Animal Print Purses

I am not ready for the summer to be over, but I am keeping my eyes open to what's new in the world of fall fashion. I have always loved animal prints and admit to having a closet full of printed blouses, scarves, shoes and the odd leopard bag.
I am thinking I may have to add a clutch to my growing collection of animal print. I especially love the Clare Vivier (#4) and I really need to check out the rhinestone leopard one from Le Chateau (#8), it's only $29.95!

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Cottage

Have you seen this cottage featured in Chatelaine magazine?  I would say that for most of us this would be considered a mansion/dream home/when I win the lottery type of home! It may be over the top, but it is still loaded with inspirational ideas that can be translated into a more modest cottage or home. I really love the mix of materials; painted wood walls, rustic wood flooring, stone and a touch of sparkle on the tiles behind the stove. Wow, and speaking of the stove...a robin's egg blue Lacanche range with double ovens is the center piece of the kitchen.

 

 

 A TV is hidden in the second hand cabinet by custom decals. (or use wallpaper/wrapping paper for an inexpensive alternative)

On My Bookshelf

What have you been reading this summer?

I just finished The Chaperone and While We Were Watching Downton Abbey.

I was drawn initially to The Chaperone because it takes place in New York City in the 1920's and I am a sucker for any period piece that takes place in NYC. I was hooked from the beginning and stayed up way too late one night devouring it. 

The following synopsis is from Amazon, (which is way better than any I could write). 

I dare you to read it and not want to run right out and buy the book!

 

 A New York Times bestseller, The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in the 1920s and the summer that would change them both.

Only a few years before becoming a famous silent-film star and an icon of her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study with the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone, who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle, a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip, has no idea what she’s in for. Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous black bob with blunt bangs, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever.

For Cora, the city holds the promise of discovery that might answer the question at the core of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in this strange and bustling place she embarks on a mission of her own. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, she is liberated in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of Cora’s relationship with Louise, her eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

Drawing on the rich history of the 1920s, ’30s, and beyond—from the orphan trains to Prohibition, flappers,  and the onset of the Great Depression to the burgeoning movement for equal rights and new opportunities for women—Laura Moriarty’s The Chaperone illustrates how rapidly everything, from fashion and hemlines to values and attitudes, was changing at this time and what a vast difference it all made for Louise Brooks, Cora Carlisle, and others like them.
 

 

I picked up While we Were Watching Downton Abbey last month to bring along on our trip to Washington. If, like me, you are a Downton fanatic you will enjoy this book.

According to Amazon...

 When the concierge of The Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of Downton Abbey, four very different people find themselves connecting with the addictive drama, and—even more unexpectedly—with each other…

Samantha Davis married young and for the wrong reason: the security of old Atlanta money—for herself and for her orphaned brother and sister. She never expected her marriage to be complicated by love and compromised by a shattering family betrayal.

Claire Walker is now an empty nester and struggling author who left her home in the suburbs for the old world charm of The Alexander, and for a new and productive life. But she soon wonders if clinging to old dreams can be more destructive than having no dreams at all.

And then there’s Brooke MacKenzie, a woman in constant battle with her faithless ex-husband. She’s just starting to realize that it’s time to take a deep breath and come to terms with the fact that her life is not the fairy tale she thought it would be.

For Samantha, Claire, Brooke—and Edward, who arranges the weekly gatherings—it will be a season of surprises as they forge a bond that will sustain them through some of life’s hardest moments—all of it reflected in the unfolding drama, comedy, and convergent lives of Downton Abbey. 

Have you read anything interesting lately?

Lovely Little Island Home

This tiny home was designed by Jessica Helgerson for her family of four. It is located on Sauvie Island in the Columbia River near Portland Oregon. This little house is a mere 540 square feet and was originally built in the yearly 1940's as a place for shipyard workers. Jessica and her husband renovated the home to include a great room, new bathroom and sleeping loft.
I really appreciate the the layout and the materials used in this home and would love to replicate some of the features in a cottage.

I love the wood paneled wall in the kitchen, also the horizontal painted paneling used throughout the house.

The built in sofas in the great room double as beds for guests.

The ladder leads to the parent's sleeping loft.

 The 'master bedroom' loft.

 The children's bedroom.

 The new roof is a green roof, planted with a variety of moss and ferns collected along the Columbia River.

Tomato Basil Pasta Salad

I had forgotten all about this recipe that was originally given to me by my friend Debby. It is perfect for this time of the year when the tomatoes are at their peak and fresh basil is available.
We had a small dinner party on Friday night and I served this pasta salad; it was delicious with grilled chicken and a green salad.

Tomato Basil Pasta Salad

4 ripe whole tomatoes
2 cups mayo
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
salt and pepper
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 small tomato, diced
1 lb pasta

Cook pasta al dente.
In a blender combine 1st 6 ingredients. Pour all but 1 cup of dressing over warm pasta. Refrigerate. Add reserved dressing and diced tomato just before serving.

Enjoy!

Dinner in Palm Springs

I found this beautifully designed rehearsal dinner over at the Style Me Pretty blog. It was designed and styled by Nancy Liu Chin as an example of what can be done in a restaurant to personalize the space for a rehearsal dinner or for any other occasion. The design and all the details of this gathering would be gorgeous for virtually any type of party. I love the mix of colours and all the personal touches.
The photo shoot took place in Palm Springs at the Colony Palms Hotel, which by the way was designed by Martin Lawrence-Bullard of the show Million Dollar Decorator.

 Nancy used dishes, glassware and pillows from stores like Target, Pier 1 and Crate and Barrel.

 I really love the casual flowers mixed with succulents and ferns.

Fall Fashion

I can't believe it is only the first week of August and the stores are already full of fall merchandise. I ran to the mall today to pick up a new case for my phone and was shocked to see that the shoe stores are selling boots and the window displays are a little less neon and pastel and more black, plum and camel. (Why, oh why, Blogger is the font so small??? I have tried EVERYTHING to fix it.)

 Club Monaco

One of the biggest trends of the season is leather inserts. I noticed dresses with leather details and even t-shirts with leather pockets. 

Club Monaco

 Pumps are a huge-lady like, classic and leopard--perfect!

Club Monaco

 Happy to see that animal prints are sticking around.

Club Monaco

 Smaller structured bag, especially with chain straps, a la Chanel are everywhere. 

I was surprised at how nice the faux leather ones were at Forever 21. I am not big on bags that scream cheap plastic, but these looked quite nice considering the very inexpensive price.

 $23.80

$33.80

Judging by the amount of women carrying this bag that I saw over the weekend, this must be the bag of the moment!

Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC $195.00

 Love this camel coat from Club Monaco.

What's on your list for fall?

Blondies

I made a batch of these blondies over the weekend and they were a big hit. They are moist, chewy and full of chocolate with a nice butterscotch taste.

Blondies

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter at room temp.
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups total of chocolate chips and nuts
(I used 1 cup semi-sweet and 1 cup butterscotch chips and omitted the nuts) Try white chocolate chips/milk chocolate chips/chopped walnuts/chopped pecans etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. I used a small 15 x 10 inch cookie sheet for thinner bars.
In a bowl combine together the flour, baking powder and salt.
In a mixer cream together the butter and sugars until smooth, add the eggs and vanilla and continue to beat 2 minutes.
Add flour mixture and mix. Add chocolate and nuts.
Spread the batter in baking pan.
Bake 25-30 min if using 13 x 9 pan. Bake 12 min if using the 15 x 10 pan.
Watch that they do not over bake.
Cool and cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Around the House

 I have been meaning to buy a topiary for ages. The other day I found the cutest little myrtle one and decided it was time to go for it. My thumbs are more black than green, so I am hoping I can keep it alive!

I have been trying it in different spots around the house. I think I like it best in the kitchen.