Navy Bean

Meet Cameron

2012-01-13T20:26:00.000-05:00

Our little boy was born last Thursday, tipping the scales at 10lb. 5oz. He is the light of our lives and we are so in love! I hope you'll understand the lack of posts for the next few months... I'll be busy trying to figure out this whole motherhood thing.

xoxo,
Janis

For those of you inquiring about my calligraphy or graphic design, I will be on maternity leave until mid March and will not be accepting jobs until then. Thank you so much for understanding!

Sleeping French Bulldog Calendar

2011-12-27T12:24:00.000-05:00

The other day I got a little surprise in the mail. Margaret, sent me the 2012 Sleeping French Bulldog Calendar! I blogged about it last year but hadn't been able to find it anywhere. But Margaret found it at Urban Outfitters this year. I absolutely love it and it was the perfect gift... thank you so much, Mar!

Navy Friday

2011-12-23T14:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays, everyone! Navy and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family and food!

xoxo,
Janis

House Tour: Hallway & Living Room

2011-12-16T16:31:00.001-05:00

Instead of Navy Friday I thought I'd continue on with our House Tour, since I know you guys have been clamoring for more pictures of the house! But don't worry, there's lots of pictures of Navy throughout so you can still get your Navy Friday fix. (The little guy is such a camera hog.) Welcome to our front hall and living room!

So as you climb up the stairs you can see that the banister wraps around to a little hallway.

This is the view looking towards the front of the house. The front room is our little office but I'll show you that in another post. The living room is the doorway on the left.

Once again, there is another gorgeous light fixture in the hallway. It is this one from Pottery Barn. I love the filament bulb.

The hallway is just big enough for a little console table. My in-law's neighbors gave us this table that they no longer wanted and it fits perfectly in the space. Eventually I would like to paint or re-stain it and change the hardware. I'd also like to add a sunburst or convex mirror above the table but I'm still looking for the perfect one.

One of the things we've had to deal with in this house is the plaster walls. You can really get a sense of it from this picture. I'm sure the walls have been repaired multiple times so they have an rough, uneven texture and pictures are a bear to hang since the plaster just crumbles. So for now we've been using command picture hangers or using the screws that the owners already drilled and stabilized for the artwork that they had. That's why some of our picture or mirror placements are a little off.

Now let's take a peek into the living room.

Although it's still not large compared to most living or family rooms, this room seems huge to us. There's just so much more space to work with vs. our tiny apartment in New York. You'll recognize most of the furniture from our old place. The side tables are hand me downs from Mike's parents. Again, I'd like to paint or re-stain them but since they're functional they go way down on the to-do list.

We also ordered this ottoman from West Elm and I absolutely love it- it is by far one of the best purchases we've made. The colors work perfectly with our existing furniture and the bold pattern adds some more interest and texture. It's so nice to be able to put our feet up in front of the couch and plus, it's child friendly. No sharp edges to worry about here. I was definitely thinking of the future with this purchase!

Here's the light fixture in the living room... don't you just love the ceiling medallion that they incorporated at the top? It's another added element that gives the room so much visual interest. The owners also left their silk curtains and window fixtures. Thankfully, that was one element that we didn't have to worry about because window treatments are expensive. It's so nice renting from people with fabulous taste!

Our tree tucks in nicely in the corner of the room and adds lots of coziness.

And here is the opposite room view looking back into the hallway. You can really get a sense of the old wood floors. While I love the look, they also drive me a little nuts because they are so bowed. Half the furniture is on shims to compensate! It has definitely been an adjustment moving from super modern and 90 degree angles to old and crooked but with tons of character.

The owners also left their huge Ikea tv unit for us. I love the look but after moving in, I quickly threw in some books and pictures so it is in desperate need to be re-arranged and stylized. But this weekend we're heading to Ikea to buy some more storage baskets and down the road I'll show you how it turns out.

This is a close up of the tree lamp that is in the corner by the window. I inherited it from my mom's cousin along with this lamp. I think it's mid century modern and the electrical is so old that it's probably a fire hazard but I love it all the same. It's a tension rod so the effect is very streamlined. Maybe down the line I'll give it a re-paint but for now it works.

I'm thinking about adding a console table with matching lamps underneath this mirror. There's definitely enough space and I think the room needs a little something more.

Finally, here are some detail shots of the holiday decor in the living room. Nothing too elaborate this year... simple is about all I can handle right now. Hope you enjoyed the tour. More to come in the following weeks pending on the baby's arrival. (Only 3 more weeks to go!)

2011 Gifted Magazine

2011-12-12T18:52:00.000-05:00

Some of you have probably read Gifted Magazine a month ago, but if you haven't, I highly suggest you check it out! It's perfect for last minute gift ideas and I can honestly say I absolutely love everything in this issue. Be sure to check out the back of the magazine for special discounts on selected items. Happy shopping!

Navy Friday

2011-12-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

House Tour: Front Door & Foyer

2011-12-05T14:03:00.001-05:00

I know I've been promising pics of our new home for a couple of weeks now, so here they are! I'll be posting pictures room by room so you will be able to get a sense of all the little details that made us fall in love with this apartment. We still have a lot to do, but it's starting to come together. I'm one of those people that wants to have everything perfect right away, so this move has been a little bit of a difficult for me. Plus I'm in serious nesting mode and I feel like I'm on a tight deadline to get everything done before the baby arrives. But I have to remind myself that decorating is a slow process done over time and since this isn't our forever home so I should pace myself and make deliberate, thoughtful decisions. Anyway, enough of my babbling... let's get started!

Some background about our new home:
The house was built in 1905 according to the deed but my in-laws think it is older than that. It used to be a two family home but is now split up into 4 condos. We live in the upper right side of the house, occupying the second and third floors. We are renting from an awesome couple who had to move to Dubai for work. Since they moved overseas, most of their furniture went into storage but they were gracious enough to leave some pieces for us to use. This worked out especially well because: 1) we didn't have that much furniture coming from our tiny NYC apartment and 2) the owners have great style and taste and the pieces that they left for us incorporate really well into our existing furniture.

The front door. I love having a "real" front door (vs. living in a high-rise) that faces the street.

And this is just the beginning of all the little details that we love. Look at that mailbox! So pretty. (Please disregard my huge belly in the reflection. It may look distorted but I really am that big. I have a bowling ball in my stomach!)

On Saturday we hit up our favorite farm store, Tendercrop, to buy our Christmas tree and holiday decorations. I bought the wreath and added some red berries and ribbon to make it extra festive. And I used a command hanger to hang it on the front door. I'm really happy how it looks against the black door!

Welcome, come on in! When we first looked at the apartment, we fell in love with the foyer and staircase. It's so stately and inviting.

I had grand visions of adding fresh garland to the banister for the holidays but we'll see if that actually happens. Definitely next year though!

Love the curl of the banister... it's so worn and has lots of aged patina.

The chandelier also caught my eye when we first toured. There are fabulous light fixtures throughout the home that were another huge selling point for us.

The owners left this old wooden screen that we use to divide off the foyer.

Behind it is our laundry and storage area that currently contains a carseat and stroller.

All of the switch and electrical plates throughout the house are gorgeous. I'm not sure where the owners bought them but they're certainly not your average Home Depot plastic ones. Again, it's one of those little details that adds so much character and charm.

