Turquoise, Tulips and Bliss

Thursday's Treasure -- Sketch(y)!

2012-02-23T09:16:00.000-05:00

Last week I came across the fabulous work of Inslee Haynes and am trying resist buying all of her sketches! They are fabulous and just what I have been looking for to begin that perfect gallery wall I have been dreaming of!

Oh, and did I mention she has a fun blog to peruse, too?

The Sketch Book

Kate Spade Spring Presentation

Fat Tuesday Bliss!

2012-02-21T09:45:00.001-05:00

Happy Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday is here yet again which can only mean one thing for New Orleans -- lots of delicious treats and decorations!

Sucré's King Cake

When I was in New Orleans two weeks ago my friend (a New Orleans local) introduced me to

Sucré's King Cake and I have to say... it was divine!

Mardi Gras Macaroons

Mini Muffulettas

Hot Crawfish Dip

Dressed Mini Oyster Po'boys

via

This photo belongs to Turquoise, Tulips & Bliss

This photo belongs to Turquoise, Tulips and Bliss

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

2012-02-15T12:37:00.000-05:00

via my Pinterest {Amen! board}

Love, Sweets, Pink and Red!

2012-02-14T09:56:00.000-05:00

Hope your day is filled with lots of love, sweets, pink and red!

xoxo

Amen!

Pink Pony Smoking Shoe

XOXO Watercolor

Parker Leather Wrap Bracelet

Check out this collection of contemporary sailors' valentines by Sandi Blanda

Pink and red kitchen hand towels

Divine Twine - available in a rainbow of colors, this is the perfect new addition to your gift wrap collection

Valentine's Day Tablescape

Fun cards to send sweet notes

Pink wrap watch

Tulips and Conversation Hearts -- the perfect Valentine's Day Treat

Turquoise and Coral Necklace - can you imagine the possibilities for this in the summer? Just throw on anything white and this - fabulous!

Pink and White Bedroom

Kate Spade Latrice Color Block

Pink and White Ikat Pillow

Pick your cupid!

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!!!!!!

2012-02-01T09:48:00.001-05:00

Woohoo, this weekend is almost here!

I feel like I have been counting down the days for year's now - off to New Orleans for L's long-awaited Bachelorette Party and a visit J!!!!!!

So many fun things planned I can't hardly stand it! While I want to share all of them with you, the bride is not "in the know" so I don't want to spoil any surprises....

So, I am going to share with you instead a little New Orleans home inspiration by the fabulous Melissa Rufty of MMR Interiors in New Orleans!

New Orleans home with the large, fabulous front porch

How welcoming is this cozy velvet seating?

Perfectly fills what could have been an awkward space underneath the stairway in the foyer.

Sun-bleached tortoise shell

Love this daybed in the living room

Formal Dining Room with an overscale mirror made of mirrored squares of old glass

Pink Breakfast Room - love the old pictures of tobacco fields and farmhouses

Love this bar scene painting - very New Orleans

And then there's Melissa Rufty's fabulous portfolio.
Each room is a true work of art.

Mystified by Mustique!!

2012-01-24T10:11:00.002-05:00

Well friends, you have heard me talk all too often of my love for the beach but let me tell you what happened this morning while going through the motions to get ready for work...

I fell head over heels, hands down absolutely in love with mystifyingly beautiful Mustique.

There are an overwhelming number of beautiful beaches out there but wow, this one truly is blissful!

The news report of Kate and William's visit to Mustique left me dreaming of one day pretending to be a princess vacationing in this mystifying heaven on earth!

How anyone ever chooses between the 74 villas on the Island seems virtually impossible to me but if that's your issue of the day, than I'd consider you one lucky duck!

Cannot pick a favorite but this one definitely is at the top of my list!

Plantation House

Don't get me wrong, I'd stay in any of these too!

Tiled Tuesday

2012-01-24T08:32:00.001-05:00

Tiles can add color and texture to just about anything - floor, ceiling, walls, backsplash!

Don't be afraid to tile!

Lovely tile work on the kitchen walls!

How great would this be in your farmhouse - with the barn-like doors?

