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

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Paintings by tushtush !

Most of you are aware of etsy and what an amazing source for all things handmade etsy is. You also know what an incredible community of artists it features. So you can understand that I have too many favorites from etsy to list in one post. So today I will dedicate this post to one of my favorite artists, Tali and her company TushTush. Her paintings are all one of a kind. She takes her inspiration from old photographs that depict family, friends and everyday life in the simplest sense. I love her unique style with its retro flair and her ability to capture moments frozen in simpler times. She gives movement and life to these still photographs, and I'm hoping some day to acquire more & more of her wonderful art. I have too many favorites but....




{ happy to say I am the proud owner of the above painting titled 'love the retro' !!! }







All of the above images are via: tushtush.etsy.com

Friday, October 2, 2009

Upholstery obsession ............

Before I wish you all an amazing weekend, allow me to share with you my "slight" obsession with all things upholstered - Enjoy !!!
................ Have an amazing weekend !!!! xoxo

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


Above chaise is via : chair couture






above images via: housetohome.co.uk
Above chaise is from Squint via retrotogo


Above images via: Woodson & Rummerfield's

Edgy British style
above image is via:housetohome.co.uk