Get Behind Me Nordstrom!

Chie Mihara "Serena" Pump ($415, now $247.90)

For Lent, I gave up shopping in all its varied and fantastic forms. So for the next few weeks, it's no shopping for clothes, accessories, home decor and -- perhaps most importantly -- absolutely no shopping for shoes. As if to test my willpower, Nordstrom has just rolled out a great shoe sale, with many of their shoes 40% off or more. Oh Nordstrom, you think you're so clever, trying to lure me in with your sales and your stylish shoes. But, while I'm sorely tempted, I'm going to stay strong. After all, I can't give up now, I'm only a week and a half in.

In light of my refusal to give into my shoe cravings, I'll have to settle for getting my fix virtually. The sale has quite a few gorgeous jewel-toned shoes that would transition beautifully from winter to spring. Besides, you don't really need another pair of black pumps now, do you? I say, if you're going to shop right now, be sure and get items that you love, that are special and that aren't like anything you already own. If I've learned anything from the current economic crisis, it's that you can get just as good a shopping buzz by buying less, but buying only what you absolutely adore.

Pour La Victoire "Florette" Flat ($195.95, now $116.90)

A sophisticated black-and-white striped bow paired with a gorgeous russet suede? You had me at "bonjour". This flat also comes in a gorgeous teal with purple bow. Tres chic.

MICHAEL Michael Kors "Annabel" Pump ($138.95, now $82.90)

At 6' I have absolutely no business wearing pumps this tall, but I can't get over the gorgeous grape suede, made more casual with the contrasting white stitching and chunky heel.

Jeffrey Campbell "Vee" Rain Boot ($54.95, now $31.90)

Bright yellow rain boots are just the thing to get you through the rainy spring ahead. The shorter bootie style is also a great nod to recent shoe trends and practical for its easy on/easy off design.

Madison Harding Patent Mary Jane ($159.95, now $94.90)

I couldn't resist including this shoe; it just makes me smile. I especially love the idea of a shoe like this as a bridal shoe. What a gorgeous and fun "something blue"!

Nanette Lepore "Flash Me" Flat ($395, now $156.90)

It's a good thing this flat is sold out in a size 10, because I'm not sure I'd be able to resist. Gray suede and stud detailing are two of my absolute favorite things.

There are tons of more great options on sale right now so be sure to click on over here and check it out! If do you partake, let me know what you scored so I can live vicariously through you!

Yes, yes. I've admitted it before, and I'll admit it again: I'm a shoe junkie....

Somebody Stop Gareth Pugh

I blogged about designer Gareth Pugh's Fall 2009 menswear collection before, and I think my general reaction to his RTW collection (which debuted yesterday in Paris) is the same. I recognize this is more art than fashion, but art should be beautiful or important. This, IMHO, is neither. Besides, this collection is supposed to be ready to wear. My question to Mr. Pugh is, where would I wear these exactly? Beyond the undead make-up and Derelicte-meets-Matrix styling, these outfits are just completely unflattering. Who wants to look like a shapeless blob?

Outside Over There

I find this photograph by Sarah Diaz (available for purchase at UGallery) completely mesmerizing. It reminds me so much of one of my favorite children's books, Outside Over There by Maurice Sendek. In the book, a little girl named Ida flies through the air in her mother's yellow raincoat in search of her baby sister who was stolen by goblins. Does anyone else remember this book?

...There are days -- like today -- that I want the sense of security that comes from being completely enveloped in your mother's coat. All wrapped up in it, you can go out and face the world head on, knowing its magical power will keep you safe from harm.

Katie Ridder

What with all the doom and gloom bandied about right now, I'm finding escape in the colorful interiors of designer Katie Ridder, which manage to straddle traditional and modern decor with ease. Here, an otherwise white room is punched up with splashes of red (that mantle is amazing!) and blue. Bonus points for employing a red, white and blue palette and avoiding even the faintest patriotic theme.

In this dining room, the combination of turquoise and red is just so fresh and modern. The more detailed Italian influences (the Murano glass chandelier and dining chairs upholstered in Missoni fabric) are such a nice counterpoint to the otherwise minimal decor. I'll admit though that this room would be drastically improved if the wall-to-wall carpet was replaced with dark hard woods -- but couldn't most rooms? The red ceramic table lamps are also a wonderful touch -- you can find a similar look over on Overstock (at under $100 for a pair!), but I'd swap out the standard issue drum shades with something white and sleek.

I'm really starting to like all the painted glass backsplashes I've been seeing lately, especially when they're in such a bold hue. I also love the sleek white countertops; what a welcome change from granite (which I am rapidly tiring of...just so predictable!).

I don't normally like coral, but the color here seems just right for this library. The high gloss paint on all the cabinetry is a great way achieve the look of lacquer without the cost and the sheen reflects, rather than absorbs, the light. The space-age light fixture is also a nice (albeit surprising) touch.

Those giant windows and high ceilings are enough to make me love this kitchen. Throw in cabinets that reach the ceiling and the industrial stove, and I'm in full-on kitchen lust.

This is a great example of decorating around a single print (here the rug) and letting it dictate the rest of the space. All the gray is so soothing, too, though I'd swap out the Jetsons-esque coffee table for something more sophisticated (which would be a better contrast to the carpet). Also, is the white chair pictured above the same as the red chairs in the first picture? I'm thinking "yes"....

Right now I love just about any bathroom that takes small mosaic tiles and puts them everywhere. The blue and white is particularly fresh (and seems to be something of a Katie Ridder signature), but the single shot of orange flowers really kicks it up a notch. Also, isn't that light fixture to die for? If anyone knows who makes it, let me know!

A very nice use of wallpaper -- interesting without being overpowering. It lets the staircase (rightfully) be the star of the show. You can achieve a similar look with Osborne & Little's yellow damask pattern from their vintage collection or Marcel Water's Grace or Stella, both available through Graham & Brown.

Again with the dining chairs upholstered in two fabrics (pattern on the outside, solid on the inside). What a great way to make ordinary chairs special. You can find a similar style to these chairs at Calico Corners (which can then be upholstered in your choice of fabric). For a much cheaper option, try West Elm's curved upholstered chair, which could be reupholstered for a similar look.

All photographs courtesy of Katie Ridder.

Dachshund Wallpaper

As I've noted on this blog before, I just can't get enough of dachshund decor -- after all, it even alliterates! And fortunately for me, neither can the Germans. German company sb 2designers has come out with reuseable and allegedly easy-to-apply wallpaper featuring my favorite four-legged animal in, among other available colorways, an eye-searing fuschia and pink combination.

Individual strips of wallpaper are sold separately and can be arranged to form alternating stripes (as shown above) or a solid wall (as shown below). For the decorator looking for a more subtle (well, relatively, anyway) look, a more subdued palette of cream and white is available:

I'm honestly tempted by this picture. How cute would this wallpaper be in a powder room? Or as liner for drawers or shelves? In addition to the two colorways shown above, the Haufenweise pattern is also available in fuschia/gray, citron/white, and lime/white (the latter two would each make rather entertaining feature walls in a child's bedroom or nursery). Prices start at 36 Euros per strip, plus applicable VAT and postage, and custom orders are possible. I would highly recommend surfing around on s2b's website: not only are their other patterns amusing, but their English translations are hilarious.

I'm reluctant to point this out, because I am somewhat serious when I say I love this wallpaper, but sb 2designers offers the following as a coordinating pattern to its Haufenwise wallpaper:

If you can't make it out, here's a close-up of the pattern in the gray/fuschia colorway:

Yes, that's dog poop. For your wall. Seriously. This may just be so bad, it's great. Thoughts?

Via the always adorable Dachshund Love.

Cibus Corner: Shower Food

Baby Shower Invitations by annacote

($15/set of 10 fill-in-the-blank invitations)

To make up for the belated posting of the weekly Cibus Corner (last week/weekend was rather hectic for me), Chef Babs and I have made it extra helpful. If you're like my sister and I, you're smack in the middle of planning the umpteenth baby shower or wedding shower for a friend or family member and you've had it up to here with shower games and finger foods. Well, we feel your pain and we're here to help with some fresh (and easy)food ideas along with some sophisticated (no storks or hokey rhymes in sight!) invitations from our favorite Etsy sellers.

