Happy Friday

Love this image of a vintage Martha Stewart in front of a great table with cascading, happy poppies straight from the garden. It's loose and casual but because they line the whole center of the table, it's a statement. Also, how vampy is Martha, in her own way, here. Incredible. I want to use the idea on a farm house table with linen napkins, white plates and bottles of wine.

See more vintage Martha right here.

And happy happy weekend.

Doughnuts and Bourbon

So Abby, Grace and I went out for a fancy meal of doughnuts paired with bourbon at a place called Grace (conveniently enough). We each had different expectations for this evening of debauchery but they all seemed to center on: doughy donuts, enthusiasm, booze and fun. What we got was, well, on the sterile side. The doughnuts were so so and the bourbon was in champagne flutes instead of chunky shot glasses or glasses you could really palm, and the restaurant was bright and empty (instead of raucous and full and loud like I pictured when I thought doughnuts and bourbon). We were more ladies who lunch than like indulgent foodies.

So we've decided that our version is better and we ought to host a night of homemade doughnuts (piles of doughnuts!), chunky glasses teeming with bourbon, good lighting, good friends and some loudish music.

What do you think, sound fun?

Party Decor

As I mentioned, this is my last week being in my twenties. So this weekend (after a very long week at work) I'm going to Palm Springs for a little r and r with some friends. I've had so much inspiration for putting together an over the top party involving tents, lights, long tables, messy chic flowers and paper decorations but have no time so these bits of inspiration will have to wait for next time.






(From Scout Holiday (one of my favorite blogs), Max Wanger (photographer du jour), 100 Layer Cake and Anthro)

ADHD in Venice

So I went to the opening of ADHD in venice, the Ty Pennington Store. I've posted about it here and Turquoise has also posted some pics.

I was absolutely stunned by how much I wanted everything. I only know Ty from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I would generally say the style on that show is more mid west than my taste. So who knew he was going to put together really sleek modern furniture with up to date prints, a stellar showroom and in a to die for location? I guess I don't know everything.

So, seriously, check it out. Join me at the covet party.

High on my list are the ceramic cup and saucers (pictured) along with the amazing wall/shelf he had going on behind them. There were a half dozen other wall decals, lamps, bedspreads, nightstands and dining table that I felt like I couldn't live without, but thought it would be rude to buy it right then at the opening (wink).

Who Me? Part II

Wow, I got my first perk (other than the overall awesomeness of the experience) of being an ATLA Editor. An invitation to the opening of Ty Pennington's new storefront in Venice on Abbot Kinney.
I feel special. (Is Ty gonna be there?) Can't wait to give you guys the scoop. Also, maybe I don't understand the brand that is Ty, but Abbot Kinney seems like a weird place for his shop...

More Mid Century from Urban

So after Grace's lovely fainting couch post yesterday on AT, the last thing I was thinking was mid century. And then I saw the Convertible Sofa at Urban Outfitters. It's a sofa, it's a bed (thus possibly solving some, ahem, sleeping issues). It's mid century cool. It's on sale. I currently have a danish modern brown sofa and armchair that I've been on the fence about for a while. The wood base is blonde and with hard wood floors, it's just all so ... brown.

That's why I love the crisp white base on this convertable and the fact that you could sleep on it (or have a houseguest sleep on it. It also seems like a fun piece to have outside (I guess on a covered patio) for parties and lounging. I do wonder about the quality though. It looks a little 'wrinkley' in some spots. Anyone haveany experience with it? Or anything from Urban?

Picnic Time

This Neo Baroque Plastic Deluxe Cutlery from Pandora Design would make the perfect addition to an outdoor BBQ or Picnic. Charles and Marie say on their website:

"Designed by Donata Paruccini and Fabio Bortolani and inspired by traditional Italian cutlery from the end of the 1800's this fabulous set of four is made out of high tech plastic, making it much stronger than your usual plastic cutlery and most importantly: you can put it through the nasty dishwasher – which you really shouldn't do with the real thing..."

Set of 4: $20.

I like the colors altogether so don't know how I'd settle on one set, but for that price you could accrue a collection over a couple of summers.

Perfect Summer Dress

This Tracy Reese dress is 50% off at Ron Herman! Perfect to wear hosting a summer soiree or to 'throw on' to go to a bbq. Add some heels and you're fancy. Flirty AND sophisticated. (Thanks to Toosh for the tip). See all sale items here.

Made in LA

"Inspired by the weather and lifestyles of Southern California, Bauer Pottery created many different lines for the home and garden."

'California Colored Pottery' kind of says it all. I want everything in every color. But if I had to choose right now I would want these:

Monterey Pitcher in Parrot Green $50:


Sugar Bowl in Chartreuse $29:


Coffee Pot in French Blue $79:

Entertaining: Tray of dreams

I love this Marimekko tray. Check out textile arts for the same pattern as a shower curtain and a wall hanging plus more fabrics and accessories:

Bundt Cake

So as my cake stand post might reveal, I've been thinking about baking. Specifically baking Bundt Cakes. I'm tired of the cupcake craze. I think they're great, but there's always too much frosting, it's too sweet, it's gone too quickly etc. Enter Bundt Cakes. They can be dense, light, lightly flavored, rich, covered in icing, plain. Basically they're perfect. Plus I was given a mini bundt cake mold a couple of years ago so it satisfies the love of small, jeweled delicate baked goods without any of the immaturity of a cupcake. Otherwise I use the regular sized mold (like this one) given to me by my grandmother and I make the Ladybird Johnson Lemon Bundt Cake. It lasts for days and you can eat it for breakfast with minimal guilt. Plus, nothing looks better on a cake stand.

In searching I found this blog with a great argument and image that should sell you on the classic bundt if I haven't yet!

Thinking about...Cake Stands

I like to use cake stands in everyday life, not just for special occasions. Case in point, I leave my favorite Martha stand on the dining room table all the time to showcase fruit, doughnuts, mail, salt and peppper, condiments, flowers, potted plants, photographs, quiches, vegetable platters, candles, the list goes on.

So I've started thinking about expanding my collection of stands and these have me swooning:

So simple, so white, so classic (from Surfas in Culver City):



From Pottery Barn--The Great White Cake Stand:


The Turned Wood Stand (I love the shape of the glass covers and I love the cheese display):


I also noticed that the all things white are now black trend has extended to cake stands: Black Lace from MOMA:


The Licorice cakestand from :
Bliss Home:



For something with a more vintage vibe there's the Victorian Pattern Glass Store with these amazing stands to offer:






Now that I'm amped on more stands I found that Real Simple has some great ideas for other cake stand uses.