fretwork love

i am absolutely loving the cover of atlanta homes and lifestyles magazine this month because of the amazing fabric covered walls.  my heart sang when this magazine came in the mail and i saw the lovely cover. 

 

{image – atlanta homes and lifestyles}

the michael devine fretwork fabric that womack jowers used on the walls is to die for.  don’t you love it too?!!!

LiveJournal Tags: atlanta homes and lifestyles,michael devine,womack jowers,fretwork

Etsy Vintage Shopping, Brass Deer

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen a late night post a while ago confessing to some late night Etsy Shopping and the impulse buy of some Brass Deer from Haven Vintage.  So, it was $40 for the two deer + $30 shipping to Canada (they are brass, therefore expensive to ship) I thought it was actually quite well priced, and sucked up the shipping cost. A few days later (yes, it was that quick) I got a knock at the door and a HUGE box was on my porch. It couldn't be the deer. But it was. They were about 3 times bigger than I had anticipated. (Late night shopping = not reading the product description fully) And I was in loooove. I think some red bows around their necks will be next!

Contest - Win a Moustache

In honour of Movember (click here if you don't know about it) It seemed fitting that something happen with a moustache. And so, we pulled out Oscars Moustache from Whisker Works and tried to do another photo shoot (see first one here). Oscar is bit more opinionated so getting the perfect shot wasn't as easy. We love our moustache, and so the folks at Whisker Works where we got it, want to give one away to someone who reads our blog. Seriously, this is one of our favourite things in our house. No matter who picks it up, it brings a smile to their face.

ENTER TO WIN A MOUSTACHE!

HOW TO ENTER: Visit WhiskerWorks.com and browse their website. Post a Blog Reply and let me know what Whisker Set you adore.
GET A BONUS ENTRY: Follow Whisker Works on Facebook + Leave 2nd blog reply telling me that you do

PRIZE: Any Single Whisker Set + Shipping

DETAILS: Open To: Canadian & USA Residents. Check back to this blog post on December 6th to see if you won! I will try to contact you via e-mail but if I cannot find your e-mail address do make sure you check back here! Winner will be drawn via Random.org

Contest Closed ! Winner is Cynthia from Design Love! Cynthia, I'll try to find an e-mail address to contact you but if you don't gear from me e-mail aubreyandlindsay@hotmail.com

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes

My family did not grow up eating sweet potatoes and we definitely did not have sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving.  And quite frankly, I don't really care for them.  But as many of you know, when you get married and start a family of your own, you adapt to new traditions.  One of which, in my case, is sweet potatoes.

This past week, we spent Thanksgiving with my Mom and her new (as in just got married a week ago) hubby, Allen.  Like I said before, Mom and I don't do sweet potatoes, but we wanted to make sure we kept our guys happy so we added sweet potatoes to the menu.  Rather then doing a giant sweet potato casserole that would only be eaten by 2-3 people, we opted for another solution - Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes.  And let me tell you, these were a big hit!  If you are looking to add some sweet potatoes to your holiday entertaining menu, I highly recommend you give these a try!

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

Cinnamon, to sprinkle

32 small marshmallows or 16 large ones cut up

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Place sweet potatoes in a deep baking dish and poke several holes in each one.  Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until tender.

Meanwhile, cut your two tablespoons of butter into four equal pieces.

Cut each sweet potato down the center (length-wise).  Be careful not to cut all the way through the potato.  Place one piece of butter inside each potato.

 

Next sprinkle each potato lightly with cinnamon (as much or as little as your family likes).  Then sprinkle the inside of each potato with one tablespoon of brown sugar.

If using large marshmallows, cut them into pieces.  If using mini-marshmallows, then just skip this step.

Divide marshmallows out and place 1/4 in each sweet potato.  Place sweet potatoes back in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Remove sweet potatoes from oven and allow to cool slightly.  Place sweet potatoes onto serving platter and enjoy!

If your family really enjoys sweet potato casserole, they will definitely enjoy this recipe.  Try this easy recipe on a weeknight to go along with your family dinner.  Super-easy and super-delicious!

Faux Bois Floor

I truly love when a room has some aspect that is clearly well thought out and unique but not too serious. These faux bois floors in William Diamond's Hampton House have that tongue-in-cheek feel. Love them, I am sure they are even more amazing in person.