Oh, and love the tile too!

White tile meets white cabinets - looks clean and crisp!

How fun is this tiling?

I'm picturing an awesome half bath in that dream house...

Fabulous master bath tiled floor!

This is one welcoming mud room - tiled floor and all!

Not sure I could ever commit to Chevron Tile as bold as this but more power to you if you can - I'm coming to visit! Love it!

Green and White tiled kitchen

fabulous entry hall tiled floor

Nemo tiles - love the red border

Tiled bathroom

Great tiled kitchen floor

Mantel Monday

2012-01-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

Is your mantel looking a little empty now that the holiday decor has been taken down?

Here is a little mantel-pick-me-up inspiration to help you decorate that natural focal of your room!

Pretty white mantel with hydrangeas

This has long been one of my favorite mantel images

Girly chic mantel

Why not throw a peacock on your mantel?

Love the pillars under the mantel

Mantels used as headboards need decorations too

Colorful glass trinkets pop on this white mantel

Chinese lanterns on the mantel

The frames above the mantel match the accent wall color

- creates a great mirror-effect.

Love the display of varying sized decor on this mantel

Fluffy, Feathery Friday

2012-01-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

TGIF!

I am feeling a little feathery today (albeit, not entirely sure what that means but somehow I think that describes my mood today so I'm going with it!) and I am adoring anything fluffy given the sub-freezing temps!

Fluff your feathers and get ready for the weekend, Friends!

Feathery Print

For any brides out there - fabulous Fluffy White Louboutins

What a cute feathery rehearsal dinner dress this would make!

Fluffy chair

Dior Feathery Chairs

Ikea's Rens Sheepskin Rug is a STEAL at $29.99 - oh so fluffy floor covering

Feathery boutonnieres for the rustic inspired wedding

I'm a sucker for fluffy pancakes!

Eggs and feathers

Grey and Yellow vase with feathers vis etsy

Tulips on a Tuesday!

2012-01-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

Wine and tulips.

Sounds like a pretty nice Tuesday to me!

via

Fridgid Friday

2012-01-06T14:02:00.000-05:00

This week's frigid temps have me feeling like I am starting 2012 inside a ~~refrigerator~~ chest freezer!

Luckily, I hear it is a bit warmer out today... now, just need to figure out how to escape the office in time to enjoy it before the temps drop and life in the freezer returns!

I'd prefer to only feel the cold air inside one of these beautiful refrigerators!!

Custom "Pass-Through" (i.e. see-through) Stainless Steel Fridge from Traulsen

So many fridges in this lime green butlers pantry!

Notice the viking fridge under the counter and the sub-zero wine cellar on the left which holds 132 bottles - because you never know when you're going to have a party and need 132 bottles!

The armoire in this kitchen hides the sub-zero.

This opens up a whole world of options.

Fabulous built-in refrigerator

Fence boards hide the sub-zero in this Napa Valley Cottage Kitchen

Custom Panel Refrigerator

Another paneled fridge

For those loving a little nostalgia, the refurbished fridge may be just your style

Love the idea of refrigerator drawers. Especially for those with little munchkins running around, seems like the perfect place to keep those juice boxes!

Think of the storage possibilities in these separate full-size freezer and refrigerator. Allows you to have the space without the industrial look that over-size refrigerators and freezers can bring.

Old-fashion look covers a modern-day fridge with all the bells and whistles

Mirror Image Refrigerators

Chalkboard Fridge - the the cook who is always leaving notes

*Thanks for the inspiration, Monks! Now, time for the islands!

Wedneday's Wonder - A Fresh Calendar!

2012-01-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

Call me old fashion but I still need a calendar at my desk! I know, I know, we are living in a day filled with electronic contraptions designed to organize our life, but I still can't live without a calendar.

Not to mention, there is something ceremonial about starting a fresh, new calendar year with a fresh new calendar and getting to rip off each month - I especially get excited ripping off the next couple of months in anticipation for spring and summer!

So, in case you are still searching for the perfect 2012 calendar - whether it be for your office, home desk, kitchen window sill, vanity, etc, - here are a few of my latest favorites.

