My Dream Job!

This past Spring I pulled the above catalog (introducing to THRESHOLD home furnishings) out of my mailbox and  absolutely loved the cover!  It was just like when I get one of my many monthly  magazines with a great cover...I  can't wait to pull my car in garage, say hi to Ellie,  unload my stuff and look through something other then bills.  And then, just last week, I got my second or perhaps third copy of Better Homes and Gardens, and there it was, the talented person responsible for bring THRESHOLD to Target--Jule Guggemos, Vice President of product development and design.  Go here to read more and let me know what you think.  I think...SPOT ON!

A Taste of Summer!

Last week, while on my way out the door I caught the tail end of NPR's contest... A Taste of Summer.  The contest was for everyone to send in their favorite summer recipes.  I did not have a chance to hear all the recipes but I was thinking  to myself how fun! And this is what came to my mind...Black Bean Salad.  A few years ago a good friend of mine made this and I had to have the recipe.  Since then, I've made it several times and it is always a big hit.  Here you go! 

Black Bean Salad

Serves: 12  

Ingredients:

 

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained

8 green onions, chopped

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced

1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos

3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 lime, juiced

1/2 cup Italian salad dressing

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions:

 

1. In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, green onions, jalapeno peppers, bell pepper, avocado, pimentos, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and Italian dressing. Season with garlic salt. Toss, and chill until serving.

 

So come on tell me... what are a few of your Tastes of Summer?

Summer Style Dilemma...Continued!

Last week, I read a great and  totally relatable article over at goop.  The article was about going Monday through Friday without pulling out what we all want to when we get dressed in the mornings...our comfy jeans.  From November to basically March that's what I'm in...forget putting on tights.  After all, who has time for that!  Gwen from work--I better not give her age because she would cobbler me--is in a dress come rain, sleet or snow, and I'll admit... she looks great!  I have told her time and time again, I don't think I've  see her in the same dress or skirt twice. But back to the point, during those winter months, Gwen will point out that I'm in a rut...hmmm!

So what did I do today, I read blogs on jeans.  Over at Tory Burch I caught this article on jeans.  And by the way, I love her pics on Pinterest and one day I'm going to join. 

And then, over at Keep It Chic I spotted this great blog "Barneys And Me" on how she styled white jeans.  Loved all three styles!  I especially loved a few of the beautiful bags (that are far out of my budget), but more on that later.   If Hubby doesn't get his bathroom soon and if I came home with one of those bags then. Hubby can't spot, much but he can spot a new purse!

So after work, I thought I would give these curvy white jeans (see Summer Style Dilemma)  from Talbots a go...Fingers Crossed!  And look at the price! (Cha-CHING!)

Julia Reed's "The House On First Strret"

A few years ago, no it's more like several years ago by now, I read Julia Reed's "The House On First Street" see  "Book Report Alert".  After reading about her renovation process while dealing with Hurricane Katrina I was delighted to actually see pictures of her house in Elle Decor.  I loved her whole house, and to see it click here.  Here's one particular room that is currently on my mind...her sunroom.  I don't currently have a sunroom,  my mudroom (which stores my wicker furniture from my old sunroom) can only go so far.  Though, my mind was pondering.

1.  Love the slip covered sofa in cotton duck
2.  Love the armchairs upholstered in Bennison's crewelwork linen
3.  Love the English Victorian Bamboo table
4.  Love the wall of window with all the natural light!
5.  Love the basic coffee table painted in Benjamin Moore's River Blue.
I'm Thinking about painting an old table that came from my mother-In-law's basement.  What could I say?, She unloaded it onto Hubby when I wasn't around.   If he wants it he'll have to paint it or pray I find him the steamer trunk to take it's place!  More on that later! 

More Glass Jars Please!

 

 

 

  

Yes, it's true, I have a thing for glass jars...can't get enough of them!  At beginning of the year, I was in the market for some new ones.  I already had the ones you see above which you can get from most stores - Target or Ikea to name a few.  The glass jars you see, again, above, are on my kitchen counter storing milk bones and such.  But for my small pantry I needed some smaller ones to store the rest of our dry goods - oatmeal, rice and pasta that we never eat.  Though when food is stored in glass jars it become a work of art and so much more organized.  Don't you think?  

