At Home - Bungalow

I just found my favorite new online store - Bungalow! It's very John Robshaw-esque with lovely Indian block prints and lots of fun colorful paper goods. Thanks to Erin at Elements of Style for the heads up.

See more at Bungalow.

It's almost the weekend!! I can't believe how much I look forward to the weekends now. We have a birthday girl to celebrate, so I will have a houseful of tweens. Can't wait to celebrate my beautiful girl!

At Home - Armoire Kitchen

Can we just all die for a second over this "everything included in an armoire cabinet" kitchen! Gah!

photos via Culshaw Bell

It's kind of like a toy kitchen for big people. My first thought was - "I want to play with that!" So, probably not good for the serious cook, but for those of us who are just playing - yes indeedy.

On the subject of cooking I wanted to share a recipe. This is a good recipe. It's my moms, so I have been eating this all my life and I make it for my family now. It's a traditional sauce with basil and garlic. The meatballs are delish. The main reason I wanted to share it is because when I did a computer search to pull up the recipe this past Sunday, I found this email my brother in law, John, sent to me when we lived in Africa. I had emailed my sister to send me this recipe, but she was not home, so she asked John to send it to me. Here is what he sent:

Sauce:

1/2 cup arrowroot (or onion, if available)

1 angelica root (or clove garlic, if available)

3 T zebra blood (or olive oil, if available)

sauté those ingredients

2 rhino spleens (or 2 cans of tomatoes, if available .. puree)

8 oz rhino spleen sauce (or tomato sauce, if available)

6 oz rhino spleen paste (or tomato paste, if available)

1 cup water, purified by P&G Pur Water Filtration System (because everyone deserves clean water)

1 tsp Barley Grass (or basil, if available)

2 T Bilberry leaves (or parsley, if available)

2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

simmer 1 hour

Meatballs:

1 lb tiger meat (or ground beef, if available)

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup parmesan

1 T Bilberry leaves (or parsley, if available)

1 angelica root (or clove garlic, if available)

1/2 cup goat milk (or regular cow's milk, if available)

2 free-range chicken eggs, beaten (or regular eggs, if available)

1.5 tsp salt

0.12 tsp pepper (or one-eighth tsp, for mathematically challenged)

brown, then drop in Sauce, simmer till warmed thru

then, Enjoy!

He's the best, my bro-in-law. In order to really appreciate this, you need to know that my first ex-pat breakdown in Africa, occurred at the super market. It was an absolutely bewildering experience, wherein I was so overwhelmed I actually left (cart half-full, mid-aisle) in tears with no groceries. I could not figure out what anything was and everyone was in such a hurry around me. And it was not even that anything was weird or exotic, there was no zebra blood or rhino spleen, but lots of things have different names - did you know that an eggplant is a brinjal? or that cilantro is coriander? or that cookies are biscuits and biscuits are puddings? Think about 13 aisles of that! Not to mention all of the products I had never even seen before. There are just times when you think "What have I done leaving behind everything I understand and am comfortable with?! Why did I do that?!" And it all becomes a little bit too much. In fact, the last time I made this dish I experienced that same feeling here in England. You can read more about that HERE. So, getting this email was that much more awesome and meaningful. Because I think it's when you begin to take it all a bit too seriously that you are in danger of losing it. So, do big things, make bold moves, go after it all, but remember to hold it all very lightly. Remember you don't have to be brave all of the time. And most importantly, find the humor in everything. Hope you like the recipe - it really is yummy.

In Fashion - Clements Ribeiro

This limited edition clothing line from Clements Ribeiro lives at the intersection of art and fashion:

Available at The Museum of Everything which is pretty much as cool as it sounds. Even their website is an interactive playground full of wit and delight. Find the line from Clements Ribeiro and other museum goodness over HERE.

