whistle while you work
i could so embrace my inner stepford with this new, hip houseware line.
alice supply co. was started right here in my town by the lovliest two ladies. inspired by kate spade and trina turk this fab duo has turned out great fun in toilet plungery and pans o'dust.
even more exciting! come springtime there's talk of ping-pong paddles, hammers, screwdrivers, and gardening tools. they're thinking nautical, navy-white stripe. i'm thinking crap! now i might actually have to help out around the house.
don't you agree, though? chores will be so much yummier with lime-green and rainbow stripes!!
Simple Things
christina is hosting the simple things today.
a call out to bloggers to "show what we appreciate, and what we are grateful for - no matter how big or small, these things may seem."
if christina asked me to dig ditches with her all day long in the hot sun, i'd be the first to sign up.
in an effort to help the haiti rescue and rebuilding, she is giving one dollar to doctors without borders for every participant.
thank you christina for inspiring me daily. here is my laddleful of love to you:
katie's simple things 1/27/2010
freshly scented, french milled soap
clean, empty notepads. ready for my days' plans, ideas, and aspirations.
homemade morning coffee. french pressed with ground cinnamon. a mug reminding me what matters most.
waking up in the middle of the night holding hands with hh.
fresh, inexpensive, trader joe's flowers on my desk
our sweet tree standing tall again. post storm destruction. so glad we were able to keep you in the family.
peanut m& m's, and don't you dare try to substitute plain!!!!!!
profanity. terrible, i know. i'm a good girl otherwise. i just like to swear.
perfume before bed, after my bath.
afternoon naps.
mornings. the promise. the second chance.
this song.......it renders me tear faced every time i hear it. but happy, oh my god, i'm so damn lucky kind of tears.
it's hard to have animosity in your heart with this music in your soul.
i'd love to twirl on fence posts with you, na-na-na'ing to this song.
happy wednesday. love, katie
black crow
my friend, of all things bad ass and cool, cassie, recently introduced me to the raddest designer.
black crow customizes avant-garde wallpaper, typically mural size, and abstract in pattern and design. the images you see are NOT computer generated. it IS the actual wallpaper.
they have styles running urban, blissful, and whimsical. it's impossible for me to pick a favorite.
do you crush on one in particular?
kitchen love
love me my kitchen. wish i played with her more often.
p.s. for any fitness fiends i'm having a giveaway at my real job today...
love,
katie
happy weekend
wishing m'loves a weekend full of laughter, revelry, relaxation, glee and peace.
the storms in california seem to be easing.
one of our trees was completely uprooted, and flew out of yard. most house plants have been obliterated round here.
which got me thinking.......
here's a sweet, bushy something for YOUR doorstep:
a little gift of greenery from me to you. because, i'm thoughtful.
happy weekend.
love, katie
and POOF!!! they're everywhere!!!
first time i saw them (ali wentworth's home in elle decor) i swooned. i mean how perfect?! pretty much a tailored beanbag right? i coveted my own ginormous lilac pouf. i fantasized crossing my ladylike ankles (fantasy here people) atop said leathered fancyball, relishing my luck in scoring the birkin bag of the decor world.
at first it was nice to see (every once in a while) what people were doing with their razzle-dazzle hued spheres.
yet, to my dismay it seems as if there is a new epidemic on the rise. swine flu is no longer the virus to fear my loves. pouf flu is now taking over the households across america, and we need to stop it!
so it's up to us my friends. we must stand strong and fine feathered against this leathered nudge. let us be independent in our interior design endeavors.
tally-ho!!
click image for source
cloud nine weekend
oh my! don't you just love open weekends that just melt seamlessly from no plans set, let's see where the hour takes us to ....well isn't this delightful and unexpected? this morning i found myself making snow angels lying in bed; giddy still from our joyful non-events.
i think the weather played a major role in my dreamy weekend. seventy degrees, skies pale blue, just enough clouds to make it girly and scenic.
let me summarize (smile).
the beasts got an outing to the park.
football silliness at the local high school.
a presidential 40 yd field goal kick costing hh to fess up the big dough in a lost bet.
i found my new favorite nail shade.
the MOST beautiful flowers (big, fat peonies!!!!!) delivered to my doorstep
a fish taco so delicious, only expletives and moans suffice.
a bubblebath or two. or four or five.
where i finally finished a nice, didn't suck, book of short stories.
all the while green fiddlehead fragranced the house with tea, clean cut grass, and spearmint.
and as you can tell, i'm back to taking photos again. sadly, alice, at only 3 months old, was on the fritz. a lemon. i had to return her. tamra is her replacement. i'm already attached. tamra the camera is a sassy shot and hasn't given me any grief since we've started courting. i think i've found my new dance partner.
happy monday friends!
click book, nail polish image for more information.
Happy New Year
resolution time.
i detest these silly things. i detest uncomfortable shoes. yet i still wear them.
i am resolute to make the following things happen this year:
you dears? what are you resolute to change? i hope nothing because i adore you all exactly the way you are. yes, brandi even you with that giant herp on you face.
happy new year loves.
-katie
click image for source
my grown up xmas list
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!Much pleasure thou can'st give me
just in case he IS checking his list twice here is what i would be asking for if we lived in that magical world where friends weren't sick, parents didn't fret over bills, animals frolicked freely, a soldier's watch was limited to his sleeping child, and our earth pumped out big gulps of clean, unpolluted air.
alas, this world eludes me. yet. till then, here's my shameless, materialistic christmas list.
grand? i think so. but tis just a wish list. health, peace of mind, safety, and a better world nix fendi shoes all day long.
have a jolly tuesday!
images: troy house, country living, coastal living, net-a-porter, paul costello, frank w. ockenfels, flickr.
Blue Springs Home
i had a silly good time with susan and tania at blue springs home. i finally saw, in person, the tumbleweeds, susan had been bragging blogging about.
pretty! pretty! pretty! like crinoline and tulle peaking out over baskets and buckets.
only susan could make dead, roadside weeds into something splendid. she sees tumbleweeds and envisions something stupendous for her coffee table. i see tumbleweeds, and am reminded to call my bikini waxer.
below you can see what i've done with some of my wonderful finds from Blue Springs Home. All through the end of the month they're offering 20% off all furniture, bedding and accessories in their store?!?!?! crazy!!
susan is sweet enough to bring to me some of my own tumbleweeds. my plan is to crumble and sprinkle them throughout the house like tinsel. i know the beasts will like it. maybe dust a few in the pink tree? BAM!! i have ornaments. fa-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-lah.
I Succumbed!!
well, if HH doesn't want me putting up a bubble gum pink, Christmas tree (again,) he should be a little more courteous whilst primping for his Sunday 6am tee time.as he channeled his inner John Daly, whacking the silly white ball through the dragon's mouth, the early awakened beasts and i begrudgingly made the most of our unexpected wake up call. we decided to yield to madison avenue, the malls, markets, and plain ol' holiday madness. the four of us surrendered to starbucks: their evil eggnog lattes 1 friggin day after Halloween?!?!!?! we put up the christmas tree.two french presses later, we four were cutting a rug to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Christmas Album (a must for tree decorating) and erected the pepto bismo-like sapling.why such a hue for a Christmas tree you ask? well........my mother IS Christmas. i think last year she had 7 trees? each more beautiful than the next with tulle, crystals, feathers, fresh flowers, real life fairies, etc. Preston Bailey would have pee'd himself. one gigantic wall in her house just........nutcrackers (giant, wee, grisly, angelic, russian, asian, ???) there isn't a room in her house that does not emit clover, amber and orange spice. the woman knows how to stage a holiday home. one walk through jane's house during christmas time, BOOM!!, osama bin laden, on his knee's, saying the apostles' creed, giving his life up to jesus. she's that good people.anyhow, i know my time constraints: limited. and i know my talent for being crafty: nil. i need a tree that requires zero ornaments that comes pre-lit!! and what girl doesn't want a pink tree?!?!?! i may not convert muslims with this tree, but i may help some boys come out of the closet. it's the season to give people!!!!!!TA-DA!!!!!!
Mostly Treats
Can't we have Halloween on Saturday night every year??!?!?! My black cat costume attempt wasn't very ambitious I know. As the night wore on, and my makeup wore off, I resembled more just an OC dumbass too stupid to put her makeup on properly. Most neighbors assumed I just didn't dress up again.I always make chili on Halloween. This is the first year though that HH and I are non-meat eaters. It made for many pre-spookfest go rounds; after which both of us are so sick of chili I'm glad we only have it once a year. After much error I came up with the following recipe which taste best made days in advance (just sayin.)
Vegetarian Chili
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups chopped onions
1 2/3 cups coarsely chopped red bell peppers (about 2 medium)
6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 15- to 16-ounce cans kidney beans, drained, 1/2 cup liquid reserved
1 15-to 16-ounce can black beans, drained
1 16-ounce can tomato sauce with basil and garlic
1 bottle dark beer (negro modelo is what i used)
Chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream
Grated Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped green onions
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell peppers, and garlic; sauté until onions soften, about 10 minutes. Mix in chili powder, oregano, cumin, basil, and cayenne; stir 2 minutes. Mix in beans, 1/2 cup reserved bean liquid, beer and tomato sauce. Bring chili to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors blend and chili thickens, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Like I said best made days in advance. Makes about 4 portions.
