Thursday, October 29, 2009

Food Friday!

Awhile back my sister gave me a Tyler Florence cookbook. Since then I have developed a love for Tyler! There hasn't been one bad recipe that I've tried - everything is yummy! These are some new pics from his blog. I must add them to my recipe book for future cooking, or I can just drool over the pictures!


All images courtesy Tyler Florence site.


Happy Friday! Happy Halloween!


XO
SHS

I'll Take All of These. Pretty Please!

Winter is obviously very near and my wardrobe is in need of some new items. I could use all of these things, but unfortunately I think I can only have one. Oh how to decide- eeny meeny miny moe!

Love this sweater


and this one

and ooh this one
and yet another one
and finally this one
would love this leather jacket
and of course this handbag
need these earrings
and must have these boots!
Have a good one!
XO
SHS

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

WedETSYday!

Another WedETSYday has arrived! Time is just flying and Christmas is just around the corner. Here are a few etsy designers that I'm sure you will love to have on your go to list for the perfect gift!


Crystal Holly Necklace
Autumns Romance
Crystal Gypsy


Leafy Felt Wallet


Pretty Notebook. Pink

Mini Mum Hairpins
Fall in Love Bag
Yellow Bird Bag
Deer Valley Bag
Have a great day!

XO
SHS

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Food Friday! The Caramel and Candy Apple- Yum!

It's Food Friday once again and I am craving a caramel apple. I have decided to make up a batch tomorrow, but am afraid of consuming them all, which is very - very possible. Right now my biggest dilemma is deciding on the toppings. I do like a basic caramel but I also love chocolate, pretzels, nuts, candy, etc. What to do, what to do?

Don't these look yummy- "Red Wine Caramel Apples" from Gourmet Magazine

or these Carmel and Candy Apples from Woman's Day

Country Livings Caramel Apples
Carmel Apples from Real Simple
Don't these just look sooooo good!
(If this photo belongs to you, please let me know. I can't seem to locate where I found it.)


Have a happy happy weekend and eat something yummy!

XO
SHS

Fall is Here! Cozy your Casa!

(images via Apartment Therapy)
I was searching the web reading how other people warm up their homes for the fall and winter months. I found this (also see below) article on Decor8 that provides a detailed list. I hope you enjoy reading all of Holly's tips. Because I am a candle fanatic, I am planning to purchase the Floris candle Holly references in tip #4.

1. Swap the throw on my sofa. In the warmer months I have a throw, but usually as decoration more than anything else – though I do use it on chilly summer nights from time to time. In the autumn though, I swap it out for a warm, thick throw. Chenille, wool, felt, a heavy cotton, cable knit cotton — all work nicely. I have a gray cable knit throw that I love!

2. Pillows! I love to change my pillows with the seasons, that’s why when I buy pillows these days I usually buy only the zippered covers and leave the inserts in the store. I have so many inserts I do not need more! Silks and canvas pillows are exchanged for velvets and knits. I also like to use hues a few shades deeper than what I use in the summer. For instance, lilac and pale blue gets replaced with jewel tones like plum and turquoise or plum and deep sea blue.

3. Warm up your vignettes. For instance, I like to mix in cream and sand with my white pottery. I exchange pebbles and sea glass with leaves and acorns. No detail is left unnoticed!

4. Candles that are white, lilac and ice blue in the summer are exchanged for ones that are medium gray, plum, turquoise and cream. I also add in a bit of chocolate to warm up the palette. Also scented candles change according to the season. I currently have candles that are unscented from Villa Collection in gray and my scented candles are from Floris. The Floris candles can be a bit expensive, but are so, so worth it, they commonly sell for around 43 Euro for a 6 oz candle. I exchanged my Jasmine & Rose Floris candle with a Cinnamon & Tangerine. Also, I love Candied Fruit from L’Occitane, that is my signature scent for autumn I think. In the warmer months though, you can find me burning their Lavender candle, a favorite of mine for quite some time.

5. Speaking of scents, my scented sprays change by the season too. I keep a bottle of room spray in my bedroom and another in my hallway. The one in my bedroom is what I use religiously each night before bed, it puts me to sleep. It’s called Relax by German organic cosmetics company Amala. The spray I use in my hallway is from Annick Goutal in Paris, it’s called Noel and is perfect for this time of year. It smells like pine and berries. Soooo lovely. Perfect for freshening the air before guests arrive! That is, if I don’t have something cooking on the stove or in the oven – then of course no room sprays are needed. :)

6. My linens — table linens go from a summer palette to a warmer, more rustic one. I also like to layer tablecloths, a solid with a pattern, for instance. I use chargers beneath my china to warm things up as layers of things always give a cozy feel. They also help my white china to look more cozy. Same goes for bed linens, I add blankets and extra warm sheets but also the palette goes a bit darker in hue – from light gray to dark, for instance.

