How Pinteresting – Week V

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Simply Styled

I accidentally skipped my installments of “How Pinteresting” last week, so here we go with a round up of the most awesome things I’ve been wanting, and pinning, and pining after…

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1. Ombre Frosting Cake
The ombre cake I made for my best friend Kira (inspiration found here and here) was a total flop. My intentions were good, but the execution wasn’t my best (to put it nicely). I’ve since devised a few rules for making an ombre layered cake, however going after ombre frosting, instead of ombre cake layers looks WAY easier. Go here for a super awesome video tutorial! Now I just need someone to have a birthday (or even just a party) so I can test this out!

2. Black Walls and Animal Print
If someone told me that they were painting their walls black, I’d be scared for them. I’d imagine something really goth and depressing, but these walls are unbelieveable. It makes me want to paint our place black! This foyer looks like a swanky hotel with the marble lamps, huge gilded mirror, and the simple accessories. And let’s not forget the awesome zebra print ottoman!

3. Neon Pink Party Dress
I saw this dress on Pinterest, and felt that I just had to have it… that was until I saw how much it cost. $320?? Yeah, not so much. Cost aside, I LOVE the day-glo pink, the layered skirt, and the sexy open back.
Serena Bareback Sweetheart Dress - Pop Pink

4. Kissing Cockatoos Kate Spade Bangle
This is just too cute! I love everything Kate Spade (the woman can do no wrong) and this bangle is fun and funky without being weird (in my opinion).

5. Gourmet Grilled Cheese
The recipe for the Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich (isn’t the name fun to say) came straight from Tastespotting, and I am dying to try this out! It’s garlic-y, herby, and uses lots of leafy greens. For the full recipe with instructions, check out Tastespotting.com

6. Leopard Print Blouse
Animal print seems loud, but in a smaller print, it is actually quite neutral – this blouse is the perfect example of how it should be done – gold accessories (look at those bamboo shaped bangles) and a honey brown leather tote.

7. Words to Live by
So true… my dad would love this saying 🙂

8. Layered Sunburst Mirror
Layering these sunbursts takes this concept to the next level. I would love this over a bed, or above a mantle. Unfortunately, we already have a sunburst mirror on our hallway, so another in our small apartment would be definite overkill.

9. Sexy One Piece
I am a big fan of the bikini, but this one-piece has me converted. its flattering, and hides a number of sins, but is still sexy (you should see the open back). What I really love, that I missed on ASOS site, is the fact that the edging of the bikini has a zig-zag pattern – like it was cut with pinking scissors. It’s all about the details!!

Happy Weekend

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Simply Styled

Happy Weekend!! Yesterday, I took part of the day off work to do all the chores and errands that have been piling up, and I got to spend some time with my favorite little munchkin – Sofia. She is my best friend’s niece, who is two years old (going on 22).

I swear, she thinks she’s calling the shots (which I love). She laughs when we laugh (she does NOT want to be left out of a joke), she does “cheers” with her sippy cup (pretending she too has a glass of vino), and she refers to any other child (including older kids) as ‘baby’. She is so funny, and I just love to squeeze her chubby legs, and kiss her sweet face.

Today I spent the day with friends in Golden Gate Park… in the fog (hello, summer… where did you go!?) for Oysterfest – despite the frizzy hair, it was a blast to hang out with some cold beverages, downing oysters, and delicious pulled pork sandwiches, and listening to a few bands. Now I’m home with some wine and my honey… sweatpants have never felt better!

Have a happy weekend!

Dear Diary…

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Simply Styled

I’ve never been much on journal keeping. It starts out with the best intentions – Dear diary, it’s New Year’s Day, and one of my resolutions this year is to keep a running journal. This way I can document my life, and look back when I’m old and laugh at how funny/cool/carefree I was in my 20’s. I’m going to write in you every day….

First and last entry. Every time.

One of my favorite bloggers of Little Green Notebook is crafty, and a total genious, and had the lovely idea for her kids to make notebooks for their teachers as a gift on the last day of school. Theirs were adorable (handdrawn pictures of what they thought their teachers would be doing for their summer vacation) but I LOVED the one she made – using charpak markers, and a blender marker. It looks like watercolors meets tie-die, and I’m convinced that with a cool notebook like this, I could successfully keep a diary… maybe.

The notebooks started out looking like this:

She taped them off like this (to keep the pages fresh and white):

Her kids’ notebooks ended up like this (so adorable):

But I just love the abstract, color wash effect of hers… might totally copy this idea

Check our her entry here!

Flokati Rug

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Simply Styled

I spotted a Flokati rug in a commercial for this local San Francisco furniture store, and it looked so soft, and luxe, I’ve since become a bit obsessed. You are probably thinking, this crazy girl JUST got a new rug… and this is true, but I think that when we move into a larger space, I’d love to invest in a pretty, fluffy Flokati for the bedroom.

I see all the fluff and think how it might not stand up well to a high traffic area like a living room… but in a bedroom… that could be a match made in heaven. Just picture it… it’s a cold morning, still dark out, and the alarm goes off… you get up and swing your legs of bed… imagine how amazing this rug would feel under your feet! Like butter, I tell you!

