Can't Handle the Cuteness...

Really, there aren't words to express the amount of adorable over at The Animal Print Shop featuring the photographic talents of Sharon Montrose. I dare you to look at these images and not melt into a pile of mush. They're equally perfect for child and adult spaces. I really think I may have to order Baby Fox Close-Up. Check out her website for many, many more. 

Baby Fox Close-Up

Baby Camel

Baby Kangaroo No. 1

Climbing Cubs

 {Images by Sharon Montrose}

At the Movies: Pitch Perfect

I don't often post about upcoming movies (and rarely get a chance to see one while it's still in theaters) but I cannot contain my excitement for Pitch Perfect which opens next week. I saw a trailer for these a few months back but in the interim it fell off my radar until The Everygirl blogged it earlier this week. Since then I have probably watch the trailer more times that I would like to admit. It focuses on a girls a cappella group full of talented misfits; its basically Glee but way, way better. And has am amazing cast including Anna Kendrick (aka the only talented Twilight Star) and Rebel Wilson of Bridesmaids Fame.  

I'm glad to see that Rebel Wilson delivers some great lines in this film as well.  I'll definitely be seeing this in theaters next Friday.

P.S. The new season of Downton Abbey just started in the UK and I hear rave reviews from across the pond. Cannot wait for January 2013!

Gallery Curation

Hopefully I'll be throwing together my gallery wall above my sofa this evening. Well technically I wont be "throwing" it together but rather carefully curating and using fancy mathematical equations and kraft paper templates. Here are some images of gallery wall perfection. Someday (hopefully in the not too distant future) this place will be finished enough to post images. That's my dream anyway.  

{Images via Pinterest}

Delightful Design: Carolina Herrera Baez

 Situated in historic Madrid, Carolina Herrera Baez's new apartment certainly doesn't lack charm or style. Is it a surprise that the daughter of legendary fashion designer Carolina Herrara has a flair for interior design. She fearlessly mixes colors and styles with aplomb. Her furnishings are a gloriously curation of high and low, mixing quality antiques with flea market finds and high end accessories with items from budget friendly Habitat and Zara Home {Soon coming to the US!}

Is that not a fantastically styled bookshelf; effortless. 

{Images by William Waldron for Elle Decor}

Pumpkin Everything

It was a little chilly this weekend, hooray! Maybe. Ask me again in three months if I'm enjoying the "chilly" weather. It had me craving Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins in the worst way. But I'm trying to keep from making them until October {same with my purchase of only one bag of candy corn, I'm a martyr I know}. Thought I'd share the love with my family recipe. We tend to make the mini versions because they're very hearty and rich muffins. If you can, don't eat them right away but store in a plastic zip-top bag or airtight container overnight. The flavors really stand out if your wait until they are at room temperature. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
12 Large or 48 Mini Muffins

1 2/3 Cup Flour (your choice, I use either Spelt or All Purpose)
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/4 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
2 Large Eggs
1 Cup Plain Pumpkin Puree
1/2 Cup (1stick) Butter, melted
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. By hand, in a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl add eggs, pumpkin and butter and whisk until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips to wet mixture. Pour wet ingredients over dry and fold in with a spatula until combined. Scoop batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until puffed and springy to the touch.

**Remember that all ovens cook differently so you should always keep an eye out on your baked goods. For example, I cook these for 20 minutes at my home but when I make them at my parent's they only need 15 minutes**

{Image sadly not my own since I wont be making these for at least another week; via Pinterest}

Falling for Cables

Fall is here. And as much as I dislike the extreme cold that will follow, I can't help but love the crisp, cool weather. It makes me want to sip hot apple cider, eat candy corn and take long walks on the beach with the pup. When this image popped up in my pinterest feed it perfectly encapsulated all these emotions in one. I'm fairly certain it's the cozy cable knit sweater. They're one of my favorites looks for fall weekends. Relaxed over a pair of skinnies, tall boots and maybe a down vest if it's later in the fall and you have yourself an outfit perfect for brunch, errands, etc. 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 

{Image via Pinterest}

Ultimate Beach House

Have you entered to win your new beach vacation home? You better head over to Coastal Living's website and sign up because this year's Ultimate Beach House is perfection. Located in the gorgeous planned community of Rosemary Beach, Florida this home will make you the envy of all your neighbors. The exterior's lovely but the interior spaces are nothing short of stunning. As they should be given they were carefully crafted by one of my favorite designers, Erika Powell and her team at Urban Grace Interiors. The color palette of serene greens, cerulean, creams and grays is consistent throughout most of the home creating a cohesive, elegant yet vacation appropriate design aesthetic. 

It may look like  million dollars but the banquette and chairs are upholstered in sturdy indoor/outdoor fabric. No wet, sandy feet will spoil this dining room. 

Love the wall of framed watercolors - coastal wildlife of all origins. 

The most adorable bunk rooms for both girls and boys. I am envious of the kiddos who will get to use these rooms. 

{Images via Coastal Living}

Lessons in Painting

Well I did it. After months and months of talk, I finally painted my living room. To recap, earlier this year I purchased the condo I've rented for the past three years which was painted front to back in what I refer to as pueblo tan.  I am speechless as to what the previous owners were thinking when they selected it. This is New England not New Mexico. 

Alright, you're caught up. Since closing I've been contemplating new paint colors. I am quite capable of selecting colors for clients but for some reason when it comes to making decisions for my own space I am paralyzed by second guesses. Fast forward six months to Thursday. I woke up and decided to just pick a damn color already from one of the many, many samples on my walls. I was concerned that one of more pigmented grays would make the space feel too small so I went with a pale gray. 

Twelve hours later, around one in the morning I hated it. I passed out determined to give it another chance in the morning. 

Mother of God I still hated it the next day. Too white, too blue, too cold. Think doctors waiting room. I could barely restrain myself from bolting out of there three hours early for an after lunch client meeting. 

And then I went out of town for the weekend, irritation simmering inside my mind. Queue the very emotional meltdown. It was ugly. Very, very ugly. I was really hard on myself until someone slapped some sense into me and I came up with a plan to remedy the situation. I'm going to implement some of my redecorating changes and rehang my artwork and just live with the color for a bit. It I still can't stand it, I'll repaint. I'm not looking forward to doing so but there is no physically reason I can't. Shit happens. Time to move onwards. I'm excited about my new gray slipcover (still saving for new sofa) and accent pillows. 

:: 1 Souk Rug | 2 Caitlin Wilson Textiles Pillows | 3 Box Frame Coffee Table | 4 Gray Slipcover ::

Delightful Design: Bahamian Blue and White

 The latest issue of House Beautiful popped up on my iPad a couple days ago and I couldn't stop staring at the feature on designer Amanda Lindroth's marvelous Bahamian home. Termed "Caribbean Modern" by   Lindroth, this 1950's island home with it's walls of glass sliders and dated interiors had little initial appeal. However, with a little design magic and a lot of vintage rattan, Lindroth brought it back to it's midcentury resort roots.  I'm so glad that she kept the original structure, I have a fondness for these charming midcentury island houses given I grew up surrounded by them in Florida. 

I love how Lindroth disguised the often unsightly slider tracks with rattan blinds and curtain panels. 

{Images by James Merrell for House Beautiful} 

Clean Slate

I found myself gravitating towards white interiors this morning. I gather my subconscious was telling me I needed some fresh and clean inspiration. It's so easy to keep the mood mellow or brighten up your space with colorful accessories when you need a livelier environment. 

{Images via Pinterest}