Puppy Love

If you have seen my instagram it's pretty evident that I am puppy obsessed. Always have been, yet haven't had the opportunity to add one into our family. I am hoping that is all going to change with our new apartment this fall. I grew up with three dogs, my parents have two, my sister has two, and my brother has one. I mention this as we will be bringing the sixth dog into our family and need a breed that is easy to travel with since we are often on the go, needs to play well with others because  we have a big mix of breeds in our family and most importantly good with kids because we have four beautiful nieces who will be around the pup. The King Charles Cavalier is a front runner for its size and temperament but I would love any advice/insight you all have with other breeds! I have only had English Springer Spaniels my entire life and while I love them SO much, I think we need a smaller size for our city living and travel lifestyle. Next up...the fun task of a name!



bowls // grooming brush // travel bed // water canteen // dog bed // shark toy // toy rope // bone chew toy // leather leash {also love this one} // collar // dog gift bag // biscuit jar // dog tag // bag holder // toy bin 

The Holiday Card

I am tin the middle thirties and have yet to ever send out holiday cards, it's embarrassing. Especially when I love getting them so much. Seeing friends and families kiddos grace the cover of the card is so fun that time of year. I could easily go into my arsenal of excuses for reasons that I haven't done them like i.e. collecting the address is too time consuming {easily solved with ink invite}, when we have a child {or a dog} and have something to show people then I will start doing them, I am always past the ordering deadline, or just share the honest truth...I am just too lazy. Well this year thanks to the encouragement of my friend Amelia and my talented photog friend I think I think it's time to bite the bullet and get my butt in gear. So I have been dreaming up a few concepts to do a photo card like the one below - my husband is naturally thrilled {can you feel the sarcasm?}. I personally wish I could think of something hilarious to send out but till the perfect idea comes to mind I am leaning towards a little photo shoot I dreamt up of  having a Christmas picnic at the beach! 

What are you doing for your holiday card this year? 

image via Sugar Paper LA

gift boxes // lanterns // picnic basket // mistletoe // cable-knit pillow // leather thermos // plaid blanket // matches // beach wood fire pit // wood bowl // gilded egg corns & pine cones // faux tree // tree topper // antler roasters // candy canes

Under The Tuscan Sun

A friend of mine asked me to help pull together a little inspiration for an Italian themed party.  I was excited to help as I love a little celebration for any occasion but also was fortunate enough to have recently attended a beautiful bridal shower for my lovely friend Amelia that was Tuscan themed as well as help put together an Italian themed birthday party for another friend where these favors were a big hit. Below is a little round up of some of the ideas we were working with to create a memorable event. 

invite // flowers // cake stand // table numbers // straws // balloons // twine // bottles // tags // napkins

Put A Ring On It

image via Lisa Rigby Photography

At our wedding I purchased a very petite sea urchin that doubled as a ring dish to hold my "something blue". Since our big day it has been used to hold my husbands wedding band when he walks in the door. To be honest, I very rarely take off my jewelry at night. I am an absolutely crazy person and think that if there is ever a fire in the building I want my favorite and sentimental things already on me. Whether it be the earrings I got from my dad when I was sixteen {and still wear everyday} or my engagement ring I am very rarely without them. However despite my crazy, I can't help adoring little dishes to hold your favorite sparklers. I may just have to change my ways and purchase one of the little lovelies below so my favorite pieces have a proper place to sleep at night.

one {love this one & this one too} // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine

noted

John and I are big on leaving little notes for one another. Sometimes I find the notes in my notepad on my laptop or on my iPhone but mostly we resort to good old pen and paper with little sticky notes. Whether its a friendly reminder about something we need the other to help with or a simple sweet nothing to remind you that you are loved these little notes lay all around our home. I commonly put mine on the fridge to let my man know a favorite dinner of his is inside for him, he often leaves them in my wallet for me to find when I am out and about. It's really fun simple way to let the other person know you are thinking about them when you can't be present. However not everything has to be smothered in love. There is an awesome selection of sticky notes out there that are pretty, cheeky & hilarious, perfect for roommates and your desk at work, a little something for everyone!