A real Flokati rug could put you into some serious debt, but the amazing RugsUsa.com (I wish they had a different name) has the Standard Shag Greek Flokati Natural Rug for a sweet deal. The 5’x7′ is ~$600 normally, but it’s 35% off right now.

Doesn’t it just look like a cloud with all the pale grey accents below? And with the zebra skin?? So chic. I wonder if this is a look I’d tire of, since I normally go for cleaner lines, and very classic pieces. This is way more hippie dippie than I’d normally go, but looking at these photos where the rooms are based around classic furniture… Luckily we’ve got quite a few big ticket items already lined up, so this goes at the bottom of the list, but the Flokati… it’s on the radar for sure (plus it’s just so fun to say).

Knock Knock

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Simply Styled

Nope, this post is not about a terrible joke, but about my love of front doors. Having lived in city apartments for the last five years, I’ve never had my own front door, but I dream all the time how I’d like it to look.

I actually think that front doors say a lot about who you are, and what to expect on the inside of your home. Don’t they add a ton of personality to a building??

I am LOVING the roughed up rustic doors with old bronze pulls, crooked slats, dings, cracks and character, but I also love a good colorful door. It says, “this home is happy… come on in”! (how fabulous is the pink door above??)

I love the yellow against the grey brick – it doesn’t need a lot of additional decor around it since it makes such a strong statement.

How awesome is this bubblegum pink door – with the white walls, and modern cacti, I picture the owners living their lives in the poolside cabana, cool cocktails in hand.

This red door brightens up a dark stone stairway… it looks damp and cold, but I imagine a warm cozy living room with a steaming cup of tea waiting in there…

Look at that iron scroll work on both of these – the doors on the left say “french bourgeois”, while the doors on the right say “hot Havana nights”, but both scream “fabulous.”

A simple red door on a dark farmhouse – the lack of detail here is what makes the most impact. My favorite part? The old iron pull on the door.

I could go on and on forever… will someone make a coffee table book of JUST doorways??

Girls Trip: LA Weekend

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Simply Styled

I am SOOO excited… I am headed off to La-la Land just after the Fourth of July with some girl friends for a quick getaway, and it could not come sooner! We are all in need of a little sunshine, girl time, and some summery cocktails by the pool.

We are staying at The Sandard, West Hollywood, and for any fellow Sex and the City lovers, that’s the hotel the ladies stayed at during their LA trip. It’s totally 60’s mod, with a great pool, and it’s just steps from all the hottest restaurants and bars on the strip. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

For anyone who has ever been to LA (or So-Cal for that matter) you know that it’s a total scene, and it’s all about what you are wearing 24/7, so I’m using this little trip as an excuse to go shopping… I have a few very clear images in my mind of what I’m looking for… we’ll see if I can make these “wants” become a reality…

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Daytime

La La Land I by beckyc1923 featuring a lip stick

Asymmetrical dress
Sam Edelman cork wedge sandals, $153
Feather jewelry, $10
Lanvin wide belt, $595
TOMS gold sunglasses, $139
Lip stick, $32

This high-low dress is eerily similar to one of my favorite looks from Pinterest (remember #10 from this post a few weeks back?) This outfit is easy-breezy, while still being totally on trend… perfect for a bit of shopping, lunching at The Ivy, Star Spotting, and throwing over my swimsuit after a bit of sun-bathing by the pool. Must find….

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Dinner

La La Land II by beckyc1923 featuring a coral lipstick

Wallis lace top, $49
Denim skirt, £12
Giuseppe Zanotti platform shoes, $850
Oasis clutch handbag, $55
Amrita Singh 18k jewelry, $300
LK Designs 18k jewelry, €97
Giorgio Armani coral lipstick, $30
Essie nail polish, $8

This flirty little circle skirt will still be flattering after a big dinner, while the high necked blouse keeps it from being over the top at a restaurant. It’s LA – not SF – so edgier is always better. I love the studded clutch next to the soft skirt. I’m imagining something like this for dinner at Katana or FireFly…

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Dancing

La La Land III by beckyc1923 featuring aventurine jewelry

Bodycon dress, $157
Promise Shoes high heel pumps, $55
J Crew clutch handbag, $80
Aventurine jewelry
Miso set of bangle, £10
Bare Escentuals lip gloss, $18
Urban Decay black eye makeup, £12

I am thinking something white at night to compliment my new LA tan… this dress is sexy without being too much. I love the deep-v, and the flattering pleats. That belt is very mod itself, and a few sassy accessories like the leopard clutch and coral drop earrings keep the focus on the dress. I’ll be wearing this at the top of Skybar, for a little dancing and cocktail sipping under the stars.

Recipe – Asian Grilled Salmon and Roasted Asparagus

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Simply Styled

This is seriously THE EASIEST recipe of all time (which is perhaps why it’s also one of my favorites). Do not be fooled – it’s as delicious as it is easy. So yummy in fact, that it converted my salmon-hating boyfriend.

