wedding dress

We are going grilling tonight! Our friend are hosting a BBQ in their backyard. Here is what I am taking:

via Martha Stewart
Grilled Salmon Steaks with Mustard Sauce
I am going to use the Mustard Sauce to baste both Salmon and Chicken

photo via chaos in the kitchen
A salad comprising of:
Brianna's poppy seed dressing
avocado
red onion
salad greens
feta cheese
turkey bacon

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
This recipe looks pretty simple. I have never tried cooking sweet potato fries before and I have only eaten them twice so I am not sure if they should be more sweet or savory. This recipe has a hint of sweet.
Any suggestions for fry dips?

P.S. don't forget to sign up for the giveaway!

A while ago I wrote a couple of posts on different housing styles. Not knowing much about various architectural styles I found it to be difficult and placed it on a back burner. This past semester I took a class on American architectural styles so I decided to pick the series back up.

A true colonial is much more bare bones than most people think. The key to a colonial home is symmetry and a door in the center of the home; wood and brick are what you will commonly see in these homes. The placing of the fireplace was often determined by the locality. Southern colonials often put their fireplaces on the outside of the home to keep the heat out of the center while New England colonials would place them in the center to help heat the house in the winter.

Today most homes that are considered colonial are really a colonial revival, which will often include neoclassical elements (porch and ornamentation around the doors and windows). They often still use brick or siding that looks like wood slats. Colonial revivals often observe the traditional center entrance and the symmetrical windows and rooms.

Next week: Georgian Homes

These are two of my favorite cribs from their site. I have found that with cribs I tend to prefer simpler styles. There is something classic about them.


Today I have a giveaway courtesy of Baby Cribs Plus. To enter leave a comment on this post before Monday, May 3. The winner gets these crib sheets. For multiple entries link to this post via facebook or a blog post (each is worth one extra entry) and include the link in the comment section. Good Luck!

via brooklyn limestone
While we're on the topic of kitchens here is a kitchen I love. The flooring, the stools, the cabinets. What's not to love?

Welcome to my kitchen. Currently I am trying to pick out new flooring for my kitchen, dining area and hallway. I am trying to figure out what will go with my cabinets, the other areas are so neutral that I think anything will work. But these cabinets are not so easy. Here are some inspiration ideas. What do you think, tile (we live in a colder climate, would tile be too cold?) or wood. Light or dark? What is your vote? Advice?

via kitchen design ideas

via anthony edwards

via my italian interiors

via Nate Thompson

via small kitchen design

I was reorganizing my bookcases last night desperately searching for more room for my new books. I saw this on Ikea's site and the thought came to me that I should try to sell my non-matching book cases and my tv stand for this beauty. I think it would be amazing.

via Black Eiffel
Did you ever play with a fabric teepee (formerly know as a tipi) when you were a child? I loved them. How hard can it really be to make?

The dress is made of silk organza with a ruche flower and a sash flowing down at the front. The skirt of the dress is a full skirt with a long but manageable train that can be hooked up if desired. There are cups sewn into the dress to give a great shape to your cleavage. The corset in the gown is extremely comfortable and extremely flattering. There are delicate little buttons down the back of the dress.

simply a stunning and elegant dress. The colour suits warmer toned skin and the shape is so flattering, with a lace up back to fit all sizes - suggest 14 - 18 would be fine. The train is very manageable and bustles up really well.

Image via project nursery
I love these kelly green cribs. The cribs were found via the free Craigslist section. Brilliant.

One of my primary complaints for new/recent builds- when did the garage become the focal point of a home?

I read about Lauren Bush (niece of George W., granddaughter of George I) today and how she designs and sells these FEED bags.

They are pretty awesome, you can use them as a book bag, grocery bag etc. Included in the cost of the bag is a donation to help feed and educate poor children around the world.

I have been cruising sites looking for house numbers for a potential project of my sisters, I ran across this beauty at PB. Amazing, I love it!

Isn't this the most beautiful doorbell?

image found here
We took the plunge and bought some salmon fillets. Tonight we are going for a test run with salmon (cooking some chicken just in case). My sister told me her fail-safe recipe- teriyaki sauce and lemon pepper. With some grilled asparagus on the side it should be a healthy dinner if nothing else!

My sister is planting her first garden that is all her own, I have garden envy. She is looking for flowers to fill up the partial shade portion of her garden, and specifically "not ugly bushes." Here are some not ugly bushes.



Yellow Stokes Aster

Garden Phlox

Cardinal Flower

Lenton Rose Red Lady

Violets, Forget-Me-Nots, Foxglove, Black eyed Susan's, and Columbine's are all great partial shade flowers and possible Hydrangea's as well.

A beautiful classic age-less design from desisgner Ian Stuart. This fairytale gown in taffeta cangiante has a strapless corset bodice trimmed with pastel coloured lace flowers. The bodice is beaded throughout with swarovski crystals and tiny scattered beads. The 'A-line' skirt is trimmed with lace flowers at the back waist and leads into a chapel train. The front skirt splits open to reveal an organza overlay, which is trimmed with matching beaded lace flowers. Removable back panel included.