stripes

I am currently in love with blue and white stripes. Ironically enough I am actually wearing blue and white stripes today. I really like this chair and ottoman. They are beautiful.
via My Notting Hill

conservatory

Miss Scarlet with the revolver in the conservatory. I love this conservatory/greenhouse.
via decorology

dream water garden

This water garden reminds me of irrigation canals, I like the look but am not sure it is all that practical.

I love this one. Better Homes and Gardens calls this the small space water garden, I would call it the low maintenance water garden.

This is how I imagine my Mom's water garden, except add a pond at the top and bottom. She added the stream and upper pond for my wedding but they haven't been in working condition for a while.

dynamic duo

Heaven bless my sister for introducing me to these two shower cleaners. One you use daily (or several times a week) the other I try to use weekly. Perfect for lazy cleaners like myself.

small and colorful kitchens

I liked this example of a kitchen with little space.

My sister likes the idea of green walls in a kitchen so here is a kitchen I found with green walls. I still think that I would use a different shade of green. I have a hard time imagining what colors would look good in a kitchen.

travel tuesday: redwood national forest

The Redwood Forest (I have This Land is your Land running through my head now) is in Northern California and is home to some of the largest trees in the world. Or at least one of the largest breeds of trees.

The National Park not only includes the trees but miles of protected coastline and grasslands.

During the Gold Rush and the building up of San Fransisco logging was overtaking the redwoods. In the 1920's a movement began to protect the forest.

Just to give you an idea of how large these trees are. From what I could see there are many "drive through" trees.

dinner tonight

BBQ chicken sandwiches. Here is a recipe that is similar (except I didn't make my own BBQ sauce, I just bought some.) We chopped up the onion and added it to the crock pot with the chicken breasts and BBQ sauce. I think I might try putting some lettuce and tomato on mine like in the picture. It looks tasty. In addition we are going to grill up some asparagus. I love how easy summer meals are.

photo found via flickr

towel warmer

A towel warmer is one of those completely unnecessary, frivolous things that I dream of owning. I used one once in a hotel and it changed my life. Maybe not literally changed my life but certainly my outlook on towel warmers, they are amazing. Maybe one day. What completely frivolous thing do you dream of owning?

rare stroke of genius

Decorating does not come naturally to me. When it comes to taking what I have and turning it into something better , let's just say I lack that inner-eye. Which is why I am posting this picture, I had a rare stroke of genius. I took my $5 Barnes and Noble books, threw out the book jackets, stacked them and put my little Dutch shoe on top. I love it. Now if anyone who has the inner-eye wants to come and fix all other parts of my home, I'm open any time.

stella and dot

I love this necklace from Stella & Dot. It reminds me of something a flapper girl would wear.


This one I think I could wear more often. Gorgeous.

around the blogging world...

loved this "think corner" I saw at Tangled and True

and this bathroom from Black Eiffel

as well as this outdoor eating space from Black Eiffel

travel tuesday: verona, italy

Today is all about Verona. A city whose name I know only from Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona (apparently it is also the setting of Romeo and Juliet). Verona is rich in Roman history and architecture. It is situated in Northern Italy and until the 1800's was transferred back and forth between the Austrian and Italian reign.


Ponte Pietra


Dante in Piazza dei Signori


Around the city in Verona.


I love the the long skinny trees in this garden. Very Tuscan (although I am not sure if Verona is actually in Tuscany.)

Verona Church Tower stairs

cherry pitter

Just saw this cherry pitter on Williams Sonoma's site. Brilliant.

l.a. candy

I read on Yahoo! today that L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (from the Hills) is topping the New York Times Bestseller list. Forgive me L.C. for being a cynic but I doubt your book (loosely based on her own life) will make my beach read list.

bathroom floor

I love this stone bathroom floor, you don't have to worry about it getting wet! But do you think it is an accident waiting to happen?

photo found via design to inspire

purse

My current purse is getting to that point, the point where I have used it for so many years that it is now starting to fall apart. I have been looking for a new one for a while. I love this one I found on Etsy and it is reasonably priced to boot!

little boy ties

When I was visiting my sister the other week we got on the topic of ties for little boys (although I can't really imagine her little boy keeping one on for very long) but I love the idea of a little boy dressed up with a tie.

