‘Round Here

Happy Friday!  It’s still rainy around here, so the light is not the best, but below are a few shots around the house these days.  Seasonal decorating is such a challenge for me.  I don’t want to get too kitchy, but with a 4 year old who loves to help decorate, I want the house to remain playful and fun, especially for Halloween, which was one of my favorite holidays as a kid.  So, I tried to incorporate a lot of brown, orange and black with some kid-friendly touches.  Oh, and if you make it to the bottom, there is a little bonus sneak peek of the nursery paint….

{Corner of the mantle}

{Living room}

{Front hall console}

{Dining room}

{Corner of the family room}

{Front door.  Need Pumpkins!}

{Painted nursery.  Mentally remove the mess and insert better lighting!}

Have a happy Fall weekend!

What’s Cookin’?

Life has de-railed my weekly menu planner series.  Between work, back-to-school, ballet classes, swimming lessons, weird food aversions, and evening fatigue, my family is lucky to get a home-cooked meal 2-3 times a week these days, instead of my goal of at least 5 days per week.  (We should be buying stock in Jason’s Deli, Chipotle and Panera….)  

But, I love that spark! readers enjoy the recipes and dinner inspiration.  So, these days, instead of full menu planners, I may just pop in here and let you know what my 2-3 pre-planned weekly meals will be.   Mini inspiration is better than no inspiration at all, right? 

This week, I shopped for ingredients for 3 simple, pre-planned meals:

1. Cooking Light White Cheese and Sausage Bake.  I made this for dear friends who just had a baby girl and bought extra ingredients for a batch for us.  It’s simple and delicious and really only requires a few store-bought ingredients because you can substitute most any pasta for the ziti.  It looks kind of like this when it’s done:

{Image from Emily Bites}

2. Easiest Ever Crockpot BBQ Chicken from The Picky Apple on potato buns with cole slaw.  Ok, this is seriously the best recipe ever and only requires 1-2 pounds of chicken breasts and a bottle of BBQ sauce.  If I have it, I also add a thinly sliced sweet onion (Vidalia is best) first, then the (raw) chicken, then the sauce.  I also have found that I strongly prefer the thick, hickory BBQ sauce (generic brand tastes best for some reason!).  The Carolina-style sauce is too runny for this recipe.  When it’s done, just fork shred and let it sit in the crockpot until you are ready to eat.  You can start this as late as 1pm and still have it on the table for din-din.  So yummy and delish!

3. Cooking Light Quick Corn-Chicken Chowder.   Another easy recipe that requires only a few store-bought items.  I often use leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken, or even canned white meat chicken in this soup, so I just have to pick up a jalapeno pepper and a can of creamed corn at the store.  I usually have the rest of the ingredients on-hand.  This is a fall and winter fave around here!

I am hoping to be back later in the week with a post on updates around the house.  It’s been rainy and hard to snap any decent pictures, but things are a-changin’ around here.  I posted a recent development on the blog’s Facebook page last night — check it out and become a follower while you are there!

Happy cooking!

An Open Letter to Rachel Zoe

Dear Rach:

I love your show and happen to think that you are BANANAS.  Your fashion styling is impeccable, spot-on and always uber fashion forward.  However, your interior styling needs some serious help.  I die, literally. 

 

I know you put a lot of stock in your new assistant, Jeremiah Brent, who has some interior design experience, and I agree that he is adorbs to look at, but lemme tell ya, hmm how to say this, umm well…HE SUCKS. 

I know he was under a time deadline and you and Rodge love clean, white and glam, but he HAD NO BUDGET, and this is the best he could come up with for your dining room?   

No rug, no fabric, a builder’s light fixture.  Really?  YAAAAAAAAAAWN.

May I suggest….

Which is still white and black with pops of yellow, but is way more glam, warm, and sophisticated and not THAT complicated.  Bloggers DIY floors like that everyday.  See what I mean, girlfriend?

Moving on to your living room.  Le sigh.  It has some nice features like the tufted sofa with nailhead trim, but the lamps are the wrong scale and look straight out of Homegoods.  And I happen to detest the overgrown bean bag chairs, SO. NOT. GLAM.  Are window treatments too much to ask for? 

How about this?  Which is way more sophisticated, not THAT complex, yet still simple and chic….