 

 

I spotted these in Martha...love all the different shapes that she used.  Look how organized!

And then in the January issue of Real Simple I spotted these glass jars.  It looks like they came from Crate and Barrel and Bed Bath and Beyond.  I ended up getting these jars from the Container Store.  You know what?  What a decision!!!

Found it...Ree Drummond's Restaurant Style Salsa

I just bought my last jar of salsa thanks to Ree Drummond - See"Easy Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas" .  I was surfing around her website and stumbled across her version of restaurant style salsa.  She uses cans of tomatoes which I always try to keep in stock.  For Ree's recipe click here!  I try to watch The Pioneer Women every Saturday and Sunday and it's not always just to see that cute little basset hound Charlie.  He does bring back memories though!

Planning My Trip to the Southern Living 2013 Idea House

What a great surprise!  The other night while surfing around Southern Living's website I discovered that the  2013 Idea House had just recently opened.  Funny, after I posted about the 2012 Idea house in Senoia, Ga.see "A Truly Impeccable Farmhouse in Senoia"  I was wondering when and where the 2013 Idea house would  be.  And here it is, in Nasvhille, Tennessee, my old stomping ground. Oh, the stories I could tell after living there for three plus years.  Anyway, here are a few of my favorites: 

 

 

 

The house is a southern Farmhouse decorated by Phoebe Howard. Of course,  I Love the all the rustic elements mixed with new furnishings.

 

 

 

 

Here's the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

I just love how the white china pops in the green!

 

 

Love the casual vibe of the dining room and all that natural light!

 

 

 

 

Love the study!  I just picked a very similar green for Hubby's office--more on that later!

 

 

 

The study in that pretty green.

 

Love the laundry room too!  There's the sink I want!  Do you notice the tiles on the wall?

To see more great pictures and an informative video tour click here. I'm planning my trip, and, you know what, it's  been a while since I've been to Nashville. See  "Goodbye Nashville".

Summer Style Dilemma!

Well, we're way into summer and I’m making do with most of my things that I have purchased from the last couple of years. My style,  which I should probably explain first, is easy, simple and comfortable. Basically, no neon, no polka-dots, and no flowers.  My good friend Jill, who just opened a clothing shop (think Anthropology), calls me Charlotte. Basically, she thinks I’m boring, but I take it as a complement! Another thing that most people don’t know about me is I hate to shop, I actually despise it!  One of the reasons is because I'm short, and kind of  hippie, and I need a good petite department. So you can see, shopping is a challenge!

Here’s my daily uniform agenda - all basic things--no big events to speak of!

Work – Business-casual for me--either a skirt or dress in the summer months

Running errands –Just can’t leave my house in a holy t-shirt after my daily jog.

Lunch with girlfriends –Atlanta is not LA or New York, but close enough!

Date Night with Hubby – Which is usually just cheap Mexican food.

A few summer concerts and movies

Before leaving for vacation this past May I made my Spring/Summer list and it went a little something like this:

1. Dresses – Shirt/shift and sheath – We’ll talk!
2. Skirts – A line – No more pencil skirts for me please! I feel like Mrs. Tudball
3. Jeans White/colored – I did purchase these colored ankle jeans from Talbots in green which I thought I would love with navy blue. They don’t look all that great on me. As for the white I’m about to give up and make do with last years that have a dot of red wine on them...so frustrated
4. Shorts – I just bought my first pair in years at the Gap "The boyfriend roll-up shorts"
5. Tunics /blouses – We’ll Talk!
6. T-shirts – J.Crew –Bought a few of the linen in different colors and love them

 

7. Cardigans/Pullovers --- Just order Bean’s French Sailor’s Shirts in Navy/Cream & Gray Heather/cream.  Still waiting on package.

 

8.  Jackets – Military Jacket –We’ll talk!
9.  Totes /Clutches and More - We’ll talk!
10. Shooz – We’ll talk!

Now, I'm glad I didn't find much...Ahhhh the summer sales!!!  Oppps I have a Yes concert this coming Sunday and they are playing with the Symphony.  Better get shopping!