one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

Gaming Meets Style

I love games, especially ones that you can enjoy with a cocktail. So over Christmas when my husband and I were researching backgammon sets to gift my dad with I noticed that a lot of traditional games that received a chic makeover thanks to designers taking old favorites and incorporating them with oodles of style that can easily be utilized as decor in your home. I mean how pretty would some of those look on a built in book shelf or displayed on an end table. A few of my favorites are listed below.


one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine 

Gold Rush

I have long been a fan of metallic accents in the home but as of late I am more and more attracted to everything gold. Whether it's an item for entertaining or everyday decor to pretty up a shelf or coffee table there are so many fabulous gold items available for decorating your space.  A few of my favorite gilded items are listed below. The best part, they are all under $100!

Urban Outfitters Lamp // Furbish Studio Turtle Shell Paperweight // Zara Home Baskets // Jayson Home Throw // C.Wonder Piggy Bank // Jonathan Adler Muse Candle // H&M Linen Pillow // Crate & Barrel Runner // C.Wonder Foiled Napkin // Furbish Studio Gold Silverware // West Elm Dinnerware // Etsy Flamingo Print // Zara Home Gold Tray // BCBG Spiked Apple Jewelry Holder

Sip & Snack - The Hangover

After a wonderful weekend visiting my best friend in the woods of Maine, I quickly realized I do not bounce back from a night of drinking as quickly as I did in my twenties. Now the mixing of very fine wine along with tequila may have had something to do with how we felt upon wakening saturday morning. Or perhaps the fact that my best friend and I never want the night to come to an end now that we live so far apart but either way, the one thing I do know is that nothing is better for a hangover then a great breakfast and of course the hair of the dog, also known as a bloody mary. It feels silly to admit that my hellacious hangover inspired todays post but after a big breakfast and two advil we were back at our having fun and feeling good. I made todays recipe a little more sophisticated then what you get at the usual greasy spoon diner with serving breakfast in the cutest petite skillets and garnishing the bloody mary with a new fun teist. Check out all the details below and enjoy!

Ingredients 

Bloody Mary mix or make from scratch

2 oz Grey Goose Vodka 

2 slices pre-cooked bacon

2 wood skewers

2 green olives

{DNS tip - serving these up for vegetarians??? Try a celery salt rim & a pickle garnish}

Instructions

fill glass with ice

pour in one ounce vodka into each glass

fill with bloody mary mix

for the garnish

skewer one slice pre-cooked bacon onto wood skewer & microwave for desired crispiness

put green olive on edge of skewer

Ingredients

1 cup shredded hash browns

2 eggs

1/2 yellow onion diced
1/2 pepper {I used an orange pepper}

2 breakfast sausage crumbled {I used one sweet & one hot pork sausage}

salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Sauté crumbled breakfast sausage and onion in olive oil & once cooked through add in hash browns till crispy on all sides. 

Once browned to your liking, make a little dent in the mixture for your egg to lay in, crack the egg on top and let it fill the skillet 

Place skillet in oven at 375 degrees and cook till your eggs are at your desired set and egg whites are cooked through

mini skillet // tea - towel // glass

Gifted - Part Two

Last week I featured a fun and simple DIY for gifting something small for the kitchen. This week is along the same lines but without any doing it yourself involved. I love pretty much anything monogrammed and thought I would present another fun idea for a unique gift for a housewarming, showering a bride to be or just for the hostess with the mostess. This time the rolling pin already has it's dipped painted edges saving the efforts of having to paint yourself but giving a plain old rolling pin wouldn't do. Wrapping in a monogram towel with beautiful grossgrain ribbon & a coordinating marble slab...yes that would be just fine...Check out all the pretty details below!