And finally, the library/ study.  Sweetie, this is just plain sad.  Couldn’t Jeremiah find more furniture for the room?  Shoot, head on over to Ikea.  The bookshelf styling, well, isn’t.  This room needs some oooomph, like stat. 

You need something like this where you can relax, read your fashion mags and gossip with Kate Hudson:

Clean, bright, warm, functional, simple, inviting. 

So, Rachie-poo, as cute as he is, Jeremiah ain’t cut out for interior design.  Call me.  We’ll chat and get you pointed in the right direction.  In no time, your house will be EVERYTHING.  But I can’t promise that I will get along with Joey and Rodge — they are serious divas.

xxoo, ada

P.S. I miss Brad.  Like, a lot.

{To see more pics of RZ’s digs, go to Bravo TV.
Photo credits: 1. People Magazine, 2. Casa Sugar, 3. Casa Sugar, 4.  Pinterest, 5. Casa Sugar, 6. Skye Kirby, Elle Decor , 7. Casa Sugar, 8. Here}

 

Random Things I’m Liking Lately

Hello Fall!  It was 55 degrees on the way to my daughter’s preschool today and it felt amazing.  Happy Friday!  Here are some random items that are on my radar these days:

I am crushing so hard on this trench coat right now (from the Mad Men collection at Banana Republic).  The price ($198) combined with my burgeoning belly are the only things stopping me from snatching it right up….

This Asian Ramen Salad recipe from my gal pal Alyson at Richmond Real Estate Mom is delicious!  It’s great by itself for lunch, as a side dish for chicken or pork chops or you could add shredded chicken to the salad.  You must try it!

{Kinda looks like this, image found here}

Did you see the amazing DIY laundry room chandelier made entirely of clothes pins by John and Sherry of Young House Love?  I can’t stop thinking about its awesomeness. 
**Random tanget, I saw them the other night at our neighborhood Jason’s Deli and so wanted to go over and gush and gawk and go all stalkerazzi, but thankfully forcibly refrained myself from a repeat performance when I saw John while running a local 5K this winter….  They are just as cute in person as on the blog!**

I have got my eye on these Toms comfy chic corduroy wedges (only $69!) for the Fall and Winter, and the matching girls shoe ($38) for my cutest accessory.

This is a fabulously moving book at the intersection of an incredible true human story, medicine, law, ethics and compassion.  Read it!

I am thinking about adding this fun print ($34) to our gallery wall upstairs.  It’s a good reminder for kids and adults alike! 

And finally, because I am feeling brave at the moment, here is a quick belly shot of me at 24 weeks with my ever-present sidekick that I took on my iPhone in our powder room (you can see the hallway and playroom behind me) and sent to my sister in Atlanta this morning. 

Have a very happy Friday and weekend ahead! 

My Sliver of Missoni Mania

I was a day late, but luckily still managed to snag a few cute Missoni for Target items.  Surprisingly, our Target wasn’t completely wiped out at 9am yesterday.  But still, I didn’t get the one item that I was jonesing for, which apparently is now being sold on eBay for oodles (OMG, check out this Buy It Now for $350!, more than 8 times its asking price at Target, whaaaaa?):

I was suprised that there was a bunch of kitchenware, computer cases, notecards, kids and baby clothes and accessories, makeup cases and even 2 bikes left when I stopped by over 24 hours after the launch. 

Here is what I picked up:

Clockwise: 1. Notecards, 2. Girls Sweater Tunic, 3. Girls Sweater Leggings, 4. Mug, and 5. Baby Blanket (note the hint of green and lots of hot pink!). 

The blanket is the first thing that I have bought for the new baby!  Here is a close-up:

It will look fun in her nursery!  If it’s good enough for Rachel Zoe, it’s good enough for her, right? 

{Rachel Zoe’s bedroom featuring Missoni (like, the real tres $$ Missoni)}

Per my sources at Target (the check-out dude), I hear there will be one more replenishment sometime around the 1st of October.  Tell me, what did you snag and what will you be watching for?? 

Nursery Inspiration

So, we found out that we are having A GIRL! 