Dear ... People Who Work in the Wardrobe Department at Mad Men

I really, really, really want this shirt and I'm guessing you are not using it anymore and Betty Draper and I are about the same size, so please contact me as soon as possible to get my mailing address, as I would like to work this into my holiday wardrobe. I'm thinking Thanksgiving. xo, EA Skillman

photo via AMC TV

Beautiful Spaces - A Old Meets New Bathroom

Back when I was designing kitchens and bathrooms, my favorite projects were the ones that merged old and new, rustic and modern, traditional and contemporary. It was rare to find a client who wanted to do something like this. Most people are either "traditional" people or "modern" people. But, occasionally you would get someone who wanted to see what could happen if we merged the two. This bathroom is a good example of a traditional/modern mashup:

all photos via Lake Jane

Isn't it lovely? So clean, with just the right amount of wood to add warmth. And I love the contrast of the traditional plumbing fixtures and lights with the modern porcelain pieces. For me, good design, is always about finding the right balance within a space. It's so much harder to do than it looks, but when it's done right, it creates a really special space. If this was my house, or if I was styling this space for a photo shoot I would add a touch of color - flowers on the sink or maybe a patterned hand towel. Finishing touches are important too.

Hope you enjoyed today's beautiful space and your week is off to a good start. It will be a new month by week's end!

Art & Artists - Zoe Murphy

Zoe Murphy is one talented chicka. She is bringing new life to mid-century furniture and creating all kinds of other good stuff. I like mid-century design from an "appreciate it and all it did for the advancement of the world of design" kind of way. I would not have a house full of this stuff, but one or two pieces - most definitely. Here is some of what Zoe is up to in Margate:

all photos via Zoe Murphy

Did I tell you? That patchwork silk footstool - all kinds of love for that thing! Zoe has exploded all over the place - a real design darling. Most of her work is custom for now, but she has just opened a fabulous new studio, and I think we will be seeing lots more of her. You can keep up with her over at her BLOG and her website. Can't wait to see her future projects.

Above image is from Heart Home Magazine

Curated Links

photo from Salvage Love

Serious love for this salvaged wood artwork (pictured above). Find the tutorial for how to make your own over at Salvage Love.

Have you guys seen Olivia Palermo's picks on Piper Lime? It is all super Olivia awesome. Should we make bets on how long until she is designing her own fashion line?

A gorgeous giveaway from South African blogger Lanalou Style and Merchants on Long in Cape Town. We might not be thinking 'caftans' here in the Northern Hemisphere, but it's Spring at Lanalou (I miss Africa)!

I really enjoyed the premiere issue of British based Heart Home Magazine. Congrats to them and we can't wait to see more!

I absolutely love this video of David Beckham undercover in Target via the hilarious Ellen DeGeneres. Not only is it funny, but it shows a remarkable amount of humility from Beckham. I can't think of many celebrities who would subject themselves to something like this. I'm a fan.

And last but not least, I love a good camper van makeover and this one is fantastic. Head over to House of Turquoise and check it out.

Hope everyone is having a really good weekend! I am off to the supermarket, or as I like to call it "13 Aisles of Awkward". Shopping at the super market here involves endless encounters wherein no one seems to be aware of spacial dynamics, no one seems to be comfortable using the words 'excuse me' and no one can seem to agree which side they should be walking on as a collective traffic flow. I like to believe this is because the super market concept is relatively new here and they just have not quite figured it all out yet. I don't know, it is one of life's great mysteries really. And, it must be endured because I have yet to find a way to get Toblerone or the Dorito Company to sell to me direct. See you Monday!

Art & Artists - Tim Walker

Just a bit from the portfolio of photographer, Tim Walker:

all photographs by Tim Walker via his website

See more HERE. It's the weekend!! We are commitment free this weekend. Just rest, American football and market shopping. What are your plans?

In Fashion - Fashion Week Part 1

You didn't think I forgot fashion week did you? I could not get them to reschedule it based on it being my first week at a new job, so I'm a little behind, but nonetheless, have carefully curated my favorites. This is New York Part 1, then there will be New York Part 2 (maybe part 3?), then London and eventually I will get to Milan. Overall, in New York Peter Som was freakn' brilliant, I was not super excited about DVF, ODR never disappoints and there was a lot of neon and fringe. Which is fun. Here's what I have so far:

Christian Siriano

Elie Tahari

Peter Som (very hard to edit to 8 looks)

Oscar de la Renta is a genius and should just be made the President of Everything right now.

