happy sunday...

 

wooden wall panelling...

If you are looking to add instant charm and personality to a room, look no further than wooden wall panelling.  A  room with panelling never disappoints, providing a warm and cozy welcome to all who enter. 

Wood board panelling is easy to install and available in a variety of colors and stains, adding to your homes aesthetic. And if you ever want to change the color, you can always have them painted or re-strained. Panelling also provides additional insulation and quiet to a room. You do have to maintain the boards in order to have them last. However, the benefits are well worth the effort... 

via Cote De Texas

via Kevin Isbell Interiors

via Paper Blog

 

blooming with benefits...

via JWS Interiors

I make it a point to have fresh flowers in the house at all times. It is one of those little luxuries that have a big impact on my day. They are not only beautiful to look at, but there are numerous other reasons to have fresh flowers in your home. Here are a few: 

• Reduces stress 
• Improves mood
• Increases creativity 
• Improves concentration
• Cleans the air
• Improves memory

Now that you have more than enough reason to go out and grab yourself a bouquet or two, here are a few options in which to hold your summer blooms...

 

wandering wednesdays (goods for the study)...

It's that time of year... It's time for back-to-school shopping! I love filling up my shopping cart with fun school supplies, but I think it's only fair that I get a few goodies for myself. If you appreciate quality stationary, you will love Goods for the Study! 

via Michael Leckie

via Wedding Wire

via Girl In the Yellow Taxi, NYC

West Village

50 W. 8th Street 

New York, New York

via The Shopkeepers

via Remodelista

via New York Notes

Nolita

234 Mulberry Street

New York, New York

Personal Picks...

 

monday {menu}

 

{recipe from... here}

Ingredients

Streusel

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed or grated

Muffins

• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup real maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/3 cup high quality blueberry jam

Instructions

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12-16 muffin tins with paper liners.

  2. To make the streusel: In a small bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Mix together with your hands until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.

  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the butter, maple syrup, vanilla, buttermilk, greek yogurt, and eggs until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, mix until just combined. Gently fold in the blueberries and blueberry jam, being careful not to over mix. Remember, you're going for a blueberry swirl look.

  4. Divide the batter among the prepared tins. Evenly sprinkle the streusel over the batter. Transfer to the oven bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  
• 

parade of pink...

via Gray Malin

via Design Milk

via art.com

via Desire Lovell

via Paper Social

The color pink is associated with love, kindness, and femininity, with some shades of pale pink considered relaxing. Pink also represents youth, health, and playfulness. It's no wonder that I have been attracted to all things pink lately... Happy weekend!

why you need interior shutters...

via Jessica Buckley

I came across this photo the other day and it inspired me to share with you all of the wonderful attributes of the interior shutter! With so many options to choose from, the task of picking a window treatment can feel a bit overwhelming. So let me convince you as to why you  should consider interior shutters...

• They work with almost any style of decor. You will find them in modern homes, English cottages, beach houses, and even Parisian apartments.

• They add an element of charm and sophistication to a room. Real hardwood shutters can look as if they were made to go along with your existing trim, which does wonders for elevating a space.

• They block out light, protecting both you and your furniture. Having constant sunlight in a room will fade its contents over time. And let us not forget that UV rays also have an affect on the people who frequent those rooms. Having interior shutters to adjust the light that is filtered into the room will help to alleviate these problems, while also having a positive impact on your energy bill! 

• They add to your homes value. Quality shutters add to your homes aesthetic, making them an addition that will set your home apart from others on the market, and more appealing to potential buyers. 

So are you convinced that interior shutters should be at the top of your list? Quality, custom shutters are an investment, but with a little care, you will be able to enjoy them for a very long time...

 

are you preppie?

Were you immediately drawn to the book in this post? Do you have an obsession with seersucker? Do you use "summer" as a verb? Do you love to add your monogram to everything? Do they know you by name at your local J. Crew? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be considered to be a bit preppie. Don't fight it. It's ok...  I too once tried to deny it, but then I learned to accept my love of racquet sports, Oxford stripes, and a nice cold Arnold Palmer. For those of you who are ready to embrace prepdom, here are a few considerations...

 

monday {menu}

 

{recipe from... h e r e}

DESCRIPTION

These giant Vanilla Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches made with homemade chocolate chip cookies are the ticket to sweet summer days ahead. Made with slow churned vanilla ice cream swirled with stovetop caramel sauce, these frozen treats are an over the top dessert perfect for all ages.

INGREDIENTS

For Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup fine bakers sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups plus 3 TBSP all purpose flour
• 1 heaping cup chocolate chips, semisweet or bittersweet

For Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup plus 2 TBSP granulate sugar
• pinch of kosher salt
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 TBSP vanilla extract

For Caramel Sauce From Bake From Scratch Cookbook, Volume II

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

For Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt
2. In a standing mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy
3. Add egg and vanilla
4. Mix well
5. Add flour mixture slowly to butter mixture and mix until just combined
6. Stir in chocolate chips being careful not to over mix
7. Scoop cookie dough into balls with large cookie scoop and freeze on cookie sheet for 1 hour or overnight
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
9. Bake cookies on baking sheets lined with parchment paper for about 10 minutes rotating halfway through
10. Remove from oven when golden brown and centers of cookies are slightly under baked
11. Cool on cookie sheets for five minutes and then cool completely on baking rack

For Vanilla Ice Cream

1. In a medium bowl, use a whisk or handheld electric mixer on low speed to combine milk, sugar and salt until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla extract until combined
3. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 3 hours or overnight
4. Turn electric ice cream maker on and slowly pour the mixture through the spout
5. Mix until thickened and creamy
6. Place ice cream in a large bowl, drizzle room temperature caramel sauce onto ice cream
7. Gently stir to combine adding caramel to desired consistency
8. Store ice cream in airtight container in freezer until ready to assemble sandwiches

For Caramel Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat
2. Add brown sugar, stir to combine
3. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly (mixture will be thick)
4. Carefully pour in cream (mixture will foam), vanilla and salt
5. Remove from heat and stir to combine
6. Let cool to room temperature before adding to vanilla ice cream
7. Store any remaining caramel sauce in a glass jar up to 3 weeks in refrigerator

Assembly

1. Once cookies are cool and ice cream is frozen, remove ice cream from freezer and place a large scoop of ice cream onto bottom of one cookie
2. Top with another cookie
3. Drizzle more caramel sauce over the ice cream sandwich if desired
4. Freeze tightly wrapped in freezer

the handwritten note...

Recently, I received a postcard in the mail from a friend who lives in Germany. She wrote to let me know what she has been up to, and that she hopes that we will soon be able to see each other again. It was so meaningful to me that she took the time to send me a handwritten note. 

Today, it is so convenient to be able to send an email or text to communicate with family and friends. It is so rare these days to receive snail mail. If you do receive a personal letter in the mail, there is something so fulfilling and special about it. The act of sending a letter is meaningful in itself. 

In a world where so many things are instantaneous, why not take some time this weekend to pause long enough to say the things that matter, to the people that matter... And if you need to stock up on some stationary to get you going, I've got you covered! Happy weekend!!!