Rooms on my Mind!

I have some tweaking to do in our kitchen area that opens up to our den.  These are the pics on my mind!

 

 

 

 

House & Home - I already have blue in white in my den...I'm thinking of adding molding similar to this.

 

 

 

Tory Burch - I've always loved this room wrapped in French doors.  I've even spotted a vintage wicker table like the one above...I almost bought it. 

 

 

 

 

Living - Our kitchen area opens into our den which needs some tweaking.  Love this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Living- I still have white subway tile left over from Nashville--see My Budget Friendly Kitchen.  I have enough to do my kitchen here in Atlanta and it's on Frank's list!

 

 

 

 

Southern Living - I love rooms with lots of windows!

Easy rotisserie chicken enchiladas!

Friday "Entertaining and Simply Delicious Recipes"

I thought Friday would never get here. I'm just sitting here at home waiting for the electrician to come so I can have some lighting in my bedroom. I should be organizing or cleaning something, but, oh well.  So  I have a few minutes to write about these easy rotisserie chicken enchiladas that I just recently discovered.

A few weeks ago my friend Carol from work had me and my friend  Colleen over to her house for a little ladies' lunch.  As soon as I arrived, Carol asked me while sipping her  Margarita (alcohol free mind you)  "that I hope you don't mind but I'm  doing chicken enchiladas".  My response, "Mind...are you kidding?"  I had been looking here and there, but not too hard, for an easy chicken enchiladas recipe. Also, in the summer months I like to do more Mexican dishes.

So I  immediately told Carol that I had been looking for an easy chicken enchiladas recip,e but I don't think she believed me.   I was very excited to hear what she had cooked up.  Carol pulled out this recipe card that she said she picked up at Publix.  Wait a minute...Publix that's where I do my grocery shopping every Monday.  Then she added, you basically just pick up a rotisserie chicken.  Wait a another minute here...Guess who picks up a rotisserie chicken every Monday?  And then, she said, the rest of  the ingredients were are on the recipe card that you can pick up when you walk into the store.  "It doesn't get much easier then that!" And I complete agree!!

 

    
Now I need to find an easy salsa recipe. A few weeks ago,  I picked up Paul Newman's which is good; I buy alot of  his products, but with tomato season here upon us, oh, there is just something so dreadfully wrong about that!  Don't you agree? 

Thank You Sis!!!

 

Wednesday "Girl Stuff"

 

This summer is really not going as I expected. I had such high hopes and  beautiful visions:

 

7: 00 A.M.Hubby delivers a  perfect cup of  frothed coffee

7:15 A.M. I hit the road for my daily jog

8:00 A.M. Swoon Ellie around the block for her daily exercise which only only takes 15 to 20 minutes depending on her mood and the heat

8:20 A.M.  Shower and blow dry my hair without shorting a fuse in our master bedroom

9:15 A.M.  Pop by Starbucks for my daily non fat short blonde Misto

9:25 A.M. Arrive at work able to put  my bag away  before telephone rings

12:00 P.M.  Have my daily lunch of low fat cottage cheese and tomatoes without any interruptions

4:30 P.M.  Do a little shopping for Summer clothes and Shooz that I'm still missing (See I Need Shooz)

 

6:15 P.M. Pick Ellie up from Doggie daycare and hope she's not the last doggie left

6:30 P.M. Arrive home to a beautiful landscaped yard with no limbs down, no weeds, and no overgrown hydrangeas that are not where they should be (See Hubbies in the Garden)

 

8:15 P.M. Enjoy a glass of white wine with Hubby (White for the summer)

8:20 P.M. Count all the lightening bugs outside my beautiful landscaped yard

8:30 P.M. Dine Al fresco style !

9:00 P.M. Blog my heart away!

10:00 P.M. Let Ellie out one last time for the evening and Night Night we go...

 

Though, with all this terrible rain and with Ellie's arthritis, with Hubby's touch up to his lasik that he just had done two weeks ago, and his 60+ hour work week, needless to say, I have not done or bought too many girl things.

