black and gold are classic

There are always different color bandwagons that I jump on but without fail I never get sick of black. Recently I've been stuck on black and gold. I think that color combo is classic and something that never goes out of style.

The great artist Auguste Renoir once said, "I've been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black."

Anyway I recently created a black and gold board on Pinterest which hopefully will lead you to many of the original sources if you are interested. Below are the links to all of the items that can be purchased on the above image.

1 - wallpaper, 2 - skirt, 3 - cuff, 4- earrings, 5 - cards, 6 - waste basket, 7 - light fixture, 8 - blanket, 9 - light fixture

Have a classic weekend that includes lots of good stuff. I know I am especially excited for this weekend because I have the chance to fill my mind with very uplifting words.

Oh and did you see all of the black and gold in fashion over here?

Luli Sanchez

I really do have so much I want to share. Today I am attempting to paint my bedroom while the boys are in school. I feel like I want to rip everything out of my house and start anew but where's the money and where's the time..so today I am going to try and work with what I got. Anyway I'l be back but in the meantime I can not get the designs from Luli Sanchez out of my mind. If her designs look familiar to you then perhaps you have seem the collaborations and client work she has done with names such as Tory Burch, Theory, Kate Spade and West Elm.

Thursday ain't so bad.

xx

I hope the blue Ikea frames do not look cheap when I get them hung up. I couldn't help but give the frames a try after I saw all of the orange frames from a space shown in Martha Stewart last month. The IKEA frames honestly range in price from $1.99 to $9.99 just in case you were wondering.

This week {internal thermostat}

I'm a Mom over here.

Sometimes my thermostat is broken and I get all hot and huffy puffy. I am learning to set my internal thermostat as well as helping in setting the thermastat of all of our familys energy so that it can be all nice, cool and enjoyable (I learned about setting the daily thermostat at a mid-week church meeting that included other woman trying to manage conflict in their life..I sort of got all dazed and confused while listening..that happens alot in case you are wondering). I am realizing that sometimes settling conflict can be as easy as learning a new language..the language of little boys. All I had to do was jingle the keys to the big toy that is rotting outside and the little boy who rolled all over the floor for 30 minutes in his skivvies all of a sudden jumped up and put his shirt and shoes on in less than 2 minutes flat...To think I almost went outside and got a switch.

Now off to kiss those cute little faces that I get to hang out with more than anyone else.

P.S. - I kind of felt old climbing in and out of that big piece of manly metal.

Hello Fall!

When Fall comes I just want to eat heavier foods, grab a book and SLOW down. And you???

For striped wool blankets go here.

For perfect comfort food go here.

Also I am dying over the party using book pages over here. Refer to the above picture where the Nester uses book pages to install paper leaves and branches.

Off to find some way to be crafty.

Happy weekend! What are you up to?

Seriously I still can't get over all of details from the book party and 20 ways to decorate with book pages. Even if you don't get all crafty you still have to give major props to the Nesters book page magic. She even gives instructions if you want to use some of it as inspiration for your next party or craft project. Go here to check it out.

visually packing a punch {more stripes}

I think one reason I like stripes so much are because they visually offer such a punch. For example if you had a plain sofa and didn't have very much dinero then you could purchase a few striped pillows and you would be well on your way to have a space that would be nice to look at. I myself love love all of the pillows offered at the above Etsy shop. In fact I posted a few extra examples below of pillows that are not striped that I like from their shop as well. This Ebay seller offers similar pillows that are so darn inexpensive that you could just order one for kicks and giggles.

old sequins are heavy

I know, I know, if you are my friend, mom, dad, sister, aunt, cousin, brother-in -law or sister-in-law then most likely you are thinking "nerd alert" or "wow, I have one of the coolest friends I have ever met"...either which one.

You probably are wondering what the deal is with all of these pictures of myself in sequins...Well I happen to have a very special friend who recently informed me that she merely just skims over all of my home decor posts but really devours the posts that have anything to do with my personal life. I think it is weird that she is bored by my design posts...hmm. As we continued our conversation it came out that I have really toned it down since getting married...she didn't seem to believe me for some odd reason. Anyway, my husband doesn't like the kind of look that says, "Hi, I'm here". If he were to express any preferences then he would say "No go" on big hair, bright lipstick and certainly not sequins. Still curious about the new sequined items.. that same friend (who goes by Tiffany Watson Snow) then suggested I did a whole blog post about my new items I brought home from the thrift store today....especially after I told here that a) my husband was not going to be so much a fan and b) the old volunteer ladies at the thrift store thought the pieces were gorgeous but advised not to put any of them on before stepping onto a scale. Tis true, I weighed them without my body in them and indeed they were 5 lbs. I am thinking a new work-out plan is brewing in my head. Buy old heavy sequin items and then walk around...I feel good about that.

