Outtakes from our Design*Sponge Sneak Peek

 Our home was featured on Design Sponge today, and it is such an honor. 

                          Here are a few more photos that didn't make it into the post or that
                                                                     I recently took....

                                                                         Our bedroom

Harriette and Louise

The den 

Entryway mantel 

Porch

The guestroom

Sailboat collection

Louise sleeping in the den

The living room

The end. 

Sweet Iced Tea & Holly Mathis Interiors.

For your reading pleasure...
These two blogs are really fun! And are based in the South, which is why I wanted to feature both. I find daily inspiration and ideas from these ladies....So Becky, Ginger and Holly, thank you for all the great posts. Please keep 'em coming!

Sweet Iced Tea is done by two women named Ginger and Becky. They go out of their way to bring their readers all sorts of great events happening around the South, amazing recipes, and all things that have Southern style. 

One recipe that really stood out to me was their recipe for bourbon butter. I can't wait to make this spread for the next party that I throw. 

(photo by Sweet Iced Tea)

This leads me to another interesting facet about the ladies of Sweet Iced Tea...

They cultivate their own honey. Now I'm not talking honey that tastes like the stuff you get at the local grocery. I'm talking about the purest, sweetest honey there ever was. Once you've tasted what pure honey can produce, you will never buy the cute plastic honey bear bottle again. Each season has a different flavor based on the flowers that were in season at the time. Bees and the folks that help them along are truly something to marvel at. 

As some of you may or may not know, I have my own love affair with bees. I started a photo series about four years ago that is the study of rooftop bee keepers in New York City. I'm fascinated by the idea. I have since learned that their are rooftop bee keepers all over the world. My photo series continues.... 

It is going to grow to include wild beehives as well, which I'll start with the wild hives near 

the ladies of Sweet Iced Tea.  

(photos by me)

Next up is Holly Mathis.  

Every one of her posts is just so clever. She has a great eye for mixing vintage with the now and making it feel like it's the first time that you have ever seen it done.
One idea that stood out to me was her solution for toy storage. It's just so good!

(all photos by Holly Mathis)

Also check out her My Flea section. Great finds changing all the time. 

Thank you. 

Bower Bird + Number Two = Love.

I've made it no secret how much I love everything about the new concept that is
                                                                  Bower Bird.

Kate and Laura that make up Bower Bird are just so clever. They bring you a very well curated shop with a mix of vintage finds and hand made lovely treasures.
This month it's all about glitter and tis' the season....
                                                                Find the shop here.

Past posts on Bower Bird here and here. 

(all photos via Bower Bird)

PS.... Buy something right away when you see it because I have now missed out on two things I wanted to buy from them because I didn't act fast enough. Sad lesson learned. 

Holiday Cheer

Here is some beautiful design that I've found around the web lately that makes me think of the 

holiday season. 

I'll be honest, I have a bad habit of finding photos that I love and saving them, yet, not marking where I've found it. So, if you know where some of these photos came from, by all means, let me know so that I can give proper credit where credit is due. 

I hope you are having a wonderful winter season so far!!

(Anthropologie windows)

(taken from unknown)

(via Martha Stewart)

(unknown)

  (unknown)

        

   (via Dottie Angel)

(last four, unknown photo credit. sad.)

Thank you.

From my kitchen...

So, in the last few weeks, I've made a lot of mini food. Mini pies. Mini quiches. Mini cheesecakes. And so on....It's more fun to try several desserts rather than commit to just one. Mini is the way to go.
I just kind of made up some of the recipes or changed them to my own taste.
From the reaction of those that tried the final product, success!

Here is my favorite so far. I'd love to hear how your mini creation turned out, should you try any of these ideas....

Mini Quiches:
This is just what I put into them. You can change out for your choice of fillings.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
3 eggs
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese (more or less if you want)
Some buttermilk powder (I put about 1 Tablespoon I think)
5 slices bacon, chopped
Spinach, chopped
A little onion, chopped
Touch of salt

Mix really well together ; pour into mini phyllo shells
Put into oven for 10- 15 mins.
And serve.
Super quick and yummy!!

Filling ideas:
Crab and Goat cheese
Broccoli and Smoked Cheddar
Spinach and Feta
Ham and Gouda
** I haven't tried these other fillings, just items I think would pair well together.
Let me know if they work well together.