Journeys of Mangonett

4 years...

2012-01-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

Today is our 4 year anniversary!

To celebrate we're heading off for a little weekend getaway complete with bubbly and napping by the pool to work on our pre-summer tan.

Have a wonderful weekend and see you on Monday!

Image taken by Cindy Karp

SMASH

2012-01-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched the special full-length preview for the new show SMASH. Based on the commercials I wasn't really all that interested in getting into another show, but after watching preview I'm hooked. You can check out the preview by clicking here. It's around 26 minutes long, so make sure you've got a nice half-hour to kill because if you're anything like me, you're going to be glued to the screen. Granted, I love musical theater so this was right up my ally.

I couldn't help but notice all of the great home interiors while watching the show. After a while I had to back-up and do some screen grabs for you guys...

This kitchen with the cool back splash belongs to Debra Messing's business partner, Tom. I really like the pattern and it's looks fun in such a small kitchen.

Two other things I loved about his apartment, the giant bookcase in what looks like a piano room and those cool posters hung as a gallery in his foyer...

My favorite was Debra Messing's home...

This is her kitchen, I especially love the white glass tile back splash and the glass front upper cabinets! Totally feeds into my obsession of white kitchens.

Check out the breakfast area next to the kitchen. I love the big round table and wish-bone chairs in a different finish.

Here's her bedroom full of warm colors and patterns. The color is not one of the first ones I would think of, but it looks nice up against that headboard.

Last, the bathroom floor in the show director's home. While Katharine McPhee was freaking out about having to do her best Marilyn Monroe impression (you'll understand when you watch the video), I was looking at the floors. Love that diamond pattern!

What do you think? Are you going to tune in on Feb. 6th?

Images from SMASH preview

Image of the Day: Bar Cart Hearts

2012-01-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

Image via Coco+Kelley from Lonny

Image of the Day: Mirror, Mirror

2012-01-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

Image via Pink Wallpaper

Pampered and Set for the Weekend

2012-01-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Friday!

After a couple busy weeks of non-stop action I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and realized that my eyebrows are in serious need of some TLC. I actually have one eyebrow hair sticking straight out, which is not a sexy look and it's taking all of my will power not to yank it out before Catalina, waxer extraordinaire, gets to it. So this afternoon I scheduled a little bit of pampering time to get my crazy-lady looking self back in order and ready for the weekend.

This weekend I'm hoping to finish up the bulletin board project and start organizing the home office now that I have the bookcase in there. It's already starting to look better, I can't wait to see it finished and I've barely started!

Have a great weekend! See you Monday!

Image via Patterson Maker

Me and the Sewing Machine are BFFs Now

2012-01-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

After a few months of sitting in the corner my sewing machine was dusted off last night and turned on for the first time...and I am hooked!

Before last night I had never used a sewing machine, in fact I've always been afraid of it. The threading, that fast moving needle, and precise measurements, I found it all a bit intimidating. However watching enough episodes of Project Runway gave me the push I needed to finally buy my first sewing machine. It sat in the corner for a few months because I couldn't figure out where to start, but thanks to my resolution to jump start my projects I decided to power her up and give it a try. My husband watched me set-up and thread the machine like I was performing surgery, and even clapped when I finally got it right...such a trooper.

I decided to start off with something small, so I began with this little tutorial of a drawstring bag...

It didn't turn out as finished as it looks in the tutorial, but I managed to end up with a pretty nice drawstring bag if I do say so myself! Now I have a whole bunch of sewing ideas floating around in my head. Pillows? Adding some trim on the office curtains? Create that box cushion for the bench at the foot of the bed?

The possibilities are endless.

On Pinterest I stumbled upon Pattern Runway, which sells patterns for clothing like dresses and flowy blouses. I'm especially loving their dresses...

Aren't they pretty? I'd probably even try to use the same color and fabric for both dresses. You purchase the patterns on their Etsy shop for $9.50 and they send you the files as a PDF, and then you start sewing! I'm going to try making a few more basic things first before I tackle a dress, but these patterns are at the top of my list to try, especially the second one.

Can you tell I'm excited?

First image via Pinterest

Image of the Day: Breakfast at the Nook

2012-01-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

This little breakfast nook is perfection. Surrounded by those amazing windows, patterned fabric that goes perfectly with the french bistro chairs and the always gorgeous Hicks pendant, not to mention those amazing floors...love!

Image via La Dolce Vita

New Year, New Projects

2012-01-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies!

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, the past couple of weeks I've been super busy with RBP, which has taken me away from my beloved blogging time. Those who follow me on Pinterest, however, will see that I've been busy pinning when I can!

When the new year arrived I looked around the house and resolved to finally finish all those half-started projects that I have around the house. I have supplies hidden in corners all over the place with the promise to my husband that I will finish them soon even though they end up sitting there for months. To clear up all the clutter I'm starting off the new year by finishing off all of these projects, which of course will lead eventually to new ones, but that's beside the point ;-)

I decided to start off with one of the biggest projects I've been meaning to start, the home office. As of right now, it's very disorganized and full of clutter since I've been stashing away all of our RBP stuff in there. Before I started the business, this space was mainly used to keep important paperwork and the office closet works as half of my husband's closet. I decided to take advantage of the long weekend to start working on the space to make it a functioning home office.

Here's the battle plan so far...

I was inspired by the bulletin board that Bryn created for her home office...

Using her tutorial here, I already have the fabric, spray adhesive, and cork-boards, but I'm still on the hunt for the metal tacks to create the trim. I bought two so that I can hang them side-by-side and use them to pin up all those little notes that usually end up on the desk.

Next is the furniture. We currently have a desk and cabinet from Ethan Allen that look similar to this one:

Except the drawers are in the same wood as the desk top. I'm planning on painting the black part of the desk white and leaving the wood parts as is to create a sort of white/wood combo and lighten it up a bit.

Last we just need some accessories to finish off the room. Yesterday I took advantage of my day off and headed over to Ikea to buy the Expedit shelf in white and a few baskets to put in it. Over time I'm hoping to add some more lighting in the room (I love those horse-head lamps from West Elm) and a few fun office accessories to curtail all of those paper piles. For the desk I definitely need to get a new chair since our current one has seen better days, and I'll probably change out the knobs on the desk to something a bit more fun.

