Candlesticks

Were candle sticks ever just meant for table decor?  I found these in Boulder,Co this weekend and could not put them down.  They could be shined up a little but I think they look better with different shades of metal.  They are heavy and look beautiful with or with-out candles in them.

Boulder, Co find

 Mix and match vintage candlesticks in a white bathroom, bedroom or office to add splash of ambiance.   Check out these pictures from designer Emily Wheelers blog.

Via Emily Wheeler's blog

Via Emily Wheeler's blog

Via Louis XV French Style

Via LivingEtc

Light + Easy Autumn Salad

via House Beautiful

This recipe is from The Earthbound Cookbook.  I saw it on the news this morning and they did not give specific measurements but I will add it to the blog once I get the cookbook.  For now you'll just have to make it to your liking:)  I made it for dinner and it tasted so light and fresh!!!

*All of the ingredients should be chopped.

 Ingredients:
- Romain lettuce
- Cabbage
- 1 pear
- 1 apple
- Sliced toasted walnuts
- Mint

Dressing:
- Brown sugar
- Olive Oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salt

Iowa...is calling my name

One of my best friends and I ended up taking a much needed road trip from Vail to Chicago.  On the way we fell in love with IOWA!  Only random because that is where my dad is from and my whole life we dreaded going there and never appreciated the beauty.  Walnut, Iowa is a hidden gem for antique shopping!  Who wants to have a farm wedding!!!! 

via Country Living

DYI Infinity Scarf

 DYI - Revamp last years scarves for fall.  All you'll need is a scarf that has some sort of strings (tassels) at the end. 

Step 1: Fold the scarf in half.

Step 2: Line up the tassels and tie each one to the matching one on the other side.

Step 3: Vola! You have a new infinity scarf.  

It will change the way the scarf sits and will bring some old ones back to life. 

First day of fall

via Design, Decor Blog

I love this fall looking kitchen!  It inspired me to go take pictures of the beautiful trees here in Vail.  This tree is a great reminder that you don't have to be perfect to stand out...it is quite the opposite. 

 

Hardware - Place Card

I found these amazing keys in Nebraska.  They were already hung on this white piece of wood.  Immediately I thought of an escort card board for a vintage chic wedding.  Each guest gets to take home their own key.  I think there is something so romantic about a key...I am sure it is the saying "you hold the key to my heart"...

Nebraska find

Found this great picture on London's wedding planner, Helen Carter's website.  Looks like they had the same idea.

Helen Carter Weddings

Look!  You can use all different pieces of old hardware to hang your escort cards.  I found this great picture at Every Elegant Details blog.

Corn + Avocado Salad

Here is one of Claire's recipes.  It is definitely a crowd pleaser in the summer when corn is in season.  This is one you can totally eye ball. I used Frank's hot sauce but I Cholula is much better:)

Ingredients:

- 4 ears of corn (boiled & cut from the cob)
- 1 - 2 avocados
- Olive Oil (a splash)
- Hot Sauce (4 -5 dashes)
- Salt & pepper

countryliving.com

First lets find a table to start cooking at:)  This wonderful farm table with old refinished metal chairs is just perfect!  bon appetit.

 

  

Finished product!  Enough for a side dish for 4-5 adults.  Perfect with tacos or fajitas. 

LA Weekend

Thanks Claire for an amazing weekend! Lots of eating, bike riding, shopping and of course catching up! I took home a few great recipes that I will show you later this week. 

Perfect way to grow your herbs right in the kitchen!

 

 

I had to take a picture of this faucet from my favorite restaurant in Venice Beach.  If you are ever in LA you have to check out Gjelina.

 

Vintage Frames

OK.  Here is an idea.  These days you can get vintage frames of all sizes at consignment stores, flea markets or even a craft store.  They are usually pretty cheap because once they have made it that far they might not have glass or the backing.   The best part is...you don't even have to frame anything.

I found this picture  and a lot of other great ideas for decorating walls with empty frames at... www.tipjunkie.com. 

www.tipjunkie.com

They also work great as a room diviider or a backdrop.  I can picture tons of gold rigal frames hanging behind a head table of a wedding.  Or used as a room divider like they have done at Denver's restaurant Duo. 

www.duodenver.com/

Chopped Salad

www.marieclairemaison.com

What a perfect kitchen to make a salad in!  Today I made a chopped salad.  I got the idea for the recipe from Tal Ronnen's cookbook The Conscious Cook.  I blanched green beans and then chopped whatever vegetables I had in the house and then added our Purple Carrot Dressing(soon available to friends and family).

"[Radishes are] a good low-calorie snack, this root vegetable has less than 25 calories per cup and supplies potassium and impressive amounts of vitamin C". Quoted from UC Berkley's book Wellness Foods A-Z.

 Recently I have loved mixing carrots & beets together in a salad.  "Carrots provide fiber, potasium, iron, and vitamin B6 and specatucular amounts of beta carotene". UC Berkeley's book Wellness Foods A-Z.

 Enough health stats...you get the point.  Just chop vegitables that are fresh and full of color and your salad will sure to be delicious.  For this salad I used:

- 2 roasted beets

- 1 bag of pre-cut green beans (blanched)

- 3 carrots

- 1 egg

- 1 quarter onion

- 4 radishes

- handfull of greens (which I ended up taking out)

- Small scoop or goat cheese (now that we are using a healthy a dressing we can afford the cheese:))

- Purple Carrot Dressing...see below to get the first look:)

Isn't it pretty!!!!!  Who wants to try some??

Tea Time

W

Nebraska find

This would make a wonderful shower gift.  Tea set with invitations.  I found these retro invitations in Nebraska.  There are 20 in total...they have gold thermographing for the image and the envelopes are the most wonderful gold/yellow. 

Nebraska find

Or mix and match them on a shelf.  You can not go wrong with all white against a gray background. 

www.marieclairemaison.com

Fire Fly Ring

Thank you for visiting.  If I find enough unique treasures by winter (I live in Vail so I won't leave much once the snow comes)then I will open an esty store.

Here is the gold & turquoise ring I found in Iowa.  What a gem...I can't wait to keep searching for more!