skirt

I love this skirt from Anthropologie, on sale for $40.00. Yes, $40.00.

americanized thai tacos

I love peanut sauce, I have no idea if authentic Thai food uses it or not but I love it. I want to try Thai tacos but I haven't found a recipe that is quite what I am looking for so here is what I think will fulfill my needs. It is somewhat inspired by California Pizza Kitchens Thai pizza.

photos via Apron Strings and Wedding Rings and Closet Kitchen

My plan is to use the following:

Chicken cooked in oil, seasoned with garlic salt.

Shredded Carrots

Bean Sprouts

Green Onions

Cilantro

Thai Peanut Sauce:

1 garlic clove, peeled

1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled

½ Cup smooth peanut butter
¼ Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water

Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water until sauce is the consistency you like.

Any suggestions on how to make Thai tacos?

the duvet

Until today I have not subscribed to the belief that duvet covers are necessary. This morning when I had to throw my down comforter in the wash again due to cat hair it finally dawned on me why you need a duvet cover. I am ready to change my ways and consequently save my comforter.

I think I will get Pottery Barn's essential duvet cover and since it comes with a free monogram I figure I will take them up on it. I was looking at thread colors but since I have a red and white quilt I put on top on my comforter that a subtle white monogram is best.

Also, did you know that a monogram for a married couple is first the initial of the wife, then the last name and then the initial of the husband? I didn't.

dressers as nightstands

Can you tell that I have nightstands on the mind? I am going to the local flea market, which boasts to be one of the best in the world, this weekend to search for nightstands.

I want to use a dresser as one nightstand. So I wanted some pictures to how to use the space on top of the dresser.

via house beautiful

swim wear

It is summer and although it is a little late for swim suit shopping (it seems like most people have this done by May), that is exactly what I am doing. These are two of my favorites.

From Ralph Lauren

and Boden

mismatched nightstands

As I have searched for the perfect matching nightstands my vision has altered. First, finding matching nightstands within my budget that are not straight from 1982 is virtually impossible. Second, I could potentially gain some dresser drawer space without buying a massive dresser.

As I have scoured the internet for mismatched nightstands I have come across a couple of rules of thumb.

1- The pieces should be the same height, or close enough that you can't tell when standing back.

2- Use matching lamps when mismatching nightstands. I will also be matching the color by painting them the same.

3- Don't pair a bedside table with legs with a bed frame with legs (like a four-poster).

4- The nightstands should have a similar style to each other.

Here is a compilation of mismatched bedside tables.

via high fashion home, lists in my pocket, decor pad, design stiles

viva gray!

via Oh Happy Day

I love the color of this dresser I saw on Oh Happy Day. I think I might paint whatever side tables I eventually buy a similar color.

air vents

My sister is finishing up remodeling her bathroom. I convinced her that she should ditch the old white slit vent and put in a more decorative vent. I found that decorative vents are actually hard to find online, particularly ones that are decently priced. These are the best two sites that I found:

Signature Hardware offers multiple decorative vents.

Atlanta Supply Company offers cast iron vents

concrete

I found these concrete bowls/votives on Etsy today. I love them.

long bob

It is time for another hair cut. My hair is limp and lack luster and could use a Jennifer Aniston-esque makeover. I am sticking with the long bob, I have loved it, but this version is just slightly choppier along the bottom.

Also, I am still toying with the idea of adding some highlights ala Jessica Biel. I can't decide if it would look good with a long bob. Opinions?

via hairstyles blog,

nobody does it better

Kate Middleton, or I guess I should say the Duchess of Cambridge, knows how to pick and wear a hat. These are from an outing this week at the Derby (a horse race?). They are estimating that she will have approximately three outfits a day (40+ outfits) for their visits to Canada and the United States next month. I can't wait to see what she has put together because nobody does it better.

via Pop on the Pop

summer reading list

I am ready to start reading for fun again. I am excited to read these books this summer.

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

Conquering Infertility by Alice D. Domar

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

And a series of fictional books recommended by my sister-in-law about dragons and the crusades. The name of which is escaping me currently...

I am also looking for some good beach reads, any recommendations?

couch re-design

My friend Martha just bought this couch from a consignment shop. She want to re-upholster the couch to go with her red leather chair.

I vote for a bold pattern, here are some examples.

The fabric on the chairs is what I am looking at in this picture.

I think this large pattern is one of my favorites.

A little more modern

This is an antique chair and not the exact fabric I would use but I love the small stripes.

Another large pattern.

via Oh the World Spins Madly On, Rare Victorian, marimekko, desire to inspire, caitlin wilson design

bedside tables

Before we moved I sold most of our bedroom set. I am holding off on getting a dresser until we move again (in August, we are subletting for the summer). I don't necessarily care that the bedside tables, headboard and dresser come from the same set so long as they look nice together. Since we kept our headboard it is the starting point for the rest of the furniture. I plan to paint the bedside tables and dresser to complement the dark wood of the headboard. Here are some of my ideal bedside table shapes.

Good thing I have nothing better to do all summer than scour craigslist, garage sales and thrift stores! Maybe I should get a part time job at Pottery Barn so I can get the employee discount....

via sashy jane, kate collins interiors, and pottery barn

skirts

I hear another, and possibly better, way to beat the heat is skirts. I found some linen and seersucker skirts because they would probably help even more.

Linen Skirt from Zara

Seersucker skirt from L.L. Bean

who wears short-shorts?

Texas is hot. In Michigan I could get away wearing jeans and a t-shirt in the summer, that won't fly in Texas. I need an array of shorts and light weight skirts to survive summer. Here are some shorts I am looking at. I have never bought any shorts from any of these companies but I am hoping for some quality shorts from them.

Chino Shorts from Boden

Denim Roll Ups from Anthro

Chino Shorts from J.Crew

csa

via foodLOVE project

I have been looking up Community Supported Agriculture. My sister participates in a CSA and has loved it. Here is Texas they have year-round CSA's. I think I am going to sign up for a half share. I love the idea of getting fruits and vegetables that are not only locally grown but perhaps not what you would ordinarily buy. Adventurous cooking and consumption, here we come....