kimberly ayres' eye candy

I recently discovered the work of Kimberly Ayres and just LOVE her style. The way that she layers different patterns and textures is such wonderful inspiration. Take images three and four for instance. The white and yellow pattern wall next to the blue and white zebra curtains = brilliant. Have a great day!

 images: Kimberly Ayres

update on my heart

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I imagine you are very excited to see some updates on that little mutt of mine. He is pretty adorable, if I don't say so myself.

On his way to the park for the first time...

  Asking me if he can please eat this stick in the house...

Not a great photograph by any means, but a wonderful illustration that he LOVES to bury his bones. Not his most ingenious attempt...

After he licked the bathtub dry. Gross, I know, but really, really cute...

Always curious...

We hope you're having a great start to your week, and if not, Duncan gives you kisses! (I'm not so easy)

bold rooms via homelife

Bright, bold colors in rooms and furniture really intrigue me. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, they are scary! Okay, okay, that's an over-exaggeration, but it does make me pretty unsure. I'd better get over that in a jiffy, as I have house projects to tackle next week! LOVELY colors in these rooms, don't you think?

Have you ever included a large piece of painted board in a room only to add some color? Interesting idea....

images: homelife

Thymes by Zeus Jones

I spotted this collection on the dieline a few weeks ago and fell in love! It was designed by Zeus Jones for Thymes luxury bath products and they really hit the nail on the head. The packaging and branding is so gorgeous and completely judging this book by its cover, I want to own it all! So lovely, don't you think?

images: thymes, Zeus Jones

happy {third day of} spring!

Hi everyone! Did you have a lovely weekend? Mine just flew by! I spent it celebrating my mom's birthday and doing things around the house. I made progress on a couple projects and we got some shelving and art hung. The weekend goes much faster when you have something to show for it! Enjoy the beginning of your week.

image: Amy Butler

have a great weekend

Hello all! I hope you have had a great week and do have a splendid weekend!

image: mary ruffle

the bold and the beautiful, in bedrooms

Hello! Have you had a good start to your week? Mine has been nice, but I'm still not feeling 100%. Once I start to get a cold, it is nearly impossible for me to shake quickly. The lingering cold: my one and only fault (wink, wink.) Lately I have been feeling like I just don't have enough time to do everything. I have been really trying to cook more to eat healthier and to eat out less, which can be rather time-consuming. In an attempt to create more hours in my day, I just went through my dvr and cancelled a couple recorded series. Who really needs to catch up on television every night? Hopefully it works! Don't you love the bold look in these rooms? I wish I had the gusto to just do this!

...and my absolute fav. I've been itching to paint the office a nice dusty purple like this one:

images: Annie Schlechter

happy weekend to you!

Hello everyone! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. As long as this sore throat (??) doesn't consume me, I plan to spend it with my lovely puppy and boyfriend enjoying the beautiful weather, eating good food, spending time with friends, organizing and cleaning. Whew. Maybe I'll watch a movie too. Enjoy yours :)

image: mary ruffle

chandelier obsession

I have been completely OBSESSED with chandeliers lately. You might remember this post, from which I am certain I will attempt to diy the first paper chandelier:

...and it doesn't stop there. Of course it doesn't! There are two more in particular that I am dying to make.

Don't you just LOVE? Ahhh. I do! I have an old chandelier in the basement, to which I will give a shiny new life as soon as I muster up the courage, which takes the final tally to FOUR! Four chandeliers that I want to make. I don't necessarily have a spot in mind for each one, but what room doesn't look better with a chandelier? If you still aren't convinced, check out these beauties.

Nice, don't you think? Not to mention the artwork in the final image. Wow.

images (in order): paper crave, house beautiful, style me pretty (2), coastal living (2), home sweet home (2), mary ruffle

breezy hump day

Happy Hump Day! I hope its a breezy one!

images: Coastal Living, Canadian House & Home

graphic design by Caleb Owen Everitt

I realized that I hadn't talked about print design in some time, so I went in search of some beautiful graphic design work. Of course I found it on the dieline. This particular job done by Caleb Owen Everitt is superb. Love the natural color scheme, love his use of typefaces, love that everything seems unique AND functional. Love it all!

Have a great day!

images: Caleb Owen Everitt

happy monday to you

Hello all. Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was great. I spent time with some old friends, which happens much more rarely than it should. Everyone always seems so busy and not everyone is in the same city. It is so nice to have friendships that pick back up where you leave off. We took Duncan to the park twice, which was so great. Of course I think that my puppy is adorable, but he is definitely making good progress. That's not just the proud mother in me talking. Anyway, I LOVE these kitchens. Don't you? So charming!

 

  

images: Mary Ruffle

happy sunshiney weekend!

Hello all! I hope you are having a wonderful start to your Friday. I woke up to the shining sun, a cup of coffee and some poptarts. That's right, strawberry frosted poptarts. I've walked by them a million times in the grocery store since I was 9 and never felt the need to purchase. Until now. Anyway, they were good. Yumm. I am so excited for the warm weather, the sun shining and, of course, the impending weekend. Have a good one!

image: Mary Ruffle

amazing paper chandeliers

These lovelies, which I spotted on Paper Crave yesterday, were created by Jo Neville of Paper Couture and have been making the blog rounds recently... and can't you see why? There is a chance you have already seen these over and over, but there is also a chance you haven't seen them yet! And who am I to withhold? I LOVE these designs and just had to share. I need the first chandelier in my office. That's right, need.

images: Paper Crave

spring bedroom decor

Hello everyone! I hope your day is starting out marvelously. This bedroom caught my eye a while ago, but it seems more appropriate than ever at the beginning of March. I am so excited for spring to come and this bright bed speaks to my desires! Have a great day.

image: HomeSweetHome

yumm.. Cheese Tortellini recipe

Hello everyone! Did you have a good weekend? Mine was great, but went by quickly as always. We had another couple over last week for dinner and a movie. I made this recipe, which is in a Real Simple cookbook that I own. I had made it previously and really liked it. This time, I used a little more of everything which was plenty and allowed for leftovers. I also added a few handfuls of baby spinach when I added the eggplant and peppers. If you're in the mood for a great vegetarian dish, I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 pound cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant, bell peppers, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, 6 to 8 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the broth and tortellini. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini are cooked through and most of the broth is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the parsley and ¼ cup of the Parmesan. Spoon into bowls and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan.

Image and recipe: Real Simple