Aspirations of a Southern Housewife

Taking a Hiatus

2010-06-12T10:33:00.002-04:00

This Southern Housewife is taking a bit of a break (obviously). I have lost some perspective about what's really important in my life and need to take some time to evaluate.

Hugs,
Emmie

Digging in the Dirt: Contributing to Earth Day

2010-04-28T07:20:00.005-04:00

Better later than never, I bring you my Earth Day contributions- or rather, my focus on sustainability. I have made a concerted effort to reduce the number of "bad things" I have or contribute to our Mother Earth.

This summer, it started with our chairs. Our cushions were beyond repair- and while thick- not the nicest quality. Mr. Southern and I had several discussions- he wanted to just buy a whole new set. I argued that no one would want the chairs without cushions and I couldn't see sending them to a landfill just because of cushions. Even though new cushions were nearly as expensive as a whole new set.

Several test runs of cushions later, we found these fabulous Sunbrella ones from Home Decorators Collection (if you, like me, had turned your nose up at HDC in the past, you should check them out again. I was surprised- ok, shocked- to recognize several of their decorative accents. And very reasonably priced!!).

Back to the chairs. Clearly, we were test driving the look, as the plastic wrap is still on the second chair. And if I were totally Earth Friendly, I'm sure the cushions would be made of hemp or something, but I'm trying! I will say that Sunbrella is worth the extra cost. The water beads up nicely, I can brush off the pollen, and the color gives the porch a nice punch.

Phase two of the project will be sanding and repainting the chairs.

In the garden (aka yard), I prefer Organic solutions to the bevy of chemicals. To be honest, this started because of Tilghman, our dog who likes to eat weeds. Not grass- just the weeds. So it makes treating the backyard quite challenging. (Unfortunately, he also likes the organic fertilizers- so I'm fertilizing, watering, and keeping him out of the yard).

As any gardener will tell you, the easiest way to cut down on chemicals is to buy low-maintenance plants. I've learned this the hard way and am now brutal about my selection. Usually this comes about by buying a sampling of plants, killing half of them, and buying more of the ones that managed to stay alive. While I adore roses, I'm sticking with the Knock-Out variety, until I improve my green thumb. Here are my knock out roses I planted last year.

The first is the Sunny Knock-Out, planted late in the season.I was a little worried they would "take" but looking great! And the rose has a lovely scent. So far, totally disease-free!

Here's the double-knock outs in pink- they are now a profusion of blooms- but this is what it looked like last week. We also have some residual daylillies underneath that probably need to be moved and some creeping phlox (light blue flowers), which I adore. Makes a great groundcover under the roses. It's probably getting a bit out of control though and the roses could use a trim?

To the right of the roses is our mammoth holly bush cluster. We, and the previous owners, have had landscape plans done in the backyard, and both teams said to eliminate the hollies. Yes, they require trimming (and are well past the contained stage) but other than that, they require no work. Lovely scented flowers at the start of Spring, no black spot, no fungus, impervious to insects and Tilghman's marking... what more can you ask for? I can handle a little trimming.Certainly better than the grass, which I keep trying to convince Mr. Southern to let me get rid of.

Total change of topic... I was in Puerto Rico again this past week- which contriburted to my slacker posting/commenting- so I thought I'd share with you the beautiful view from my room (the rest of the trip, I was in the convention center... not such a pretty view!).

Very cool fort of some sort on the property, that I think would make for fabulous photos...

The Condado section of San Juan, and the Conrad where we stayed the last trip.
And my attempt at artsy photography. I love the ocean in the morning.

Hope y'all have a fabulous week!! Looking forward to catching up.

-Emmie

Relaxing in Shade

2010-04-21T07:35:00.004-04:00

I just received my green and white striped shirt from this-- Caitlin Creer Interiors: Giveaway from Shade Clothing and had to share.

You'll note I clearly love the shirt based on the hanger I gave it.

One of the best parts? It's just $21.50. The shirt is 48% polyester, 48% viscose, and 4% spandex, which gives it a nice fit. It is a bit form-fitting, so just an FYI (or TMI) to those with more than their fair share of "girls." I got a Medium but may try a Large in the next shirt I buy. It worked fabulously under my khaki jacket yesterday!

Great details, like a wider "cuff" at the end of the 3/4 sleeve.

And no tag- THANK YOU!
You can also see the great finish of the hems here.

This is the perfect shirt to celebrate Spring, which I see everywhere! Makes me so happy. I had to stop and take pictures of these cherry trees at my library....

Have a beautiful week!

Emmie

Designers' "Split Personalities"

2010-04-14T09:36:00.005-04:00

As I've gotten older- or gotten to know myself better- I've realized that in my personal interior design, I need muted colors-- a sense of calm, and a nod toward minimalism (ok, scratch minimalism, let's say streamlined). While I love lots of bold colors and energizing spaces, I am too much of a stress case to live in an environment like that. But that doesn't stop me from loving those spaces.

Perhaps because of this dilemma, I imagine it must be great fun as a designer to express or illustrate so many different sides or styles of design. Sure, there's something oddly reassuring about a so-called trademark style. For example, there are some rooms that scream, "yes, that is a Miles Redd room." (though a glance through his portfolio may challenge some of our notions). Phoebe Howard rooms are very Phoebe to me- and I'm not sure I'd want it any other way (I LOVE Phoebe).

But here are a few examples of what I'm calling "Designer Split Personality" and in no way am I trying to be disrespectful. Admittedly, this is less about true styles or types, like midcentury modern, traditional, or my least-favorite term, transitional, but rather about the feel of a room.

First example- Sarah Richardson Design. I admit I had my own ideas of what I thought constituted Sarah Richardson Design. On the edge of rustic, a country European feel.

But then I saw these rooms. Did anyone else stop to take a second look, at these?

Amanda Nisbet also provides a lot of variety. Yes, lots of color pops in her room with fun and funky...

But she does elegant glamor just as well...

I also have very definitive ideas about Jamie Drake's designs. COLOR and very hip.

But check out these more muted rooms... the first illustrating a definite shift in style.

Ruthie Sommers portfolio is all over the board (pardon the pun) with some spaces I adore, and others are just not my favorite.

She has dark bold rooms with a "global" feel...

to streamlined updated traditional..

And Romantic "country" or European style.

Michael S. Smith differentiates among Beach House, Town Home, and High Rise, which give hints at different styles.

The City...

And The Country

So what do you think? Do you "buy" my theory of different personalities being represented? Can you see consistent themes of each designer throughout their work? Who else would you add to the list?

-Emmie

for Friendship

2010-04-13T07:16:00.003-04:00

Signs of My Life

I'm running quite late this morning as I stayed way past my bedtime- on a school night- meeting up with my college roommate. We hadn't seen each other in 11 years but it was just like old times. It's funny how (ideally), spending your first chunk of time away from home, and realizing you're not the smarty-pants you thought you were, with another person from whom you are quite different, can create lasting bonds. J transferred from our college after the first semester, but I treasured our times together.

In celebration of friendship, here are a few pieces of art on the topic. Isn't it amazing the diversity and availability of art?

Keith Mallett

Heidi Malott

Loren Grey via Art Post Gallery

Go call up an old friend!

-Emmie

When the Cat's Away...

2010-04-09T08:51:00.004-04:00

Mr. Southern is out of town for work. While this used to happen far more often, his trips have decreased (while mine, on the other hand, have definitely picked up!). While of course I miss him, it is admittedly nice to have a moment of solitaire (if you can call hanging out out with four dogs solitaire).

Of course, me in the house unchaperoned with several projects on the agenda is asking for trouble. You see, Mr. Southern is an Engineer. Born into a family of engineers. This means that he does not "measure twice, cut once." This means that he measures three times, walks away from a project in case the measurements change, comes back, measures three or four more times, studies intently, and then cuts. I, on the other hand, am more of an instant-gratification kind of girl, preferring to measure once, and then cut about 50 times to get it right. This applies to just about everything- determining where to plant something, where to hang a picture, hang curtain rods, paint, etc. Clearly his way is better, but it seems to take much longer.

Without Mr. Southern's precision, I was free to hang my recent purchases from One Kings Lane. I managed to score two of the Anemone botanical prints a few weeks ago after debating with myself whether I needed them or not. I was looking for two square pieces of art and these were a veritable bargain! And it had been a while since I purchased from the gals at OKL.

I actually cut out squares from wrapping paper and hung them on the wall so I could determine exactly (read: pretty much) where I wanted them. I am sort-of breaking the art rules, I guess, as neither is really at eye level. Hmm. Here they look a little close together.

Unfortunately, I stink at cutting in a straight line so I couldn't show you the white squares on the wall. But here they are hung.

Hopefully, this gives you some perspective of the scale. I think it looks OK, what do you think? I could probably add a little more space (there is an inch between the two now) but given that this corner typically houses a dog bed, I didn't want to hang the bottom frame too low.

At least Mr. Southern will be home tonight to fix anything amiss. On the bright side, I only ended up with three nail holes for two pictures- that is pretty good!

And, please pardon my sappiness, but another example of my "opportunities" is my inability to make coffee properly any more, since Mr. Southern kindly makes it for me every morning. In my last attempt, I didn't put the filter in properly and we had coffee all over the counter.

So this is what I found when I awoke this morning.

Awww... isn't he sweet! (and for the record, while I am taking a vacation day today, I was up before 8:42AM, I just didn't photograph it right away!!)

Have a fun weekend!

-Emmie

Lovely Lemons- Baking Traditional Home's Cake and Gardening

2010-04-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've done a cooking post, probably because I've not done much cooking of late! Over the weekend though, I used our cul-de-sac Easter Egg Hunt party as the perfect excuse to try out the Lemmon Poppy Seed Coconut cake featured in this month's Traditional Home Magazine. Truth be told, the recipe did not actually appear in the magazine and readers "lit up" TH's Facebook page. (I wonder if that means Traditional Home will no longer feature fabulous food photos or if they'll start offering recipes? Design and good food seem to go along so well together. Remember Met Home's fabulous recipes?)

It's a slightly complicated, yet not terribly difficult recipe. And the results are worth it. Here it is, interspersed with my pictures.

Lemon Poppy-Seed Layer Cake

Prepare Lemon Curd filling the day before you bake the cake. Chill overnight.

Note: Forgot to make ahead of time. Put in fridge for the initial stage of cooling and then the freezer for a bit. Worked fine.

Lemon Curd (see recipe)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1-3/4 cups sugar

3 tablespoons finely shredded lemon peel (from 3 large lemons)

4 large eggs

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon extract

3 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

Coconut Buttercream Frosting (see recipe)

4 cups natural raw chip coconut (about 5 to 6 ounces), toasted*

Note: I used regular bagged coconut and it was fine!

Fresh strawberries

Prepare Lemon Curd. Cover; chill at least 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two (9x1-1/2 inch) round baking pans. Set aside. In very large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar, and lemon peel on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon juice and lemon extract. (Mixture may look curdled.)
Note: it looked very curdled. Not to worry!

In another large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Fold in poppy seeds.

Yummy!

Divide cake batter evenly between prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; cool completely. When cakes are cool, trim tops of cakes if necessary to make them flat. Split cakes in half horizontally to create four cake rounds.

Note: Mr. Southern did a fabulous job. I am miserable at cutting in a straight line, be it a cake or wrapping paper.

To assemble, place one cake round on cake plate. Spread with 1 scant cup Lemon Curd. Top curd with another cake round and another scant cup of curd. Repeat with third cake round and the remaining curd. Top curd with last cake round.

Note: Use more than a "scant" on your first layer or you'll have lemon curd left over. Better yet, divide it into thirds so you know how much to use! I added a bit of the frosting in the middle layer as well.

Frost top and sides of cake with Coconut Buttercream Frosting. Sprinkle toasted coconut on top of cake and press into sides of cake. Serve immediately with fresh strawberries, or store cake in refrigerator.

Let chilled cake stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

So while my cake is not quite as beautifully styled as the one featured in the magazine, it looked pretty good! (I think).

