China Cabinet

When I need to take a little break during the day, I run around the corner from my office where there are a handful of antique and thrift shops.  Sometimes it's just nice to roam up and down the aisles and other times, like today, I found some treasures.  I got this set of 4 plates that mixes in nicely with my Kate Spade and Wedgwood china...

and this painting...

I couldn't wait to get home and arrange them in my cabinet.

I love an unframed painting every once in a while so I think I'll leave this one be.  What about you...do you prefer a more finished look and frame all of your paintings?

Gypset.com

Julia Chaplin's Gypset.com.  So there.  And here.

Momfilter...The New Cookie

If you were a Cookie magazine fan like I was, then I'm sure you'll be thrilled that momfilter.com just went live.  Hooray!

Baked

Sadly, my beloved Borders is one of the locations on the chopping block.  So Stella and I stocked up on books during their closing sale today.  A lot of books had already sold out, especially cookbooks.  Luckily, I spotted one book that was on my list and snapped it up quickly.  Baked Explorations is the second installment from the Brooklyn bakery, Baked.  I find a lot of cookbooks that focus on baking to be very intimidating, however, these guys make it seem so easy.  And it helps that the photography is so beautiful, too. 

I plan on making these whoopie pies first:

Make sure to watch their demonstration video on Amazon, too.

Blue Print

A few months ago I wrote about visiting the store Blue Print on opening day.  I finally went back last week with my friend, Kelly, and took some pictures.  It's the kind of place that makes you reconsider the decor of your entire house.  It's so clean and crisp and it literally has you at hello.

 



Crawfish Season

JAMBALAYA, DES TARTES D'ECREUVISSE, FILE GOMBO

PAR A SOIR MOI J'VA ALLEZ VOIR

MA CHERE AMI-O

JOUER L'GUITAR, BOIRE DE LA JOGUE(cruche)

ET FAIR DE LA MUSIQUE

TOMNNERRE M'ECRASE

UN VA AVOIR UN BON TEMP

DE SUR LE BAYOU

That's the French version of the Jambalaya song.  Isn't des tartes d'ecreuvisse such a cute way to say crawfish pie?  Crawfish season has started and I've found myself lingering over the site, Louisiana Living.  Take a peek at all the yumminess they ship.        

Rant On The Evolution Of A Brand's Image

I've been holding back but no longer can.  It's sad, sad, sad for me to see the evolution of a brand that I hold so dear to my heart.  I'm talking about none other than kate spade, a company where I spent over 6 wonderful years in the early days.  You'll see below some of my favorite ads or images from look-books that are so perfect in their simplicity.  And then you'll see what I'm talking about...how ads now are like the animated version of kate spade with no soul. 

I loved the edge the company used to have and it almost felt like a secret - while the rest of the world thought it was nothing more than herringbone bags & ruby red velvet ballet flats, those behind the scenes and in-the-know knew otherwise.  It was a little British with a splash of Japanese and a dash of The Ice Storm and a very late night at The Chelsea Hotel.  A friend and former co-worker said he felt like there used to be quirkiness, but also mystery and some darkness...now it's just in your face color and pop, a piece of strawberry flavored bubble-gum.  Take a peek and see what I mean:

THE EARLY YEARS

THE NEW DIRECTION

What do you think?  Do you like the old or new kate spade?  And p.s. the recent Carolina Herrera ads have been reminding me a little of older kate spade ads. 

Ivy Covered Houses

I love how my husband gets me.  I email him pictures of interiors and exteriors of houses and other dreamy-like things.  I do this all day long.  No words attached, just images.  And he doesn't write back, "I'm busy; can you stop sending me pictures of random French men?"  No...instead, he actually indulges me.  This was the last image I emailed him because I'd live in almost anything covered in ivy.  I love the windows above the door and the shutters...reminds me of New Orleans.    

{Image via}

       

The Great Gatsby

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby.  Be still my beating heart!

Little Cupcakes Company

I adore so many things that the on-line shop, Little Cupcakes Company, has and since they are local I really love the convenience of picking up my score instead of it being shipped to me.  I feel like I'm on a covert mission when they put my package on their front porch for pick-up.  One of my all-time favorite things to wear in the summer are Mexican dresses so I can't wait to order one of theirs for Stella. 

Of course, it's the monogrammed one I want! 

Here are some other Spring 2011 items that I'm coveting for Stella...

{Images via}