Lighthearted

I'm having a serious case of light-envy over Annmarie's antique brass boat fixtures. Ahoy!

In The Black

Halloween can be celebrated in the simplest way with items you already own. Forgo the bold orange in lieu of something graphic and clean, like a dinner setting composed of all black and white.


And if you can't do without that extra pop of color, I love this festive tower of treats from stylist-extraordinaire, Rebecca Thuss.

Half the Battle

What makes a great pair of shoes even better? When they're half off.

New York Profile: Catherine Rappetti

Throughout school Catherine Rapetti searched for a large and stylish tote to carry her abundance of design supplies. She stepped up to the challenge and is still creating leather bags and accessories that marry form and function. While the wait time between a sketch and production is a real nail-biter, it's well worth the end result. Her refined and perfectly tailored bags are manufactured in New York and manage to be both a collector's item and conversation piece, proving she has talent and taste in the bag!


Do you have a favorite ritual that inspires you while designing?
I love to design out at my Mom's house in the Hamptons on the weekends. It's a great place to relax and find my inspiration. 


Favorite tool in your studio?
Pen and Paper.

Main source of inspiration?
My surroundings and friends. All of my bags are named after my friends.

Always in your handbag?
My Blackberry.

What's playing on your iPod?
Vampire Weekend, Filligar, Sara Bareilles.

Favorite activity on a lazy Saturday?
Taking my dog Molly on a long walk.

Favorite place to shop?
Bergdorf's.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I can be very shy.

What's next for you and your collection?
Bridal bags and more leather accessories and jewelry.

Favorite aspect of living in New York?
The constantly changing landscape and Frank in the East Village.

Cast Your [early] Vote

This morning I headed out to Early Vote and I'm a very happy girl.

[AIGA poster via I Heart You]

Raised in a Barn

If being raised in a barn means dressing like this, count me in!

Slow Off the Mark

Here in Texas, we're a little slow off the mark with our Fall weather, but the temperature has finally dropped! I'm thrilled to transition into warmer clothes by adding tights, jackets and lightweight scarves to my wardrobe—and sporting my favorite suede shoes!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I dream of cultivating a lush garden that yields enough herbs and produce to keep everyone nearby well fed. If Chris and Lisa Goode can build an urban farm atop their downtown New York City terrace, I have no excuse for my own backyard.

Their two-level rooftop garden is overflowing with vegetables, fruit trees, berry bushes, migrating butterflies, rose gardens, lavender pots, a black locust tree, and a plush lawn that needs mowing. They eat fresh pale blue eggs thanks to the 5 roaming chickens and, until last year, had a beehive that produced plentiful honey! The Goodes, who are avid composters, collect rainwater in four horse troughs to irrigate the garden. 


Four years ago they started this sustainable green project, hoisting 5-ton soil bags by crane onto the roof and acting as their own general contractors. Because of its success, Goode Green was started to develop more sustainable rooftops. Living proof that where there's a will, there's definitely a way.

[Goode Green office housed inside their Little Italy Penthouse.]

Bookbinding

Michael of A Continuous Lean. has just returned from an eight day adventure in Tokyo and I'm lusting after his quirky, preppy and well-engineered finds. Take this Porter x B Yoshida Book Strap for example, have you ever seen such a perfect way to bind your books?

When Nature Calls

I've been spending countless hours drooling over the hand-printed fabrics by textile design studio Of The Young and The Restless. Combining feverish colors like scarlet, coral, saffron and colonial blue, lifelong friends Pearce Williams and Courtney Loadholt have created a collection that's both sophisticated and fresh. Solids run $70 per yard with prints ranging from $140-168.


Just as I was dying for a reason [and place] to use their poppy, nature-inspired prints, Erika exclaimed the Floridian Birdhouse is a must for my bathroom. I quickly added another bullet on my to-do list!

Down to the Nitty-Gritty

With all the curiosity my post on grits stirred up, I thought I'd share a bit of information on one of my favorite foods.


Nitty-Gritty: 101
Grits are an American Indian corn-based food traditionally served during breakfast [though I'll take mine anytime]. Ground in a stone mill, grits consist of the corn's coarse grind; the finer grind is cornmeal. They are similar to other thick maize-based porridges such as polenta, so tell grit-naysaying guests that you're serving polenta and everyone will make a happy plate!

They are an institution here in the South and taken quite seriously, always served with salt, pepper and, of course, butter. Without the butter [I can't even fathom!], they are relatively low in calories and fat, have a bit of protein and, according to J, contain the carbohydrates that keep you going, not growing.

The regular, good old fashioned grits are unquestionably better than the Instant or Quick varieties, although a bit harder to find. But don't cheat using the fake stuff, it's a disgrace really. The proper way to cook grits was even a major topic of discussion during My Cousin Vinny's cross-examination scene. It's serious business!

GRITS

Being a GRITS, I can hardly stand how delicious this classic Southern recipe looks! If you have everything chopped and measured beforehand, it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare...which means I'm most definitely picking up a few pounds of shrimp while in Louisiana this weekend.


Paula Deen's Shrimp and Grits
serves 8 as an appetizer or 4 as a main course

1 cup stone-ground grits
Salt and pepper
¼ cup (½ stick) butter
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, left whole if small and roughly chopped if medium or large
6 slices bacon, chopped into tiny pieces
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 cup thinly sliced green onions, white and green parts
1 large clove garlic, minced

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the grits and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well with a whisk. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cook the grits until all the water is absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and cheese. Keep covered until ready to serve.

