DIY: Ribbon Wrapped Pendant Light

This is such a simple idea but yet what an impact it has in this room. I cannot wait to try making one for my studio. I think it'll add a much needed pop of color. Simply wrap two lamp frames together with the colored ribbon of your choice to form this gorgeous pendant light. Full Martha Stewart tutorial here

A few of my favorite looks for Fall

Gisele Bündchen
I am loving these trench coats especially the leopard one. Talk about awesome when paired with jeans and a sweater/shirt combo.
Leopard print trench

I love the two tone jacket paired with the shorts and tights! Not to mention that awesome bag!!
Ok I admit it, I love rubber boots and I wear them all winter long. Doesn't matter with what, jeans, leggings or tights, they always work for me. Plus my feet never get wet or cold as I have a pair that are winterized. Oh yah! 
gray cableknit sweater
Can anyone live without cable knit sweaters? Uh, I don't think so....especially when it's -20 outside. This year I also have a little crush on plaid. Yup, I said it, a total crush on plaid and although I love the subtle plaid paired with a cable knit sweater, this season I went all out and bought a pair of flaming red plaid tights. I still can't believe it.....I don't think my husband has recovered yet, I'll keep you posted.
a dash of plaid + burgundy
All photos via my Pinterest Board

Anthropologie

Whenever I'm looking for some inspiration I turn to some of my favorite stores, one of which is Anthropologie. The designer in me just loves looking at the different spaces, the materials used, the architectural elements and the installations. The maker in me just loves the hand made objects and unusual items sold there. There is such a creative vibe that you just can't help but leave inspired. Here's a look at some of Anthropologie's interiors from around the world.  




All photos via Pinterest

It's all about Rosemary

Rosemary Infused Olive Oil |

I love cooking with fresh herbs and one of my favorite herbs is rosemary. Since I'm having some friends over for supper this weekend I thought I'd add a couple of rosemary accompaniments to our menu. The first one I'm going to make is Rosemary infused olive oil, which goes so nicely with crusty bread (my fave) as well as over roasted vegetables, and the second is Rosemary Butter Cookies. Both these recipes are fairly easy and not too time consuming - perfect for adding some extra pizzazz to the evening without spending all day in the kitchen. 

Beach Pastels



As summer is drawing to a close I find myself craving the ocean and the beach even more than usual so these pictures made me very happy this morning. Is there anything softer and more beautiful that the colors of the sea, the sun and the sand? not to mention some pastel colored surf boards :)

This beautiful board was created by Jennifer from Coco and Mingo
with thanks,
xo Tracey

Compostable Dinnerware

Aren't innovative people fabulous. I cannot believe that these beautiful dishes are made from fallen leaves. Yes, you read this right.....fallen leaves. Michael Dwork, the founder of Verterra, has created this dinnerware which is compostable and chemical free. AND 80% of the water used in the production of these dishes is recaptured and reused. Simply AWESOME. Click here for purchase information.

The colors of nature: Gold


Isn't this beautiful. The sun's reflection on the water makes for an ocean of liquid gold.

Golden leaves on a tree at dusk. 
 the beaches sand becomes gold at dusk - looks just like melting gold
Sand becomes golden lava as the evening sun hits the water

photos via my tumblr and my pinterest

Artist Melissa Pop

"La Primavera"

an original watercolor painting by Melissa Pop.

I fell in love with Melissa Pop's paintings the minute I saw them on Pinterest. One look and I was sold. Beautiful, cheerful, reflective and soulful are some of the words I'd use to describe Melissa's paintings and one of my favorite paintings is "La Primavera" which is shown above. The way Melissa has depicted the many colors of the wave as the sun shines through it is just remarkable. There is a luminescence about this painting that draws the viewer in, to the point where you feel like you are part of the wave and part of something bigger than yourself. I love the feelings of warmth and security that I get from this painting and although I know I can't, I feel like I could crawl inside that wave and spend all eternity there.

"Freedom" is a little more soulful and at first glance, a little colder, but do not be fooled, this painting offers up a flight of imagination as vivid as the birds it portrays.

"Until the Lights Come On", "Underwater Melody" and "Tropical Delight" all depict the vibrant colors of tropical life and offer you the opportunity to experience the natural beauty both above and below the water.


