Candyland

Today my family and I had a lovely Minnesota autumn day. We busted out the fall sweaters and made the trek down south to an apple orchard. We enjoyed a hearty country breakfast, sampled all of the apple varieties, made our way through the fall/Halloween décor at the General Store and even saw a camel. That’s right, Minnesota apple orchards have camel rides. Totally normal. It was a lovely morning and we left armed with more apples than any one family needs. Ever. (Expect to see some apple recipes coming up!)

On the way home we spotted this:

{image borrowed from here}

If you know us at all, then you know that OF COURSE we stopped! It’s Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store. I don’t even know what it’s really called other than that as that’s what the huge sign off the highway said…maybe that’s its name? I just did a quick Google search for it and nothing really came up. It’s off of hwy 169 about halfway between Jordan and Belle Plaine, MN. Or maybe it exists only in my dreams?

As you enter, you are greeted by a giant indicator light letting you know whether or not fresh pies are baking (they were). Inside is a haven of pies, strudels, nut rolls, jams, cookies, cookie cutters, apples (who even needs to go to the orchard), salsas, hundreds of kinds of root beer and other pop in real glass bottle etc, etc, etc, etc. Oh yes, and CANDY. Serious candy. Hard candy, gummy candy, gross candy, vintage candy, new candy, candy that you probably couldn’t even dream up. Chocolate that guarantees no weight gain? Yep, they have that. Candy cigarettes? Yep, multiple varieties actually. Bacon flavored bubble gum? Gross, but yep. Bubble gum flavored Mike and Ikes? Yep. Also gross sounding but indeed a real thing.

I now have a kitchen full of apples and candy and a serious test of willpower ahead! If you are up for a little Minnesota adventure, check it out!

{pies are baking}

{papa Tewks scoping out the root beer}

{candy cigarettes}

{candy}

Long Distance Design

Long distance relationships?...done it (it’s hard). Long distance phone calls?...yup, we do it every day. Long distance interior design services? …from your computer? Ummm what?

My dear friend, Rebecca and I met in design school in Chicago years ago. She was telling me recently about her firm’s newest venture of interactive online design called Pushpin Revolution and I knew that I had to spread the word.

Rebecca, Steve Johnson and Sarah Soler are wicked talented designers with over 20 years of design experience (check out some images of their work below). After years of working together at a hospitality design firm, they started up their own gig, Johnson/Soler, last spring. Their simple philosophy that design should be less complicated, more personal and more affordable is just what we need in this crazy long distance relationship having, phone call making world. Pushpin Revolution is their latest endeavor to bring good design to the masses in the most convenient way. I asked Rebecca to share a few words about how it works:

We think that great interiors should be available to everyone. At Pushpin Revolution, this is as simple as a click to get you on your way to the space you love.

Whether you need help picking paint colors, arranging furniture or getting the details pulled together. We offer straightforward solutions and advice to help you shape your space.

At Pushpin Revolution, we use the internet to complete this process. First, you give us some basic information about your space, your budget and your likes and dislikes. Then we use our years of professional design experience to get to work creating a design solution especially for you. Quickly and affordably. Like it should be.

We have a range of design options tailored to meet your needs. Our ‘Style Guide’ helps narrow down the choices and provide some specific direction for your individual style, and colors and materials that work for you.

Our ‘Room Remix’ provides a more comprehensive design package. Complete with a detailed room layout, custom color palette, furniture, lighting and accessory selections and a complete shopping list to help you get the job done quickly and efficiently, this package does it all.

Pushpin Revolution also offers additional services if the above packages don’t seem to fit your needs. Send us a note and we will get back to you with ideas and options that work for you.

Design really doesn’t need to be complicated. Check it out for yourself at www.pushpinrevolution.com Start YOUR revolution today!

{all images from www.johnsonsoler.com}

Friday Flowers

My deepest apologies for the long absence. Between new projects, a new(ish) job and a new home, my summer has been quite busy and has completely gotten away from me. Nevertheless, I am back! :)

Though it’s been a chaotic summer, I still try to stop and smell (well, see) the roses.

Check out the flowers of my summer (thus far)…

{rinoculous centerpiece close up}

{whole foods tulip cart}

{"window" boxes at the pool}

{colorful sunflowers}

{birthday gladiolus from my friend, emily}

{gerbera dasies in lemonade jars}

Chicken Salsa Chili

Located in the heart of St Paul, MN on beautiful Grand Ave is one of my favorite Minnesota treasures. Café Latte started out as a little coffee bar that made a name for themselves with their out of this world desserts. They offer unbelievably beautiful (and delicious) cakes, tarts and truffles that are quite possibly the best in the city.

