Today's the day! Send out your gifts!

The day has finally arrived and I hope you all are more prepared than me to mail your handmade gifts to their recipients today! I put the finishing touches on mine before work this morning so I can wrap it up and mail it after work today. Timing was tight!

In other news, I'm off work all next week and I have a slew of projects I'll be working on around the house. Can't wait to share them with you!

Have a lovely weekend!

It's Official, I'm Obsessed with Rugs

This post could also be titled, "things I absolutely can't afford". Why are rugs so expensive? WHYYYYY?!?!

I mean, obviously I know why. I want a giant one, like an 8x10. I also want something pretty and totally awesome. All these things equal big money baby. And I don't have it!

This all started with this picture I posted a few weeks ago.

 

I saw and thought, "That's it! This is my future living room and this rug is the center of it all!"

So off I went naively thinking I could find something...I found out Angie's rug is from Madeline Weinrib aka I can't afford it. So I began looking for alternatives...and nothing!

Just look at these beautiful rugs!

 

I would gladly welcome any of these in my home. All from Madeline Weinrib.

I also found some other options at Burke Decor.

But at $700 it's still out of my price range!

What are your go to resources for rugs? I've checked Rugs USA and overstock along with the usual suspects but no winners so far, sadface...

Spending Time in the Kitchen: Peanut Butter Patties

If your life is anything like mine you've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately. Something, you may not know about me is I LOVE to make desserts. My husband usually makes the food but I am the sweet treat connoisseur! I make some type of dessert at least once a week, usually it's part of my sunday routine.

Since the time is appropriate I thought it would be nice to share some of my favorite recipes with you. And if you're lucky enough to have a kitchen as gorgeous as these you may not mind spending some time in there!

Can someone please clue me in as to where to find appliances this color? I like to consider myself a treasure hunter of sorts and I can't find this crap anywhere!

Peanut Butter Patties

INGREDIENTS
1⁄2 cup butter
3⁄4 cup peanut butter
3⁄4 cup graham cracker crumbs (you can find these in the baking aisle)
1⁄4 cup maple sugar or other granulated sweetener
1 cup chocolate or carob chips (I like to use dark chocolate)
1⁄4 cup milk

STEPS
1) Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.
2)Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, and maple sugar and mix well. Remove the mixture from the heat.
3)Evenly divide the mixture, approximately 2 tablespoons per cup, among the muffin cups. Place in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
4)Combine the chocolate and milk in another pan. Stir over medium heat until the chocolate has melted. (Be patient and do this slowly over a medium to low hear depending on your stove top. You do not want to burn this!)
5)Spoon the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter mixture.
6)Place in the refrigerator to set for at least 2 hours before serving.

This is one of my favorite things to make. No oven needed and they are so much better than Reese's. I like to make them using the mini muffin tins. These babies are rich and the smaller size is just right. You may be so inclined to sprinkle some chopped nuts on the top (even though I think nuts are horrible, but hey it's up to you!) Keep them refrigerated and they will hold for a few days.

Enjoy!

Light + Dark

We all know the tried and true rule of contrasting light and dark in a room to really make it sing. I think this is one of the most important things you can do in any space. Be it a home or retail environment.

I love love love this chair! How unexpected to upholster it with furry fabric like this!

Don't you love this?!

I hope you're all having a fabulous week! Time has been flying by for me!

Color Me Happy; Emerald Green

Maybe it's the holidays, but I seem to be noticing this color more and more recently. Emerald green is such a rich and lovely color best paired with another bright and used in small doses. This keeps the color feeling fresh and young.

 

Another pairing of green and salmon, a new trend perhaps!

P.S. I hope everyone is getting their handmade gifts ready for the gift swap! They need to go out to their recipient by the 17th!

Ultimate Wish List of Things I Want and Can't Have

I know we all have one. A list that consists of things that come to mind upon hearing the phrase "If I won the lottery...". So since I'm in a daydreamin kinda mood I might as well share my list with other daydreamers right?

Sergei Chandelier $395 from HFH

While not a crazy amount of money, there are many other things around the house that are higher on the list. But someday, this will be mine. I think the modern style is the perfect thing to balance out my more girly and vintage dining room.

I would gladly put my bum and/or feet on any of the following...

Vinson Chair $1049

Josephine Bench, $849

Chase Pedestal, $169

Not too expensive, but still a frivolous purchase. Maybe I could possibly DIY something similar?

Element Coffee Table, $799

Ok people, I love this, like seriously love it. The perfect industrial look while still maintaining a bit of glam.

Ok, so obviously I'm just obsessed with High Fashion Home. A great mix of furniture and decor with endless rows of fabric at very reasonable prices. If I ever own a store it would be like this. Dallas has nothing like this store. It would be such a wonderful addition to this city. Don't you think?

And since we're in a perfect world my bathroom would have it's renovations magically finished overnight. The contractor would do quality work in a timely fashion AND come in under budget. That would be a daydream right? Oh and it would also look like this...

I would like any of the following rugs,

Diamond Jungle Dhurrie, $298.
I have been waiting for this to go on sale for for.ev.er!

Artist's Tenet Rug, one zillion smackers!

And this one is really more like a gift to you, my readers.

Olympus e520 DSLR

See it's a gift for you because then you can come to my blog and see pretty pictures instead of crappy blurry ones. Then maybe I'll remember to take more pictures when I do cool stuff instead of forgetting, then I can post it all on this here blog and we can all go "ooooh, ahhhh". I've asked everyone in my family to go in on this as gift for me.

I may have to finish this out with a Part 2!

Thanks for coming with me to Never Neverland! What's on your ultimate wishlist?

Beautiful House Tours

Is it just me or does it seem like there have been some especially eye-catching home tours on the interwebs lately?

First up is this absolutely wonderful California space. It's totally a man's place but in a way that's actually comfortable and very well designed.

I love the bench, and the dark trim, and the...all of it!

View the rest along with a beautiful patio, here.

This next one is so my style. I have gone back to look at the images over and over again. 

This modern home in Charleston is the home of interior designer Angie Hranowsky.

I'm completely smitten with the renovations she did in the kitchen.

I'm in love with the color palette in the living room. It's great inspiration for my own living room. And look at all the marble! She custom designed the fretwork on the right herself.

See more here.

Then this tour from Amie Corley. I love the combo of salmon, green and white. And look at the cute little benches, I spy some contrast piping...

Takes your breath away doesn't it? Just wait for the bathroom...

Hello Cararra Marble and Chrome accents, want to come to my house?

See more here.

I still can't get over this gorgeous Hollywood apartment. This image absolutely slays me!

Again, pink salmon and green. Love it!

See more here.

I know I may sound like a broken record but I just love seeing REAL people's homes. Not some over designed baloney that no real family could ever live in. I'm just thankful that we have wonderful places (& people!) who bring these tours to us.

Have you seen any great homes lately?