From the monthly archives:

May 2009

Hello Naomi {Cupcakes & Sweets!}

May 29, 2009

in The Sweet Life

Happy Friday, everyone! I am so excited to tell you that my husband and I are officially buying our first house!!! The contract is signed, and the inspection went well this morning. Phew! It’s been a crazy past few days for us, but now I can breathe a *big* sigh of relief. So, because I feel like celebrating, I thought I would share with you some delightful pics from a lovely lady I found via Flickr: Hello Naomi makes cupcakes. Really, really cute and delicious looking cupcakes. In fact, after posting her cupcake photos on Flickr, she became so popular that she decided to open her own cupcake shop! Let’s drool together. Ready?

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Anyone who knows me knows that I am a cupcake fiend. It is really, really hard for me to pass by an adorable little cupcake without scooping it up and eating it. And I mean, come on. What’s not to love about cupcakes? They are instant happiness. Naomi, who is based in Newcastle, Australia, has a real knack for creating treats that look pretty but also have a handmade, slightly imperfect look to them, which I really appreciate. Cakes that look too pristine just aren’t appealing to me; I want my cupcakes to look tasty. And just look at those ice cream cupcakes! And the handmade marshmallows? Oh my goodness.

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I love how Naomi takes inspiration from old-school cartoons and video games – those little puffy rainbows remind me so much of the Care Bears. She also makes Pacman cupcakes, Super Mario cupcakes, Alice in Wonderland cupcakes, Lego cupcakes, and even cupcakes inspired by Japanese anime. If you are lucky enough to live in Australia, do go right out and order some cupcakes from Naomi, will you? She also does weddings! I love the idea of having cupcakes instead of a massive wedding cake. I attended the wedding of a friend recently who had a massive tower of cupcakes with a mini-wedding cake at the very top – so cute!

So, I’m going to sign off now and have a little celebration dinner with my sweet hubby. Have a lovely, lovely weekend, everyone!

Check out Hello Naomi: Flickr, Website

{images: hello naomi}

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Calypso St. Barth {Spring/Summer}

May 27, 2009

in Personal Style

Let’s have a little daydream, okay? This summer, we’ll go traveling together. Hm, maybe to Greece, Portugal, and Morocco. We will need to go shopping to prepare for our trip, so I suggest Calypso. We get swept away in the cloud of colorful silks and bohemian tunics, and pretty soon our shopping bags are full. Let’s see what we picked out…

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I got the aqua minidress, but I’ll be wearing it as a slouchy tunic, and you got the gauzy white top to wear over your bathing suit. We each got a pair of big gold hoop earrings, and neither of us could resist those perfect sandals. I picked out a fuschia scarf with pom-poms, and you chose the most delicate little silk dress. The morning slipped by shopping, and then we found ourselves passing by a charming little tea room. Would you like to stop in for a cuppa? Of course you would! Over tea and scones with strawberries and clotted cream, we planned our adventures. The world is our oyster!

Shop Calypso online here.

{images: Calypso St. Barth}

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Affordable Art Roundup: 10 Original Paintings Under $100

May 26, 2009

in Art

I love prints and photography, (in fact, I am slightly addicted to ordering prints online :) ) but nothing can match the warm, personal touch of an original painting. Knowing that someone spent time crafting this particular piece of art that is now hanging in your home is a wonderful feeling. I also think it is so important to support the emerging artists out there who are putting their heart and soul into their work. I can imagine that as an artist it would be difficult parting with an original painting – once it’s gone, it’s gone! I’ve rounded up a handful of my latest favorites below, and to keep it real all 10 paintings are priced under $100 bucks. Enjoy!

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1. Chrysanthemum by Linda Hunt ~ Oil on Masonite, $45

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2. Stefan is Watching His Soaps While the Pie Bakes by Myrtle and Lloyd ~ Acrylic on canvas board, framed, $68

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3. Charlton didn’t know how much longer he could sit through Francine’s interpretive dance. All he wanted was dinner. By The Other Side of Vivienne ~ Watercolor and ink on paper, $75

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4. Life in the stories, A little canary by Ayco ~ Pencil and watercolor on Japanese book page, $35

il_430xn599911825. Cake and Coffee by Shann Spishak~ Oil on gallery wrapped stretched canvas with painted sides, $62

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6. Palm Tree Sunset by Elizabeth Fraser ~ Oil on gallery wrapped canvas with painted edges, $75

il_430xn648183467. To the City by Liquid Turkey ~ Acrylic, photography, pencil, and pastel on gallery wrapped canvas, $45

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8. Blossom Series #24 by Siiso ~ Watercolor and ink on paper, $68

il_430xn714800259. Heather by Paola Zakimi ~ Watercolor on paper, $40

il_430xn7217845210. Bird In The Grass by Sheryl Spratt ~ Acrylic, ink, and paper on canvas, $32

{images: linked to individual artists above}

{ 3 comments }

Why I’m Really Loving Remodelista

May 22, 2009

in Blogs,Design & Decor

I have been a fan of Remodelista, a blog authored by a small group of design-obsessed friends, for quite some time – but soon, I may have a very concrete reason to read their daily posts… (*deep breath*) my husband and I have just signed a contract on a cute little bungalow that we love; now we are waiting for the sellers to sign. To be honest, I am a complete nervous wreck today. I keep trying to think about something else, but it’s pointless. So instead, I’ve been delving deeply into the Remodelista archives, hunting for ideas for (hopefully) our new (first!) home.

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The bungalow that we are hoping to buy has an unfinished attic that we dream of one day expanding to make a master bedroom. Although it surely wouldn’t be as grand as this pitched-roof living room, I am inspired by its whitewashed ceiling, big windows, and built-in bookcases. Oh yes, and the fireplace! Oh dear, it is hard to keep my head out of the clouds :)

tomsheererbluewhitekitchenThe bungalow’s teensy kitchen would feel more spacious with a bit of open shelving and a cheerful tiled wall as in this adorable kitchen (which I think was originally featured in Domino?) – I am just smitten with everything about this room, from the colors and finishes to the way they’ve styled the dishes and objects on the counters and shelves.

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Across the front of the bungalow is a screen porch, which is looking a bit shabby. I love the idea of a screen porch though, so I’ve been searching high and low for images of screen porches done well. The room above is not exactly a screen porch, but I love the idea of giving the screen porch a slightly more finished feeling inside, and outfitting it like a real room, but with durable materials. If you are in the process of fixing up your home, you must read Remodelista if you are not already! The 10 Easy Pieces section is especially helpful for finding everything from the perfect white sofa to the best eco-friendly paints.

Well, I’m off now to freak out take a walk, and try to keep my mind off the house. Between the real estate business and the wedding of a friend this weekend, I think I’m going to have to sign off until Tuesday. So, please send us your good thoughts & I hope you all have a super lovely, relaxing weekend!

{images: Remodelista}

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Why Don’t You…

May 21, 2009

in The Sweet Life

My “Why don’t you…” series is inspired by the over-the-top suggestions of Diana Vreeland, in her long-running column for Bazaar. I hope these little ideas give you a lift!

Why don’t you…

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Scoop up a bunch of cute vintage postcards and use them as party invitations?

{vintage postcards here}

Why don’t you…

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Put on an airy white chemise and laze about with the curtains fluttering?

{chemise here}

Why don’t you…

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Keep a big shopping bag by your front door stocked with a blanket, flip flops, corkscrew, pocketknife and mini-cutting board for impromptu picnics?

{shopping bag from this shop}

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