Lemon Curd:
In large saucepan stir together 1-1/3 cups sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Stir in 1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel, 3/4 cup lemon juice, and 1/2 cup water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

In large bowl lightly beat 7 egg yolks. Slowly stir about half of hot lemon juice mixture into eggs. Return lemon-egg mixture to saucepan. Cook, stirring continuously over medium heat until mixture comes to gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until melted and well combined. Cover surface of curd with waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill curd at least 8 hours or until firm. Makes a scant 3 cups lemon curd.

Coconut Butter Cream Frosting:
In large mixing bowl beat 1 cup softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat in 3 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon coconut extract. Gradually beat in 4 cups additional powdered sugar until smooth, with spreading consistency. If necessary, beat in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make spreading possible. Makes about 3-1/4 cups frosting.

*To toast coconut: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread coconut in shallow baking pan. Heat about 5 minutes or until coconut is fragrant and just barely toasted, stirring once. Cool completely.

For the Gardening portion.... let's take a look at my Improved Meyer Lemon tree, which we just moved outdoors. Ahhh, beautiful flowers (and they smell fabulous!)

Unfortunately, you can see that the leaves aren't as healthy as I'd like...

I believe we have an infestation of spider mites(??). So off to get Horticultural Oil and get rid of those nasty buggers. Oh how I long for a green thumb.

Oooh and I almost forgot- our little Easter Bunny! We have a big adoption weekend coming up, so I'm training her to look as cute as possible.

Have a Happy Week!

Emmie

Spanish 101 and Recalling Peru

2010-04-05T07:27:00.006-04:00

Friends, I have misplaced my camera cord so I cannot do my weekend review post as planned! Oops. So instead, some other goodies.

Tonight Mrs. Southern Aspirations heads back to school. I'm enrolled in Accelerated Spanish 101, in an effort to shed myself of my self-titled "Ugly American" status. Please don't get me wrong... when I travel to other countries I do behave myself and try not to be overly touristy.

However, I have not achieved my personal goal of being fluent in a language other than English. (For those readers who also are fluent in one language, I don't mean to sound judgmental of you! This is just my goal!!). You see, my sister is bilingual and teaches bilingual children. My mother taught High School Spanish and is very proficient in conversational Spanish. I, despite four years of Spanish and two years of French, am proficient in English. I have bought some CDs as well, but figure the classroom experience will be good for me.

On to Peru. I had the great opportunity to visit Peru with two of my dearest friends a few years ago and it was an amazing experience. We went from Lima...

the city was so beautiful in many parts and I can't believe I didn't take more photos! My favorite was my morning run with Jillie along the Pacific Ocean...

to Cuzco....

Santo Domingo Convent Monastery- quite simply gorgeous.

Pisaq Market for a little shopping

Ollantaytambo, the only Incan village where folks still live in the ancient buildings

our super-cute hotel, Sol y Luna

to the Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu...

Because of the elevation, it apparently is cloudy/foggy most mornings. However, still absolutely incredible views. This can be my inspiration for terracing the little hill in the backyard! (kidding, of course).
and then down to Puno.

We did a little hiking- and it was quite cold in parts!

Lake Titicaca

So yes, the trip was a bit touristy, but it was great to learn the history of the beautiful country while seeing it. Additionally, we used Latin Discover tours (we're not the group tour types) and were very pleased. Whenever we felt lost or confused, it's amazing how someone from Latin Discover would appear and call for us. Even when we didn't realize we should have gotten off the train.

cute little alpacas in Puno

By my next trip, I hope to be a bit more conversant in Spanish!

Have a great week!

Emmie

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T07:12:00.002-04:00

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. (Matthew 28:6a)

Go share the good news!

Bunny Love and Happy Birthday Tilghman

2010-04-01T22:32:00.011-04:00

This is probably a little bit out there, but with the upcoming Easter holiday and all the bunnies around, I thought I'd introduce you to Leaping Bunny.

The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) is comprised of numerous organizations across the globe to help consumers make more informed decisions when purchasing household products, like cosmetics. The whole "cruelty free" piece can be rather misleading. Does a company use someone else to "do their dirty work" or are they committed to truly being cruelty free?

The CCIC has the most comprehensive pledge I've seen and their website has opened the door for me to all kinds of great products, be it great skincare lines, makeup, or cleaning products. Another bonus? Most of these are environmentally friendly in other ways, making use of natural materials and minimizing their carbon footprint.

Some examples? (click on the logos to go directly to their website)

The Good Home Co.

Click HERE for a complete shopping guide. No lecture or horror stories -- just please don't be a Kelly (yes, that's a Real Housewives of NYC reference) and blindly believe that human consumption and animal suffering are always mutually exclusive.

And I would be remiss if I did not wish a Happy Birthday to my baby boy, Tilghman (aka Tillie). Apologies for the terrible camera phone picture, but it so perfectly captures him and his naughtiness. Tilghman turns 6 today and we are blessed to have had him join our family nearly 4 years ago.

Yes, that is a toilet paper roll he stole from the downstair's bath trashbin. Oh but he's a cutie.

-Emmie

Ballard Designs Backroom Bonanza

2010-03-30T22:09:00.012-04:00

via Ballard Design's Facebook Page

Claire and I were discussing fabric options for the banquette at my dining room table and she casually suggested I check out Ballard Design's Backroom location to see some of the fabric in real life. Little did she know (OK, she probably knew) that a visit would solve all of my dilemmas.

Upon my visit, I immediately checked in with the salesperson to see if I could take photos. Alas, no, as a previous blogger apparently took photos then posted a negative review AND showed locations of all the hidden security cameras. So, my personal before and afters will have to suffice. But the showroom near downtown Atlanta is fabulous. I ran up to check the one is Roswell too and just didn't like it nearly as well.

On to the good stuff- my salesfriend helpfully informed me that they had four upholstered Parsons chairs available and on sale- at the greatly reduced retail of $94 each (sorry, I'm just so excited!). I snatched them up and picked up 2 natural linen slips (Joni, you've convinced me). I would have bought 4 slips, but alas they could only find two. Off to the website to order the other two. And yes, they need more ironing and straightening (sorry! I'm also packing for a trip. But I'm cringing at how wrinkled that one chair is!).

But wait! There's more! Ballards also had the black check Coventry bench. While we were not really considering the black and white check, the discounted $186 option prompted a quick change of heart. An immediate/panic email to Claire and some quick verification measurements at home, and the bench was mine.
I added the square linen-covered pillow to help pull the slipcovers and bench together. Claire suggested adding some black ribbon along the bottom of the chairs as well, which I think would work nicely. Additionally, we still need to strip the wallpaper and swap out the chandelier. But progress!

A quick review of the before:

And after!

And Kaylee was dying to be included in the photos, so I had to post this shot of her. She's still available for adoption!!

Clearly Mr. Southern and I do not use the breakfast nook very often. I'm embarrassed to say that most dinners are consumed while we're sitting on the couch (I know! What are we, 19!?) When we're entertaining, we eat in the dining room. So my hope is that these comfy chairs will encourage us to act our age and actually eat at the table.

Also, I must apologize for the science project on the table but we're starting our veggies (tomatoes, sweet peppers, yellow and green squash, and cilantro). Yum!

Best,
Emmie

It's a Brand New Day!

2010-03-29T07:34:00.008-04:00

Great quote: Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Good morning! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Mr. Southern and I got a bit of gardening accomplished- mostly weeding, admittedly, but rather cathartic! Madison, our youngest furbaby, tossed up Daddy's sock that she apparently had eaten last week when Mommy was out of town. Of course, we thought the culprit was Tilghman! (sorry, that is probably TMI). Needless to say, she is feeling much better and is now getting along fine with foster dog Kaylee.

Speaking of dogs, last week we attended a fundraiser for the Atlanta Humane Society, hosted by the fine folks at Sweetwater Brewing. We got to meet Lemonhead, an incredibly sweet Staffordshire Terrier rescued from a dog-fighting ring in Atlanta. After socializing (and after I-nicely- finished grilling of one of the directors), we had a tour of the facility.
Friday night, Habersham hosted another Garden Party with a few tasty snacks and wine. Few things better than sipping wine in the garden.
It's no secret that I would replace all of the grass in our backyard with gardens and pathways if Mr. Southern would allow me and Habersham is just the place for inspiration (I also posted about them last Fall).

Honestly, not to knock anyway, but how many garden centers have staging like this?

Not to mention their fabulous indoor spaces, a respite from the chilling temps, featuring items that look equally great indoors as out.

Love this little guy...This little house was too expensive for my taste (well over $200!) but oh so cute.

This little bunny would be a welcome visitor in any garden... and just in time for Easter.

LOVE the look of these edibles.

And as we did last fall, we finished up at Alfredo's, a great old-school Italian place.

Have a fabulous week!!

Upping the Girly Factor~pretty pink

2010-03-25T07:00:00.008-04:00

Phoebe Howard

It's been a little chaotic in our house the past few days. Mr. Southern is working working working. I'm recovering/catching up from all my traveling (with another sinus infection). And our dear foster dog and youngest resident dog are on the outs with each right now. Life, of course, is still very good but all the bits of stress make me want a little pretty. The fastest way to pretty, to my mind, is Pink! Not sick-to-your-stomach Pepto Bismal pink. Pale, lovely, dreamy pink.

The reality is that I'll probably never to a pink room (unless one day we have a little girl) so here are some take-me-away pretty pinks.

Pink can be "grounded" with a healthy dose of brown or black, like this living room. While the walls (and it appears, ceilings) are done in pink, the dark brown of the chairs, sofa and light brown of the carpet serve to balance the girly factor.

House Beautiful via Lolina

Suzanne Kasler seems to use a lot of pink, ranging from bright bright to more muted tones. Here, we see more chocolate browns, with the sofa and trimming on the draperies, and a pale- almost beige- pink. I adore this room and would love to see it from another angle!

via Odi et Amo

Another Kasler- I couldn't do just one! In this room, a taupe offsets the pop of pink accents. The sconces and side tables really give the space some glam.

via Odi et Amo

Similarly, the taupe/greenish wall color perfectly sets the stage for very sophisticated twin beds.

Legacy Home

This space really ups the glam factor with these fabulous drapes, Louis XV armchairs and frou-frou throw rug.

This is Glamorous

Love the bedcrown over this bed, in a deeper shade of pink than the wall, and the crystal chandelier. And is that houndstooth I spy!?

Phillip Gorrivan via Villa Anna

Here are more unabashedly girly and glam, but still quite "liveable." Pale, pale pink, lots of white wood (furniture and floors), and fabulous natural light. And would you not LOVE to have that fireplace and tub in your bath?!

both images Elle Decor via Moodboard

Brightened up with white accessories and pop of green.

House to Home

Can't forget Martha, who seems to feature lots of pink, either in others' rooms...

Martha Stewart Living via Contented Me

or her own home (or guest home).

Farrow and Ball's Middleton Pink, via Patricia Gray

More Martha, via Southern Chateau

Perhaps just a touch of pink? This room has several pink pieces (sofa, lampshades, and perhaps the duvet?) but is still decidedly pretty.

House Beautiful via CTC Design

A great source for a pink lampshade-- I adore the green ribbon.

Belle Cottage

And, with Spring here, cannot forget the option of pink flowers (faux or real).

Diane James Pink Peonies, Gracious Home

Hope y'all have a lovely day!

-Emmie

To Market To Market

2010-03-24T10:00:00.002-04:00

Mr. Southern and I went to Market over the weekend to meet with a potential vendor. Afterward, we tooled around AmericasMart, popping into shops that really, we really had no business in visiting. As I've mentioned, both Mr. Southern and I are in some way involved in retail and can gain access to AmericasMart. Which is sort of a blessing and a curse- while I love my job, I, probably like many others not in the design world, feel a twitch of envy when I see all the great products for which I could envision the perfect home. But alas, none fit into my "job role" (which is food, if you're wondering).

One of my favorite predominately wholesale companies I've realized, is Two's Company. This will sound like an advertisement for them but I am in no way compensated for my love. :-) The diversity of the products is what gets me.

