time concentrating on one thing. I am hoping that this necklace will serve as a nice reminder to master those thoughts.

Also, there is a pretty awesome giveaway going on at EmersonMade you should sign-up for if you haven't already. $1,000 Giveaway to be announced on their Facebook page August 25th!

Happy Friday!

Edisto Beach

2011-08-03T21:19:00.001-03:00

I only took 850 pictures on vacation. I will spare you and share only a few. We went to Edisto Beach, SC.

This is the cutest bathing suit, too bad I can't get it in my size:) She has a little monogram on her top. Adorable.

Baby Shark

Having Some Fun

2011-07-29T09:07:00.000-03:00

Soaking up some sun.

Eating lots of food.

Swimming.

Taking lots of pictures.

I am on vacation if you haven't already guessed.

Hope you are having a great week!

Three Boys and a Thousand Hills

2011-07-25T17:23:00.000-03:00

My talented friend, Liz, planned and photographed an amazing party for two of her precious boys, Tristan and Walker. Liz is a professional photographer, Liz Thomas Photography, and one thrifty and creative mamma.

She found ways to save some money, use a lot of resources that she already had, planned and plotted for an entire year and successfully hosted an AMAZING party.

Please visit Liz's blog, Three Boys and a Thousand Hills, and read the entire story (including all of her resources). Her photographs are gorgeous! I think you will certainly be inspired to have a professional photograph the big moments in life and to be creative when you are planning your celebrations.

Happy New Week to you all!

Thanks Lindsey

2011-07-21T05:30:00.001-03:00

I posted about being OBSESSED with Lindsey Ellis Beatty's house that was featured in Southern Living. In fact, I am so obsessed I bought the same Vapor Stools from CB2 that she has (I love when a magazine includes sources).

Lindsey's stools.

My stools.

Note: You may notice a lemon painting on the buffet. I won this in NYC for a Twitter contest. Twitter is so much fun. I have had such great opportunities to talk to people I would have never had a chance otherwise. I highly recommend you tweet.

I love how the lucite stools mimic the glass pulls on my buffet cabinetry.

I totally love the new stools. My husband is warming up to them. I think they are quite comfy and chic all at the same time. I would like to thank Lindsey for sharing her home and inspiring me to take the leap and finally order counter stools....seriously, I have only been searching for one year and seven months. Also, I did not have to select any fabric which saved me about six months in decision making, at least.

Fireplace

2011-07-20T10:29:00.000-03:00

I saw this gorgeous photo in Lonny. This is the home of Designer Ruthie Sommers. I am sure most everyone has already looked at this but I still wanted to share.

Hubby and I are planning on adding a fireplace in the Fall. I know it is really hot right now and most of you are only thinking of cooling off instead of heating up. I have to get this plan ironed out before construction begins. I really like the width of this mantle, it looks extra wide. I love big molding pieces and I think it would look good in proportion to our double crown in the living room.

That is one crazy cool leopard ottoman...meow!

Obsessed

2011-07-12T09:27:00.000-03:00

Do you sometimes see a photo of a room and become obsessed with the design? I do! I am currently obsessed with this Cottage Kitchen Makeover featured in Southern Living. This is the home of Lindsey Ellis Beatty. Check her out because she is just plain FABULOUS!

Photo by: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling by: Anne Turner Carroll , Written by: Zoe Gowen
Source Guide
Wall paint: Seed Pearl (27-32)
Cabinetry paint: Hardwick White
Ceiling lights: Clark Ceiling Light
Sink: DOMSJÖ Double Bowl
Faucet: Ashfield (529-7YPS)
Barstools: Vapor barstools

I love every single thing about this space. I love the mix of the Vapor counter stools with the traditional elements in the house. The colors and textures used in the breakfast nook...perfect!

I have looked at the issue about a million times now. I ordered a Vapor stool for my kitchen and I love it. I ordered two more yesterday. I will post about them once I have all three. I am so glad Southern Living featured this beautiful space...I also ordered some French Louis XVI side chairs. I told you I am OBSESSED! I wasn't joking.

Lenses Part II

2011-07-10T18:20:00.000-03:00

I borrowed my friend Elizabeth's 50mm f1.4 lens to compare with my f1.8 lens. I used my Canon Rebel xs. These photos were shot around 6:30 p.m.

f/1.8, ISO 400, 50mm

f/1.4, ISO 400, 50mm

The color of the photos are obviously different. I could have bumped down my ISO to 100 or 200 using this lens. The blurred background is much more smooth.

Great color saturation with the yellow rose.

Overall, I liked the 50mm f1.4. I would need to get used to making the necessary adjustments to take advantage of the capabilities of this lens. I would love to try the f1.2 but the local camera store does not rent that lens for some reason.

Do you have a 50mm lens for your camera? Which one do you recommend?

Lenses

2011-07-07T08:26:00.000-03:00

Lately it has been hard for me to keep this blog updated. Summer has set-in and all I want to do is have some fun. I have been a little obsessed with finding a new lens for my camera so I have been like the Paparazzi to friends, family and neighbors. I have the lenses that were in a kit with the camera. I highly recommend that you buy the camera body you want and then invest in a good quality lens that you will shoot with 90% of the time. I think it would be better to have one great lens instead of two or three cheap ones.