From Coastal Living July/August 2010

Happy Half Birthday

Today is Oscar's 1/2 Birthday. Yup. We recognize half birthdays. As kids, we always got cake and a banner. You see, my Grandmother + Grandfather started the tradition with my Dad, who in turn did the same for us kids. And, Oscar will continue the tradition! Before you roll your eyes - consider this - isn't it great fun to have special days as a child? Any reason to celebrate happy moments is my philosophy.

{ Center Piece }

I thought I'd change things up a bit for the holidays.

I took down our chandelier for the Boutique

and kind of like this look for the 

Christmas Season

it was simple, easy, & free!

I still have room for plates on either side of the sled, so I could also use the sled to place the food on.

I might even try to suspend the sled from the ceiling!

Wish me luck!

Time for Me: Part 1 – Skin Care and enter to win $100 Visa gift card

For the last almost three+ years I have either been pregnant or nursing.  Yes, that’s right.  I had my daughter Savannah and then when she was 7 months old I found out I was pregnant with my younger daughter Matilda.  Two weeks ago I finally got my body back.  After 15-months of nursing my daughter Matilda, I finally decided it was time to wean.  I’d definitely say weaning was a bittersweet time for me.  But all and all, I think it’s a little bit more on the sweet side.

Click here to read more and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Back To The Real World

Whew, I am back! I hope y'all had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as we did. I have to hit the ground running today so I will quickly share some random pics from my camera...First a picture taken when we were trying to get a Christmas card photo. Not really sure what we are going to use yet...Patrick and I have matching boots, completely unintentional, but we did get a lot of comments while in Nashville. This picture makes me laugh...
Usually we stick to white lights inside and out, but for the past few years I have been wanting to use the old, big, color lights. As soon as these came on I was transported back 20 years. LOVE LOVE LOVE...
Our street puts up trees in each yard with white lights so when you go outside all you can see are white trees up and down the street. It is magical and one of my favorite things about my neighborhood. Don't have a picture of it but here is the beginning of the porch...
And look...any early Christmas gift to myself arrived while I was gone. Oh yes, I have subscribed and I am excited.
Last but not least I slowly caught up on some magazine reading while away and I am obsessed with this room in the September Veranda by Michael S. Smith. Sorry, I am too lazy right now to scan this in...
Back to the real world we go, I hope you have a fabulous week!

Winter Planter Inspiration

Am I the only one that hasn't done their front planters yet? *sigh* The materials are at least sitting on my porch, but finding the time to do it has been difficult. It never ceases to amaze me how amazing some planters are in the winter in front of shops so I snapped some photos for inspiration. Here were some of my favourites from my walk on the weekend.

{ Holiday*Shopping }

* Just in time for Cyber-Monday *

I'm offering $3. shipping on any of the items listed below.

Happy Shopping 

vintage look fluer d'lei

dispenser bottles

{perfect for olive oil, hand soap, or maple syrup}

great for the chef

or

entertainer on your list

$15. each

*

Fluffy Soft 

Snowman/women pillows

$25. each 

or

2 for $45.

*

Tote Bags

starfish or seahorse

lamp

cow

deer

chalkboard

all totes

{perfect for teacher, neighbor, girlfriend} 

$15. each

*

 Pine cone door hangings 

{with yummy Cinnamon smell}

green toile

black white & red damask

brown & white gingham

$12 each

I'll be listing new items each day this week.

With different specials each day.

  So, be sure to check back for some more goodies each day

Shoot me an email if your interested in any of the items shown here.

I'd be happy to ship them out to you, or deliver in your nearby.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Holidays!

Spotted, the Nate Berkus Ottoman

Back in October I blogged about my love of Nate Berkus's set design, in particular the ottoman pictured below. I found it surprising that for a show about Interior Design little reference was made to the gorgeous set. Thanks to a helpful reader (doesn't have a blog yet so I can't point you to her) I found this Los Angeles Times article that makes reference to many of the sources.  

Photo Credit the Los Angeles Times) 

"Behind the two seats is a John Derian-designed purple velvet tufted bench from L.A.-based manufacturer Cisco Brothers." The articles states. Bingo! :) Wait...It's purple? Upon looking at their website (drool worthy items) I found the ottoman named Elton.

*Sigh* I am in love.