And here is the return view of the front door. I still have a lot to add to the foyer, like an entry rug to start with...

and I'd like to add an umbrella stand. (Everything LEB curated some great ones here.)

Finally I need to hang our Bonjour print (from Sycamore Street Press) and maybe add a little side table and chair. But I love the slate grey that the owners painted on one side of the foyer. It adds a lot of warmth to the space.

So there you have it. I still have a lot to do but there is tons of decorating potential in the foyer. I hope you enjoyed the first tour of our new home!

Navy Friday

2011-12-02T15:07:00.001-05:00

Now that we live 10 minutes away from the beach, we've been taking advantage of the nice weather. Navy loves his Saturday morning walks!

Happy Friday everyone! I promise I'll be back with some new home photos on Monday!

Beautiful iPhone Cases

2011-11-16T19:24:00.000-05:00

Society6 has some of the most beautiful iPhone cases I've seen. Society6 is a fabulous website that features artist's designs in all sorts of mediums: iPhone cases, laptop skins, art prints and stretched canvases. Check it out... it's definitely worth a click through!

DG Aztec No. 1 by Dawn Gardner (My personal favorite)

Intermission by Jenean Morrison

Meadow by Jenean Morrison

Ocean City by Rene Robinson

Twist by Jenean Morrison

Rosebud by Valentina

PS... The move was a success! We're are pretty much unpacked but are still settling in. Now I just have a ton of decorating to do. Pictures to come soon!

Goodbye NYC

2011-11-09T08:44:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,
We're packing up and moving out... this Friday!! I can't believe we'll finally be living in Newburyport in just a few days. To say I'm stressed is an understatement; moving while 32 weeks pregnant has been a bit of a challenge. But I'm hanging in there and I will feel so much better when we're settled into our new place. I apologize if the next few weeks are spotty with posts (although you're used to that by now!) I can't wait to share the next chapter of our lives with you!

xoxo,
Janis

25 Ways to Tie a Scarf

2011-11-01T09:23:00.001-04:00

Now that it's cold-weather season it's time to dig out all those scarfs. But first, watch this video. I had no idea there were so many ways to tie a scarf!

(Found via Rambling Renovators)

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.006-04:00

Navy went back to his roots for this year's Halloween costume.

And, of course, it wouldn't be complete without a baguette.

Navy says: "Bonjour, Joyeux Halloween! When can I eat my baguette?"

"Nom, Nom...this baguette is better than candy!"

Navy Friday

2011-10-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

Typical morning scene: Mike and I are up and at 'em in the morning- starting our day, and Navy is still snoozing away. We literally have to lift him out of the bed so that he'll wake up for his morning walk!

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

(And for some Friday afternoon entertainment, check out The 10 Best French Bulldogs on the Internet. While I think Navy might have been slighted, my favorite is Hamilton Wesley Wigglebottom. Cuteness overload!)

Some News- Part 2

2011-10-18T12:26:00.002-04:00

Just to add some more change to our lives, Mike and I decided that it would be best to move from New York, NY to Newburyport, MA before the baby arrives. So we're moving next month!

We're moving from this...

To this...

And we couldn't be more excited! We will certainly miss NYC and all of our friends but it will be great to be closer to family and we're looking forward to living in a smaller city. (Yes, Newburyport is considered a city with a population of about 17,000) We found a cute little rental that is a block from the downtown strip which is filled with lots of shops and great restaurants. If you can believe it, we'll be closer to shopping and restaurants here than our apartment in NYC! (Currently we live right on the Hudson River, so it's three looong avenue blocks before we hit Broadway.) Newburyport is about 30 minutes north of Boston so we'll still get our city fix when we need it but we'll also get the benefits of living in a cute and quaint seaport community. I can't wait to introduce you to our new home!

In the meantime, take a little tour of Newburyport from some of my previous blog posts: here and here.

Navy Friday

2011-10-14T17:51:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Smorgasburg

2011-10-11T20:56:00.001-04:00

This weekend Mike and I finally got a chance to hit up Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I've been meaning to go here since July! Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day, perfect for eating outside!

Smorgasburg is located on Williamsburg's East River waterfront,

With gorgeous views of Manhattan.

We started off with donuts...

and Mike got his coffee.

Then we broke out the big guns: pork buns, chicken wings and grilled pork belly.

Teriyaki balls- essentially round pancakes with sausage or shrimp stuffed in the middle, smothered with teriyaki sauce and mayo. Mike was obsessed with these.

There were many other tastings in between but they got eaten before I remembered to take pictures. But we ended the day with an ice cream sandwich from The Good Batch.

It couldn't have been a more perfect day. You should definitely check Smorgasburg out!

Navy Friday

2011-09-30T17:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! We'll be heading up to Newburyport this weekend. See you on Monday!

Stretch Shoes with Ice

2011-09-26T20:34:00.002-04:00

Have you heard that you can stretch shoes with ice? I just stumbled upon this after reading The Lettered Cottage's post. This is perfect for me because lately my feet have swollen due to the pregnancy. So I watched this video:

And decided to give it a try:

Put plastic bags filled with water in your shoes and place in the freezer.

Freeze for a few hours and then remove ice from shoes. So easy!

The verdict? It definitely worked! But I think I need to try this again and really make sure the ice gets into the toes of the shoes. I think next time I'll do less water in the bags. (PS... these are Cole Haan shoes that I got at Marshalls for $40. I don't think I would have tried this if I paid full price for them!)

And since we're on the topic of shoes, I thought I'd share this tip with you:

These are awesome.

They're terry cloth shoe insoles from Aldo. They have a rubber backing and slip easily into your shoes. My biggest pet peeve is sweaty feet so these are perfect for absorbing the moisture. Then you can just take them out and toss them in the washing machine whenever you want. Plus they add a little extra cushion to your step. Genius!

You can get these at Aldo but they don't have them on display. Just ask for them at the counter. Or you can purchase them online. They come in black or white.

Navy Friday

2011-09-23T09:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

My New Favorite Show

2011-09-23T09:14:00.000-04:00

I'm obsessed with PBS' Masterpiece Classic, Downton Abbey. It's a period drama set in England in the 1900's. The description may sound stuffy, but believe me, it's anything but. You'll get hooked from the first episode. If you're the type that watched Pride and Prejudice a zillion times (like me), you'll love, LOVE this show! The entire first season is available on Watch Instantly on Netflix. So if you start watching now, you'll be finished just in time to tune in for the second season premiering on January 8th!

Repost: How to Make Marble Magnets

2011-09-19T21:19:00.001-04:00

A few of my friends have asked me recently about how to make marble magnets so I thought I'd repost the tutorial. If you can't find the supplies in craft stores, you can also purchase them online. Save on Crafts is a great resource for craft materials and party decor items. It's definitely worth a click through!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Marble magnets have been a staple craft project for years now and they're so practical. Who couldn't use more magnets? My good friend, Liana taught me how to make these years ago. And they became my signature. My bridesmaids even had marble magnet supplies at my bridal shower so we could all make some!