Cheers to January's clean slate!!

PikakePress

Downloadable At-A-Glance Calendars thanks to RedStamp.com

Susy Jack* Wall Calendar

Personalized Desk Calendar

Paper Source Wall Art Calendar

Watercolor Calendar

Paper Source Art Grid Calendar

Bunting Calendar

Letterpress Dip Dyed Hanging Calendar

Letterpress Wall Calendar with 12 Months to rip off

Nautical Calendar

So many possibilities for this Hanging Calendar

Paper Source Academic Wall Calendar - each month is a fun, different color!

To a Blissful 2012!

2012-01-03T20:42:00.000-05:00

Cheers!

via

Cheers to the Most Blissful Posts of 2011!

2011-12-29T15:45:00.000-05:00

Well, Friends, it's been a wonderful year.
It's had its fair share of ups and downs but overall I know I have so much to be thankful for!

With that said, I am so ready for 2012. I have a really, really good feeling about this coming year. For starters it's an even year (and for all those who know me and my slightly ocd-ways at times, I like things even!)

While I don't like dwelling on the past, especially when I am so optimistic about the future year, I do want to share with you a little recap of some of our (yours collectively) favorite posts from the past year. These are wonderful but you have my promise that 2012s posts will be even better!

CHEERS to the top 5 posts of 2011 and to all things BLISSFUL in 2012!

#1: Tuft Lovin' Tuesday

#2 - Wainscoting Wednesday

#3 - It's Friday, I'm In Love {with a little farmhouse inspired bliss!}

#4 - Thursday's Total Dream Home

#5 - Wednesday's Wonder - The Louis Berger Chair

Four Christmases!

2011-12-19T14:59:00.001-05:00

I can never pick just one "Favorite Christmas house" -- who could?

So, from South Carolina's coast to Beaufort, to Houston, and back to the South Carolina coast - here's just four of my favorites courtesy of Southern Living!

This fabulous beach cottage is the perfect example of tailoring seasonal decor to fit your lifestyle!

Surf and Sand meet festive decor in this fabulous home!

Absolutely love the mantel decorations here!

Use indigenous, non-store bought accents from your backyard!

Love the suggestion of putting small seasonal trees in silver containers for a festive touch that will last beyond December!

This Beaufort home is for more traditional of heart yet still oozing with warmth and and cheer!

The Rhett House Inn

The contrast of the dark woods in the home with the white walls is the perfect backdrop for the greens and reds of Christmas!

Don't forget to decorate the kitchen, too!

This Houston home is a white winter wonderland filled with seasonal touches throughout

Love the wreaths above the Palladium Doors

Pretty boxwood garden with gold ribbon woven throughout

Gingerbread houses are always a fun conversation piece

Christmas in the master bedroom

Tabletop tree in the child's bedroom - adorable!

This Palmetto Bluff beach cottage is filled with just the right amount of simple yet elegant holiday cheer - free to stress and filled with joy!

The porch of this home is an extension of the living room so how fun and different that the tree is out on the porch - love it!

Love the square wreath hung above the fireplace with care

Again, festive cheer is crucial in the kitchen as well!

Candy Cane Striped Tuesday!

2011-12-13T10:11:00.000-05:00

Something about these red and white treats inevitably stirs up excitement and brings on the joys of Christmas.

From decor to edible treats, drinks to linens, the red and white stripes are sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

Candy Cane Wreath

Candy Cane Window Decor

Peppermint Stick Cocoa Recipe

Fitz and Floyd Candy Cane Ornament

Candy Cane Bark

DIY Peppermint Wreath

Candy Cane Striped Towels

Candy Cane Tablescape

Candy Cane Cake

DIY Candy Cane Bowl

Candy Cane Ribbon Tablescape with Splashes of Pink

Candy Cane Cocktail

Red and White Edible Tablescape

Jingle Juice

Peppermint Packaging - cushion that Christmas delivery with peppermints!

Candy Cane Ribbon

Merry Mistletoe Monday!

2011-12-12T12:40:00.001-05:00

May you find yourself under some Mistletoe today to help make your Monday Merry!