{Cafe Latte desserts}

Desserts aside, CL also features fantastic salads, sandwich, soups and spreads. My favorite is their Chicken Salsa Chili. I used to crave it for months on end when I lived in Chicago knowing that I wouldn't be getting it anytime soon! While killing time the other day, I wandered over to the Café Latte website and realized that they share their chili recipe online! So I made it.

I cheated a little and used a rotisserie chicken. I also omitted the cilantro simply because I do not care for it. CL serves theirs with tortilla chips and tops it with cheese, onions and sour cream. I went with a big piece of crusty bread.

Now nothing compares to the original, but it was a close, close second! :)

{my chili}

Fabulous Farrah: a DIY t-shirt project

"Once upon a time there were three beautiful girls who went to the police academy, and they were each assigned very hazardous duties. But I took them away from all that and now they work for me. My name is Charlie."

I love Charlie’s Angles. To be very clear, I love the 70’s Charlie’s Angles à la Aaron Spelling…NOT the crappy Cameron Diaz movie Charlie’s Angels. Disgrace.

I love how chic and glamorous the Angles were running in heels with perfect flowing hair and always, always solving the case and catching the bad guys. And they drove such cool cars.

My absolute favorite angel is Jill Munroe played by Farrah Fawcett. My grandpa had the real iconic 70’s red swimsuit wearing Farrah poster hanging in his basement when I was young. It seems to have vanished after he died and my grandma sold that house, but I have faith that it will resurface someday and find a new home on my wall. My dad recalls that he painted black light paint over that poster when he was younger so that she glows. Even more 70’s!!!

I googled the poster a while back just to see how much they were going for these days (a lot for an original), but I came across many other items with the same poster image. One item in particular was an orange t-shirt with the Farrah image screen printed on the front. The seller was asking $65 and I thought, “Well hell, I can make that for next to nothing”. So I did!

I found a pale orange v-neck t-shirt at Old Navy for $5.99. I used a leftover iron on transfer from our Lost finale party. I had purchased the transfers from Michael’s for $9.99 for a pack of 10.

I found a high resolution image online of the poster and then reversed the image in Photoshop (you will need to reverse it so that it prints as a mirror image on the transfer). Print image from a laser printer onto the iron on transfer.

Place transfer on shirt where you want the image to be and press iron down for 20 seconds. Move around the image pressing each section down (do not drag iron back and forth over image like you do when ironing clothes). I went around the edges a second time for an additional 5 seconds. When the transfer is cool enough to touch, slowly peel back the transfer to reveal image. Voila!

{snapshots of t-shirt making}

{modeling Farrah t-shirt next to my friend's Farrah poster}

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

My friend, John, once told me that he thought my blog was “more for girls than guys”. So this post is dedicated to the boys!

When I design for men, I go for a look that is more bold and uncluttered, and less highly decorated and full of unnecessary furnishings. I tend to gravitate towards a comfortable, sophisticated feel with clean strong lines. Dark brooding colors with rustic and earthy accessories.

Below is a collection of some of my favorite masculine inspired interiors.

{all images from the web}

“I’ve been cheating on fashion with furniture,” -Carrie Bradshaw

Last night, Nat and I opted for a girl’s night featuring a little vino and a lot of Sex and the City 2. While the movie was fairly mediocre, the fashion and new men (HELLLLLO Samantha’s new international architect find) were fun. But the real scene stealer was the interiors of Carrie and Big’s new Manhattan apartment. I’m literally drooling over every design decision!

Check out some snapshots of Carrie and Big's new digs...

How eye catching is that backsplash tile? Its Oval from Health Ceramics. I am also loving the whimsical print on the chairs...Belgravia from Lee Jofa.

Accent pillow is Birdie Blossom by the Rug Company. Retro-inspired coffee table is Ninfea from Poltrona Frau. I love how the books are displayed upright.

Closet shot.

I love the large scale of the upholstered headboard...fabric is Velvet Gate Tuxedo from Kravet

My FAV FAV FAV part about this apartment is the dramatic wallpaper. The bedroom features Rococo Damask by Cole and Son.
The entry features Oiseau in Chocolate by Katie Ridder.