bringing back checkerboard floors...

My last post, featuring an amazing property in Middleburg, Virginia, reminded me of my love of checkered floors. Although checkerboard floors have been around forever, some may relate them to the unfortunate vinyl flooring that was widely used for a period of time. But I am here to replace those frightening mental images with a fresh look at how fabulous checkered floors can be! Although at first thought, one may associate them with a more traditional look, they actually work with a variety of styles. Take a look at these beautiful spaces to see how you may be able to incorporate the look into your own home... Happy Friday!

via Clem Around the Corner

via Planete Deco

via Sf Girl

via Linda Merrill

via Remodelista

 

wandering wednesday {middleburg, virginia}...

 

I discovered this house while perusing Pinterest, and it stopped me in my tracks! This gorgeous property is located in Middleburg, Virginia, the nation's horse and hunt capital. It is designed by the great Bunny Mellon, and was once a guest house for Jackie O. Amazing! The pocket doors, the diamond-patterned floors, the Bunny Mellon Blue, the beams, the history... What's not to love? Explore even more of this amazing property here.

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

via Architectural Digest

making the most of 2022 (the year's best planners)...

One of my favorite things about starting a new year is picking out my crisp, new planner! Yes, I am aware of all of the apps out there that could easily take the place of my paper planner, but there is something nostalgic and effective about physically writing things down. The act of writing things down seems to help me retain the information, which can be really helpful in keeping me focused and on-track. My planner also is an all in one calendar, scrapbook, and journal. There are so many planners to choose from, depending on how you want to use them. Here are a few of my favorites... 

monday {menu}

via Nourish and Fete

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts thinly-sliced (about 1-1.5 pounds) (see note 1)
• 2-3 teaspoons kosher salt
• a few turns of freshly-ground black pepper
• 4 cloves garlic minced (see note 2)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth 
• 3/4 cup heavy cream 
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1-2 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes roughly chopped (see note 3) 
• pasta for serving

Instructions

In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium-high heat. Place flour in a small bowl or plate. Lightly sprinkle each side of the chicken breasts with kosher salt and black pepper, then dredge each side lightly through the flour. Shake off any excess, then place chicken breasts in the warm pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, just until browned and no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside. 

If the skillet is dry, add a tiny bit more olive oil, followed by the garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Add chicken broth, and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.

Add cream, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce visibly thickens.

Stir in spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, and simmer for 1-2 minutes, until spinach wilts.

Add chicken back to the skillet, spoon a bit of sauce over each piece, and serve with pasta or other sides as desired.

happy sunday...

via Boss Babe Chronicles 

an introduction to artist, Samantha French...

I am always on the lookout for amazing artists whose work brings joy to my day. Samantha French is one of those artists. Her pieces are inspired by her childhood memories of summers by the water in Northern Minnesota. I find their nostalgic and calm aesthetic so appealing. They make me want to throw on my swimsuit and dive into the pool! Is it summer yet??? 

Who are some of your favorite artists? Do tell...

 

mid-week inspiration...

 

via Nicola Harding & Co

How amazing is this children's bathroom! The fact that there things aren't perfectly symmetrical is what gives this space its charm. What I love about finding vintage and antique pieces for is that they are unexpected, and can be just what a space needs to give it character and make it truly unique. Love it! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

the bed nook...

I hope that your week is off to a flying start! It has been a bit hectic over here, with a laundry list of things that need doing. And although I know that I need to keep forging ahead, the winter weather has me drawn to the  coziness of nooks and niches, and dreaming of getting under the covers with a good book. And although I don't see that happening anytime soon, a girl can dream...

via Shannon Eddings

via W Design Collective

via Curbed

via House and Home

happy sunday...

 

a clean slate...

It's so great to be excited about setting new intentions and feeling that you are ready to start anew.  A clean slate... For many of us, that time is every new year. However, if you are truly determined to make a change, you can do it at any time. There is no perfect time, no deadline, no limits, no rules. It's all up to you... So get out there and make it happen! 

via Willow Decor

via LDS Daily

via Fashion Girl

via Remodelista

 

feeling a bit nostalgic...

Remember the days before the internet when... The book, 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet, by Pamela Paul, reminds us of how things were before the internet played such a big part in our lives. And it has made me a bit nostalgic.

I am not denying that the internet has contributed to our lives in many positive ways. For instance, I am able to sit here and type this up to share with all of you! And  that is great! But I have to admit, there are some things, pre-internet, that I do miss, no matter how impractical they may now seem. For example...

being in the moment...

There was a time when people were able to enjoy a moment for what it was, without feeling the need to "share" it with the world. It was a moment that they experienced with the people that were there, sharing the same experience. And the only place that the moment lived was in their memories. And that was enough... Today, it seems that if we aren't busy capturing everything on our phones and sharing it with the world via the internet, it didn't actually happen. I miss the days when we were all less distracted and able to be fully-present (guilty as though I may be)...

window shopping...

Recent years have made it painfully evident that the in-person shopping experience has deteriorated beyond recognition. Where are the inspiring window displays? Where are the friendly and knowledgable shopkeepers? Come to think of it, where are the shops??? 

the filofax...

I remember when everyone was on the hunt for the perfect planner, and all of the inserts that were needed for the fabulous year ahead! Pens, stickers, post-its... The essentials! The type of planner you had really said something about you. And although having Google calendar is extremely effective, it doesn't give me the same satisfaction as writing things down and crossing them off my list. What can I say... I am that person that still has the giant desk calendar and paper planner. Shhh, don't tell anyone...

Be sure to read the book to be reminded of another 97 things that you may remember, and miss.

With life changing at such a rapid pace, it is important to remember that although there are many wonderful things ahead, with everything that is gained, something is lost...  

 

onwards and upwards...

via Better Homes and Gardens

It's 2022! Can you believe it? The past two years have been challenging, to say the least... And although there have been good times in between all of the madness, I definitely feel like I have been in survival mode. So this year, I don't have any resolutions, but I do have intentions. Rather than setting goals that are either kept or broken, it seems that setting intentions that promote a positive shift in mindset, concentrating more on the journey than the destination, is the key to thriving this coming year. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and triumphant year. Onwards and upwards!