Mistletoe Kissing Ball

Hanging Ball How-To

Felted Mistletoe Wreath

Fresh Mistletoe Kit

So cute - it contains: A generous sprig of Mistletoe, 2 breath mints, string and push pin

Make Your Own Mistletoe Gift Seals

Mistletoe Cocktail

1 oz Belvedere vodka 1/2 oz cinnamon schnapps splash of apple pucker 1/2 oz cranberry juice Sugar the rim of the martini glass with green sugar crystals

Cute Mistletoe Invitation

Tabletop Tenenbaum Bliss!

2011-12-01T11:27:00.001-05:00

December 1st is here which means FULL-ON CHRISTMAS CHEER!

To kick-off the season, here is some inspiration for the adorable tabletop trees!

These adorable trees fit on tables, mantles, end tables, chairs, tables - anywhere.

I love the idea of having a tree in several rooms of your house and these adorable little trees make it easy to have different themes and colors to bring cheer to your abode!

Cheers to a Blissful Holiday Season, Loves!

The silver Champagne Bucket makes a perfect stand for this beautiful Robins Egg Blue Ornamented Tree

Turquoise and Tinsel Tree

How cute would this tabletop tenenbaum be for a wedding shower around the holidays?

Love the white!

Rosemary Tabletop Tree

Simply adding ornaments to the tabletop tree purchased at the supermarket can be just as glam and a welcoming festive touch.

Wouldn't it be fun to fill open nooks and crannies of each room with a tabletop tree? Bringing Christmas cheer to every room of your house!

Terrifically Turquoise Tree

For those feeling a little edgy, why not put a full size tree on top of a table?

Tabletop tree with burlap accents - truly shabby chic

Live, Plantable Bulb Tree

Love this idea!

Leftover branches from a full-size tree arranged in a pretty vase give the illusion of a tabletop tree, but with a unique and eye catching touch!

Loving this room - and the Christmas tree is a warm touch.

Toddy Tuesday!

2011-11-29T16:39:00.002-05:00

Yum!

There are few things that make the approaching cold weather tolerable, Christmas-time is one of them (although I would pick-up and move to the islands for Christmas - and never return - if I could), and a hot toddy is the other!

So in the spirit of the next 32 days of merriment, prepare your bar with the perfect toddy fixins!

Cheers!

Cranberry Toddy

Whisky Hot Toddy

Apple Toddy

Calientito (Warm Pear Toddy)

Toddy topped off with a little homemade whipped cream - mine as well go all out!

Bear, think they serve Toddies in gauntlets?

Only one way to find out...
Meet you there?

Thinkin' About Turkey...

2011-11-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

...and how delicious it would taste in this turquoise, blue and white dream!!

Turkey, friends and family is all I need on Thanksgiving but I certainly wouldn't turn down a chance to spend it in this fabulous abode!

Thanks to House of Turquoise for sharing Belclaire House's feature of this fabulous California beach house along the La Jolla coastline

Wishing on a Wishbone!

2011-11-17T15:48:00.000-05:00

I love rituals and while I try not to be too supersticious, it never hurts to have a little extra luck on your side, right? The pulling of the wishbone is a common Thanksgiving tradition so in an effort to get you thinking about being prepared with the perfect wish prepared should you find yourself tugging on a wishbone a week from today, here is some wishbone inspiration.

Gold Wishbone Table Accessory

Brass Wishbones

Martha Stewart's Custom Holiday Wishbone Napkins

How cute would these Thanksgiving Plates be for "the kids table"?

(And I say that only because I am still seated at the kids table...)

Good Luck Wishbone Card

"Good Luck" set of three faux wishbones

Since there's only one wishbone in your turkey, why not give everyone a shot at having a wish come true.

And of course, for year-round wishing, there is always the Wishbone Chair.

Made famous by Hans Wegner who introduced the chair in the 1950s, the Wishbone Chair is one of the Danish modernist's most identifiable designs. The frame is solid wood; the seat is papercord, a resilient rope woven of paper developed in Sweden.

