Life as a Renter

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Hope everyone's having a wonderful week! Today I'm over at one of my favorite blogs EVER, Made by Girl, sharing my view on the ups and downs of being a renter in fabulous NYC! Check it out-and big thanks to the sweet and talented Jen!

Also, Karla was kind enough to include me in her Leibster Top 5 post on The Purple Bow yesterday, along with 4 other inspiring bloggers. Be sure to check it out, and peruse the rest of Karla's inspiring blog while you're over there!

A Helping Hand

There's something about hands as decor accessories that just really appeals to me. They're the perfect little weird touch in a space, yet they still look completely elegant and sophisticated.

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Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere has these hooks-in an entryway, I assume. SO much more interesting than a boring regular coat hook!


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via? If you know, please let me know in the comments so I can give credit!

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This is Lauren Gold's home via Lonny's July/August 2011 issue-see it, on the second shelf down-a little hand creeping out from behind that box? Love it.

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Erin Fetherston has a collection of glove making molds. As she says-a perfectly "surreal" touch in her otherwise extremely elegant and girly apartment.

My own jewelry holding hands from Urban Outfitters-only $12!

Pure

I was beyond, beyond excited for the release of Julianna Baggott's Pure from the minute I read about it on The Book Case. As they said there, it's similar to all of those dystopian, post-apocalyptic Young Adult novels that have become common recently (i.e., Hunger Games)-except finally it's one for adults!

Basically, life on Earth has been decimated by something called "The Detonations," and people's bodies have become damaged and fused with parts of the Earth or random objects. Our main girl Pressia, a citizen of this damaged world, is on the run from a military group that takes citizens to train them as soldiers (or worse). Meanwhile, in The Dome, select citizens live in a protected state of bodily perfection-this is where we meet our main man Partridge. He discovers that his mother may still be outside the Dome, not dead as he had always thought-and so the scene is set for him to escape the Dome and begin his search.

I LOVE books like this-dystopian novels where society is divided, and two people find each other against the odds. It's going to have (hopefully) excitement, suspense, action, and romance. I'm especially excited after reading the New York Times review, which had high praise for the descriptive writing that really paints a mental image of the ravaged landscape. The movie rights have already been sold for this book, AND it's part one of a planned trilogy. Can't wait to grab up my copy and dive in!

Stripes, Brights, and Polka Dots

A few items I've been lusting after from J. Crew lately (seems I never lust after items from anywhere else!). Not sure how much longer I can resist...

First of all, remember this post? Right. So now look what they do:

They go ahead and make it in a flat. Since the only thing stopping me from buying it before was the fact that it was a heel. J. Crew, WHAT are you trying to do to me? You won't be satisfied until you have all of my money!

Comes as a clutch too! Love it.

Painter Stripe Bateau Tee-classic, forever tee.

Colorblock stripe boatneck tee-graphic, bold stripes. I love pink with black! 

Spindrift sweatshirt-I feel like I would wind up wearing this all the time-with jeans, with sweats. So easy to throw on.

Retro dot tunic -sophisticated shape and color with a fun pattern. I might have already bought this actually-oops :)

Have a great weekend!

A Fairy Tale in Green

House Beautiful really nailed it this month with their issue focusing on green (the color, more so than the movement). My favorite layout featured a Greenwich Village apartment designed by Fawn Galli to invoke the feeling of a modern day fairy tale.

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The cover just screams "SPRING" to me, like a breath of fresh air. The chair is gorgeous (like a minty green throne) and I love the curved legs on the nightstand, which echo the legs of the chair.

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As mentioned in the article, I love how they used chairs with white legs in order to make the whole room feel more spacious and open-see how the chair legs and the lucite table disappear, lending a fresh, airy feeling to the whole space? I love how the blue tufted chairs are bright but not jarring, and provide the only pop of color in the space.

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The designer painted that gorgeous mirror deep purple to match the flowers in the wallpaper, and I'm in love with the look. It really does evoke a modern day fairy tale, as they were going for. It's like a strange, beautiful dreamscape, yet there's nothing hokey about it-the whole look is still sophisticated.

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What better place to display a colorful collection of glass than on a windowsill, where they can catch the light and bounce their beautiful colors around? So pretty.

