Night of Collaboration.. Take Two!!

"Love your whole story, even if it hasn't been the perfect fairytale."

Last week, we hosted a Night of Collaboration with Amy from W by Worth. We ate, drank, and learned about ourselves. We are all strong confident women, we just don't always show it on the outside. Amy gave us tips on how accentuate our best parts, while I showed you how to take back your closet, from hanger to shoe box. 

Yummy Pomegranate Bellinis! 

Amy displaying her W by Worth clothing line, while I talk about my insecurities when it comes to clothes and how to organize !

 Beautiful clothes are worth it, 

Amy showing us how to wear a structured blazer! 

Amy modeling the 4 way top.. This thing is amazing! PTA meeting to date night in a flash! 

 Playing dress up.. 

 And laughing the night away. 

And not to be forgotten, the AMAZING food from Dinners by Denise! 

We can't wait to share with you what we're planning next! Stay tuned for more exciting events!!! 

Sisterhood of the Traveling Bedrooms... The Fab Fifties.

Every era has a defining characteristic, something that rewinds you to the days gone past. 

For me, it's a teenage girl's bedroom.  
Maybe I'm just missing having Ashley home!  


Really, if you want an accurate portrayal of the trends today,  you should just take a peek upstairs, after all aren't those beautiful babies (hardly babies ...) our future?

Over the next few weeks, Ashley (no longer my brilliant teenager) is going to take you on a journey through the decades via the bedrooms that shaped generations. 

Enjoy my guest blogger.... 
All my best,

Today, we're stating with the 1950's, a decade that often stands out as one of America's best. It was an era that was charmed by Lucy and the Cleavers, created the interstate highway system, and fulfilled the goal of the suburban dream house.

For the average teenage girl, this meant one thing.. PINK!! 

Milk Glass Lamps were 'hip'! 

Pastel colors were all the rage, gracing not only bedrooms, 

but also kitchens, bathrooms, and even tail-fined cars. 

Other bright, lively colors were also found on the floors. 

This new age brought designers to mass produced furniture. 

Plastic, glass, and plexiglass were all new materials that were introduced.

That's all folks! 

Tune in next week for the 60's!!

Whiskey Girl

Blogging this week in my absence is my beautiful, creative and witty daughter Ashely ... I hope you find the apple didn't fall far from the tree!  Enjoy the post, and I'll be back next week when I return from my annual missions trip!

I love my whiskey, and I love up cycling whiskey barrels almost as much. 

This is wood floors made from re purposed whiskey barrels, you can find it at McKay Flooring

Whiskey barrel Mason jar light fixture, WhiskeyLights

Barrel stool with a leather top from Halo Styles

I love that these items are so unconventional! 

Lastly, can't drink your Whiskey this weekend without these awesome newly popular item! 

The Whiskey Stone! 

Just freeze them and pop them in your glass to keep your drink cold without watering them down!

I hope that everyone has a fun and safe weekend!

Fried Chicken... and do a little dance!

Earlier this week I shared my Kentucky Missions Trip with you... 

today, for fun, my Fried Chicken...

Just keep in mind, you need to start this the day before 

You'll need...

• 6 cups buttermilk*
• 1/4 cup Kosher salt 
• 4 teaspoons of Kosher salt 
• 2 threeish pound chickens cut for frying 
• 3 1/4 cups flour 
• 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper (fresh preferably)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of Spanish paprika 
• 2 tablespoons baking powder 
• brown lunch bags 
• Vegetable shortening (about 2 lbs)
• Bacon drippings if available 

Night before...

• Combine the buttermilk & 1/4 of salt in a large bowl or air tight container.  Add chicken, make sure all pieces are coated well with the buttermilk combo. Cover tightly and refrigerate over night.

Now roll up those sleeves...

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. 
• Combine flour, 4 teaspoons salt, pepper, paprika and baking powder in a doubled brown lunch bag & give it a good shake...do a little dance its fun!! 
• Separate out 1/2 of the mixture.
• One piece at a time place pieces in bag and shake...and do a little dance! Adding flour mixture as needed to keep the pieces well coated. 
•  Heat shortening and bacon drippings in a cast iron skillet over medium heat...roughly 375 degrees...not a rolling boil.
• Place pieces in hot oil to fry for 10 min. The bottoms will get golden brown, flip with tongs and fry for another 10 mins. Rotate the pieces two or three more times for an additional 10 mins or so. 
• Drain chicken on paper towels.
• Transfer to baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. 

