An Island Bedroom: The Vault Files

You are in for a treat today my friends! I asked my friend Gaby from The Vault Files to share her story and her bedroom with you today. Gaby has an amazing sense of fashion and style and your eyes are about to prove it to you! 

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Hi everyone! Gaby from The Vault Files here sharing some snaps of my bedroom with all of you. First let me tell you that I felt immensely honored when Tiffany asked me to share a room from my ordinary abode here in Kone, New Caledonia. New what you ask? New Cal is a French island close to New Zealand and a year ago we moved from Toronto to this very remote place in the pacific for a temporary job assignment (husband's).

Bringing our furniture with us was not a option, so, not even knowing where we were going to live we had to buy everything, yes, from forks and plates to beds and tables! And giving that this island is very remote, the options were little but oh so expensive! So, giving that this was a "temporary" accommodation we kept it on the minimalistic side. Bed and dresser were bought here, bedside table was a hand-me-down, rug was bought here in the hardware "store" and the rest are things I was able to bring in my suitcases (good move I would say, though I didn't think the same when we traveled with 9 suitcases!). So, here it is:

Love my ikat pillow covers

My bedside table

Every single night I moisturize my hands right before going to bed.

A square dish that holds recently used jewels.

On top of my dresser: jewelry, wedding pictures, sunglasses. 

Not pictured: Bowl with headbands, phone and router.

Jewelry on display

The dishes and the colors make me smile everyday

Earrings and rings

My rug at the end of the bed

A pretty bag that I love looking at everyday


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Don't you love it?? How incredibly stylish is she??  I love all of the beautiful ways she has organized her amazing jewels... Thank you so much Gaby for sharing your space. You will find more eye candy on Gaby's blog, so be sure to check it out!

Game Day Guacamole

So I had all of these plans to post a sweet, lemony recipe today. As I finished the recipe, I remembered that the Super Bowl is this weekend! Therefore, a party recipe is in order! So I whipped up this guacamole that is a feast for your taste buds!

Let me just say that I heart guacamole. I heart it a whole, whole, whole lot...

I usually don't add red onions or tomatoes to my guacamole, but I saw Ree make it on her show last weekend and she made it look so good! So I thought I would try it out...

I confess that I ate that ENTIRE bowl after I photographed it. So good!

Is your mouth watering? Mines is and I'm not even hungry right now... Here is what you need and what to do:

3 Avocados, diced

2 Tomatoes, seeded and diced

1/2 of a large red onion, finely diced

Cilantro, to taste

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (if you like it hot!)

Juice of 1 lime

Salt to taste

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice and salt. Then add the avocado and stir. I like chunky guacamole, so I don't mash the avocados. But feel free to mash them up a bit with a fork if you like.

If you are making this a little ahead of time, place plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole (not just on the bowl, but right on top of the guacamole) and store it in the fridge- but only for maybe a day. It's best if it's devoured a few hours after you make it. This makes about 6 servings.

Are you attending a Super Bowl party??

Linked up with Tasty Tuesdays!

P.S. I will share the sweet, lemony recipe next week!

Image by me

Weekend In Six Pics

Hi there! Whew... I had a busy, busy weekend! How about you? Gosh I wish someone had the power to change our standard 2-day weekend to a 3-day weekend! I need an extra day! Perhaps that is because I spent a good chunk of my weekend in TJMaxx and HomeGoods. Let me fill you in on that...

I am finally getting around to decorating my office at work! I shopped at TJMaxx and HomeGoods and boy did they have some good stuff! My inspiration were the orange lamps with the burlap shade that I found at HomeGoods (see the top shelf of the first photo). I TOTALLY didn't plan on decorating my office with hints of orange, but I really loved those lamps. The photo on the right is a little sneak peek of the office. Whatcha think??

Breaking news people: TJMaxx is selling leopard loafers! Of course they didn't have any in my size. That would be too much like right. But the point is that they are there, so check your local store! I did buy a really cute trench coat for $39 bucks and a pair of Lucky Brand flats that are REALLY comfortable. Like I said, check your local TJMaxx! 

Sorry, but I have one more thing to say about TJMaxx... Is that not the cutest Kate Spade bag?? $149 bucks. TJMaxx was on a roll! I contained myself and didn't buy it. Sigh... After running between TJMaxx and HomeGoods, I was starving! So I stopped for a Mediterranean hummus wrap at Vermont Mustard Company and it was amazing! If you are in the Atlanta area, stop by!

Please tell me about your weekend!

xo,

Fitted & Flared {Dior}

I didn't have time to put together a Friday's Fancies post this week.

Super busy week.

But I thought these amazing Dior dresses would be a great substitute...

I hope you have a great weekend friends. :)

Image via

Things I Love, Not Like

Lately, I have had the urge to buy everything in sight that I just "like," not love or need. Not good. Do you ever feel that way? 

Well, to curb my urges to splurge I have started taking trips around my house with my camera. I photograph little things that I already have- and love. It helps- well, most of the time... 

A stack of books and magazines that share the bed with me.

Reading and flipping through these at night calms me down after long days. They also give me inspiration for the things I share with you here...

Striped straws.

Accessorizing a cold glass of milk, sparkling water or my green drink with one of these seems to make the drink 10 times more appetizing. Love that...

A styled fruit board. 

I love fruit, too. And yes, I sometimes style my fruit board as if I were about to host a brunch for four people. I keep it on the kitchen table to snack on during the day. Styling them makes the fruit more appealing and keeps me from craving things like french fries and massive doses of chocolate chips.

A green plant in my foyer.

It was given to me by my mom- one reason I love it. It brings so much freshness and life to the space- two more reasons I love it. It's actually growing into the middle of the foyer and needs to be repotted. I don't have a green thumb- at all. I don't even know what kind of plant that is (told ya I don't have a green thumb). I just water it once a week and it seems to be satisfied- another reason I love it.

What do you do to control your urge to splurge?

How Convenient...

How convenient are...

Two farm sinks instead of just one...

A basket full of fresh towels right next to the sink, a pretty antique sink at that...

A double-duty nightstand...

And a view of the Eiffel Tower from a workspace... 

I'd never get any work done there. Would you?

Images 1/2-3/4

My Favorite Breakfast

Nothing about my favorite breakfast in the world is ground-breaking, but I love it. I start my day with this filling and healthy breakfast 3-4 days a week and have been for about 3 years, so I thought it was worthy of making an appearance on my blog...

It's incredibly simple to make. Here's what you need and what to do...

A toasted, hearty slice of whole wheat bread

Your favorite peanut butter (Smuckers Natural Chunky PB is my favorite)

Ripe, delicious bananas- organic ones taste more banana-ey (not a word, I know)

Sticky, sweet honey

Slather a layer of peanut butter on top of the toasted bread
Sometimes I heat the peanut butter up in the microwave for a few seconds to make it more slatherable...
Add sliced bananas on top of the peanut butter

Then slowly, yes slowly, drizzle honey on top of the bananas

Drink it with a cold glass of creamy milk or your favorite hot tea, then enjoy your day. 

What is your favorite breakfast?

Linked up with Tasty Tuesdays

Images by me

A Perfect Quiet Weekend

Hi there! How was your weekend? My weekend was very quiet, which made doing my regular "Weekends In" a little difficult. So I am switching things up a bit today. I hope that's ok...

The pic above sort of sums up my weekend. The sun never came out over the weekend, so I chose to spend much of my time in the middle of my bed surrounded by magazines, the remote, books, my laptop, my Kindle, and a sleeping cat. It was quite lovely. I snacked on the most delicious strawberries and downed a Synergy, my favorite drink. I also had the kale and spinach smoothie that I posted last week- two times. I think know I'm obsessed with it. I'm currently reading my third book this year, which is a world record for me. It's called Epilogue. Joanna's description of the book last week sucked me right in. It's about love, loss, family and relationships. Right up my alley. And did I tell you I signed up for my first food photography retreat?? It's hosted by Clare and Helene of Tartelette and I am thrilled!

Oh and that gray and navy striped thing in the background is my new StyleMint tee (the Fillmore). I wore it during the day Saturday as I lounged. It's so soft. Love it. 

How was your weekend? Do tell...

xo,