Bella Donna Shower Invitation by MewPaperArts ($70/set of 20 personalized cards)

Chicken Salad
I have found that more often than not (and especially in the South), chicken salad is the cornerstone at any wedding or baby shower. My family has a recipe for chicken salad that we have used for years and no shower would be complete without it. Serve it chilled on a bed of lettuce with strawberries as a garnish and I promise, your guests will love it! The almonds and the grapes elevate the flavor of the chicken, and the sour cream provides a nice depth of flavor and enhances the mayonnaise. The result is a chicken salad that is elegant enough to serve at a wedding or baby shower!

Ingredients:

6-8 Chicken breasts washed, cooked, skinned and de-boned (cook with salt and white pepper)
3/4-1 c. seedless green or purple grapes cut into small pieces
1/2 c. chopped celery
1 c. sour cream
1 c. mayonnaise
2 small packages slivered almonds
1-2 tbsp. butter

Mix sour cream and mayonnaise together and pour over chopped up chicken, celery, and grapes. Mix well. Saute slivered almonds in the butter until golden brown and add to mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Yellow Poppies Baby Shower Invites by Michelle Brusegaard

($43.75/set of 25 personalized invites)

Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are an excellent dessert to serve at a shower, especially a baby shower. Lemon bars are easy to eat and they are more unexpected than a traditional brownie and more adult than a chocolate chip cookie. Here is my favorite lemon bar recipe, courtesy of Mrs. B.

Crust:
3/4 c. (1.5 sticks) softened butter
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar

Mix above together and press into 13x9” pan and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until light brown in color. Cool.

Filling:
1 1/2 c. sugar 3 tbsp. flour
3 tbsp. juice of lemon 1 tbsp. lemon pulp
3 eggs 1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together ingredients for filling by hand and pour into cooled crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cut warm and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Shower the Bride Invitation by armatodesign
($14/pack of 6 fill-in-the-blank invitations)

Lime Melt-A-Ways
Cookies are an excellent choice for shower food: they can be eaten in a few bites and, while simple, are still elegant. Thank you Aunt Joe Ann (yet again) for this recipe!

Ingredients:

3/4c. butter at room temperature 1 tbsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar, divided 1 3/4c flour
grated zest of two limes, plus 2 tbsp. lime juice 2tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream butter and 1/3 c. sugar until fluffy, then add lime zest, juice and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to butter mixture; beat on low-speed until fluffy. Place half of the dough on waxed paper and form into log (about 12” long and about 1” in diameter ). Repeat with other half of dough. Refrigerate both logs for at least one hour, or until firm. Once chilled, slice dough into slices about 1/4” thick and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Heat oven to 350. Bake 12-15 minutes until barely brown. Transfer to pan that you have sifted the other half of the remaining powdered sugar into and carefully coat the cookies with the sugar while they are still warm. The cookies are fragile so use a light touch. Let cool completely before storing.

"Baby Makes 3" Shower Invitation by InvitaPaperStudio
($39/set of 20 customized invitations -- see decor8 for a special 20% discount offer)

Tea Time Tarts
These tarts are worth making and keeping around even if you're not hosting a shower anytime soon. But if you do, guests will not be able to stop eating them! They are light, delicious and look fancy on any dessert tray.

Crust:
3 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese Package
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 c. sifted flour

Let cheese and butter soften to room temperature. Blend flour into cream cheese and butter and chill for one hour. Once chilled, press dough into bottom and sides of small, un-greased muffin tin (1 tsp. each).

Filling:
1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. brown sugar dash of salt
1 tsp. soft butter 2/3 c. finely broken pecans

Beat egg, sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Divide half of the pecans among the pastry lined tins, then add egg mixture and top with remaining pecans. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until done. Remove from pans when cooled.

"Domino Inspired My Home" Contest @ We Love Domino

As I often have to remind myself (especially these days), good things can often come from the bad. One of the best things that has come out of domino's untimely demise is the arrival of the new blog We Love Domino on the decorating scene, which has quickly gained a loyal following (you can catch my recent guest post here). Just a few short weeks after starting up, We Love Domino has announced its first competition wherein readers are invited to submit photographs of a room (or even just a vignette) of your home that was inspired by domino (whether directly or indirectly). Prizes include one or more of books shown above as well as gift certificates to Goodwill.

Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, March 15, at 11:59 pm EST with the finalists being voted on by We Love Domino readers through Sunday, March 22, at 11:59pm EST.