Interior Design Books

Interior Books to read and decorate with......

1. Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits by Marianne Hagan  2. Glamour Making it Modern by Michael Lassell  3. Rooms to Inspire: Decorating with America's Best Designers by Annie Kelly and Tim Street-Porter  4. Kelly Hoppen Home by Kelly Hoppen  5. Lifting the Curtain by Design by Vincente Wolf  6. Vogue Living: Houses, Garden, People by Hamish Bowles  7. Elle Decor So Chic: Glamourous Lives, Stylish Spaces by Margaret Russell and the editors of Elle Decor  8. American Fashion Designers at Home by Rima A. Suqi 9. Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to creating a Home that makes you happy by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro  10. Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style by Kelly Wearstler  11. Hue by Kelly Wearstler and Steve Crist  12. Domicilium Decoratus by Kelly Wearstler  13. Monochrome by Paula Rice Jackson and John F. Saladino  14. Regency Redux: High Style Interiors, Napoleonic, Classical Moderne, and Hollywood Regency by Emily Evans Eerdmans and Kelly Wearstler  15. Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor by Margaret Russell  16. A Passion for Interiors: A Private Tour by Carolyn Roehm  17. At Home with Town and Country by Sarah Medford and The Editors of Town and Country  18. Alexa Hampton: The Language of Interior Design by Alexa Hampton

All books can be purchased through Amazon.com

Favorite Summer Salad- part 2

Southwestern-Style Shrimp Taco Salad

Here is round two of my favorite summer salads! This one is pretty quick and super delicious! Enjoy!

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons maple syrup (I go light on this)

2 teaspoons chipotle hot sauce

3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined

2 ears shucked corn

cooking spray

1 cup chopped romaine lettuce

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

3 plum tomatoes, chopped

2 oz blue corn tortilla chips (this can be changed out)

1/3 cup light sour cream

1/4 cup diced avocado

Lime wedges (optional)

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

2. Combine lime juice, olive oil, cumin, garlic, syrup, and hot sauce in a small bowl.

3. Place shrimp in shallow bowl and drizzle 1 tablespoon of the lime juice mixture, tossing gently to coat. Thread shrimp onto metal skewers.

4. Reserve the remaining lime juice mixture; set aside.

5. Lightly coat corn with cooking spray. Grill shrimp and corn on a grill rack coated with cooking spray- about 8 minutes will do the trick.

6. Remove shrimp from skewers and place in large bowl. Cut kernels from ears of corn and place in bowl with the shrimp.

7. Add chopped lettuce, green onions, cilantro, black beans and tomatoes to shrimp.

8. Drizzle reserve lime juice mixture over ingredients and toss to combine.

9. Divide tortilla chips evenly among bowls and top with 1 cup shrimp mixture each.

10. Combine avocado and sour cream in small bowl. Mash with a fork until well blended. Top each bowl with about 1 tablespoon sour cream mixture and serve with a lime wedge. Yields 6 servings.

Print the recipe here.

Rachel Zoe Debut

Rachel Zoe ready to wear has arrived at Neiman's.  Check it out:

All Images from NeimanMarcus.com

Zoe Report logo from rachelzoe.com/ Rachel Zoe image: news.lalate.com

So Inspiring!

While browsing the internet a few days ago, I came across an image of a fabulous room done by Frank Roop. I quickly googled his name to find more. He is a Boston based interior designer who I think gets it just right! His spaces are neutral and relaxing, but there is always a pop of color or two thrown into the mix. Mr. Roop has a book coming out in October. The New Bespoke. I have mine on pre-order.

All images are from frankroop.com

Let Freedom Ring!

I cannot seem to think of the Fourth of July without singing this Martina McBride song! Isn't that funny/random/annoying??? I apologize in advance if it's stuck in your head for the next week...completely my fault. 

Anyway, on to more important things, like DESSERTS! I just love summer entertaining, don't you? I tend to keep things relaxed and casual (read: thrown together at the last minute), but holidays call for something special! These desserts are over-the-top impressive and are sure to be crowd pleasers. Which will you try?


