Pink Patchouli

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Another Fairy tale Excursion

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Being yet another Meh day in the PNW lends to retreating into a beautiful fantasy world:

Gluten Free Vegan Almond Cake

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:28:00 +0000

For those who must eat or choose to eat gluten free vegan this cake is an amazing add to your recipe collection!

Gluten Free Vegan Almond Cake

2 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Mix

1/2 cup ground almonds or hazelnuts

2 tsp baking soda

2/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

1 1/2 cups water

2 1/2 tsps vanilla extract (make sure it's certified gluten free)

1 tsp almond extract (gluten free)

1 1/2 cups maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add all ingredients together and mix well. Grease bottom of baking pan (10 inch) and pour in batter. Bake for 35 minutes and then add fruit (I used strawberries) and sliced almonds on top. Continue baking for another 25 minutes. Insert knife into center of cake to check for doneness. It should come out clean. I had to bake it for an hour and 15 minutes in my oven. Before serving dust the top with powdered sugar. Yum!

Pantone Spring 2012 Trends

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:03:00 +0000

I'm not usually one to follow seasonal trends but this year's spring colors are so gorgeous that I've decided to have some fun with them:

Romantic Crowns from Whichgoose on Etsy

Gorgeous Wallpaper from Black Crow Studios

Michael Tcherekoff photography

Gorgeous piece - Mykonos at Etsy

Nanette Lepore Spring 2012 collection

White

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:58:00 +0000

The Foodie I've Become

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:27:00 +0000

Winters tend toward the dark and long here in the Pacific Northwest. Days are spent in front of sun lamps with books and coffee in hand. This winter has had me honing my recipe skills and flirting with veganism to chase away the blahs. The following are beautifully inspiring food blogs that will motivate anyone's dormant culinary artist as it has mine.

Sunday Funny

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:39:00 +0000

The baby shower was a hit thanks to my friend, Heather's, phenomenal organizational skills and the talents of those who helped. Everyone enjoyed themselves and their generosity towards the mother-to-be was so amazing. After the cleanup, we gathered with a few of our good friends to eat and laugh some more and this morning I feel like the first photo . Great evening! ....

What to do? What to do?

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:07:00 +0000

With my husband on a business trip and me confined to home with a not-so-sexy cold, I've decided to retreat into my fantasy world for a pick-me-up. These photos were just what the doctor ordered:

And one for my best friend, Lacey.

A Baking Fool!

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:51:00 +0000

In a couple of weeks, I will be hosting a baby shower for a dear friend. I've scoured the internet for ideas and found these gorgeous creations! The talent and hard work that has gone into each cake must be admired:

My daughter's favorite! by A Cake to Remember

My favorite! Alice, of course! by Cake Nouveau

Just the prettiest serving display! by Cotton and Crumbs UK

Found on Unique Cakes.com

Quite adorable.. by Jan Asher

More sweetness from Cotton and Crumbs UK

by Bella Cupcakes NZ

These 3 AMAZING cakes were created by Colette Peters.

by Colette Peters

What Inspires Me Today

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Romantic Finds

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:01:00 +0000

I adore the Free People style and found that they have a sister company, BHLDN, albeit a little higher end, which has some lovely offerings that I'd love to share:

Fun Saturday Picks

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Sunday Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:35:00 +0000

Beautiful art photography by Kirsty Mitchell. Breathtaking!

Jewelry Romance & One Beefcake Photo

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:09:00 +0000

I was inspired by this fabulous vintage rhinestone pin. Add vintage pearls and voila! gorgeousness!

Vintage watch wire wrapped with gemstones and a lustrous, adjustable chain.

This piece is to die for in person! A super talented lampwork artisan created the center focal bead. A chandelier piece wrapped with silver filigree and a chain full of hematite and Swarovski pearls take your breath away!

These earrings are exquisite thanks to the skills of Heather Davis of Blissful Garden Beads. Sterling silver and Swarovski crystal enhancements.

Waldo being..well, Waldo...

A few of my Autumn Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:46:00 +0000

Nothing says ' Autumn' like a fiery oak leaf. Fabulous photography by Iza

Exquisite work by Pilland

So pretty! Design by Celia Boaz

Want!!! Ceramic creation by Diana Brower

What a girl needs... Lip shimmer by Rachel O'brien

What an amazing idea! Tea cup bracelets by Abigail MaryRose Clark.

So adorable! Crocheted booties by BarlowesBabyGirl

Oh! Chocolate. One of my most favorite chocolate shops!! Outstanding taste, excellent buzz ;)

Amazing Ivko Knits - LOVE LOVE LOVE!

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Realizing that Winter is just around the bend, I decided to check out the Net for fun knits to keep the chill at bay. I found this gorgeous design collection by Ivko and fell in love:

Inspiration...it never gets old!

