Southern Inspirations

Craving Ina's Coconut Cupcakes!

2010-05-26T20:40:00.030-04:00

barefoot contessa coconut cupcakes (click here for recipe))OK, raise your hands, who likes coconut? I love it, but Hubby on the other hand does not! And that is probably the reason why I've never attempted to make Ina's famous Coconut Cupcakes. I even have the cookbook with the recipe. I've had Ina's Coconut Cupcakes on my mind for years, which is obviously why I'm blogging about them now.

Some Essentials for Summer Gardening!

2010-05-26T11:54:00.065-04:00

A Straw Hat From Talbot'sLast week while at work, I overheard Janice, our Assistant Site Director here at the museum, scream, "Twenty-five hundred dollars, you've got to be kidding"! "Lisa and I will do it". After hearing my name being screamed my ears perked up and I said, "So Janice, what will we do?" She said, that their was a twenty-five hundred dollar estimate just to do some pruning,

A Perfect Picnic!

2010-05-21T10:07:00.058-04:00

A few weeks ago, I asked my buddy Helen if she would like to go see Shakespeare's A Comedy Of Errors, and attempt to do a nice festive picnic before the outdoor performance. Early morning the following day, after asking Helen about the picnic, I spotted an e-mail from her, asking me if Hubby and I liked turkey roll-ups. My response, "Love them!" An hour later, the same day, she sends me another

Skin Creams?!!

2010-05-16T14:45:00.073-04:00

The last couple of months I've been obsessing over skin creams...this past Saturday morning I was enthralled with an info-mercial with Cindy Crawford, who was promoting her new line of skincare products. Do you want to look like Cindy Crawford? Well, yes, of course I do! Five minutes later, after hearing that the top secret formula contained rare melons produced in the south of France I kept

Stalking Talbots!

2010-05-07T12:13:00.043-04:00

I despise shopping. In fact I hate it, but what I despise more is getting ready for work, date night, running errands (like shopping) and not having anything to wear. Another thing is--I love clothes! I wish I could say that I was hip like Nicole Richie and shopped for cool vintage designer pieces but I don’t, because I want it easy! I did come close to buying a vintage piece one day while at an

Spring...Shopping, Dieting & Getways!

2010-05-06T13:00:00.024-04:00

Where does the time go? For me, personally, I've have been busy trying to knock off a few pounds, catching up on some much needed shopping (because of those extra few pounds), working on a few design projects and finally, after five years, taking an Easter trip to my in-laws' mountain cabin with the Hubby and Ellie (who was amazingly invited) up in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Almost forgot, we did

I Want an Office!

2010-03-12T10:47:00.026-05:00

For years now, I have dreamed of having my own office! No more sharing with the Hubby while at home trying to blog or trying to do my spring shopping. No more sharing with the accountant while at work while she's trying to pay the bills and pay the employees (like me)! I guess I should not complain because it certainly beats sitting at Starbucks. Talk about not being able to get anything

Yellow Please!

2010-03-03T14:39:00.031-05:00

Laundry Room from Cottage LivingI love the color yellow. In my first house, I experimented quite a bit with it. In fact, the day we closed on the house (Oct 31st, Halloween day) I was way too busy tearing down wallpaper in the kitchen to take time out for the trick-or-treaters who were knocking at my door! My painter was coming soon, and that was much more important because I wanted my yellow

AHHHH The Color Green!

2010-02-26T10:32:00.028-05:00

My Old Cottage House in Nashville that I'm currently missing!.Ahhh the color green, and as you have probably already guessed by now, it happens to be one of my favorite colors! In our old bathroom in Nashville, I used Benjamin Moore's Fernwood Green # 2145-40 and absolutely loved it!While out a few days ago, and strolling through Crate & Barrel, I noticed a few home accessories with the color

Loving Marilyn!!!

2010-02-18T15:19:00.036-05:00

Image from Lonny The other day while reading through Lonny , this ad for Rubie Green's quickly caught my eye. And after doing a little digging I discovered that one of Lonny's creators is Michelle Adams, a former Domino Editor and also the creator of RUBIE GREEN...go figure! The headboard fabric to me is very similar to a fabric by Clarence House--"Dahlia"--to be exact (see About Time). A fabric

What Will You Be Doing for Valentine's Day?

2010-02-10T15:19:00.040-05:00

Drinking wine, eating cheese with candles aglow while sitting by a roaring fire? Or having a nice private dinner for two?Image here & above from Victoria Magazine or Admiring your beautiful roses that your sweetheart got you?Images from Martha Stewart Or making a nice chocolate fondue... like this one, from Carolyne Roehm.I'm dying to try this recipe!.For me, this coming Sunday the Hubby and I

How Do You Organize Your Books?

2010-02-08T19:52:00.038-05:00

Here I have my travel, self help, old college books (I was a Political Science Major, Hubby was Finance), travel guides, antiquing, and finding a job of my dreams types of books. And yes, we're big fans of Harry Potter !My books are the one thing that I cannot live without! I keep everything, and not just the expensive decorating books, but my old college books, paperbacks, travel. etc. You name

Are You Blue?

2010-02-07T09:30:00.030-05:00

I remember this room very well...it was one of my first issues of House Beautiful & I've always have wanted to do a room like this! . Just last night, I finally finished this month's issue of House Beautiful which was All About Blue the color blue that is. You know, the last couple of years I have been on a blue kick myself (see Feeling-Little-Blue-lately). Also, just this past year I bought

Do You Have Committal Issues with Wallpaper?