rolling pin // marble board // monogram tea towel

gifted

I love giving gifts, everything from the brainstorming on what to get, the joy of shopping, and then the best part the actual giving to that special person. Start to finish it all makes me giddy. This leads to today's post on a little gift giving inspiration along with an easy breezy DIY. Back in New York where I grew up, most wedding showers had a wishing well where you brought a small domestic token for the bride to be. I always gave something off the registry but I love the idea of gifting something a little more unique and thoughtful. This also could work for a wonderful housewarming or hostess gift or even a favor at a stylish soiree. 

mark off the area you wish to paint 

{don't spray the area that will be exposed to food}

I held the area that wasn't getting painted with a paper towel and sprayed the opposite end till dry

wrap with ribbon 

or tie the ends with twine

 wooden spoons

Not quite ready to DIY? No worries, lots of stylish finds are below to add this look to your home!

runner // pitcher // pillow // baseball bat // napkins // towel // stools // flatware // planters // jar

{many items above available in multiple colors}

thirsty thursday - Iced Breakfast Beverages & A Donut Party

I know I am the odd woman out here when I say that I am not a coffee drinker. While I have always preferred tea my husband is big time coffee enthusiast. Pretty much any candy, ice cream or drink that is coffee flavored is something he would enjoy. So I decided to take a break from the usual boozy beverages I usually share on this weekly post and thought I would share two refreshing morning beverages perfect for a steamy summers day with a coordinating snack. After-all who doesn't like donuts??? I used this recipe from my favorite cooking show for the donuts but you could also purchase a similar mix pre-made. Have a great day everyone!

Vanilla Iced Espresso

2 pods Nespresso Livanto
1 teaspoon sugar 
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon good vanilla extract 

French Vanilla Iced Tea

2 Bigelow French Vanilla Tea bags brewed
1/2 cup of ice
1 teaspoon sweetener 
1/4 cup milk

Brew your tea & coffee add your sweetener & dairy to taste, pour over ice & enjoy!

I made a chocolate version for my husband using this pre-made mix & it was delicious!

Want to have your own donut party??? Below is everything you need to host your own morning get together in style. Perfect for brunch, hosting a wedding/baby shower or just a gathering of friends after a dinner party.

Seletti Coffee Cup, Saucer & Spoot Set // Crate & Barrel Creamer & Sugar Set // Tie Tea Mug // Cow Creamer // Target Threshold Cake Stand // CB2 Glass Creamer // Donut Baking Pan //  Crate & Barrel Dusting Sugar Set // Target Threshold Appetizer Plate // Anthropologie Cartan Napkin Set 

Thirsty Thursday - Rock Lobster

If you were a fan of the show Friends like me then you likely remember "she's your lobster" episode. When I saw this last week on our Nantucket vacation, I was inspired to have a lobster cookout, something that certainly isn't easily executed in the city. A traditional boiled lobster is definitely one of those meals I have always enjoyed eating at home allowing myself to get as messy as I wish. However this little luxury of a meal can also be very stylish when entertaining. Just check out all the chic lobster goodies you can put together to host a fabulous lobster bake in your home. So in light of my usual cocktail concoctions I usually share, I thought I would keep it simple with a simple glass of chilled champagne for an inspired lobster dinner.

Whether you are on the water or not this nautical champagne is the perfect accompaniment to a seaside dining experience and a little lobster cocktail adornment never hurt anybody. A fun "how to eat a lobster" print adds some fun decor. A lobster pot is a necessity for cooking numerous lobsters at a time, while a roll of kraft paper is easy clean up for the messy meal. Bowls for the discarded shells and butter are a must as well is a tray for serving the lobsters. Seafood tools like a cracker for the shell, a long fork to help get out the hard to reach bits and a bib help make the meal more fun and of course you will need lots of lemon to clean off the smell of the sea and chic napkins for drying your hands.

Check out more nautical inspired dining like the images below here.