7. Bring the outside in: I tend to collect finds from my daily walks, I’m like a squirrel, especially in the autumn. I collect branches (ask my husband about the spiders I ask him to rescue from them) to arrange in large vases, leaves, pine cones, acorns and chestnuts to place around candles, on the table runner in the dining area, in the hallway in a small basket, even to add little ribbons to the stems and place them on the table. I love all of these fallen finds and also find some use for them, though they don’t always last that long and you have to make sure you find ones that are clean! Squash, pumpkins and other harvest goodies look nice on the table or in the kitchen on a counter.

8. Swap out art prints. This is another easy way to bring the Fall look to your home. I collect art prints and so I love being able to remove current ones and swap them out. This is the beauty of owning prints. Store the current ones in acid-free archive safe folders so you can put them back up next year.

9. Swap curtains, if you can. I don’t do this as often as I once did because now I have roman blinds in most of my home and those work great year round for me, but if you have drapes you can consider using linen and cottons in the warm months and in the colder months, opt for velvets and heavy cottons, or even lined drapes, as this can help you save considerably on your heating bill and warm up the room – velvet always makes a room feel very cozy.

10. Replace your rugs. You can roll us the sisal and replace it with a thicker, warmer throw. If you have few rugs you can add a few more when it gets cold, I don’t have wall-to-wall carpet so I need rugs when the temps drop or else my feet freeze and I have to turn the heat way up. And heat is not cheap! If you have a rug that is painted onto your floor, you can simply put a “real” rug over it to keep your toes warm until the temps go up again and you can reveal your hand painted or stenciled rug again.

11. Wood! Another thing that I don’t do simply because I do not have one, wood for the fireplace! It looks so nice stacked neatly inside or nearby, or if you have a fireplace that you cannot use, place candles inside instead and light them in the evenings for a warm glow.

12. Flowers and plants: See what is in season in your part of the world and work with the freshest, most beautiful greenery and blooms you can find. Try to treat yourself to a small bouquet each week, or pick some field flowers and bring them in. Using flowers that are in season can certainly give your home that fresh fall feeling!


In case you need additional tips, Apartment Therapy also has a list of how to prepare for the cooler months!


XO
SHS

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Lonny Magazine featuring Eddie Ross's Farmhouse!

In case you haven't heard the news there is a new online magazine "Lonny"! The first issue features Eddie Ross's farmhouse- and I have to say I love it! Here are some pics for you to enjoy. My favorite room is the dining room, but I also love the living room with those great wooden beams, and the bedroom with that beaded pillow which was made from a 1960's dress!

All images via Eddie Ross
Have a great day!
XO
SHS

Monday, October 19, 2009

Make It Monday! Halloween!

Halloween is just around the corner! I absolutely love this time of year, don't you? I love the change of color in the leaves, the cooler temperature, the smell of wood burning fires, apple cider, pumpkins, acorns, hazelnuts, plaid, flannel, velvet, crock pot cooking- the list goes on and on. It is my FAVORITE season!!!
In case you needed extra inspiration for decorating I have put together a board of ideas that I happen to love. And in keeping with my theme of "Make It Monday", these are all projects you can create yourself.
Have fun creating!
xo
SHS
PS. In case you missed me (and I hope you did), I have a small excuse for my temporary departure... I am pregnant with my first child- Yippee! So, please bare with me over the next months if I happen to post on baby photos, or room decorating or clothes. Some days my excitement might just get the best of me-and I will have to share that with all of you!

Top Row: Witch's Cauldron (image via Martha Stewart); Halloween Tidings - painted stones (image via Country Home); Black and White Plate Wall (image via Country Living); Halloween Treat Table (image via Country Home)
Second Row: Creepy Candy Container (image via Martha Stewart); Stacked Jack (image via Country Home); Arachnid Descent (image via Martha Stewart); Witch Stairway (image via Yankee Foliage)
Third Row: Pumpkin Lollipop Holder (image via Martha Stewart); Sickly Stick Tree (image via Country Home); Cast a Spell EEK candles (image via Country Home)
Bottom Row: Candy Buckets (image via Country Home); Pumpkin Stairway and windows aglow (image via Country Home)