Green House

If you watch HGTV as religiously as I do, you have probably heard of the 2011 Green Home in Colorado.  I am beyond obsessed with the color palette of grays and yellows or how the art above the fireplace slides to the side to expose the t.v.  And the fact that it is made with many energy renewable resources is icing on the cake.  Take a look and tell me what you think!

Doggy Art

There has been a lot of chatter in blogland regarding using silhouettes as cool wall art.  A great example is seen here from Tanya at Dans Le Townhouse.  She put a great modern spin on a trend that tends to run traditional.  So when I ran across these super cute animal silhouettes from Mod Dog Shop on the blog Modern Jane Design, I was instantly smitten!  If you love your dog as much as I do, this is perfect!  They would also make a great gift for the dog lover in your family.

I *love* Herman Miller

For those of you who haven't heard of Herman Miller, I am happy to introduce you.  Herman Miller is a company founded in 1905 in Michigan.  They were originally known for their office furniture but have also produced other iconic pieces for the home including the Eames Lounge Chair and Noguchi Table.  I have been lusting over the Eames Lounger designed by Charles and Ray Eames for some time now and these photos make it look oh so delicious!

{images via here, here}

Spring Cleaning

I may be the only person I know that looks forward to spring cleaning.  It is a great excuse for my normal OCD cleaning!  I kicked off my cleaning today (unwanted day off put to good use) by renting a carpet cleaner from my local Home Depot.  I love the scent of freshly cleaned carpets!  Awhile ago I ran across a checklist on Martha Stewart's website and it is a great outline for a once-a-year deep cleaning.  Is there anything that you would add to the list?

Happy Easter!

My husband and I don't have big plans for the holiday weekend.  We live too far away from family to pop in for the weekend so I am trying to make it as special as possible by honoring family traditions.  This means making the all important egg souffle for Easter brunch.  My husband's mother makes this dish for every holiday and it is beyond amazing so it was a tradition I happily embraced.   Do you follow tradition or form your own?  Wishing you all a great weekend, happy Passover, happy Easter!

{images via pinterest}

Not your granny's sofa

Call me crazy but I'm totally in love with all the velvet sofas that I have seen in magazines, catalogs and blogs.  To me a velvet sofa used to conjure up images of a sofa covered with a plastic slip cover and smelling like mothballs!  These images are anything but!  Do any of you have a velvet sofa and if so are they comfortable?

{image via here, here, here, here, here, simon watson photography}

To the Max

It is once again a dark, rainy day here in my part of the country.  I have yet to wear anything that resembles a spring outfit but rather still wearing coats, boots and scarves.  To make up for this shortcoming I have been doing plenty of spring/summer shopping!  One thing on my list is the versatile maxi dress.  I have my favorite from last season but I do want to invest in a couple more.  Here are 8 great options (not all in my price range but still note worthy!)





1.  Topshop  $110
2.  Delias  $50
3.  Delias  $50
4.  Net-a-porter.com  $130
5.  American Eagle  $35
6.  Topshop  $46
7.  Missoni  $895
8.  Haute Hippie  $358

Tradhome Magazine!

Online shelter magazines are popping up everywhere and I love it!  The newest one is a collaboration between Lonny and Traditional Home called Tradhome.  I don't tend to like decors that are traditional but this magazine is the perfect blend of classic with a modern touch!

Go check out the rest of the magazine here!

New Toy

We went computer shopping today and came home with a new toy!  We decided to get a Mac due to the perfect reputation they have.  I have never heard a Mac user regret buying one.  So yours truly will be blogging behind this beauty from now on!  Leave me tips in the comments if you have any, I need all the help I can get!

Banana Bread

The lack of posting this past week is due to a nasty virus that attacked our laptop.  After taking it to a computer doctor, it looks like we may be going computer shopping tomorrow.  I think this time around we are going to join the Mac users.  My husband and I have been going back and forth whether to splurge for one and this latest virus on our PC may just be the catalyst that we needed.  So...with my new found free time, I've been doing some baking.  In this house, we never manage to eat all the bananas before they turn too soft so this recipe is perfect for those brown bananas sitting on your counter.  This banana bread recipe is a simple but yummy recipe from my mom that brings back fond memories of her baking this on a cold winter day.  Feel free to add nuts or chocolate chips to the batter and enjoy with a cold glass of milk!

Need:

2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp oil
1/3 c. milk
1 1/4 c. mashed bananas (about 2-3 medium bananas)
1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.   Mix sugar, brown sugar, oil, milk, egg and bananas.  Add the flour mixture and blend.  Bake for 55 to 65 minutes in a 9" greased loaf pan.  Wait to cool before serving.