Flag Cake ~ www.glorioustreats.blogspot.com


Red, White, and Blue Parfaits ~ Better Homes and Gardens


Flag Cupcakes ~ Martha Stewart


Berry-Lemon Napoleon ~ Better Homes and Gardens


Vanilla-Raspberry Sundaes ~ Martha Stewart


Berry Truffle Pie ~ Better Homes and Gardens


American Flag Tart ~ Martha Stewart


Raspberry Custard Brûlée ~ Better Homes and Gardens


Flag Sheet Cake ~ Martha Stewart


Berries with Tequila Cream ~ Southern Living


Berry Cream Tart ~ Coastal Living

Suit Up

With the 4Th of July insight, I found myself searching the net for beach essentials to enjoy our country's birthday. From one-pieces to cover-ups to hats... the designers of our day have it all figured out. Some of my favorites are above....



And..... since it is only a week from the big day. I created a little inspiration for my favorite holiday. Be inspired and be American!!!!



board 1 - images via [1. Missoni-shopstyle.com; 2. anthropologie.com; 3. net-a-porter.com 4. Micheal Kors-neimanmarcus.com; 5. madewell.com; 6. shopplanetblue.com; 7. shopstyle.com; 8. gap.com; 9. & 10. anthropologie.com; 11. shopstyle.com] board 2 - images via [ pintrest.com]

Shoe Envy

Love every one of these!

House of Harlow 1960 "Veronika"

DKNYC "Margaret"

Cynthia Vincent "Juno"

Trouve "Richland"

Jeffrey Campbell "Darian"

Matiko "Nova"

DV by Dolce Vita "Briar"

Sam Edelman "Lorissa"

Joie "Free Fallin"

Loeffler Randall "Enid"

Cynthia Vincent "Sage"

Kate Spade "Lido"

Tory Burch "Reva" woven flat

Image 1: Piperlime/ Image 2: Piperlime/ Image 3: Piperlime/ Image 4: Nordstrom/ Image 5: Nordstrom/Image 6: Piperlime/Image 7: Nordstrom/Image 8: Nordstrom/Image 9: Piperlime/Image 10: Piperlime/Image 11: Piperlime/Image 12: Piperlime/Image 13: Nordstrom

Ina Knows Best

Ina Garten can do no wrong in my opinion. She prides herself in keeping food and entertaining unfussy. We could all stand to bring more of this attitude to the kitchen.

Today's dish is one I've made over and over again and is one of my personal favorites from Ina. It's fresh, light, and flavorful and always gets rave reviews. I keep coming back to it because it works just as well for a baby shower as it does for a light dinner since it's served at room temperature. The recipe can be printed out here. Enjoy!

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo

Ingredients
Kosher salt
Good olive oil
3/4 pound orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds (16 to 18 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced
1/2 cup small-diced red onion
3/4 pound good feta cheese, large diced

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil.
Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl.
Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.
Meanwhile, place the shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through. Don't overcook!
Add the shrimp to the orzo and then add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully.
Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.


2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved
Image: Food Network

Ironic iPhone post

The reason this post is IRONIC is because I am the only person on the planet that doesn't have an iPhone. Cue the gasp. Here is my excuse: my work was paying for my phone, so I had the oh-so-corporate- Blackberry. Now that they forced me to get a new number, I now have two phones and will soon upgrade to the rest of the human population and get an iPhone (I mean if I am paying for it, I might as well be cool, right?). That being said, here are the iPhone cases I am coveting and will be purchasing when I get with it...

This cork case is super cool and probably the one I am going for (sorry to be a copy cat, Caroline, but I can't help it...I am obsessed). You can get it here.

Love anything Jonathan Adler and his iPhone cases do not disappoint:


These can be purchased here and here.




Of course, I can always depend on Kate Spade to make anything charming- even a piece of plastic:








Get them here and here.