RIP CUPCAKES....SORRY I ATE YOU.

Found this really cute idea online, somewhere. Forget where. Anyway I was invited over Colbys (my boyfriends) parents house for dinner and I only had about and hour and 15 mins to prepare something to bring. I shot down to the grocery store and bought some extra moist chocolate cake mix, milano cookies, black icing and brown icing. Whipped these bad boys up and decorated all of them in under 30 mins! It was so easy. I even had time left to make a quick salad to bring as well. These don't compare to the meatloaf his mother cooked inside of a pumpkin but they were still fun to bring this time of year. Check out the pictures below of my cupcakes and Debbies delish pumpkin meatloaf. Oh how I love fall inspired dishes. :)

QUOTE OF THE DAY 10/20/09

Any designer who does not appreciate or know about good food is not a very good designer. The planning of a meal and it presentation - the texture, the color, the tastes, the hot and cold temperatures - are the same concerns that affect an environment.

Robert Kime, Architectural Digest

GARY MCBOURNIE

Well, it has been a long time since I have seen or heard the name Gary McBournie. I did an internship program with him about 4 years ago now. Super nice guy. Today while I was on traditional homes website I came across an article on him. Well it is actually about Traditional Home celebrating their 20th anniversary. However in that, they picked two of their favorite designers, whom they publish often in their magazine( Gary being one of them). I thought it was great. Congratulations Gary and Traditional Home!!!!! Gary does beautiful work. I learned a lot from him and others in the office while I was there. Gary was the first designer to ever take me into the Boston Design Center. He also let me go out to job sites he was working on, so I could see a work in progress and completed pieces in person. Here are a few pictures from the loft he did while I was there. It was my favorite project of his. I did not help with choosing any of the finishes/furniture in this apartment. However I was the babysitter when the electrician and plumber needed to do work.  Thats hard work guys!  Keep in mind at the time the elevator was broken and this was on like the 15th floor of some old building in  South Boston. Beautiful!!!

Gary and his dog Winston :)

Gary always got fresh flowers from Winston Flowers.

 I love the color scheme and all the different shades of the yellowish green he used. Gary really pays attention to scale here too. The lantern above the table is over sized but perfect for the lofts high ceilings. The space really isn't that large when your inside.  However Gary definitely managed to make this space look bigger by painting the walls and ceiling the same color white, and by keeping the windows exposed to let as much light in as possible. How would you like to live in a space as light and airy as this one? I'd lovvvvvve it. oh la la

TRICK OR TREATS

PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES!!!!!!!! YUUUUMMMMM!!!!!! Found this recipe on Real Simple and I just had to share! Looks delishhhhh! What a great treat to bring to a party. And so easy! Enjoy, and happy friday :)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce package small peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the peanut butter cups.
3. Drop tablespoon-size mounds of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until light brown around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

FALL FASHION

So I recently started a new job where I finally get to wear high heals to work!!!!!! Being 5'2" you can imagine how excited I was. Key word "was".  Mainly because I decided to wear a pair of Jessica Simpson shoes my first day and couldn't walk for the rest of the night. I love her shoes, great colors, patterns, and not to forget, the almost always 4" heal. However I must admit they are not really all that practical. So today, I went to Frugal Fannies. I needed a little pick me up after bringing my car to the Toyota dealership. They wanted $415.00 to fix my car! Scam. So I decided to not have them do any work on it and went shopping instead. I came across a great new line of shoes I had never heard of before, Seychelles . Super comfy! I purchased a pair for $60.00. I went to their site as soon as I got home and found these were not the only cute ones. Check them out. Decent price + Comfort = my new work shoes. :) Nothing like a little retail therapy.


These are the ones I got, but in black. Love them. Much cuter in person.

Here are some on their website, I'm thinking about adding to my collection.

CURL UP WITH ONE OF THESE

OK, seriously right now my fingers are about to fall off. I'm even typing with Hobo gloves on. Anyway I thought to myself, I would reallly really love a nice hot cup of tea, and a comfy cozy throw blanket to snuggle up with. One that my dog has not drooled, slobbered, sneezed or farted on. (I have a bulldog) A throw for my body only.  I never realized how many places sold such cute throws. I def need to go out and find myself a nice colorful one. Here are some of my options, which do you think I should get?    

                                                             Trendy                          

                                                                                                       Heated

Faux fur

Faux Leather

CAN I AFFORD A NEW HEADBOARD?

So lately I have been on the hunt for a new headboard. To be more specific, a white, upholstered, tufted one. Maybe it has some nail heads? Maybe it has an arched top?  Preferably all of the above. Anyway I have been doing my research and they actually are not to hard to come across, well that is if money isn't an issue. Here are a few I came across that I fell in love with.

Camden Tufted Headboard from Ballards . $589.00

York Headboard from Potterybarn . $ 899.00

East St. Bed from ZGallerie. $999.00

The Ingrid Bed from Tonic Home . Too much $$$ For them to tell you online. 

Pure Inhale Tufted Bed by abc home . Too much $$$ For them to tell you online. 

GUILDY PLEASURE

I have a girl crush on Tricia Guild. She amazes me every time I see her work. It just gets better and better. I first stumbled across her in Barnes and Nobels after seeing her book "Pattern" on one of their main displays. I had no idea what the book was about but picked it up imedietley because the cover was so amazing! Hot pink with an interesting black velvet pattern going up the side. Well i can't explain it. Heres a pic.

And although they say you should never judge a book by its cover. I totally did. And you know what, I loved it.

I recently went to her website and pulled some of my favorite pictures. She advertises her wallpaper, furniture rugs ect, by room designs. Which I think is great because most people would look at her stuff and say "oh, thats so pretty, but is so busy I could never use it in my space". NOT TRUE. You just have to have the talent to make it work. It seems like a difficult task, but seriously, just look at these pics and you will be inspired. :)

Here are some of her sofas. Would you change a thing about them? I WOULDN'T! Look at all the great color and textures. not to mention the layering of pattern. Im obsessed. Now if only my boyfriend would let me decorate like this. Heaven.

And if your not into too much color or pattern you can always add one of her chairs to your living room to give it a little spunk.

Rugs are also a great way to add dimension and interest to a room. Check out these babies.

GOO GOO FOR GAGA

Hermaphrodite Lady Gaga is crazy. I'm just gonna be honest here. NOT A BIG FAN.

AT ALL! But she does put together some trippy outfits that not to many people would have the balls to wear. And by trippy I mean so ugly that they are kinda cool. But why is she always hiding her face behind bangs, sunglasses and bird nests and showing the rest of her body off to the world?? I don't get it really. Anyway I thought it would be a fun project to design a room just for Lady Gaga. Imagine the wild things you could get away with design wise? I mean if something looked bad you could just cover it up with some red lace. She wouldn't care, she does the same thing! Hello!

Anyway here is a quick design I think Lady Gaga would truly enjoy in her bedroom.

It was actually kind of a fun project. Let me know what you think!

Self Portrait.