Need to add some polish to the bath? May I suggest:

Carrington set of vanity jars, Chatelet Perfume Tray, Timeless Crystals and Pearls Box, Charlotte Antiqued Victorian Hand Mirror (all available at Organize.com and numerous other sources).

Entertaining? Here are some great "must-haves."

Va Bene Murano Glass Butter Knives, Be Seated Bud Vase/Place Card Holders, Victoria Ribbon Cake Stand Set.

Dying for a seaside home and need some seashore accents to get you through?

Large shell on glass stand, Blue Coral Sculpture, Triton Sea Shell Mosaic

And let's not forget the furniture.

Cote d'Azur bench (I need for my bathroom vanity!), Golden Bamboo Butler Table, Golden Bamboo 5-shelf Stackable tower (would this work for housing my china, Claire?), and Haute Couture Dress and Jewelry Rack (OK, probably not furniture, but how cool is this!!??)

And I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that they are the ones behind these fabulous prints.

What I also learned though, is that Two's Company makes these fabulous enamel bracelets (just saw the nautical series at their showroom-- does anyone carry them? I'd love to get one for my MIL) and cute glass rings, which I actually picked up in Puerto Rico for myself and my "girls."

The company was founded more than 40 years ago by Bob and Bobbie Gottlieb. Bobbie and son Tom are the current "two," keeping Two's Company a family-owned venture. If you're in the New-York area, I believe they have sample sales open to the public near the Elmsford HQ. Has anyone been?

-Emmie

Fruits & Vegetables and Health Care

2010-03-21T21:44:00.006-04:00

Linda Paul

Mr. Southern and I are watching C-SPAN for the coverage on the Health Care bills- one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) political topics in the United States right now. While I'm not about to jump into the middle of the debate with my lovely readers, I wanted to share a fascinating program I discovered last Fall at one of my Produce conventions (attended for work).

Image via Daily Dose of Imagery

The program? Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). In short, the program uses funding to disseminate research results from the Department of Agriculture and to help low-income families and individuals learn how to purchase and prepare healthy dishes. EFNEP is available in all 50 states and 6 US territories.

via Boggy Creek Farm

What I find amazing is the great cost:benefit ratio this program has, when looking at the cost of the program versus and the benefit of reduced health care costs. In California, for example, $1 invested in nutrition education yielded between $3.67 and $8.34 in health care savings (research by Amy Block Joy, George Goldman, and Vijay Pradhan). See Research Studies of the EFNEP.

via UMassVegetable.org

95% of adults reached through the program reported improved diet, including the equivalent of one additional cup of fruits and vegetables. To learn more about the program, visit here.

While there were significant improvements in the consumption of fruits and veggies, most adults in the study remained below recommended levels. I would bet that many of our fruit and veggie intakes are below the recommended levels... and I'd also guess that it is not due to lack of access or economic hardship.

via Chloe'sBlog

Honestly, I have to stop and say, what the hell am I doing!? Yes, I'm still going to enjoy a few bad-for-me things (for example, I LOVE the improved chocolate:peanut butter ratio in the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs--> less chocolate, more peanut butter). But I must do a better job of planning out meails to ensure that I enjoy more fresh produce. Because it's yummy and good for me! (Remember, in the study mentioned above, $1 spent in eductation about food yielded a roughly $4-$8 reduction in health care costs. I know what I need to eat.... what would happen if I actually did it all the time!?)

And because I care about y'all, I'd like to encourage you to up the number of fresh fruits and veggies you eat as well. Not because I'm so good at it, or on a soap box... just because it's good for you!

via Lost Forest After Dark

Have a great start to the week!

Emmie

The Twin Cities: Two Much of a Good Thing

2010-03-16T21:03:00.003-04:00

So I mentioned I"m up in the Great White North as I jokingly call this place. I'm up in Minneapolis, Minnesota- a city I moved to after I graduated grad school. While I'm thrilled to be out of the cold (mostly) and back South, I have very fond memories of this place. First of all, it represented my first big move by myself and some sense of my claim for independence. (Of course, I then left my city and my job to move to Atlanta for Mr. Southern, so there goes my whole Independent Woman schpiel. But, I did make the choice and am happy I did.)

For those who have never ventured to Minneapolis or St. Paul, you may be recalling movies like Fargo (which was actually filmed, in part, in Minneapolis). Or perhaps Grumpy Old Men. While there's a nugget of truth in these films, the reality is a much more diverse- and engaging- cultured town. With so many large companies based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, the Twin Cities are rather cosmopolitan. Great dining, great art (including theatre), and great shopping.

For example, when you think outdoor sculpture, do you envision the Spoon Bridge and Cherry? That's here in Minneapolis.

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen at the Walker Art Museum (a fabulous museum, by the way).

Tonight, I took my team to the first Coal Fired Pizza joint in Minneapolis- Black Sheep Pizza- and got to walk through my old stomping grounds, The Warehouse District (aka North Loop). I, in fact, lived on the third floor of the building of The Black Sheep (side note: so glad they were not there when I lived in the building, or I would have gained 20 pounds, easily.)

With the cities' Midwest "sensibilties" you might be quick to assume much of the Design in this area is bungalow or craftsman style. And there is a good bit of that around town (and I LOVE it! Especially when envisioning a warm and cozy home in the cold cold winter. )

Bungalow Club

Minneapolis Real Estate

But there are some very sleek loft spaces here too. For example, Andrew Flesher's Minneapolis loft, featured in Loft Living and Apartment Therapy.

Others, like these:

They also have some "crazy" Modern updates too, similar to what we see in Atlanta (and I do not mean this in a pejorative way at all).

Midwest Home

So I can't say "Twin Cities" and omit St. Paul, though I don't know St. Paul as well. What I can tell you is that I would ADORE a house on Summit Avenue, reportedly a site of refuge for some of the Chicago gangsters of the early 1900s. Regardless, let's take a look.... (photos from real estate listings).

295 Summit

266 Summit

476 Summit

251 Summit

807 Summit

955 Summit

For more great homes, and the source of the photos from Jennifer Kirby, please visit Minneapolis- St. Paul Luxury Real Estate.

And I have to give a shout-out to my relatives, though we've sadly lost touch over the years- at The Grethen House- (visit their blog here) THE source for cutting edge, quality fashion. The company was started by my Grandmother's sister, Greta, and is run by my grandmother's niece (Greta's daughter). HUGE honor.

And lastly, a personal note. I mentioned leaving my job and heading South for Mr. Southern. I know that once one gets married, all the other little anniversaries fall by the wayside, but I had to mention that two years ago tonight, Mr. Southern asked me to marry him (after he asked for the blessing of my mom and stepdad, as well as daddy and stepmom). I love him so much and am so thankful he's a part of my life. I miss you sweetie and can't wait to see you Thursday! :-)

-Emmie

Vieux San Juan

2010-03-14T18:35:00.007-04:00

Puerto Rico was a fascinating territory to explore. I know several folks from Puerto Rico and have always been impressed with their sense of pride for their country. There is a ton of natural beauty in Puerto Rico- particularly as you move outside of San Juan. On the other hand, there is also a lot of poverty in the country.

One of my favorite parts was touring Old San Juan. While discovered in the mid 1400s, the city was first "settled" by the Spanish in the early 1500s. Old San Juan has maintained much of the colonial Spanish Architecture.

This is the city wall built around Old San Juan. Love the contrast of the wall and the newer bank building.

Can't show old San Juan and miss the San Jose church, which hopefully will be undergoing renovation. I LOVE the lines of this building... and see the quatrafoil!

More quatrafoil.. and fantastic arches.

And look at the beautiful mosaic and intricate detailing here.

Can a doorway get any better than this?

And this is the view through the doorway. I love the plaster walls, dark wood bannister, tiled stairwell. Gorgeous.

And THESE are shutters.

Love the varied bright colors and all the balconies.

My dream house includes a bedroom with a balcony like this-- love the idea of opening the doors and having sheer drapes billowing about.

And just beyond these beautiful buildings is the sea...

Hope you enjoyed the mini-tour. Have a great week!

Emmie

All Modern Giveaway Winner and Puerto Rico

2010-03-12T08:42:00.006-05:00

Thank you to those who entered the giveaway! I was thrilled to do it and hope to offer future ones. And a huge thanks to CSN stores for sponsoring this event. Check them out for any household needs from barstools to pillows to fruit bowls!

The winner is LindsB, the first commenter, who selected the gorgeous Blomus bowl.
It couldn't have gone to a sweeter gal!

I am uploading my hundreds of pictures from this week in Puerto Rico. Most are work-related and unless you're interested in my "corporate espionage" the photos aren't that exciting (believe me, it sounds MUCH more scintillating than it actually is). I did take a morning of downtime today, however, to walk Old San Juan.

I realize this is not a travel blog (but given my travel of late, perhaps it should be!) but I'll do a follow-up post tomorrow with musings from my trip. One last big one next week- this time to the Great White North.

Take care!

Emmie

My First Giveaway- AllModern Home Unique Options for the Guest Bedroom

2010-03-08T20:22:00.005-05:00

I'm thrilled to offer to you my first giveaway, courtesy of AllModern Home, part of CSN stores, who sells everything from barstools and bar accessories to modern bedding and bunk beds. Carrying on with my home decor theme, I thought it'd be fun to showcase several items designed originally for the kitchen, but equally (in my humble opinion) at home in the guest room.

One lovely guest suggested a tray for my collection of things. I've become a big fan of trays of late but never have found the right one. Here are a few options that I think would work well!

Alessi Ufficio Tecnico Alessi 11.81" Mercurio Round Tray

Another option (which also happens to microwave and oven safe!).

Working Class Studio Un Petit Tour de Lacoste Ceramic Platter, illustration by SCAD professor Allan Drummond

Perhaps a bowl to corrall some mints, candy, other bits and pieces? Love the green and white in this one.

Rosenthal Suomi Rangoon 22 oz. Multi-Functional Bowl (note: one bowl)

Or maybe this little number with some fresh fruit (or flowers) by the bed.

Blomus Ondea Round Bowl

And of course, we can't forget a carafe. All Modern has several great ones, but these stuck out to me.

Artecnica tranSglass® Lidded Carafe

Which item could you use in your guest bedroom (or master bed, or kitchen...). Please leave a comment and let me know which items you'd love to have. Deadline for entry is Thursday at 9:00AM Eastern Standard Time and I will announce the winner on Friday! Rules for entry: you must be a follower; if you do not have a blog with contact info, please leave me your email address!

I hope y'alls week is off to a great start! Again, thank you so much for your patience during my crazy travel schedule, failure to comment on your great blogs, and lack of consistent posting. I've left Florida and headed farther South to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I just switched hotels - after first one kept losing power. (PS, if anyone knows the brand manager for the Waldorf Astoria properties, I'd love to chat with them!).

-Emmie

A Look at my "Sea" room... and All Modern giveaway preview

2010-03-04T17:26:00.008-05:00

Back when I was actually blogging ;-), I wrote my list of recommended items for hosting guests. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of my hostess preparations. I'm out of town AGAIN and have "Auntie DiDi" staying with our dogs. While our friend is doing a "service" for us, I certainly want her to feel welcome in our home so I employ the same strategies for her as when planning for guests (although I forgot the fresh flowers, so it's not quite perfect). Also, I dangled the carrot of a giveaway last week but did not give any details- I'm thrilled to offer a choice of several great items from All Modern- great pieces that can be used in the kitchen or in creating a perfect guest room space.

Without further adieu, here is one of our guest rooms, which I affectionately nicknamed the "Sea" room, aka the "C" room, or the first letter of our last name.

Here's an overview of the room.

WOW that ceiling fan light looks bright.

OK, there are some flowers- my faux orchids here (they're not too bad are they?) along with the bottle of water. I'm using a bottle of water as I haven't decided on the bedside carafes I'd like for the guest bedroom. Dresser is an antique, from one of my grandparent's guest rooms, that I'm considering painting white (again, much to Mr. Southern's dismay). Parasols, in the silver vase, are from our wedding.

Slightly different angle, but you see the bedding.

And a close-up of one of the pillows I won on Completely Coastal's Giveaway from OBX Trading Group! I LOVE these and they are so perfect for this room.