I love how Galli really pulled off the fairy tale feeling without ever losing the sophistication in the space. It takes some serious talent to do that, because obviously this is a theme that could really go wrong!

By the way, I'm over at A Simple Affair today sharing my favorite "X" items for Carly's A-Z blog series! She is such a sweet person and her blog is one of my favorites-I'm so excited to be over there, so be sure to check it out!

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Ampersands seem to have become the coolest piece of punctuation around. Here's a few that I'm loving recently:

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I adore this bookend posted on Deliciously Organized (what a beautiful photographer Carlee is!). This kind of kicked off my obsession.

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 Neon ampersand print

Recently got this adorable neon print that I found via A Piece of Toast. Love the brightness it adds to my gallery wall!

 

 Ampersand Alphabet Bag

Nutella Crescent Rolls

I am a huge fan of Nutella (who isn't?)-so I was VERY intrigued when I came across this post on Things That Sparkle, describing a dessert of Nutella inside Pillsbury crescent rolls. Sounded easy and delicious-and it was! Here's what I did, based on Alex's instructions.

 Open up a package of Pillsbury crescent rolls and separate them into triangles. Then spread Nutella inside.

 Roll up each crescent, then roll it around in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Mmm!

 Line the cinnamon-sugar covered crescents up on an ungreased cooking sheet (I just put down parchment paper for easy clean-up), and cook according to the instructions on the crescent package.

 Here they are out of the oven-warm and puffed up. Ok, they're slightly goofy looking, but who cares. They're delicious!

 Perfect with a cold glass of vanilla coconut milk.

 They're SO EASY and quick. This is my new go-to for whenever I have a chocolate craving!

A Touch of Quirk

As I mentioned in a previous post, I really enjoyed Deborah Needleman's The Perfectly Imperfect Home. A section I found especially interesting suggested adding a touch of quirk to your space, in the form of  irreverent accents, some small animals, an odd chair, things where they shouldn't be (like a frame leaning against a wall, instead of hung up), and more. Her definition of quirk is really wide-it shows that even things you might not personally classify as "quirky" can fit the bill and accomplish what these accents are meant to accomplish-just imparting a sense of ease and spirit into a space. Any unexpected or off-kilter accent shows that you have a sense of humor and don't take decorating too seriously. It catches the eye and keeps things from being too stiff, over-decorated, or uptight. Here are a few touches of quirk I've come across and loved:

Danielle Moss's home
The little gold penguins. Animal figurines, done in such a sophisticated way.

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With the fabulous shoe closet as the focal point, you almost don't realize there's a weird little armless baby doll on the other cabinet! Not exactly the quirky piece I would choose, but you can't deny it adds a little interesting, off-kilter touch.

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I love this touch of quirk-obviously, since I'm obsessed with busts. And the wreath just adds an extra little *wink* to this one.

Elle Decor  via kkerrdesign.blogspot.com

This space is full of quirk, in the form of the hot pink skull, the interesting chair, and the piece of artwork on the wall-but it still retains an overall look of sophistication. (PS-I WANT THAT CHAIR).

 Another room from Ashley Stark's Manhattan apartment via Elle Decor-the oversized scale of the plant is "something unexpected-"adding just the perfect surprise to this very upscale looking space.

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How's that for quirk? A giant zebra! Not too realistic for most of us, but definitely fits the bill.

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Look closely at the lamp-you don't notice at first glance, but on closer inspection, you catch a little quirky surprise. 

Nicole's home via Made By Girl

These letters are perfect, just perfect. Keeps the vibe light and relaxed, which is what you want for a kitchen.

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Piles of mags being used as a table would fit Deborah Needleman's defintion of quirk perfectly-something being used as it normally wouldn't be. Plus it's just interesting and relaxed-the opposite of uptight. And see how that attitude of relaxation is a great contrast to the sort of fancy looking wall/curtain fabric and china? Without the piles of magazines, those elements would look rather stiff, maybe English Grandma-ish, but with the piles of magazines it just keeps the vibe more laidback.

Here are two little touches of quirk I found in my own space:

Something where it "shouldn't" be-a glittery purse slung over a mirror.