So that's the plan for now, I'll take photos of everything as it goes along. Stay tuned!

*First two images from BrynAlexandra and Ethan Allen. Collage created by me*

Beck + Framel + Wearstler

2012-01-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday!

It's the start of a new week and already the to-do list is growing, so I figured it was necessary to start the week off with some beautiful photos.

I can't stop looking at these amazing images captured by Jamie Beck. Kelly Framel, known as The Glamourai, teamed up with Kelly Wearstler to style Wearstler's latest collection of clothing and jewelry, and had the genius Jamie Beck photograph it. All the photos are so beautiful, and the clothes are amazing. Even more amazing are Beck's cinemagraphs that I just can't seem to get enough of...

Click here and here to see more photos from the shoot.

Images by Jamie Beck via The Glamourai

Photo Diary: Asheville, NC

2012-01-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

We're back from our two week hiatus in Asheville, NC. We visited Tony's parents and spent the week lounging around the house enjoying the fireplace along with the occasional day trip. If you haven't been to Asheville yet make a trip to visit one day. It's beautiful and artsy, plus there are amazing mountains and hiking trails for you outdoorsy types ;-)

Such a great way to end the year! I'm excited to see what 2012 brings!

I hope you all had a wonderful 2011 :-)

*all photos taken by me*

As 2011 Comes to a Close...

2011-12-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for the kind words about Brandy! Your comments and thoughts put a smile on our faces.

2011 was full of milestones and amazing memories, it's unbelievable how quickly it went by. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2012 has in store for us. Since the year is coming to a close Tony and I have been talking a lot about what our battle plan for 2012 will be and I'm excited for things to come. The same goes for the business venture, Rubber Boots Photography, that my sister and I started in February. In a little over 2 months it will be 1 year since we started the business and 2012 looks like it's going to be an exciting year for us! In regards to the blog, I'm looking forward to making a few changes and making some fun updates. I hope you like them ;-)

We'll be traveling over the next few weeks visiting family. Thank you all for an amazing year and I wish you an even better 2012!

See you next year!

Love,

Christine

Sad Day...

2011-12-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

We lost our Brandy last night. We took her into the emergency clinic thinking it was just a bad stomach bug and ended up coming home without her. It was sudden and shocking, and we're both devastated at the fact that she's gone. She touched our hearts in more ways than we could have imagined these past 7 months and we'll miss her so much. It's amazing how much these little creatures affect your life and bring so much love into it.

We love you Brander-Beans and we'll miss you! Thank you for the honor of being your family!

Sick, but Shopping

2011-12-07T09:27:00.001-08:00

No news on the "feeling better" front, but thanks to lots of hot tea and my darling husband making me dinner I think I'll be feeling better by the weekend. Since not feeling well means that I tend to spend time playing on online, I managed to find these at Zara and snatched them up right away. I love the fold over detail and the tough look to them. We're visiting my in-laws in North Carolina at the end of the year, which will be an perfect opportunity to wear these bad boys.

Image of the Day: An Entry

2011-12-07T09:25:00.001-08:00

Image from the Rue Mag Holiday Issue

Sleep

2011-12-06T07:03:00.001-08:00

It seems as if my attempt to avoid all sick people was fruitless because now I am the one sitting at my desk surrounding by tea, cough drops, and tissues counting down the hours until I can go home and do exactly that...sleep.

I'm hoping I'm over this by the weekend, lot's to do and I have to have my head in the game. Oh how nice it would be to sleep right now. Sorry for the bummed out post today. To help the day go by faster I'm probably going to spend it Pinning, that always perks up the spirit right?

Image via Pinterest

Shabby Apple Dress Review!

2011-12-04T19:43:00.001-08:00

Good morning!

A few weeks ago Shabby Apple contacted me about reviewing one of their dresses. I've always loved their clothes and their fun styles, so of course I jumped at the chance! I received the Spanish Steps dress in the mail and couldn't wait to try it on...

I took a few photos of myself in the dress standing in the middle of my dining room, turns out its not as easy I thought to take photos of yourself...

I paired the dress with my favorite denim jacket to make it a bit more casual. I love how flowy the skirt is and the cute tie at the waist. I actually tied the ribbon at the waist in the opposite direction to make the bow smaller under the jacket, which is why it looks smaller than the bow in the Shabby Apple photo. I can't wait to where the dress on a date night with my hubs, it will be a nice change from my typical jeans and flowy top ensemble.

Shappy Apple has great women's dresses and skirts at www.shabbyapple.com. I'm especially loving this Adelaide skirt, it's such a great basic to have and the the bow makes it a lot of fun. Right now Shabby Apple is offering Journeys of Mangonett readers 10% off their order with coupon code: JOURNEYSOFMANGONETT10OFF

You can like them on Facebook to receive updates about promotions and sales.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you all have an even better week. Thanks for reading my first dress review!

1st image via Shabby Apple

Friday...

2011-12-02T07:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday!

I'm sorry for the lack of posting this week. We had family visiting all week and right now I'm in the process of getting the house back in order, which is not an easy task because for some reason when we have guests I think I'm on vacation too. Darn it.

Have a wonderful weekend! Back to regular posting next week!

Image via The Coveteur

This weekend...

2011-11-18T07:15:00.001-08:00

We're shooting their wedding tomorrow. I'm ridiculously excited people! Coral Gables, The Biltmore Hotel, and a ceremony in the courtyard...this one will be a tear jerker.

Have a fabulous weekend lovelies!

Image by Rubber Boots Photography

A Little Bit of Jewelmint...

2011-11-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Have you been on Jewelmint yet? I signed up for it after reading about it on a few blogs, the idea of a website that created a collection of jewelry for you to choose from every month based on your personal style intrigued me. You create an account and answer a few questions about your personal style, based on that information the site brings together a collection of jewelry every month that you might like. The collection ranges from rings to dramatic necklaces and what I loved is that each piece had a story behind it's design and inspiration.

