SIMPLE RELAXATION + LINKS...

Hi my friends... I hope you had a great week! Just like every other week, I am SO glad today has arrived. My work week was super busy and my kid, aka cat, was sick this week. He has idiopathic cystitis, which is an incurable bladder disorder. Thankfully he is doing better now, but if any of you have cats who have this, any tips on how to deal with this that doesn't include me drinking copious amounts of wine and losing hours of sleep would be much appreciated. :)

It's a holiday weekend here in the states and I am happy to announce that other than doing a little work, I simply plan to relax, unload my DVR, get some exercise and catch up on my naps. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I will see you back here on Tuesday! Enjoy the links!

I absolutely loved this beautifully written and very honest post...

I had the pleasure of meeting having tea with this girl last weekend and gosh I can't wait to see where time takes her. Her story is great and her office... love.

Her products are beautiful and of course her personal dressing room is, too...

Dining al fresco - in Nicole Richie's beautiful new backyard...

A good little Labor Day sale...

To be honest, Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but of course she makes it look so fun. Such an amazing transformation, too!

End of summer outfit roulette.. So so so creative!

So true...

Image via

THREE SPACES...

Three different spaces that I'll take any day. They are light, they are bright, and all very different in style. I love the windows in that kitchen. I don't think I would mind doing dishes while standing in front of those windows. I also love that cozy little bedroom. I'd hire whoever styled those shelves in a heartbeat!! Wouldn't you?? And the little garden in the cabinets of that simple Scandinavian kitchen. Lovely little idea...

Images 1/  2 & 3 ??

SAVORING SUMMER: PEACH & PECAN BROWN SUGAR PARFAIT

I've mentioned this several times here on the blog before, but fall is my absolute most favorite time of the year. The crispness of the air and the fashion are so much better, to me, in the fall than any other season. However, when it comes to food, my feelings are completely different. Summer fruits and vegetables have my heart. They are fresh and they don't require a whole lot of fuss to make them taste their best. This recipe is proof of that. Peaches are one of my favorite fruits, so I was really excited when I found this recipe. It's a simple, healthy and really beautiful dessert in my opinion. The ingredients superbly compliment the peaches. Eating this was a bittersweet experience. It tasted so dang good, yet it reminded me that fresh peaches won't be around that much longer... 

Here is what you need and what to do (makes 2 parfaits):

2-3 peaches, washed and diced

Greek yogurt- I used Chobani

Honey

Pure vanilla extract

Dark brown sugar

Pecans, toasted and chopped

1/ In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt and honey together - to taste. Add a splash of vanilla extract and stir.

2/ At the bottom of a small glass, add a layer of peaches and top with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a few pecans

3/ Add a layer of the yogurt mixture. 

4/ Add another layer of peaches, walnuts and brown sugar. Top with the yogurt and a sprinkle of pecans.

Images by me

AN EASY DIY: GOLD SCISSORS

Hi there!! I hope your weekend was wonderful. Well today my friends, I am certainly stepping out of the box. I'm presenting my first ever DIY here on the blog. You guys... I don't do DIYs. Ever. They intimidate me and I frankly don't have much patience for them. But lately I've been keeping up with Jenny Komenda's DIYs on her blog and gosh she has a way of motivating me! She recently purchased a new home and is doing one amazing DIY after another. She has inspired me. One of her DIYs was a pair of gold scissors for her new desk. I've wanted a pair of gold scissors since I saw these at Restoration Hardware. They were super expensive, so I stopped thinking about them. But they quickly came back to mind when Jenny explained how easy and inexpensive they can be to make them on your own. So I tried it. And I'm so glad I did. It was so easy to do and I LOVE the way they turned out!

Here is what you need and what to do:

Design Master Metallic Gold Spray Paint #231 (purchased for $8 at Michaels)
Scissors
Painters tape
Newspaper

You could always spray the entire pair of scissors, but I personally like the contrast of the gold and silver. If you prefer the same, then wrap the blades with the painters tape.

Place the scissors on the newspaper and spray the first side with a coat of the spray paint. By the way, this is some GOOD spray paint. It coats beautifully, dries fast and doesn't have a strong smell once it dries. Love it. 

