I heart....Orla Kiely for Target

Kitchsy, colorful and adorable...check out these fab finds by Orla Kiely for Target (in stores and online now)!

We picked out several of the chocolate brown milk crates for storage in our office.

Don't you just love the bold colors? Target has stocked kitchen accessories, dinner and serveware and storage bins and containers.

Check out the fab apron - only $17.99!!

*Photos from Apartment Therapy

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Life of Leisure in honor of my Dad

In honor of my Dad's retirement which began yesterday, I thought I would post some of my ideas for leading a newly found life of leisure.

• Plant pansies in our front planters.
• Bake for Edmarc house, a children's hospice.
• Travel.
• Work on some pretty hanging baskets for the deck.
• Re-carpet our den.
• Volunteer at our neighborhood elementary school.
• Learn to change the oil in my car.
• Play tennis.
• Become a professional blogger.
  

*We are so proud of you, Daddy!! Enjoy your free time and if you ever have the urge to work on my to-do list, our guest bed is always made. :)

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A gift for the Hostess with the Mostess

It's always polite to bring a hostess gift when invited to an event. Events where this is most appropriate include dinner parties, cocktail parties, any party held in a home or a holiday event. The right gift for the hostess can be tricky and as a guest, one must always hope that their gift would not further burden the hostess.

Flowers and wine are common, but can be difficult. Oftentimes the hostess may not have time to dress a flower arrangement in a clean vase or doing so, may mess an already busy kitchen. Some hostesses take time to select the perfect wine to accompany a meal and may be uncomfortable introducing a new wine into the occasion. If you bring flowers, I suggest the flowers be, at a minimum, wrapped in fresh paper and trimmed or placed in a vase for presentation to the hostess. For a more elaborate occasion where you might be the guest of honor (shower, engagement party, etc), I love sending a professional arrangement the day after the party with a note telling the hostess about her delightful event and expressing my sincere appreciation. It's always nice to add a quick tag around the neck of a bottle of wine to tell the hostess to enjoy at a later date or after the party, so she will not feel obligated to open immediately (but she might anyways).

Other nice ideas for the hostess:

• Cocktail napkins to suit the season or occasion. I LOVE cocktail napkins and could never have enough!
• Unique candle sticks.
• Chocolates or gourmet truffles to enjoy after the occasion.
• Fancy soaps for the bathroom.
• Pretty finger tip towel.
• Scented candle in a light fragrance like lilac or linen.

The ideas for an appropriate hostess gift are endless. Be creative and think of traits about the hostess to ensure the gift suits. Most of all, always be appreciative to the hostess for hosting a lovely occasion!

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Green Cleaning PSA

I really like having a sparking clean home. I also like the aura of not having lots of hard, toxic chemicals lying around and I don't even have to worry about little tikes getting into everything under the sink. I love the idea of using lemons to clean up various surfaces. They leave a great smell and are inherently cheery. Whenever I purchase a cleaner, I always select a lemon-scented variety.

+ = Perfectly cleaned cutting board!!

With our delightful new wood cutting board, I've learned that half a lemon can do wonders for cleaning it. You can cut a lemon in half (the long ways) and rub along the cutting surface. Because of their acidity, they have antibacterial properties. I usually avoid harsh chemicals on our cutting board because, since it's wood, they'll be absorbed and will ruin my attempts to be an organic homemaker. And best of all, they leave the cutting board smelling clean and fresh!

P.S. I received our FABULOUS butcher block as a wedding gift - it came from Williams-Sonoma and has changed my life in the kitchen!
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Cleaning your blush brush

Now that I'm a grown up and own real make-up brushes, it was time to figure out a way to clean them, quickly and easily (and especially so they would be ready for use again quickly). The remedy is quite simple actually - Baby Shampoo. I bought a trial-sized bottle at the Pharmacy. It's infinitely less expensive than some of the designer cleaners.

• Fill a glass with water and a small amount of the baby shampoo (a dime's worth will do).
• Soak the make-up brushes for a few minutes and gently massage the bristles to work the soap into a lather.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean, running water.
• Blot excess water with a dry towel, re-shape the bristles and lay flat to dry on the towel.

I clean my brushes about once a month, usually over the weekend when my face is sans make-up. Happy cleaning!!

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Wedding Etiquette for the Bride and Groom

I was enlightened on many proper etiquette practices during the planning of my wedding. Some surprised me and some were commonplace. A few of the surprises:

• It is the obligation of the bride and groom to provide lodging for the wedding party, if they should require lodging for the wedding.
• The groom provides the last toast at the wedding reception by toasting his bride.
• It is the obligation of the groom to finance the bride's bouquet and all boutonnieres.

While these points weren't the main reason for this post, I'm curious to know if anyone else was previously aware of these practices.