The best part about it is that each piece is $29.99, no matter what it is. Since my jewelry box is currently in desperate need of maturing from it's love of Forever 21, I thought this would be a great way to bring in some unique pieces. However here's the fine print: If you don't buy anything one month, your credit card is automatically charged $29.99 and credited to your account for future purchases. You can opt out of the charge by choosing to "skip the month" by the 5th of each month.

One of the pieces in my collection for November was a pair of 60s inspired amethyst earrings that I went gaga over the moment I saw them, and a few days later guess what arrived in my mailbox...

I'm a sucker for packaging, so the little mint box was quickly a favorite...

There they are! They were even prettier in person. I can't wait to wear them for a night out with the hubs! Here they are on...

Turns out it's not as easy as you would think to take a photo of your own ear. Oh well.

*Images taken by me*

Product Review: Easy Canvas Prints

2011-11-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to post the first product review on the blog today!

A few weeks ago Easy Canvas Prints contacted me about reviewing one of their canvases and I gladly accepted the opportunity! I've always loved the look of your favorite photography being displayed on canvas, it just gives the photo such a cool feel.

Choosing the photo for our canvas was not easy, but we decided to go with one of our favorite photographs by photographer Trey Ratcliff. He's an amazing photographer that specializes in landscapes, and he makes his photography available on his Google + Page for his fans to download.

My canvas arrived last week and I was so excited with how it turned out...

The process for ordering the canvas was very simple compared to other companies that I've used where the placement of your photograph on the canvas can be a little confusing. The program even shows you a multiple view image of your canvas so that you can even see and change how the edges look. One of the things we loved about the photograph is the intense color, which wasn't lost at all on canvas. We decided to place it on our gallery wall in the family room, I think it makes a nice little addition to our collection ;-)

Easy Canvas Prints was a pleasure to use and I really like how the canvas looks in our home, so you have a thumbs up from me! And right now Easy Canvas Prints is offering it's Facebook fans 50% off their first order if you like them on Facebook! Enjoy!

Image of the Day: Kitchen Fireplace

2011-11-17T07:21:00.000-08:00

Image via Simply Seleta

Brunch at The Forge...

2011-11-15T21:43:00.001-08:00

Did I ever tell you that I'm a fan of those online group deals? I'm signed up for all of them, Groupon, Gilt City, Living Social, you name it I got it. Turns out, the commercials are true, your able to try a lot more new things when your getting them at a discount.

We've heard so many amazing things about The Forge, a hip restaurant located in the heart of Miami. Everyone whose been said that the food was amazing, but the place itself was even more amazing. So when I saw a Gilt City deal for a Sunday brunch at The Forge, I bought it right away and made our reservation...

Off we were to brunch at the Forge! It's located in a beautiful building, but was hard to find since there was no actual sign. Instead we found it because of the pretty carved doors in front...

The food was amazing, check out my french toast! It was one giant piece of bread soaked in an amazing sauce and covered with baked apples. Tony got the eggs benedict which were served on a bialy instead of your typical english muffin...

On to the decor! The dining room was filled with amazing furniture like this awesome chair that I got to sit in. Actually I raced Tony to the table when I saw it so that I could sit in it...whatevs.

There were beautiful light fixtures every where you looked. The waiter told us that the chandelier in the main dining room belonged to a Parisian Opera house and the mirror behind it was brought over in pieces from Italy...love!

One of my favorite rooms was in this one with the stained glass ceiling. For brunch they set up a long table for the families with small children to let the kids paint while their parents enjoy their brunch. The glass bubbles along the back wall are supposed to look like champagne...

For private parties they had this gorgeous white room! I could have stayed there all day casually drinking tea while reading books from the library across the hall...

After our tummies were full and we had plenty of eye candy, it was time to say good bye. They did me in with final touch, the bill, which came in this...

Thank you for a lovely brunch Forge, we'll be back soon!

*Images taken by me*

Winner of the Shopbop Giveaway Announced!

2011-11-15T06:54:00.001-08:00

It's time to announce the winner of the Shopbop giveaway!!!

It was so much fun reading everyone's comments about what they would buy with their $100 to Shopbop. I found new items to add to my list!

And the winner is...

Amber! Who said...

Congratulations Amber! Please email me at journeysofmangonett {at}gmail {dot}com with your contact information to receive your prize.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! Happy shopping!

Image via Shopbop

Fun to do the impossible...

2011-11-11T07:20:00.001-08:00

We're off to Disney this weekend to enjoy the last weekend of the Wine & Food Festival at Epcot. I've never been before, so I'm really excited to finally get to go. Apparently some of the go-to things to get are the Cosmo-Slush in France and the chocolate cake in Ireland...I think we just stumbled upon lunch ladies and gentlemen. One of my first thoughts when I heard this was, "wait, there's no Ireland at Epcot", but for the festival they bring in all new countries and their cuisine to the park. Have you been to the Food & Wine Fest? Any suggestions of what I should try while I'm there?

Next week I have some cool reviews to post and the winner of the Shopbop giveaway will be announced! Don't forget to enter! Have a great weekend!

Image via Pinterest

Image of the Day: Reflective

2011-11-08T13:03:00.001-08:00

Image via Pink Wallpaper

Image of the Day: Climbing the Ladder

2011-11-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

Image via HGTV Blog

Friday to Brunch

2011-11-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

This week both crawled and flew by if that makes any sense. Tomorrow my sister and I are shooting a wedding that I'm very excited about. It's going to be small and intimate, with the couple surrounded by their closest friends and family...that's my favorite kind of wedding :-)

On Sunday I booked a Sunday brunch for just the hubs and I at a restaurant down in Miami by the beach. I'm so excited about it that all week I've been counting down the days. A nice Sunday brunch with mimosas and fancy eggs is exactly what I'm looking for this weekend. We've never been to this restaurant before so it should be a lot of fun to try something new. I hope they have an outside seating area because the weather this week has been amazing.

Have a wonderful weekend! And don't forget to enter the $100 Shopbop giveaway!

Image via Pinterest

Images of the Day: Kate Spade in Matchbook

2011-11-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

I loved the piece on Kate Spade's home in Matchbook Magazine. Her home was as pretty and full of character as I expected, with those little touches that we all love about Kate Spade.I especially love the red trim on the settee in the last image, so pretty!

