the darndest things

kids are really quite perceptive, aren't they?

JILL

{from children's letters to God}

too much fun

i think something like this is hard to forget.

imagine you're at a wedding, after lots of dancing and a few cocktails, what could be more exciting than milk and cookies, with love from the bride and groom? and especially presented like this?!

love this idea.

elle and i had a friend that did late night hamburgers and it was fantastic... and i don't even eat red meat :)

anyone else have any great wedding late night snack stories?

JILL

{both images from martha stewart: first one was kevin sharkey's house warming party, and the second, just another one of her good things ;) }

not your grandmother's bike

i received an email the other day about the new bike at cb2. i had to check it out. i'm a cb2 fan and never knew them to carry exercise/outdoor equipment before!

they weren't messing around by the dreaming up of this bike. she's lovely.

it's called the abuela bike. now, abuela in spanish means grandmother, but like i said, this isn't your grandmother's old fashioned bike. however, i think a grandma on this bike would be a totally hip and different story :)

the yellow tires could not be more perfect. although, i think they'd get dirty. but at least in the beginning, you'd have awesome yellow tires ;)


and a rockin bell!! bring-bring bring-bring.

don't know if i'd spend the $500, but i'd like to!

JILL

stylish sophistication

i love many things about this entry...the grey and white checked floor, the tufted gray round bench, the subtle mix of navy and gray and lime and kelly green. the sophistication while still establishing style.

xoxo

elle.

spring's sprung

i know most of the country is feeling my excitement...

spring is most definitely here!

elle turkey

the forsythia on the side of my house looks like this now.

living in kansas, i'm used to the snow one week and 70 degrees the next, but i feel like this spring crept up all of a sudden and i'm all geeked out about it.

xo

JILL

new wall stencil

i think i'm going to purchase this ikat stencil i found on etsy last week, for my kitchen.

i'm getting ahead of myself. i am 98% finished with the family room painting projects after this weekend, and i'm not starting more until those are finished! (because i have a bad track record of having too many open projects!) but i got really excited when i found this. i originally had thought about wallpaper but i don't want the hassle of hanging it, or the hassel of taking it down when i inevitably want to change my mind :)

so a wall stencil it is. i've had my feelers out for a cool one for a bit now, but this one! i love.

at this very moment, i am going to paint my oak cabinets gray, and i'm thinking 2 shades of white and off-white for the walls with this stencil... and a killer color on the ceiling. i realize not having any pictures makes it near impossible for you to grasp what i want to do but they are coming... as soon as the family room is finished. promise. (p.s. silver drop is beautiful. love.)

one more thing, a secret i can't keep any longer... i bought a settee i'm going to use as a banquette!! pictures to come. it's on the list for some more homemade reupholstery... (sense the nervousness in my typing there? haha. we'll see if this one turns out as great as the last one.) and a new location- not for the dining room anymore! i know i know, the suspense is just too much :)

JILL

stencil found here.

peak season

etsy

snippet and ink

pinterest

santa barbara chic

better homes and gardens

elizabeth anne designs

with the peak of artichoke season just upon us it makes me eager to enjoy these delicious treats!! i just learned of a new way to prepare them, and although i haven't tried it yet i thought i would share. instead of boiling or steaming try baking or roasting them in the oven. it is appears quite easy using the "pop it in the oven and forget it" method of cooking that i truly love.

ingredients:

2 large artichokes rinsed and trimmed (remove the entire stem)

1 whole lemon (cut in half)

4 cloves of garlic, slivered

4 tablespoons of olive oil

sea salt to taste

4 sheets of heavy duty foil wrap

instructions:

preheat oven to 425°F. squeeze 1/2 a lemon on the top of each trimmed artichoke. drizzle each artichoke with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (allowing oil to go in between artichoke leaves). stuff two cloves of slivered garlic between leaves of each artichoke. sprinkle each artichoke with salt and any other herbs such as finely chopped rosemary or sage.

double-wrap each artichoke with 2 layers of heavy duty foil, sealing well on top by twisting and pinching foil packets. place foil packets of artichokes in oven and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes (for jumbo to large-sized artichokes) or 1 hours (for medium-sized artichokes).

remove artichokes from oven. when cool enough to handle, unwrap artichokes and enjoy.