Even before we found out the gender of the baby, I have been envisioning a mint green nursery.  Now, I am thinking mint green and white horizontal stripes with hot pink accents.  Here is my inspiration image:

Substitute hot pink for the red, and promptly remove the wall decal!

Here are some other inspiration images of nurseries, stripes and the color palette — I can’t wait to get my husband painting that room!

What do you think?  I am still not sold on the stripes and considering wainscoting on the lower half of the wall with mint green up above.  Hmmm.  Lots to do.  Stay tuned! 

{Photo credits: 1. Baby Lifestyles, 2. DecorPad, 3. Color Zen Blog, 4.  Survivin’ on Sweet Tea and Love, 5. DecorPad, 6. Sketch42, 7. Pinterest, 8. Pinterest, 9. theLennoxx}

What are your favorites at Trader Joe’s? Discuss!

I realize that this post is a slight tangent from the usual blog content over here, but this is a burning question that needs answering!  I often find myself in a rut when I go into TJ’s and end up with the same things in my cart. 

I have been following two blogs (Dinner: A Love Story and What’s Good at Trader Joe’s) that use a lot of TJ products and have gotten some good inspiration from them, but I would love to hear what your faves are.  Please share in the comments!! 

Richmond’s TJ’s is a hike and a half from my house, so I only go about once or twice a month, but here is what is always in my cart:

Let’s start with sweets!

{Perfect as a housewarming or hostess gift.  I put raw sugar on top about 2/3 of the way through baking to give it a sweet, crunchy top.  I always get asked to send the recipe and then have to ‘fess up that it’s a mix!}

{This is a seasonal item in the Fall — it’s awesome and even better than the banana bread mix.  I serve it with Thanksgiving dinner.}

{I am never making any other type of brownies again.  These are amazingly moist, rich and I love the texture of the dark chocolate chips.  You can also use this as cookie mix, but I have never tried it made that way because the brownies are too darn good!}

{This is another seasonal item that I can’t keep in the house for very long.  They are DELISH with coffee for dessert or a decadent breakfast!}

{We love this yogurt, especially my 4 year old daughter.  I love it for a quick snack or dessert with vanilla wafers or graham crackers!}

{I grew up on 100% pure maple syrup and I can’t stand to serve anything but.  Although, it can get pricey for a bottle of pure maple syrup.  TJ’s offering is delish and affordable.}

Now on to savory:

{This is the best Salsa Verde I have found.  I love that it’s really tasty without being spicy.  I eat it with chips or add it to tomato soup, fish tacos or omelettes.}

{I love this easy, meat-free dinner and these freeze beautifully.  I think that you can cook them straight from the freezer.  No thawing required!}

{This is a great, spicy, easy, meat-free spaghetti sauce.  I love it by itself, or sometimes I add turkey sausage.}

{This is a $0.99 gem.  I put this puppy on my pizza stone and basically clean out the refrigerator — toppings can include olives, asparagus, tomatoes, onions, peppers, feta, parmesan, cheddar, leftover chicken, or all of the above!}

{Yummiest frozen corn around. tastes like it’s right off the cob!}

So please do tell — what are your faves at Trader Joe’s?

 

Console Table Styling Inspiration

Happy Friday!  Today I am sharing the inspiration images for the styling of my new console table in my front hall.   I found most of these images on Pinterest and all of them are now found on my Pinterest boards — come follow me!

These first two images are realistically what the hallway console table will probably look like on a day-to-day basis — a catch-all for keys, sunglasses, umbrellas, shoes, and mail.  Both photos share greenery, lamps, leaning art, little bowls, and informal striped rugs.  I like the easy-going, yet thoughtful and edited styling of these spaces a lot:

The following group of images are in a similar vein, but a little more formal.  These hallway consoles use mirrors as their focal point, and are accented with fresh flowers and books or boxes:

This last group of images aren’t hallway consoles, but are styled beautifully:

{This is a console used as an end table in a bedroom.  I love the thoughtful placement of each object and the position of the mint green lamp – just slightly off center.}

{This little table is used as a sofa console.  I love the symmetry of the yellow lamps, the little yellow cabinet pulls and the baskets for storage.}

{If I recall correctly, I believe this image reflects an accent table in a dining room.  I adore the whimsy of the flamingos, the wallpaper, the understated art, and the feminine crystal accessories with the delicate pink flowers.}

There you have it – lots of inspiration!  I can’t wait to get started.  Have a great weekend – see y’all next week!

{Photo Credits: 1. Haven and Home, 2. This website, 3. Jamie Meares (i suwanee), 4. As Is Home, 5. This Website, 6. Jenny Komenda (Little Green Notebook), 7. Interior Designway, 8. Everything Fab, 9.  House of Smiths, 10. Decorista.}

New Year’s Resolution Update

Eight months ago, I set out six design resolutions for myself in 2011.  One of many things on my to-do list was a facelift for our entry hall.  As a reminder, here is the BEFORE:

 

And now, still in progress and revealing my brand-spanking-new, shiny lucite console that arrived at my doorstep yesterday, is the ALMOST AFTER:

As you can see, I replaced the unsightly mustard yellow curtain at the end of the hallway with new French doors, changed out the runner and added the currently bare, but still beautiful-to-me, console.

Remember my first attempt at the console?  Although it was too deep and too tall and too clunky for the space, I still miss this glossy gal:

Here is a close-up of the French doors that my husband labored over after some serious nagging encouragement from me.  We ordered the doors from a local outfit that we love – Pleasant’s Hardware.  The doors came primed, but not painted, and they fit a little too perfectly — the doors were so snug that we couldn’t open and close them.  My husband pulled out some magic with a saw and sander and voila!  The knobs are temporary until I can find some that I really love.  We decided on frosted glass to hide this:

Which will likely be on the design resolution list for 2012! 

I have four more months to:

1. Style the console;
2. Find a cheap the perfect piece of art for the long bare wall across from the laundry room; and
3. Maybe paint the back of the front door an interesting color.

Think I can do it?  Stay tuned!

 

 

Living Room Update

Thank you all so much for all of your kind comments on yesterday’s post.   You are all so sweet.  They made my week! 

Today, I am sharing recent updates to my living room.  This is a strange room in the front of our house that doesn’t get used much, but hopefully that will change.  When we first moved in, I used it as my office, but after Clare arrived and she spent half of the day downstairs with the baby-sitter, I knew this wasn’t going to work.

{I can’t believe I found this picture!  It’s c.2006 and way pre-blog.  Do you spy the old-school blue blackberry on the right side of the desk?} 

 Since Clare came along, it’s been a “living room” filled with a random assortment of orphan items that didn’t really flow together, including that fair isle rug.  I can’t find a picture of the living room set-up, and didn’t even want to take a “before” shot!  I am hoping to turn it into more of a ”Mom Cave”  and use it for reading and chatting on the phone away from the hubbub of the rest of the house.    Sounds luxurious, right? 

For my birthday in May, my husband got me the gorgeous “Blues Comes Through” print by Alice Dalton Brown pictured below (that I have been coveting for a while and blogged about in August of last year).  The old decor clashed with my beloved print.

Based on what I already have, I am going with a color palate of light blue, yellow, white and seagrass.

So far, I have updated the room with Ballard Designs’ Seagrass Rug and replaced the old pillow covers with the light blue Jute Braid Pillow Covers from Pottery Barn.     

I like how the long, rectangular rug makes the room appear bigger.  The previous rug (a 5 foot circular rug above) made the room appear much smaller. 

I replaced a red/white/green framed Georgia O’Keefe poster with this framed illustration from our family room.  And I already had these pillows from Target (which are ubiquitous in the blog world!) and the throw blanket from West Elm, which was also in the family room.

In the short term, I would like to: 1. replace the dark blue pillows on the long couch with a pair of these:

2. Purchase a small and light coffee table, preferably thrifted, but I also like the look of this one from CB2:

and 3. Style the bookcase with some interesting and fun pieces and books. 

Longer term, I would like to replace the end tables with some that add some  height to either side of the long couch.  I would also love to add a fun chandelier or lantern and some airy, flowy curtain panels. 

I am resisting the strong urge to make this room too beachy or coastal, which would be easy to do given its colors and current elements.  However, I don’t live at the beach or in a coastal town and that decor would NOT match with the rest of the house, so I am staying away from seashells, capiz, coral, etc.!

So what do you think?  Any good ideas for me?

Next up, I will share an update on one of my New Years Design Resolutions!