Images via Matchbook Magazine

Brandy in Purple Tartan

2011-11-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

I ordered this purple tartan collar for Brandy last weekend. Her current collar is starting to look worn and frayed, so I went on an Etsy hunt for something a little bit more fun. I thought this would pop against her reddish coat and look quite adorable as she strolled on her afternoon walks down our little jogging path. As I ordered it I looked at her and said, "Guess who's getting a new collar!". She looked really excited but I'm not sure if she actually understood what I was saying. Most of the time I just get this face...

So I'm going to assume by all of the tail wagging that she did.

I received an email from the seller this week asking for her name and to let me know that each collar is handmade, which means it will take about 14 days before we get it. Now I'm checking the mailbox every day even though I know it couldn't possibly be here yet because I must see this collar! Is it weird that I'm so excited about this? I'm contemplating a new dog bed now too...

Image of the Day: Scalloped

2011-11-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

Image via Shelter

Skirted

2011-11-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

My Pinterest collection of skirted tables is slowly growing. We have a table in the corner of our family room that's a bit sad looking, perhaps a pretty fabric could brighten it up a bit? It's the perfect excuse to crank up my new sewing machine.

Images from Pinterest

Image of the Day: Golden Grey

2011-11-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Image via Nuevo Estilo

Image of the Day: Happy November!

2011-11-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."

- Elizabeth Coatsworth

Image via Sefte

What I Feel Like Wearing Tuesday: Frye Boots and a Shopbop Giveaway!

2011-11-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again where all I can think about are boots! Knee high boots, ankle boots, slouchy boots, and yes, even those adorable wellies get me every time. My husband doesn't quite understand why I obsess over so many kinds of boots. Like jeans, each style has it's particular place in your wardrobe, therefore...a girl needs one of each right?

A pair that I think needs a home in my closet are these Vera boots. I've always loved Frye boots, they're always gorgeously made and classic.

The Man Repeller rocked these Eskimo Clog Booties from Belle by Sigerson Morrison. They're not for the faint of heart, but I think they're awesome. Certainly not a pair that you would commonly see clogging around everywhere.

And how awesome are these boots with the long cuff? I love the sleek look of wedge boots, it's kind of unexpected.

So in honor of the love of boots and let's face it, shopping, I am happy to announce a Shopbop giveaway!

The winner of the giveaway will win a $100 gift card to Shopbop to spend on whatever they would like!!!!

Here's how to enter:

1. Head on over to Shopbop and leave a comment telling me what you would spend your $100 on.

2. That's it!

For extra entries:

1. Become a follower of Journeys of Mangonett (followers automatically receive a second entry)

2. Tweet about the giveaway by posting this:

I just entered the $100 @shopbop giveaway on Journeys of Mangonett @mangogal: http://tinyurl.com/3py7h64

*Please leave a separate comment on this post for each additional entry*

The giveaway will close on Tuesday, Novemer 15th and the winner will be chosen at random.

Best wishes to you all and happy entering!

*Giveaway is now closed*

Rainy Monday

2011-10-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

It rained all weekend and today I woke up to a dark, soggy Monday, perfect for sleeping late and spending the rest of the day cozy in bed. This morning I left my pup all sleepy eyed on her bed only managing a slight tail wag as I left for work. She has the right idea spending the rest of the day in and out of naps to the sound of the rain...ah, the life of a dog.

This week I have an awesome giveaway for you! I'm so excited about it, it's a big one! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you have an even better week.

Images via Pinterest

Fall Weekend

2011-10-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

This weekend I'm spending some quality time with my hubs. The past couple of weekends have been super busy, so we're taking this weekend so slow down and enjoy this amazing weather that's hanging around lately.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Image via Pinterest

Image of the Day: Garden Shed

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Image from House Beautiful via Shelter

A Few Things I've Been Pinning Lately...

2011-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Even when I'm busy, there always seems to be time for pinning. Here's a few things that I've been adding to my Pinterest this week...

Sources to these images can be found through my Pinterest

Image of the Day: Lazy Mornings

2011-10-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies! Filled with late mornings and lazy days ;-)

Love,

Mangonett

Image via Patterson Maker

Frida in the 40s

2011-10-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

This 40s inspired editorial in the November issue of Elle Sweden is so beautiful. I love the styling, everything is modern while still capturing the gorgeousness that was the 40s. The hair and makeup is so pretty, it reminds me of my grandma who one day taught me how to do this hairstyle. She said it was her favorite way to do her hair when she was young. Judging by her photos, she rocked it just as pretty as the lovely Frida.

Photography by Andreas Ohlund in Elle Sweden via FGR

Image of the Day: Cathedral

2011-10-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Image via Little Blue Deer

Image of the Day: Woodsy

2011-10-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

Image via Bliss

Foodie Wednesday: For the Love of Soup

2011-10-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Soup is on my list of favorite foods. There's an endless amount of flavors to choose from and it's usually a lot easier to make than you'd think. The idea of making soup always intimidated me until I gave a try one day and since then I've been hooked. I love making my own soup and watching it come together in my favorite soup pot. It makes the house smell amazing and always seems to impress my husband, so it's a win-win.

This whole week has been dark and rainy with this storm that's passing through. A few tornadoes hit my neighborhood last night leaving trees down and some houses damaged. Tomorrow a cold front is supposed to be coming through too! With all this crazy weather, a comforting bowl of soup seems to be exactly what we need.

Here are a few of my go-to soup recipes. Since I'm not one to tackle complicated recipes after a long day at work, I usually tend to go for soups with simple ingredients. These are my favorites and they each have a little something to give them a kick...

Gina's Split Pea Soup with Ham Hock

Behold the magic of the ham hock. This soup has a two hour cooking time allowing the flavors of the ham hock to infuse the whole soup with amazing flavor and the peas get so soft that you don't have to blend at all. Best of all, it's a healthy, low fat soup...so good!

Lottie + Doof's Best Tomato Soup

I'm very picky when it comes to tomato soups. Without the right seasonings it can taste flat and sometimes just look like runny ketchup to me. Lottie + Doof have come up with one of the best tomato soup recipes out there. It requires a little bit more elbow grease than the split pea soup because the tomatoes are roasted with brown sugar (!) before you begin the soup, but this step makes it so worth it. Plus with the addition of all-spice, cayenne, and heavy cream, this soup is beyond flavorful.