A dear friend recently emailed me to decode a wedding request. On the bride and groom's website, they requested 'no boxed gifts' because they were in the midst of a transition year. Her question was simple: "What does this mean; do they only want cash?" I've heard about these requests, but never witnessed them first hand. I can empathize to a certain extent; I too, was young and 'in transition' when I was married. My husband and I probably would have benefited with a more padded savings account than our new bedding, crystal and other frivolities. However, I learned quickly that many guests will select and purchase a gift for the couple that they deem suitable and appropriate. Quite frankly, some people do not believe in giving cash; I've heard this is a strong sentiment in the deep South. I would implore all young couples to avoid these requests at all costs! It appears rude and greedy, no matter how sweet or sugary the request may be. If you don't want boxed gifts, please don't register for a plethora of sizely gifts, but don't make an open request for cash or checks. Here are ways to avoid this social faux-pas.

• The best option of all is to pass along the word to family members; both my mother and mother-in-law were asked many times where I was registered or for a potential gift idea. If family members can provide this information, you can rest assured you won't receive 10 place settings of assorted dishes that you do not want or need.
• Notify your bridemaids of your request. The maid of honor may also receive questions regarding registries or potential gift options, particularly if she is hosting a shower.
• Another trend is a honeymoon 'registry' where guests can provide a donation toward the couple's honeymoon. Not one of my favorites, but it's better than the alternative.
• Make a list of your favorite wines at a site like wine.com and post a link to the list on the wedding website.
• Most of all, be gracious, regardless of the value or type of gift!

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Paperwork Traffic

With our newly re-decorated office (I promise photos when we receive the desk top back after it was damaged and returned), I've been working hard on ideas to keep us organized and to ensure our new space remains functional. Since our new desk has a lot of real estate, I found a wooden organizer I had used in college. It has three sections (two small up front and a wider section behind) - similar to the organizer below.

It took some time to properly identify which section would hold what type of paperwork. I spent some time figuring out what I kept each day from the mail or from errands and what got immediately pitched. From there, I tried to identify the type of papers that were ALWAYS sitting around in various parts of our home - kitchen counters, desks, dressers, coffee tables, etc. I figured out that my main paperwork issue was incoming mail or items that required action and receipts. So, I made labels for each front receptacle - Receipts and Inbox. The back section is for other miscellaneous paperwork that might eventually be recycled or filed. About once each week, we'll attack each area. We record each receipt and file, if necessary and act on any items in the inbox (pay bills, read letters, file documents, etc).

It's a great system that keeps our documents in one place and if either my husband or I picked up the stack, we would know what to do with it.

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You've got mail

"Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company." -Lord Byron

The art of letter writing has quickly deteriorated in our email / cell phone / facebook / texting world. I love taking the time to pen a quick note to a friend or family member. I enjoy receiving a note in return, in an equal amount. I love picking up new note cards. I've recently acquired several new sets of cards at a fabulously frugal price. Our local Michael's store has recently expanded its Dollar bins to an entire aisle. I picked up three different sets of ten note cards (with coordinating envelopes!!) for $1.00 each! I was quite shocked at the quality of the cards - very nice, heavy stock and with coordinating envelopes, you just can't beat the price! While I am somewhat partial to the classic Crane's cards, the frugal diva in me can find other options that work equally as well.

I have also found great cards at both local stationary stores and online boutiques. I love Paper Source - they have gorgeous, unique stationary that changes each season. There are also some wonderful online boutiques that personalize stationary. Check out The Stationary Studio and Creations by Leslie.

Check out these gorgeous thank you notes from Creations by Leslie. A box of 10 is $9.90!

To make a bold statement, personalize these poppy note cards from Fabulous Stationary. A box of 20 cards sells for $45. Your next door neighbor definitely won't have these fabulously unique cards!

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Ocean Potion for your Bath

Check out this gorgeous shower curtain from Anthropologie. The colors are divine and remind me of the crystal blue water in Bermuda.

I can imagine this curtain in a simply painted bath with some simple, yet chic stainless and glass accessories. I might be dreaming of our next bathroom...

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Handy Tip: Cleaning your lamp shades

Seriously, how are you supposed to clean a lamp shade?? I've never quite figured out how. Usually, I end up using a slightly damp cloth and hoping it will pick up some of the dust (in reality, I stare at it for an equal amount of time, willing it to be dust-free). I read a great tip in my Sunday paper yesterday. Use a dry, clean paint brush and gently brush downwards. When done with the brush, wash it with clean water and dry thoroughly. Mark the brush for dusting only. Shades should be cleaned and dusted at least once a month to avoid dust build-up. I'm not sure I'll actually clean my shades more frequently, but at least when I do tackle the task, it will be more effective!
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Sunday Night Dinner (Lite)

In keeping with our Sunday night dinner tradition, I whipped up something delicious for our last evening before heading back to work. Since we had sufficiently indulged ourselves this weekend, something lighter was in order. I put together a sophisticated chicken salad with artichokes over a bed of baby romaine greens and some buttered, toasted bread. Here's the recipe for the chicken salad.