We have a local store that you can rent lenses from. I have decided to rent the ones I am interested in and then make a decision. Seriously, all these lenses are very expensive, so it is an investment for sure.

I have read about a million reviews and blogs on the subject. I think that Drew B. of Momtog is an awesome photography blog and resource. I have learned a lot from reading her blog. She also offers a manual called the UNmanual for using your DSLR camera.

I rented a 100mm f2.8 macro lens this past weekend. I loved it! I had so much fun with this lens. I wanted to rent the 24-70mm f2.8 but it was not available so I opted for the macro. I did not have to be too close to my subject because this was 100mm. Here is a progressive series of photos to show how close I could be without being out of focus.

This is a great shot of a festive headband. You can see that the colors were nicely saturated and the the focal image was sharp. I could tell an immediate difference when I used this lens.

I will post about the 50mm f1.4 next. I already have the f1.8 but I want to see what the real difference is, so I will show some comparison shots using the same settings.

I would love to know what lenses you have and what you like best.

Happy Summer!

Magic Beans

2011-06-28T09:41:00.002-03:00

I think this beans are totally wild. I have never seen anything like this before. I would love to actually see how they really work.

{Image from CNBC}

According to the Joulies website these stainless steel egg sized beans were invented by two child friends. The beans go in your coffee and absorb the heat to cool the liquid to a drinking temperature, then the beans radiate the heat back into the liquid when it starts to get cold, keeping your cup of java nice and hot for a long time.

I would love to know if anyone has tried these.

Father's Day Weekend

2011-06-17T08:58:00.000-03:00

I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day Weekend!

XOXO

Lu Lu DK

2011-06-16T05:30:00.000-03:00

I was out shopping about one month ago when I found a pair of pillow shams that I could not resist. I also bought a yard of fabric on a whim. I put these two purchases together and had a bolster pillow made with the fabric and made a fresh summer look for my bed.

The two Euro pillow shams are 27 x 27 Lu Lu DK for Matouk in Honeydew. I love the bright green color (reminds me of my blog) and the graphic chant print.

The bolster pillow fabric is Lizette Majestic Champagne Paisley. This is a really affordable fabric (I usually pick out something way more expensive, I must have had a fever that day) and the colors in the pattern will go with just about anything.

Photography

2011-06-14T05:30:00.001-03:00

I just can't tell you how much I am enjoying this book, Plate to Pixel. I love the way it is written, so easy to understand and it has such useful information.

Here are a few things I have been practicing on:

I have lots to work on, but it is fun to play with all the settings and experiment with light sources. The last image of the frozen peaches has too much shadow in it, but it was practice. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in improving your photography skills. I don't consider myself to have any skills at the moment, but I am trying. I think this book is especially useful for bloggers who want some great tips on styling photos that you want to post about on your blog, obviously it does not have to be food but the principals are the same.

Counter Stool

2011-06-13T05:30:00.001-03:00

First of all, you seriously have no idea just how difficult it is for me to make a furniture commitment. I have been looking for just the right barstools for 1 1/2 years. Allison at Urban Grace made a beautiful selection for me from Ballard Design's that would be upholstered in a really nice and expensive outdoor fabric.

Marcello Counter Stool

I would have ordered the stools long ago, except they are so darn expensive. I know they would be a quality piece that would look good in my house and be comfortable, I would have them for a million years and I could just have them recovered after years of daily abuse. I just can't seem to pull the trigger and order because I can just think of so many other things that we need and could put that money towards. I just keep thinking I will find something at a yard sale and find something that needs to be upholstered, although I would need to go to yard sales to execute this plan.

I ordered these stools from Overstock.com in an attempt to save money, literally, four of these stools cost less than buying one of the Ballard stools...excuse me while I choke on the thought.

Okay, here is a little dramatization of how this went down in my house:

Goldilocks (me): These are too shiny. They feel cheap. I don't like how far it sticks out from the counter. I think it is too short. I don't like it. It just doesn't cost enough...

I sent them right back to Overstock.com. The end.

Mudrooms

2011-06-12T10:12:00.002-03:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I needed a bit of a blog vacation when I came back from NYC. You would think I would have been really motivated and driven to knock it out of the park and make the blog amazing, but rather it just made me feel a little burnt-out. I just needed to walk away and get a fresh perspective.

Anywho, I am calling a pro woodworker this week to get a quote on making a built-in for the mudroom and the pantry (this will be another post because I could talk about it for dayz). My friend Elizabeth referred me to a guy who seems to be able to create anything you desire.

I want something simple that won't start to look cluttered. I want some little details that will make it a little more plain & fancy (always the right combination in my book:) I like to hide clutter behind closed doors and in baskets whenever possible. I want a bead board or tongue & groove backing on the inside to add a little texture, maybe a little arch on the top to add a design element to it all and possibly paint the inside one or two shades darker than the walls to help hide a little dirt. Oh..and I also want a place to sit and take our shoes off, really this would be for my husband. I want him to have a place to sit and take off his shoes because I don't want him wearing them in the house.