Rinse the shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned and crisp, then drain on a paper towel. Add the shrimp to the bacon grease in the skillet and saute over medium heat just until they turn pink, about 3 minutes. Do not overcook! Immediately add the lemon juice, parsley, green onions, and garlic. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Pour the grits into a serving bowl. Pour the shrimp mixture over the grits. Garnish with the bacon bits. If you are serving this as an appetizer, spoon ¼ cup grits onto a bread or salad plate. Top with ¼ cup of the shrimp mixture. Garnish with a sprinkling of crisp bacon bits and serve immediately.

Look What The Cat Dragged In...

Many of you are well-versed in the sporadic sightings of Lil' Corn who began peering into our front door at the beginning of this year. About a month ago we learned she belongs to our neighbor who found her abandoned on the street. We were thrilled to know she had a home and waxed lyrical about our love for the Peeping Tom.

On Friday our neighbor moved out, taking off for greener pastures. That evening I spotted Lil' Corn sitting on their porch swing, so I walked across the street and played with her for a little while. I then scrounged up the only semi-cat food we had, a can of tuna.

Saturday the neighbor returned, cleaning supplies in hand and I figured to also pick up her pet. Saturday came and went, so did the neighbor sans cat. Now that it's Wednesday and still no signs of the owner returning, our family may be growing. It's going to take a lot of trust from everyone: Lil' Corn doesn't trust us as I don't think she's ever had a family for very long, I don't trust her because I've never owned a cat and am petrified of being clawed, and our 130 pound St. Bernard is highly suspicious of anything with a furry tail. But I can't leave that sweet cat on the streets and besides, her facial markings slay me. Last night I bought my first bag of cat food.


P.S. Her real name is Tutley, although she'll always be Lil' Corn to us.

P.P.S. [That stands for Paws and PostScript, natch] Enter your furry friends in Erika's Pet Contest. The competition is getting dog-gone good and ends tomorrow!

Cure-All

It's been a video kind of day around here, I know. But when I saw this on For Me, For You, how could I not spread the word? The most perfect solution to end our financial crisis awaits...

Wild West

I'm still having dreams of a weekend in West Texas; Marfa bound. Marfa is a small mountainous town edging the Mexican border and packed with urban culture. I'd pack for afternoons spent gallery hopping and chilly evening dance parties inside an old airplane hangar.

Color Like No Other

Thanks to Little Miss for inspiring me to hunt down this Making Of video for the Sony Bravia commercial. Beyond visually stimulating!

And Again...

Many of you have probably heard José Gonzalez's remake of Heartbeats on Sony's Bravia commercial. Surprisingly, this video contains no computer-generated imagery as 250,000 balls were bounced down Filbert and Leavenworth Streets in San Francisco—all in real time.

[via + More]

Repeat After Me

Each time The Knife's version of Heartbeats plays on my iPod, I make sure to repeat it again and again. The video's contrast of muted skaters to dark and primary birds also has me hitting repeat.

Mouth-Watering

This shiny luxe pot filler makes my mouth water.

[Urban Grace Interiors]

Off Camera

Ever wonder how many people it takes to capture one Sartorialist shot? Today my friend spied Scott Schuman [in the camel jacket] setting up shop outside her apartment window. We're both in awe of the exposed off camera crew.

Under Wraps

I wait all year for this event and come Thursday, it's on. The Container Store's Gift Wrap Wonderland is drawing near and I'm coming unglued in anticipation!

In Stitches

Based in Florence, Alabama, designer Natalie “Alabama” Chanin utilizes her degree in Environmental Design to create low-impact pieces through local production. Her company, Alabama Chanin, is known for its hand-stitched, limited edition products for both the individual and home.


Mixing new, organic and recycled materials, her jewelry effortlessly combines metal and fabric in a unique way. Molds for the cast-platinum pieces are formed from recycled cloth which leaves an intricate and textured surface. I'm especially drawn to the collection's substantial feel, as well as how the fabric is threaded and stitched in and out of weighty metal pieces. And all done by hand.

My Weekend Staple

Oh St-Germain, people are really going to think I'm a lush because of you.

Elderflower Sour

Pour 2 ounces gin, 2 ounces St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, 2 ounces lemon-mint syrup [recipe below], and a splash of club soda into an ice-filled glass; stir to combine. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the drink and top with fresh mint. Serves 1, but you'll most likely go back for seconds. Possibly thirds.

Lemon-Mint Syrup
Equally delicious as a sweetener for ice tea or cocktails.

In a small saucepan mix 1½ cups water, 1½ cups sugar, 4 sprigs fresh mint, the zest of one lemon, and the zested lemon cut into slices. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes. Strain syrup and keep refrigerated for up to 10 days.

Child's Play

While I don't have kids just yet, they aren't required for collecting original copies of Miroslav Sasek's children's books. Sasek is a well-known Czech artist, illustrator and author whose books are packed with punchy colors, imaginative illustration and mid-century charm. My favorites come from his This Is series, 18 books that serve as the most whimsical travel guides around. A few from this collection have been reissued, but nothing beats the real thing. Oh, how I would love a library full of Sasek's works!