Malachite

photo-dictionary
Malachite has become very trendy these days, but did you know that it was first mined in Sinai around 4000 BC?{source}and {source} It is actually a copper mineral.  I didn't know any of this.  What I do know is that it became popular in the Victorian era.  As I am reading Anna Karenina right now, I noticed a passage about Anna's "malachite covered blotting book" (pg. 143).
 It is a beautiful material that has inspired fabric as well as numerous other forms of fashion and decor recently.  I am on board with this trend because I think it is far more of a classic than a fad, and because it is just plain beautiful.

shopten25

hausandhome


hausandhome


hausandhome

eyespy

lonny

luxereport

design-crisis

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etsy

savvyhome

Sweet Spot Sunday: How About Some Oatmeal?

The recipe that I am going to share with you today is ridiculously easy.  It is hardly a recipe.  It's kind of cheating, really, but it's a good kind of cheating that results in a yummy little hits-the-spot-in-a-hurry kind of breakfast.  And it's filling too, because it's oatmeal.

Does that look disgusting?  It isn't, I promise.  It's tasty.

What You Need
Instant Oatmeal
Water
Flavored Coffee Creamer (I used vanilla)
Dried Fruit Mix (cherries, cranberries, blueberries)
Slivered Almonds

Here's what you do:
Make the oatmeal according to directions.  1 part oatmeal to 2 parts liquid.  (If you do 1/2 cup oatmeal, you'd do 1 cup liquid.)  Instead of making the liquid all milk or water, substitute some of it for creamer.  You can add as much or as little as you want; obviously the more creamer you add, the sweeter the oatmeal will be.  Cook according to directions, top with the dried fruit and nuts, and enjoy.

There you go. Ridiculously easy and pretty tasty.

Have a great Sunday!

~Lori  

Paris

The Cat and I are still on vacation, so Netflix has been one of our best friends lately.  French culture (namely Paris, naturellement) has cropped up in a couple of the movies we have been watching.  Maybe that has something to do with the fact that, for the most part at least, they take place in Paris?!  I don't know... could be.
Midnight in Paris, French Kiss, Hugo, An American in Paris, and in a roundabout way, Alex & Emma.  This weekend the Cat and I are going to go see a French film called The Intouchables.  It looks so good, and it is based on a true story.



Anyway.

Even though I thought Midnight in Paris ended rather abruptly, it reminded me of how special Paris in the twenties must have been, with so many talented people running around.  Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, Picasso, Dali, Eliot, the list goes on.  Ah.Maze.Ing.

So now I am itching to read Hemingway's A Moveable Feast.  And maybe make some croque monsieurs for lunch.  Also, I want to read Gertrude Stein's The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. And I want to go back to Paris and stay there for longer than a day.  In the meantime, I will have  to live vicariously through the novels I mentioned and more movies like I've been watching.  (Les Mis is on my list too.)  Oh, and through these French inspired images.

If I ever get back to Paris, I would love to visit the Shakespeare and Company bookstore.
image via

 corbisimages

image via Nateniale's Travels

Paris Cafe
The Wit Continuum

Paris Apartment
Architectural Digest

Au revoir!

~Lori

Sneak Peek: Britton's Movie Party

My little boy is turning 8 on January 5th.  How did that happen?  I swore I wouldn't throw a birthday party this year and tried to talk him into a day trip to Sea World, but he wouldn't hear of it.  He wants a party.  I did it to myself; I admit it.  I'm telling you, it isn't easy to get into party mode directly after Christmas and New Years.  But, party we will.
Britton started making his own movie about 8 months ago to pass the time over Summer break.  He wrote a script, and knew exactly what he wanted from his "actors" (mom, dad, sister, uncle, grandpa, friends).  The name of his movie is Good vs. Evil ...basically his version of Star Wars.  We have all had a blast taking his direction and seeing his passion and creativity come through.  Also, I think it will just be such a great thing to have and look back at in the future.
 Since he put so much effort into his movie what better theme for his party than a combination premier/award night?  Here is a peek at a few of the things for Britton's party:

paperboxpress
I found this image on pinterest and thought it was perfect for the party because it keeps the treats contained and organized. Instead of having the kids just grab everything by the handful they have portioned and contained movie candy.  So easy and cute too.

marthastewart

Another pinterest inspiration, this popcorn wreath is perfect.  The only thing I found when making my own is that it is VERY delicate and difficult to work with.  The popcorn breaks really easily.  It looks great though.

I am so excited about these!  My mom made these fondant cupcake toppers.  I even helped with the little popcorn ones.  This picture doesn't do them justice, they are just adorable.

Mom surprised me with these film reel silhouettes of Britton, also for the cupcakes!  I love them so much.

My dear husband made this gold star cupcake stand for the party.  I designed it, but I couldn't build it (maybe someday I will learn).  Until then, thank you sweetie for always making my visions reality--you too mom!

I, of course, will post the party soon!

Minor Obsession: Reading Nooks

First I have to say I love Rebecca's post from yesterday.  That outfit is perfection.  I love it.
Anyway.
The other day I was looking at a blog whose author had recently done a bedroom makeover.  She has enlisted the help of some designer, and together they worked to create their own perfect retreat.  What caught my eye was the reading nook that they installed in the room.  They had taken a recessed area of the wall (you know the little area builders often leave homeowners to stick a television console into?) and added a built in wall to wall bench, complete with storage and topped with a thick, comfy cushion and lots of pillows.  They then added some pretty cool sconces to either side of the wall, and BAM! a reading nook/window seat (minus the window) was born.

image via

By now you may be asking yourself What in the heck is she rambling on about?!  Well, I'll tell you.  I can't find that dammed website.  I have no idea as to which blog I was looking, and it is really bugging me because I want to look at it again because I have a little built in area in my living room that currently houses my t.v. and I would love to have a little built in reading nook.
So, any ideas?  I keep typing various things into various search engines, hoping to find that blog, but to no avail.  And I've checked my history on all three computers that it could possibly be on, but no luck.
Still, I like the idea of it, the extra seating/extra storage, the reading nookery of it all.  I want it.  Until then, I will have to cull images of other reading nook areas for inspiration.  Really, I am a bit obsessed, as I've already done a post on this here.  It's just that now I actually have a potential place for one.

                                    Traditional Hall design by Seattle Architect Sullivan Conard Architects

                     Traditional Staircase design by Philadelphia Architect Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

                                                                           Source: theletteredcottage.net via Josefina on Pinterest

I especially adore the last image; the article on the blog is a fun read too; a husband and wife took a road trip to an architectural salvage place, picked out old gym floors and that back wall was born. It's a genius little space. I love it.

~Lori

Resolutions And The Perfect Outfit

hemingwayandhepburn

As I write this it is still New Year's Day so I thought I might muse about new beginnings and goals, like Lori did in her last post.

Since there were some great sales today in many of the stores I was on a mission.  My mission was only partly completed because I want the above outfit in its entirety.  I succeeded in purchasing a mint blouse.  I still need navy cigarette pants and nude flats to complete this very chic look.   In terms of goals I'm starting out easy here, you see; I at least need one success to build myself up for the year to come.

What next you ask?  

I have some big goals too.  In fact, I think my dreams might be a little too big (but what kind of attitude is that to have at the beginning of a new year?).  I want to take on more design projects.  I want to really build something of Lori and my blog.  All of our hard work is starting to pay off and that is exciting.  

I want to continue to read wonderful things.  Since my daughter has started pre-school I find that I have a few hours in the morning with which I try to devote to my own self-improvement.  I can't say how much this means to me.  

I am honestly not very good at doing things I am afraid of [and there are many things that frighten me] so I am going to make a more concerted effort to push myself in those areas.  

How about you?  Any resolutions you would like to share?  We would love to hear about them!

Welcome to the New Year!

Happy New Year!
image via



I am not usually one for New Year's Resolutions; I see little point in making promises I know I will not stick to (I guess that sounds awfully pessimistic, doesn't it?), but this year I think I will give it a go.  I have been fortunate enough to be able to accomplish the goals that I had set for myself, and now I sometimes feel like I am floundering a bit, wondering what comes next.  I am in need of new goals, and those are very much like resolutions, no?  And since I am setting my goals at the beginning of the year, I guess that makes them New Year's Resolution-Goals.  So catchy.
So, here we go.  The first one is probably going to be easier said than done, given my penchant for sarcasm and sticking my foot in my mouth.

buy here: Emily Ley

 I love the idea of this; I know that I am not perfect, that I will never be perfect, but I do want to strive to be more graceful in what I say and do, in how I handle situations, in how I live.  And I want the Cat to learn this lesson too. 
So, I think that is a pretty good goal.  And a challenging one, since it is ongoing.
Okay, so on to goal number two:

via

I want to learn another language.  For the longest time, I wanted to learn to speak Italian, and I finally bought a language program so that I can do this.  Of course, now I want to learn French instead, but I've already invested the money in the Italian language program, so that will be first.  I want to go to Italy, anyway, and I want to be able to communicate while I'm there.

3rd goal:  Okay, so I should definitely have a third goal, right?  I want to work with Rebecca to reformat this little blog of ours and make it more us.  That is a goal that I can definitely get behind, because that is one that I think, with Rebecca's help, is totally attainable.

I will be setting more goals as the year goes on; those are just my top three of-the-moment goals.
In the meantime, I wish you all a happy, healthy new year!

~Lori