Giada's Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup

I found this recipe in the latest issue of Rue Magazine and tried it the following weekend. The idea of the white bean sounded really good and I had never tried it before, plus it had garlic in the title...sold! It takes about 20-30 minutes from start to finish to make this soup, but the combination of flavors makes it taste like you were cooking it for hours. It has sage and whole cloves of garlic in there! The recipe says to divide it up and blend it in a blender, but I just used my hand blender and it worked great.

Next soup I want to try...

Tartelette's Acorn Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

I'm usually a butternut squash gal, but the combination of acorn squash with sweet potato sounds so yummy! The recipe calls for things like maple syrup, curry, and fresh thyme. That little dollop of cream on the top there is spiked with dark rum and lemon zest. In other words, get in my belly!

What I Feel Like Wearing Tuesday...

2011-10-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I bought my first trench while on our girls mini-vacay. I've always wanted a classic trench coat and this weekend I found one that fit perfectly and in budget. I skipped all the way back to the hotel beyond thrilled. It's awesome when you find that piece you've been looking for and most of the time it happens when you least expect it. As the fates would have it, it's miserable and rainy outside, and it looks like it's going to be that way for the rest of the week. Perfect trench weather I think ;-)

Image via Pinterest

Image of the Day: Up The Stairs

2011-10-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Image via LGN

Each to Each

2011-10-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

"I have heard the mermaids singing,each to each." T.S. Eliot

Today is my Friday! All of the guys are going on a fishing trip to NOLA, so Brandy and I are spending a girls weekend with my mom and my sister at the beach before summer completely leaves us. I'm looking forward to a little R&R since we have a busy couple of weeks coming up.

Have a wonderful weekend, signing off!

Image via Patterson Maker

Image of the Day: Grey Velvet

2011-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Loving this grey sofa today. It looks perfect for a nap and a good book.

Image via Pinterest

Image of the Day: Stairs

2011-10-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

Image via Bleubird

Image of the Day: October Light

2011-10-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

Image via Patterson Maker

October Friday

2011-10-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

The first week of October is already finished, it seems like this year has just flown by and before we know it we'll be in the new year.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. We have some appointments set up from the bridal show that we had last week, which means we'll be spending one-on-one time chatting with couples about their big day. Other than work to-do's, the hubs and I are looking forward to finally working on our front yard. The summer heat made it impossible to keep anything growing and it basically became a sad, dried up wasteland of potted plants. Now that it's started to cool down I think it's the perfect time to plant some new flowers and add a little bit of curb appeal to our cozy town home.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Images via Patterson Maker and Pinterest

Image of the Day: Pink

2011-10-05T07:41:00.001-07:00

Image via Amber Interior Design

This Weekend...

2011-10-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

The bridal show was a huge success! We met with so many brides that my head is still spinning, but it was awesome. I had never experienced anything like it before and it was so amazing to hear positive feedback about our work from the brides that visited our booth.

We showed up bright and early to start setting up and I'm glad we did because those tulle garlands were not in the mood to be hung that morning...

If you can believe it, all of that stuff managed to fit under the skirted tables once the show began. Tammy and I ran to the ladies room for a quick wardrobe change before they let the brides in and it was show time!

My sister volunteered me to be interviewed by the staff at The Great Bridal Expo. Turns out speaking directly into a camera is waaaay more nerve racking than facing a crowd of brides...

Overall, we had a great time meeting all of these amazing couples who had so many creative visions for their wedding photography. The whole day was spent having conversations with them about their wedding day, their plans, and how they met. On a side note, we were right next to the Stella & Dot booth! I couldn't help but wander over every now and then to play with all of the jewelry. I especially loved this necklace, it was amazing in person. Ok, back to the show.

I'd just like to give a special shout out to my hubs who stuck around the entire day bringing us water and snacks whenever there was a break in the crowd. He was awesome and looked like our "head of security" standing there by the booth greeting the couples as they stopped by to see us...

Seriously, what is up with my posture in that photo? I can hear my grandmother yelling at me to stand up straight.

The Show is Here!

2011-09-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!

The weekend of the bridal show has finally arrived! As you can imagine, I feel nuts and am running on lots of caffeine. Today I have to pick up a few things and tonight we're going to attempt to put the final booth together in my garage, thanks to the lovely taped outline on the floor made by my husband (he thinks of everything). Hopefully everything will fit and look the way I envisioned it in my head! I'm especially looking forward to seeing the tulle garlands I've been making all week up in the space. They'll sort of look like this:

Except with tulle in a light pink, grey, and white. We figured it would add a bit of whimsy to the booth, I'm hoping it looks pretty against that boring black draping that the booth is made out of. I know most people aren't a fan of balloons at these type of things, but I bought some of these in white...

I couldn't help myself! I love the look these round balloons so much and when the brides are looking for our booth these babies will be signaling our location ;-)

Have a wonderful weekend, I'll make sure to take some photos during the show so that you can see how everything turned out. On another note, I'm loving this post on Not Without Salt where she made her own sea salt using water from her local beach, so cool!

1st and 3rd image via Pinterest, 2nd image via The Rockstar Diaries

Image of the Day: Madrid Sky Light

2011-09-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Image via Nuevo Estilo

Image of the Day: Sharkey's Pad

2011-09-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

Kevin Sharkey's home via Refinery 29

Here's to a stressed weekend...

2011-09-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday lovelies!

I'm so sorry for the lack of posting this week. It has been an insanely busy week because next weekend my sister and I are going to be exhibiting here:

Yes, we're are taking our little photography business and putting it out there for 800-1,000 stressed brides to see! I'm so nervous and excited at the same time. We want our booth to look the best it possibly can, which has not been easy considering we don't have any actual "walls" to work with. So this week I went to Home Depot and with the help of one of their awesome employees (thank you Enoch!) I literally constructed something to hang photos from in the middle of the aisle. My house is a mess and I have to-do lists everywhere because I'm am scared that I'm going to forget something important the day-of. Next week is crunch week and everything needs to be finished.