Here is the other pillow from OBX Trading Group/Completely Coastal, resting on the chair in the corner of the room. Seriously, weren't these pillows MADE for this room?!

A look at the bedside table- an end table I bought and now repurposed. Shell lamp from my grandmother, magazines, a book, candle, and mini framed photo.

The bed again. I need to frame the artwork I bought from Jean and put above the bed to add some visual height.

I welcome any suggestions on the room- especially the painting of the dresser! My inspiration is from Traditional Home's First Nest article featuring designer Suzanne Grua McGrath and daughter Laren McGrath.

Hope y'all are having a great week!

Emmie

Living it up at South Beach

2010-03-01T07:13:00.006-05:00

Just returned from Miami, Florida for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. This is one of my favorite festivals of the year and I'm fortunate enough to be able to attend several of the great events. On Thursday, we went to Rachael Ray's Burger Bash. You can see Rachael (sort of) below as she she thanks the sponsors of the event. That haze you see is not from my poor photo skills- the tent gets really smoky. With the chilly weather in Miami this year though, I was thankful for any heat source I could find!

Last year I got to meet Bobby Flay... and this year... !

Here we are! It was a fantastic event- each of the 27 restaurants had their own kitchen/booth and served their take on the best "burger." The place was PACKED and it was difficult to navigate the tent- especially being part of a 10-person group. via YumSugar

Chefs in attendance (and cooking) included Spike Mendelsohn, Morimoto, Michael Symon, and Rocco DiSpirito. I think my favorite was David Burke's Primehouse- a 40 Day Dry Aged Burger - With Cheddar, Cripsy Shrimp, Pickle Chipotle Mayo, Maple Pepper Bacon and Pickled Watermelon Skewer... but I LOVED Spike's cotton candy milkshake. Blackberry Farm attended this year (with a fabulous Bacon-Beef Burger with Chow Chow, Pimento Cheese, Ramp Mayonnaise and Pickled Okra on Potato Onion Bread and a side of baked peanuts). Admittedly, I voted for their burger as I just got so excited for the Southern representation. Get more details here at Burger Beast (they must have avoided the Amstel Light and the Columbia Crest reserve wines and brought a notebook or something... their notes are impressive!) or at Mango and Lime.

We ended the evening here...

Rose Bar at the Delano via CoolJunkie

Friday was lunch at Emeril's place at the Lowe's Hotel. Isn't this view fantastic?

The service here has always been fabulous, and this year was no exception. The gumbo was awesome and perfect for restoring some semblance of normalcy to my poor body after the evening prior. No sighting of Emeril... until later in the day!

We attended the for-the-trade tasting that afternoon. The line for our glass and gift bag- which you must get before entering the tent- was crazy long (you can see the tent in the distance)...

but with views like this, it is hard to complain!

The line wrapped around to the street, so we took in the scenes from Ocean Drive...

The intent of the Trade Tasting is that folks in the industry get a chance to try some of the Reserve wines and spirits available in the market. Over time, this event has turned into a free-for-all with people getting smashed. While this may look like a grown-up drinkfest, it was great to speak with some of the winemakers and other experts about the different types of wine they produce. And see a few "familiar" faces...

That evening was the BubbleQ, this year sponsored by Perrier Jouet and hosted by Emeril Lagasse. photo via SOBE Food and Wine

Same tent as the Rachael Ray event- only this time, it's Champagne and BBQ. I was smarter this night and broke away from the group with two other guys to try to make it through as much of the tent as possible. Tim Love, from Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Ft Worth had my favorite dish- lamb belly BLT.

Todd English was graciously taking photos (our group had grabbed a table in front of his booth)

but Emeril was a little harder to nab. But how cool to see him working!

Again, the evening was dominated by the who's who of FoodTV, but great to see some other familiar faces like Al Roker! Some of the Bravo Real Housewives of NYC were in town apparently- saw photos of Bethenny at the BubbleQ event, while Kelly attended the Best of the Best.photo via SOBE Food and Wine

Despite the $$ tickets (even more than the Burger Bash) the tent was packed with people overflowing outside both ends of the tent.

My hosts also got us VIP tickets to the Svedka event that evening so we went out like dancing queens...We had a fantastic wine educational seminar Saturday morning hosted by Wine Spectator at the Gansevoort South (yes, we began with sampling Pommery at 10 o'clock in the morning). Of all the events, this one is the most serious educational one and for any wine lover, just an unbelievable experience. (Sidenote, you MUST spit to get through the event with your senses in tact).

While I had an incredible time, by Saturday afternoon, I was missing Mr. Southern terribly and couldn't wait until Sunday evening to head home. After a tearful phone call, I booked a last-minute flight back to Atlanta and enjoyed Saturday evening on the couch with the fam. So much for being a rock star... that spot is where I'd much rather be!

Pull up a Bench

2010-02-23T08:06:00.001-05:00

It has been a week! I feel so unbelievably guilty for my lack of presence in the blogosphere. I missed the connection so much, yet somehow was completely sucked into my work sphere. Last night at a fundraiser, I met some gals who had heard of my blog through a mutual friend and it occurred to me that this is a commitment just like anything else. Yep, it's a bit indulgent, certainly doesn't pay the bills, but boy does it add a lot to my life. For the bit that I invest, it pays tons in returns! So thank you for your patience through my challenge to juggle it all (how do you guys manage to raise children too!!?? We had doggie bath night recently and it nearly killed me!) So THANK YOU for sticking with me!

I'm celebrating my return to Blogland with the announcement of my Interior Designer, Claire Watkins from the blog High Gloss Blue. Claire is a fellow resident of Atlanta and I fell for her sharp wit and enthusiasm for design. As you likely heard me mention, I finally came to the realization that while I LOVE home decor, I really do need assistance. My own space is much too personal to critique and, having lived here for four years, I certainly don't have that fresh look. I would imagine that having a design-loving blogger for a client may not be the easiest task, but Claire handled it in stride. She took all of my suggestions to heart, gave me guidance, but in the end, is allowing me to make my own decisions. With her eye and framework, however, I feel much more set up for success.

As all you designers/experts in your field have said, it is so much better to just hire the talent from the beginning. One would save so much time and money. During our walk through the house (which I was SO nervous about!) I kept saying, I bought that because I thought... and that because I was thinking... blah blah blah. The advice, "buy something because you LOVE it and you will find a home for it"... ignore that voice. That is just not true. Unless you happen to own four homes and then yes, that object will likely work in one of them.

OK, so onto the redesign. I have several rooms I want to update and, like many of us, a limited budget. So we broke things down by room, but keeping in mind the overall "master plan." One of my first projects will be the breakfast room area, just off the kitchn.

I am blessed in that I've inherited several antique pieces of furniture. The down side is that I feel compelled to use these pieces and am hesitant to change anything. Our breakfast room set is a great example. I freely admit it- I'm not an oak person. But this set is very oak. Claire suggested painting the hutch (below)- which Mr. Southern nearly passed out over. But since I agreed not to paint the kitchen cabinets and showed him some lovely examples of painted furniture, I think we've gotten to an OK to paint.

Could we pull off the Belgian/Swedish look here a la Brooke, Joni, and Gina?

via Velvet and Linen

The other challenge is seating. These chairs just are not super comfortable. But they've been in the family for years! So, I will let them rest in the attic and just go for the comfort (I'm hoping) Parsons chairs and bench from Ballard Designs. Oh yes and the walls. I loved the red wallpaper when we first moved in but have realized how drawn I am to neutral palletes. So at some point this paper will go and be replaced with (ideally!) grasscloth- but done in vinyl for washability. I've heard that these options are great, despite all the negative connotations of vinyl paper.

First, the eye candy inspiration for creating a great breakfast nook (though some of these are a little "country" for me)... I grabbed these images for their banquette seating, which Claire suggested for the far wall in the bay window.

Young House Love

The Kitchen Designer

Country Living

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Here's the Ballard Design bench Claire suggested paired with several of the fabric samples she had.

There's the Como Ikat Dijon from Sunbrella...

the Daphne

I honestly forget the name of this one and it was not in our sample list, but I like it!

Easy Care Anya in Chocolate (Mr. Southern worries this is too busy)

and the Arabesque- which here looks far less pretty than the actual fabric sample.

And of course, must replace that builder light fixture. Claire selected this one for us from Pottery Barn, which I think will work perfectly.

I'd love to hear what you think! OH! And, I have my very first giveaway coming up this week, so please stay tuned!

-Emmie

Mardi Gras in Mobile

2010-02-15T07:42:00.002-05:00

Last week, work led me to the Gulf Coast of the Southeastern United States. Deep in Alabama and Mississippi to mea are the true "Deep South." The threat of impending snow during the trip, however, added a little something I wasn't expecting. Fortunately, though delayed considerably, my Friday evening flight still landed safely and I made it home. Travel during a snowstorm (or any other bad weather) and it is amazing how happy you feel when you walk in the door of your own home!

I especially enjoyed getting to see Mobile, Alabama, particularly during the Mardi Gras season. While often people think of New Orleans, Mobile actually holds the record for the first Carnival celebration, in 1703. The Carnival season culminates this Tuesday with Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras, french for Fat Tuesday). The celebration precedes Ash Wednesday, or the start of Lent.

My hotel kindly left me a gift of beads and a MoonPie.

You know I had to take a quick drive through the Historic District to catch a glimpse of the homes. I was surprised and delighted to find out how absolutely affordable they are- in comparison to Atlanta standards. The houses were constructed in a mix of styles and price points.

Here are two I captured and I must apologize for the poor photo quality. I love the inviting nature of this house and the lower side window pane suggests lots of great architectural details inside. This house, which sadly we can't see through the trees very well, but seems to have a gothic quality.

Since my photographs stunk (the others I did not upload were even worse), I poured over some real estate listings to share. This little number on Lafayette Street is on the market for $329k.

This Dauphin Street Beauty is less than $600 (I can't remember the exact figure). I especially love the second floor porch and the second building (pool house? guest house?). I would guess Queen Anne architectural style... Oh to have a glass-front Butler's Pantry...
Such detail on the mantle.
Very intricate woodwork.
Here it is! The little house!!

This cute little Arts and Crafts guy on Macy Place is less than $200k... I think there's probably lots of potential here but a good bit of work too.

This one on Houston is also less than $200k. Both houses are a bit smaller- less than 2,000 square feet- and likely could use some updates.

This house is just fabulous. And I think "only" $560k.

Love the staircase and doors here.

Another view of the stairs through the door... but a handsome room in its own right.Great light throughout the house and I love all the French doors and transom windows.

Note the yellow/purple/green flag flying in front of this Georgian Revival house.
My absolute favorite though is the house known as "Elephant Walk."
Yes, this little guy is in the Mardi Gras spirit, decked out with his beads.
The yard seems fabulous- lots of texture among the plantings.
I didn't find a lot of pictures of the interior, though the ones I found are quite delightful. I adore the coffered ceilings here and the wall color is just lovely.
The bay window, visible from the front of the house, provides a terrific seating area in the parlor.

That wraps up my tour of Mobile. I also saw loads of great places on the Gulf coast- you Florida beach ladies are quite fortunate!! I hope y'all are safe and warm and had a wonderful weekend!

--Emmie

PS- thanks to a reader email, I have learned that Zatarains is throwing "The World's Largest Mardi Gras Party." To learn more, simply click on the link. While I'm slightly saddened that I was not invited to host one... Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! (please note that I understand this is imperfect French).

Be Your Own Valentine

2010-02-11T21:55:00.000-05:00

via Wedding Flowers

With this and my Peaches Present post, I fear I'm running the risk of having y'all think I'm a complete narcissist. Not so! However, over the years, I've learned the importance of self love. As in, you have to love and appreciate yourself in order to truly and fully love others. OK, I lied. I'm still learning the importance of self love.

When one is Type A and a perfectionist, like I am, this "self love" is not always an easy thing to accomplish. I am often yelling at myself that I could do something better, should have done that, shouldn't have done this, etc. You get the idea. I honestly have to stop and remind myself- hey, I'm OK.

via JusticeAce

Additionally, we're heading into a holiday, Valentine's Day, which can be rather bittersweet. Whether you have a Significant Other or not, I encourage you to be your own Valentine first.

