Thursday, March 31, 2011

kitchen skin care


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Hydrating Honey Mask
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup honey

Combine yogurt and honey and mix until well blended. Apply to face and leave on for five minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water. This mask gently moisturizes without being heavy or greasy.

I have always loved using natural ingredients that I have on hand to make my own skin care items and think that they would make really great gifts.

To see more kitchen skin care remedies go here.

{hot air balloons}

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Recently I have been working on a project that is inspired by hot air balloons so I have noticed them in every setting..including home decor. Isn't that top image with the hot air balloons in Paris so pretty.

What is inspiring you as of late? I would love to know.

*Stamps and cards found here, here & here
*Mid-centurey metal hot air balloon sculpture found here
*Interiors by Miles Redd as seen in House Beautiful & image with hot air ballon chandelier designed by Erin of Design Crisis found via Nero Chronicles
*Fornasetti umbrella found here

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

natural curiosities found in lamps

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I love a good piece of rock. The hard part is it is very hard to find a reasonably priced piece that actually looks substantial and not too cheap. Anyway for a long time I had considered making my own crystal lamp and had scoured mineral and rock shops until I decided I didn't want to go that route. I even bought a small agate lamp from Home Goods to try and satisfy my natural curiosities but alas it still looked the price I paid. Anyway when google-ing "agate lamps" I came across a reasonable priced piece that actually looks like it might do the trick. What do you think?(refer below)
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Above DIY tutorial found here if you happen to be interested in tackling such a project.
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Above is my wussy agate lamp that makes the below lamp actually look really good for $249.
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Above lamp found here.

{All other lamps and finials found via Matthew Studios , 1stDibs and Horchow. }


Monday, March 28, 2011

{spring palette and my recent time occupier + a couple thoughts}

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{above photos from my recent time occupier..right before the wedding bouquet was crafted}
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Phew, last week finally came to a close. Besides taking care of my children, a no budget wedding occupied all of my time. Everything was basically borrowed or donated. However, I did invest in some fresh flowers. The above pictured flowers were used in the bouquet that I made for my sweet friend. Anyway considering the whole wedding was done for almost nothing I think it turned out very lovely (sort of helped that the location provided for such a great back-drop). I can't believe I forgot my camera to show you all some pictures. Anyway one of the things that made it was the simple centerpieces layered over yet again paper circles (are you sick of the paper circles yet?). Then we placed the same exact hurricane lights from my wedding with asparagus fern and gorgeous sweet peas at the base. Sweet peas are so beautiful because they almost have a water color quality about them. If I come across anybody who took pictures then I will be sure to post them because I think it was a good example of how sometimes "less is more".

Anyway the color palette at the wedding kept me thinking about some of the things that are inspiring me as of late. I am really attracted to corals, apricots and hues of lilac and lavender. That is why April's issue of Veranda did something to me. Also the pictures of those rainbow sherbet jasper has to be one of my favorite images from last week. Sometimes it is all about nature for inspiration.

Just a couple of design thoughts:

1. - Crate & Barrel has an awesome palette os solid color pillows.

2. - Can't afford designer fabric but love it. Try buying a remnant from ebay and rather than upholstering a piece make some throw pillows for low dollar high impact. I am considering the above apricot fabric from Clarence House. A good source for remnant fabric can be found here.

3. - DIY ombre napkins made from a little dye and simple linen napkins. Would be great for any occasion. There is also a tutorial here for tie dyed napkins if that is what would suit your fancy.

Happy Monday!

P.S. - Thank you to all of the sweet comments & emails from both the regular readers and newcomers from the Young House Love feature...such a sweet surprise. I love you guys! Apparently lots of people read YHL..thank you Sherry & co. I will also get to answering any of the emails this week.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

speaking of Bisbee...

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I've always been fond of the spring 2006 Kate Spade ad campaign shot in Bisbee by Tim Walker.

Wild, Wild West (Bisbee & Tombstone)...and my bed & breakfast decor translation

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Bisbee, the once booming Arizona mine town recently has been deemed one of the quirkiest towns. At one point in United States history it was said to have been the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Until last Saturday I had never been able to experience the visually stimulating town. When we first got to Bisbee we took the kids on a mine tour and they seemed to be very engaged in thoughts of finding treasure deep underground as the tour guide (a retired miner) took us through a quick synopsis of what a day in the life of mining look like. Then as we explored the town itself I kept saying to my husband that it felt like a fake town. Nestled into hills and mountains, Bisbee sets pretty close to the Mexican/Arizona border. The streets are small, random and make no sense. With all of our kids in tow we got to experience antique shops, hippies, artisans, a cute chocolate shop, turquoise galore, dust, cowboys, horses, friendly people and a town that has been covered with colorful paintings. On the way down I was talking to Angela and when I asked her what not to miss in Bisbee she said to look for the building that had a bunch a random items all spray painted red. Weird to some, I still give whoever created this masterpiece props for such creativity.

Then about 30 minutes out of Bisbee lays the town Tombstone which now exists as a tourist stop and a reminder that the West wasn't called the "Wild West" for nothing. The kids really, really liked Tombstone as did I for the mere fact that somebody told me they liked my hat and then looked at my little boy and sad, "This must be your big sister"...bless him for his charm...I liked it even if he were in costume playing his act. What really made me smile was when my Maile pointed to the VW Bus painted on the tin door and stated, "Do you think they sell some good organic fuel over there?" I thought she was extra brilliant to make such a connection until it was pointed out by husband that the movie Cars taught her those street smarts. Kids really do pick up on everything even when you don't think they do...so impressionable. Hopefully out of all of the impressions in my kids life, some of the strongest ones will come from the love that they felt from their parents...and that it will be substantial enough for them to pull through any tough times....cause trust me you there are a chance for those...you all know what I am talking about I'm sure;-)

Well of course my thought process would not be complete if didn't think about how I would want the bed and breakfast decorated if we were to have stayed the night in Bisbee. Want to see the vision of comfort, color, layers, textiles, antiques, and paintings that exist in my mind.....

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(all images by me or edited by me from House & Garden}

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Japan

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I love how the blogosphere can really come to together to rally support for people in need. It is such a great thing to feel of the goodness that exists in the human race amid such devastation.... that can happen in a blink of an eye.

Tomorrow I will be participating in the above worthy cause and would like to fully invite any of you out there to go here to donate.

Have a great weekend friends!

{Happy St. Patrick's Day} a pinch of green and a home in Ireland

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Well hi there, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! The above pinch of green comes to you from Frank Roop. The below pinch of green comes from a luxury castle that you can rent out if you plan a visit to Ireland. Someday we will make it over there to attend the big O'Brien Clan family reunion.

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Do you have any fun plans to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

I am off to go on our annual green hunt with the kids. We are bound to find some sort of treasure;-)

To see more green inspiration go here.