Easter Inspiration

April showers bring May flowers...but wait, it's still. only. February.  We still have months to go before those flowers are ready to bloom, but in effort to fight seasonal depression I headed to the rabbit hole that is Pinterest for some springy inspiration.  If you ever needed a push to purchase those use-only-once-a-year-china, this is it.  (Here's looking at you irresistible bunny plates!)  In the meantime, it's time to stock up on some fresh flowers, and if I turn up the heat, I can at least go down to wearing just two layers. 

-MC-

Image credit - BlesserHouse, OurSouthernHome and PotteryBarn via Pinterest

Farmhouse Fresh

I wouldn't ever say that my style is country, Southern belle, sure, but never country.  When I think country, I envision barnyard animals and kitch, but lately I've been having a major fixation with farmhouse style (probably because I've been binge-watch the show I mentioned here), especially in the kitchen.  White, glass-paned cabinets, shiplap everything and the shining glory of a farmhouse kitchen, big farmhouse sinks.  Literally cannot. get. enough.  And since my apartment has a stainless steel number, I'll continue dreaming of these beauties:

Image Source: 1/2/3/4/5/6

-MC-

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December Inspirations

Cozy blankets and roaring fires.  Image Source: Pinterest

White and Green.  Image Source

Fair Isle.  Image Source: Pinterest

Put a bow on it.  Image Source: Pinterest

All plaid everything.  Image Source: Pinterest

A holiday-ready kitchen.  Image Source: Pinterest

This holiday season, I'm leaning towards simple, natural decor with lots of greenery for a cozy and rustic feel.  I love the idea of taking a few holiday elements and incorporating them in the kitchen!

-MC-

Object of Desire: Desk Decor

Today I was introduced to the most beautiful desk accessory maybe ever - Rablabs Kiva Platters.  Combining naturally gorgeous stone with precious metal finishes, these platters add a stylish, unexpected flurish to any table.  Available in a variety of stones (think Crystal, Rose Quartz and Japser) with silver and gold edged finishes, these elegant display platters are scratch-resistant, have rubber feet to protect table surfaces and measure approximately 10" x 13".  Here are just a few of their dreamy options:

-MC-

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Friday Finds

This week has certainly been a busy one!  Here are a few great finds I've recently discovered:

- With Summer vacation on the horizon, check out how to travel in style.

- I love a Bronte sister classic.  Recently I'm all about Wuthering Heights. Oh, Heathcliff.

- A how-to guide on creating Instagram-worthy vingettes.

- How clean is your home, really?  Check out this site for achieving a seriously healthy clean.

- My India Hicks style crush continues.  Here is a look into her stylish childhood home.

Floral Forecast

Nothing is more welcoming or uplifting than fresh-cut flowers.  Bold and bright or pale and demure, a well-place bouquet instantly breathes freshness into a room.  However, after a few days, the bloom may be, quite literally, off the rose.  Extend the life of your next arrangement, even by just a day or two, with a few easy tweaks.

- Change the water daily.  Seems easy, but it's also easy to overlook.  Just think about how your skin would feel without water for a day.  Enough said.

- Trim the stems everyday.  Be sure to cut them on an angle, preferably under a running faucet.  I like to use kitchen shears for a precise cut.  Be sure to remove leaves after they start to look limp.

- Add a pinch of sugar.  Flowers need food to stay alive.  By adding a bit of sugar to the water, which is drawn up through the stem, you're giving the flowers the energy it needs to bloom.

- Drop in a penny.  The copper in a penny helps ward off bacteria, which can cause flowers to die more quickly. 

- Switch up the vase.  As the arrangement gets smaller and the blooms get wider, switch out a tall vase for shorter, rounder one.  This play on proportion makes the flowers look artfully full.

- Keep flowers out of the elements.  Seems a bit counter-intuitive, but freshly cut flowers do best when not in direct sunlight or excessive wind.

Well Read: Coffee Table Books

One gift I love to give and receive is a coffee table book.  I love to stack them around the house, changing them out every once in a while, to reflect a certain mood, a style or a theme.  I love that they can reflect different facets of your personality, secret (or not so secret) interests, and an ingrained sense of style.  Mine are a mix between style and travel while the Mr. C's veer to the outdoor set.  Together, I think they perfectly represent us - a little town and little country.

Here are a few favorites and a few I'm looking to add to my collection: