Elle's Nursery Completed

I walk into her room and feel an instant peace.  It’s so light, open and bright.  I love it!

We decided to not find out what we were having.  At the time of this decision we were living in a one bedroom NYC apartment and had no plans to move.  I had no nursery to decorate which made this choice much easier.  Once we decided to move back to Dallas I had the dilemma of decorating a gender neutral nursery.  

The walls are Restoration Hardware Silver Sage.  I fell in love with this color and also used it in our dinning room.  In different lights this color changes so dramatically -- a sage green to blue green to blue grey.  I cannot take all the credit for the mural, but I will take some : )  My aunt had her muralist draw the images on the wall and together we painted it.  This turned out so beautiful, and even though it seems bold I don’t even notice it most days.

Her rug is from West Elm.   I really love this rug, except for the fact that it sheds on dark clothes.  I searched from something soft and light colored.  And what I really wanted was a white rug, but could never pull the trigger!  This weave and color actually hides quite a bit and is a perfect thickness to play on. 

The dresser is piece my little brother acquired from an old apartment that I painted white.  I love this piece!  It is so functional.  Elle will have this forever.  I don’t know why people buy changing tables?  They are so small and don’t always have great storage.  I can store diapers, wipes, clothes, diaper pail refill bags, sheets and blankets in all the drawers. 

I know, I know.  Blah Blah mobiles are not cheap, but they are some of the cutest mobiles on the market!  Put it on your registry and I’m sure there will be somebody who can’t pass it up!  I purchased the bird for over her changing table and it was an instant hit.  Seriously it was!  From a very young age, Elle loved watching her birds.  And since I’m such a sucker I went back for the lamby one to put over her crib.  

Once Elle began sleeping in her crib, I needed a night light in her room.  This maybe one of my fav things in Elle’s room.  I love giving them as gifts too.  It’s one of those things you forgot about when you’re preparing a nursery (or at least I forgot about it!).  They also come in many different colors, animals, scenes -- great for a gift when you don’t know the sex of the baby too!

Fabric Friday -- Adding Color

Elle's nursery started off with lots of white.  Her walls are Restoration Hardware Silver Sage and the rest of the room is basically white -- bed, sheets, dresser, chair, ottoman, shelves, lamp, table.  I did throw in some color with the boxes I recovered.

As she's approaching her 2nd birthday (OMG! I can't believe it), I've had her "big girl" room in the back of my mind.  This is the direction I'm heading. . .

I would love this silk framed between two white twin beds, above a unique bedside table.  

found here

These pillows as euro shams on the beds. 

found here

Maybe for the duvet, folded at the end of the beds on top of white quilt. 

linked to pinterest from here

Not sure where this would go, but I love the birds : )

linked to pinterest from here

What do you think so far?

Dijon & Maple Baked Salmon

Dijon & Maple Baked Salmon

2 tbl  dijon mustard
1 tbl  maple syrup
2 tbl  olive oil
kosher salt and pepper

Mix everything together and spoon onto salmon.  Broil salmon until they are cooked to your liking.  Yum Yum!!

Mixed Green Salad with Salmon

Now that summer has officially begun in Texas I am craving light dinners.  I need more salad recipes!  I really only have a few go-to ones, and I am so tired of those!   These hot summers leave me craving salads, fish, fruit and white wine.

I ran up to Whole Foods hoping to find a salad inspiration.  Salmon sounded good, but I wasn't sure what to put in with it.  Definitely some avocados and cucumbers, but aside from that I had no I idea.  Here's what I came up with . . .

Mixed Green Salad with Salmon
(no measurements here, equal parts of each)

mixed greens
red onions, sliced
green beans, steamed then cooled
avocado
tomato
cucumber
dijon & maple baked salmon filet
goat cheese

I tossed all the ingredients (except the goat cheese) together with the best vinaigrette (it's just a bit sweet).  And because the goat cheese is so soft, I sprinkled it on top just before serving.

Standby Vinaigrette  
from Gwyneth Paltrow's, My Father's Daughter

2 tsp   dijon mustard
1 tsp   maple syrup
1/4 c   red wine vinegar
2 tbl   vegetable oil
1/2 c  extra virgin olive oil
coarse salt
fresh ground pepper

Fabric Friday: Islimi Pillows

During my morning Pinterest browsing I stumbled upon this little Etsy shop.  Love all the colors!  Check out Islimi if you're in need of some new pillows.  

I can't choose!

Collecting a Mantel

Since we moved into our home 2 years ago I have never finished collecting pieces for out mantel.  It's quite a sad little mantel anyways.  There is not much too it, not much depth to it.  I finally hung my mirror after a year and a half.  It's just one of those things in the house that I can't decide on how I want it to look.

I love the mirror above it, and typically never hang a mirror horizontal.  A few weeks ago I arranged the flowers for a friends wedding shower.   side note: I think I missed my calling in life.  I had way too much fun doing it!  And not to brag, but I think they turned our beautiful!  They were a combination of tulips, roses, dahlias and eucalyptus. Most of the flowers were from our local grocery store too, cheap and pretty!    And lucky for me I brought most of them home from the party and used them on the mantel.  For about a week my mantel was complete . . . and then they died.  I guess my solution will be to always have beautiful fresh arrangements up there! HA!

Meatless Monday Challenge: Accepted

I eat meat.  I like meat.  I eat meat at most every meal.

I commend all my veggie and vegan friends but have absolutely no desire to choose that lifestyle.  No apologies and no judgement, just being truthful.  Basically I have no self control : )  Sunday night Chase proposed we start "meatless Mondays."  I was completely shocked!  This coming from my man who insists on having meat at every meal!  I had actually brought this up years ago and I'm pretty sure I was laughed at.

He started by asking me the rules to our Meatless Mondays.  I laughed and I told him that the rules are whatever we make them to be!    Maybe let's start with dinner? Let's also be realistic.  My favorite word! REALISTIC.  I don't want to start something and not accomplish it because it doesn't fit our lifestyle.  So basically, we didn't make up any rules yet.

May 20 marks my first Meatless Monday!

Breakfast      (I didn't have to change my normal breakfast)
Coffee.  Yogurt.  Granola.  Blueberries.  Rasberries.  Strawberries

Lunch     (Definitely a change from my usual turkey sandwich)
Open faced sunny side up sandwich.

Dinner    (A typical dinner for us, but no ground beef)
Spaghetti.  Salad

Not too bad for my first day!  Lunch will probably be the most challenging meal.  I am completely addicted to turkey sandwiches!!!!!  Wish us luck : )

Open Faced Sunny Sandwich

1/2 piece of naan (or any bread)
1  piece of swiss cheese
1/4  avocado
1/2  tomato
1 1/2 egg (1 whole egg and just the white of the second)
pinch of sea salt

There are so many variations to this!  I happen to have all these delish things at home today.

Veggie Spaghetti

1 eggplant, cubed
1 zucchini, cubed
8 oz  mushrooms
1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
salt and pepper
olive oil

I roasted all the veggies together with olive oil, salt and pepper (you could also do this step in a skillet). In a large pot I added the roasted veggies to my spaghetti sauce and kept them on low while I cooked my pasta.

So many possibilities to this one too!  The mushrooms added some hearty "meat-like" texture.  Can't wait to eat this again!