2010-02-03T14:56:00.047-05:00

Here I used Farrow & Ball's Ringwold in my old cottage house in NashvilleAfter writing A Room of Your Own, I've sensed that a few people have committal issues with wallpaper. I know, I hear it all the time. You don't want to commit to a wallpaper, or wallpaper is not 'in' right now! A couple of years ago, when I was putting wallpaper up in our cottage house in Nashville, everyone looked at me

Searching For A Red Velvet Cupcake Receipe

2010-01-29T15:22:00.019-05:00

Red Velvet Cupcakes from MarthaLast year, for Valentines Day, Hubby and I made Red Velvet cupcakes to gobble and to give to his parents (his dad loves cookies, cakes etc. so this is always a good way to stay on his good side). The cupcake mix came from a fancy box that I picked up at the Fresh Market. Everyone seemed to like them (especially Hubby's dad), although I thought that this year we

Closet Envy Anyone?

2010-01-28T12:31:00.055-05:00

I'm digging this groovy chair of Windsor Smith's from House Beautiful ...I can see everything! Getting my closet well-organized and pretty has been pretty high on my list of things to do this month. Admittedly, I haven't gotten that far. This past Monday, I did manage to swing by the Container Store for a few ceder hangers, which I know are a little bit more expensive then the bamboo or

A Room Of Your Own!

2010-01-22T11:32:00.056-05:00

This morning over a cup of coffee, I had a little time to catch-up on Bloomingdale's great window challenge . For me personally, I loved Eddie's overall story on the modern women and his use of vintage and modern accessories. With Maxwell, I like his choice of the bold wallpaper, big modern chandelier, club leather chair, modern lamps (I have a few just like that myself), glass coffee table (I

A Girly Kitchen: What would you do?

2010-01-19T21:23:00.036-05:00

Tori even put the Toile wallpaper on the ceilingI was just checking my calender and today is Wed..."Girl Stuff"... and, in keeping with the Kitchen theme that I seem to have going on this week, I thought that I would show a "girly kitchen", at least I would consider it kind of girly, with the toile wallpaper. Then again, maybe it's just because I've been married for quite a while. I've always

My Budget Friendly Kitchen

2010-01-19T11:27:00.055-05:00

This is a picture of my old 1930's kitchen in NashvilleWhen Hubby and I first purchased the house, we were not quite sure what we were going to do with it! We knew we wanted and had to do something, but realistically speaking, $$$ always seemed to get in the way. We thought about maybe knocking out the back wall (where you see the stove & fridge) to open it up, but the thought of getting our

Exposing Yourself In The Kitchen: Getting Organized!

2010-01-17T10:11:00.061-05:00

OK, I know what you're thinking! Why is she showing us a picture of a kitchen that clearly needs a new dishwasher, stove, countertops, cabinets, sink, etc. Plus, the stainless steel fridge that she let her Hubby pick out clearly does not fit that space (C- Plus). Well, you see, today is Monday, "Getting Organized" and I've been thinking a little about my old kitchen in Nashville (See Kitchen

What's Your Favorite Comfort Food?

2010-01-15T14:48:00.018-05:00

As promised, it's Friday, "Recipe & Entertaining day". Hmmm. I don't know how I get myself in these messes! I'm just ready to get off work, run a few errands (like getting my hair done--that's important), and get home so I can listen to The Skirted Roundtable over a glass of vino. Usually, on Friday's evenings I'm so dead from the week before that Hubby and I usually order in, or I'll send

"Southern Happenings"

2010-01-14T10:40:00.029-05:00

This past fall, I wrote how I wanted to organize my blog a little (see Best Tomato Pie Ever). It looked a little something quite like this: Monday - “Kicking the Week off Right & Getting Organized” Tuesday – “Down with Some Serious Decorating” Wednesday -“Girl Stuff” Thursday - "Happenings Around the South" Friday - “Recipes & Entertaining Day” So here it goes, today is Thursday "Southern

It's Ohhh-So Complicated!

2010-01-13T10:37:00.041-05:00

This past Sunday, Hubby and I braved the icy roads and finally made it out to see It's Complicated. I had wanted to see the movie when it first came out on Christmas day, but I promised Hubby Sherlock first, and he made me stick to my promise! Now, I had more than one motive, other then seeing the actual movie itself--set design... of course! Personally, I'm an English and French design type of

My 2010 Brr-y Agenda!

2010-01-12T10:40:00.033-05:00

Last Friday, my boss called to inform me to take my time going into work that morning due to the icy roads out. I said, "no problem" in yet another bad weather day here in the South! Now, I'm not exactly crazy! When I left the house that freezing morning, I was bundled up like I was going to an Alpine ski resort. I had on my long coat, long underwear (haven't used since trip to Vienna) scarf,

A Snowy, Blustery Organizing Day!

2010-01-07T15:06:00.035-05:00

It's a snowy, blustery day here in Atlanta, and like many of you, getting organized for the new year is one of my many priorities. What I discovered recently, and especially after having a few holidays soirees, is that my laundry room, personal closet, Hubby-office, my office, coat closet, linen closet and inside of my kitchen cabinets are a disaster! Discoveries are as follows: Inside kitchen