Style

Comfortable Ankle Boots You Can Wear All Day

March 2, 2016

This Fall, Winter and now Spring, ankle boots have been my go-to foot wear.  I love them with jeans and leggings and also with skirts and dresses. I own numbers 4. and 7. below, these are both boots that you really can walk in all day long and your feet still feel good. 
When it comes to investing in shoes these days, I no longer feel like a can wear shoes from Target or other discount stores. My feet and back just can’t take it. Now I’m just sounding like an old lady, but that’s kind of what I am. So, when it comes to shoes, I like to buy a brand that is known for some comfort and support.
One of my favorite online sources for good quality shoes, at great prices, is 6pm.com. You’ll want to visit their site often because each day they offer a new sale and a daily deal. They carry all the brands I love, like Lucky, Clarks and Born. I’ve shopped around and found 7 great ankle boot options for you.
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Are you more of a brown leather or black leather person? I thought I was all about brown, but I find myself wearing my black boots quite often.

(Gold Foil Kindness is the New Black shirt available HERE!)

This post is sponsored by Groupon.  Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this blog possible. 

DIY

DIY Jewelry and Trinket Dishes

February 26, 2016

I’ve felt like I’ve been just too busy to make and create lately.  And that has left me feeling kind of drained and uninspired. So, I decided I needed to take a couple minutes to use my hands and make something. If you are looking for a quick and easy weekend project, this is a good one. Perfect for gifts or just to sit on your bedside table or bathroom counter, they serve as a fun, decorative way to organize and store your valuables. 
I played with all my favorite patterns – grid, triangles and simple brush strokes. But, the possibilities are endless. You can paint any color and any pattern, as simple or as complicated as you want.

 Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Martha Steward Glass Paint (Black Gloss)
  • Small paint brushes
  • Small ceramic or porcelain appetizer plates 

Play with patterns and shapes to create a design that goes with your decor. I love black and white, but you could use any color combination. Allow the paint to completely dry (follow the instructions on the bottle), but I let these dry for a couple days. 

Have a great weekend and be sure to make a little time to create or make.

Design

Black Exteriors

February 25, 2016

Does anyone want to buy a cabin in the woods and I’ll design and decorate it for you? I love the idea of a simple weekend home that is minimally decorated and has a dramatic black exterior.  I can’t get enough of these black exteriors.  I love this bold choice of color for staining wood siding or even painting brick.  It feels modern and a bit of risky choice, which I love! 
Black with Large Windows
Black Terrace

Black Two Story

Black Midcentury

Black Siding and Black Doors

Black Brick
Like the dramatic Black Entryways I found, how do you feel about this strong color choice? 

Design

Book Review – Modern Pastoral

February 23, 2016

I have been a long time fan of Nikki Brantmark’s blog My Scandinavian Home. So, when I heard that she had a new book, Modern Pastoral, I knew I needed a copy for myself. If you love good Swedish design, you MUST follow her beautiful blog. Nikki takes you into some of the most beautifully simple, clean Scandinavian homes out there. If you’ve followed me for long, you must know how crazy, in love I am for all things Swedish.

I’m still a sucker for a good hardcover, coffee table book. Yeah, you can find pretty much everything on Pinterest, but there is something special about taking time to hold a real book and enjoy the curated images and stories that have be crafted together.

This gorgeous book takes you through some lovely interiors photographed in Scandinavia and the United States.  “All are inspried by natural landscapes, making use of exposed wood and stone, large windows to let in light and plants and greenery – yet adding warmth, too, through color, fabrics, and all the personal touches that create a home.”
The book is divided into 4 chapters – Forest, Graphical, Homestead and Waterside.  I found myself drawn to the second chapter, Graphical, the most. These homes features clean, colorless palettes with a beautiful balance between natural, rustic elements and bold, geometric patterns. The homes are far from cold and sterile, warmth and comfort are added with natural fibers, sheepskins, and plenty of foliage from the outdoors.
For the past few months I’ve been pinning and drooling over gorgeous black exteriors on homes and cabins. The Woodland Valley Cabin in this chapter is absolute perfection, as far as I’m concerned. Gorgeous black stained siding on the exterior is complimented by bright, white, open rooms inside. The accessories throughout this home are minimal and clean and it has me inspired to pair down and simplify my home even more.
If you love a good design book, this is one you are going to need to add to your collection.
Be sure to head over to Instagram where I am giving away a copy of this gorgeous book.  Check out THIS post for all the giveaway details.  

Design

Black and White Pillows – The Accessory for Every Season

February 22, 2016

I think everyone is getting Spring Fever pretty bad these days. I see pastels EVERYWHERE! And I’m a fan of them as well (especially pink). If you are thinking about sprucing up your home decor this Spring, but want a style that works all year long, black & white is the answer. You just won’t get sick of this timeless combination. And black and white looks good with everything, pastels, brights, patterns, and even neutrals.  
I have found you some great black and white pillows that are sure to freshen up your bed or sofa this season, and all the seasons to follow. 
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2 // 3
4 // 5
6 // 7
The two Kilim pillows (3 and 7) are on my sofa, and I LOVE them. Do you have a favorite in this mix?

Design

Metallic Gold Framed Art

February 19, 2016

It might be a small addiction, but I just can’t get enough of gold accents in my home. I love the vintage feel it adds to a room. If you asked me what I thought of gold frames a couple years ago, I’d probably think of the family photos that hung in my mom and grandma’s house in the 70’s and 80’s. Metal frames do feel a little like a throw back, but done in clean modern lines, they are current and even a little trendy. Now I don’t think you should fill your home entirely with trends, but it is fun to have a few here and there.

