All of my good ideas...

I love this installation. The artist spray painted 1500 plastic army men and glued them to this window.

Just a little reminder that brilliance is the result of a little bit of talent and a ton of work.

Old Keys

I love antique keys. They have so much narrative potential that I want to imagine a story for each one.

...The small key went to a beautifully carved jewelry box that held all of the letters her lover had written to her while he was overseas...

...The large key had been handed down to her by her grandmother, who always told her that it open a secret room at her family's summer estate...

...He found the key in an old desk that he had bought at an antique store. The had written number tag that hung from the key read 226. What did it mean? A hotel room...

{image via FMTY}

His & Hers Topsiders

Feeling preppy? Go with Sperry Topsiders.

{image found on BTF}

Happy Birthday Sam!

You. Are. Awesome.

Happy Birthday Sam.

Love you.

Do they still make skirts like this?

... Yet another reason I wish I could sew: So that I can just make that piece of clothing I'm imagining in my head rather than search for it everywhere.

I love this outfit.

Love Life

"Love life, engage in it, give it all you've got... because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it." Maya Angelou

Those March Days

Gimme some red lipstick and a vintage plane

{photo via bip}

Honey, there's a giraffe at the door

{image found on Forgetting Details}

Some glamor for a Tuesday

Carey Mulligan rocking the golden-age red lipstick look.

{photo from here}

That color

A glass bowl full of flowers like this would make my day.

Ps. HUSBAND got me FLOWERS last week! For no particular reason at all, except that he loves me  (which is actually the best reason to give flowers). And they were beautiful.

Light It Up

{photo via bip}

High Ceilings, Open Spaces and Oval Sofas

And bookshelves! Oh the bookshelves.

A memorable woman

Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably, and they remember the woman. Coco Chanel

Words to live by

For Gentlemen and Ladies.

{Found @ TKoW}

Where to keep your globe collection...

Thanks Kathryn!

Perfect Kids Room

Whether it's for boys or girls, I LOVE this room.

(Discovered here.)

Back of a matador

That is one of the most stunning pieces of art I've seen in a long time.

It's especially striking in this room full of white, blue and tan.

Candle Light

Dinner parties should happen by candle light.

Citizen of the World

(Kheaven, this one's for you. Not even sure if you read the blog or not. Either way, still yours. Just sayin'.)

Border Reiver by Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler is the voice of Dire Straits and I grew up listening to them.



I discovered this song on Pandora yesterday and I love it.

And don't you forget it

{via bip}

Magical French Garden

Doesn't this garden look like a completely magical place? I want to attend a dinner party here.

Simple Sewing Project (In theory)

I am amazed at people who can just whip things up on a sewing machine. I do not possess that talent, but I'm trying to learn. I have resigned myself to the fact that my first few projects will be a complete mess. Somewhere around project #12 I expect to create something recognizable and will at that point declare public victory.

I think this project might be within my meager skill set. Might.

Mat

I will build my children a tree fort and it will have a front mat like this.

Wide Open Spaces

*Le sigh*

Oh the things I could do in a space like this.

... Of course one of those things would be the daily use of a Swiffer.

More Furoshiki!

Apparently I'm not the only one fascinated (obsessed?) with furoshiki lately. Melanie has a whole post with some cute pictures.

Chewing the Cud  has a whole shop full of beautifully printed fabric wraps. The corners even say things like "Give Luck" and "Give Joy."

CTC's blog even features some great tutorials on how to wrap everything from books to bottles to round objects.

THE hair tutorial of all hair tutorials

This hair tutorial was posted by everyone and their dog back during the holidays. And in an effort to stay off the band wagon I refused to post it... But I haven't stopped thinking about it. So now that its been a few months I'm hoping its a little bit more fresh. It sure is stunning.

ps. Her lipstick is Clinique's Red Red Red.
pps. I love Joanna's suggestion to wear that hair and makeup with a black turtleneck and jeans. Soooo chic.

Happy Birthday Mom!

 You make the world a better place. Especially for me. Love you! Happy Birthday.

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes with Nutella Frosting

I made these last week for St. Patrick's Day by substituting green food coloring for the red food coloring. If you cluster them in groups of four, they look like shamrocks. At least that's what I told myself as I ate them in groups of four.

Green or Red:

Individual Oreo Cheesecakes with Nutella Frosting

12 whole chocolate Oreos
8 oz cream cheese (1 package)
½ cups sugar
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 whole egg
red food coloring (or green, pink, whatever you feel like)
½ cup Nutella

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line cupcake pan with paper liners and place 1 Oreo in the bottom of each. Set aside.

3. In large bowl, whip cream cheese and sugar together until combined. Stir in cocoa, vanilla, egg and food coloring until smooth and desired color. Spoon batter over Oreos so cups are filled 2/3 way full.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set completely. Cool to room temperature and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

5. For serving, remove paper cupcake liner and place on platter. Microwave Nutella in a heat-proof bowl to thin out and make more spreadable. Spoon over cheesecakes and spread to cover the top completely.

Red-Striped Bow Bag

Do I even need to explain?

Find it here.

Just Plain Chic

Drinking Jar

Is there anything more refreshing than frosty rootbeer in a ball jar?

I think not.