Afternoon DIY

Searching for a place to hang my necklaces, hats and scarfs I decided to pull out the creative genius in me and go to town.  I came up with an accessory clothes line made out of materials I have around my apartment,  2 eyes screws, wire and clothes pins.  Voila!

Now I need to figure out how to fix the leak in our bathroom ceiling but I think that is going to take a professional.

Fall Adventure

Today I took the train up-state to see the fall foliage and to go to the orchard with my roommate. What a breath taking day it was. not only did we pick apples but also found pears, grapes, and tomatoes.

I think my favorite part of the day was seeing the view of the Hudson river from my train window. I took my knitting with to keep my hands busy and listened to my Pandora Washed Out radio station. It was a perfect soundtrack to the trip.

It was such a wonderful day, I am hoping that I get to take another trip before fall is over. In the meantime I will watch this video over and over again and pretend that I am in France or just up-state.

loire valley from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo.

Kitchen Tips: How to Peel a Garlic Clove

Tonight I made garlic mashed potatoes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and peeled each garlic glove one by one. Really wished I would have seen this video sooner!


How to Peel a Head of Garlic in Less Than 10 Seconds from SAVEUR.com on Vimeo.

Paper Craft

Birthday month is in full swing so it's time to break out all the crafting tools and make some decorations. Let's get this party started!

Kitchen Time

I have the day off work today and have been day dreaming what I am going to bake today. It's a quiet rainy day and I am enjoying the sound of the raindrops on the window sills. Isn't that a perfect day to spend in the kitchen? My family came to visit last week and brought much of my kitchen to me so I feel like I can go back to baking once again. Woohoo! It's been a summer of no cooking or baking and if you know me that is a tough thing for me to go without.

I wanted to share this video that I found on different ways to frost cupcakes using different tips. Such simple classic looks that anyone should be able to do with just a little practice.



I hope you have a lovely day and get to spend a little time in the kitchen as well.

Need inspiration?

In just a few days you can have this at your fingertips! I am excited for this book... Design Sponge being one of my favorite blogs to read. Also, it's another way for me to continue the adventure in decorating my new apartment. Maybe I will add it to my birthday wishlist blog when that day comes?

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

On my next trip to the beach

I am planning on taking public transportation. I've figured out that it isn't going to be terribly hard to get there, I will only have to transfer to 2 different subway lines from the L train. I also want to stop and have breakfast or lunch at Rockaway Taco!



Rockaway Taco, A Selby Film from the selby on Vimeo.

I better make it there at least once more before the summer is over. 

The Good Life

I would like to put this cookbook on my wish list. It looks and sounds amazing! I love that it has recipes depending the season and what is available. The photography for each recipe makes it even easier to follow the directions if you're not a natural born chef. You know my birthday is coming around the corner friends, and this year is a monumental one.

{THE Good LIFE}

Speaking of cookbooks, I've been thinking about where I will be storing mine once my parents bring them out to me in September. I don't have oodles of storage in my apartment and I've always wanted this book stand so I feel that this will also go on my new bedroom/apartment wish list. 

{array silver bookcase}

Pie

It is sad to me that I have been here in Brooklyn for almost a month and half and haven't gone back to Four and Twenty Blackbirds to have some pie? It's not like I need any more pie though... it goes right to the thighs. But it sure sounds good right?

Perusing bon appetit's website and they have some deliciously sinful looking pie recipes. Mom just put my issue in the mail for me and I am hoping it is just as inspiring for me. In September I will finally have my kitchen items moved out to me and I can go back to baking. Sadly I've only made one batch of cookies as well as strawberry ice cream this summer. I miss baking!

{lime & blackberry italian meringue pie}

{stone fruit lattice pie}

So maybe you want to take up some pie baking this weekend on your days off and bring over a piece while I'm at the Flea. I would greatly appreciate it!

Hungry

Reading food blogs late at night are not always a good idea. I am lying here in bed with a rumbling stomach and looking at delicious foods that are making me salivate. I just really should go to sleep and get a good nights rest so that tomorrow I can go explore more of Brooklyn and enjoy some real food versus dreaming about it.

Before I go to bed I wanted to share with you quickly the new salad recipe that I found today from Kinfolk. I made it tonight for the Vegetarians and I and it was a success. I had to change a few ingredients due to the fact the grocery store bellow us didn't have parmesan cheese and I didn't want to spend $13.00 on pine nuts. My revisions where delicious... give it a try for yourself!

ribboned asparagus salad from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Also while I am in the food mode I went and hand dinner at Eat last week with my friend Erica. It was her CSA's night at the restaurant and nearly everything they served us was from her CSA. Delicious food and such a fantastic atmosphere. There was no menu, we just sat down at the table and was served the three course pre-set meal. I have no idea what some of the items I ate or even the names of the dishes but it was good!

The Duvet...

this being probably the hardest decision out of all my decisions for the new bedroom. This is what the rest of the bedroom design will be based from.  Now that I say that I do have a pillow that I received from one of my best friends as a going away present that is headlining all the decisions.

{Rosette pillow from Dwell Studio Target}

As you can see, my favored color pallet is gray and white with accents of mustard yellow. The Draper Striped duvet from Dwell Studio has been one of my favorites for the last couple of years and it is on the top of my list but I have one dilemma with it...  being the true color is not that of what we've all seen in the catalog and online. I went to see it in person at ABC Home store in Manhattan and was torn and what I had thought was my final decision. The gray being more of a taupe and the yellow being much more gold.

This picture is more true to what the actual color is.

In my disappointment with the color way of the duvet I have searched all over to find something remotely like it. Obviously I've fallen short and am not happy with any of my other finds.

Until.... I spotted this duvet! 

{Overstock}

I just ordered it and am hoping not to have a let down once it arrives. The price is AMAZING and so we will see if I get what I paid for. From the description as well as the reviews it is gray and white and has been better then what the customer's have expected, so my fingers are crossed. I was also thinking that if I really want to have a yellow edge around it I can sew it on myself to make it more similar to the Dwell duvet. 

New times

Lately I've felt like I've kept my life a little more private and I've enjoyed that. Times got really busy, insanely busy and I had to change. I've stepped back and started new. Along with new I am going to have a new place to live soon and I have been searching for the new decor. I am so excited to have a fresh pallet to decorate! 

I am going to need some help or advice on what I should choose for my new diggs. 

{two arms inc.}

So in turn I hope to be posting options that I would love to have your opinion on. 

Rainy Spring Day

Some perfect things to go along with this cool, cloudy, rainy day we've had today.

Sophie Dahl just makes me want to live out in the country side and have all sorts of frilly girly things and decorate my house with florals and antiques. Not normally me. 

Then because it's spring you must have some Rhubarb.

I baked up some delicious rhubarb muffins and boiled up some simple syrup to make a refreshing rhubarb soda. When I really should have had a cup of tea for the gloomy day but sometimes you need to bring a little bit of sunshine into your life.

How do you feel about this?

Yup, let's analyse this.

{via here}

Delicious Miss Dahl

My friend Kate just introduced me to this delightful show this week and I instantly fell in love. Embarrassingly, I can't tell you how many times I've watched these clips. It would be so delighful to be in Miss Dahl's kitchen cooking with her.

p.s. do you just love the wallpaper in here? I've been thinking about wallpapering again and this makes me want to go to town and wallpaper my whole house.

feeling a little inspired lately?

DO IT! 

What it could have been

Here is something to think about this time of year.

Don't be shy this time, tell someone how you really feel... just do it!

My 3 favorite things

Cakes, stop motion and Valentine's OH MY! Three of my favorite things all put into one. It's hard for me to ask for anything more. 

diy valentine's cakes from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

This couple has such amazing videos they make and their blog is so delightful too! I wish I would have found them a long time ago. You may read their blog here.

What are you doing to get ready for the delightful day?

Hugs and kisses,
Leslie

Warm Wishes

During this blizzardy weather all I can think about is staying warm. So get out your knitting needles, heat up your hot chocolate, and put a log on the fire, lets stay all cuddly and cozy during our snow days.

I think it would be wonderful to have one of these knitted collars to put around my neck.

I want to keep my toes warm with these cable knit socks. I think they are from Toast.

Mmmmmm

{via we heart it}

Valentine Inspiration

{bake adorable and easy to do, heart sugar cookies}

{shape love letters with yarn}

{give a naturally sweet treat}

{glue together a sentimental note}

{decorate with paper heart garlands}

{and paper wreaths}

I've shared some ideas for you now go craft your own Valentines to share with the special people in your lives! 

Xoxo, Leslie

{found on French by Design}

Goals for the new year

I'm running a little behind this year. I felt like the holidays were a whirlwind and I ended up disappearing for a while to just take some time for myself.

With the new year always comes a time to start over and try doing things different.

Some of my goals include:

wear lipstick more often

make a new recipe twice a month at the least

make new friends

 get involved in my church community. {that really can be apart of the making new friends bit.}

craft more!



What are some of your goals you've made for yourself this year?

all pictures via {weheartit}

The lives we lead.

This man gives me so much inspiration and I know he does for you too. Enjoy!