And the best for last, from my girl, Carolina Herrara. My kid is named after her. She is my fashion everything. I love this dress as much as is possible and healthy to love an inanimate object.

Music - An INXS Cover

Via NPR, a lovely cover of one of my all time favorite songs:


Record Club: INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Hope everyone is having a good week! We are in full Fall mode here in England. Are you guys ready for Fall, or missing Summer?

Obsessions - Graffiti

I know the graffiti train came and went a few years ago with Banksy and Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton line, but I'm still on board. I will always be on board. I have been known to spend some quality time on the Art Crimes website - where you can view graffiti from all over the world. Here are some recent favorites:

photos via: Art Crimes, Pinterest & HERE

I hope everyone is having a good week. I am settling into my new job. There are a lot of challenges with learning a new job in a new culture - and yes, England is a totally different culture than America - don't let the similarities fool you. Mostly, I just feel very self-conscious about using different expressions and phrases. I said something yesterday and the response I got was, "that's very American, but sounds about right"... awkward silence.  Everyone I work with is very nice and they are doing all they can to help me feel at home. Even though we have been here a year, I have not had much interaction with people, so it's all new and different. And exciting. And terrifying. And exhausting. On that note ... off to bed.

Art & Artists - Daphne van den Heuvel

I'm finding these fashion illustrations from Daphne van den Heuvel very inspiring:

So simple, ... yet so amazing. See more of her portfolio HERE.

Inspiration - Ira Glass

I have heard this bit from Ira Glass a few different places. It's from an interview he did on creative storytelling. I love this video and how David Shiyang Liu takes his inspirational words and, well, does something creative with them! (found over at my blog crush Bedlam of Beefy):


Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

I think hearing this has meant a lot to many creatives. I know it has meant a lot to me. My blog is new and though I work hard on it, it's not anywhere near what I want it to be or what I imagine it could be. The bottom line is that I need to just keep creating. No matter what. As long as it means something to me, I will push forward. And hopefully, someday, it will be something that does look like what I intended. Are you creating something? How do you stay motivated, or keep from giving up when things don't quite turn out the way you hoped?

Weekend - Market Square and Extra Kiddos

Now that I'm busy both blogging and doing work that I actually get paid for, weekends are going to be precious again. This weekend we had some little visitors - the children of some friends came to stay with us while their parents were busy moving house. Our town has a large market square where they have been holding a Saturday farmer's market since the year 1564. If it's sunny, we go and get a crepe from the cranky french guy and buy some produce or cheese.

After the market we went to lunch and then to the sweets shop. The term "kid in a candy store" was never more appropriate. We told the kids they could each pick one thing and it was clearly quite a big decision. We were there for a while - lots of changing of minds and second guessing. In the end we left with a giant lollipop and a candy cane! It was fun to have two extra kids. We got a sense of what our family might have felt like if we had more children. I liked it. So, what did you guys do this weekend?

At Home - L'Aviva Home

Loving all the global goodness over at L'Aviva Home!

Beautiful color combinations in these Shyrdak felt rugs:

See more at L'Aviva Home.

Wishlist - A Fiat Jolly

Aren't these just the cutest little cars?! Check out the wicker seats!

 Do you think $85,000. is too much to spend on a beach car, considering we live nowhere near the beach and have not even seen the sun in roughly 4 months? Me neither! Can you please tell my husband that? He thinks we need a car with doors! Besides, what other car is going to coordinate so well with the huge sunglasses and floral caftans I plan to wear from age 70 on? So, I guess I have a few years, but large price tag and lack of appropriate geographical situation aside - this stays on the wishlist. We definitely, probably should get a car with doors first though. I just need whoever owns that pink one to take good care of it for me. I'm going to put a huge monogram on the awning/roof thing and have some Lilly Pulitzer pillows made for the interior. No, there is no limit to how over the top I plan to be in my old age. There will also be martinis.

Ok, off to bed. I have a big girl job now. Nighty night!

photos via: HERE, HERE and HERE