Take a moment and think about all the great qualities you have. Commit to be supportive of yourself and your work and efforts. Take care of yourself- your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

via aussiegall

I happen to be traveling again this week (which explains my poor posts and even poorer commenting- I apologize!) and have had ample time with myself. As I've mentioned, I occassionally like to do my own "date night" and take myself out to dinner. These solo dinners after a long day aren't quite what I typically have in mind for date night, but it works. Your Significant Other may think you are completely insane if you suggest a solo date night, so that might not work for you.

via PhotoNet

But perhaps you can take a few extra moments in the bath, go for a run (perhaps on a treadmill?), or just enjoy a moment of quiet. Maybe splurge a little bit. Buy a little somthing-something, have a great piece of candy, buy yourself flowers. But do something to recognize you.

This probably a little "touchy feely" for many of you, but it was a thought I wanted to share with you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Emmie

Southern Gardens

2010-02-08T07:03:00.004-05:00

New Orleans City Park

In honor of New Orleans' win last night, all those tempting gardening catalogs I'm receiving, and the fact that I'm just tired of the cold.... I thought I'd take a quick look at Good Southern Gardens.

A good Southern garden has some structure to it, achieved with shrubbery and trees- in addition to some man-made structures. I love boxwoods too for their evergreen.

Southern Accents

Savannah Getaways

Tara Dillard

Flannery O'Connor's garden via Garden and Gun

One can't mention structures and gardens without referencing Pearl Fryar's Topiary garden in South Carolina.

Pearl began his topiaries, reportedly, in an effort to win a neighborhood garden award. He certainly succeeded and his passion and art are amazing.

photograph by Pat Hartley

When I think of Southern gardens, I also think of statues- adding a bit of gothic to the setting. This one is in Dothan Botanical Gardens in Alabama.

photography by cablebreak (flikr)

Mixed with Hydrangeas- another very Southern view.

via A Southern Garden- Phillip Oliver

Garden in Savannah via This Eclectic Life

And amid the dreaded Spanish Moss.

Afton Villa Gardens

Pests are a given... Spanish moss is evil, evil, evil but I can't help but romanticize it when in reference to Southern Gardens. Below is a photo from Magnolia Plantation, which has been open to the public since the 1870s. This is a long time for Americans!

photo by Carl

Can't you just feel the humidity?

This photo from Afton Villa Gardens in Louisiana is a great transition to Azaleas, another Southern staple.

Azaleas (the old school variety; I've found that the the new, highly-advertised ones just don't up to the Southern heat). A great example at Goodwood Museum and Gardens in Tallahassee, Florida.

photos by Karl Gercens and the Goodwood Gardens (center)

And while I'm leaving out numerous Southern gardens and plants, I can't not mention two of my favorite plants with their cool white flowers- Magnolias and Gardenias. Evergreen, so you have some winter interest, and lovely scented blooms in the summer. Can you get any better than that?

AJC

Learn2Grow

leonardj446

Clemson Extension

OK, sometimes Magnolias are pink.

via Moosey's Country Garden

Check out Garden Visit to find gardens to visit. For more on Southern Gardening, you must visit Phillip Oliver's blog (his gardens are amazing!) and Tara Dillard's blog (I was fortunate to have taken her class on Southern Gardening at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens).

For more resources, great books include The Southern Garden by Lydia Longshore and A Southern Garden by Elizabeth Lawrence.

Have a great day!

Emmie

Why I Love Miami

2010-02-02T21:11:00.005-05:00

It's no secret to the folks I visit for work that I would LOVE to live in South Florida. I understand that this area is not for everyone. It's crowded, loud, sometimes dirty... but it's also vibrant, fun, WARM (usually), and a whole big mix of everything.

I'm up late working tonight, but had to share a few of my reasons on why I love Miami (or Ft. Lauderdale, where I'm actually staying).

You can pull off colors in your home like these and not look completely derranged or being the talk of the town in a negative way.

via Fast Real Estate

via real estate listing

via Miamism

Lifeguard stands are a testament to the hippness of the area...

Travelogue

Water, water, everywhere

Lush, green landscaping...

via Pink Shovel Landscapes

and bougainvilleas year-round!!

Art in many forms... architecture, statues, art in museums...

via Wandalust

Artist Boris Posavec via GalleryNOW

The FOOD!

Stone Crabs (and other seafood)

Mojito (must have the sugarcane!)

Plantains (either sweet or crispy fried)

Cuatro Leches cake (I am a total sucker for this... had a larger piece than I should have this evening in fact!)

And one quick bit of business. I received an email from a well-informed Atlanta resident correcting one of my posts. The "Atlanta White House" is not in Druid Hills, as I had previously reported. Thank you for the information and I apologize for the error.

via Atlanta Fine Homes

Hope y'all are having a great week!

Emmie

Meet This Atlanta Power Couple

2010-02-01T07:12:00.009-05:00

Alisa Barry and Smith Hanes via Country Home

We had a lovely weekend with the girls and tons of fun (a little too much fun Friday evening... the wine was flowing freely and before you knew it, we had gone through many many bottles. How old am I???).

On Saturday, we headed out to Virginia Highlands- a great little area of shopping, dining, and super-cute houses. (Note to self: home tours in December, which I missed last year. Must do in 2010!).

For me, Virginia Highlands is one of those great areas that you should get to often, but somehow don't. Saturday, I made the great discovery of Bella Cucina...

Their mission? "To enhance the lives of our customers everyday through the spirit,
beauty, and sustenance of artful food."

The shop is actually part of an enterprise, created by Alisa Barry because of her "passion for food and all things Italian." She also has a blog, The Art of Food, which I encourage you to check out! Note that her last blog posting was on Meyer Lemons. Yes, I think we have a connection.

Needless to say, this little stop had me at hello. Their fabulous little sauces are not cheap but they are delicious and the store offers several recipe cards to make the most of their little jars of heaven. While checking out, I chatted with the clerk about the decor, which I also loved, and found out that the shop owner's significant other (husband? I'm not sure) is a designer and was behind the shop's decor.

Meet Smith Hanes.

Smith has also been involved of the design of Serenbe, this amazing little community centered around smart development and protection of greenspace.

Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop

The Farmhouse at Serenbe

And one of my favorite restaurants, JCT Kitchen.

Smith is not limited to commercial projects, either, and brings this modern country farmhouse look to Atlanta residences.

Alisa and Smith's home, a 1908 Sears kit house, has also been featured in design magazines. These photos all courtesy of Country Home. The couple's love for art and modern flair is evident throughout the house.

And there we are. I hope that you enjoyed this little introduction... Off to Miami today for work!

Emmie

Hostess with the Mostess

2010-01-29T08:46:00.001-05:00

Four of my very best girlfriends are coming into town this weekend and I'm so excited! We all met at graduate school in Charlottesville. Given my "career slowdown" in the last couple of years, I joke that I spent $100k to find best friends and a husband (Mr. Southern and I also met at UVA). But I digress.

Of course, I am most happy about seeing the girls. However, I also LOVE to entertain and host, so I am going all out trying to get the house together. Unfortunately, there are some projects that just won't be completed, but I'm working on all the "little" things! You've all probably seen the list of what a guest room needs, but here's my take on it....

Bedside Carafe. I love these and think every room should have one. I was thrilled to find mine at a Simon Pearce store on sale, but these are all great options.

Home Marketplace Bedside Carafe, $14.99

Tuvalu Carafe with etched glass, $38

CB2 Cora Carafe, $9.95

My Sparrow Handblown Carafe, set of 3, $67

Flowers on the bedside table...

via Country Living

Reading materials and a bedside lamp

via Manolo Home

via House to Home

A luggage rack would be helpful...

Stacks and Stacks Tapestry Luggage Rack, $54.99

The Container Store Hardwood Luggage Rack, $49

Frontgate Leather Luggage Rack, $149

Great linens (bedding and bath) is a no-brainer.

via Fine Linens

It's not just about thread count... While Overstock and Smartbargains have great deals on bedding, I prefer other sites (BeddingStyle is one). I like to know the brand names so I have a better sense of the actual sheets that I'm getting. I have found I really like Pottery Barn's as well!

For the bath, I like to leave out mini soaps so guests can have a fresh bar (I don't know why, but I get skeeved out by using soap that someone else has used).

I've not ordered from here, but The Soap Guy seems to have a great selection- 60 handmade 1-ounce bars for $41.95 in flavors like Cafe Mocha, Banana Coconut, Plumeria Aloe, and Vanilla Oatmeal.

Or try this sampler from Caswell-Massey, for $80.

And I couldn't leave out Claus Porto, one of the best bar soaps ever. Touch of Europe mini 5-pack from $24.

The best thing about Caswell-Massey and Claus Porto- no animal testing!

Of course, I also like to have out other essentials, like lotions, a spare toothbrush, hair dryer, etc.

After a restful slumber, I love to serve a great breakfast. Hot coffee (with cream and sugar), orange juice, and options other than cold cereal.

via Cooking Light

Hope y'all have a lovely weekend!!

-Emmie

Awards! and 10 Things Game

2010-01-28T08:30:00.010-05:00

I have been honored with two awards recently and wanted to say thank you. Blayne at This Photographer's Life (In Search of Style). You may have met Blayne through Holly's introduction. I honestly can't even remember when I first starting reading Blayne but am always inspired by her fantastic photography and fabulous homes she features.

The rules for The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspire others in the blog world. Here are the rules for accepting this award:

put the logo on your blog or within your post

pass the award on to 12 bloggers

link the nominees in your post

let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog

share the love and link to the person who sent you this award

I give this to:

Deliciously Organized

My Little Happy Place

Porchlight Interiors

A little while back, Rita of A Refocused Life gave me the Happy 101 award.

For the blogger willing to participate in the
Happy 101 Award,
please accept, share your list of ten things that make you happy, and
pass the award on to those you want to honor.

Art de Vivre
Belle Maison

The Southern Blossoms

I also thank Short Southern Momma, a super cute gal with great ideas, for my Best Blog Award.

And yesterday, I was tagged by Lesley at The Bright Life to give 10 Things I can't Live Without.

So I am combining this into one post!

Here are my 10 things that either make me happy or I can't live without (because I think the two are similar!):

1. Truffles. Not the chocolate variety, but those lovely earthy mushrooms. I've never bought a real truffle but I do adore truffle oil and truffle-infused things, like honey. When dining out, if I ever spy something made with truffles, I will order it. The end.

2. My morning coffee. With cream. Preferably something cinnamon, coconut, or caramel flavored. MMMM. Love coffee. At night, love coffee for a totally different reason- it puts me to sleep. Weird, I know (but I think linked to those with ADD, which would explain a lot).

Mug shown from Tuvalu Home

3. Great bedding. As you've no doubt noticed, I travel a good bit for my job. I am picky about hotels largely because of the sheet factor. One of the best things about the luxe hotels is the sheet quality. Great sheets and a lovely down pillow = a very happy Emmie.

4. The beach. I need to see or hear or smell water (preferably salt) with some regularity. I would love to join the Beach Girl Bloggers (as I call them... you know, those fabulous designers down in Florida) and live tucked away at the beach.

5. Savon de Marseille soap. I don't know if this is a good thing, but I use this admittedly to wash my face most evenings. Even if I use a face soap, I'll end up using this to get rid of the last traces of makeup. Plus, you never need a cheesy soap dispenser.

Photo from Vickery.

6. Wine. So let's file this as a thing that makes me happy rather than something that I can't live without so I don't sound like a total wino. Love discovering new wines and one of my favorite getaways with Mr. Southern is when we visit wine country in California. We've done it nearly every year for the past 4 years.
7. Food... or rather cooking. Love to cook and the more frou-frou the better. One of the best ways to spend an afternoon is whipping up a feast... for 2 or 10. (with wine in hand, of course).

from Martha Stewart's Cooking School

8. My furkids. You know I couldn't NOT include them. And we'll put family and friends in this as well, but I figured people couldn't be on the list, but dogs could. :-)

9. Gardening. I may not be the most gifted in the green thumb department, but I adore being outdoors and playing in the dirt. And when I can reap the rewards of my labor- all the better!!

