Favorite Finds (and a weekend project)

Let me start by saying that I have had a very busy week.  It seems I haven't had a minute to do much at all, so I am very much looking forward to relaxing tonight and this weekend.  I just haven't had a chance to find anything for our typical "Freaky Find Friday" post and I know you are very sad about that.  Instead, just this once, I thought I would show you a few fabulous things I found (and received).  I really wanted this mirror for my mantle, but didn't buy it.  You know how it goes:  "I really shouldn't get it because It really isn't necessary this month to spend money on frivolity..."  My sweet husband decided to surprise me with it for Valentine's Day!  It was far better than chocolates.  I love all the colors on the mirror.  It is my whole color palette in my house.  The globe above is something I happened on last weekend.  I was at a local junk shop and I HAD to have this globe.  It is difficult to see in the picture but the base color is a grey-green and it has shades of aqua and turquoise.  I've not seen anything like it and for $12 I couldn't pass it up.

Lori turned me on to these Martha Stewart chalkboard labels $5.99/12 pack available here  when she did a previous DIY post {view here}  Last weekend I decided that my kitchen canisters needed these awesome labels too.  So what project do I have in store for this weekend???

Well, after I do this tonight...

And this Saturday morning...

I plan to continue to work on this...

 Here is the little project I have been dreaming about for awhile:  I found this little dresser for $40 and painted it this blue-grey and then added hardware (the top knobs are now added too).  I intend to make this into my powder room vanity, with the addition of a sink and faucet--of course.

 I saw this travertine tile and fell in love.  It doesn't show up much in the picture but there is a lot of blue in it. Maybe, if I am very good, I will get to have this through my powder room and adjoining laundry room.  I also have a little wallpapering to do...I'll keep you posted!

What are you doing this weekend?

And, the Outfit of the Day...

The weather here won't make up its mind.  One day it is nice outside, and then, BAM!  we are expecting snow.  Or it is windy.  

Whatever, weather, I am ready for Spring, you hear me?

Since we are still in the colder weather, however, I am still having to bundle myself up.  I posted before about this ampersand sweatshirt that I want.

Well, I didn't get it.  But I did get this ampersand sweater from Forever 21.  It was on sale when I bought a jacket for my daughter online.  It is cute, but man, does it shed!  I mean like keep a lint roller in your hand at all times kind of shedding, people.  I'm hoping that stops, but I don't see it happening any time soon.  Not until one day when I wear it, only to discover that it has shed so much that it no longer exists.  I go to put it on and it just softly crumbles into nothingness in my hands.  Or, more likely, while I am at work or at the store, I make a sudden movement and then I'm standing in the aisle at Vons and there's a pile of sweater on the floor and I'm suddenly shirtless.

I got these cobalt blue pants from good old Forever 21 too.  They are bright.  I wanted to tone them down a bit, and the subtlety of the sweater seemed to do just that.

I tried them cuffed and uncuffed.  I liked it both ways.  Maybe cuffed for warmer weather, and uncuffed for colder weather?  You know that extra inch and a half or so of material covering my ankle will keep me that much warmer.

sweater: Forever 21 (sold out) similar here
pants: Forever 21
shoes: Tilly's (old)
all photos by  Kyungmoo Ryu- thank you!

Wednesday Pinsday

Our second link-up with The Vintage Apple is here!  Hmmm, should we do this every Wednesday?  It is really fun to see the great stuff everyone has pinned over the course of a week.  Here are the things Lori and I have pinned to our joint boards for Desert Girls Vintage.  Funny how little themes develop themselves.  Last week Lori did atlas or map inspired pins (mostly).  This week I found we had a lot of Parisian and/or black and cream.  I really think we need a vacation; that is what these pins say to me, anyway! Enjoy, and thanks again, Vintage Apple, for hosting.

The only bright spots on Downton Abbey these days are Anna and Mr. Bates.  I will eat these gorgeous cookies and hope for better things to come in season 4...