Here are a few ideas that I like:

thisoldhouse.com

Photo: Helen Norman

orgjunkie.com

Photo: dennace

Last Three Photos: BHG.com

I think this last picture is calling my name. It has most everything on my list of "wants". It is simple but it has an appealing design that makes it a little more interesting. I especially like the way the top of the built -in goes all the way to the ceiling to meet the crown molding.

Outdoor Inspiration

2011-06-07T09:59:00.002-03:00

Here is a little outdoor inspiration from my most favorite publication....Canadian House & Home.

Source: House Home Condos 2009 special issue
Products: Wicker rockers, Chintz & Company; bowl, 18 Karat.
Photographer:
Martin Tessler

Source: House & Home Condos 2010 special issue
Products: Throw pillows, West Elm; chaises Ikea.
Designer: Trish Johnston
Photographer:
Michael Graydon

I love the idea of adding an umbrella between two lounge chairs. This makes the space seem more like a vacation spot rather than your own patio. I may try this on our deck.

Source: House & Home Condos 2010 special issue
Products: Dining table, Fresh Home and Garden; dining chairs, Gloster Furniture; small rectangular throw pillows fabric (on dining chairs),Robert Allen; chandelier, Ikea; tall redd grasses, The Home Depot.
Photographer:
Michael Graydon
Believe me, if I had a place to hang a chandy, I would certainly do it.
!

Source: House & Home Condos 2010 special issue

Products: Love seat, HomeSense; canopy fabric, Sunshine (020912), pink square pillow, ; round throw pillow fabric, Elcot in Moss (green) and Salmon (pink, all piping, Robert Allen; pillow sewing, MacFab Fabrics; orange throw (on love seat), Missoni Home Gallery; outdoor rug, Fresh Home and Garden.
Photographer:
Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home May 2011issue

Products: Napkins, napkin rings,Angus & Company.
Designer: Steven Sabados & Chris Hyndman; landscape architect, Meredyth Hilton.
Photographer:
Michael Graydon
This is just perfect for me. I love the simplicity and I think the mirrored French doors are brilliant. I bet this is gorgeous at night with candles lit and the lantern light reflecting from the doors at the end of the table. I love the greenery planted in pots to create the symmetry that we all like.

FLOR Modular Floor Coverings

2011-06-05T22:53:00.000-03:00

I was given the opportunity to try FLOR's carpet tiles in my home. I have been curious about these carpet tiles for a long time, I have ordered countless samples in various styles, but unable to make the commitment to place an order. I am always looking for a pet friendly alternative to natural fiber rugs. I like the look of natural fiber, but not the corse texture underfoot and the horrible clean-up after pet accidents.

I decided that I wanted to replace the natural fiber runner in our foyer. I selected FLOR carpet tiles in the "Suit Yourself" style, color Raffia, because the description read as "The distinctive look of sisal with a subtle herringbone pattern offered in a nature inspired neutral palette well suited for any space. Looks best installed parquet style. Made in the USA." I really like a herringbone pattern and I especially like that the product is made in the USA.

{I am NOT being paid to say anything. This is my opinion and review of this product without influence from the FLOR company.}

I was given a 5 x 7 rug (12 carpet tiles). I decided to take the 19.7" squares and make a runner in the foyer. You can see that the color of the tiles are slightly darker than the existing rug and I was happy about that because of the foot traffic for this area of my home.

I am really happy with the fact that these carpets can be customized to any size or shape that you want. I actually wanted the runner to be a little longer than the existing rug. I wanted it to extend to the end of the entry table.

I wanted you to be able to see the herringbone pattern and texture in comparison.

The tiles are secured with FLOR dots that have adhesive to keep the corners nice and snug.

I am quite pleased with the look and feel of the tiles. The assembly literally took about 10 minutes.

I honestly really like the rug. My husband likes the rug. The dogs like the rug. We are all happy!

Overall, I would recommend FLOR because you can order swatches, custom sizes, easy assembly, and easy to remove a tile for cleaning.

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I would also like to thank FLOR for giving me the opportunity to try this product. Everyone I have spoken with has been extremely helpful and friendly.

I am going to make the commitment and order a big rug for the living room and toss the seagrass rug for good. I think we will order the same style, Suit Yourself, in the color Linen.

Friday!

2011-05-27T05:30:00.001-03:00

Here is a fun quote and a pretty picture. Go forth and live your weekend with zest and vigor!

"If you obey all the rules,

you will miss all the fun."

~Katherine Hepburn

It is time to open up the pool and swim...yay!!! I wish this was my pool, sad that it is not...boo! I need to acquire some friends with pools...uh huh!! Hope you have a safe and awesome Memorial Day weekend!

Source: House & Home June 2008 issue
Products: Patio furniture, Fresh Home & Garden.
Designer: Landscape design, David Mather; architect, Sharon McKenzie.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald