fab find II: west elm goodies

I am loving the new Mirrored Parsons Desk and Tumeric Bloom Scoop-Back Chair from west elm, the two paired together would make for a stylish workspace...

but, with which wall?

fab find: Denver, 9° [feels like -4°], BVI 81°

The latest issue of Coastal Living featured "Deserted Island Day Trips", just what I needed to see after getting blasted by a cold front...

and I am ready to pack my bikini!

The first island featured is Sandy Cay, an uninhabited nature preserve in the British Virgin Islands. It boasts a shallow reef and crystal clear water, perfect for snorkeling and swimming. And that sand...wow.

After a day of hiking Majohnny Hill, the highest point on Jost Van Dyke, a visit to Sandy Cay to play and lounge in the sun, with SPF 50 of course, would be pure bliss. Pure, magical bliss.

friday musing: recycled flowers

Since I have nothing on the books for this weekend, I thought I would share my little vase of sunshine...
I bought these unknown flowers at Whole Foods back in, um, I think November, maybe October? Any who, the lovely thing about them, and others as well, is that they look just as nifty dried as they did fresh...

Have a great weekend!

food for thought: a "cry worthy" meal

After a dance workout with Tracy Anderson and a bit of yoga with GiGi, my cold symptoms have subsided, a little...

subsided enough at least to start devising a "cry worthy" meal.

This "cry worthy" challenge was thrown at me last Saturday while we were working on our tantalizing hunks of beef at the Chop House in LoDo, it was fantastic, not to mention "Buster's" favorite restaurant. That being said, it was brought to my attention that I have not created a meal for him lately that was so good that it brought him to tears. Don't get me wrong, he loves my cooking, but he's so used to it being good, I now need to create grrrreat! For my own good of course, a challenge, so my kitchen skills don't soften.

So, I now have to devise my plan of attack. No beef, I couldn't compete with the Chop House, I'm thinking fish or seafood. Here are some ideas;

Granchi e Gamberi alla Bettola [Creamy Vodka Sauce with Crab & Shrimp]

Mediterranean Tuna

Margarita Shrimp

Homemade Cannelloni

Shrimp & Scallop Stew over CousCous

or...

suggestions and recipes are welcome!

I have made and mastered all the above, but I haven't yet decided which to create. I'm leaning towards the Granchi e Gamberi [my own creation in fact ;) ] perhaps over Homemade Cannelloni.

But if any of you have a "cry worthy" recipe you would like share, let me know.

style board: color trends 2011, russet

This weeks color board was a little more me than last weeks honeysuckle. As much as I love color, pink just really isn't my thing...

but russet, russet is my thing. I was going to add lavender and aqua as accents to the russet, but I am quite happy with the ivory and green I went with, definitely more me.

I started with the fabulous Maxwell Sofa from Restoration Hardware for my main russet piece. This room is Rustic-Coastal-Contemporary with plenty of texture to make me giddy!

Accessories would be made up of beachy goodies such as shells, green beach glass and fishing floats, drift wood as well as brown glass bottles, ivory ceramics and whatever rusty industrial/architectural iron pieces I can get my hands on.

I really like this style board, everything about it, but my favorite thing is the chair; a 1965 Hendrick Van Keppel and Taylor Green Wicker Chair, love, love, love it!

Product sources available upon request, TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

tuesday's treasure: deborah t. lipner, veranda 2009 [I think?]

Veranda has some exceptionally lovely homes, while they are a bit more formal for my taste and style, this home designed by Deborah T. Lipner, has a few bits and pieces that intrigued to my inner Glam Bohemian...

1st of all, the color palette is quite relaxed and soothing. While the living room isn't overly formal, it is traditional. The addition of the rustic sideboard and jars lend a French country feel. The branches and jute rug bring in texture and a touch of nature.

And this screen is just gorgeously glam.

More glam with this mirrored buffet and stunning table lamps.

I am thrilled with the open-shelved industrial cabinet and ghost chairs that definitely allow for a more relaxed vibe.

Overall, a very lovely home. I would however need to add some art to the walls, some pattern on the pillows and a couple of clean lines to the living room furniture.

Any changes you would make?

fab find: "dreamy whites"

While doing research for a client today, I came across a fabulous blog, Dreamy Whites. As much as I embrace color and love clean lined, Mid Century Glam, I also have a strong fondness for Quaint Cottagey Glam, whites and soft colors, and Maria has an exquisite eye for the QCG.

This table scape she created last Spring is absolutely lovely. The color story, the use of shells, glass fishing floats and spring blossoms is sweet and stunning, all at the same time and her photography skills are maddening!


I look forward to following Dreamy Whites for the Quaint Cottagey Glam inspiration that has been missing in my style world =)

A definite must see!