Once again, this is an easy, simple craft to whip up. You will need the following supplies:

Floral Marbles (found in the floral section of your craft store) This is very important... make sure that the floral magnets are completely CLEAR. A lot of the floral magnets have color or luster added which makes it difficult to see the paper below.
E-600 Glue- dries clear and creates a super tight, waterproof bond
Round magnets similar in size to your marbles. I prefer the extra strong magnets.
Toothpick
Hole punch (optional)
Patterned paper (The options are endless for this. Use magazines, photos, old calendars, old books, etc. Anything that you want to turn into a magnet. I used the scraps from the Amy Butler paper that I used to make the bunting.)

Make sure that the marbles are as clear as possible. Don't use the marbles that have lots of air bubbles or blemishes on them.

Start by punching or cutting out round pieces of paper. The hole punch was great but I did end up having to trim the excess paper after I glued it to the marble. Sometimes it's just easier to trace and cut them with scissors since the marbles vary slightly in shape and size.

Squeeze out a dollop of glue. Make sure to not squeeze out too much because the glue dries quickly so work in batches. Also, make sure to work in a well ventilated area as this particular glue has strong fumes.

Use your toothpick to spread the glue in a thin layer onto the flat side of the marble.

Quickly place the piece of paper onto the glue and press the marble and paper on a flat surface to smooth out the glue and get rid of the air bubbles. Let them dry slightly before you add the magnets.

Spread more glue onto your magnet. You don't need much... this glue is strong!

Adhere the magnet to the backside of the marble. Let dry and then use tiny scissors to trim off the excess paper under the marble.

And here are the finished magnets! Aren't they pretty?! The best thing is that the possibilities are endless... make numbered magnets, or alphabet magnets or magnets to match your dishtowels. You can also glue a flat tack to the back to make pretty tacks for your cork board.

If you're making these for gifts, jewelry boxes make wonderful packaging. Just cut a piece of paper or cardstock to the size of the box and put a paper clip behind it so that the magnets have something to stick to.

Voila, marble magnets! Make some tomorrow!

Spot the Ikea

2011-09-12T18:06:00.000-04:00

I found these three great interiors on Pinterest and I love the decor and sophistication of all of them. Plus they all happen to incorporate Ikea pieces that I already own. (If only my pieces were styled as beautifully.) Can you spot the Ikea?

via decorpad

via Apartment#34

Visit my Pinterest for the answers!

Navy Friday

2011-09-09T16:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Some New Recipes

2011-09-06T16:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was in major cooking mode and made some tasty things. I was largely inspired from a conversation with my foodie friend, Liana. Sometimes I get in such a huge rut with my cooking but all I need is a little encouragement and I'm all set. The nuts are from an old Ina Garten recipe. I added almonds to the mix in addition to the cashews. They are soo good and are best served warm. The chicken I adapted from a NY Times recipe. I used a whole chicken that was pre-cut into quarters instead of a whole roasted chicken and I substituted the thyme for rosemary. The absolute best part is the croutons that have soaked up the chicken juices. As Liana said, it tastes like a chicken custard, savory and delicious. She also recommended the brussels sprout recipe from Orangette. How can you go wrong braising a vegetable in cream? Yum. The recipe links are below.

Thanks for the inspiration, Liana!

Rosemary Roasted Nuts

Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Chicken with Crispy Drippings Croutons

Cream Braised Brussels Sprouts

Navy Friday and Some News...

2011-09-02T10:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! And I wanted to share some news- I'm 22 weeks pregnant! We are thrilled to be expecting a little boy in early January. You'll have to excuse me, I think this is one of the reasons I've been a bad blogger lately, I've been slightly distracted. We've had a few complications along the way, which were especially nerve wracking because of our past experience, but for the most part I'm feeling great. I hope you'll stick with me as my family grows... I'm excited to have you along for the ride!

*And in case you're wondering, yes, I had to bribe Navy with some bacon to get this shot.

Homemade Art

2011-09-01T14:32:00.001-04:00

Now that the pillows have been completed, I've been meaning to switch out the old artwork from some picture frames in our living room. I got these awesome Larson Juhl picture frames for free when I used to work at House Beautiful. They used to frame the magazine covers in our office, but when we moved to the new Hearst Tower we got to keep them! It's a great score... normally these frames could go for hundreds of dollars.

I like that they have a large matting so I can rotate them with standard size pictures. These are old travel posters from a Cavelleni & Co. calendar. But the colors do not go with the new pillows.

So I took inspiration from this photo on Pinterest (by madebygirl)...

And broke out my cheap $8 watercolors...

And created these. Let me preface, I'm no artist. But circles are easy enough, and abstract art is totally wing-able. (Is that a word?)

Plus everything looks better framed.

Not too shabby for a 15 minute project.

Ahh, much better. Color can be refreshing.

New Pillows

2011-08-29T14:22:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone survived the hurricane this past weekend. Luckily New York City didn't get hit nearly as hard as they were expecting so we were safe and sound in our little apartment. Between the hurricane and the earthquake, it was quite a week! Anyway, I finally got around to making some pillows for our living room so I wanted to share them with you.

Months ago, I bought some Thomas Paul fabric from Calico Corners. I didn't even realize that it was the same pattern as these pillows that I posted about back in 2009 until after I bought it. That design must have been ingrained in me!

I loosely followed these instructions by Isabella and Max Rooms. Unfortunately I didn't end up using a zipper, although it looks easy enough. I cut the fabric to the size of the pillow insert.

And then I made a contrasting navy cording to go around the pillow.

Next, I sandwiched it in between the two right side facing pieces of fabric. And pinned it together.

Then I sewed the pieces together and trimmed the edges. You'll notice that I can't sew in a straight line for the life of me but it still worked and you can't even tell once you flip the pillow right side out.

Doesn't the pillow look so much more professional with the cording around it?

And here are the finished pillows! They add that pop of color that the couch and the living room needed.

You'll notice on the right side of the pillow that since I didn't use a zipper, I had to haphazardly sew the opening shut. It doesn't look great but I can't really be a perfectionist when it comes to my sewing. Plus I was just impatient and wanted to get them finished!

Here's a bigger shot of the living room.

You know when you live in a space for a long time, you kind of just take it for granted? It was nice to step back and realize that I really do love the space I've created. It's cozy, clean and bright. And it makes up for the lack of view.

Well, we actually do have a "partial" view. You just have to stand closer to the window and look to your left to see the Hudson River.

And you'll be happy to know that these pillows have been Navy-Approved!

Navy Friday

2011-08-12T12:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend!

Where I've Been

2011-08-09T12:11:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I know I've been MIA for quite some time now and I apologize. This summer I've been suffering from major blogger burnout so that is why my posts have been spotty. But I really appreciate you all still checking in! Last week we were away visiting my in-laws in Newburyport, MA. We absolutely love the town and it's a vacation every time we visit. We hope to move there sooner rather than later. Here are some snapshots, Instagram style:

Land's End Home

2011-07-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

Have you checked out the Land's End Home collection lately? They have some great nautical items on sale right now:

Brenton Stripe Throw, $39.99

Copper Harbor Throw Rug, $15.99

Oversized Stripe Decorative Pillow Cover, $11.99

PS... I didn't get to Smorgasburg this weekend. Unfortunately 100+ degree weather and food don't really mix so I'll have to check it out on another (cooler) Saturday.