Wish us lots of bridal show happy dust! We're going to need it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Image via Patterson Maker

Image of the Day: Curved Leather

2011-09-19T07:58:00.001-07:00

Image via Miss Moss

Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's a brand new week and time to announce the winner of the Super by Perricone giveaway!

Congratulations... (drum roll please)

Tamsterg

who said she would like to try...

The 3-Minute Facial uses ginger to stimulate skin and deliver a tingling hydration in 3 minutes!

Congrats Tamsterg!

Please contact me with your information so that you can receive your gift.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!!!

*The winner was chosen randomly using Random.org*

Friday...

2011-09-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Are any of you beginning to feel the hints of Fall arriving? Granted, I'm in S. Florida, so some of you are probably feeling it a lot more than I am, but lately during my morning walk with Brandy I've been noticing a change in the light and there's a cool breeze that wasn't there before. Could it be? Fall is coming to Florida? Oh please let it be true! I am so tired of this humidity and heat, I am ready for some cooler weather!

I made these pumpkin spiced oatmeal pecan cookies this week in an effort to bring the season a little closer. They're awesome and chewy and full of pumpkin flavor, plus they're low in fat, I highly recommend you try them if you like oatmeal cookies. I'm looking forward to snacking on them all weekend ;-)

Have a wonderful weekend! Don't forget the Super by Perricone giveaway ends tonight! Click on the image below to enter:

Image via Patterson Maker

Photo Diary: A Week in Hilton Head

2011-09-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

There are few things in this world more beautiful than the beach. We spent the week at the pool by day and in the afternoons watched the sunsets on the beach while reading our his and hers Kindles. I found my favorite house in Hilton Head and discovered that the seagulls there rather enjoy having their picture taken.

Until next time Hilton Head!

*Images taken by me*

What I Feel Like Wearing Tuesday...

2011-09-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this sweater in the window at Ann Taylor and fell in love. It reminds me of this gorgeous Stella McCartney sweater from a few seasons ago:

It's lighter than the Stella sweater and slightly sheer, which I don't mind since I live in Florida, but the big bold stripes and colors are so perfect.

Definitely one of my must haves for Fall!

Stella sweater image from Pinterest

New Day, New Week

2011-09-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

A new week has started, happy Monday!

After a long week of vacation, it's time to kick everything back in gear. There are so many things to catch up on and new things to get started. So here's to to-do lists and lots of coffee, hopefully I can get everything done while looking as stylish as this lady here. I seriously need to get myself some glasses.

Image via Pinterest

Giveaway: Super by Perricone

2011-09-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce a new giveaway today!

The giveaway is for the amazing products from Super by Perricone. I'm a huge fan of Perricone MD products and have been using them for the past two years, so I was very excited when I was approached by the Perricone team to host of giveaway of Perricone's new line Super.

Super combines the antioxidants found in the world's most powerful super-foods into a line of skin care targeted towards protecting your skin. Each product is described on the site by the type of super-food used to create it and why that food is so important.

Here are a few that I thought looked really cool...

This Superhero Body Sculpting Serum uses the polyphenols benefits of olives to help tone and nourish your skin.

The hydration of melons does wonders for your skin, so it makes total sense to use that melon-magic in an eye brightening cream.

I've been thinking about adding a serum to my night time skin routine and this Night Recharge serum made with red algae looks like a winner.

To enter:

1. Go to the Super by Perricone website and browse through all of their amazing products.

2. Leave a comment telling which Super product you would choose and why you picked it.

3. That's it!

Extra entries:

1. Become a follower of Journeys of Mangonett

*Followers automatically receive an extra entry!

2. Tweet about the giveaway with the following tweet:

I just entered the @getsuper giveaway on the @Mangogal blog! http://tinyurl.com/3ckz9dw

*For each extra entry, please leave a separate comment on this post.*

The giveaway will end next Friday, September 16th at 10pm!

Best wishes!

Weekend Sign Off...

2011-09-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and it's a long weekend, so many good things happening today!

Tony and I are driving up to Hilton Head, SC this weekend to spend the week with my in-laws. The weather forecast says it's going to rain all week, so all that means to me is lots of board games, home cooking, and some quiet time with a good book. I hoping the rain let's up just a little bit so that we can rent some bikes and explore the local trails to work off all that home cooking I plan on eating ;-)

Have a wonderful long weekend and a great week! See you all when we get back!

Image from Proud Mary Textiles via Delight by Design

It's September...

2011-09-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

Happy September!

This is my favorite month of the year, the light begins to change, the fall clothes start arriving in the stores, I turn 28, and Starbucks releases it's pumpkin spice latte. Yes, there are many things to love about September!

Images via Pinterest

P.S.

Head on over to the Rubber Boots blog where my sister and I are talking about our September wish list!

Rooftop Home

2011-08-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

These photos of Claude Wasserstein's rooftop home in Vogue are so pretty! I love the bright colors she chose, especially in her daughter's room. Her garden is so beautiful and wild! I love her backyard set-up with the iron dining set and pretty suzani style tablecloth.

To see more photos click here

Image of the Day: Draped on the Chair

2011-08-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Image via Nuevo Estilo

Mondays and Braids

2011-08-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

Boo, Monday is here. It was not at all easy for me to wake up this morning. I have a feeling there will be a little bit of napping at my desk in the near future since coffee is no where in sight and this chocolate milk isn't cutting it.

In the spirit of my sleepiness I appreciate things that look like they are super complicated to do, but in reality are a no-brainer like this snake braid...

I love using braids as a quick way to pull my hair out of my face, especially my bangs, and I thought this snake braid was such a nice spin on the classic. When I first saw this image of Melissa I thought it looked like something that would require me to sit in front of the mirror for a while telling my husband that I need absolute silence to pull this off, but in her tutorial she shows that it is beyond easy!

Easy is good for Monday.

Images via Pinterest and Oh My God, Unicorns

Moves...

2011-08-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

I always thought Mick Jagger's dance moves were insanely cool, so needless to say this is my favorite song right now. It's got me singing out loud in the car and practicing my "Jagger moves".

In the spirit of Mr. Jagger, here's a little ensemble I put together styled around your favorite Rolling Stone's tee. Paired with dark denim, a serious arm party, and lot's of red!

