Cool Red House

Not many houses can be red.  But this one is perfect.  It looks like a converted barn and, while I trend to more modern style, I think this is super sharp!

via 4InspiredDesign

Pretzel Jello Recipe

So, what I thought was just a weird family recipe turns out to be a favorite to many.  I keep seeing this picture and I'm wondering how many other people make it and what they call it.  This one is slightly different from ours (we use pineapple juice to make the jello and no brown sugar in the pretzels) but otherwise, it's pretty much the same.  I'll make my own and take a picture, in the meantime here's the recipe I found online.  I know it sounds weird, but seriously... you need to try it!

 

2 1/2 c. pretzels (crushed fine)

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

3/4 c. butter

1 (6 oz) pkg instant strawberry jello

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries or small container (16 oz) sliced fresh strawberries 

1 ( 8 oz ) pkg cream cheese

1 c. sugar

8 oz. cool whip

Combine pretzels, brown sugar, and melted butter and press into a greased 9 X 13 pan. You can use more butter if the crust isn't sticking together. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes.

Make jello according to directions and add the strawberries. Refrigerate until partially set. *If it is not set enough it will leak through your cream cheese layer and make your pretzels soggy.

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Blend in cool whip. Spread over cooled crust make sure you spread completely to the edges to create a seal so your jello doesn't leak through. Pour jello over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate.  Via The-Girl-Who-Ate-Everything.com

Map art

This is truly stunning.  It's a map that has been cut up, framed and then put back together.  Such a gorgeous statement on the wall! 

all from Cococozy

I want to hang pictures here...

These gold frames look so great on the back of a door... They'd be even better on a black door!

coco + kelley

Literally adorable Christmas Tree

.... with lights!  Merry Christmas.

my modern met

Christmas Gifts from Shutterfly

So if you're a last minute shopper like me, you'll be happy to know it's not too late to order special personalized gifts from Shutterfly.  I get my cards and calendars from them every year and they're always great.  I take a million pictures of my children all year and this is the perfect way to share them with the grandparents.  The paper is always a nice heavy stock and the images crisp and clear.  I might also order a poster for my son with pictures of some of his greatest hockey moments but today I'm focused on cards!  They need to get in the mail soon and I'm loving this one:

They offer gifts allowing you to put pictures on everything from blankets to mugs and somehow they ship everything really fast.  While you're at it, you can order Thank You cards with a different picture to send after the holidays. Now that's planning ahead!  Click on the links for more information....

Holiday greetings http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
Thank you cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards
Photo blankets http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/fleece-photo-blankets

For a wedding

This is such a lovely wedding spot.

HauteMama on Tumblr

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  I hope you have a wonderful day filled with family and friends to cherish and adore.

xxxo

dustjacketattic.blogspot

Most wonderful time of the year

It's only November 10th but I need to have a meeting with myself to discuss Christmas decorating.  I'm anxious to get started but I think it's a little early.  This year I'm going to post pictures of my own holiday decor... stay tuned!

Charlotta Ward

Charlotta Ward

Living Etc

Happy ~Elegant~ Halloween

Due to the snow and all the power outtages, there is no school here in Massachusetts and Halloween has been rescheduled to November 5th.  Seriously.

Abigail Ahern

The dining room

It's almost Halloween which means Christmas is about 3 weeks away - OK, it will seem like 3 weeks.  I promised myself last year that I was going to strip the wallpaper (applied by the previous owners in the 90's) before I host Christmas Eve dinner in 2011.  But, umm, I haven't quite made it happen.  Procrastinators Unite - Tomorrow!  I'm thining of a fairly deep gray color, which will make my Ikea Maskros light stand out.  These are just rooms I like: 

Elle Decor

Elle Decor

Elle Decor

source unknown

housebeautiful

Happy colorful Saturday morning

Just some pretty color for today.

Flickr - Rin-ka

unk

Coolhunting Chimera

A client took this photograph of my acorns and it's a favorite - thank you M. Heart!

Ted Muehling - would a love letter be a bit much???

Everyone has a design crush and for me it's Ted Muehling.  His candlesticks make me weak in the knees.  One day my ship is gonna come in and I'm buying a bunch of them!  So, you know, never. 

I need to explain a lot more.  It all started several years ago when I was shopping with my friends on Charles Street in Boston.  By chance we just glanced into the window of a little shop called E.R. Butler and thought... never heard of it... sure... we'll go in.  So we pressed the buzzer.... they looked us over... we didn't appear to be packin' heat... they let us in.  In the words of Julia Roberts... "Big Mistake.  Huge."  I took a few short steps and stopped in my tracks.  In the middle of the room was a gigantic table.  And in the middle of the gigantic table was an ensemble of candlesticks.  Elegant, lovely, striking.  There must have been 30 of them.  It was an assortment of the classic Ted Muehling candlesticks in his oh-so-recognizable Egg and Dart design.  I started asking questions and the rest is a blur.  I left clutching a brochure.

I seem to spot the candlesticks everywhere.  Did you see them in the movie "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin.  No?  Clearly you weren't paying attention - they were on the fireplace.  I smacked my girlfriend's arm and whispered "Ted Muehling".  Meryl's a smart woman, I bet she got to keep 'hem after they were done filming.  (Meryl, call me!)

There are 19 different shapes in the Egg and Dart Collection designed for ER Butler.  They come in oxidized bronze, silver and gold plated.  I click my heels every day and whisper "There's nothing like egg shapes in silver, there's nothing like egg shapes in silver" but so far, nothing has happened.

  "Yoohoo.... um, Ted?  It's me, Terri."

Crochet Rugs - Doily Rugs

This is one of those DIY projects that sounds great until you start doing it.  By Year 2, I think I'd be sick of it.  So why am I still dying to make one?  I'm not sure.  But I'm in search of an affordable source for the materials.  Because I think one of these rugs.... takes A LOT of yardage.

timesunion

summitridgestudio

Mary Marie Knits on Etsy

Purlbee

Ladies and Gentlemen on Etsy

 And, for the overachiever, you can add lights!  See more pictures here.

thewoolacorn via Topstail

You may also like this post about a colorful DIY rug:

thewoolacorn via Free People

Cool Light Bulbs

It's not too often that a light bulb makes you do a double take... but, well... here you go.  Pair them with a colored cord kit from Ikea and you've got one stylish bare bulb.  The bulbs are $29 from Plumen.