I’ve long been a fan of Minted art prints, and now they offer metal frames in matte brass, brushed silver, champaign silver, matte copper and matte black. I teamed up the Minted to change up my entryway up a bit and add some fun matte brass framed pieces.  The largest piece, called Green Forest, added a huge dose of my favorite color to the room.  I tend to stick with greys, blacks and whites, and it can feel a little too neutral. This giant punch of bright green adds some energy to my living room. I paired it with black and white mountain climbing print, called Summit, for my husband and one of Emily Jeffords gorgeous sky paintings called, Mornings Away. 
I decided to hang these prints in a nice neat, evenly spaced square grid. Hung over my credenza like this, they act as one large scaled piece together. When picking art to go together,  I suggest 3 tips to make the process a little easier. Really anything goes if you love the art and it speaks to you. But, if you are a rule follower, these tips might be helpful.  
  1. Pick one or two colors that will repeat in the art.  For mine, I picked the color green.
  2. At least one of the pieces should be black and white. This graphic element adds interest and always feels sophisticated.
  3. Consider variety in the detail or pattern of the images.  I made sure to chose three pieces that all had a different pattern. For example, the black and white mountain image is very tightly patterned. The large green forest painting is made up of bigger, almost chunky brush strokes, so it’s pattern is a little loser. And finally the sky image is very smooth and fluid. 
I’m really glad I went with these gorgeous matte brass frames. I found myself always picking between black and white frames, because I wanted to stay neutral and timeless. But, adding a little metallic element is a fun, way less boring neutral to decorate with. 

This post is sponsored by Minted. All my opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.

Design

Camel Colored Leather Sofas

February 16, 2016

Ok, I’m definitely not in the market for a new sofa.  I still REALLY love mine, but maybe one of you are considering and new sofa and would like some help.  If I was to buy I sofa right now, it would be a gorgeous camel colored leather sofa with clean, mid century lines.  I don’t think you would get tired of this color quickly and I believe it gets better with age. 
This light tan, camel color is a great neutral color option.  It can be accessorized with just about any color.  If feel a little retro, but very sophisticated.  Say no to chocolate brown leather, this camel color feels a lot more modern and current.  Check out the great examples I found of a light tan colored leather sofa used in some gorgeous living rooms.
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So, what do you think? It’s a pretty great look, don’t you think?  Do you have a favorite from this selection.  Mine is probably the West Elm Hamilton sofa seen in the 4th and 7th images.  I love the piping and the clean, narrow arm on that sofa. 

DIY

DIY Reversible Valentine’s Day Clutch

February 12, 2016

Valentine’s Day is just about here. And I have one last DIY for you. Whether you have a date or not, this clutch is going to be perfect for a night out on Valentine’s Day. I customized a couple simple clutches (that I found at Forever 21) with #single on one side and #taken on the other. So, even if you don’t have a valentine yet, get out their and carry your #single bag with pride. Who knows, maybe some single guy is looking for you. 
I used my Cricut Explore Air™ machine to cut out iron on letters in gold glitter for the denim clutch and white for the linen clutch.  But, you can also buy iron-on letters at the craft store, like these.
And please meet my adorable model and intern, Val. Yay for me!  I have a obviously cute, but also super smart and stylish assistant now. 

Now that you have the bag, let’s fill it with some date night essentials:

Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins, for soft kiss-ready lips
sunglass (because I live in sunny California)
hair Clips for any hair disasters
gum or mints for fresh kissable breath
wallet and keys
phone (because we can’t live without them)
travel sized perfume
nail file
pen or pencil
mirror

New Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins are a popular U.K. must-have and now they are available stateside in these iconic tins.  These tins contain 100% pure and safe Vaseline Jelly and are clinically proven to help heal dry lips and provide long-lasting moisture. And they are available at Target.

Your guys, I’ve got these lip tins everywhere – in my car, by my bed, in my purse and at the studio. My lips are happy! No more dry cracked lips for this girl.

This post is sponsored by Vaseline.  All my opinions are my own.  Thanks for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.

Food & Drink

Grapefruit Mint Sorbet

February 11, 2016

I don’t know what I love more about this recipe, the pretty peachy pink color or the taste. Ok, taste wins because this sorbet is so bright and fresh. Sweet, tangy grapefruit paired with refreshing mint make this delicious icy dessert. I do love chocolate, but if this sorbet and a slice of chocolate cake were put in front of me, I’d probably go with this Grapefruit Mint Sorbet. No lie, it’s that good friends.

This sorbet has simple ingredients and is very easy to make.  

Grapefruit Mint Sorbet

4 cups of grapefruit juice (2 16 oz. bottles of Natalie’s Orchid Island 100% Grapefruit Juice)
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 tbsp. finely chopped mint
a pinch of salt
Pour 1 cup of the juice along with the sugar, mint and salt into small pot.  Bring to a boil and boil for just one minute.  Allow the syrup to cool completely. Pour through a strainer to remove the mint leaves.  In a large bowl combine the remaining juice and syrup.  Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.  
Following the instructions of your ice cream maker, freeze the sorbet. I have a Cuisinart Freezer and it took about 20-25 mins to freeze this sorbet completely.  Transfer the sorbet to an air tight container and freeze in the freezer for a couple more hours before serving.  
This recipes makes 4-6 generous servings.  Garnish with a couple fresh mint leaves.

I found this little metal cup caddy at the antique mall for just $10.  I gave it a quick coat of rose gold spray paint, and now it’s perfect for serving my sorbet in little vintage milk glass glasses.


This post is sponsored by Natalies’s Orchid Island Juice Company.  Thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.