Inspiration Friday

It's Friday everyone! This weekend I'm going to my favorite little farm to get some fall pumpkins, my husband and I are (hopefully) finishing up a big diy project, and my sister and I are going to see Wicked. I couldn't possibly be feeling more excited or inspired than I am today. Here are some inspiring thoughts to get your weekend off on the right foot!

1. Craft Rooms



Every time I see pictures of great craft rooms, I simply can't help but feel inspired. It must be so easy to create in lovely colorful rooms like these. Sadly, my craft room is currently a spare bedroom with piles of ribbon and craft paper all over the floor, but I have high hopes that it will one day be as beautiful as these pretty spaces.

2. Polaroids



Three years ago when I was getting married, I searched high and low for a Polaroid camera and some film, and was SO sad to learn they had stopped making them. I'm super excited that in the last year or so, they have started coming back. They are so great, I'm really can't figure out any good reason they would have stopped making them in the first place. I love them so much, that a new Polaroid camera is at the very top of my Christmas list.

3. Plaid



I feel like plaid is seriously underrated as a pattern, and it's never truly been given it's due. Does anything really say "I'm about to have a super adventurous and yet totally relaxed day," like a good plaid shirt? I think not.

4. Bottles



I can't explain exactly why, but I have always really loved bottles, especially old ones. I just think all the different shapes and colors they come in are so lovely. I've always liked the idea that something utilitarian can also be a thing of beauty, and I think that's partially what draws me to them.

5. Sheet Music



Yep, I'm ahuge dork. I LOVE sheet music. Part of the reason I love it is because of what it can create when it's brought to life, and because it brings back fond memories of goofing off in high school band class. But mostly I just think its pretty.

-alison

Closet "Junkie"

Many of you may not know this about me, but I'm secretly kind of osbessed with old junk. Yes, it's true. Garages full of old stuff totally excite me, and American Pickers is pretty much my favorite show ever. I even like to photograph old junk so I can have it up on my walls:) So, imagine my excitement when I learned that every year in Minnesota, only a few hours drive away, is an event that serves as Mecca for junk lovers everywhere- The Junk Bonanza. Sadly, I've already missed it this year (it takes place mid-September), but I've already marked my calendar for next year, and I couldn't be more excited. Just look at some of the amazingness that can be found here.









Can't wait until next September? Well then maybe you could check out the Winter Edition of the Renegade Craft Fair, which is held in several different cities around the country (the closest to me is Chicago- anybody up for a road trip?). Although not quite the same idea as the Junk Bonanza, there should be enough cute and creative offerings there to hold you over until September rolls around.






So seriously people. Road trip?

-alison

[photos: junk bonanza; renegade craft fair]

Troubadour + Giveaway Winner!

The first order of business today is to announce the winner of our September giveaway- a pair of journals from John Derian's Target collection....and the winner is.....Dee from Our Little Love Nest(one of my fav blogs- you should definitely check it out!). Congrats Dee! Everyone else- be on the lookout for our October giveaway. It will be coming soon, and I think it's going to be our best one yet!

And now for something completely different....

I've added another clothing company to the long list of things I love but cannot afford- Troubadour. I love them because their pieces are mostly black and white (which if you know me- thats what I wear 80% of the time), and they are soft, lovely, and girlie without being covered in frills. Theirs is an understated elegance. My favorite is the Bank Trench- it strikes the perfect balance between modern and classic.



Bank Trench


Felix Top


Lowell Coat


Poe Skirt


Cooper Dress


Sans Souci Dress

-alison

[photos: troubadour]

Harry Potter Gear

November 19th is not far away! I've loved this Etsy shop for a few years now, the journals are so cool. I've kept it a secret from my sister because I've always intended to buy some of these for her as gifts. But I feel that everyone should know about this shop, even though Al will probably order some for herself and I'll have to come up with new gift ideas.

Because of my sincere love of all things Harry Potter, I set out to find some more Harry Potter gear on Etsy. Sadly there was a lot more tacky than cool, but here are a few things I found.

source

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Maybe this one falls into the tacky category, but I don't care.

source

-Ana

What's Old Is New Again

I've always been a fan of Viva Terra's unique line of furniture and accessories, but I feel that they have really outdone themselves with their latest collection of goods. They have always used reclaimed and recycled materials in their construction, but they've now expanded their use of materials to include coffee sacks, Indian quilts, and my personal favorite- circus tents. I love to see old things given new life in such a beautiful way.








-alison

[photos: viva terra]

The Cookie Project- Volume 3

After last week's disappointment, I was eager to try a cookie that I knew would be pretty much fail safe. So, I decided to go for Martha's Raspberry Pastries, even though I was somewhat doubtful that these sweet flaky creations could actually qualify as cookies. They are really more of a bar, or to be even more accurate, some sort of breakfast cake. However, since this is my blog and I get to make the decisions here, for the sake of this post I decided to declare them cookies and press on.
I've now come to the conclusion that these are possibly the best pseudo "cookies" ever. Why, you may ask? Well, there are three main reasons. First, they are super easy- requiring only three ingredients. Second, they take less than a half hour to make, from beginning to end. Third, Virtually everyone will like them.
So, without further ado, the recipe:

Raspberry Pastries

Ingredients
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, (8 1/2 ounces), thawed, cut into 5 equal strips
3 tablespoons raspberry jam
4 tablespoons sugar

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unfold puff pastry onto a cutting board; cut crosswise into 5 equal strips.

2.Spread 4 strips with raspberry jam, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Stack coated strips; top with remaining strip. Freeze until firm, 10 to 15 minutes.

3.Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. With a serrated knife slice stack crosswise 1/4-inch-thick placing slices on baking sheets as you work, 4 inches apart. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.

4.Bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.



Seriously. That's it. That's all she wrote. I wasn't kidding when I said these were the easiest cookies ever. In fact, they were so easy, I don't even have any tips or tricks to suggest. They are just that simple, and that good. They are the perfect thing to whip up for a morning brunch, or a light summer dessert (with whipped cream or ice cream- yum!).



There is however one thing I would like to point out in the broader scheme of this Martha Stewart cookie making experiment- I'm fairly certain that whoever decides how many servings these recipes make is absolutely nuts. In the three recipes I've tried so far, I've never gotten more than half the quantity it sates on the recipe. Maybe it's just due to the fact that I'm a girl who enjoys a generously sized cookie, I'm not sure. Anyway, if you decide to give any of these recipes a try, I would you to ignore that particular part of the directions, as I've decided it's nearly always completely and utterly inaccurate.

Happy baking!

-alison

[recipe: martha stewart]