READ UNDER CUTE FINDS ONLINE

Check out the page cute finds online for spring shopping! AWWWWW!

Life is Sweet!

So my mom found an adorable cookie jar a few weekends at our favorite resale shop (can I get a "what what!" for Next to New?- Kase, you know what I am talking about!) Anywhoodle, I thought about my grandma's house and how every time I saw that cookie jar as a kid, I was dying to know what was inside!)  When I "grow up" I want to have a magical cookie jar that my kids remember as having delectable goodies inside. Right now, I have a dog/cat treat jar and anytime they hear that sound, watch out- Audrey will knock you down for a tasty treat. I think a cookie jar must have a touch of whimsy to it. So, go for what you like, not necessarily what you think "goes with your stuff." You will be surprised how it just all matches. Honestly, this is how I feel about my house. I know having a huge artichoke pottery piece in your living room may not seem "normal," but it all works. Plus it was $3 so how could I resist? I love it!


Here are some precious jars I found!
Also, what is your absolute favorite cookie or recipe? Send it to me! I will POST! -Aly

Here is a great cookie recipe for you! Thanks Emeril! Isn't life sweet? ;)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raspberry jam or jelly
• 1 tablespoon Chambord or kirsch
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter 2 large baking sheets.

In a small bowl, combine the jam and Chambord. Stir to combine.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt andwhisk to blend.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Beat in the egg yolks, lemon zest, lemonjuice and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in 2 additions and beat just until moist clumps form. Gather the dough together into a ball.

Pinch off the dough to form 1-inch balls. Place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing 1-inch apart. Use your floured index finger or 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to create depressions in the center of each ball. Fill each indentation with nearly 1/2 teaspoon of the jam mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

I'll be there for you...LIKE I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE!

Okay, part two....

LOVE the coffee shop and LOVE the couch! This is what got me thinking about my style! I have a couch pretty close to this...I mean, you watch a show for 10 years over and over and eventually you start copying the style! This sofa can be recreated with any vintage or retro piece. Just remember to use a LUSH fabric like a velvet. I think this is a pretty look for a sofa. Not too smart, considering the herd of animals I own, but I do vacumn my couch daily. Ugh...

In all honesty, I think mine is prettier. But, any old couch will do. They have good bones and will last FOREVER!

This is from Tori Spelling's home...BEAUTIFUL!

Sitcom Style "I'll be there for you..."

So, the other day, I was sitting around watching old episodes of Friends. Since I know EVERY episode by heart, instead of watching for Joey's next hilarious line, I started focusing on Monica's apartment. I started to notice, hey- a lot of my style comes from my favorite shows. Then, came along HIMYM and others..I started noticing that my favorite shows have inspired some of my design!

Here are a few ways to use your sitcom favs to influence your look at home!

Today we will use Friends.. LMK if you have other ideas...Carrie Bradshaw's apt anyone?

 

 Monica Geller's kitchen/living room

First, notice all of the fun colors. The one thing that Monica had was personality, and it shows in her design. She was not afraid of color, and as long as you stay in the same color family, you should be find. This design focuses on blues, purples, and hints of yellow. This is very pretty for TV and won't overpower the actors. 

Here, I loved the mismatched chairs. Super easy! You can find chairs anywhere! Craigslist, Garage Sales, resale shops! Just paint them in coordinating colors and it will save you a bundle! You probably only need about a quart of paint to do this.

Mteriors

Secondly, look at the open cabinetry. Open cabinets are SUPER EASY! Just, take the doors off! Paint the inside of the cabinet to match, or paint a contrasting color...OR add wallpaper or fabric to the inside!!!! Then, add funky dishes you collect and voila! An instant collection!

You can do this for all types of bookcases, cabinets, shelves...be creative! It isn't very expensive and personalizes a space!

Do this as colorful or as subtle as you want, but it will look great!

But, now you say.."Aly, I live in a rental, but I love the open cabinets! What can I do?" Alright, do you own a screwdriver? Take the cabinet doors off...that is step one. Put all of the hardware in a baggie, so you don't lose it! Then buy VELCRO. This is your best friend for this project. Then you can do one of 2 things, depending how difficult you want to make this. You can, cut plywood, wrap in fabric and velcro it to the back of the cabinet...easy, but you have to have the wood cut...OR just put a row of velcro, cut your fabric to match, and velcro it up! It is so far back and dishes will be in the way, no one will notice if you have velcro around the edges! :-)

So I read somewhere that great homes are always evolving and changing. Right now, my house is in transition. I love all of my pieces separately, but I am having trouble finding that cohesion that I think will make it more of a home. Maybe all of my stuff doesn't need to go up, but I love it all. So what if I have a big R from an old sign in my bathroom? I love it. I am just gonna go with it and change if I feel like it.


Honestly, that's why I haven't written. I have felt like I was SO confused in my own decor, that I felt kinda silly giving advice when I had none to give.


But, I am having little spurts of inspiration these days, so I thought I would share. 


So, what makes a house a home? You tell me.... Here are my ideas:


1. It smells good when you walk in.
2. It has fresh flowers or plants.
3. Great lighting.
4. Pieces that you can talk about.
5. A touch of unexpected.


Let me know what you think!


-Al


Here are a few pretty pictures for inspiration: 

PaperClips and Playpens Blog

PrettyLittleWorldFashion Blog

Darling Bird Blog

What do you do on a SNOW DAY? SHOP ONLINE!

Some of my most recent purchases....

When they come in, I'll post what I do with them... here are a few new items I DID receive!

Cute new pillow for my tufted chair!

It's gonna be a LAMP!

The SMALLEST SILHOUETTE EVER!

Happy Snow Day! Stay Warm!

BABY FEVER IS CATCHING ON!

Alright, I haven't posted in FOREVER! I feel like it is me just being lazy. I am on MY FIFTH snow day of the year, and so I have done much of nothing. Except shop on Etsy.com.


It seems like right now everyone is having BABY FEVER! A lot of my friends just had babies or are due soon, so I thought I would post some cute nursery ideas! My opinions on nurseries are that I LOVE a cute theme, but think about if you will like that theme in 3-4 years. Buy things that can be reused in different ways.




I am talking about a changing table that doubles as an ADORABLE dresser later...

Shelterrific

DebraLee Blog

SavvyChic Home

Here are some that I thought might be great changing tables on DFW Craigslist. 

I know they look a little rough right now, but what about a fun paint color?

And some new knobs?

Anthropologie Knobs on Creative Influences Blog

You could have a brand new changing table that your baby could GROW into!

House Beautiful

Last 3 Pictures- Mostaza Seed Blog