Ingredients:
1 lb. cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
1 can marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 C chopped celery
1/2 C mayo (I subbed sandwich spread)
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Mix all ingredients and refrigerate approximately 20-30 minutes before serving.
2. Serve on toasted bread or over a bed of mixed greens.
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Fabulous Fabric

OK, so it's not a big secret that I like to sew. My Mom is a fabulous seamstress; I always had gorgeous smocked dresses and bubbles as a young girl. Hopefully, I can meagerly follow in her footsteps. Most of my sewing projects have revolved around home decor - curtains, throw pillows, quilts, etc. Despite that, I have a growing collection of fabric that may or may not be appropriate for my projects. I just love gorgeous and unique fabric. Being that I don't live in a bustling metropolis, my access to phenomenal textiles is limited so I've resorted to the Internet. Here are a few of my favorites:

A Waverly print, sold at Joann Fabrics

One of my favorite sites is Designer Fabrics Online. I love this print; it reminds me of cameo glass.

Two prints from Amy Butler. Wouldn't these be gorgeous for some pillows this spring?

This embroidered silk is also from Designer Fabrics online. At $86 / yard, it's definitely a splurge but would be a superb accent to any living room.

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happy hearts day

Hope everyone had a love-ly day with their special someone!

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The Quilt that Christine Built

My husband has a love affair with the Washington Redskins. I made him a quilt honoring his love in the team's colors, maroon and gold. It was a pretty simple design and I adorned some of the corner pieces with cutouts of football fabric.

The quilt itself is made up of five rows of four blocks. Each block is made up of four squares, two each of maroon and gold. Each square itself is 5 inches square.

I used a basic maroon solid fabric for the backing and edges. It's the perfect size for snuggling up in the evenings. And it complements the new office paint so well!

A happy Redskins fan!

A few tips for quilting if you are a novice, like myself:

• Start with a simple pattern, like the one I used above
• Invest in a good rotary cuttery, quilting mat and quilting ruler (all sold at a local fabric store)
• Wash and dry all fabric before starting the project
• Work slowly when you first start out
• Measure all pieces precisely and ensure the seams are the same size to make the assembly process smoother

Enjoy your labor of love. I feel a sense of pride every time I use the Redskin's quilt (even if I like the Pats better!).

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A treat for your sweet

To indulge our family and friends, I created some homemade chocolate truffles. They were remarkably easy, albeit a bit time consuming, and absolutely divine! They were so good that I almost couldn't bring myself to give them away. (Luckily, I'd already bought the white chocolate boxes from the craft store and made special labels.) The recipe comes from our local Junior League's award winning cookbook, Toast to Tidewater. Warning, shameless plug on the horizion: This book is absolutely gorgeous, includes beer and wine parings, and makes a great gift for any occasion.

Back to the sweet treats...below is the recipe.

Ingredients:
18 oz. Oreos
8 oz. cream cheese
2 Tbsp Starbuck's liquer (you can also use Grand Marnier)
10 oz German chocolate
4 oz White chocolate (optional)

Directions:
1. Crush oreos in a food processor until they are finely chopped.
2. Combine Oreos and cream cheese in mixer. Add liquer and mix until well blended.
3. Form mixture into one inch balls and place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze for several hours.
4. Melt chocolate in double boiler. Dip each ball into melted chocolate and then place on cookie sheet. Freeze again until the chocolate has hardened.
5. Drizzle with melted white chocolate, if desired.

Makes 6 dozen.


If you make these to keep, they look gorgeous on a tray with some fresh fruit. These are a deliciously decadent treat and are also a wonderful gift. Enjoy the chocolatey goodness!
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Affectionate Alternatives

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I'm sure a lot of people are scrambling to come up with the perfect token of affection for their mate or another special person in their life. Candy and flowers are so tired. Here are a few of my ideas for alternatively-affectionate gifts:

• A pretty flowering plant like an orchid or hydrangea
• Tickets to a special event like a concert, sporting event or museum exhibition
• Book or magazine subscription
• Gift certificate for a weekend away at a ski lodge, beachfront inn or bed and breakfast
• Digital photo frame - perfect for parents and grandparents
• Indulgent bath products

In this busy world, I think my husband and I are more focused on spending time together on Valentine's Day doing some fun activities, rather than on gifts. We're hoping that if the current warm-ish weather holds, we might go for a hike along our favorite trail on the James River; if it's not so warm, we plan to hit the local art museum for a cultured afternoon. If you don't have a plus one, grab a friend and enjoy a day out. Other ideas for spending time together.