Navy Friday

2011-07-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Pools in Bali

2011-07-21T09:47:00.001-04:00

This heatwave makes me wish for a pool. The worst thing about living in New York City in the summer is the lack of access to them. You can go to a pool if you're loaded and have access to private clubs with roof top pools or you could battle the city kids in the overcrowded public pools, but there's nothing in between. Sigh. So to further torture myself, here are some of the pools from our trip to Bali... and notice how they're all practically empty. If only teleport existed.

Smorgasburg

2011-07-20T10:04:00.000-04:00

This weekend I will be hitting up Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. As the title says, it's a Flea Food Market (with over 100 vendors!) and I can't imagine anything better to do on a Saturday morning.

I will definitely be chowing down on one of these puppies- a stroopwaffle ice cream sandwich from The Good Batch- and there's even an Etsy booth that sells housewares. I will be sure to post next week with a full update and pictures!

Downsizing

2011-07-19T10:00:00.016-04:00

One of my absolute favorite paper/card/gift stores in the city Is Kate's Paperie. However, I recently discovered that Kate's Paperie has shut down all of it's NYC locations and re-opened a small flagship store in SoHo. It turns out that Kate's has run into some financial trouble according to this article by Crain's New York. Apparently sales have dropped as much as 50 percent since 2007 due to online competition by websites such as Etsy. This makes me really sad, especially since my dream is to have my own stationery store. I guess it's impossible to compete with cheaper vendors who don't have high rent costs. And I while I still think stationery is valid in this world of email and text, I'm not sure if most people appreciate the $5 letterpress card. What do you think? Are stationery stores a dying breed? Do you frequent them often or do you buy all of your stationery online? Is price a factor or do you make your decisions based on quality of design? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Monochromatic Fruit Salad

2011-07-18T10:38:00.000-04:00

I've been craving watermelon like crazy so yesterday I picked one up from Fairway. I didn't realize though, that I bought a yellow watermelon. Have you ever heard of these? I don't think I've ever seen one before!

Anyway, it's delicious, just like regular watermelon and it looked so festive cut up with yellow pineapple. I love the monochromatic look. You could add some peaches and mango to continue the yellow theme.

And this got me thinking about Martha Stewart's version of green fruit salad from their latest August issue. It is made up of kiwifruits, green apple, honeydew melon and frozen grapes. I think this looks absolutely beautiful.

Red fruit salad could easily be made with red watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries. And finally, I found this picture on Pinterest. What a great way to serve your monochromatic fruit salad!

Diner en Blanc

2011-07-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

Did you see the New York Times article on the Diner en Blanc in Paris? Thousands of people converged in the plaza of Notre Dame and the courtyard of the Louvre, all dressed in white, to dine together. Everyone brings their own tables and picnic dinners. The most astonishing thing is that it is like a flash mob, suddenly everyone arrives and three hours later, the spaces are empty and left in immaculate condition. Now it looks like New York will have it's own turn at Diner en Blanc on August 25th at an undisclosed location in Manhattan. I've already signed up on their online waiting list!

Navy Friday

2011-07-01T17:05:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! I hope your 4th of July weekend is filled with lots of red, white and blue!

Fashion Toile

2011-06-27T23:23:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we met our close friends, Marc and Sheila, out for dinner at Cafe Allegre in Madison, CT. The restaurant was great but what really caught my eye was the wallpaper in the ladies' room. I always think a powder room covered in toile wallpaper is especially pretty; it's a bold print but it works well in a small space. Typically toile features joyful scenes of 18th century folk in country settings. (For a brief history of toile, check out this great post.) However, upon closer inspection I realized that this was a Parisian fashion toile! I've never seen anything like it and I absolutely love it. Does anyone know who makes it?

Navy Friday

2011-06-24T09:09:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Minted

2011-06-23T21:08:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine recently asked if I knew where to buy some cute monogrammed or personalized stationery. I immediately checked my "Stationery" bookmarks folder (what? doesn't everyone have one of those?) and came across Minted. For those of you unfamiliar with Minted, it's an online stationery store that sells paper goods from independent designers. They have a great selection of personalized stationery and I'm blown away by the talent of all the graphic designers. Here are a few of my favorites:

Paris + From Stripes to Chevrons

So Stylish

2011-06-20T14:58:00.001-04:00

Love these new charcoal and gold greeting cards by Rifle Paper Co. The color combination is fabulous!

Set of 4 assorted "Hello" Cards, $18

(Found via Truly Smitten)

Navy Friday

2011-06-17T09:37:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Photo Credit: Andrew Haight

Mailed Calligraphy

2011-06-16T09:34:00.000-04:00

It's always fun when I get to see my calligraphy after it's been mailed out. I did our friend's wedding envelopes and this is our invite. I love how the calligraphy stands up even though it has been weathered by the mail.

Also, note how Mavia decided to address the invitations including the wife's name. I think it's fabulous even though it's not the tradition. Why shouldn't the married women names be included as well?! What do you think?

Brooke's Shower Invitations

2011-06-14T14:34:00.000-04:00

Here are some bridal shower invitations that I made for a friend. My friend described the bride as "preppy with a little Lily Pulitzer in her" so I tried to make these fit her personality as much as possible. You can never go wrong with pink and green! And of course, we had to have envelopes with matching liners.

Congratulations Brooke, I hope you have a fabulous shower!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2011-06-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

Forget Peanut Butter Blossoms (you know, the cookies with the Hershey's kisses), you must try these Peanut Butter Cup Cookies instead. First, I don't know about you but I hate Hershey's kisses...it's the worst excuse for chocolate ever! Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are so much better. And this cookie dough is deliciously rich and peanut butter-y. They key is making them in mini muffin pans. After you bake the dough in the muffin pan, you press the peanut butter cups into the still soft cookie and it creates a perfect little chocolate and peanut butter package. Yum!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp. of baking soda
18 oz miniature Reese's cups, unwrapped (I used the dark chocolate variety but they can be difficult to find)

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream together both sugars, the peanut butter, eggs and butter. Add the flour and baking soda and mix thoroughly. Shape in to one inch balls and drop into a un-greased mini-muffin pan, one to a section. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove pans from oven and immediately press one miniature into each warm cookie. The candy should be fairly level with the top of the cookie. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes then remove to a wire rack.

Yield: approximately 5 dozen cookies.

(Recipe from Coconut and Lime)

Navy Friday

2011-06-10T08:51:00.001-04:00

"King of the Cabin"

Happy Friday everyone! I'll be back on Monday with a great cookie recipe for you!

Photo Credit: Vincent Balagat

A Prippy Logo

2011-06-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to share with you one of my latest projects. I offered to help my friend, Tara from The Prippy Handbook, design her blog logo. She wanted to do a play off of The Preppy Handbook cover so this is what we came up with. What do you think? And if you haven't already, you must check out her stylish blog... it's one of my favorite reads!

Blogger Burnout

2011-05-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I'm suffering from a major case of blogger burnout recently. I apologize for the lack of posts. Rather than post about random, uninteresting things I think I'll just take a little break for now. I hope you'll bear with me during my writer's block! I am working on lots of projects so I will be sure to post about them when I'm finished. Thanks for understanding!

