Dearest Friend.

Genius. I love it. And my fingers are cross that I don't ever eat an entire pan of brownies and feel obligated to send it myself!

:: via design is mine

Artist Crush: Ferry Staverman.

Ferry Staverman creates incredible art from cardboard, paper and string. That's it. No bells and whistles, just talent. Her pieces look like they walked out of a grocery store or toy shop and I love that. These pieces are only a small portion of her work, so make sure and check out her site for more goodies.




:: via Design Milk

The Daily Eat: Blueberry Sticky Buns.

I must have masochistic tendencies because I was reading/drooling over this recipe for Blueberry Sticky Buns as I ate my lunch. My salad. My boring salad. (Get the picture?)

Enjoy Blueberry Week!

:: photo and recipe via notes from my food diary

Mad Props: June.

My oh my, June absolutely flew by! I always feel a mix of both good and bad when a month like that occurs - happy because I'm onto other things and a little sad because I don't really want time to pass me by that way. But enough with waxing about life's true meaning, enjoy June's Mad Props! (I know I did!)Mansion, Apartment, House or Shack? : A Cup of Jo

put it all in one place : A Little Hut

Abandoned Theme Park : Black*Eiffel

Ellen Raskin : Black*Eiffel

MY Kind of Camping : black . white . bliss

Art project : Bloesom

Stylish Invites : Brooklyn Bride

Bringing Bitters Back : CHOW

Love-er-ly : d. Sharp Journal

Daily Thought Wallpaper : decor8

DIY kate's wooden portrait : Design*Sponge

sweet dreams : {frolic!}

Beer Cocktails : Hostess with the Mostess

Modern Garden Birthday : Hostess with the Mostess

Wonderland : How about orange...

Happy Tails : in(side) the loop

Doll's House : miss jane

pies baked in tiny jars : not martha

Modern Chocolate Party : Oh Happy Day!

Alison & Eric : snippet + ink

Monday Goodness: Absolute Truth.

:: via ffffound

Happy Weekend.

Thank you all so, so much for your help in choosing kitchen chairs! The NORDMYRA won out by quite a few comments, so I've decided to go with them. Tomorrow I'll be roadtripping it to the IKEA in Frisco, TX (roughly 2 hours in the car each way, so not too bad) and making my purchases. I have my list made, but it always seems to go out the window once I walk in the doors of that blue and yellow wonderland. Inevitably something I wanted lets me down and something else (or ten) catches my eye. Such is the IKEA Gamble!

This Weekend:
• IKEA
• even more packing
• mailing packages to K, K and M
• picking up my $50(!) lawnmower
• laundry, definitely laundry
• grocery shopping for lunches

Happy Weekend to You!

The Daily Eat: Mojito Jelly-O.

Mojito Jelly-Os lie somewhere between a tastier version of the Jello shots you did in college and an alcohol-infused dessert. I understand this one might be a little out of the comfort zone for some of you, but it's too unique not to include in Lime Week. And in my experience Tartlette's concoctions are never a letdown!

:: photo and recipe via Tartlette

Cartier LOVE Bracelet.

I'm not at all the type of girl who has a penchant for high dollar jewelry. I'm just not. I much prefer vintage pieces or pieces that are destined to become vintage over most else. Brand names just don't mean that much to me in this category.

But then I saw the Cartier LOVE bracelet. And I want it. At the moment I don't have anyone to give it to me. Actually, let me rephrase: I don't think I've ever dated anyone I would allow to literally lock me into a piece of jewelry before. Oh, I know He's out there somewhere. Just hopefully when he finally shows up he'll be toting this bracelet (in silver please) and a screwdriver.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

Columbus, OH-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is well known for its creative flavor combinations and quality ingredients used in all of their ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts. All flavors are inspired by local dairy and fruit. It's also interesting that Jeni's uses NO eggs because she believes they distract from the flavor of the cream. Instead she uses small amounts of corn starch and gelatin as thickeners.

There's nothing better than a quality product in equally outstanding packaging. Jeni's is spot-on, relying on clear plastic containers and a handwritten font that really allows the ice cream to be the star. At the same time it also reminds you that all of Jeni's frozen treats are handmade in small batches.

Founder Jeni Britton is featured in this month's Food & Wine magazine in How to Make Ice Cream Like an Artisan. I'm pumped that the article contains lots and lots of her recipes as well.

Fill-In Baby Invites.

Almost all of my good girl friends are married, most of them with at least one kid or onto number two already. I wish I'd known about these fill-in baby invitations when they were having their baby showers. Then again, they're pretty non-descript with no rattles or ducks or anything, so you could just as easily use them for a party of your own. I would!

Artist Crush: Dan McCarthy.

Dan McCarthy is an artist.
He lives in Massachusetts with his Boston terrier (ironic, no?).
He likes skateboard decks and sweatbands.
Oh, and he does kickass work.

The Daily Eat: Mojito Pound Cake.

The recipe for Mojito Pound Cake with Rum Flavored Italian Meringue Buttercream is pretty involved (in the cookbook it's three pages long...). But according to those who have taken it on, totally worth it. The result is a delicious, refreshing cake that actually does taste like a mojito.

:: photo and recipe via Erin Cooks

Cassette From My Ex.

Cassettes From My Ex is a brilliant idea.

They were into you, so they made you a tape. Today you don't have a cassette player, but you still can't toss that mix. We share the stories and the soundtrack to your earliest loves.

The stories are really well written and I spent a good thirty minutes yesterday afternoon being sucked into others' pasts. Slightly voyeuristic, but who doesn't love that?? And I love seeing the song lists and connecting my own memories to certain tunes.

Proud Fridge Owner.

So I did it.

