Mid-Week

Yikes! This week is getting away from me. What have you been up to? I've been...

Photo via Chappaqua Crunch Granola

Making this yummy granola recipe and eating it with bananas and almond milk (my favorite cruelty-free milk) for breakfast, mmmm.

Joining a new gym right next to my office so I can get a workout after work and miss all the rush-hour traffic; win-win, no?

Photo via Twelve

Trying Twelve and being pleasantly surprised by how light yet flavorful it is. You can find this gently carbonated tea and juice infused non-alcoholic beverage at Whole Foods, Wegmans, Food Emporiums and more.

Shopping (well... more like window shopping in the digital sense of the word) at Scandinavian Design Center. One of my favorites? Trond Svendgård's Snowball Lamp.

Design Inspiration: Platform Bed

Photo via Alcazar Furniture

Everyone I know has a different taste when it comes to beds. Be it a preference for a sturdy brass four-poster, an oak canopy, or a leather covered headboard - there are as many choices as to what we sleep in as there are people to join us beneath the sheets! My favorite style of bed, however, has to be the understated platform. The unfussy nature of this minimal style makes for easy sheet-tucking without overwhelming even the most modest loft. Platforms are also exceptionally versatile, so their the perfect choice for people who like to frequently change the style or flow of their bedroom. Platform beds work especially well in Asian inspired or contemporary rooms, and many serve double-duty by boasting storage space underneath. Not sure how to make this type of bed work for you? Check out these beautiful rooms bedrooms for some serious design inspiration.

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Tinypic

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via CB2

Boyfriend Blazer

Photo via Victoria's Secret

I may be on the tail end of this fashion trend, but lately I can't get enough of the boyfriend blazer. Generously cut, this transitional piece is comfy and surprisingly flattering thanks to a single, strategic button. This Sartorialist photo of Alessandra Colombo is what sent me from a healthy enjoyment of the look to borderline obsession. Plus, it's so versatile that the same jacket can add new life to a number of wilting wardrobe ensembles all year long.

Photo via AprilMarin

Inspiration Boards

Photo via Paper Tastebuds

Is a lack-luster workspace leaving you without creative kindling? Sometimes a simple change or addition to your desk, studio, or shop can be just the trick to start producing with purpose once more. One such addition is an inspiration board. Your inspiration board can be as simple as an old cork board or as lavish as a fabric-covered board, bordered by a gilded antique frame. The medium is up to you, and the only directions are to fill up the space with photos, quotes, do-dads, clippings, and trinkets that you find inspirational. Maybe yours will have a ballet ticket stub, an old necklace, and a photo from your trip to Amsterdam, or perhaps a bright Japanese candy wrapper, fashion pictures from Vogue, and a postcard from a friend's trip to Mexico. There does not have to be any rhyme or reason to what is on your board, as long as it gets your mind flickering and your heart pattering, you've done it right. Don't be afraid to change out your inspirational items when the time feels right - just as your creative process is dynamic and evolving, so too should your inspiration board be.

Photo via Coco Sunday

Photo via MadeByGirl

Photo via A Cottage Industry

Artist Spotlight: Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Jenny Meilihove is a Russian born illustrator living in Jerusalem whose work is both adorably quirky and bright. Her equally adorable website can be found here and an Etsy shop here where you can find originals and prints alike. I especially adore her rich watercolors. Even her workspace (see the last picture) is so fun and creativity inducing. This children's book she's illustrated looks so fantastical... any translators?

If you like any of the pictures you see, be sure to click on the links below - they'll take you to Jenny's website where there are plenty more (many of which I had hoped to post but were too big to do them justice here).