 

 

 

Lollia

 

 

But this past Saturday late in the afternoon the FedEx delivery guy arrived at my house.  I had just finished hand mopping my floors, so  I made Hubby answer the door.  Could not bear to  let the FedEx guy see me.  Hubby come bouncing up the stairs with a box.  Of course, I knew who it was from!  Thank You Sis! This goes on the list with the little red swim suit that you gave to me for my birthday...Oh, How many years ago was that?

 

A Carriage Door for Me!

With all this rain here in Atlanta I'm never going to get my house painted.  My friend Collen told me to wait until next year but I just can't do that.  Once it's painted, though, let me tell you my next move.  I'm going to change out the garage door to a cute carriage one, that I've always wanted! 

The short story here is, this past January, January 2nd to be exact, as luck would have it, our second thing to break in the new year was the garage door--it would not shut.  They actual door is  fairly new,  not dilapidated by any means, so replacing it is harder to justify.  After getting out of the car and going inside the garage and playing with the shutter, the inside chain comes crashing down. 

So when the  gentlemen from the garage door company came to fix the problem, it was a pretty easy fix.  And of course...he upsold me on some rollers.  But anyway, I told him that one day I wanted a cute little carriage door.  And guess what?  He pulled out a brochure and told me  they did those too!  Here's the one I have in mind.  Now I just need to get my house painted and for hubby go crashing out of the back of the garage door.  You know, he did that once before...fingers crossed!

Chalkboard Paint...Gotta Have It!

Monday "Getting Organized"
 
Here in Atlanta we have had nothing but rain, rain, and rain!  For little Ellie, it's been very boring.  She jut sits in her chipmunk-stalking room and gazes out the window wainting for the little chipmunks to come out of their holes.   The good news is she did get to see a  mommy deer and a baby fawn run through her front yard the other day.  Very exciting for her.  For me, with the rain, it's been non-stop HGTV, and I was forced to finally pick paint colors for my office, Hubby's office, and the guest room. Didn't actually make it to Home Depot for the paint but at least I know the colors that I'm going with.  For Hubby, because of the  rain,  he got out of a boat load of yard work...so he is a happy camper.  

Anyway, I cannot begin to tell you how much I love chalkboard paint!  Love it, Love it, Love it! 

Here House & Home's Suzanne Dimma painted a nice size wall in her kitchen.  I thought about this.

And here, I  thought about painting my pantry like what you see below.  Great for writing your grocery list and such.  Somehow or another, I was using chalkboard paint! 

I even thought about doing a weekly calender like this. Great for organizing your busy weekly schedule. I strayed from this because of the taping involved.  I don't think after striping our dining room we would have the patience for this project.

 

 

What I ended up doing was just painting a wall out in my mud room that I had Frank install to hide the ugly hot water heater. And no, I don't have a five year old.  But you know what?  You don't have to be in grade school to want draw on a chalkboard!

 

 

Loving Elizabeth Mayhew's Grey Owl!

Yesterday, while trying to get out the door for work, not  always easy at my house--Ellie gets time out a lot barking at those chipmunks.  I always have the Today Show on and I  was able to catch lifestyle expert Elizabeth Mayhew, whom I've always admired.  This segment was "Summer Entertaining Made Easy"... catch that here.  A couple of things--I enjoyed getting a little peek at Elizabeth's new house (she said it was an old cheese factory) with architect Gil Schafer, whom I love as well...catch that here.  Everything I could see about her house I loved, especially her kitchen! 

Note to self:  Try to get white tin plates from Target

Note to self : Try the savory cheesecake dish.I could use a few more things for my Repertoire! 

One thing that I made note of was Elizabeth's "7 Shades of Gray"...catch that here.  I remembered reading her article in the Washington Post last year. This jogged my memory about my guest room, with unmade beds and desperate for a paint job.  The Gray Owl paint  chip has been sitting in the room for months now--my first excuse was the Holiday, New Year's organizing activities, and then vacation. I say it's time to try Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl.  What do you think?

P.S. Elizabeth, you're not alone!