Home shots - Strawberry Jam

Just a few quick shots of my latest batch of my home made Strawberry Jam.

     

Celebrating the 4th in style!

This is a guest post I did for my good friends over at Bae - a fab home decor boutique in SF. Visit their blog at Bae Home & Design


You don’t need to clear out your local Hobby Lobby of everything with a star or a stripe this month to give your home or 4th of July celebration a patriotic sparkle, you can show your pride this Independence Day in a less is more approach with style, sophistication, and a little bit of fun.

The opening of The Pledge of Allegiance in a bold modern graphic print is a great way to show some spirit.

via eighteen25 download art here.

What is more decadent than cheesecake? Individual jar servings make it special, strawberries and blueberries make it festive.

via The Tomkat Studio Recipe: My Baking Addiction
 

Show up to the cookout in this chic and pretty sweetheart dress.

Available at Anthropologie.

Bae's SkLo float vessels would look great anywhere in your home or party. Cluster a grouping of them around some candles to create a colorful glow. See more

 

This patriotic throw pillow is so cute you can use it year round.

 Via The Stir, available on Etsy.

You can also decorate with your own accessories. Group together any red, white, and blue items you already have around your home to get that patriotic feel.

Via The Examiner

Have a happy, stylish 4th of July!

Strawberry Jam

I hate buying food when I know I can make it better! And last month I found out that I can make strawberry jam.

I had some strawberries about to go bad, just 8 or 9 of them. They were already a bit to mushy for my taste so I didn't want to eat them, but I also didn't want to throw them away. So I decided to try making a jam... Yes, with only a few strawberries, and my first attempt on jams. I knew that it involved the fruit and sugar, wasn't sure about anything else. So without even measuring things I threw strawberries and sugar into a sauce pan and turned on the heat. I also added some lemon juice because, I think, I read somewhere (probably pinterest) about it. Then I run quickly to my computer and "googled" a recipe. It didn't say much more but it said to add balsamic vinegar. I'm all for balsamic vinegar so I followed the advise. Again, nothing was measured. I let the thing cook up to a point that seemed right (when you scratch the bottom of the pan and it goes "scretchhhh"). Poured the jam on a small bowl, covered it and stuck it in the fridge. And then.... completely ignored it for almost two weeks. 

At first I was afraid of trying it, and then just forgot about it. Then one wonderful day I was "browsing" the fridge, in search of something to put on my toasts with cottage cheese and I saw the little abandoned bowl. It seemed like it was time to try it. On my first bite I felt my world going upside down... It was SO MUCH better than any other jam I had ever tried. I didn't use to much sugar, and was sort of generous with the lemon and balsamic, so the jam was perfect for my taste, slightly acidic... oh I can't describe it, it was just absolutely delicious. 

Of course then I felt stupid for not having tried that before. And I made an oath to never again buy jams at the supermarket. 

Red Mailboxes

A woman is sitting on a bench at the city square. She   has a cigarette in one hand, an her cell phone in the other. She´s sending a text message. The mail boxes are red, with shame. 

Ready or not, Christmas is coming - some easy decorating ideas for those with little time or motivation to decorate for the holidays

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I love other people's Christmas and holiday decorations, but when it comes to putting up my own, I really drag my feet. I let the weeks pass by, and then it just seems too late to bother. If there are any other of you out there like me, here are a few simple decorating ideas, which are easy and quick enough that you won't need to procrastinate.

Love this photo.  See how just a red throw and a pillow gives it a holiday feel?
 (aside from the snow)
via Log Home

You can always just go with a tree.  Because there are no other holiday decorations around, the tree is all the more noticeable, and really takes center stage.

A red flower arrangement or poinsettia can make a big impact on your dining room table.  Keep the other table linens white to really make the red pop.

2 images above via Lonny Mag

Okay, so I know this adorable little shed is all decked-out, but I used it to impact the instant coziness that warm light gives off. Candle light and incandescent lighting from table lamps and sconces, not overhead lighting, give off a warm glow. I know that incandescent lights are not the most energy efficient option - so check out compact fluorescents (CFLs), which give off a light more similar to incandescents than traditional fluorescents, but still give you energy savings.

via Pinterest

Candle light makes the table festive, even without green garlands and red bows.
via Rue Magazine

Simple pops of red turn an everyday room into a holiday decorated room.  A throw, a table runner, a lampshade, or a throw pillow are all accents that can be swapped in on the holidays.

2 images above via Casa Diez

I thought this idea was cute and easy. Take some glass vessels with a wide opening - a large jar, a hurricane, a glass bowl, and fill them with a simple strand of lights (craft stores sell plain strings of lights super cheap), and cluster them together in an arrangement on the table, mantle, or a sideboard.

via Country Living

What do you do to decorate for Christmas or the holiday you celebrate?  Do you procrastinate or go all out once Thanksgiving has come and gone?

An amazing chic and liveable LA home makeover

This amazing makeover is the home of Lisa Ullmann, Executive Producer of The Ricky Gervais show.  What started as an Echo Park "diamond in the rough," turned into a multifaceted top-quality gem. The interior design is by LA firm Jonamor Decor

Here are some before/after pics to show you the amazing transformation...

entry before

Entry after -- so chic!

The overall goal was to create a comfortable and relaxing environment that would reflect Lisa's many interests and styles and be welcoming for guests. Having a passion for travel, Lisa wanted to incorporate elements of some of her favorite places around the world that she had visited, specifically Italy, France and India. She wanted her home to be unique, elegant but also “user friendly”.

My favorite transformation - the living room

gorgeous - the jewel tones are really fresh

The dining room

The red is a bit too loud for me personally, but the room is still really intriguing, I like the wallpaper and the Moroccan lanterns

The master bedroom transformation

Many of the central pieces to each room were vintage or purchased at discount prices. Older furniture was re-painted and re-upholstered (a used Crate and Barrel desk painted black, an ottoman from a flea market covered in a funky Indian orange fabric). Lisa not only appreciated vintage items for their price and unique appearance, but felt that buying used items was a “greener” approach. Of all the newly purchased furniture, only the couch, a chair and a bench were “new” items.


What do you think of this home makeover?