I know we’ve posted a lot about cookies — especially the chocolate chip variety. But when you see an image like this, how can you resist? And this is exactly my kind of recipe: It calls for a muffin pan (check!) store-bought dough (check!), chocolate chips (check!) and a plastic bag (check!). That’s it! Of course, you could get all fancy and make your own dough, but I just love that Kevin & Amanda are all for the store-bought variety, too.
… This could be dangerous.
Oh man. I thought I was maybe, possibly ready for winter until I saw this absolutely gorgeous, summery dandelion installation by German artist Regine Ramseier. Perhaps I can install something similar in my room and enjoy summer all year long.
{Via Unruly Things}
Words can’t describe how much I love this house. It makes me want to learn carpentry so I can build an exact replica in my own backyard … erm, alley? OK, it may have to wait for a time when (if) I move to the country. But this may just be the push I need.
{Photo via Apartmenttherapy.com}
It occurred to me recently – mainly because traffic is getting progressively worse – that it’s back-to-school season. Seeing as I’m no longer in school, this is of no great consequence to me, but it does remind me of how much I used to LOVE getting those lists of required school supplies for the year. When it comes to school/office supplies, I totally geek out. I could literally spend hours in any store that offers more than one or two kinds of pens or pencils. Oh, and organizers — swoon!
So in the spirit of back-to-school season and my office supply obsession, I thought I’d round up a few fun finds from around the interwebs:
1. Scroll Pen – Anything that combines a paper and pen is a magic in my book.
2. One Day at a Time Stationery Set – I’m not usually a Type A personality unless it comes to office supplies and this is about as good as it gets.
3. Fuzzy Wuzzy Pencils – Cute! And fuzzy.
4. Pro/Con Journal – I could’ve used this last month with my moving saga. I’m sure it’ll still come in handy, though.
5. Mac Shortcuts Poster – Stylish and functional.
Rich people get pretty crazy when it comes to home decor. And I normally don’t feel the need to share discoveries of that variety with blog readers, but this one is too good to pass up. It’s a $10.9 million Manhattan townhouse, so gold leaf furniture abounds, but the real coup de grace is the pool in the living room. For the longest time — and if I’m honest, still to this day — I’ve wanted a pool inside my house. I mean, I don’t actually want that, but I do think it would be totally awesome.
It all reminds me of a McDonald’s commercial from back in the day when the slogan was “Hey, it could happen.” In one commercial a kid dreams of a house navigable by waterway, which is a dream that I’ve long shared. So, yes, Manhattan townhouse owner, please put me on the list for the next pool party and maybe forever.
{Photo via shelterpop/aol}
By now, I’m sure anyone who reads this blog is fully aware of my obsession with art that involves animals and/or offbeat humor. So, for those who can’t get enough like me, here’s more. Aled Lewis’ “Toy Stories” art prints are both hilarious and adorable, which pretty much means I’m completely unable to resist looking at them over and over again while hovering over the Buy button.
This is probably the first time in years that I can honestly say I’m in need of more art for my walls. So … temptation accepted.
I try to be good. I really do. And then things like this come along and totally weaken every fiber of my being until I’m stuffing down “mini monkey bread” until there’s no tomorrow. It doesn’t help that as of late, I’ve had a particular craving for cinnamon rolls, which now in comparison just seem boring.
If you need me, I’ll be in the gym making room for the next drool-worthy recipe I come across.
{Photo and recipe via Get Off Your Butt and Bake!}
About a year ago, I feel in love with these animal prints at Urban Outfitters. They were portraits of various animals — a squirrel, a polar bear, a gorilla – looking regal in a suit and tie or a dainty blouse. Similar in theme to one of my favorite artists, Michael Sowa, whose paintings are prominently featured in the movie “Amélie,” there was something so absurd and hilarious about these anthropomorphized drawings.
As is usually the case, I didn’t bite the bullet when they were readily available – in amazing oval frames to boot! So I recently went on a scavenger hunt for the artist and was ecstatic to discover that they (actually an artistic duo from Portland, Ore.) have a shop on Etsy featuring even more animal portraits, including my all-time favorite, the sloth! I just about died from excitement.
Now the trick will be not blowing my entire allowance on each and every one of these portraits, because how can one choose between a Don Draper bear, a James Bond villain cheetah and a stately badger? I know I can’t.
Remember when you were a kid – or in my case, present day – and your imagination could just go for days thinking up decadent dessert combinations that you would try if only your parents would let you? Then you became an “adult” and started thinking about calories, sugar intake and boring things like that, and your dessert dreams disappeared. Well thank goodness for Jessica and her blog How Sweet It Is, because not only does she make all those childhood hopes and dreams come rushing back, but she also tells you how to make them reality.
Take these cake batter pancakes, for instance. I mean. Or what about the chocolate chip cookie dough stuffed cinnamon rolls? Just the names make me want to grab a handful of Airheads, pull my hair in a side ponytail and play Mario Kart till my parents get home.
Don’t worry. There are some healthy recipes, too – and workouts! Blogger Jessica would be remiss if she didn’t live up to her blog’s “where gluttony meets fitness” tag line. But let’s be honest: After taking one look at any of the “gluttonous” recipes, who can stand to do anything but stock up on sugar and butter and start cooking?
{photos via How Sweet It Is}
It’s official: I’m in love with Emersonmade. This adorable site is home to dozens of creative little must-haves, from rustic home decor to hand-stitched blooms you can pin in your hair or on your outfit. And to top it all off, the beautiful little lady in the photographs is Emerson herself–everything on the site is designed, styled, and photographed by her and her husband. They left NYC to live together on a farm. How cute is that?!
Can’t get enough of how darling her stuff is? She’s coming out with a winsome clothing line in August that’s very J.Crew meets Anthropologie…yup, I’m already dying to get my hands on it.
*Note: the site is a little tricky to navigate because even though it’s a store, it looks like a blog. When going to the link, look to the right column for the shopping categories. I’ve also added the category in parentheses for each item below since there’s no direct link to them:
Beautiful Blue Rose, $78 (under Big Roses!)
Print Your Own Initials Table Linens, $52 (under For the Home)
Ballet Dahlia Hair Clip, $22.50 (under Flowers for the Hair!)
Big Dandy Clutch, $48 (under Flower Clutches)
And a little preview of the upcoming clothing line which I want right now:
Celeste
Kim