10. You! I have had so much fun in this whole Blogging world- I really appreciate the relationships I've made and look forward to getting to know you better.

PS- I am terrible at giving the awards, so if I don't list you but you'd like to be listed, email me and I will get you in! :-) emmie2008 at gmail dot com.

Georgia On My Mind

2010-01-26T19:02:00.001-05:00

While I applauded Southern Living's blatant disregard of the New Year "eat healthy" on their January cover (see 35 Comfort Foods), I was admittedly disappointed in the Best of the South Rewards.
OK, I guess I can see the number one attraction with Georgia's Aquarium- a "pet project" of Bernie Marcus (co-founder of The Home Depot). While I'm not sure how I feel about aquariums and zoos (rescuing animals is one thing... holding them in captivity.... ), I will say that the aquarium is a pretty impressive site. After all, is it the world's largest aquarium.

From there, the list covers many of the usual suspects: Stone Mountain Park, The Coca-Cola Museum (yes, they are great marketers and the building is a tribute to their marketing, but really??), Underground Atlanta, and an Atlanta Braves baseball game. Given the list was for Georgia and not Atlanta, I had wished a few others made the list, like something in Savannah,

via I love Inns
via Vanishing South Georgia (a great blog!)

Jekyll Island,

via Vanishing South Georgia

Jekyll Island Club via Gateway to the Golden Isles

St. Simons, via Beaches Uptake

via Chapman Hall Coastal

or even Helen...

via City Data

via POI Factory

...but maybe they are not considered attractions? Now I know that there are myriad other great attractions in Georgia than the ones I've listed, but those were first to mind.

In any event, I'd like to start highlighting some of the little "finds" I've discovered in Georgia and include independent shops, restaurants, and other businesses along the way.

Additionally, I have several girlfriends coming into town this weekend and so am thinking about all the options of things to do right here in Atlanta. I'd love to hear any suggestions you may have!

Here's to discovering your own special attraction!

-Emmie

For the Love of Lemons

2010-01-24T20:38:00.012-05:00

Last summer, Mr. Southern requested we plant a Meyer Lemon tree. Given that we live in the Northern part of Georgia, we planted the tree in a large container, preparing for the inevitable chill when we'd have to take it indoors. We watched with excitement as our little green globes slowly grew.

At long last, the lemons turned yellow (I was so excited I neglected to take a photo!) and we carefully snipped them from the bush. I've bought Meyer Lemons at the store before but was not prepared for the fragant, floral-almost, scent of the lemons' exterior.

I quickly looked up a recipe for lemon curd to make before I headed out (ironically) to Florida last week. I ran out of time to make the lemon buttercreme frosting I had intended, but the lemon curd was divine. Sadly, we have no starts of lemons right now but the plant probably needs some more sun, which will come soon! and some warmth (though it is in the bay window of our basement).

Florida, no offense to my California friends, is my go-to source for citrus and it was so appropriate that I was off to Orlando so shortly after I fell all over again for my Meyer Lemon. (though I must note that Meyer Lemons are more commonly found in Southern California). This has been a tough season for Florida Citrus fruits- the several below-freezing temperatures have threatened the crops several times already this year. Farmers currently are surveying the damage though it appears it has not reached catastrophic levels.

Given my recent voyage to the Sunshine state and my ripening of Meyer lemons, I bring you my citrus-inspired round-up. May it bring some cheer to your Monday!

I would not ordinarily select a scent based nearly exclusively on citrus. However, after inhaling the Meyer Lemon's skin, I'm tempted to give Demeter's option a try. Available at numerous online sources.

If this seems too much, perhaps give Fresh's Sugar-Lemon line a try.

Add a little zest to the bath with Spongelle's Infused buffer, available here.

Perhaps your kitchen could use a little brightening with some Italian Pottery? I stumbled upon Tranquility Alley and just love the vast array of home decor and furniture items they carry. Below is the Majolica large wall plate ($629).

Elsewhere in the home, add a squeeze of color with a citrus-shaded throw, as seen in this room by Remodlista.

Or a bright yellow and orange little pillow number, found at Amazon (!!??) by PillowDecor.com.

Perhaps some cheery art...

ShalomsCottageHome

from FreshLine

We'll end with a little "nightcap." How about this Charbay Meyer Lemon vodka? Available for about $35, but I'm thinking I may try my own..

Have a great start to the week! No travel this week so I will be much better about posting!

Emmie

Black, White, and a Little Bit of Gray

2010-01-19T07:26:00.008-05:00

I was pulling together torn-out magazine spreads of a bunch of rooms I like for the first meeting with an interior designer (the big reveal will come soon!) and was struck that while I think I'm a "color" person, nearly every single room had a neutral palette.

One of the designers I think of first for this is Barbara Barry. And since I don't hear/read about her much in the Blogosphere, thought I'd share a few of my favorite images. I think Barbara Barry does a great job mixing light and dark colors with pops of fresh flowers and lots of texture.

A very "Barry" example in this Hollywood Hills Home dining room. Love the white against the dark room with the silver and green accents.

Similarly, the breakfast room uses lots of white and creams with green topiary for contrast. And gorgeous view out into the back (I'm assuming) yard. Love the shape of the room.

A little oatmeal in the living room for contrast.

A bluish white on the walls and white furnishings and bedding makes this room a perfect getaway. And I love the doors!

More creamy whites, dark wood accents, and a touch of black in this Piedmont room.

Same house, different "living room" where we return to more blue/gray and white tones.
The bedroom features an almost purple color as contrast to the dreamy whites and creams.

Barbara Barry "Western style" with a bit of glam in Palm Desert. Love the black and white chairs.

A great neutral palette in the St. Francis in San Francisco that goes from whites and grays...

to Black. Love the space shown below. Clearly this wouldn't work in most homes, but you could take it down a notch.

And we'll end some darker gray ones and another touch of black at the Berkley Hotel in London.

Dreamy.

A Bright and Cheery Monday

2010-01-18T07:31:00.000-05:00

My latest Garnet Hill catalog was missing a key component....

Yes, Lilly Pulitzer has launched a collection of bed and bath products at Garnet Hill. This is as exciting as Ballard Designs' upcoming Suzanne Kasler collection! I don't have any bedrooms in "Lilly" colors but wouldn't these offer some bright cheer?

And I think the embroidered "E" is not just a coincidence.

Did you miss it? Here's the close up.

Here's to a Bright and Cheery Monday for you!

Emmie

Looking Outside My Bubble

2010-01-17T20:52:00.004-05:00

While I was away last week, I honestly did not realize how much devastation was going on the rest of the world. In fact, am humbled by all the other bloggers' posts I read when catching up this weekend (and I'm still not caught up, so I apologize profusely if I've not visited lately!).

Admittedly, I rarely watch the news (just with Mr. Southern, and it's usually of a political nature) and I get virtually all my news from the paper when on the road. Of course, this hotel did not have any newspapers (??) so I was... blissfully ignorant.

While it's sometimes nice to hole up and reflect, I personally feel somewhat irresponsible if I remain totally unaware. I don't need to know all the horror stories on local news (quite honestly, I cannot stomach much of it) but I still believe it's important to know what's going on in this world of ours.

My intent is not to preach, but let you know where my heart is. I cannot believe the amount of devastation. I know that many have mentioned Unicef as a place to give-- they are a great option, with more than 90% going to the direct source and less than 10% of their funds going to "Supporting Services" (management and fundraising expenditures). My sister alerted me to a faith-based group as well, Compassion International. They give more than 80% "directly" and while their supporting expenditures are higher, they're still below 20%. Along the way, I discovered Charity Navigator, which may also help you identify some great sources to support.
Thanks to the fellow bloggers out there raising awareness and giving support. More frills and fun tomorrow.

Take care,
Emmie

Please note that I re-worded the allocation of funds piece. When I said less than 10% to supporting services, I meant things like administrative offices- NOT the support to the people who need it. They do a great job balancing!!!

Go West Young Woman (my work vacation in Arizona)

2010-01-14T12:52:00.006-05:00

Greetings! I've missed you all but due to some laptop issues it has been very challenging to post and read blogs.

I am thawing out in Phoenix, Arizona for a work teambuilding event. It's not quite the heatwave I'd hoped for but I absolutely cannot complain. I'm using the downtime to catch up on some reading and am currently tearing through Loving Frank, about a novel about the affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney. Admittedly, struggling with it a bit as I just quite get all of Mamah's decisions.

It could be reading about Frank Lloyd Wright that is influencing my perspective, but I think the Southwestern/Western design and architecture incorporates the land/nature a bit more than traditional East Coast design. Regardless, it is VERY different that what I'm accustomed to seeing and the change is fun.

Here are a few images I dug up that caught my eye... I like a touch of the "stereotypical" Southwest or Spanish but not overdone.

Here are a few houses from David Michael Miller Associates... note the common themes of carved wood, wrought iron, and stone.

In this room, I'd prefer a different fabric on the chair and a different rug, but that's easy to swap. :-)

This outdoor space is divine!! LOVE the archways and the columns mimic the interior ones shown in the photo above. The lush green is intriguing though too....

Gorgeous bath! Total Mediterranean and looks like it could be in Morocco. Something I could never pull off in my Atlanta home, but it totally works here.

This substantial chandelier seems to be a different take on the French style. Definitely more "robust" but with a European flair.

More archways with the front door... Great little vignette on the entryway stairs.

This next home is definitely on the rustic side but for me, has enough European influence (French? Italian? English?) to make it the perfect lodge getaway.

Lots of wood- like the thick beam on the fireplace. Not a fan of the rust upholstery but again, we could fix that!

Fabulous dining area! I could see hosting a great wine-pairing dinner here. All the candles surely give great light.

A smaller breakfast nook area- more wrought iron details and lovely aged wood rafters.

And finally, the kitchen. A definite departure from all the white kitchens I tend to gravitate towards but works so well in this home. I'd like to see more of the vent over the stove top- is it copper?

Modern architecture and design work equally well here. I found these at Own By Design. Reminds me a bit of the last house I showed in my AL V TX post.

LOVE the exterior of this house and the pool... but not a fan of the inside.

I think I'd prefer something more like this... but a little more personalized.

OK, have to run off to another team meeting. It's an interesting experience- my colleagues are predominately men and there's a lot of one-upmanship and our evenings are dominated by Texas Hold 'Em. In Phoebe's words (a Friend's bit), "very testosteroni."

Take care!

-Emmie

Warming Up a Chilly Weekend

2010-01-10T18:55:00.000-05:00

We're still trying to warm up amid the freeze that has overtaken the Southeast. To top it off, some part of our upstairs heat system went out. Mr. Southern, being the great engineer and all-around fix-it guy that he is, has ordered the bum part. Meanwhile, we're using space heaters, allowing the dogs back on the bed at night, and spending much of our time on the first level where it's nice and warm!

The dogs LOVE the snow (both Madison and Samantha lived in Minnesota, so they're accustomed to the white stuff). I couldn't resist a few photos...

Here is Mr. Tilghman, looking quite dignified (you'd never know he was looking for ice or sticks to eat a few moments earlier).

Miss Samantha remains ball-obsessed, regardless of the weather (that is a tennis ball in her mouth).

Miss Madison is on the hunt for someone to play with.

Tilghman and Madison frolicking...
Kaylee is not a big fan of getting her paws cold, but once she discovered she could eat the snow, she was a bit more enthusiastic.

As I mentioned last week, I also had the opportunity to attend the Eddie Ross~Larson Juhl event. Sadly I had a meeting today and missed the Scott's tour but look forward to reading others' recaps!

The tables, not surprisingly, were decorated beautifully. Sorry, I realized after the fact that I have no photos of the bites of food, but here's the wine!!

Tables had simple teacup and saucers with flowers (in florist foam- we checked) "framed" by a gold frame.

Eddie's talk was quite interesting and they showed some unbelievable gorgeous frames. He was quite personable, friendly, enthusiastic and of course, quite knowledgeable. Eddie discussed some of the cliches of hanging art (and one of my favorite quotes, while discussing kitchen art, "when in doubt, just hang a chicken.") My key takeaways- personalize it, make it meaningful to you, and mat/frame it to fit the space (item) to avoid the Pottery Barn catalog look.

A bonus- I got to meet Claire, of High Gloss Blue, which was quite exciting.

One of the most fun moments was the sneak peak into their Artaissance studio. I apologize for sounding like an advertisement for them, but it's pretty neat!

They take a high-quality photo of a painting/etching/book with this camera. Because of the high-level of detail the camera picks up...

...they are able to print the image in a large format- and on paper or canvas. For full disclosure, I did receive a print of a Biltmore chair as a gift. Because they have the images digitally, the studio can change colors giving a totally modern look to an antique piece.

Jonathan Adler print shown below.

Here's an example of what you could do (obviously not all of these at once):

Clockwise from top left: Biltmore Ironwork Tile; Morning, Floating and Awakening by Nichole Sloan; Memento Circle in Midnight by Amy Butler; Poppy III, VII, VIII by Jill Meyer.

And of course, I had to get the requisite blogger/celebrity photo. I missed getting one with Jaithan, who was in attendance as well, and quite the charming gentleman (as was Eddie!).

How was your weekend?

-Emmie

Alabama versus Texas: Which Home Would You Choose?

2010-01-08T08:22:00.001-05:00

I'm having couple time on the couch with Mr. Southern this week as we watch the bowl games and it occurred to me we could have our own house competition. I searched through the listings and found a couple of good examples...

Let's head to Alabama first. I have to admit, and I'm so sorry Trussville, but my expectations were low. I've been through Trussville for work, but clearly not the right parts. There are some great looking homes- several with waterfront views! As we so often see with real estate listings, the photographers are no Blayne Beachum so I'm not sure we get the full impact.

First up, this house is about a block from the beach, and on the market for $900k (if I remember correctly). These are the worst picture qualities- it gets better!

Love the exterior and while I don't want to be anti-tree hugger, wish those couple of trees in the front were not blocking the view.
Creamy yellows used throughout- nice contrast with the white trim and darker wood.

There seem to be lots of nice architectural finishes but with the photos it's hard for me to tell if they're just put on a bunch of big rooms or if the house truly has lots of character. I hope it's the latter.

The bedrooms look a little cluttered to me, but nice large spaces, so lots of potential.

This one is closer to the river... a little more European than "Italianate" of the previous one.

Again new construction, but with the crown molding, archways, large windows, I really like it.

This layout appears to be similar to our house, so I admit I'm a bit partial to it!

Now, let's take on Texas.

For Austin, while there's lots of tradition, I was thinking of the phrase "Keep Austin Weird" and thought this house had so much potential. It's not really my style, but could be Met Home worthy. Unfortunately, the block walls in some of the rooms just left me feeling... institutional rather than funky.

Do you get these last two rooms?

But look at the view out the back!

This next one I can't figure out if I think it's too over the top or just luxe. Again, we return to small pictures so it's hard to see all the details.

I can almost say, who cares what the inside looks like with a pool area like that!

And last my not least, my favorite (of course, it's a cool $11 mil). This is really more of a compound than a house and some rooms may have you question if you're in a hotel or a home. I'd like to warm up a few of the spaces a little more but it's got that super chic white/black thing going on. And a chocolate brown bedroom! And the views!

So the Longhorns might have gotten spanked last night, but I have to give the house award to Texas. What do you think?

-Emmie

Shopping Temptations... and my only "organization" post

2010-01-06T08:09:00.003-05:00

Vineyard Vines

Along with my newfound commitment to champagne, I've decided that another resolution I should make is to stop buying things on sale. Yep, this is from the same gal whining about spending too much unnecessarily a few weeks ago. But I've realized that just seeing things on sales gets my pulse accelerating and I get giddy... and then just stupid.

Neiman Marcus

I love shopping... and when I see something for 40% off (or more), I convince myself to buy way more than I really need. Or even want. And then I end up with a bunch of fabulous buys that just hang in the closet.

Spla sh of Pink, Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store

The ones that really get me are the no returns (hello, JCrew). Great deals but what if the item doesn't fit? On the plus side, I have made some very lovely charitable donations to my local Goodwill or women's shelter. (And just in case, we photograph every single item we donate. I'm not kidding- Mr. Southern makes me do it).

JCrew

For what it's worth, here's how I pare down my closet collection in an attempt to achieve some sort of glorious look like this:

***Please note- this is NOT my closet- I WISH! This is from The Container Store.***

Wooden hangers from The Container Store. I buy the Premium or Basic Walnut hangers- but not too many of them (at $3.99 - $11.99 a pop they aren't cheap). If I truly love something, I have no problem justifying hanging it on a beautiful dark wood hanger. If I'm on the fence and feel that the item could remain on the plastic hanger...or that another item may be more deserving of the pretty hanger... well, that item should go.

I'm sure you have much more sophisticated advice out there, but this has worked fabulously for me.

Now... how to decide which sale to capitalize on... kidding. How about you- are you shopping these sales? May I "live" vicariously through your purchases?

Baby it's Cold Outside

2010-01-05T06:41:00.006-05:00

via GoGreenTravel

As I was reading Dagny's blog yesterday, I remembered what it was like to really be cold outside. My first two years out of graduate school, I lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before moving there, I truly feared I might die of the cold. Then I learned it's all about the outerwear (and under wear). I may have been the only gal walking her dogs donned in skipants, skigloves, 2 scarves, and a long down coat with hood, but I was warm.

We're experiencing a cold snap here in the South- snow where there "shouldn't" be snow, high temperatures that don't break 30 or 40. Yes, to us, that is cold.

When one reads about Southern interiors, much of the talk about the Southern climate's influence refers to the oppressive heat. Southern rooms often feature cool, calming colors as a counterpoint to the hot, muggy outdoors. May I suggest that we Southerners have gotten pretty adept at handling the heat- it's the cold we don't do. So here are some rooms that warm me.

This is one of my all-time favorite bedrooms. I love a warm brown in the bedroom- so cozy and warm!

Atlanta Homes Magazine (Beth Webb and Nancy Pendergrast)

Chocolate in the library/great warm creates an equally cozy feel.

Southern Living 2005 Louisiana Idea House

Southern Accents via Patricia Gray

D Home Magazine via Patricia Gray

Of course, hues of red immediately add some heat.

Southern Living 2005 Louisiana Idea House

Southern Accents Kim Zimmerman Interiors via Diane James

Southern Accents via Sensational Color

And of course, sunny yellow.

via My Home Ideas (I believe Southern Living)

Jan Showers, Southern Accents

Southern Living via Spark

And we'll end with something between red and yellow.

Melissa Rufty via Chinoiserie Chic

via A Gift Wrapped Life (from Style redux)

Fabrizio from Veranda via Gaita Interiors

via Matters of Style

Stay warm! And to our friends in Australia- I'm envious!

-Emmie

Off to a Great Start!

2010-01-03T19:04:00.004-05:00

If anyone had any doubt, 2010 promises to be a great year. My New Year's Resolution? Drink Champagne once a week. No, I'm not going to develop a drinking problem... I am going to celebrate the small stuff. Forget the whole, "Live in the Moment." How about "Celebrate each Moment?" This does not mean that everything in my life has been peaches and roses of late. But this year, my goal is to really try to let the tough stuff roll off me and to focus on all the good.

A couple of big events I have on my calendar... First, meeting Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar this weekend. Yes, I'm late to the party, I know; everyone has been to Scott's with them or to some other fabulous excursion (and I especially mean you, Lauren, Michelle, Terri, Beth, Meg et al). :-)
This Saturday (January 9th), I will be joining the dashing duo to learn about framing whilst sipping Sauvignon Blanc (no, it's not Champagne, but it will be close). If you're interested, I've heard there is still space- and it's free for Bloggers. Just email Jaithan (jaithan@eddieross.com). Hooray! And, this brings me one baby step closer to my hero Martha (I promise, I am really not a stalker).

Next up, (January or February?) a meeting with a certain Atlanta interior designer (and blogger) to help me take my home to the next level. Yes, blogging has taught me many things, including the fact that y'all designers have talent. Much more so than I. Same goes for Landscape Designers- and I will be smuggling in another one, if she'll have me (more to come). Of course, we've got a few exciting weddings along the way, lots more travel, and who knows how many Doggie escapades. Including, my current attempt to land us all on a spot of a TV makeover show. So stay tuned!

And, if you're planning a blogger-hosting party for Eddie and Jaithan- or want to plan one with me!- please let me know!!

-Emmie

PS- for those looking for suggestions on Champagne, I'll work on getting some recommendations down!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:40:00.004-05:00

I admit I am a big fan of Champagne. As a retailer, I know that Champagne and other sparkling wines sell now.. .and that's about it. It is a challenge to bring in enough inventory to create fabulous displays, but not get "hung" on too much product. Otherwise, you have February 14th to sell and that's it. A shame! It is such a fun beverage.

Today, I am feeling quite lazy and would love to do nothing than sip champagne...

on a comfy sofa like the one below...

Anthropologie via The House Itch

with my husband watching movies (I'd even settle for football).

Happy New Year!

Emmie

European Style in the South: McAlpine et al

2009-12-30T08:41:00.000-05:00

Chapel, east of Montgomery, Alabama via Garden and Gun

As I head back to Alabama for work this week, I reflect on "Alabaman" or Southern Style. What the heck does it mean? And what are the great modern-day examples? Southern is not limited to Greek or Classical Revival but rather-I think- encompasses a wide range of European influences. There's one architecture firm in Alabama that truly evokes Southern grace- though it's not what first springs to my mind when I think Southern. McAlpine Tankersly (and McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors). Honestly, my heart nearly stops- or maybe that's because it's beating so fast- when I look at their work.

As many of you already "in the know" errr know, McAlpine Tankersley is an architecture firm based in Montgomery, Alabama. There is also McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors, with offices in Atlanta and Nashville. While the firms are separate entities, apparently they do collaborate a good bit. Their work has been featured in just about every major design publication. Selecting a few favorite homes was nearly impossible, but I'm going to try.

First, a Birmingham, Alabama home. I believe this is all the same house. I found this on the Interiors website but couldn't help but notice all the architectural details here. Almost over the top... and I love it!

Every single ceiling seemed to have some sort of architectural detail- crown molding (dentil work?), beams, archways). And while a lot of the materials appear to be stone, the dark wood floors and lush upholstery doesn't leave you feeling cold.

Another amazing space in Montgomery, AL. I'm wondering if this is a private home or public space. Anyone know?

Again, lots of neutral tones, sumptuous fabrics, and dark wood. And fabulous light fixtures.

And heading over to Rosemary Beach, FL. This seems somehow more "achieveable" to an everyday person.

A little more color than the two previous versions with chocolate brown and hints of green, but still a lot of neutrals. But never bland! I could just move right in here.

And I'll end with one of my faves- though it's already been featured in three magazines. Unfortunately, much of the photos seem to be of the same few rooms and being the nosy girl I am, I want to see more!!

from British House and Garden Jan 2003

Home Style Feb 2002

All very European to me, but perhaps great examples of elegant, romantic, and in some of the spaces very welcoming- Southern space.

have a warm day!

-Emmie

My Christmas Wish for My Readers

2009-12-24T06:40:00.004-05:00

I wish you lots of holiday cheer

and festive gatherings with family and friends.

(Eric Marsland photo)

For those of you who have recently lost a loved one, or are preparing for a loss, I wish you peace.

and to all, I wish you the joy of the real meaning of Christmas!

I have so enjoyed "meeting" all of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. Merry Christmas!

-Emmie

It's Beginning to Look a Lot...

2009-12-23T07:45:00.005-05:00

Like Christmas!

We have most of decorations up- though we haven't fully done the tree (due to some lighting defects). But I have these little "vignettes" to make me happy.

I've baked three batches of Christmas Cookies, one batch of Rum Balls, mailed half to my uncle in Hawaii, and shipped all packages that needed shipping. Thank-you, USPS, for having those "if it fits, it ships" boxes this year. You would be my hero if all of my Christmas cards arrived unscathed. :-) I'm also nearing my limit on eggnog- I LOVE it but it is SO bad for you!

I have also decided to buy a car now (because I am certifiably crazy). My lease is ending at the end of the year and I didn't want to be stressed for a decision at the last minute. So instead I am choosing to be stressed right before Christmas. Brilliant. I did get a great deal though, so... there you go. My goal is to do the "financially responsible" thing and drive it for 10 years or more... we'll see.

Yes, the above image is a random assortment of bells with this great (albeit faux) boxwood kissing ball. The dogs ring the bells to go outside. Speaking of the furkids, they head out to camp tomorrow while Mr. Southern and I head up to the Great White North to see family.

Are you finished with preparations? Or are you like me and have the few last-minute gifts to pick up?

Finally, I had to share my big Holiday score before putting myself on a self-imposed shopping diet (not including the car). Admittedly all the white lights may make us ready to become the next Griswalds, but the wreath came after we lit the trees. Isn't it magnificent!? It's a 60-inch wreath from Frontgate and I LOVE it. Poor Mr. Southern spent the weekend hanging the thing. It could be a few inches lower, but I wasn't doing the hanging and was not about to suggest any changes to him after all of his efforts!

Sorry for all the random rambling in this post... Hope y'all have a great day!!

Take Time to Luxuriate- Bathroom Makeover!

2009-12-21T08:02:00.003-05:00

Ideally, the holiday season fills you with lots of joy. Key words and phrases come to mind (other than joy) like: Wish, Give, Happy, Merry. Unfortunately, some other words also pop up- like stress, frustration, impatience... So take a little "me" time- time for your self to reflect, meditate, or mindless relaxation.

I am very fortunate to have won the Reverie giveawayof the Ilha Organics body soak and scrub. It has this amazing lemongrass/ginger "flavor" that can be invigorating or peaceful. Thanks to both Mel for hosting (get it here!) and to Karen of Hammocks and High Tea. Somehow I didn't connect the dots to Hammocks and High Tea and this Ilha scrub (you know I love the Hammocks and High Tea tea towels).

Instead of gloating over my win though, I thought I'd take a moment to show you my before and after bath (I forgot I had a before and after to show!!) and some great spa inspirations.

First, the before (decorated by the previous homeowner). You can't really see it because of the poor picture quality, but there is busy beige wallpaper. It was OK, but beginning to peel in some spots in the bath and I wanted something a little more glamorous.

So on one of my sister's family visits, we had my brother-in-law get to work on recreating the bath. He painted stripes in a creamy white and almost yellowish offwhite. It was amazing to see how much larger the bathroom appeared! (and we did pay him!)

Dogs don't really understand the styling and staging of pictures. Or maybe they do. Here's Kaylee, who wants in on the action (and admittedly was attracted to the scent of the scrub as well).

For bathroom phase two, I want to replace the brass-looking fixtures with nickel- but the faucet and knobs are like $450! And replace the sliding shower door with a glass wall. However, that falls near the bottom of the to-do list, so for now, I will just relish and appreciate the large Jacuzzi tub.

OK, so off for spa inspiration. Most of these spas I have not visited- but this first treat I have!

This is the Grand Wailea spa in Maui where we were fortunate to have honeymooned. Love this grand entryway! While most of us will not have a two-story bath, I love the soothing colors used, sconces, and architectural details like the columns. I also have never been a "gold" girl but love the gold accents used here. Given the "yellow" hue, gold just works so much better than any other option.

Grand Wailea

This next spa is much more "zen" and minimalist in design. But similar color scheme, which invokes a serene feeling (I cannot say the word serene without thinking of Seinfeld and George's(?) Dad saying, "Serenity Now!"). Anyway, an easier look to achieve in one's own bath- dark brown and gold artwork, dark wood, and piles of candlelight.

Yhi Spa, Me Hotel Cabo San Lucas

Another creamy gold palette but with bright pops of green through the plants and red through the tile. Calming- but not put-you-to-sleep.

Spa Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Lighting is also key. I adore the crystal fixture here- and the sconces on the walls. Clearly would need a smaller version, but that would totally glam up the bathroom. Fabulous mosaic tile design on the floors too.

Miami Beach Resort and Spa

Speaking of lighting, I adore this fixture below. I hope you can see the details- it is hundreds of wine glass pulled together to make a chandelier.

Eau Spa, Ritz Carlton Palm Beach

Use the lights to add a huge pop of color. (I couldn't write about spas and not mention the Viceroy).

Viceroy Spa, Miami

If these options are too frou-frou, perhaps this is your speed. Great functional space, lots of cubes, straight lines, and I love the natural material and texture of the rock (lava rock?) down the center of the room.

Mizu Spa, San Francisco CA

This next space is made a little less "austere" with the flowy drapes and shag rug. But I wouldn't say frou-frou. And, it is green!

Nusta Spa, Washington DC

This next space is pretty simple as well- and love the blue and turquoise hues. You'd guess the location is Greece before knowing it, too!

Blue Palace, Elounda Greece

A modern take on the blue and white theme. Lots of shiny surfaces.

Blue MedSpa Atlanta

More blue through the draperies. One of my favorites- it has everything- cool stone surfaces, a great chandelier, candles..

Le Palais rhoul via Belle Vivir

More texture-- look at that chair! Love it! And for the "all white" crowd in the blogosphere, this should be perfect for you.

Agua Spa at the Mondrian Hotel, Los Angeles

If you need the bath to invigorate, you could always do red. A bright example here.

The Spa at Red Rock via Sealaura

Slightly less bright, but very modern.

Red Door

Here, the red has a deep warming effect, rather than jolting you awake.

Malpras Kyrenia Hotels Cyprus

I have to end with one of my faves, though--- creamy yellows and golds. Here's the very opulent spa room at the Boca Raton Resort Club. I have had the chance to visit here! Again, a cavernous space that most of us do not have, but look at the materials used- plaster, marble, tiling. And lots of candles! Hints of blue as well- but very calming and serene. I'd think one could install a mosaic like one of the ones shown below over a soaking tub if a window didn't work and it would be fabulous.

Spa Palazzo, Boca Raton Resort modeled after Alhambra Palace in Spain

Here's to a bit of relaxation amid the holiday hubub!

winners all around- Raw Art Letter Press!

2009-12-18T07:42:00.003-05:00

I was thrilled to receive my "winnings" from Raw Art Letter Press the other day! Thanks to Laura of Bright, Bold, and Beautiful I got to "meet" the very talented and sweet Colette.

Don't these just make you happy?!

(The one I selected!!)

Colette graciously gave me this one as well!

Also, my sister's school won $30,000 in funding from eInstruction- thank you to those who voted!!

Have a fabulous Friday!!

Emmie

Adding a Little Sparkle: Mercury Glass

2009-12-17T08:40:00.002-05:00

via Martha Stewart

In the spirit of doing more with less, I introduce to you (again) Mercury Glass. Ok probably not. When I started this post, I hadn't realized how very well-documented Mercury Glass is in the blogosphere. Ah well.

Mercury Glass has been called "poor man's silver," particularly in England. It's made by blowing glass into a double-walled mold and inserting silver in between. Rather than containing mercury (toxic and expensive) the solution is actually a silver nitrate that is poured between the two layers of glass.

via Southern Living

Mercury glass began in Europe- first Germany in the early 19th Century, then moved to France, England and finally the United States. Pieces made generally were candlesticks, vases, tumblers, goblets and the like. It was (and is!) a great tarnish-free alternative to silver.

For a bit of time (I believe in the late 1800s), it fell out of favor, being criticized as too shiny and much like a mirror. Many of the pieces were tossed or destroyed, making older pieces more rare. In the early 1900s, however, mercury glass started being used in ornaments as well as tabletop pieces. Apparently, little girls working in assembly lines (the industrial revolution wasn't always pretty!) used to paint little flowers and other decor on their pieces.

Pottery Barn

Mercury Glass is having a bit of resurgence and I've found it fascinating how the bright/shiny/silver Mercury Glass was popular first but we're now seeing more and more of the "antiqued" version. One of the things I love about Mercury Glass is how it can add easily add a bit of festivity to your decor without screaming Merry Merry like some red and green. Additionally, Mercury Glass doesn't have to be packed backed up in January. Less to store! And may I say again- no tarnishing! Most of my holiday decor is of the silver-plated variety and requires polishing before setting out.

Much of the new "antiqued" Mercury Glass is available as candleholders- votives, candlesticks, etc. or vessels - compotes, vases, etc.

Used here in Design Style from Ballard Designs. 6 votives, $55 (on sale!) And I LOVE that deer!

Get a whole mix and match set of votives....

at Jayson Home and Garden, $12 each

For a bit more value, check out Luna Bazaar- great selection of votives and ornaments.

Ballard Designs has quite a selection available...

Ballard Designs

as does Wisteria

Wisteria

Even Orvis sells Mercury Glass

via Orvis

And because it's "holiday-related" all are on sale! Of course, it would be more fun to discover mercury glass at your local vintage market or boutiques.

Mercury glass serves as a great backdrop to reds and doesn't require a lot of extra dressing up. Just take your everyday mercury glass, add candy canes, cranberries, and some red flowers and voila. Holiday.

via Country Living

via Southern Living

or doing the silver and blue thing for a cool-toned look...

via Urban Farmhouse (she has a super-cute online store and blog and I just cheered for her when she talks about the finials appearing in Country Living!)

via Stye Estate

I happen to really like it against green, as both colors pop.

Mercury Glass Candlestick holders, via The Lettered Cottage

Katie's set around her Rosemary tree is gorgeous

via Katie D-i-d

Set just below a wreath (and mercury balls on top of the wreath)

via Martha Stewart

or amid the greens... it's perfect Holiday.

Better Homes and Gardens via Living Better together

Ballard Designs via CocoCozy

Come Spring, add some purple or pink, and mercury glass will still work!

via Living Luxely

via Sparked Vintage Charm

OK, yes, these last two are Christmas, still, but couldn't it go right into Spring!?

via Cottage Living

Have a sparkling day! (and yes, that was cheesy).

-Emmie

Darling, I must confess... an introspective posting

2009-12-16T07:33:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, I went to pay my credit card bill and whohee have I been having fun of late. I am fortunate (and no, I was NOT looking for sympathy) because I have the resources to pay that and still get my other bills.

It's just, that one, in particular, was just a little painful. Yep, it's Christmas and we have a large extended family. I love to give and I do it well (if I do say so myself)! And we traveled home for Thanksgiving and will for Christmas. And of course, (and this is the real culprit), I've found many things that I love and had to have. $200 here, $150 there, you get the idea.

Now my "number" is not outrageous and to many of you, quite possibly commonplace. That's the funny thing- we do not all have the same resources and it is silly to have to have fill in the blank just because someone else has it. Yes, you probably learned this as a teenager. Maybe even in your early twenties. I'm a little slower.

And it made me stop and think. One of the potential pitfalls of writing a blog with "Aspirations" in the title is to get a little swept away by all the things that I want. And forget about all that I aspire to be (which is quite different).

Clearly, this blog is not about one subject specifically (like many other bloggers can claim). Rather, it is a means for me to use my voice, connect with others, and discuss all things Southern Aspirations. Sort of like my version of a Southern Living magazine.

I personally am going to try to reel in some of my consumerism- oh I'll still talk about the things I'm wanting and great houses/designs/fashion I love. But I also want, no need, to focus on gratitude. And the abundance I already have. And have/demonstrate a bigger appreciation for the simple things that are out there.

Please note- this not written with any judgement whatsoever. Many of you can probably run right out and get that Schumacher wallcovering I'm dying to hang in our entryway or that Diane von Furstenberg dress I need for the holiday party tomorrow night. And I will cheer for you! But I will also realize in my little head (well, I will try to remember) that I need to pay off graduate school loans and get my furniture restored, which I've been talking about for years now!

And, remember the Reason for the Season!

-Emmie