Brown and Grey

I am sure I have said it before on this blog, like a million zillion times, but I am going to say it again, I love pretty images. My computer is overflowing with stuff! As part of my initiative to clean up my computer I have decided to start deleting image files. I am having a hard time parting with all that eye candy so to ease the pain I am going to share some of these pics on the blog.

S. B. Long Interiors

As I was doing a little housekeeping on my desktop I noticed that lately I have been saving lots of photos containing brown and grey. Grey (or gray for my American friends) is one of my favourite colours. Add a dash of brown to a grey room or outfit and it automatically warms it up making it a perfect colour combination for winter.

Speaking of brown and grey, one of my new favourite paint colours is Benjamin Moore's Escarpment
CC 518. I was trying to reinvent our old buffet that we use in the family room for the television. It was painted black in the old house, which did not work in this new house. I was looking for a very warm grey and was very pleased with how it turned out.

                       S. B. Long Interiors                                                           Burberry

Top Images: Dwell Studio     Romanelli and Hughs Design

  Sweater: Calypso St. Barth   Pillow Etsy: City Girl Decor      Shoes: Burberry

Have a great day everyone!

It's Looking a Lot Like the Holidays: Warby Parker

I am pretty sure that you guys out there are a lot like me and are always on the look out for new and unique gift ideas for friends and family. (Or for yourself!)
Well, the holidays are fast approaching so it's time to get serious about crossing off a few of these people from your never ending list!
I recently came across a really neat eyeglass company called Warby Parker. They have stand alone shops in NYC, Boston and LA as well as stores within boutiques across the US.
If you don't live near a shop, you can order all of their eyeglasses and sunglasses online. They even have a convenient virtual try-on feature.

Their 2013 Winter Collection is comprised of six new shapes in five new colours. The amazing thing is that all glasses in this collection are only $95 US including prescription lenses!
I have been wearing glasses since the tender age of 2, so I get really excited when I find frames I love at such incredible prices. I remember being called "four eyes", but those days are long gone.

Glasses are cool again!

Here are a few of my favourites...all with that perfect, rustic meets modern vibe that is so hot right now.

 Webb in Amber

 Welty in Plum Marblewood

Watts in Newsprint Grey

The other really neat thing about Warby Parker is that for every pair of glasses sold they provide a pair to someone in need. It's nice knowing, especially at this time of year, that your purchases will help others less fortunate. Love this.

Also, if you live in the US and buy a physical gift card, 

they will include a bonus Make-a-Snowman-kit. 

How adorable!

You can find the entire Warby Parker collection here. 

Make It: Toffee Nut Crunch

I don't want to freak you out but there are exactly 44 days until Christmas! This year, like most every year I have promised myself not to go overboard. We are keeping the gift giving to a minimum and the decorating simple and hopefully that will reduce the stress and the inevitable holiday craziness that starts to build around mid-November.
This year because of family circumstances we are having three Christmas celebrations. The first one is this weekend at our house. I am bound and determined to do as much as possible ahead of time so today I made a batch of Toffee Nut Crunch. It's really fast and easy, just make sure to keep stirring! I am thinking I may have to make a few more batches to package in cellophane bags to give as gifts.

Toffee Nut Crunch

3/4 cup chopped pecans or almonds

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 tbsp corn syrup

3 tbsp water

1 cup chocolate chips

1/4 finely chopped nuts 

Line a 13x9 pan with foil. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup chopped nuts.

In a heavy pot melt the butter, add the sugar, corn syrup and water.

Continually stir mixture over medium to high heat until it begins to boil. Keep stirring until a candy thermometer reaches 280 degrees F. It will be boiling rapidly, do not stop stirring or mixture with burn.

Carefully pour candy into prepared pan.

Cool for a few minutes and then sprinkle with chocolate chips. When chocolate has melted spread over base and then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup nuts.

Chill until hard and then break into pieces.

Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

What's on your Christmas baking list?

Have you made anything yet?

Getaway: Blackberry Farm

This is a place I would love to visit someday. Blackberry Farm is a 4,200 acre working farm located in the foothills of Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains.
It was named the #1 Food Lovers Hotel in America by Bon Appetit magazine this year and has what is described as "haute cuisine meets country mountain cooking".
There are a variety of accommodations on the property as well as many outdoor activities including fishing, hiking and biking and also a culinary school. When I heard there is a cooking school it more than sealed the deal. I have been feeling a little uninspired in the kitchen lately and would really enjoy learning something new. Throw in a gorgeous setting and a spa and I am there!

 

I didn't realize the Smoky Mountains were named for the prevalent fog.

 

Love this Mason jar chandelier.

The accommodations look amazing.

 

For Thanksgiving ideas and recipes from Blackberry Farm go here.

My Weekend: Montreal Style

I spent the weekend in one of my favourite cities, Montreal. It was so nice to meet up with friends and revisit some of the places I use to frequent when I was a student at McGill. We were joking that it was a miracle that any of us actually graduated given that Montreal is a city full of distractions. Sometimes going to class came second to shopping, wandering the different neighborhoods looking for the perfect bagel/pain au chocolat/smoked meat sandwich, or just sitting on a patio with a bowl of cafe au lait and people watching (when in wasn't 30 below zero!).
One of the things I was reminded of on this trip was how fashionable Montreal women are. Winter is long and harsh in Montreal, and unlike in Toronto, people actually dress appropriately for the weather. I saw so many gorgeous coats; everything from furs and wool to the ever popular Canada Goose jacket. The boot situation was also nuts! I think Montreal has the worlds biggest selection of boots. Over the course of four days a friend of mine wore five different pairs!
I noticed that when the women were not fashionably bundled up against the cold the major look of the fall season is very tailored with an equestrian edge. I love everything about this look and here are a few suggestions on how to achieve it.

1  2  3  4  5  6  7

**(#5 The best leggings ever! Wearing them below with the McGill mascot.

I was really good and only bought one thing...this coat. It's down and super warm, I know because it was so cold one night I had to wear it. (I may have looked like a marshmallow, but I was warm!)