Hey and if all else fails, then when my husband drags me to the 8th row at the National Finals Rodeo..I can shine like the top of the Chrysler building...a pretty nice compromise if you ask me. If you've ever been to that function there in Las Vegas then you too would know that you have to own your flashy flash flash..like as in go big or go home. It is a sight quite like none other, I tell you. Which at times I am thankful for the shiny stuff because it helps to distract ones attention away from grown men wrestling cattle and such. For the love of cowboys.

Mostly though I wanted to do this post as a warm up for another one that is in the works...thanks to another reader request. Again a special fashion post about discount and thrift store shopping. I can assure it won't be a regular feature but am very excited to talk about one of the things that excites me more than most. Hopefully I can break it down and make it an easier process for those that may want to give thrift store shopping a try. Does that sound ok?? I hope so.

...up next another home design related post.

P.S. - In real life I am not tempted by wearing sequins during any happenings that may include my children. In fact I think I am on day four of wearing the same outfit to be exact.

project sneaka peaka

I could not help but share a little sneak peak of a project I am working on...yes you spy an upholstered desk in a metallic python fabric. I originally was going to cover the piece in faux python leather but could not seem to get enough of it in my price point. The Malm dressing table was purchased at IKEA and was the perfect size for a small desk in my guest room. I still need to install that drawer that I just painted in the color shown above and put on the coolest upholstery tacks that I have on order. Stay tuned.

Have a fab weekend.

butterfly wall coverings and fabric??

I wonder what would happen if I imported the above picture of the de Gournay wallpaper into Spoonflower and made some upholstery fabric for a bench? Would that just be wrong? I love that color and of course the way the butterflies look hand painted. I think another great option to the de Gournay would be the Lombardia wallpaper by Nina Campbell for Osbourne & Little. Now off to see if there might be any of that Nina Campbell up for grabs on Ebay. Speaking of Ebay I love the above vintage butterfly in the small golden frame. If the frame is anything like the one I have then it is also convex and can be found here.

mixing up the breakfast routine {buckwheat bakes}

{above photo courtesy of Edible Perspective}

Hands down I am a breakfast/morning person. Lately I have gone to the Edible Perspective to be inspired on mixing up our breakfast routine. The latest recipes we have tried are the buckwheat bakes. I had to search high and low for the buckwheat groats because they were out at the first Whole Foods that I went to but finally found them at another one. Buckwheat gives me the warm and fuzzys because it reminds me of the good old days while feeding triplet babies cream of buckwheat. Did you know that buckwheat is super easy on the digestive system..hence feeding it to babies? I know kind of confusing because it has wheat in it's name and wheat is not known to be easy on the digestive system.

Anyway just look at all of the different whole food ideas that the Edible Perspective has to offer..and the below are just their breakfast ideas.

Go here to go and check out all of the below recipes.

Rolled Oats:

• Apple Banana Danish Oats *
• Applesauce Oats **
• Basic Oatmeal + Oatbran Combo **
• Basic Pumpkin Oats **
• Blueberry Stuffed Oats for TWO **
• Chocolate Banana Oats **
• Cocoa Coconut Oats *
• Corny Oatmeal **
• Creamiest Oats Ever *
• Creamy Applesauce Oats **
• Egg White Oats 1 *
• Egg White Oats 2 *
• French Toast Oatmeal *
• Deconstructed Oats **
• Oh My Oats! **
• Peaches n’ Cream Oatmeal *
• Plain Breakfast Oats **
• Protein Packed Oats *
• Pumpkin Oats I **
• Pumpkin Oats II **
• Strawberry Banana Oats **

Scottish Oats:

• Blackberry Stuffed Scottish Oats **
• Butterized Salt-Kissed Scottish Porridge *
• Cinnamon Chia Scottish Oats **
• Creamy Scottish Oats *
• Creamy Walnut Oats **
• Extra Thick Scottish Oats **
• Maple Pumpkin Goodness **
• New House Oats *
• Peachy Keen Protein Oats*
• Protein Packed Scottish Oats *
• Scottish Oat Perfection *

Steel Cut Oats:

• Cinnamon Blueberry Steel Cut Oats **
• Creamed Steel Cut Oats *
• Simple Steel Cut Oats **
• Steel Cut Pumpkin Oats **

Overnight Oats:

• Banana Split Overnight Oats **
• Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats *
• Chocolate Pumpkin Overnight Oats**
• Cinnamon Chia Overnight Oats *
• Double Pumpkin Overnight Oats *
• Overnight Pumpkin Oats *
• Protein Packed Vegan Overnight Oats **
• Vegan Overnight Oats **
• Vegan Scottish Overnight Oats **