Ring the dinner bell...

Serve this fried chicken up with homemade potato salad and sweet tea...

Who knows, your guests may just say......

"Butter my behind and call me a Biscuit! 

I reckon' you gone and made yerselves a darn good Kentucky Style meal!"

* Don't have Buttermilk? No worries make your own!!! Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to a cup of milk and let stand for 5 minutes ... stir and there ya go ... Buttermilk!

Hope

It's Hump Day again, and here in Connecticut, its a balmy 9 degrees this morning. 
Baby it's cold out there! 
Today's blog post is sure to warm your heart......

Hope.

I can't quite put into words exactly the feeling I have when I hear the word.  I know the core of my being is warmed, I can feel a smile wriggling it's way to my lips and in even the most dire situations, I find a glimmer of peace. 

Hope....
When I saw the word Jewels combined with Hope
..... I knew I had found a treasure.

A mother-daughter team, Sandy and Stevie of Jewels for Hope create affordable, fashionable and classy works of art all in the name of charity.  What started out as a small way for Sandy to give back to Hospice after her Mom's passing, has exploded into jewelry gracing the average Joe to Hollywood's Red Carpets.  These dynamic, self taught artists are not only full talent but personality too, which clearly shines through in their 'Statement Necklaces'.  Sandy and Stevie have committed a portion of every sale to charity, which includes close to 25 organizations.  Interesting the more they give, the more success they seem to enjoy.....talk about paying it forward!

Grey & Fuchsia Pearl Necklace 
This gorgeous twisted necklace is one of a kind!

Made with a mixture of Swarovski Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, and Crystal Pearls. The Fuchsia pearls thrown in for a pop of color! Portions of Profits donated to American Cancer Society 

Not Your Grandmother's Pearls

This gorgeous twisted necklace is one of a kind! Not Your Grandmother's Pearls!Made with different cream/white shades of Swarovski Pearls and Swarovski Crystals thrown in for some sparkle. A vintage pendant is worked into the front of the necklace. Portions of Profits donated to Caregiver Fund.

It's so much fun talk shop as one designer to another.  Stevie and I chatted like old friends, I had to know what she thought of the 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald.  A color I'm honestly having some difficultly warming up to!  My feeling is small doses of this color are fine in interior design.....

 I guess great minds think alike! Stevie felt the same. 

She is predicting layering and stacking of bracelets will remain hot and big chunky necklaces are winners.  It's no secret I love upcycling, and Stevie and Sandy are doing their share of it too.  Many of the Statement Necklaces are old costume jewelry spun into beautiful works of art! 

Pink Wire Necklace with Vintage Pendant
Portions of this beauty are donated to Paint the Town Pink 

Saturday I need to dig through some costume jewelery..... 

Stay tuned and see what Sandy & Stevie create for me! 

Rockin' Down The Highway.....

It's here Friday!.........

 I'm packin' it in for the weekend! 

So as I check the heat, hit the lights and skip out of my office dancin' to the

 Doobie Brothers 

"Rockin Down the Highwy" 

I leave you with this...

whimsical 

unique 

wild 

and a bit...

racy.... 

By LA Design Studio
http://www.la-ds.com

Got those highway blues, can't you hear my motor runnin' 

Flyin' down the road with my foot on the floor 

All the way in town they can hear me comin' 

Have a great weekend Folks! 

Get Ready to Deck the Halls!

My taste in music is about as broad as it can be. 

Michael, who works in my Studio, has accused me of having MMPD (Multiple Music Personality Disorder), he never quite knows what will be greeting him when opens the Studio door, Reba, Nickelback, Josh Groban, Frank Sinatra ..... he's even been accosted with show tunes on occasion! 

My music preferences can't be wrapped up in a package and labled with a certain genre, neither can my taste in Christmas decorations! 

This holiday season I'll explore with you various Christmas styles of decorating.  

Tune in Tomorrow Morning as we devel into Christmas wreaths! After all this is the first holiday decoration your guests get upclose and personal with when they arrive at your home! 

Until we meet again~