After the first coat completely dries (about 10 min), flip the scissors over and spray the second side. Let it dry.

If you missed some spots on the first application, be sure the scissors are completely dry before applying a second coat.

Once they are dry, remove the painters tape. That's it!

Images by me

Gold sea urchin here, also here

Antique cup purchased from here

A NOTE TO YOU + LINKS...

Well hellloooo Friday! I'm quite thrilled to see you. This week was busy and crazy, but I have to say that it was you who got me through it. I wanted to take today to thank you for that. I received so many e-mails this week from you about my blog, more so than any other week. I can't even begin to tell you how that made me feel. I really, really appreciate all of you who visit and enjoy my little corner of the Internet. I thank you...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the links!

This was hilarious... and real.

Two ingredient pancakes... I've got to try these.

Perfect pumps for fall that are on order...

If I cave to their sale this weekend, then I'd love have this and this...

Pretty and personable, yet simple. This is exactly what I would like if my day ever comes...

For those times when you remember at the last minute that you were supposed to bring the dessert...

She should win an award for the most creative home tour...

Gaby, one of my wonderful readers, made a healthy version of the chocolate chip oatmeal peanut butter skillet cookie that I posted last week. I've updated the post with her substitutions!

My wonderful blog designer, Anna, along with the developers of my blog, Maiedae, launched a fabulous business today called The Brand Market. If you are thinking of starting a blog, are new to the blog world and are interested in learning more about photography, marketing and branding, then check it out!

Image here via Tokketok (currently closed)

INSPIRED BY...

{That IKEA planter... Perfect for storing blankets for the fall and winter... }

{The roof, the lighting, the plants - all of it. If I had a home in the country, it might look like that one...}

{That beautiful structured Celine shopper. It's part of their Fall 2013 collection and part of my "if I hit it big" collection. }

{The smokey color of that door ("Down Pipe" by Farrow & Ball) and the subtle reminder that my favorite holiday is FOUR months away! }

Images 1/2/3/4

THE EASIEST APPLE TART RECIPE THERE IS...

Alright guys... This is probably the easiest dessert known to mankind. Super easy. I saw this recipe last summer on another blog and wanted to make it then, but never got around to it. Then I saw Ree Drummond make it on her show on Saturday (I LOVE her, by the way), so I made it a point to not let last weekend go by without making this. I adore apple pie and apple season is just beginning, so this is perfect timing anyway. This dessert takes less than 10 minutes to assemble for the oven and tastes like you put a lot more time into it than that. It tastes like a sweet little homemade apple pie with buttery crispy crust. So good. If you have little time, but want to impress your last minute dinner guests or your significant other, look no further. This is it... 

Here is what you need and what to do (makes 2 tarts):

2-3 medium apples, cored and thinly sliced (I used Golden Delicious apples here, but Granny Smiths would work here, too)
1 cup light brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pinch of salt
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
Powdered sugar and ice cream, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees *. Line a large cookie sheet (with sides) with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the apples, brown sugar and lemon juice. Stir until combined and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

Cut the puff pastry into equal halves and place them on the cookie sheet.

Closely overlap the slices of apples down the center of the puff pastry.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the puff pastry is browned.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut it into slices, add to a warm plate and add a side of really good ice cream.

So good! Enjoy!

* Ree set her oven to 425, but I just wanted my apples to be completely warmed through and be ever so slightly crisp. If you like your apples less firm, then set the oven to 425.

WEEKEND IN FOUR PICS...

Happy Monday!!!! That's me trying to be enthusiastic about another crazy busy week after having quite a lovely weekend. :) I don't know about you, but I'm a serial list maker and I get so excited when I get to check things off. This weekend, I was able to check a lot off and that feels so good. I went to HomeGoods and was able to find a several things I have been wanting for the house. That never happens in one trip! I also went to see The Butler. I laughed and cried my way through it then clapped along with everyone else in the theater at the end. Very good movie... I also fit in a trip to the Farmers Market to get vegetables for this easy shrimp stir-fry. GOSH it was good!! It's perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Stop by tomorrow for a quick weeknight dessert! :) 

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR LOW SNEAKER | ATLANTA FRESH