Bedside table lamps

I am loving the Alexis ceramic lamp and Eva colored glass lamp from Pottery Barn to use on a bedside table.  They provide a nice weight to the room and a subtle color if desired.

The Alexis lamp is currently on sale for $99 and the Eva lamp is also priced at $99.  check here.

{photos via Pottery Barn}

Etsy Friday Favorite

Katie Daisy, The Wheatfield shop on Etsy, is an amazing illustrator that is inspired by nature and much more.  She designs prints and cards that are truly one of a kind.  Below is my personal favorite!

This 5" x 7" greeting card is an original watercolor painting. The inside is blank for you to write your own personal message :) This image is printed by an Epson 1400 printer onto Epson Velvet paper.  Please go here to get more details and see all of her work.

{photos via The Wheatfield}

Sloggers

Our local hardware store, Elliot's, has anything from nails to Sloggers and with today's weather forecast I would love a cute pair of these!  Designs from animal print to solids you will find a pair of Sloggers that fit your personality.  Check out the collection here!  Sloggers for bloggers! (poet and didn't know it)!

{photos via Slogger}

Steven Gambrel

Featured in Elle Decor and photographed by Simon Upton, the designer,  Steven Gambrel, describes the casually elegant decor as an "ode to an English country house with a fresh take".  I'm loving the bright, open rooms and choices of colors throughout.  The kitchen is to die for!  Many more lovely photos to see and article to read right here. 

{photos via Elle Decor, via House of Turquoise}

Mamie's master bedroom ideas

I mentioned in an earlier post that my mom, Mamie, is doing some updating to her darling home and one of the rooms she is focused on is the master bedroom.  The following rooms are very inspiring.

Each of these lovely rooms has a soft, neutral palette.  I like how they have placed some type of art or focal point above the headboards.  The soft window treatments really add a finishing touch and warmth to the room.   Nice, substantial lamps are another feature that completes these rooms.  Here is a peek at Mamie's room and how easy it would be to achieve a new look.  (first up, a flat screen tv!)

Dreamy and Creamy

I came across this lovely room while viewing the Carrier and Company website, and absolutely fell in love.  I am a huge fan of neutral and cream, with a pop of blue and this has it all!  The large piece of art and bold color pulls the room together.  This would be perfect for a kid and pet free home.  :)

DIY Valentine's day centerpiece

I am a huge fan of tulips for Valentine's day and just adore this centerpiece made with pastel sweetheart candies and fresh flowers.  It was created by Hilton Pittman Photography and I found it on an adorable blog,  The Wedding Chicks.  Visit here for beautiful step by step photos and instructions on how to make this yourself.  Super easy!

{photos via The Wedding Chicks, via Hilton Pittman}

Wintery mix

We are iced/snowed in again today and wishing I was somewhere like Bachelor Gulch in Colorado where we could at least have fun in this type of weather.

Bachelor Gulch is the centerpiece of Beaver Creek's village-to-village ski experience. More intimate and removed than its Beaver Creek or Arrowhead neighbors, Bachelor Gulch proved to be the perfect setting for a family-oriented ski resort that combines privacy with authentic Rocky Mountain luxury.  I love that you can "rent" a labrador for a day!

{photos via The Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch}

Twin bed ideas

My mom has a darling, new home and is doing  a little remodeling.  She doesn't need to do much, but one of her thoughts is to update the guest room with twin beds.  Below are some ideas.

Mom's room.  Has a great neutral start.  Some colorful blankets at the foot of the bed, coordinating pillows and art would be a great start.  

splurge

If I was going to splurge on a couple of things, here is a sample of what I'd be considering!

1.  Cockatoo feather dress.  Anthropologie:  $478

2.  Chance Chanel.  Neiman Marcus:  $80

3.  Zippy wallet.  Louis Vuitton:  $760

4.  Conspiration Pilote Canvas sunglasses.  Louis Vuitton:  $560

Etsy Friday Favorite, lovely heart art

I just love this lovely heart art by sarah & bendrix!  They are all hand made, signed and personalized for you, if desired.  You need to check out her etsy shop to see all the creative ways these can be made.  I would love one for Valentines Day!

{photos via sarah & bendrix}

Best Banana Bread

I have been making this banana bread recipe, that I found in Cooking with Mary Kay, for years.  After trying several other recipes this one is by far the best.  My kids love it and prefer it without the nuts.  This recipe took 1st place at a bread baking contest in Jackson County Town, Missouri. 

Recipe:

1 1/2 C. sugar

1/2 C. butter

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

2 C. flour, unsifted

1/2 C. buttermilk

2 medium bananas, mashed

Nuts if desired

Cream sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add 2 eggs and salt.  Alternate flour with milk.  Beat well.  Add bananas and nuts.  Grease and flour two small loaf pans or one large loaf pan. (I use one)  Bake 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees.

{photos via me}

Black outs

Because of the unusually low temperatures and overwhelming amount of energy being used, our part of Texas is enforcing periodic blackouts.  This inspired me to blog about some pretty black rooms!

I'm typically drawn to the creamy, natural look, but sure do love all of these rooms done in black.  I hope you are all staying inside where it is warm.  (no school today either)

{photos via Simply Seleta}

Snowed in

We have had record low temperatures, sleet, ice and snow here and all the schools are closed.  I plan on staying inside where it is warm and making some chili!  Hope you are all doing the same.

{photo via here}