new-homefurniture

Saipua

I'm a sucker for packaging so these beautifully wrapped handmade olive oil soaps led me to Saipua, a small family owned business in Brooklyn. At first, soaps were the main focus of former teacher, Susan Ryhanen, until they found a shop to open and began selling flowers as well. I admire businesses that do one or two things and do them well. The soaps would be such cute stocking stuffers and the arrangements are just gorgeous!

By the way, Saipua is Finnish for soap.

Hip Hip Hooray!

There are so many blogs about children's celebrations and yet there is only one that really speaks to me. The relatively new Hip Hip Hooray inspires me because it's fresh, simple, and approachable. It's the perfect place to get ideas, resources, and a virtual sugar high.

Summer

{Image: Alice Topping by Slim Aarons}

McKinney, TX: Patina Green & Smitten

This past Thursday, I had my very first day off to spend all to myself in over 27 months (yes, that is how old Stella is). I got my iced coffee and headed to McKinney, TX, once a tiny farm town that my stepfather grew up in and where streets are still named after his family. Now the town is booming but the historic downtown square maintains it's charm. I make this pilgrimage once a year to visit the shops and never leave empty-handed. This time, I was on a mission! My friend, Kimberly, at Quatrine had told me to hurry to the new Patina Green Home and Market store. I loved their booth when they were at White Elephant Antiques (and even saved their business card because it was so pretty) and was happy to hear they were now in McKinney. I love when you walk into a store and it's a complete experience...this is one of those places.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was this amazing

wall, covered in Nina Campbell paper.

Kaci Lyford told me it was a dream of she and her husband, Robert, to work together. So she with her design background, and he being a chef, opened the space in a 120 year-old building along with Kaci's mom, Luann Van Winckel. I had Robert's Tinga Tacos for lunch, which were amazing, and later the complimentary blueberry & white chocolate chip cookie.

I sat next to Joe & Sue, tweeting away..

And then I roamed around the market and bought a jar of local Jalapeno Pepper Jelly, something I've never cared for but was sold once I sampled it there on top of bread with a slice of white cheddar...

The back of the store has wonderful antiques and finds...

Do you see those tiny boxes of chalk on the middle shelf?

I bought those to put on top of children's presents..

Even la toilette is in character...

Oh, wait...did I mention the flowers?

***

From there, I headed to Smitten where my mom buys her French velvet ribbon. Owner, Karen Dawkins also has an amazing selection of German glass glitter and seam binding,

which I love to use to wrap small gifts or attach tags. Here are some pictures from her shop. I'll need to go back once Stella gets her big girls bed because they have cute bedding, too!

There are other wonderful shops around the square, such as Homepieces, and various antique shops and places to eat. But I do recommend going around Christmas time when you can stroll around with HOT coffee in hand.

Meringue & Peonies

Imagine a table set with a huge bowl of these

mushrooms made of meringue...

Next to a huge bowl of these...

Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

{Image via Fairy Tales}

Culture du jour

If you haven't already, you just must check out Nowness, a brand of LVMH, which was created and is curated by a team of international editors showcasing fashion, cinema, travel, design, art, etc. in a whole new way. From a voice stream excerpt of Bret Easton Ellis's new novel, Imperial Bedrooms to a clip from the biopic film, Gainsbourg (Vie Heroique). You'll also find out about:

Photographer Paul Jasmin with my fav, Sofia, was interviewed

about his third book, California Dreaming.

You can also read about Dallas blogging sensations
Judy & Jane Aldridge.

Here is a shot of a collection within their suburban home.

Or learn about Rodarte's homage to the film,

Breathless (another fav of mine),

in honor of it's 50th anniversary.

Happy National Oyster Day!

My grandparents have always had a place on the water, whether it be in Pass Christian, MS or Panama City Beach, FL. I used to sit on the dock with my grandfather and eat raw oysters on a Saltine cracker with a dash of Tabasco. Perfection! In celebraton of today, here are all oyster related things I love:

Antique Oyster Plates