Saturday, July 30, 2011

The Girl Cave

When I own a house I want a room where I can have all of my craft things. It will be full of everything I love, and hopefully look something like these do. So fun!











Is it just me or do these pictures make you want to start a craft project too?

Photobucket

Friday, July 29, 2011

I want the moon.

I know it's not Christmas yet, and I'm not in a rush for it to come, but I came across this picture of James Stewart and Donna Reed from It's a Wonderful Life and wanted to share it. This particular part of the movie is my favorite.


"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary." 

So romantic. Happy Friday everyone!
Photobucket

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Toast to Thursday!

Hello everyone! If you've been reading my blog, you might already know that this week I am in Seattle, Washington visiting friends and family before the summer ends. And for the record, it hasn't rained once since I've been here, in fact, the weather here has been quite nice! So in honor of my home state I thought it would be fitting for this weeks cocktail to be none other than the Washington Apple!


Here is what you need:


2 oz. Crown Royal Canadian whiskey
2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps
2 oz. Cranberry juice
Ice
Apple slice to garnish

Directions:
Pour sour apple schnapps and Crown Royal into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add cranberry juice, shake and serve straight up or over ice. Garnish with apple wedge. Voila! Thats all there is to it!


Hope you all have a fabulous Thursday!

Photobucket

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Help

Because Southern California has been so hot and also because of sheer boredom, I've been going to the movies quite a bit this summer. I have already seen: Bridesmaids, The Hangover part II, Horrible Bosses, and Friends With Benefits. (This is a lot for me, usually I only see a movie about every six months.) One movie that  I keep seeing previews for and really want to see is 'The Help.' I'm a sucker for any kind of period piece, and this movie doesn't look like anything that's been done before. Plus I like Emma Stone.

I met up with some girlfriends for dinner the other day and on the way home I stopped by Borders Books for their big closing sale (so sad) to get some reading material for the flight to Seattle. While I was there I came across two books that are now movies I've been wanting to see, The Help and Water for Elephants. Both were 10% off so I happily grabbed them and started the first chapter of The Help the second I got to the airport. That was yesterday early afternoon and I only have a few chapters left!



The novel is told from the point of view of three narrators: Aibileen Clark, a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children, and who has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid whose back-talk towards her employers results in her having to frequently change jobs, exacerbating her desperate need for work as well as her family's struggle with money; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman and recent college graduate who, after moving back home, discovers that a maid that helped raise her since childhood has abruptly disappeared and her attempts to find her have come to nought. The stories of the three women intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help", with complex relations of power, money, emotion, and intimacy tying together the white and black families of Jackson.


I read somewhere that this was Kathryn Stockett's first novel and it was rejected by 35 publishers before it was finally printed, and then made it to the New York and Los Angeles Best Time Seller List and stayed there for over a year. Now it's a major motion picture starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Octavia Spencer. If reading is your thing, I highly suggest going to Borders and getting yourself a discount version before the movie comes out in a few weeks. you won't be sorry!

Here is the official movie trailer 

When I finish 'The Help' I'll be starting 'Water for Elephants' for those of you who haven't read it or seen it, I'll let you know what I think of that one too!
Photobucket


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tinsel Town Homes

When I was in school studying fashion, I used to take apart clothing in my head and envision what the pattern pieces would look like flat on the table. Now that I am in interior design, clothes seem less important than they used to. Instead of pattern pieces, I look at whatever house or building I happen to be in and check to make sure the safety codes are correct, the lighting is sufficient and of course, I judge the decor! The best part about this curse 'hobby' is I don't always have to leave my house to judge the inside of a place, movies work too! One of my favorite things about watching movies are the sets. The interior of a house or apartment helps depict who the character is and usually where they are living. James Radin is one of my favorite (movie) interior designers with his work featured in movies like 'Somethings Gotta Give', 'The Holliday' and 'It's Complicated'. Here is a little peak at some of his work.

The Holiday

This is Amanda's (Cameron Diaz's) house located in Los Angeles. I love how contemporary the look of 'California Style' can be, there is something so inviting about it.

The house was built in 1920

The natural colors are so pretty and airy!




This entertainment center is A-Mazing!

The lighting in this kitchen is so rustic and spunky.


I would die for this bathtub




+

This is Iris's (Kate Winslet's) Rose Hill cottage located in Surrey, England




So cozy! I would love to read a book in this room with a mug of hot chocolate.



The fire place in the kitchen is so cute!







Somethings Got To Give

Erica Barry's (Diane Keaton's) beautiful Hampton's beach house. The light colors with the dark wood flooring is so dreamy!






Aren't the decorative plates chic?





It's Complicated

This is Jane's (Meryl Streep's) Santa Barbara ranch. I love the Spanish accents and architecture. So gorgeous!
The rustic exterior is so fabulous! I adore the large potted vases.

These arched doorways are so pretty!




I would love to bake anything and everything in this kitchen. *sigh*





Claw foot tub? Yes please! 


I cant decide which I like better, Cameron's Los Angeles Home or Meryl's Santa Barbara Ranch!

Each of the houses James designed are very different but they all still have a warm cozy feeling, with soft colors and modern touches. He is a perfect example of the kind of designer I aspire to be.

Photobucket