Cabo. . . Take Two!

Off to Cabo - take two! This year we are fortunate enough to visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico twice in the span of a month!

My lovely husband is already in the sunshine and I am departing bright and early tomorrow morning to meet him! I cannot wait. . . my search will continue for something fun for my fireplace backsplash!

During this visit we will be staying at a private residence and we'll be spending time with some lovely folks - a much needed break after the crazy two weeks I've had at work. I'll keep you posted on my fun finds. . . Enjoy your week!

a perfect saturday. . .continued!

Today my sister, my mom and I are heading to a lovely brunch at Cafe Patachou then we'll head off to check out Midland Antiques again!

Check out a few more items from my last visit. . .

Check out this little lovely mirror. . . I want it! I think it would be perfect in my sisters super cute apartment!

Check out this lovely chinese inspired antique medicine cabinet! It would be so fun in a large kitchen or maybe an office. . . so fun!

These little gold mirrors are precious. . . its a set of two - this little pic doesn't do them justice. . .but I personally LOVE them!

These are just a few - I'm sure I'll have more to post later! Enjoy your day. . .

My family!

Yeah - my family is here to visit! I love it when my parents come to Indy - we always have such a nice time and I just love having them here! We'll be busy eating delicious food, shopping, sightseeing, and spending time together. . . YEAH!!

I'll blog about something wonderful tomorrow - but for tonight, I'm drained from my long week and am spending time with my parents :)

Enjoy your day. . .

beautiful bags. . .

I'm looking for the perfect spring and summer catchall handbag! I need an everyday bag to carry to work, run errands, travel with as a carryon, etc. Lately, I've fallen in love again with the classic, yet modern side of Cole Haan.

These are few that I've found and that I may just have to have. . .

This one is precious. . . its a cole haan beauty and its even on sale right now! I can hear it yelling my name from the website currently. . .called the sabra canvass box tote.

I've been in love with this bag, called the Village Satchel in Sunshine - for quite some time - its the perfect size and the color is so versatile - and looks fabulous with navy my favorite spring and summer color!

Lastly I adore this lovely red Genevieve Frame Tote . . . precious and would work for winter too! Pretty to say the least - love.love.love.





That's a good start. . .I could blog all night about these beauties. . .any votes?

The 'best' french onion soup recipe. . .

I generally think I can determine a recipe strength based on my wonderful husbands response, ie - how much he eats of the dish! Well, yesterday I made a great french onion soup recipe and I'm fairly sure it reached a new height! I got a text message at work that read:

"Darling,

As I eat my lunch I just wanted to send you a quick little note to tell you how great the french onion soup is! Thank you for making it.

Love, Ben"

Ok this has clearly reached a new height - and I did think the soup was pretty good myself - so I clearly had to blog and share the recipe! ( I believe this was Tyler Florence' recipe to start?!)

Enjoy. . .

French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

6 onions, sliced

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

dash of basil

dash of thyme

dash of rosemary

kosher salt and black pepper - to taste

2 cups of red wine

3 heaping tablespoons of flour

3 quarts (cans) of beef broth

1 baguette, sliced

swiss, gruyere or mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, garlic, basil, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook until onions are very soft and carmelized - approximately 20-30 minutes of medium heat. Add the wine, bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the wine has mostly evaporated and the onions are dryer - around 5 minutes. Dust the onions of the flour and stir. Turn down the heat to medium low, so the flour doesn't burn, and cook for 5 additional minutes. Add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a low simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, worchsteshire sauce.

Preheat your broiler. Arrange the sliced baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with cheese and broil until bubbly and golden brown.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Place two-three slices of toast on top of soup, cover with shredded cheese. Place under broiler until brown and bubbly!

Serve with a delightful spinach salad and a glass of red wine! Enjoy. . . (Ben, surely did!)

dreaming of a mature, sophisticated, modern, yet classic - baby shower

Recently one of my coworkers mentioned she needed to throw a post-baby- baby shower. This shower will be for hosted by my coworker, for a friend who is a mom to a ten year old currently. She is looking for the shower to be classy, sophisticated, mature - yet still A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! If I were to throw a shower for someone of this description - I'd do something along these lines. . . (If, I'm way off - let me know - these were just my first ideas!)

