Please accept my apology

Please, please, please accept my apology for being completely MIA lately.  I have become completely engulfed  in a book trilogy and have just today turned my computer on since last Thursday.  Crazy, I know, but these books are sooo good.  What books keep you completely engaged?

So any who, I was browsing the internets and I have came across this blog post from Me Oh My about a special edition Domino Magazine.  Now I am one that religiously subscribed to the mag and was so sad when it was discontinued.  I have their book and refer to it all of the time.  The rooms and spaces are much more approachable, youthful and affordable in comparison to many other home decor mags and that's why I love it so.  So I ran to the store to pick up my copy (haven't opened it yet because of the books) and cannot wait to crack that baby open. Happy Wednesday Folks!

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Maps

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.  I was pretty lazy this weekend and didn't do any projects around the house.  I hope this weekend to get some things done and possibly work with a friend/client on her casa.  I will be sure to share.

So, a while back I posted about inexpensive wall art and part of the post was regarding the use of maps in design.  I now have a borderline obsession with finding a really cool old map to display.  Here's a few pics of pretty spaces that I found are chock full of inspiration.


Love the colors int this one.


This is a unique take on the use of maps and gallery wall.  I love the multi-colored frames and the variety of styles.


These are really graphic and pretty and I love how cohesive it is without being too structured.


This one is probably my favorite, I love the saturated colors in the map and all of the really unique pieces sharing the wall.

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Dear Ikea

Dear Ikea,

Please, please, please open a location closer to my home.  I would really appreciate the opportunity to purchase the goods to make this :

Stenciled Rug

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And these side tables

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This little dresser

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Oh and purchase this little beauty of a light fixture

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Thank you so much for the consideration.  :)

Kindest Regards,
Katie :)

Drawer Pulls

So, I refinished the TV Stand last weekend (pictures to come) and am in desperate need of some drawer pulls. I bought some "temp" pulls at the oh so fab Target but I'm not sold on them. I want something classic yet a little unexpected at the same time.  I'm leaning towards antique brass but alas I can't find a brass drawer pull anywhere.  So, I may just take this hunt to the good old internets.  Here's a few I've been eyeing.  Any suggestions?

  

  

1/2/3 4/5/6

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Paul!  

You are a super awesome guy and I love you!  xoxo

Anna Deal Photography

One of my oldest friends, Anna, is a photographer and is crazy talented.  She has just recently decided to venture out and start her own photography business and needless to say is doing an incredible job with it.  Take a look at her website here and view some more of her wonderful photos.

all photos courtesy of Anna Deal

Terrarium

So, it's pretty evident that I have a thing for succulents.  I love everything about them, hence I've already posted about them here.  Well, last weekend I was perusing a local nursery (the plant kind, not the children kind) and found these little cuties and for only $1.99 a pop.  So, obviously I had to pick up a few and figure out where they would live later. 

I decided to make a terrarium of sorts from an old glass candle jar, some soil and pea gravel.  It was super easy and I'm pretty happy with the results.  Now, let's just hope they like their home.  I took care of this over the weekend along with a TV Stand Re-do which I will show you all later this week.  

Honey Beer Bread

I love honey beer bread, it's super easy to make and delicious.  So this weekend I whipped up a batch for us to enjoy.

This is what you'll need:

1 bottle of beer (your choice of beer, I used a Southern Tier Double Milk Stout)
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tbsp of sugar
3 tbsp of honey
4 tbsp of butter (melted)
1 tbsp of baking powder
1 tsp of salt

This is what you do:

Preheat oven to 350 and prep 9"x5"x3" loaf pan with cooking spray.

Whisk dry ingredients together in large bowl, mix in honey and beer with a wooden spoon.
Pour half of the melted butter into the prepped loaf pan and then place batter on top.
Pour remaining butter on top of  butter and use pastry brush to spread.

Bake for approximately 50 minutes, until toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean.  Enjoy!!  Tell me about some of your favorite bread recipes.

ikat

So, remember way back yonder when I discussed a major score with regards to some ikat fabric?  Well, I finally got around to doing something with it rather than the having it folded and put in a pile on my dresser.  It was only a couple of yards to work with, so what I could do was limited but I was able to cover two very small pillows  as well as make a "coverlet" if you will, that is currently draping the back of the hideous couch.  So here's a little look at what I did.  The coverlet was just trimmed with ready made trim at Joann's, gotta love that place.  Again, please excuse my photographic skills, if you saw the camera I was working with you'd completely understand.

Do what you love....

Easier said than done at times, but this sign resonated with me and I'm thinking life will pass me by if I don't take a chance.  So that's what I'm going to do, or at least try to do.  Has anyone else taken a chance when it comes to your career?


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