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:49:00 +0000

Today, I'm inspired by blue. Last night, my husband and I spread out a blanket on the lawn, watched shooting stars and satellites go by and talked about anything and everything while the cutest bats flew over and saved us from the onslaught of mosquitoes. Since then, I've been more aware of what's above my head. Today's sky was amazingly blue...all shades. I pulled up my stored photos and wanted to share them. I apologize that for some of them I've forgotten the origin.

I fell in love with this adorable photo by Lucy Snowe on Etsy. It makes me smile every time I see it. Click on it to go to her shop.

This also is from Etsy but search as I may, I just couldn't find the owner of it. I remember exquisite dresses and photography.

Very cute and very relevant now that autumn is around the bend.

For some reason, I have a penchant for photos of doors. A friend just gifted me with an amazing one taken in Morocco that she bid on at a local art gallery. They make you wonder what's waiting for you on the other side.Who doesn't love a decorated bird cage? Because of the video below, I giggle whenever the Pacific Northwest and bird art are mentioned. 'Put a bird on it' has become a go-to word in my house when we see something absurd.
Thank you Susan from Blackbirds and Bumblebees!
Portlandia - Put a Bird on It

Cinderella Cameo and Pearl bracelet from a collection I sold. Love the luminescence of it.

Dreaming of the Caribbean.

Or London, I'll take either... ;)

The Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:11:00 +0000

My friends have made the story of my life. They are the ballast that keeps me firmly planted, the encouragement to keep on keeping on and the inspiration to better myself. I am forever grateful for their gifts in my life.

The "Grounding-Influence-Artistic Spirit-Shakespeare-Loving" Friend

The "Lifetime-Always-Will-Be-There" Friend

Gotta have some Crazies in there to cleanse the palate :)

The Besties

The "Like it or not, you're Related" Friends

The "Mexican Beer Drinking" Friend

The Classy Friends

My Best Friends

The 'I've Got your Back' Friends

The "Laugh-till-your-Plumbing-Fails" Friend

The Adventurous Friend

The 'All Heart' Friend

The "Accommodate Your Need to Look Like a Fool" Friend

My Favorite Color

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:12:00 +0000

Water Lilies Featured - Lovely Treasury from Filzwunder

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:10:00 +0000

'Princess Frog' by Filzwunder

What did the princess see, when she was a frog ?

Lily Pad Photo Prop Knitting... 4aSong $4.00	Frog Skin in Black VanAmburgExoti... $16.50	Hand Felted Vessel Bowl - je... DemyBlackDesig... $16.00
ARTS and CRAFTS style Cast S... BelairDesign $60.00	Steampunk Jewelry Frog Locke... dayslonggone $74.00	Fairy Tale Frog Prince Portr... toadbriar $20.00
Granma Deth and TeeTee ursasuzanne $5500.00	Charming Pond Scum Amoeba Pe... NoRegretsy $39.95	The frogs lily pad- Antiqued... BeadinBabe $21.88
GenePool Toad SmallThingsCla... $40.00	Water Nymph.......unmatted 1... renaeleataylor $15.00	Water Lilies Wire Wrapped Ge... NinaMarieDesig... $127.00
Water Lily Number 1 StolfaGrafik $25.00	On the Pond Necklace with Fr... SimpleSquirrel $25.00	Dark unnatural wine leaf OOA... DyeForYarn $27.00
Karen Tarlton Original Oil P... Karensfineart $250.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Heather

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:27:00 +0000

New piece created just for Heather...

An Alice in Wonderland Kind of Day

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:08:00 +0000

Day in Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Spending quality time with friends and family is what I live for. We don't often get a chance to explore our backyard and it's a treat to take our guests around. Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos that were taken in the few days the sun cooperated...Niki at Jose Rizal Park

Seattle Skyline from Jose Rizal Park

Gas Works Park with Lake Union House Boats

Our friend, Pawel Gaul, an extraordinary photographer, and Niki at Kerry Park.

One of the most fun people on the planet, Tony Lindsjo, at Kerry Park.

Niki, Seattle Center.

Space Needle.

Seattle from the Space Needle.

Niki, EMP, Seattle Center.

Pike Place Sunflower.

Pink Door Patio, Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market

An unusual sight, Pike Place empty.

Cool Chandelier from Cellars Restaurant, Seattle.

Seattle Skyline at night. Mt. Rainier barely visible on right. (Yes, I did take this photo myself :) )

Sunday Funny

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Beauty in Joyful Packages

noreply@blogger.com (NinaMarie) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:32:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to sit down and blog. My guests arrive tonight, a day earlier than first planned and, of course, I am in chaos. In spite of that, I would love to sing the praises of my Etsy sister - SimpleJoysDecor - the offerings in this little store are just so sweet. See for yourself how beautiful they are: