New Sofas by Serena & Lily

Have you seen the new sofa collections by Serena & Lily? I wish I knew them personally so that I could call them and tell them how beautiful the sofas are. They are chic, casual, and comfortable all in one. They are also pricey ($2,450 - $2,750), but they are classic.

The sofa of the Miramar Collection is just fluffy and lovely. It would be great for people who have laid-back taste with a pinch of style. I could certainly see myself curled up on this in my pj's with a cup of tea, a design magazine, and the remote. Couldn't you?

 

The available fabrics for this sofa are solid colors, so one could have quite a party with the accessories. Hello Etsy...

{via}

I'm not really into furniture "sets", but I would heavily consider buying the chair to match. Patterned fabrics in addition to solids are available for the chair. I'm loving this fabric... 

The sofa of the Spruce Street Collection is a bit more tailored and modern. But Serena & Lily promise that it is comfortable, too. I adore the nailheads.

It might look like similar to this if it were all dolled-up...

{via}

Just loving Serena & Lily...

Mid-Week Treat: Chocolate Souffle

It has been a while since I have posted a sweet treat. Things have been busy, so I haven't had a lot of time to bake. In case you didn't already know, I love chocolate. I'm addicted to it. Therefore, we interact at least once a day. Last weekend, I had a little date with chocolate. I made a chocolate souffle- one of my favorite desserts. Click here for the recipe.

In the event that you have not had it before, let me tell you what it's like. Simply put, it's like a big, fluffy cloud of chocolate. It has a spongy texture that is moist and delectable. My favorite part of the souffle is the top and the bottom. The bottom is a layer of sugar that caramelizes in the oven, so its has a bit of crunch. The top of the souffle also has a slight crunch and I love anything that's crunchy.

Souffles are very simple to make, but they are very delicate. Therefore, they must be prepared in a very specific way. Here are my tips for the perfect souffle:

• Don't attempt to make souffles when its humid in your house or outside. They have a tendency to fall in the oven if its too humid. They should get nice and puffy like this...


• Be generous with the butter when preparing the ramekins, especially if you want to take them out of the ramekins after they bake. I personally like to serve them in the ramekins- better presentation.

• Souffles involve very few ingredients. So use REALLY good REAL ingredients. No shortcuts. The chocolate should contain at least 60% cacao. I use the Ghirardelli chocolate bars. I also use organic eggs. They just taste better.

• All of the ingredients must be room temperature. No exceptions. The souffle won't bake evenly if the ingredients are cold. If you forget to take the eggs out of the refrigerator, put them in a bowl and place them in a microwave for 10 seconds. They won't cook- I promise.

•  Use a little TLC when folding the egg whites into the chocolate. Click here for a video on how to do this. This is a flourless recipe, so the egg whites are what make the souffle rise. Air is slowly being incorporated into the mixture as they are folded. Stirring the egg whites will deflate the egg whites and the souffle will not rise.

• They must be served immediately after taking them out of the oven. They will eventually fall, so you want to serve them when they are warm and at their best.

• Powdered sugar and a side of vanilla ice cream are an absolute must! Enjoy!

Friday Favorite: My Family (I Know It's Monday)

Happy Valentine's Day friends! I hope your day is going well so far. 

If you follow my blog, then you might have realized that I did not post a "Friday Favorite" last Friday. Work and life were hectic last week which left me little time to focus on the blog. But it so happens that it worked out because my Friday Favorite was going to be my family. It just seems more fitting to introduce them to you on Valentine's Day since they are the loves of my life.

Starting with my mother (gosh I hope I can write this without getting that dreadful knot in my throat). She is honestly my best friend. I can talk to her about anything and I can trust that she will listen and honor every single word that I say. She is THE single most giving person that I know and she has always put the needs of others before her own. She is  the person who will help out at birthday parties, weddings, and even funerals for people that she barely knows- all in the name of giving to someone else who is in need. She is also very loyal and loving. She has been married to my dad almost 35 years...

and they still love each other very much. I'm one lucky girl.

People say that I look like my mom, but they also say that I act more like my dad- which is true. My mom is very outgoing and is certainly a people person. My dad and I are more reserved and quiet. Dad is the most devoted, hard-working, supportive, loving and kind man that I know. Perhaps that is why I'm still not married- I have yet to meet any man like him. He is also exceptionally smart. He loves the news, history and politics. By the way, that picture is of us in the White House press room. We took a tour of the West Wing together last year. Great times...

