Thursday, November 5, 2009

Little Tikes

I'm dedicating this post to my youngest sister who is going to be a first time mom, happily anticipating the birth of her twin boys ( identical ! ) this coming winter....... here are a few of the many great shops on etsy that make wonderful art and accessories for kids decor....


1, 2, & 3 cross stitch patterns are by andwabisabi.etsy.com


# 4 - crochet sock monkey rug from peanutbutterdynamite
# 5 - two peas in a pod crochet plushie from yummypancake
# 6 - traffic jam pillow from norajane
# 7 - Matryoshka dolls from PinkCheeksStudios
# 8 - Primary colors slug tribe from lullabylily

# 9 & 10 blue pony pillow from BlueThimble
# 11 & 12 box life book cabinet from natymosko

# 13 - ABC wall vinyl decals from sixunderatree
# 14 - kids wall art alphabet print from sweetbeets
# 15 - Birch screen printed wool log pillow from myimaginaryboyfriend
# 16 - engraved name rocks from sjengraving

# 17 & 18 land, sea and air stuffies from katedurkin
# 19 Simploms (3-pack) plushies from talkproof

Monday, November 2, 2009

FUSE ID

Kishani Perera of fuse ID is a los angeles based interior designer with an eclectic and playful style. I knew from the moment I saw her decorating style she would become one of my favorite interior designers. Her designs are bold with surprising elements and introduces just the right amount of color............... She makes it look so effortless !

♪♫ ♪ here are a few of my favorite things ♪♫ ♪











All above images are via: kishani Perera

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Blues... Turquoise ... Teals

I think the grey skies and rain today has put me in the mood for all things blue! and who can resist the color BLUE...


above image via: house beautiful
above image via: JOHNER
above image via: JOHNER
above image via: JOHNER



above image via: house beautiful

above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful
above image via: house beautiful

Friday, October 23, 2009

Surprise cookies....!!!

If you like marshmallows and chocolate, then you'll love these cookies ! I'm off to (....... no nothing exciting ) clean up my house !
Enjoy your day and have a ........... sweet weekend !!!

Ingredients

Makes about 2 dozen
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add reserved flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined.
Using a tablespoon or 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove baking sheets from oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to oven, and continue baking until marshmallows begins to melt, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.

For the frosting:
Ingredients

Makes 1 cup
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in butter and cocoa powder. Add milk and vanilla, and whisk until well combined.

{ recipe via: martha stewart }

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Black Eyed Peas

The Magic Of Paint.......

I've always been one to embrace colorful walls. Although I'm hesitant when it comes to my own home and even then I do so with caution and gradually (ok, very gradually ). I believe painting your walls in vibrant & bold colors will either make it or break it ( sometimes even KILL it ! ).
You truly need to have an artistic flair to be able to work it and the rooms below are doing just that.......... they're working it !!! I love each one of them.....








All above images are via: House&Home Canada

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Every Day Is Mothers Day !

I'm not sure who the author of this wonderful writing is. In any case I would love to share it and dedicate it to all the mothers out there including moi ! why wait till mothers day ?

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the county clerk's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. ``What I mean is,'' explained the clerk, ``do you have a job or are you just a ..... ?''

``Of course I have a job,'' snapped the woman.
``I'm a Mom.''
``We don't list `Mom' as an occupation, `housewife' covers it,'' said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own town hall. The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, ``Official Interrogator'' or ``Town Registrar.''

``What is your occupation?'' she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.
``I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.''

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title, slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

``Might I ask,'' said the clerk with new interest, ``just what you do in your field?''

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, ``I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out).

``I'm working for my Master's, (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction, rather than just money.''

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants, ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6-month-old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than ``just another Mom.''

Motherhood. What a glorious career, especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers ``Senior Research Associates in the Field of Child Development and Human Relations,'' and great-grandmothers ``Executive Senior Research Associates''? I think so. I also think it makes aunts ``Associate Research Assistants.''

Please send this on to another mom, grandmother, aunt and any friends you know.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tapestries re-purposed......

I know she has been blogged about a million times & about million times I have fallen in love with her creations. Frederique Morrel is a french designer with a passion for needle point tapestries. She has found a unique way to preserve this ( often times unappreciated ) art form & uses it in functional and eclectic ways. She beautifully recovers furniture with different mixed pieces of needle point tapestries. Each creation is unique and has a story to tell. Her creations include life size sculptures as well as smaller pieces of furniture and accessories.









All above images are via: Frederique Morrel

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Work space......

Image above is via : Country Home

So sorry I've been neglecting my blog :(.......I was feeling under the weather for the past few days & I'm only glad it didn't morph into something more sinister { ... such as a 3-D animation }:)

I am planning a home office/work space & I've been looking through a lot of magazines and blogs for inspiration. I have a decent size space to work with that is part of my living room . Unfortunately it has stood empty for a long time and is not being utilized to it's potential and what could be an amazing part of the house. I want to create an illusion of boundary so it feels like it's separate from the living room & I would love to start this task with a nice desk. I have 2 favorite styles which I'm considering, one is a bean shape desk and the other { my favorite } is the American empire style desk { shown below }. I would love to share some of my favorite inspirational images for office space.....

LOVE.... above image { American empire desk } via: 1stdibs
above image via: country home magazine 2000 I LOVE this space !
above image via: country home magazine 2000
above image via: methome.com
above image via: methome.com
above image via: methome.com
above image via: myhomeideas
Above image via: methome.com