"Freedom"

an original acrylic painting by Melissa Pop

"Until the Lights Come On"

an original acrylic painting by Melissa Pop

"Underwater Melody"

an original acrylic painting by Melissa Pop.

"Tropical Delight"

an original acrylic painting by Melissa Pop.

Born in Montreal but living in Panama since 2008, Melissa's inspiration has been the colors and rhythm of her day to day life there. Each painting is a little portrait of her surroundings and the life she now leads. To see more of Melissa's artwork please visit her website or her facebook page. You can also follow Melissa at: twitter: @melipopart, pinterest: @melipopart, and instagram: @ melipopart. 

Many thanks to Melissa Pop for giving me permission to do this post. 

100 ways to uncomplicate your life

I have been striving to uncomplicate my life for a while now so when I fell upon this post I just had to share it. I have already implemented most of these over the last few years but I still have trouble with numbers 10, 82, 90 & 94. Lets just say it's a work in progress. This is a photo of me in 2009 (part of my effort to do #94.) in one of my favorite places - Cape Cod. This store is in Brewster (I can't remember the name) but they sell the most beautiful tea towels you'll ever find. Cape Cod is also home to some of the nicest people I've ever met while on vacation so if you haven't been you should definitely put it on your bucket list. 

100 ways to uncomplicate your life with thanks to livethecharmedlife.com


1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds
2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired
3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night, so that you think more clearly
5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare
6. Balance your checkbook
7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.
8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.
9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years
10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others
11. Stay home this Saturday and finish off that nagging chore
12. Kiss and make up
13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market
14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month
15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full
16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad, or mad
17. Pay your bills on time
18. Get an annual physical examination
19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.
20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are
21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years
22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair and that can’t be mended
23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.
24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities
25. Tell the truth
26. Don’t cheat
27. Don’t steal
28. If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go
29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore
30. Do your best at work, or at school
31. Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry
32. Eat when you are hungry
33. Be yourself
34. Say no unapologetically
35. Cook simple meals
36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses
37. Pay off your car before buying a new one
38. Organise your desk at the office
39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, and again when they fall back
40. Organise your important paperwork
41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday
42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers
43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms/bathrooms, because they’re easily bleached
44. Spend your time with nice people
45. Avoid drama
46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving
47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers
48. Don’t engage in office politics
49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs
50. Do the dishes right after dinner
51. Never go to sleep angry
52. Ask nicely for what you need and want
53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart
54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger
55. Leave work at work
56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy
57. Don’t envy others
58. Have your oil changed
59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold
60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day
61. Weed your garden weekly
62. Wash your car weekly
63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time
64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships
65. Don’t drink and drive
66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.
67. Be friendly with your neighbours
68. Return emails and phone messages promptly
69. Schedule in free time
70. Don’t procrastinate
71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it
72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be
73. Forgive and forget. End of story.
74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity
75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose
76. Take care of any health issues or concerns
77. Have your tires rotated
78. Have your brakes checked
79. Have your eyes checked
80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you
81. Let go of perfection in others
82. Let go of perfection in yourself
83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves
84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work
85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by
86. Drink more water
87. Eat more salmon
88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style
90. Finish what you start
91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style
92. Create a daily routine
93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals
94. Slow down
95. Eat out less often
96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one
97. Allow your children to grow up
98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year
99. Stretch every day
100. If a relationship is over, let it go

H & M Simple Living Collection

I really like the new Simple Living Collection from H & M. I'm a big fan of maps and their new bedding has a map of NY and so do the curtains. I also love burlap bags and they have a few reproductions in the form of linen cushion covers and kitchen accessories. However, if this collection isn't to your taste there are many more to choose from. 

Rustic Reality

wine bottle chandelier + open shelves
I seem to have been bitten by the Rustic bug of late.  I especially love it when there are rustic elements combined with really modern ones such as in the photo above. The Ghost chairs and modern table really work well with the rustic shelves and DIY bottle chandelier. You can see more of my Rustic photos on my Pinterest board.
Workbench

ceramic pendant lights

love the blue pendant lights + cups



The colors of nature: Green

 
The color of food never ceases to amaze me. The intensity of the hues are just phenomenal. Here are a few examples of the color green.

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