My Jonathan Adler candle. Pretty sure you can't beat JA for a touch of whimsy! He's like, the King of Quirk.

I think what makes quirk work, especially in the spaces above, is that everything else is kept very classic and sophisticated aside from just the ONE little quirky touch. As Needleman points out, it's not about being wacky, it's just about creating a sense of easiness and spirit in a room. I think these touches really bring a space to life.
The cool thing about Needleman's book, and this section especially, was that after reading it I went through my Pinterest boards and found that most of the spaces I had pinned and really, really liked did have a bit of quirk to them. I just never realized that the quirky touch was what made them attractive to me, until Needleman so astutely pointed it out!

What do you guys think? Any quirk you can identify in your own spaces?

Lookalike for Less: Classic Flats

I've had a thing for these Banana Republic flats for the last few weeks:

They look very Olivia Palermo to me, yes? Except there's a big yellow strip on the heel, which is probably the only reason I haven't bought them. That and the 98 dollar price tag.

Then I was perusing Carly's guest post on Mae's blog, and saw the Old Navy version she posted:

Well, well. Hello, Old Navy flats that look exactly the same and cost around 20 bucks! I wonder which are more comfortable though-I am obsessed with finding comfortable flats.

They both come in black as well. Lately I'm obsessed with basics (such as the perfect pair of black flats), so I'm kind of feeling the black pair:

Old Navy has a black version as well, but I kind of like the leather of the BR pair better. They're the perfect simple black flat, but with a little interest added by the cap toe. Totally versatile, totally classic. Aaaaand I totally want them!

*Fixed the pictures...sorry about that! Note to self: do not compose blog posts while half asleep!*

A Warm Studio

I think it's clear to readers of this blog that I have an obsession with studio apartments, which developed even before I moved into a studio of my own. I love the ingenuity they inspire in terms of coming up with creative layouts and storage solutions, plus I just love the cozy factor. As much fun as it is to admire sprawling, airy interiors, there's just something about small spaces that I find so welcoming and inspiring. Here's a studio tour from Apartment Therapy that I've had bookmarked for a long time, and which served as a big inspiration to me when laying out my own apartment.

I love the way she used an airy room divider (the black piece on the right hand side) to separate the bedroom area from the living room (as I did in my own little apartment). I'm a huge sucker for exposed brick too-it just lends such an appealing warmth to the space. In fact, even though the color scheme isn't my exact style, I really admire the way things like the bedding, the rug, and the armoire create such a warmth.

Using an airy room divider creates a feeling of separation without making the place seem smaller. I like the seating arrangement with the chair facing the couch.

I adore this little writing desk. Definitely inspired my choice to paint my vanity black. I just think it looks so cozy, like the whole area is just begging you sit down with a nice cup of coffee and get to writing. I LOVE the juxtaposition of the gorgeous antique writing desk with the modern vertical bookshelf. Vertical bookshelves are an obsession of mine- one of the first purchases I made for my own apartment.

This shot just shows how a studio can feel so spacious and open (though granted, as studios go, this one is pretty generously proportioned). I love the entertainment unit/bookshelf, and how it sort of allows the television to blend in. The little dining table in the corner is great. I only wish I had room for a little table in my studio!

Lovely little detail shot.

See the full House Tour here!

Homemade Pizza

My Mom makes the BEST homemade pizza, hands down, in the world. It is my favorite meal ever, but unfortuntately I've yet to fully master the fine art of making it on my own. Hers is light years better than pizza place pizza, and definitely healthier-especially if you serve it with a nice crunchy green salad. It also helps if you don't eat three quarters of a whole pie by yourself, which I've been known to do (it seems smaller than a regular pizza, I swear!) Any homemade pizza aficionados out there have tips for me? I tried my hand at making my own the other day-it was good, but not nearly as photogenic as my Mom's:

PS-Here's a great instructional video on the fine art of at-home pizza making from Melissa Clark (one of my favorite chefs). I used this while making my own, and it was really helpful. The part where she tells you that you can bake the pizza on an overturned baking sheet was especially helpful to me when I opened up my brand new pizza stone and discovered that it was cracked straight down the middle! Good times.