Ladle chili into bowls. Pass chopped cilantro, sour cream, grated cheese, and green onions separately.
I also made what could be the EASIEST salad EVER. I got it from Sunset's November issue, and it's perfect for this time of year. The sweet of the pears and maple syrup with the sharp mustard and frisee' is delicious!! I would also use arugula, but we had some friends who aren't arugula fans (still evaluating this friendship for that fact alone.) I like using the Asian Pears, and not just because I'm half Japanese (although.......it's the least you can do, i mean, hello? Hiroshima? Nagasaki? use an effing Japanese pear please,) but they do taste better in this salad. The recipe calls for champagne vinegar, but I didn't have any so I used white wine vinegar. It also calls for Kosher salt; I didn't have that either so I wore a Yarmulke while I added sea salt.
Pear Gorgonzola Salad
1/4 cup Champagne Vinegar
1/2 Cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
1tsp dijon mustard
1tsp kosher salt
2-3 heads frisee, trimmed and leaves separated
2 pears halved and thinly sliced
1 cup pecans toasted
3/4 c crumbled gorgonzola cheese
Whisk together first 5 ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine lettuce, pears and pecans. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss well to coat. Sprinkle cheese on top and give another quick toss.
Serves 12
Happy Monday! Love, Katie
I Dare You to Disagree
Come on? I'm totally right! Cleaning out one's junk drawer is just like cleaning out one's ass: best done wearing gloves, by oneself, when everything else has already been scoured speckless.Yesterday, I found myself, alone in my spic and span house, with a few free hours and a pair of rubber gloves......Magic was made.Post magic I've now found my favorite missing blush, my tiny, travel bottles of Maker's Mark, and 1 of 3 nightguards. (Yes, i grind my teeth. Yes, i wear that giant, attractive apparatus to remedy this nocturnal problem. Yes, when I sleep, I look like a head gear wearing Anthony Michael Hall in "Sixteen Candles." Try and make fun of me, and I'LL KILL YOU.)But the most incredible thing I found?!?!??!?!?!: my J.CREW receipt/store credit from 2007!?!?!?! How in the HELL did I forget about this?!??!?! I've heard those horrific stories about those mothers who forget they've left their babies on top of their cars, and then drive off? I can totally sympathize now. How could I forget about my credit??? How did I go all this time with all that (practically) free merchandise waiting for me to come rescue it, and bring it home? So sad. So scary. I think Beyonce should play me when they convert this harrowing story into a movie.Today, I'm stealing away to right this wrong. And, NO............ I didn't find my J. Crew credit in my colon!!!!!!!???!?!*images Tumblr
Monday Meditation
Ever since seeing fashion photographer, Roberto Dutesco's horse photograph in a Christine Lane Bedroom I haven't been able to get these gentle faces out of my head. This month's House Beautiful features one these prints in a dining room Thom Filicia did for their Designer Visions showhouse. Just gazing at them for a couple of seconds calms me down, hitting sweet spots which inspire me to be kinder and more humane. Instant meditation for this sometimes crazy, scary world we're living in. I've included a link to give you more information on these exquisite equines, but first I encourage you just to enjoy these peaceful, elegant, wise creatures. love, Katie (yes, that's my real name)*images courtesy of DutescoArt.com
Our Playground
I want a house that has got over all its troubles. I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house. Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) from They and II grew up in a model home. We had a stairway that was just for "show," and a "library" with blank books. Our dining room floor was so immaculate, you could perform open heart surgery. My mom replicated every square inch of their current home to its model; right down to the matching dried peas in the glass apothecary jars on the kitchen counters. If given the chance, Colin Cowie would intern for free for my mother/Jane. It is no surprise that I will always feel that my home is on the junior varsity team of style and completion.Don't get me wrong, like any proper mother daughter relationship, I have my adequate share of rebellion and independence. While my mom's gorgeous homes are richly textured, luxuriously hued, and always accessorized with the perfect collection (she was doing seashells WAY before Diane Keaton in Something's Gotta Give,) my taste has always been white, uncluttered, and accessorized with dog hair. Nevertheless, I have a fantasy that one day I'll be able to pull my house together like my ingenious mother.Here are a few shots of rooms I someday hope i'll be able to pull together a la Jane.