So I realize I know absolutely nothing about this lovely mom-to-be, and I don't know if her new little one will be a little girl or a little boy either. . . but I did find these adorable, yet mature, baby shower invites from westwillow designs on etsy. . .I like the color scheme of chocolate brown and baby aqua blue too - its modern, yet classic. . . Wouldn't you agree?

I would then make these low tissue paper flower bouquets and put them on the tables - probably in various shades of blue, aqua and maybe a white accent. If I didn't have time for this - I'd use tulips - probably white ones, instead! (pictures from martha stewart)

I'd likely place them in small metal galvanized buckets as the vases. I'd use chocolate brown table clothes with a light aqua blue accent runner down the middle. (again another shot from martha)

If I had my choice - I'd surely use square tables and these lovely chiavari chairs in white showcased here. . .and if my budget was endless, I'd make sure the cushions on the chair were in a light blue, white and chocolate brown damask pattern.

Oh my. . . can't you just picture it now?!?

I would then drape these lovely paper chandelier balls from the ceiling as well - I've made these before and they are precious. (Your gifts may just ohhhh and ahhhh all over your artistic side too!) I'd make them in the various shades of blue - but mainly in the white. . . so they really pop. . . (thanks martha, again!)

I would most likely use a favor bag with this color scheme or I'd use those lovely take-out boxes with this color shredded paper or tissue paper inside as filler. (Check out sophie's favors for more ideas!)

Inside the bag I'd have some lovely recipe cards by a great company on etsy called upup creative - similar to these. I think these are adorable - have them printed with the chocolate brown and the light aqua blue! Maybe have them more to match the invites. . . just a thought?!?

Lastly, I'd probably (budget warranting) serve the meal on square white plates with damask napkins (that, of course, match the cushions on the chiavari chairs!). If I had it catered I'd have it consist of a lovely light spinach salad and a small piece of salmon. If I didn't have it catered I'd probably make this fabulous chicken salad with mini croissants. I'd serve it with some fruit and probably a few other lovely side salad dishes too. I'd finish it off with giving everyone one of these mini cakes - tied, of course, with blue and brown ribbons. They would be set on the tables as part of the decor, as well. (photos from martha stewart)

How does that sound? I think it sounds lovely. . .its just one idea, but its a more modern, yet sophisticated approach to a baby shower. Just a thought. . . Enjoy. Happy Planning!

Affordable alternatives. . .

Lately I've been helping one of my girlfriends come up with ideas for a wedding with a teensy tiny budget! It's been sort of fun searching for creative ideas that are at a minimal price point!

We have had a ton of success and I'll be sharing a few items with you over the next few posts!

Today I stumbled upon this great Etsy artist, sillymedesign. She creates personalized invitations and announcements - that you then go on and print yourself! You can print them at Target, Costco, on your home computer, etc!

I fell in love with her simple, non-nonsense designs. . . I thought you might like them too! Check them out. . .

This first one is a lovely bridal shower invite - I'm in L.O.V.E with the color scheme!!

This is a precious baby shower invite - I'm sort of obsessed with the chicky on the bottom!!



Check out this lovely bridal shower invitation - the colors are exquisite. . . Navy, Charcoal and Yellow! Love it.

I think it is never too early to start with a monogram - therefore, I love this little baby announcement for a new little man!
This baby shower announcement is fantastic - again there is that little chick that I love so much!


I saved the best for last - if I could do it all again, I'd use something like this for my wedding invite! Pretty and perfect.

She will create specific individualized designs for you as well - if you have a theme in mind for a shower, wedding or soiree! Check her out - sillymedesigns - is priceless . . . and extremely affordable too!

What's better than pretty organization?!?

Ever looking for a creative shower gift for brides or babies? Have you ever thought I wish my storage had a nice creative touch - versus those old Rubbermaid bins or wicker boxes, I've been using for years?