I would be ready to walk the streets of Paris in these sparkly flats.  Love.

Doesn't get much chicer, right?

  

Marble never looked better than on this chevron mosaic bathroom floor.  The light flooding this space is heavenly as well.

Checks, bow, knit, and pearls. Perfect.

Nothing beats a bowl of fragrant white blooms.  Nothing.

Eclectic and offhandedly glamorous.

I just about died and went to Parisian paradise when I saw this pin!  An exquisitely detailed trench in white paired with strands and strands of pearls.  Ah.

I can pretend I'm there! Fun.

These darling little dearies are on the streets of Paris in this picture.

I need this.  I want this.  I have to have this.

This reminds me of Lori!  She has been wearing the chicest little bows in her hair lately.

Hope you enjoyed our pins of the week! Bonjour!

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Outfit of the Day: Spots and Checks

I got home from work the other day and felt like changing before I took the Cat to karate.  It was warmish outside, so light layers seemed appropriate.  This cardigan became one of my go to pieces last year (or was it two years ago?).  The olive green really acts as a neutral, so it goes with a lot more than you'd first think.  I love it so much I bought two of them.  

This was me doing the Thinker pose.

When we shot the pictures, it got pretty chilly for a little bit.

pants: Forever 21
cardigan: Forever 21
shirt: Probably Forever 21
shoes: Dillards
bracelets: thrifted, vintage, Dillards

all photos by  Kyungmoo Ryu- thank you!

Quotes of the Day: Feisty First Ladies

Since today is President's Day, here in the U.S.,  I thought I would do a fitting post.  I was determined to focus in on fashionable first ladies, but I couldn't find images that I wanted so instead I have decided to share a few quotes from feisty first ladies!  A bit more fun anyway, I think.

"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered.  But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue:  no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall."

Eleanor Roosevelt

via brainyquote

"A woman is like a tea bag-you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."

Eleanor Roosevelt

via brainyquote

"What is sad for women of my generation is that they weren't supposed to work if they had families.  What were they going to do when the children are grown-watch the raindrops coming down the window?"

Jackie Kennedy

via brainyquote

"The first lady is an unpaid public servant elected by one person-her husband."

Lady Bird Johnson

via brainyquote

Aren't those great?!  Enjoy your day off (if you are so lucky).

Sweet Spot Sunday: Almond Biscotti

Hello there!  I hope you are having a very lovely Sunday.  Do you have any plans?  I am going to be spending the day with my friends Kim and Kerri at the Long Beach Antique Show.  I'm pretty bummed that Rebecca can't make it, but she will definitely be there in spirit.
I thought that I would share a sweet and easy recipe with you today.  It comes from my Mom's friend Patti, who made these one day and sent them over.  I got to my parents' house after a looonnng day of work to find a cup of coffee and some tasty homemade biscotti waiting for me.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy they are to make.

This is it for the ingredients:

2 eggs, butter, almonds, yellow cake mix, and flour.

Mix all ingredients to form a dough.

Shape the dough into about 1/2 inch rectangle.

Cut the biscotti into delicious strips, perfectly perfect for dunking.

All done!  Covered in chocolate and just waiting to be dipped into a nice cup of coffee!

Almond Biscotti

Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1 stick melted butter

1/2 cups almonds (sliced, chopped, or slivered)

Directions:

Mix above together- knead well.  Form mixture into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick.  Place on parchment paper (or silpat) and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cut into pieces and turn onto side.  Bake additional 10 minutes and then turn off oven.  Leave in over another 30 minutes.  Cool.

(It is important to watch the biscotti for the last 30 minutes, as the time will vary depending on your oven.  For us, 30 minutes in the shut off oven was too long, but for Patti is was perfect.)

You can add melted chocolate to the bottom of the biscotti once it is cooled.  We used the milk chocoloate melting chocolates that come in a tub.  You can use your preferred chocolate (I think dark would be delicious!)

And... that's it!  Really easy homemade biscotti that is quick and delicious.