He just retired from NASA after working there for over 30 years. Right before he retired, he had the opportunity to meet President Obama. I know that Obama does not make everyone smile. But that is one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen on my dad. It's rare that people get to meet any President and he was just elated that day.

My brother has a mixture of both of our parents personalities. He is extremely loving and giving. He's the guy that will literally give you the shirt off of his back if you need it or if yours is not sufficient. He also gives the best hugs EVER. But like my dad and I, he also has the tendency to be quiet and reserved at times. He is an extremely talented graphic designer. He started an airbrush business in our garage in his early teens and now works as a graphic designer and runs his airbrush business on the side. He is also really good at fencing, which I find to be quite fascinating.

 

And last but not least, my "child" Maxwell. You should know that it has taken me FOREVER to write this due to the fact that he has been in my lap nudging my hand and wanting attention the entire time. But I love him, so it doesn't matter. Max was originally supposed to be my mom's cat. I planned to purchase a cat for her shortly after her cat passed away. But she called me the day before my appointment with the breeder to tell me that she was not ready for another cat. But I kept the appointment anyway, which was one of the best decisions I have ever made. He is very human-like, loving, loyal and just a great pet.

Those are the loves of my life and the people who I am thinking about on this special day. I am so blessed and I thank God for them everyday.

And yes, I do have a knot in my throat. :)

Images 1 & 5: Shannon Jackson Photography

Image 6: Dana Eason Photography

Simple + Sophisticated

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Leonardo de Vinci

Image: House Beautiful

Pink + Pretty

So it's Wednesday and I'm still thinking about Valentine's Day and love. In Monday's post, I talked about turning to Etsy to see the creative side of love. Of course I had to turn to the blogs and design mags to see what they had to say about the Day and how it inspires them. As I was searching, I found the color pink to be quite consistent. I'm not a girly-girl type of person, but I think touches of pink can be sexy, romantic, dramatic and elegant. Here is what I found...  

I absolutely adore this Valentine's Day inspired tablescape done by Maria of Dreamy Whites. She does wonders with white and this table is proof. It's creative, it's clean, it's crisp, and it whispers love. The hints of blush flowers create even more of a soft and romantic feel.

 

Kirsten of 6th Street Design School (LOVE her blog) did a post earlier this week on pink pillows. It was so hard to pick a favorite, but...

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 

I think #7 and #14 are my top picks.

Speaking of pink pillows, the latest issue of House Beautiful features a beautiful home in Mountain Brook, Alabama (my home state). The pink pillows and accessories add the perfect amount of drama to the otherwise neutral but elegant palette.

I searched House Beautiful online to find some more pink-studded rooms. I grew out of the whole "pink room" thing when I was about 10, but this grown-up pink retreat designed by Smith Hanes makes me want to revert back to those days. It's soft, relaxing, and not overwhelmingly pink.

Pink paired with complimentary colors like white, brown and gold can create a very romantic setting like this one. I am even liking the light pink ceiling here.

Pink and red can be nice together, too.

So I think pink can be quite pretty.

Finding Love on Etsy

Well, Valentine's Day is coming up. It's a day that people (or women rather) either take very seriously or a day that people think of as nothing but a cliché. But let's be honest, whether you celebrate the day or not, you at least think about the concept of love. Maybe you think about the people, the places, and the things that you love- or at least I do. Things that I love were on my mind over the weekend. One thing I love is Etsy, so I turned to it to find some simple, yet creative expressions of love.

 I love these prints. They would be perfect together...

The Love Shop



ReStyle



I love these "Love" throw pillows, too. This one by Dear Lillie is a favorite of mines. There is nothing like someone telling you they love you in foreign language... 

 This one is really wonderful.



Jolie Marche

And I love a good card. To me, cards that are simple, personable and to the point are worth a thousand words.

Red Letter Paper Co.



I especially love a good laugh...

Story Shop



And for all the "Single Ladies..."

Creativity Cards

I hope you have a lovely Monday!

Friday Favorite: Peace

I can't think of a single thing to add to that...

I wish you a calm and peaceful weekend.

Image here

Mid-Week Stress Relief

I love when I run across people, places, or things that literally take my breath away and make me feel a sense of relief. That is what happened to me yesterday as I was reading Ashlina's post at The Decorista. She did a great post on the fabulous work of Kelly Wearstler. Kelly is a distinguished interior designer who is best known for her luxurious designs of upscale hotels. Her work at the new Viceroy Hotel in Anguilla really took my breath away. I find the neutral colors and the wood against the blue ocean to be insanely relaxing. I loved everything from the outside to the inside...

 

Now don't you feel a little better?