Have a great weekend!

Pretty in a Top Knot

2011-08-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

There's something about pretty, easy-going hair that just gets me every time. I love this top-bun hair style that was used for the MiH Jeans Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook. Instead of a tight top knot, they chose a pretty relaxed bun and simply parted her bangs down the middle, which is a great option for someone like me who has their bangs currently in that stage where they are too short to stay up, but need to be styled. The clothes are pretty darn adorable too. I need that blue top and while blazer!

Photos by Vanessa Jackman

K & N's Wedding

2011-08-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

The wedding was a success, everyone was so happy for the bride and groom, and the two of them were giddy the whole night. I had so much fun dancing the night away with handsome date, almost four years since our wedding day and he still makes my heart flutter ;-)

*Photos taken by me*

Wedding Jump!

2011-08-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

Tomorrow we're off to a wedding over two years in the making and we are beyond thrilled for them to be starting this amazing new chapter in their lives. I'm so excited celebrate with the happy couple, drinking bubbly and dancing the night away with my hubs, snacking on wedding cake and inventing awkward new dance moves that I'm sure will end up in the wedding video. Gotta love weddings!

Have a wonderful weekend, see you all on Monday!

Image via Pinterest

What I Feel Like Wearing Tuesday

2011-08-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

I might be the last person in the world to have known about this, but over the weekend I was reading the September issue of Lucky and practically starting jumping up and down on the sofa when I saw that J Crew finally released it's own shade of their oh-so-gorgeous red lipstick that I've loved seeing on their models. Created by Poppy King, it's described as the perfect coral red and sells for $18. Such a pretty red, I crossing my fingers and hoping it works with my skin tone so that I can add this to my makeup arsenal this fall.

Images by JCrew

Daydreaming

2011-08-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

I figured there's no better way to start the weekend than with photo of my ultimate dream home. Yes, if I lived here I would become a hermit because I would see no reason to leave such a beautiful place. The teak shingles, the endless windows, that amazing balcony on the second floor, and of course the unobstructed view of the ocean...I love it all. I would decorate it like Diane Keaton's house in Something's Gotta Give and live out the rest of my days collecting pebbles on the beach.

A girl can dream can't she?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Image by Jamie Beck

Mushroom Hunting

2011-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

The three of us went on a little mushroom hunt trying to find as many different mushrooms as we could. With all of the rain lately mushrooms are growing all over the neighborhood and I was amazed that there were so many different kinds. Turns out Brandy is the best mushroom hunting golden retriever out there, at least that's what we told her.

*Images taken by me ;-)

Image of the Day: Pillow White

2011-08-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Image via Delight by Design

Image of the Day: Water Mosaic

2011-08-09T07:18:00.001-07:00

Image via Elle Decor

What I Feel Like Wearing Tuesday

2011-08-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Summer weddings are romantic and pretty, and hot! Next weekend our friends are finally getting married after a long two year engagement and we couldn't be happier for them. I'm actually more preoccupied with I'm going to do with my hair than what I'm going to wear. Last thing I want is to show up in the wedding photos with a hot frizzy mess on my head, so I think my best bet is to put it up in something simple but pretty.

I'm thinking of going with one of these three updo's depending on what kind of dress I end up wearing:

The classic ballerina bun is always a winner the humid summer weather. I really like this one because it creates a sleeker and bigger bun on the top of your head rather than the tighter version.

This soft, twisted updo is so pretty too. It looks complicated, but the tutorial shows that it's actually really easy. The softer look could work really nicely with a flowy dress.

This chestnut bun is the perfect compromise between the two, a nice bun to pull my hair back on a humid day but still soft.

Now to figure out what to wear!

Image via The Beauty Department and Cup of Jo

Pumped Up Kicks

2011-08-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!

I couldn't stop listening to this song all weekend, so I figured it would be fitting to start off the week with it too. We got my brother-in-law moved in yesterday complete with a trip to IKEA and some serious furniture rearranging. My husband and his brother seemed to be very impressed with how I pretty much had the whole layout to the place memorized, no comment on that one.

Bring on the week!

Image of the Day: Pink Sketch

2011-08-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Image from Rue via Design is Mine

Makeup, Moving, and the Weekend

2011-08-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

I love these photos of Karlie Kloss, they make me want to get all dolled up tonight and take my husband out on the town. I think the fact that I have been obsessively watching Pixiwoo makeup tutorials is the culprit behind why I'm looking to step out of my mascara-concealer-lip gloss routine and do something a bit more dramatic. For instance, check out this Karen Elson inspired tutorial, so pretty!

If there is anything I have learned from watching these videos is that makeup brushes are insanely important. It turns out that Sam (we're on a first name basis now) released her own brush line from Real Techniques and uses them constantly. Right now I'm intrigued by her Stippling brush that she uses for blending practically everything. It looks awesome, and I just so happen to have a coupon for Ulta, so I think I'm going to pop by this weekend and pick one up.

This weekend my brother-in-law is officially moving down to Florida! Which means that my need for eye shadow and lipstick will have to wait since I don't think a smokey eye is proper "moving makeup". We're really excited to have him down here and moved in to his new place. The rest of the weekend is going to be spent spending some quality time with family and maybe even finishing some projects that I've been working on. So have a wonderful weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

Karlie Gloss images by Terry Richardson via ZAC

Image of the Day: Greenhouse

2011-08-05T07:02:00.001-07:00

This kitchen reminds me of a greenhouse...

Image via Bryn Alexandra

Maegan's Room Reveal

2011-08-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Maegan from ...Love Maegan revealed her office/dressing room today and it is so pretty!

How great would it be to have a room full of beautiful things that you've collected and a place to display your favorite heels and jewelry like art?

Click here to see the rest of the reveal!

Image of the Day: Bedroom Terrace

2011-08-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Image via AD

Weekend! Weekend! Weekend!

2011-07-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday my dears!

I hope you all had a fabulous week that went by fast so that you can start your weekend!

As for me, the week did not go fast, but I am super excited to start the weekend. My long-time friend that I have known since the first grade is in town with her new baby boy, who we affectionatly call "Meatball" (because he's delicious!). I'll be spending my weekend soaking up the rays and catching up with her on the funny stories that come with being a new mom.