• Play a round of golf or a friendly tennis match
• Visit a local museum that you have never frequented
• Go see a movie and share a jumbo popcorn - YUM!
• Take a leisurely bike ride
• Cook dinner together
• Plant some pansies to bloom through the rest of the dreary winter months
• Bake Valentine sugar cookies and decorate with colored frosting and sprinkles
• Break out your Rock Band or Guitar Hero set and rock on!
• Watch an old movie together and make your own snacks

Whatever you choose, don't stress over a perfect Valentine's day and instead focus on your perfect date!

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Love is in the air

I love making my own valentine cards to share with our loved ones who are near and far. The possibilities are endless with a homemade card. I love a romantic card with a doilie and some lace. This year, I went with a simpler card style and rummaged through my scrap booking paper scraps to find just what I needed. I used some cardboard to make a template for the birdie and the heart and then started tracing away.

Next, I placed the birds and hearts on the flat card stock and used my trusty glue stick to apply. Lastly, I added a message to the front of each card and a personalized message to each recipient on the reverse.

I have also started saving old cards and keeping graphics or words that I could reuse. Here's my first experiment with a semi-recycled valentine.

I realized that I might need a few extra cards (just in case), so I found some coordinating papers and put together a few basic cards like the one below.

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We heart...pizza

We have a tradition of making homemade pizza on Friday nights. It's a fun activity and helps us wind down from a busy work week. We started off small - a basic margherita pizza or a veggie pizza. We've now become quite creative with our concoctions. Last night was the creme-de-la-creme of creativity: a bacon and artichoke pizza with garlic, onion, cheddar and Gouda. Delicious, but not for those watching their waistlines. With a thin, crispy crust, the flavors soared.

Not as pretty as a pizzeria pizza, but delicious nonetheless.

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Color me beautiful

I always find myself frustrated when I'm out and find a gorgeous item for our home, but can't be sure that the color of the item is quite right. I've started keeping an envelope in my purse with various paint samples to match the walls and key pieces of furniture or other accessories. That way, if I find something that looks right, I can verify that the color is a match or at least, complimentary.
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Green Thumbs up

I've recently been working on adding some plants to our home. I've started small. I purchased 3 small plants for our kitchen window sill right after I moved in. Three years later, two of the small jade plants are still kicking. We've added some small cacti to the sill and several herbs. It's a menagerie of flora.

Below are the most recent additions:

Peace lily, aka Spathiphyllum


Unknown plant that looked relatively simple to care for that I found at Lowe's. I found the gorgeous brass planter in my mother in law's attic and she let me keep it!

Other plants that are simple to care for in the home are Chinese evergreen, Orchids, African Violet, and Philodendrons. The best quality plants can be found at a local nursery or plant sale.

A few tips to keep your plants alive and kicking:

• Clean the leaves by wiping each leaf with a damp cloth, which is more practical for larger, immobile plants, or spraying the whole plant with a gentle water stream in the kitchen sink.
• Trim yellow or brown leaves. If the leaf does not pull away easily, trim it rather than pulling it out of the root.
• Water them! I've been known to over water, so I usually water about once a week and test the soil with my finger; if the soil is dry to the touch, water and if it's moist, wait a few days and test again.
• Fertilize. If you compost, using a soft mixture will work perfectly. Otherwise, try a natural fertilizer. I really like the TerraCycle All-Purpose Plant Food; it's packaged in a recycled plastic soda bottle and is made of all natural ingredients.

Thumb's up for greenery that's environmentally friendly and will make your home a little cozier!

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A meal fit for a king

My husband and I were graciously invited to a dear friend's home for the big game last night. We heard that other friends had offered to prepare the game day feast. Being that my husband and I are both sports nuts, we've been to our fair share of parties. Typically the fare includes pizza, chili, nachos, various dips...you know the drill. We were in for a deliciously decadent feast last night.

Our friends prepared ribs, brisket, homemade potato salad, fire roasted corn salsa, fresh fruit and triple chocolate brownies. The hostess provided some lovely crudites and delicious chips and dip as a starter. I learned a thing or two about game day fare from our friends. Their menu was well-balanced and delicious. It incorporated some treats like the ribs and brisket that most don't prepare very frequently. Our meal was topped off with great company and a captivating ball game. What more could you want?
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Mellow Yellow

Spring isn't here yet, but the store windows tell us otherwise. In a miraculously unplanned coincidence, our office wall color aligns very nicely with some of the Spring's color trends. Check out some of my favorite finds and ideas below:

Felt dotted pillows from Pottery Barn. Great for impact with some other solids or coordinating patterns.

From the runway: I love the color blocking. And the chunky necklace may be an inspiration for some weightier accessories.

This wall color closely mimics that of our office. I like the simplicity of the sheer, striped, white curtain from West Elm. This room is so calm and mellow (yellow).

Great finds from etsy - scroll notebook and felt broach.

Great Slipper Chair from West Elm.

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