While this chair is not something I am typically drawn to, having done a bit of research now I am coming around and starting to think in the perfect breakfast room, nook, office, or porch, this chair certainly serves a purpose and remains stylish yet minimalist.

This chair certainly evokes a sense of modern styling with rustic elegance.

Wishbone and Manilla Chairs

Rustic Kitchen with Wishbone Chairs

Wishbone Chairs in a sunny breakfast room

Adorable lime green Wishbone Chair in a child's room

Wishbone Chairs meet Animal Skin Rug

Button Day!

2011-11-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Button Day!

Hope your day is filled with something cute as a button

...and free of anything that pushes your buttons!

These gold button pushpins will spruce up any bulletin board

Guest bags fastened with custom buttons

Vintage Button Bracelet

Button shaped soup packed in a cute little box fastened by buttons covered in cute fabric

Jars of buttons invoke tones and texture (yet are inexpensive to collect in large quantity)

Who said you can't incorporate buttons into almost anything?

Button details make this vintage inspired wedding cake complete.

Framed Button Monogram - how cute would this be in a nursery?

Button Boutonieres

Thank You!

2011-11-11T09:42:00.000-05:00

Thank you to our Veterans!

Thursday's Treasure Hunt - the Makings of the Perfect Gallery Wall

2011-11-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

It takes a certain knack to assemble and an eye for collecting the makings for the perfect a Gallery Wall!

Like with mu inept ability for arranging bookshelves, I have yet to find the necessary knack to use what I have to create the Gallery Wall I am envisioning in my head (it's this one wall in my bedroom that has now remained blank for ever a year...) I have been searching with no luck for any anchor pieces to spur "the perfect Gallery Wall" I have in my head but the wall remains empty.
That being said, I cannot let the concept go and am determinded to find what I have been searching for.

In the meantime though, I seem to be completely paralyzed by the overwhelming number of things to consider: Is a symmetrical balanced Gallery Wall your preference or are you going for a hodge podge of images, frames colors, shapes and sizes?
Do want to have a theme to the wall or create some interest with random odds and ends?
Do you want frames to all be the same color - regardless of whether or not they are the same size?

Then, how to assemble the Galley Wall so that it does not look too makeshift yet is not too symmetrical and straight laced that it looses the appeal of a Gallery Wall.

While the search for pieces for my Gallery Wall continues, I will let these fabulous compiled ones inspire me in the meantime!

So much to look at on the Gallery Wall of this home office.

(Can't help but point out the turquoise upholstered chair - love the velvet!)

The wall along a staircase is perfect for a Gallery Wall

Colorful Gallery Wall in a home office

Nautical Themed Gallery Wall - perfect for that beach house guest room perhaps?

Love the look of a Gallery Wall for the space behind a couch

Pottery Barn Gallery Wall

How fabulous are these large Audubon bird prints? Together they make up a phenomenal Gallery Wall fitting for the grand scale and tall ceilings of this room!

This Gallery Wall adds just the right amount of spunk to this neutral toned bedroom.
(Love the turquoise chest, too!)

Adorable in a child's nursery or bedroom

Gone Country -- on Country Music's Biggest Night!

2011-11-09T15:07:00.002-05:00

That's right ladies and gentleman, tonight is Country Music's biggest night - the CMA Awards!

Being the country music ~~lover~~ FANATIC I am, I look forward to this awards show every year! So many of my favorites are nominated and the show's performances are always fabulous. Oh, what I would give to be in Nashville tonight schmoozing with the country music's biggest stars

(with two of my best friends, who just happen to conveniently be Nashville residents, in tow too, of course!)

So, in an effort to go "back to our roots" and as an ode to Country Music's biggest night, I share with you this fabulous "barn" right outside of Nashville, TN, of one of country music's own, Ronnie Dunn!

The house was first featured in Garden and Gun's Best of Southern Style in 2010 and is the work of always talented designer, Rachel Halvorson -- whose blog, Nestegg is fabulous in case you don't already follow it.

This barn leaves me swooning with thoughts of cowboy boots, cowboy hats, country music, and a barn like this for those times you just need a little "country living" (the shabby-chic way)!