If this was my view I'm sure I'd have a lot more inspiration! (via)

Navy Friday

2011-05-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

Here's something you may not know about Navy... he sheds like crazy, especially after a bath! Yes, he may look cute and cuddly but he's one messy dog. The hair on my chocolate brown hardwood floors is the bane of my existence. I swiffer every day.

Are you totally grossed out? Still want that Frenchie?!

Anyway, thought I'd share this fun fact with you this Friday. Have a great weekend everyone! See you Monday!

Calligraphy

2011-05-19T10:25:00.000-04:00

Some pictures from a latest calligraphy project. It's really fun to look back and see how my calligraphy has evolved. I think this is one of my favorite styles.

My favorite part is packaging everything up to send back to the client.

Sweet Treat Jars

2011-05-17T10:04:00.000-04:00

My friend, Grace, made these charming treat jars for her son's pre-school teachers. She used baby food jars and my tutorial on how to "beautify" jar lids. However, she had to tweak the design a bit because the tiny lids wouldn't be able to screw on with the paper folded under the lid. So she fringed the paper edges and let them hang over. She finished it off with a thin piece of raffia wrapped around it.

I also love how Grace embellished the thank you belly band with eyelets. I definitely need to add an eyelet punch system to my craft collection! How adorable would these be for a baby shower favor? Or filled with jams or butters for a hostess gift? The possibilities are endless!

Blogging Break

2011-05-10T08:47:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I do apologize but I'm taking a blogging break this week. I have a bunch of projects going on and we're heading down to Tennessee to visit family this weekend. So I need some time to get all my ducks in order. Hope you all have a great week and I'll be back in full force next Monday. Thanks for your patience!

Random, but how cute is this gray cupcake?

In the meantime, visit my Pinterest Boards and start your own if you haven't already!

Navy Friday

2011-05-06T10:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Toms

2011-05-05T19:27:00.000-04:00

I just got my first pair of Toms in the mail today (they were sold out in the UWS) and I'm in love. They're lightweight and extremely comfortable... the perfect summer shoe!

Letterpress 90th Birthday Invitations

2011-05-03T19:56:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to share with you a project that I recently completed for one of my favorite clients. She asked me to create the invitations to her grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. Her grandmother is an amazing woman, very active and full of life, so I wanted the invitations to reflect her vibrant personality. I designed the invitation in InDesign and then I had it created into a photopolymer plate. I then letterpressed them onto Crane's 110lb. Lettra cardstock at The Arm. I'm really pleased with the way they turned out!

I also created matching address and return labels and lined each envelope with two different letterpress prints. The envelope liners added that extra special touch.

Frenchie Goods

2011-05-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

I've stumbled across some really cute Frenchie stationery lately. I love this adorable calendar found here but unfortunately it's sold out. I'll have to be on the lookout for the 2012 calendar.

And how cute are these Frenchie notecards by Fat Bunny Press? There are several different versions and I'm in love with them all!

Navy Friday

2011-04-29T09:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Wedding Day, William and Kate!

Happy Friday to everyone else! See you Monday!

DIY 5 Minute Summer Scarf

2011-04-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I need a few more summer scarves (an oxymoron, I know, but I love the look) to add to my repertoire. I love the circle scarves at American Apparel but decided to make my own. They're beyond easy to make.

I bought a yard of jersey fabric at Mood for $12. (And can I just say that I have so much more respect for the contestants on Project Runway... I have no idea how they select their fabrics so quickly. I was in Mood for an hour and a half trying to pick out fabric for just one scarf!) This piece of fabric was large enough so that I could cut it in half lengthwise and make two scarves out of it.

There is no need to hem the sides of the jersey fabric because it doesn't fray. Although you certainly could if you wanted a more finished look.

Next fold the fabric in half and line up the open edges.

Pin the edges together.

Zip the pinned together edges through your sewing machine with the zig zag stitch. (I was testing on a different piece of fabric in these next few pics... sorry I don't have pics of the original.)

For the life of me, I still can't sew in a straight line. But this is a simple project and perfection is not necessary. It will be bunched up and wrapped around so you won't even see the seam. Trim off the excess fabric.

Here's the seam line flipped right side out. See? Looks fine, crooked seam and all.

And here is the finished scarf! It literally took about 5 minutes to make and looks so chic. You can wear it looped once...

or looped twice. It's lightweight, comfy and is the perfect spring/summer accessory for any outfit.

Birthday Treats

2011-04-25T21:10:00.000-04:00

Last week was my brother's birthday so I made some tasty treats and dropped them off at his office so he could share them with his co-workers. I decided to go the savory route instead of sweet so I made my famous Bacon Crisps and Parmesan Rosemary Icebox Crackers topped with melted Gorgonzola crumbles. Yum!

Would you prefer a box of savory treats instead of cupcakes for your birthday? Personally I always choose salty over sweet...if there was a salt lick for humans I would have one. Weird, I know.

Navy Friday

2011-04-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Cuteness

2011-04-20T21:47:00.000-04:00

Some cuteness to brighten your day! (Goodness, I just can't get enough of Pinterest!)

Source: tumblr.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: goodbyetoyesterday.me via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: dogs.icanhascheezburger.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: buzzfeed.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: ffffound.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: supermarkethq.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Shopping in the City: Muji

2011-04-19T18:56:00.000-04:00

Today I thought we'd go on a tour of another one of my favorite stores, Muji. Muji is a Japanese retail store that sells a variety of items from clothes, to furniture to office supplies. It's a combination of Ikea and The Container Store with a sparse, minimalistic Japanese aesthetic.

Muji has several locations throughout the city, today I visited their Chelsea store.

My favorite part of Muji is the paper and office supply section. I love the neutral notepads and pencil cases and all of the Japanese designed office tchotchkes.

Rainbow of pens.

Notepads in every size imaginable.

Containers galore. See what I mean about it being one part Container Store?

I'm pretty sure these are the toothbrushes that set designers use in magazine bathroom photoshoots. They're simple and neutral. (You never see pink Colgate toothbrushes in those photos!)

Minimalist bathroom supplies.

I'm kind of obsessed with these Ultrasonic Aroma Diffusers. They're kind of like a mini humidifier that scents the room and is also a night light. Cool.

Shrink wrapped t-shirts.

Love these striped slippers.

City map handkerchiefs.

Cute cardboard animals.

Panorama skyline cards.

Finally, alarm clocks that aren't tacky.

Canvas tote bags.

Fun ice cube trays in letters and shapes.

Classic white dinnerware.

As you can see, Muji has an eclectic mix of products and it's fun to peruse through them all.

Muji:

The New York Times Building

620 8th Avenue (40th Street)
New York, NY 10018

16 W 19th Street

(Between 5th and 6th Avenue)
New York, NY 10011

455 Broadway

(Between Grand and Howard Streets)
New York, NY 10013

Store Hours:
Mon-Sat 11-9
Sun 11-8

Receipt Holders

2011-04-18T10:57:00.000-04:00

Since today is Tax Day, I thought I'd do a somewhat related post. My problem is that I can't handle all the receipts that accumulate around the apartment. We either have piles and piles of them or they magically disappear without a trace. In my effort to be more organized and efficient, I thought I'd look for a receipt holder similar to the restaurant check spindles.

I found this one via Apartment Therapy that also doubles as a coin holder.

Here is a gorgeous vintage receipt holder found on ebay.