Before and After

If you've been reading along, you know that I have been on the hunt for a bar cart to fit into an empty corner of the kitchen.  I wanted something multipurpose so when I came upon this one from Ikea, it was perfect.  The bottom is great for stashing bottles and glassware.  There is a drawer for storing cocktail napkins and the best part is the removable cutting board on top.  All this for under 200 bucks!

Before:

Pretty bland corner..

After:

Thinking of maybe painting an area above the cart with chalkboard paint.  Anyone know if that's easily repaintable since we live an in apartment?

I Adore.

Many online shelter mags have popped up in the past year and one of my favorite monthly reads is the Australian Adore Magazine.  Those aussies have great style! Sydney blogger Vivian Mansour's home was featured and it is absolutely breathtaking.  I think I saved every photo to my inspiration folder.   I love her use of color as well as clean simple lines.  Check out her blog Ish and Chi to see more of her great style.  I think you will fall in love too!

I love that colorful painting!

What do you think about that wallpaper? Gorgeous!

That is her favorite wall paper framed above her headboard.  What a great idea.

I apologize for the two house tour posts in a row but I can't stop looking at these images!

Secrets from a Stylist

I apologize if you've seen these photos already a million times but I am so obsessed with them!  Joy Cho is the mastermind behind the blog Oh Joy!.  Recently her and her husband auditioned to be on the show "Secrets from a Stylist" on HGTV with Emily Henderson, winner of Design Star.  She was chosen to have her living room and dining room styled by Emily.  If you've watched the show then you know that Emily will determine the design taste of both homeowners and then blend them together.  These rooms are described as "single malt nouveau," a blend of Joy's artsy nouveau taste with her husbands single malt minimalism taste.  Hope you enjoy! For more photos check out Emily Henderson's blog as well, Style by Emily Henderson.

{images via here}

April Showers Better Bring May Flowers

It rained non-stop here in New York today and the clouds have just now started to clear.  Rainy days like these make me wish for spring even more!  To battle the rainy day blues, I put together some things I've had my eye on.  Has the sun been shining in your part of the world?
 

 

1.   Nine West  $89
2.   YSL Arty Ring  $250
3.   Topshop  $66
4.   Reissonline.com  $95
5.   Forever 21  $13
6.   Essie French Affair
7.   Forever 21  $3.50
8.   All Saints  $460
9.   Topshop  $76
10. RayBan  $159

My First Award!

The sweet Mrs. MBL over at My Beautiful Life passed on to this humble new blog the Stylish Blogger Award!  Go check out her new(ish) blog and make sure to take a look at her amazing paintings!  The girl has talent. 

Getting this award means you have to share 7 things about yourself, link back to the chica that awarded it to you and pass it on to 10 fellow bloggers.  Here we go!

1.  I am a physical therapist and work with the geriatric population.  I love old people and love making them feel better.  I've heard the best stories ranging from their crazy sex lives (yes 80 year olds have sex!) to amazing WWll adventures. 

2.  I've ran 4 half marathons but still have yet to muster up the nerve to train for a full marathon.  The whole idea scares me!

3.  I have a new puppy named Uli who is truly my first born!  Anyone with a dog knows what I'm talking about.  I can't believe how much I love that little thing.

4.  I hate vegetables with a passion!  When I was a little girl I wasn't allowed to leave the table until my veggies were eaten.  To remedy this, I would keep them in my cheek and later throw them away!  I know, gross.

5.  I met my husband in the library during grad school.  We obviously weren't getting much studying done.  We always joke that we were studying anatomy that day.

6.  I am such a book worm.  I read 3 novels last week while on vacay.  I'm so excited because I just joined a book club.  Yes, I know, nerd.

7.  Man these are hard to come up with!  I'm a sucker for a good reality show and do watch Real Housewives of wherever.  But geez, those women are silly!

Hope I didn't loose you all there! Now to pass it on to these 10 wonderful blogs!

Abigail over at Abigail's Place
Lily at Gold & Gray
Alena over at Oh, It's Just Perfect
Monika at The Doctor's Closet
Tanya at Dans Le Townhouse
Miss Walker at Miss Walker
Samantha at Black Velvet Chair
Rachel at Little Bits of Lovely
Dora over at A Drop of Indigo
Brittany at Swirls of Happy

Enjoy ladies!

Gallery Style

I've always liked the look of pictures hung gallery style on a wall.  Its a great way to use small pieces to cover a large wall.  Our home has a mismatch selection of art due to both sides of our families having artists as well as art picked up on some of our travels.  I pondered the idea of doing a gallery style wall behind our t.v. but in the end I decided to hang 2 Ikea Malm floating shelves side by side and create a gallery style shelf instead.  In my opinion the less cohesive the collection the better!  If any of you have gallery style walls, I would love to see pics!

First here is some inspiration.

{images via here}

My version...



Definitely a hodge podge, I mixed style of frame, style and type of art and size but I think it works.