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Artwork by Jenny Meilihove

Calendar by Jenny Meilihove

Picture via Jenny Meilihove

The Year of Pleasures

I just finished The Year of Pleasures, a novel by Elizabeth Berg, and true to the title, the book was a pleasure in itself. Berg has a beautiful, descriptive way of writing that brings her scenes to life and paints a rich picture of her characters. The storyline is very much for the female crowd, as the main character Betta deals with the loss of her husband by moving to small town in Illinois and learning how to live without him. There are moments of empowerment and helplessness along the way, but never without the simple joys that make life worth the struggle. It’s the perfect read for a wintry day by the fireplace; recommended for your grandmother and grown daughter alike.

Berg’s descriptions had me picturing every little detail in the book so vividly I was ready to run off and move to the Midwest myself. Here are a few pleasures I’ve been dreaming about since flipping the back cover…

Photo via GPB

Betta is always cooking or baking something for someone, relishing in her nurturing instinct. Even though I’m not one for baking myself, she seemed to find such joy in the process I entertained the thought.

Photo via Lennoxx

Betta has her bedroom painted pale blue to make the space more relaxing, and I love the idea of a matching the shade with a sunny yellow and bright white.

Photo via Houzz

There are several mentions of antique birdcages in the book, and what could be a more fun and beautiful decoration? My gram has had a large birdcage on her mantel for years, filled with little figurines and treasures. I like the idea of hanging a couple from the ceiling, wound with white twinkle lights like lanterns.

Photo via Hugo Naturals

Even bathing takes on an air of luxury in Berg’s novel. Betta would make a production of it, putting on an old album and taking a slow bath, lingering in the warm water. It made me want to do the same, so I promptly picked up a sliver of Hugo Naturals handmade soap and got to it! I have to put in a word for this delightfully scented, all-natural brand that left me skin soft and lush, no moisturizer needed.

Miniature Pumpkins

Photo from Delish

A couple weeks ago I wrote about ways to celebrate the awesomeness of autumn (check it out here) and I realize now that miniature pumpkins really do belong on the short list. Never mind trying to grow a prize-winning 1,500 pound behemouth of a gourd, mini pumpkins win the cuteness prize every time. But what to do with these petite pumps? Here's a few suggestions. At about $1 a pop, why not try them all?

Photo from Southern Living

Toss a few into your fading window boxes or barren flower beds to liven up the landscape

Bake a teeny, tiny, pumpkin tartelette
*or just eat one
** not necessarily made from your teeny tiny pumpkin

Leave one on your neighbor's doorstep, at your mom's house, for the mail-person...

Make a photo holder by hot gluing a paper clip to the back-side of your mini-pumpkin's stem - slide a photo into the clip and display!

Make a Mini Pumpkin Centerpiece, a la Martha Stewart

Photo from Martha Stewart Living

Summer: MoMA Style

I was flipping through the most recent MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) catalog today and found a few treasures that seemed perfect for the dog days of summer.

Salt Cellar found here

This Salt Cellar is the perfect place to stash your favorite kitchen salt (I prefer this course sea salt for it's flavor and heft) to make quick, simple summer meals feel a little more gourmet. I always wanted to have those little bowls they use in cooking shows; pre-filled with 2 and 3/16 teaspoons of rare patagonian paprika to be dashed into a stew at just the right moment. However, all those extra little bowls would probably not be worth the extra (albeit tiny) dishes to wash, so this salt cellar seems a happy compromise.

Sky Umbrella found here

When those afternoon thunderstorms roll through, this clever Sky Umbrella is the perfect way to be all business on the outside, and optimistic on the inside. It also comes in a collapsible variety.

Bookworm Shelf found here

I love how this Bookworm Shelf turns a plain wall into an artistic statement. And what better way to display your summer reading and strike up a literary conversation? Have you been reading anything good this summer? I'm working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. In fact, I am off to get a few more chapters under my belt tonight.