Have a wonderful weekend! And I'll leave you with three of my favorite images from the new Rue issue to help us all start off the weekend with pretty spaces...

I love the bookcase filled with cookbooks! I would love to one day have a bookcase in the kitchen filled with my favorite cookbooks full of notes in the margins and post-its (i.e. I actually use them).

Love this bed, so dramatic.

These chairs are awesome, so delicate looking.

Images from Rue

Shopping Absolutely Beautiful Things

2011-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Anna Spiro's online shop went live today!

When she announced that she was opening an online shop as a way to give everyone access to the amazing items she uses in her designs, I was so excited to see how it was going to look and what she would be offering.

The shop is set up in a really cool way. Instead of your basic list and price format, she created a vignette of all the items currently being sold. Each item is numbered and all you have to do is click on the item to be taken to the listing page where you can find pricing and additional info, as well as adding it to your cart...

Aren't her vignette's pretty? Such a great way to present the items! I love how it gives me a visual of how everything looks in a room.

Congratulations Anna!

Images from Absolutely Beautiful Things Blog and Shop

Hot Tea in the Summer

2011-07-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovelies!

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts, I've been sick since last week with what I thought was bad allergies, but since people around me are now getting it, I guess it's some sort of mutant summer head cold. Honestly, is there anything worse than having a cold when its 98 degrees outside? I'm walking around with hot tea and cough drops while everyone else is running around in their bathing suits...there's something wrong here.

Right now I'm just trying to take it easy and get better, but I'll be back to regular posting soon!

Image via We Heart It

Dsquared2 x Length = Fabulous

2011-07-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

These images from the Dsquared2 2012 resort collection have me reaching towards greater lengths lately when it comes to my jeans and pants. This Fall I'm definitely going to be looking for styles that are beautifully fitted, slightly flared, and longer in length than I normally where. How great are the colors too? I especially love the chambray and pink combo.

Images from here

Image of the Day: Nestled

2011-07-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

Image from Lonny

If I was from Paris...

2011-07-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

I can't stop listening to this song, makes me want to strut ;-)

Image of the Day: Sandhill in Nantucket

2011-07-18T06:51:00.001-07:00

Image from Elle Decor

Image of the Day: Heading to NOLA

2011-07-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

My husband's grandma passed away over the weekend, so tomorrow we're heading up to New Orleans for the funeral. It's been a sad week, but I'm glad I got to know her before she passed. She was such a sweet lady full of true southern hospitality. She will be missed.

I'll be back to regular posting next week, have a great weekend!

Image via We Heart It

Swing of Things

2011-07-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. We did so much relaxing this weekend that its taking me a little bit more effort than I would like to get back into the swing of things. If it were up to me I'd be hanging out on the beach with my flip-flops and favorite summer dress like this happy lady right here. I guess that's the only bummer of long weekends right? They just don't seem to be long enough.

Image via The Sartorialist

Weekend Sign off...

2011-07-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

I love weekends, but long weekends are even better. I woke up this morning to the sun shining after a week of overcast days and non-stop rain, hopefully the sun will stay all weekend long. This weekend will be filled with lots of homecooking, long walks, and the tackling of DIY projects that have been piling up all over my dining room.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Image via Retrogoddess

Rust

2011-07-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Lately I find myself gravitating towards delicate pieces of jewelery, and I'm particularly loving these pretty pieces from Rust. Rust is owned by Artemis and Nao, the writers of the wonderful blog Junkaholique, based out of England. Everything is handmade and inspired by the antique markets they frequent all over London...

Quill rings and print tie necklace

I absolutely love their wedding rings! So gorgeous!

Platinum Rose Cut Diamond Ring and Gold Oak Leaf Ring

Fox earrings and Pear necklace

I can't seem to decide which one I like more!

Found via Decor8, Images by Rust

Image of the Day: A Runner

2011-06-30T11:11:00.001-07:00

Image via Patterson Maker from Elle Decor

Foodie Wednesday: Always with Butter

2011-06-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

There's something about unexpected flavor combinations that intrigue me. Separately they are good, but together, they are amazing! Like peanut butter and jelly, bananas and brown sugar, Wendy's frosties and french fries...is that just me?

One of my favorite food blogs when it comes flavor combinations is Always with Butter written by Julie Marie, fellow foodie and an awesome photographer. Take a look at these beauties...

Banana, Nutella, and Cream Cheese Cake

Chocolate Blackberry Cake

Baked Apples and Molasses

Amazing isn't it? There are so many recipes I want to try, so little time!

All images by Julie Marie Craig via Always with Butter

Design*Sponge at Home is here!

2011-06-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

This morning I was so excited to receive the announcement from the amazing Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge that her book is finally here!

It looks like it's going to be amazing, full of projects and inspirational spaces in true Design*Sponge style. You can check out the book page here for more info and best part, it's available for pre-order! I can't wait to receive my copy and start pouring through the pages.

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

Congratulations Grace! It looks amazing!

Book images via Design*Sponge

Image of the Day: Bunk Up

2011-06-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Image via Inspiration for Decoration

This Weekend...

2011-06-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

We're back from our mini-vacay in Orlando and I'm feeling relaxed and re-energized, ready to take on the week! We woke up early Thursday morning and drove up with our beloved road trip companions called Vanilla Latte 1 and Vanilla Latte 2 by our side...

The hotel was beautiful and it smelled amazing! I asked Felix, the sweetest concierge ever, what the smell was and he said it was a scent that the JW Marriott and Glade collaborated on to create a signature scent for all the hotels. Then he followed this by stating that you can't find this scent anywhere as if he knew that I was already planning on buying 20 of these candles and spreading them all over the house. Turns out, he's right, I can't find it anywhere, bummer. I guess he saw how bummed I was because he sent us a fruit tray...cured! Thank you Felix!

I find it interesting how when I'm on vacation I have absolutely no problem waking up before sunrise and yet on a work day I do an awesome imitation of a 7 year old being woken up for school. I took this photo while sitting on the bed in my robe watching the sun come up, gotta love those robes.

I took these photos with my camera phone, but I promise to post more actual photos soon. Wait until you see our neon pool floaties ;-)