Friday Flowers... minus the flowers!

It certainly is fashionable and fabulous to be "Green" these days...

With greenery like this, who needs flowers!




You can never go wrong with multiple arrangements in varying shapes and sizes!

Herbs planted in a wooden box is a perfect centerpiece for a weekend brunch!


Check out what else is fashionable over at Fifi Flowers and what is fab over at Simply Seleta.

Have a great weekend!

{Photos via Martha Stewart}

Making Lemonade

Yesterday I made a huge, thoughtless and obvious mistake- I left my purse in my locked car while I ran into a design shop. Surprise, surprise, my car was broken into and the purse absconded with. It kills me to think of my fave purse and all of it's crucial contents no longer being in my possession.... and it's also really painful to realize how dumb and avoidable the mistake was!

So to make lemonade out of this lemon of a story, here are some precautions that can be taken to lessen the panic or avoid this situation completely:

• Photocopy everything in your wallet, front and back, and keep in a safe place other than your purse or wallet. It makes the list of phone calls and credit card cancellations that much more efficient.

• Besides photocopying your drivers license, it's good to have another back up ID like a passport. I would be lost without mine right now.

• List or photocopy all gift cards, making note of their serial numbers. Most stores can re-issue them if they have this proof.

• Carry your checkbook and debit card separately. Had I done this, I could have simply re-ordered a new debit card. Instead, I had to totally change my checking account and will have to contact everyone/company that automatic payments are made to so they will go through.

• Get a mailbox with a lock. When you re-order your drivers license, new cards and checks you want to make sure the thief can't get to these too. Remember- if he/she has your drivers license, they have your address. Another option is to have things shipped to a different secure location, like your office or a P.O. Box.

• Write down the serial numbers of anything that has one- your purse, your wallet, your cell phone, camera, etc. You can submit anything with a serial number to the police so it can be traced more easily.

• Don't carry anything with your social security number on it. Most people don't, but you never know. I put a fraud alert on mine with all three credit bureaus immediately just for the extra protection.

• And the lesson that I should have known.... don't leave purses or valuables in the car! Even if they are not in plain sight, a thief could see you walk into a store without a purse and assume your lovely handbag is still in the car... oh how hindsight is 20/20!

Luckily, everything is replaceable and the things taken are just things. Slightly inconvenient to replace things, but still just things. So please learn from my mistake and carry those purses with you... they are meant to be fashion, not car, accessories after all!

Steel Beauties

Just loving the steel and glass details in these shower surrounds...

I'd take this vintagey steel surround in a heartbeat. All 40 glass panes to clean and all!



Steel goes modern and and I love it, don't you! The industrial look is so perfectly pulled off in this bath with the thick concrete countertop, ridged glass and patina'd steel frame.


The silvery stainless steel is like jewelry in this steam shower. Notice how these are functioning windows to let the steam escape.


Is there anything that goes better than white marble tiles, polished nickel fitting, and a diamond pattern leaded glass window that looks into your fabulous bedroom???

These are such interesting architectural details as well as a genius way to bring natural light into the shower... One more thing to add to the "Dreamhouse List"!

{Photos via House Beautiful, Mohon-Imber, Peter Dunham, and Cote de Texas}

Fab Friday Flowers

I hope you’re having yourself one very Fab Friday.
To make it even better click over to Simply Seleta to see what’s absolutely fabulous in other parts of the blogosphere!

Then head to the nursery to pick up some edible flowers to add to your menu tonight!
Real Simple magazine lists the following good choices:

Basil flowers
Tuberous Begonia
Rosemary
Calendula
Lemon Balm
Viola
Thyme
Chives
Flat-leaf parsley
Margold
Marjoram
Nasturtium
Tarragon
Pansy
Sage

And just to make sure the flowers you're eating are as safe as they are beautiful, check out these safety tips.

Bon Appetit!

{Photo from Real Simple}

Inspiring Work Environments

Thursday is my day in the week to catch up on life.  I don’t go to the office; I don’t do “work”; but I’m always busy at home.  Household chores, paperwork that needs to be addressed, errands I’ve put off from earlier in the week…those things that my imaginary housekeeper just keeps falling behind on!

On days like today when it’s beautiful, sunny, and calm outside it’s really hard to stay focused, as glamorous as all those tasks are!  I’m sure I could do a much better job from one of these spots….

  

Lounging in this daybed would be so lovely, especially since imaginary housekeeper has also brought out fresh fruit and pastries so that I can work straight through lunch.  She’s such a doll when she’s on top of it.

 

This is a perfect office- it’s got everything one could need.  Chairs, table, coffee… it just needs a dedicated and hard worker sitting in one of those chairs!

 

Now this might be the best work environment I’ve ever seen.  It’s very ergonomical-  adjustable seating, spacious enough to get up and stretch one’s legs between long periods of indulgent blogging productivity,  and fabulous air quality… It’s even got oversized lamps encouraging one to lounge work late into the evening.

I think we’d all be more than nine-to-fivers in these conditions!

Il y a Longtemps que Je T'aime

I've been swamped with events, taxes, and other fun (and not-so-fun) things this week...I'm so glad I got time in to watch this. It's a captivating story of delicate emotions and relationships. Kristin Scott Thomas is truly an excellent actress.

Friday Flowers

Easter Flowers beg for something special...

A pretty assortment of garden picked flowers in a collection of egg-cups... simple and innovative... ah I love it!

For a slightly more streamlined look, use flowers of the same type or color and set them upon a tiered cake stand.

To take the egg-cup concept a step further, use hollowed out egg shells as a bud vases. These shells appear to have been dyed a light lavender color to compliment the flowers.

Guaranteed to bring oohs and aahs!

Have a wonderful, blessed and egg-filled weekend!

{Photos via Martha Stewart}

Eggstraordinary

To answer the obvious, a new bar has been set for an Easter dessert.... I don't think I've seen a prettier idea than this Chocolate Cake with a Truffle-Egg Nest.

Friday Flowers

Tonight I’m off to a wedding whose flowers will come from here.
Between the flowers and the beautiful couple, I know it will be a spectacular night!
Happy Friday!

Blissful Bedrooms

As I have been searching for ideas for my own bedroom redo, I came across many inspiring pictures. Just looking at each is refreshing....

We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and resting up for our busy days... it only makes sense that these rooms should be designed for complete rejuvenation. That is much easier said and done of course, but how wonderful is it to drift asleep without the reminders of chores to be done and to wake with a view free of clutter....

So serene are these muted colors and natural textures... the upholstered headboard adds the perfect amount of interest to this bedroom.

 

The full bed linens in this bedroom make me want to plop down on this bed and sink into all that down!

 

White linens are a must- nothing looks more fresh or crisp.

 

The canopy on this bed is so dreamy. And of course the vintage pillow cover adds instant charm.

 

Lots of texture keeps a monochrome space from being blah... this room is anything but! What a delightful indulgence to wake up to a huge floral arrangement like this.

 

Is it even possible to wake up on the wrong side of this bed??? Imagine the view out these French doors!

 

I've posted on this bedroom before, but I can't escape its quiet elegance. The
casual linen is dressed up so well with a simple scallop-edged duvet and the worn patina of the surrounding materials.

The everyday junk and "stuff" has been cleared from each of these rooms... there's not a pile to be seen! Nothing in any of these rooms screams "look at me!" yet each is overflowing with interest, charm and tranquility. Now that is bliss.

{Image 1 via Decorno, 2, 5 & 7 via Veranda, 3 & 4 via Traditional Home, 6 via Western Interiors}