Finals Week

Hello everyone! Blog posts may become a bit sporadic this week as it is my last week of school - ever! Final papers, presentations, studying, and packing have sucked up every last bit of free time I once had. I hope to get fresh content up shortly - but in the mean time why not have something pretty to look at? Enjoy these photos - taken by yours truly - from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

Lazy Sunday: Evening Grilling

It has been a 90 degree day in Denver, and apartment 303's clocking in at a rather cozy (ok, stifling) 81 degrees. The thought of turning on the oven is enough to make my toes sweat, so a no-cook dinner is in the works. If I had a grill, though, it would be the perfect evening to fire up some fresh vegetable kabobs and delicious Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage grain sausages (soy free and vegan, because the best grilling is done without cruelty) to accompany a crunchy iceburg salad. Perhaps some watermelon for dessert? Yes please. Dinner would naturally be followed by serious hammock lounging (1 hour minimum) and reading on the porch by candlelight. Ah...

Design Inspiration: Warm Spaces

Photo by David Allee via NYMag

You may have noticed from some of my other interior design posts that I gravitate towards clean, simple spaces - but I also love rooms that combine natural elements to create warmth. This living room and kitchen, found on the New York Magazine website, may just be my favorite room set yet. Open and airy yet inviting and cozy, architect Diane Kellog and her husband, writer Neil Burger, have created an exceptionally beautiful and livable space. To see more of Diane's work, check out her website here.

Photo by David Allee via NYMag

Artist Spotlight: Ashley Collins

Mend by Ashley Collins via Diehl Gallery

The stunning artwork of Ashley Collins is truly unique from the layering technique (mixed media like aged paper and resin create depth and texture) to the sheer size (many works are 7' x 8' and 8' x 10') to the subjects (simple, neutral color combinations, words and print, and powerful animals). I love the stark yet full nature of the plain backgrounds coupled with striking images that are not overly complicated. To me, her style captures the energy of her subjects in an organic and unrefined way. Not only are Ashley’s final products inspiring, but to see her working in her studio is a treat in and of itself. Check out the photos below to see what I mean. To see more of Ashley’s work and learn more about the artist herself, check out her website here. 

Ashley Collins in her studio via Boise Weekly

Ashley Collins in her studio via Diehl Gallery

Caballo by Ashley Collins via Karin Sanders 

Life by Ashley Collins via Karin Sanders

Ashley Collins Work via Artmajeur

Dune By Ashley Collins via ArtMo

Lazy Sunday: Morning Reading

There's something so appealing about sitting down with a stack of books this morning, sipping iced tea on the porch, and watching the world wake up. Since I am at a lack of porch, or patio for that matter, and my stack of reading is of the academic variety, I am off to the library to watch my computer screen instead. With any luck I'll finish in time to watch the world fall asleep as I skim the pages of something entirely business-less. What are you reading today?

Design Inspiration: Bright Kitchens

Photo via Interior Design Story

There's something about a bright, white kitchen that sets the tone for a beautiful home. I especially love kitchens with lots of natural light, so large south-facing windows would be ideal for creating a bright, open, and airy space. To me, the more space a kitchen affords, the easier it is to spread out and prep food comfortably and enjoyably. Since space is at a premium for those of us in apartments, the illusion of space and light can be achieved with the use of light and bright colors and framed mirrors to reflect light and expand the perceived size of the area. 

Photo via Room Envy

Photo via Country Living

Simple Aesthetics

Photo via Stock Vault

I enjoyed my all-time favorite simple pleasure today - a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice; or as I like to call it, liquid sunshine. All it took was 2 organic valencia oranges and a little elbow grease. There's no pasteurized juice out there that can even compete on taste (or nutrition), so I've stopped buying bottled juices all together (apple cider is a definite exception, however). 

What simple moments of joy did you experience this week? In such a chaotic world, it's good to step back and recognize that sometimes the simplest of things can bring us incredible happiness.  If you still need some inspiration, here are some simple aesthetics to get your simplicity juices flowing.

Photo via Holobara

Photo via Library News

Photo via Photomural

Photo via Simple+Pretty

Vases by Reverie Daydream Boutique via Cup of Jo