I am drawn to the little boy bow ties. I think they are cute. Dorky? Perhaps.

I thought the sharks on this tie were kind of cute.

When I look at bow ties I keep thinking of the word dapper. A dapper young lad.

book plates

I love these custom book plates, much more fun than just writing your name inside the book.

dear stinging nettle, i'm not a fan.

I have garden gloves but I generally weed with my bare hands, it's faster and I'm generally too lazy to go get them. Little did I know this little beauty was hanging out in my pots. I pulled it out it, the hairs stung my fingers a little and then for the next day and a half my finger tips felt paralyzed. Lesson learned.

baby blanket winners!

Thanks again to Beddingsets.com for the blankets offered in the giveaway! Without further ado the winners as picked by random.org...

The winners of the blue blankets are Barb and Camilla

The winner of the pink blanket is Katherine

Winners please e-mail me your information to paperwhitejewelry@gmail.com
Congratulations!

harry potter

It comes out so soon. I have to wait to see it until this weekend. At least that gives me time to finish my Harry Potter marathon, I still have 4 and 5 to watch. I can't wait.

travel tuesday: your downtown

I recently discovered the blog reading my tea leaves. One of my favorite things on this blog is the "Your Downtown" series. This series features various bloggers who take pictures of their downtown. I love it. So that is what I am featuring for Travel Tuesday this week (along with a photo of my downtown), go check it out.

photo found via flickr

p.s. don't forget one day left to enter the baby blanket giveaway!

rain bangles

I love these bangles from Sundance.

birthday cakes

Devil's Food Cake

Yellow Butter Cake

My husband's birthday is this week so a birthday cake must be made. Unfortunately cakes, frosting and I have had a bad relationship as of late. Hopefully we can fix that this week. Perhaps with one of these chocolate cakes? Any tips on making cake making and frosting are appreciated!

pita bread

I will be trying my hand at making this home made pita recipe. So that I can make these for our picnic tomorrow and maybe try to make some homemade hummus? Only time will tell.

photo found via flickr

wood cabinets to love

My sister and I have been perusing wood cabinets (anything not white). We have determined that wood cabinets are not all good looking, in fact most of them are ugly. Here is a picture of one kitchen we both loved. I found this while randomly looking at MLS listings. My favorite part is the backsplash.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the baby blanket giveaway!

dear costco, you won.

It is always my goal to make it out of Costco without buying something I sampled but is not on my list. This month I lost. The white cheddar was that good. Plus, I really do need some for this sandwich.

baby blanket giveaway!!

Beddingsets.com has graciously offered three baby blankets for the giveaway. If you haven't heard of this website you should go take a look. They have an awesome variety of bedding for babies, kids and adults. Here are some of my personal favorites from their site. I love the color and simplicity of this receiving blanket. It comes in green too.
I have a soft spot when it comes to airplanes and little boys, chalk that one up to my Gramps and Dad.
I love the crib bumper on this crib. Might have something to do with my new obsession with Navy Blue.
I loved this ABC quilt.
There are few things that look better than a bed with a white quilt. I love white quilts, clean crisp and homey.

Now to the giveaway. We are giving away three baby blankets (two of the first and one of the second).
To enter- leave a comment on this post. Be sure to include which blanket you would like to win, I will do separate drawings.
For 1 extra entry- blog about the giveaway and include "win baby bedding" somewhere in your post. Then leave a second comment and post the link to your blog entry in that comment.

Also, because of shipping restrictions you must live in the USA or Canada to win.
I love this blanket so much I asked them if I could give two away.
Equally darling but only one of these to give away.

Good Luck!