Well, I've found a goldmine that can solve a ton of your problems! About a year ago I received an engagement gift from one of my dear friends (thank you - underagreenroof!) and ever since I've been purchasing and sharing with so many of my friends as thank you gifts, baby and bridal shower gifts and storage units in my house!

If you haven't checked out the Macbeth Collection, you surely should soon!

(The top picture is a tulip vase which I'm obsessed with and the second is a super cute bucket - possibly for magazines or dog toys?!?)

This tote would be perfect for eating outside on a picnic table at your cottage. . .wouldn't it?

These are mail pouches, they are adorable - if only I had a place to hang this little lovely item. . .hmm.

These are great window boxes, perfect for gardening. . .

This is a great oval tub, I have one and its perfect for entertaining. . .

Check out this new addition of votives - these are adorable and would be perfect outside on your patio or possibly in a fun shabby chic workshop!

Needless to say, Check out the Macbeth Collection - its splendid!

borrowed, blue and super cute bright colored shoes?

It seems that as of late its almost become the norm to wear bright colored shoes with your wedding gown. . .I love the idea! In fact, while planning my wedding I searched high and low for the perfect coral shoes to match my bridesmaid dresses - I did find a lovely pair of coral prada open toed heeled beauties - although I ended up opting out and going with a cute pair of kate spade instead, simply because they were more comfortable!

Regardless, if you are on the line and trying to decide if you should or shouldn't wear some bright colored loveys on your toes - check out these pictures - it'll surely sell you on the idea!

Aren't these sunshine yellow shoes fantastic?

This is a great shot by Jake Holt Photography. Love it. . .

I love the accent with the bouquet and the shoes, lovely.

Even Brides magazine is continually featuring bright colored beauties!

If it happens to rain on your special day, why not make the best of it! Look at this great shot!

Maybe talk your guys into wearing some fun socks - the shoes might be hard to pull off!

Enjoy. . .

Love = Fabulously Creative Furniture

So as we approach the Valentine's Day holiday, I find myself thinking about how blessed I am to have found my wonderful husband. We met in college and dated for roughly 9 years before getting married.

We were engaged in New York City and married this past summer in Bay Harbor, Michigan. We had the most splendid wedding, it was truly all I could hope for. . .and it has been the most wonderul six months of married bliss that I could imagine!

One of my wedding gifts was a beautiful wooden mirror that I had been eyeing for years. . . this particular artist , known as Sticks, is fantastic and I always dreamed of having of their pieces in my summer cottage some day!

Ben knew of my love for these items so he took it one step further and ordered a handcrafted mirror as part of my wedding gift! He had it entirely designed and each small square is meaningful to us! Check out these pictures (taken by the great Lisa of Elite Photo Design) . . .

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't look into my mirror and think of how blessed I truly am - to have a wonderful husband, a loving family, a lovely house, a great job and most of all, a truly blessed life.

I hope that you all feel the same about your particular situations. . . oh and make sure you check out Sticks too! They are a fabulous company.

Home Sweet Home. . .

So I've had a few requests to post pictures of my house, so here goes! Ben and I live in a neat historical area of Indianapolis! Our neighborhood is fairly diverse and we appreciate every bit of its transitional nature.Our home was built in 1910 and it is an arts and crafts style.

Our style seems to fit perfectly in this newly renovated, old home. We tend to be fairly modern, yet traditional - if that makes any sense.

These are pictures of our house prior to moving in - but enjoy!


This is a picture of our staircase from the main floor living room and entryway. . .

This is another view of our main floor living room leading to the dining room. I'm obsessed with the fireplace - more to come on that later. . .

This is our kitchen. . . hard to see - but its perfect for us!

This is our huge dining room - its almost too big - but I love it. . .

This is a shot of our master bathroom - part of it anyways. . .

This is a picture of our attic - its fully finished and serves as our living room on the third floor - Ben thinks its his man-cave, unfortunately, (or fortunately) I'm not sure the light blue and brown I've selected for it makes it very manly! HA :)

I hope you enjoyed - more to come soon. . .