Farro

• Creamy Coconut Farro Porridge **
• Creamy Farro Porridge **
• Farro for Two **
• Vanilla Bean Broken Farro **
• Vanilla Cinnamon Farro Porridge **

Cereal

• Cocoa Pnut Hot Popped Amaranth **gf
• Cocoa Puffmaranth Cereal **gf
• Fruity Pebble Puffmaranth **gf
• Peanut Butter Puffmaranth Cereal **gf
• Popped Amaranth Cereal **gf
• Puffed Amaranth + Buckwheat Cereal **gf
• Pumpkin Cream Cereal **gf
• Strawberries + Banana Cream Cereal *gf
• Strawberry Chocolate Banana Puffmaranth *gf

Oatmeal + Buckwheat Cookies: [microwave]

• 3 Ingredient Corn Cake *gf
• 3-Minute Oatmeal Cookie *
• Banana Breakfast Cookie *
• Banana Cornbread Cake *gf
• Ba-Nilla Buckwheat Breakfast Bake **gf
• Buckwheat Pumpkin Breakfast Cookie *gf
• Carob Blueberry Buckwheat Muffin Cake **gf
• Cornbread Muffin-Cake *gf
• Chocolate Banana Muffin Cake *gf
• Chocolate Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Coco-Choco Walnut Breakfast Cookie *

Breakfast Bakes: [oven baked]

• Banana Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Banana Corncake Muffins *gf
• Blueberry Buckwheat Muffin Bake **gf
• Brown Rice French Toast Pudding Bake *gf
• Buckwheat Muffin Bake **gf
• Carob Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Cherry Almond Vanilla Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Cherry Almond Chocolate Buckwheat Bake *gf
• Cherry Blueberry Almond Breakfast Bake **gf
• Chocolate Marshmallow Buckwheat Bake *gf
• Cocoa Banana Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Coconut Cream Blueberry Buckwheat Bake **gf
• French Toast Buckwheat Bake *gf
• Lemon Oat Bake *gf
• Pumpkin Buckwheat Bake **gf
• Pumpkin Buckwheat Cake Bake *gf
• Oat Flour Bake *gf
• Oatmeal Pumpkin Bake **gf
• Savory Rice + Veggie Bake gf [w/vegan option]
• Savory Veggie Buckwheat Bake *gf
• Stuffed Buckwheat Muffins **gf
• Strawberry Banana Buckwheat Bake *gf
• Quinoa Egg Veggie Bake *gf
• Vanilla “funfettie” Oat Bake *gf
• Zucchini Bread Buckwheat Bake *gf [w/vegan opt]

Banana Scramble:

• Apple Breakfast Scramble **
• Banana Scramble Topped Oats **
• Cinnamon Banana Scramble **
• Cinna Chia Cacao Banana Scramble **
• Chia Stuffed Banana Scramble **
• Chocolate Pnut Butter Banana Scramble **
• Coco Chia Oat Pnut Butter Banana Scramble **
• Pumpkin Banana Scramble **
• Oatterific Banana Scramble **
• Simplified Banana Scramble **

Pancakes:

• Banana Coconut Flax Pancakes *gf
• Cherry Almond Pancakes *gf
• Coconut Flax Pancakes *
• Oatmeal Pancakes for Two *
• Oat, Rice + Coconut Flour Pancakes *gf

Eggs:

• Cinnamon Fruit Filled Omelet *gf
• Pour, Poke + Spread Eggs *gf
• Kale n’ Eggs *

French Toast

• Crispy Muffin French Toast **
• Puffed Amaranth French Toast *gf
• Vegan Pumpkin French Toast **
• Vegan Baked Pumpkin French Toast **

Quinoa Flakes:

• Coconut Quinoa Flakes **gf
• Tropical Quinoa Flakes **

a free spirited space

There are times I really crave a refined and well-edited space and then there are times that I favor spaces that are a little more free. To me the above eclectic space doesn't look too decorated. All of a sudden I wanted to pursue a big sunburst mirror and that hasn't happened in a while. Oh and look at that white credenza.

Anyway I am working on a project today that has been a long time in the making and just trying to decide between chartreuse or mint. I will keep you posted.

{all images from here}

pick your color

Lots of great colors to choose from with the above Darlington chair from here. If I had to place an order today, I'd go with the blue.

Happy Monday!

P.S. - Did anybody else watch the 9/11 special with Tom Brokaw? My heart has been very heavy all weekend long. I can't stop thinking about this story. Amazing and very unselfish.

The Greenwich Hotel

Loving the details and the colors from the Greenwich Hotel in New York. It feels very warm and welcoming there.

Happy weekend!