I bit the bullet and crossed off the final item off my To Set Up list by buying a refrigerator last night. It's a Frigidaire. Nothing too fancy, although it is a side by side which I've never had before. And it does have an ice and water dispenser on the front which is the true sign of refrigerator success, not to mention a water filtration system.

I never thought a fridge could make me so happy. Pathetic!

Paint Color Quandary.

Decorating is as much underway as it can possibly be without actually living in the new house. My closing date is all set for Wednesday, July 9th and I plan on painting the heck out of the place Saturday and Sunday before the movers bring all of my things Monday morning.

Being a designer I would have thought choosing paint colors to be one of the easiest things on my To Do List. WRONG. I'm being incredibly indecisive to the point of driving myself insane. So I thought I'd put it out there for you and get some opinions. Below are swatches that are still in the contest for the rooms I'm painting. Please keep in mind that the colors seem to be running a little dark and a little on the yellow side (at least on my monitor) as opposed to the actual swatches lying on my desk at the moment.

Which colors do you like? Hate?

Have an idea for a color not in contention? Please share.

Mr. Fizz.

Love the aerodynamic chrome design of this Mr. Fizz seltzer bottle! I don't own one, but I'd love to make the addition to my "bar" at some point. A lot of what I see are vintage pieces that don't function any longer, so a seltzer bottle that works would be a bonus!

On the Rocks: Blueberry Smash.

I first met the Blueberry Smash at a rooftop bar last summer and was instantly hooked. It's the perfect blend of bubbles and subtle sweetness. (Although I don't think the champagne in mine was pink!)

Ingredients:
- 1/4-1/3 c. blueberries
- 1 oz. (pony) lemon juice
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- 1 1/2 oz. (jigger) Stoli Blueberi Vodka
- Pink champagne
- Several blueberries, for garnish.

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. In a separate glass, muddle the blueberries. Add lemon juice and simple syrup. Stir. Pour into ice-filled glass. Add blueberry vodka. Stir. Fill glass to top with pink champagne. Mix. Top with several blueberries. Serve with a straw.

:: photo and cocktail via Loulies

The Daily Eat: Peruvian Lime Cake.

The photo of this Peruvian Lime Cake has me practically drooling. I can just taste the sweet-tart combination rolling across my taste buds.

:: photo and recipe via Canela & Comino

Fabric Search.

Ever since seeing Julianne Moore's knack for decorating a few months back in Domino I've been obsessed with the color scheme in this bedroom. I'm stealing the wall color for my bedroom and am on a mad hunt for fabric to sew the curtains out of. (The only thing I'm shying away from is the navy bedspread - I'm way attached to my white down comforter.) I love the bright yellow and am not opposed to some sort of pattern (preferably white - circles perhaps?), but want to keep it low-key since the yellow does a lot of talking on its own. I've found some nice Kona Cotton in canary yellow at Repro Depot, but am not 100% sold quite yet.

Any suggestions for affordable curtain fabric?

Oh, Audrey.

Everyone has that go to person when they need a little extra something, a little inspiration. And I'm not talking work inspiration. I'm talking life inspiration.

For that, for me, I turn to Miss Audrey Hepburn. If you want an example of style, class, dignity and grace she's your lady. In fact, she's the epitome of a lady. A lady who's been through a lot and has come out the other side all the better for it.

I'd like to imagine that if Audrey and I were gal pals we'd be the sort of pair who would do things like go somewhere for afternoon tea or maybe we'd "lunch" - of course that would have to take place when we weren't weekending at the lake or going to our book club meetings.

Who's your go to inspirational figure?

Artist Crush: Thomas Allen.

I first heard mention of artist Thomas Allen in Chip Kidd: Book One. I was so impressed with his cut-out 3D pulp fiction cover art that I tracked him down. Turns out he's a tough man to find and the closest I came was a gallery showing of his work. There you can check out 27 pieces of his amazingly detailed "collage" work.

The Daily Eat: Key Lime Mousse.

This Key Lime Mousse looks so light and airy. I bet I could eat it with a Guilt Rating of 2.5 on a scale of 1-10, heavy whipping cream and all! The strawberries look like they make a great addition to the mousse texture.

:: photo and recipe via Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

Swedish Furniture Name Generator.

Enter your name into the Swedish Furniture Name Generator and find out what you would be called if you sat upon the shelves of IKEA. I was a little disappointed in the lack of creativity behind mine - what was your outcome??

:: via Design Milk

Mothology.

Mothology is chalk-full of vintage inspired objects and furnishings for your home. Every single piece looks like it was handpicked at an estate sale just for you and looks like it carries a story all its own.

Advice.

Sometimes I just need to be reminded of this.

:: via ffffound

A Century of Olympic Game Posters.

A little known fact about me? I'm obsessed with the Olympics. Summer or Winter Games, I don't really care. But for the two weeks they take over the airwaves I rarely leave my house or my television. I videotaped the 1992 gymnastics competition (I was 13) and re-watched it several times. Did I think the outcome would be different? Who knows. I just dig the Games that much. So you can bet when 08.08.08 rolls around I'll be glued to my seat and wishing I were in Beijing.

I came across a great book last week on Cool Hunting. A Century of Olympic Game Posters "offers an intensely visual representation of the modern Games, and shows the evolution of the Olympic Games poster as well, from the first official poster for Stockholm in 1912 right up to the present." I just might need it.

The Daily Eat: Mini Lime Pies with Glazed Berries.

I adore limes. Lime anything really. I know the little green guys weren't always near the top of my list as they are today, but I can't remember when they made their ascent. Regardless, limes just say "summer" to me: key lime pie, mojitos, limeade. The list goes on and on. So welcome to Lime Week! Enjoy your stay.

These Mini Lime Pies with Glazed Berries have been on my radar for quite some time. The combination of flavors and textures looks amazing!

:: recipe and photo via epicurious