MAY I SIT THERE?

I thought that the china cabinet had a little too much extra room on each side so I decided to add this antique chair and framed art with antlers. Now, the wall seems properly balanced and I can rest at night. Ideally I would love to stack some books on the chair ... but still collecting!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

I hope you all have a fantastic Valentine's day spent with someone you love (regardless of who it is)! Here are some special Valentine's treats I made last week for our bunco group. They were super easy and so delicious - perfect for a last minute sweet to satisfy someone special!

via pinterest via bakerella (it is the recipe using oreo cakesters)

BUTTERFLY LOVE

I was thumbing through my art pinterest board this morning and I happened to notice a trend - butterflies. Most of my friends will laugh at this post and nod their heads, but I guess I have a sub conscience attraction to butterflies. Is that too girly and totally generic? Oh well! If you remember, I snuck a framed one in my office gallery wall that I found at a local antique shop.

Along with tortoise shells and antlers, I think framed butterflies are very naturally chic! What do you think? Here are some of my favorite butterfly finds that I would love to see incorporated somewhere. 

 curious prints shop on etsy has tons of great science posters to frame

 this set of butterfly photographs would look awesome individually framed and matted in white - also from etsy

 Urban Outfitters Specimen Poster - so bold and colorful with an old school feel

this little guy is very similar to my antique shadowbox - found on etsy here

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?

Happy friday everyone! I can't believe it is all ready February and groundhog's day has come and gone once again. I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring -- even though Phil did say we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Boo! I believe he could be wrong though considering we are having 60 degree days in mid January. 


Guess what is right around the corner?!? That's right, Valentine's Day. I don't have high expectations of Valentine's Day - I just like to think of it as a pleasant day to have my main man all to myself. He isn't a sappy, lovey-dovey type guy so I don't expect big pieces of jewelry, giant teddy bears holding balloons, or boxes of chocolate ... just a simple meal adorned with some flowers. [He also thinks that buying the flowers and delivering them himself is a much better deal than having them delivered by a stranger, ha!] 


Since our wedding anniversary is so close to V-Day we opted to cook in rather than competing against the rest of Bham to make dinner reservations (apparently you have to make reservations a year in advance!?!) and then we will enjoy a nice dinner out on the town for our one year. I have been thumbing through my pinterest recipes and favorite food sites and I believe I have decided to make a meal adapted from my friend Margot's anniversary dinner that she posted -- roasted rack of lamb, mushroom risotto, and asparagus with basalmic tomatoes! My co-worker made this same lamb recipe and said it was easy and delicious so I am going to try it out. 


And, if we aren't full off all that then I will make us these precious "cupcakes for two" for dessert. This way we can satisfy our sweet tooth and maintain our waistline by not having a dozen leftover! 

Like I said, I don't have high expectations of V-Day gifts, but if my hubby did want to surprise with me with something special and amazing ... I sent him this link to Lulie Wallace's commissioned wedding flower paintings. I found her shop several months ago and have been obsessed with her, but now I have noticed she is appearing everywhere! So, before her prices sky rocket I hope to own one of her fabulous quirky paintings. Here are a few of her recent commissioned paintings based on bride's bouquets:

What do you think? Do you have any V-Day gift or dinner suggestions?

MIRROR, MIRROR ...

leaning perfectly against the wall! 

Where, oh where can I find one of these gorgeous, french, antique, ornate, gold gilded, beautiful mirrors!?! Well, honestly I can probably find one, but the price would be the issue! So, I re-phrase my question - who, oh who would like to give me one of these for free? Or for a highly discounted price!?


I have been drooling over all these fabulous mirrors floating around pinterest. Do you sometimes think that pinterest teases you by making products you are lusting over pop up more and more on your feed!? I do! And, I know exactly where I would put one of these pups - in our master bedroom. We have an empty corner that could use a big filler object and a leaning mirror seems perfect. But, maybe one day! In the meantime, feel free to lust over these beautiful images too.

 I like how this one is caddy cornered in the room making the biggest statement possible!

 bone inlay gigantic mirror - wow! talk about fancy.

Any suggestions on where to find a reasonably priced leaning mirror!? Please share! I would owe you one!

all sources via my pinterest