Another vintage find found on Etsy, but unfortunately sold.

Not having any luck on Etsy today. I love this unique hanging receipt holder but again, already sold.

Or should I just go with the restaurant check spindle? These look the scariest to me but they're also the cheapest.

Or should I forgo the spike idea all together and go with a replica of a vintage wall receipt holder?

Wait... I think I've found it! How cute is this mouse receipt holder?! I'm sold!

So how do you keep track of all your receipts? Do you keep them in your wallet? In a shoe box? Are they crumpled up in the bottom of your purse? Do you throw them out all together? I'd love to hear your organizational tips!

Navy Friday

2011-04-15T10:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

April is National Grilled Cheese Month

2011-04-14T08:46:00.000-04:00

Those of you following my Twitter will know that I recently found out that April is National Grilled Cheese Month! (via my friend Jessica from Nutritioulicious.) I'm one of the biggest grilled cheese fans out there so I thought this definitely was entitled to a full post. So here we go:

You can try my favorite recipe for the Best Grilled Cheese. Ever. Or check out these other great recipes:

Double Cheddar with Tomato Jam grilled cheese. Yum.

This Green Goddess Grilled Cheese by Panini Happy looks scrumptious with all it's herb-y goodness.

Pioneer Woman swears by her grilled cheese.

And of course, you can't forget the tomato soup. This one by Smitten Kitchen looks delicious.

If you're in LA, you can celebrate by attending the Grilled Cheese Invitational. (Seriously, could this could be my all time favorite food festival theme... wish I lived in LA!) Or you can visit The Commodore which was voted best grilled cheese by New York Magazine for 2011. Whether you make at home or enjoy out, make sure you celebrate grilled cheese this month. Happy eating!

My Lamp Featured on Re-Nest

2011-04-12T18:57:00.000-04:00

My lamp makeover was featured on Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest yesterday. Check it out here! (Thanks for the heads up Megan!)

Black Globes are on Target

2011-04-11T22:09:00.000-04:00

I've seen black globes around for quite some time now and I really love how stylish and sleek they look compared to the usual multicolored globes. I recently saw them at Lillian August but they were very expensive and were way above my price range. So when I saw this black mini globe at Target for just $24.99, I immediately snatched it up. Compared to the black globes found here, here and here, this one is a steal! Granted, it's a little small to be used for actual geographic use, but it's a great decorative accent piece and I love how it looks next to my Cameron Moll print. Target wins again.

Navy Friday

2011-04-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Navy and his friend, Oscar. They're buds.

Happy Friday everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts this week... things have been a little hectic for me lately but I'll be back on Monday!

Style from A Cup of Jo

2011-04-05T19:57:00.000-04:00

I've been obsessed lately with A Cup of Jo. I'm sure most of you have been reading her blog for ages, but I'm a later bloomer and just tuned in. Anyway, she exudes style and I especially love her how-to-hairstyle posts. I've been re-creating the messy side ponytail for a few days now. It's effortless and makes me feel tres chic!

Photos from A Cup of Jo and Jamie Beck

Finding Inspiration

2011-04-04T19:33:00.000-04:00

I found this gorgeous room on Houzz today and I love everything about it. I love the combination of the gray/blue paint color on the walls with the crisp white molding, the fun mix of patterns on the furniture, the wood paneled painted ceiling, and the gorgeous chandelier. It's bright, airy and let's the outdoors shine through. It just exudes spring, don't you think?

traditional family room design by minneapolis interior designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

Navy Friday

2011-04-01T11:05:00.000-04:00

Hangin' out in da 'hood (aka dog park)

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Bill Cunningham New York

2011-03-31T11:53:00.001-04:00

What are your plans for this weekend? I will be heading out to the Film Forum Theater to see Bill Cunningham New York. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Cunningham, he is the street fashion photographer for the New York Times. He was the Sartorialist light years before the blog even existed. I'm so excited to learn more about Bill Cunningham's fascinating and unconventional life.

Edit: The movie was in one word, phenomenal. You must see it!

Digging Ellie Goulding

2011-03-30T13:43:00.000-04:00

This past summer when I was in Bali I was watching the European music stations and discovered Ellie Goulding, a UK singer/songwriter. Her music video Guns and Horses was on all the time. But then I forgot all about her... until yesterday when I saw that she would be playing at Coachella this month. I immediately downloaded her album, Lights off iTunes. And let me tell you, it's awesome. She has such a unique voice and her songs have a great beat and are just pop-y enough. It's the perfect album to listen on your ipod while walking through the city. I should know, that's exactly what I did today!

How to Make Really Good Croutons

2011-03-29T13:35:00.000-04:00

I'll admit, my favorite part of salad is the croutons. Who doesn't loves croutons? And homemade one are the best. Here is my recipe:

Start with a loaf of really good, day old bread. I used ciabatta bread. Next, cut into cubes. Mine are rather large, but you can make them as big or as small as you want.

Next, melt 1/4 stick of butter in a large saute pan.

Chop up two cloves of garlic and add to the melted butter.

Now here's my secret ingredient that makes all the difference in the world. It's anchovy paste in a tube. Don't get scared... anchovy paste doesn't taste anything at all like fish. It just gives a great salty, rich flavor (the background flavor that you get in Caesar salad dressing). You must give it a try.

Here it is in the pan. Doesn't look so appetizing, does it? Don't worry...

It melts right in so it just looks like you have brown butter and garlic.

Next, toss in the bread and coat with all that wonderful butter. Right about now your kitchen will be smelling great.

Finally here are the last ingredients, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

Toss the bread soaked with butter on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with a little bit more oil (if you need) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. You can also sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for even more flavor. I didn't have any on hand but usually I do load it up with cheese.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes stirring once. And voila, you have croutons!

I use these in regular salads and I also make a delicious panzanella salad with these croutons. Enjoy!

Navy Friday

2011-03-25T08:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Amigurumi

2011-03-24T19:08:00.001-04:00

I'm usually not one drawn to super cutesy things but I am obsessed with these little Japanese crocheted stuffed dolls called Amigurumi. They are just too adorable for words. So I've decided to teach myself to crochet. Not that I need another project to add to my ongoing to-do list but I couldn't resist the urge to drop everything and crochet. I visited Lion Brand Yarn Studio in the city and bought a skein of yarn and a crochet hook and I've been watching tons of how-to-crochet videos on You Tube. I'll let you know how it goes!

Etsy has a treasure trove of both Amigurumi dolls and patterns. However, my favorites are by Amy Gaines. I will be purchasing her patterns for sure.

All photos by Amy Gaines

The New Navy Bean

2011-03-23T08:41:00.000-04:00

Surprise! Navy Bean has had a face lift! I've been thinking about a blog redesign for quite some time now and I was thrilled when I discovered the amazingly talented Lindsay at Lindsay Nicole Design Studio. She has designed some of my favorite blogs such as My Cup of Te, Truely Smitten and Besotted Brand Blog so I knew she was the right designer for me. Lindsay was super organized with an extremely fast turn around time and was a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend her!

My new design is simple and fresh with clean lines and larger photos. I'm also loving my new simplified link bar to the left. You'll notice some new features. I've finally linked my new Navy Bean website: navybeandesigns.com for my business. It's still in the works but you can now see a professional portfolio of my past projects. And I've linked my Etsy Store which I will be adding to in the next couple of days. My old labels section is now under the Archives tab and I will be updating my daily reads link shortly. Feel free to click around and get used to the new site. And if you have any questions or are missing something from the old blog set up, please let me know. I hope you enjoy the new Navy Bean!

Fail Harder

2011-03-21T12:30:00.001-04:00

I've been on a huge documentary kick lately thanks to Netflix. This weekend I watched: A Man Named Pearl (recommended by Besotted Brand Blog), Objectified and Art & Copy. They were all enormously fantastic and inspiring. However, one segment from Art & Copy especially caught my eye. It featured a wall art installation at Weiden + Kennedy, an advertising agency most famous for Nike's "Just Do It" campaign.

The installation was created by the students at Weiden + Kennedy's advertising school. The unique thing about this installation is that it's made up entirely with clear thumbtacks. How brilliant is that? I'd love to try this at home except on a much smaller scale and using foam core board instead of punching thousands of thumbtack holes in my walls.

The thumbtacks sparkle and shimmer in the light and create a beautiful backdrop. Plus the sentiment is pretty awesome as well.

Here's the video of its creation that took over 351 hours to create. I love how they started off by pushing each tack in by hand but eventually switched to a retrofitted screwdriver. Ouch, those thumbs must have hurt!

Navy Friday

2011-03-18T13:22:00.002-04:00

Toweling off after a bath

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Calligraphy Projects

2011-03-16T14:00:00.001-04:00

I've been working on lots of calligraphy projects lately now that it's wedding season. Here are some samples:

A while back, I did some work for Lindsay at Everything LEB and the other day she posted about her gorgeous invitations that she designed. I'm so honored that I got to calligraph her envelopes. Click here to take a look. Thanks for the lovely compliments Lindsay, it was a pleasure working with you!

If you are interested in my calligraphy services or would like to see samples of my work, please email me at: navybeaninfo@gmail.com for more information or visit my Etsy Store.

Strength

2011-03-15T11:23:00.001-04:00

My heart goes out to all of those who are suffering in Japan. Tragedies like this make you realize the power of human strength.

Source: imgfave.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Add to your Netflix Queue

2011-03-14T09:20:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I watched the best documentary I think I've ever seen: Exit Through the Gift Shop. It is the Academy Award nominated film by notorious British street artist, Banksy and it documents the underworld of that genre. It's a documentary that has been twisted around and turned on it's head while tackling the age old question, "what is art?" All I can say is watch it and form your own opinion.

Navy Friday

2011-03-11T09:38:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Fabric Walls on Nate Berkus

2011-03-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

I was watching the Nate Berkus show today and Nate shared (in his words) his "most precious design tip, ever." Wow. I have to say it's pretty amazing. Watch the video:

So what do you think? Has anyone ever tried this? After watching this I really want to "fabric" my walls... like... tomorrow. It certainly is a great temporary option for us renters.

Shopping in the City: Eataly

2011-03-08T22:22:00.001-05:00

Mario Batali's latest venture, Eataly is a combination high end food court slash Italian grocery store. It's a fun place to browse and I always pick up a few Italian goodies when I'm in the area.

Eataly is huge... it takes up 50,000 square feet and has five restaurants.

I love the high stand-around bistro tables... so European.

Salumi and Cheese counter.

Mmm... fresh bread. The focaccia is fantastic.

Fresh fruits, artfully displayed.

This is one serious cappuccino machine!

We can't forget the fresh pasta...

Or the aisles and aisles of dried pasta too. A sight to behold.

I love the colorful bottles of the imported sodas...

and the bottled water.

But my favorite part of Eataly? It's the section of imported Italian candies. I adore the packaging and the tiny tins.

And it looks like I'm not the only one who spotted these pretty tins. See what was featured in last month's Martha Stewart magazine:

So pick up some pretty Italian candies and save the tins!

Eataly
200 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(Entrances on 5th Avenue and 23rd Street)
212.229.2560

Open everyday 10-11

Honestly... WTF

2011-03-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

I just recently discovered Honestly...WTF, an awesome blog that features fashion, art and creativity at it's finest.

Love these handmade hex nut bracelets... so simple yet stunningly fashionable. Definitely on my "To-Make" list. (Found via Besotted Brand Blog)

And I'm obsessed by artist Holton Rowers creative process in creating these three dimensional sculptures. Click here to watch the fascinating video. (Found via Octavia & Brown.)

Top two photos by Honestly...WTF, bottom two photos by Holton Rower

Navy Friday

2011-03-04T09:29:00.007-05:00

My tv-watching sidekick. He only needs a pair of sweats and

he'd be all set.

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

When it Rains it Pours

2011-03-03T11:35:00.002-05:00

The saying is always true for me when it comes to work. No post today because I have a ton of client projects in the works. I've been so busy lately that I feel like I'm barely able to keep my head above water. Plus my desk/entire apartment looks like a tornado has ripped through! But it's also exciting to see my business grow. Be back tomorrow with a picture of your favorite French Bulldog!

Source: etsy.com via MacKenzie on Pinterest

Above the Bed Wall Art

2011-03-02T09:40:00.007-05:00

I debated for weeks and weeks what wall art to hang above the bed.

(Did I mention that I never measure when hanging pictures? That's why they're slightly off. I'm not patient enough for measuring...I'm an eyeballer.)

But then I realized I had this frame sitting around.

It may look like the middle picture is matted but it's not. I faked it! I just took out the original 4 picture matting and wrapped linen (the same remnants from the lampshades) around a piece of cardboard. Then I printed one of our wedding photos on my home printer on an 8x11 sheet of archival photo paper. I left a thin white border around the edge which helps the illusion of matting. I ran it through my Xyron machine to give it an adhesive backing. And finally I just mounted it on top of the linen. Eventually I would love to get this photo professionally printed and matted but for now this was a free alternative.

The other picture frames were old bamboo frames that I painted using the leftover paint from the nightstand. I then printed out 5x7 letters from the awesome website: Daily Drop Cap by the insanely talented Jessica Hische. (She designed the logo for my favorite gelato company in the city!)

My above the bed wall art that I did in less than an hour. What do you have hanging above your bed?

How to Keep those Bedskirts Straight

2011-03-01T10:52:00.000-05:00

One of the things I was determined to fix with the bedroom makeover was the bedskirt. It was driving me nuts how it was slightly longer than the bed frame and how it sagged and drooped.

After reading the comments on Isabella and Max Rooms' post on bedskirts, I discovered these guys. It's the best $2.99 I've ever spent. These little pins keep the skirt in place and prevents it from shifting around when you change the sheets.

After a good wash and ironing, I placed the skirt on the box spring exactly where I wanted it to sit and screwed these pins through the bedskirt into the box spring. It has a surprisingly tight hold.

You'll notice that I had a lot of extra bedskirt fabric pulled over the top to shorten the length. It lines up evenly and hits the floor at the right spot. No overhang. And once you put the mattress on top of the box spring you'll never notice the extra fabric in the middle.

Now it's perfectly straight and even. So much better!

Bedroom To Do List... Finished!

2011-02-28T13:29:00.001-05:00

When I first blogged about my Bedroom To-Do List back in November, I wrote that I love having a blog because it holds you accountable. Well I guess I didn't feel that accountable because it's now a day before March and I'm just now finishing my bedroom makeover! Four months later and here we are. Ah well, at least I finished the list! So to recap, here is the BEFORE:

And here is the AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

You'll remember from this post that I used blue artists tape to create a diamond pattern on walls. It was this single project that made the biggest impact. I love how it turned out. I bought the Dierdre bedding from Pottery Barn which also added a ton of color. Next, I painted the nightstand using a $2.35 sample of Martha Stewart's Nutshell paint. I tried to pull the beige/taupe colors from the duvet cover.

I also added a new knob from Anthropologie to glam it up a bit.

I also pushed the bed over slightly so that I could add another "nightstand" (It's the round table that you've seen many times in my blog that was in our living room.) Originally we had the bed pushed closer to the window so we could maximize space. However, It was driving me nuts that the bed wasn't centered along the back wall. And actually having nightstands on both sides of the bed actually make the room seem larger. I think it's the symmetry that tricks the eye.

I hung some wall art above the bed: a picture from our wedding day and our initials. How-To post to come soon. I'm dying for a gorgeous headboard (love this one from Restoration Hardware) but it's just not in the budget right now.

Finally, I wrapped this lampshade in the leftover linen fabric from my other lamp makeover project. It was a lot harder to wrap than the other lampshade because it wasn't a straight barrel shape, but I managed to get it around the lamp. I'm still not sure what to do with the raw edge on the underside of the lampshade but for now it works.

This is the opposite side of the room. It's still a little blank since I didn't tape the other side but I may eventually hang some more pictures. Also, Navy's chair still remains. I didn't have the heart to throw it out since he loves it so. But it got covered in some pretty fabric that I had lying around.

And I moved the mirror as well. It didn't fit on the other side since I moved the bed to incorporate the other nightstand. But I actually love how it reflects the wall and the bed. It's much more pretty to look at now.

So there you have it. The bedroom is finally finished 7 months after we moved in! What do you think?

Navy Friday

2011-02-25T15:49:00.000-05:00

Navy and I are dreaming about warmer weather on this dreary Friday. This was taken last April in Ithaca... spring can't come fast enough!

Happy Friday everyone! See you on Monday!

Portland, ME

2011-02-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

Mike and I were up in Newburyport for the long weekend and decided to take a day trip to Portland, Maine. It's only a little over an hour trip from Newburyport which is amazing to me. I really thought MA and ME were a lot further apart. Sadly, I had to look at Google Maps to visualize it (apparently my geography stinks.) Anyway, Portland is a fantastic seaport city full of cobblestone streets and rustic charm.

You know you're in Maine when... you see huge stacks of lobster pots!

Cobblestone streets are my fave.

I didn't realize that Portland was situated on a big hill.

Of course, whenever I'm in a new city I always manage to find a great home store. I stumbled across Nicola's Homes and instantly felt a connection.

I think my favorite thing about seaport towns are their hanging wooden signs. They exude character.

Vietri Dinnerware

Gorgeous upholstered furniture

A rowboat filled with pillows... reminds me of this.

Beautiful bedding

I loved this punched tin lampshade.

These are my new favorite candles, Ana Candles. Tara also sells them in her store.

Fun printed pillows and a handsome orange dresser

Bags made to look vintage are fun.

A great store inspires and this one certainly did.

Nicola's Homes
215 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101
207.899.3218

Store Hours:
Mon-Sat 10-6
Sun 12-5

Manhattan

2011-02-22T17:50:00.000-05:00

I found some lovely images of Manhattan today on Pinterest. One thing about New York, it's always glamorous in the photographs but not so much in real life. I have a love/hate relationship with the city. Today it kicked me down but maybe tomorrow it will inspire.

Source: souledbyjamieflannigan.blogspot.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: thisisnthappiness.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: reblololo.tumblr.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Source: fromme-toyou.tumblr.com via Navy Bean on Pinterest

Navy Friday

2011-02-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend!

PS... A special thanks to Pearl District and Design Gathering for featuring my chair makeover!

The Best Grilled Cheese. Ever.

2011-02-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

I've eaten a lot of grilled cheeses in my lifetime. And this one takes the cake (or shall we say cheese?) Seriously... it's the best. Let's get started!

As the Pioneer Woman says... "Here's the cast of characters:"

1. Good hearty bread. I used Eli Zabar's Sourdough.
2. Sliced cheddar cheese
3. Granny Smith Apples, thinly sliced
4. Roasted red onion mayo. This really makes the grilled cheese stand apart.
5. Bacon. Now you all know that I'm obsessed with bacon (here, here and here) and I have a specific way of cooking my bacon: You must lay it out on a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Then you must sprinkle with brown sugar. And then you bake it at 375-400 degrees for 20 minutes. You must treat the bacon with love and it will reward you. Trust me.

Slather on the roasted red onion mayo.

Then add a layer of cheddar and then the bacon.

Add another layer of cheddar and the apples.

Then add one last slice of cheddar.

Grill with lots of butter till it turns golden brown. Not too dark.

Voila. It's heaven on a plate.

Another gratuitous close up. Are you drooling by now?

Thank you, Paula Deen for bringing this grilled cheese into my life. (I'll even forgive you for your english peas recipe.) It is absolutely necessary to make this for someone you love this weekend.

Visit a Museum Today...

2011-02-15T10:54:00.000-05:00

...from your desk! Have you seen Art Project by Google? It's a brilliant website that lets you tour museums using Google street view and then you can view selected pieces of art with an amazing level of zoom. Google claims that you can get closer to a painting here than in real life.

The Princess from the Land of Porcelain by one of my favorite artists, James Abbott McNeill Whistler

I was an Art History major in college so this brings back so many memories of trips to The Met and The Frick. I remember seeing Van Gogh's Two Cypresses in person after studying it for years and it was a life changing moment. The texture is absolutely incredible and it's something that you cannot even get a grasp of from the photographs. But now, with Google Art Project you can see that texture. All you need to do is just zoom in.

Did you know this is what a star looks like from The Starry Night? Fascinating, right?

The Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh

Of course, the real thing is best, but if you can't hop on a flight to Amsterdam this would probably be the second best way to tour the Van Gogh Museum. Be sure to check out the visitor guide, which gives a helpful tutorial on how to use the site. And also check out this interesting Behind the Scenes video on how they were able to encapsulate all this art. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T11:14:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Mike surprised me with these gorgeous flowers yesterday and tonight we are going to our favorite Italian place in the city, Pinocchio Ristorante. It's this tiny little restaurant on the Upper East Side run by a husband and wife team and it's absolutely divine. We have such wonderful memories there so I'm excited to go back after two years away.

Having a blog is great because I can re-live the past. Remember this cute Valentine's story? And three years ago I made these tasty Valentine's Day treats. I hope you have a sweet day with the ones you love!

Navy Friday

2011-02-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! See you Monday!

Chair Makeover on Design*Sponge

2011-02-10T12:22:00.000-05:00

Whoohoo! My chair makeover has been featured today on Design*Sponge! Click here to check it out. For those of you visiting from Design*Sponge, welcome! Please stay awhile and browse through my projects, calligraphy and photos of my French Bulldog, Navy.