I stole this recipe from the Barefoot Contessa, whose methodology to cooking revolves around simplicity, and enhancing the natural flavors of food. For those of us who don’t stock up on the extremely random spices and herbs needed for other recipes, it’s perfect 🙂

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Ingredients

1 side fresh salmon, boned but skin on (about 3 pounds for 6 servings)

For the marinade:

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons good soy sauce
6 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Yep, that’s it… 4 ingredients for the marinade…

Directions:

Light charcoal briquettes in a grill and brush the grilling rack with oil to keep the salmon from sticking (if you don’t have a BBQ, use a grill plate inside on the stove).

While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill; discard the marinade the fish was sitting in. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. The salmon will be slightly raw in the center, but don’t worry; it will keep cooking as it sits.

Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top. Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm.

Now for the asparagus… equally easy…

Ingredients:
1/2 pound asparagus
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes

Directions:
Wash and dry asparagus, and cut off the woody part of the asparagus stems. Line up the stems on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil (approximately 3 tablespoons to thoroughly coat). Toss them to be sure all sides are coated, and sprinkle with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Finish with a generous sprinkle of red chili flakes and put the baking sheet in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees.

After 5 minutes, toss the asparagus once more to be sure they evenly roast.

Take them out after roughly 15 minutes – you want them to be a bit crisp still, so keep an eye on them!

Happy Weekend!

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Simply Styled

What a week!

Many ups and many many downs for me, but I’m looking forward to a low-key relaxing weekend in our foggy city by the bay. While we will be freezing our butts off tomorrow at a friend’s rooftop BBQ, but I’m really keeping my fingers crossed for a bit of sun.

Isn’t this photo just lovely? If only I could transport myself there right about now… it is actually a photo from Antibes, 1938.

Have a lovely, happy weekend (and happy summer!!)

ASOS… it’s Love

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Simply Styled

Has anyone else ever heard of ASOS? They are the UK’s largest online fashion and beauty property – they’ve got editorial style look books, along with clothing for sale. Anyway, I’ve been recently introduced to this site, and it’s amazing! The best way for me to describe it… it’s as if Zara and Forever21 had a baby. Yes… it’s THAT good.

This week, one of my favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard from Cup of Joe featured a discount code (ACUPOFJOE20) for a full 20% off full priced items. Amazeballs!

Obviously I had to investigate, however a word to the wise… the British Pound is WAY more than the US dollar, so be careful!!

Now, on to a few of my favorites…

ASOS Full Skirt in Shimmer Fabric

£40.00

Yeah, um look at the exposed zipper. This is such a feminine silhouette with the full skirt, the inverted pleats, and the shimmery, crinkly fabric, but that zipper takes it to a new level of modern…. SOOOO LOVE

Lipsy Sequin Bust Peplum Dress

£55.00

The sequin detailing and the peplum is sooo awesome, and the mint keeps this dress fresh. It’s feminine, but edgy at the same time. I also reallllyyyy love how there is a gap in the sweetheart neckline. How do those Brits make it possible?!

Aqua Vapor Low Front Dress

£40.00

So sexy, in the front AND the back. The fabric says “business” but the exposed skin says otherwise. And that sweet peach belt?? Perfection. LOVE LOVE LOOVEEEE.

Re-Vamping the Bedroom

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Simply Styled

I am like a giddy little puppy – we have made the decision to go with a king size bed and replace our queen mattress! Hooray!!

Knowing that, I can really start planning out our bedroom. I made a few short term changes by flipping over our duvet, and getting some cute pillows and throw blankets to spruce up the bedding, but it’s time to make some real strides here! I came up with this inspiration board based on the changes in my tastes, and some of the accessories we already have!

Obviously, we’ll be working with what we’ve got, so while the red punches of color from my original bedroom inspiration board would be fun and bright, I need to look for things that match the core pieces in the room – the biggest being the rug.

Right now, the bedroom has a large piece of remnant carpet I got for next to nothing in my early 20’s – it’s an oatmeal color, and while it has done it’s job, it’s time to move on to greener pastures. Recently, we got a new rug for the living room, which means the old living room rug has been rolled up and is chilling in our dining room. It’s currently leaned up against the wall and I can’t wait to move into our bedroom. Our “old” living room rug looks almost EXACTLY like the one in my inspiration board, so the red touches from past inspiration boards would feel wrong with this soothing tone.

Now that you can see that the rug is all soothing shades of aqua, tan, and brown, I think I should keep that feeling going throughout the bedding as well. For the most part, the biggest changes will be the bed frame (one nail-head upholstered headboard… coming right up), the bedding, the “new” rug, and a chandelier (for glamour). The art in my inspiration board is already hanging up, the lamps are a done deal, and you all remember my toil (posted here) to re-finish the dresser and nightstands in the bedroom…

I could also do bedding like the Barbara Barry collection. I do love the look of the blue quilted bedding, with a big fluffy duvet folded at the foot of the bed.

I also really like this pale blue paisley – I think I’ll have to see how busy the room looks once the rug is in there. The room doesn’t get a ton of natural light which is a real challenge, so I don’t want to make it feel super small, or super dark….