a dining room design and what's up

I have never been so thrilled to see a Friday. That is fact. How pathetic is it that I have been away sunning and funning for two weeks and yet I need another vacation? Vacation from a vacation. A three day weekend is on the horizon and some of our besties are coming in to spend the weekend with us. Cannot. Freaking. Wait. I will share with you my hectic two weeks and then some. Totally at random and in no particular order. 

My newest dining room design project. This project is with a repeat customer of mine whom I absolutely adore. She has fabulous taste and is pretty quick with her execution. We decided that wallpaper panels were the way to go in this space. That, and emerald green duponi silk draperies. This room is going to be rich and fabulous. 

This was us like two weeks ago in paradise. This is why I have been absent minded lately. Can you blame a girl?

I told you I was gluttonous about my shoes. A small sampling of my loot from vacation. I do have a favorite pair in here, can anyone guess what those might be? 

 Holy poms. These would be the ones. This was one of my Birthday gifts from the boy and let me tell you, what they might lack in practicality, they make up for in fabulousness. I have never been a practical type girl, per se. 

My newest obsession is this bag from Gigi New York. Have you heard of it? Mercyyyy. They have the most fabulous and high quality leather pieces. Exhibit A. The Teddy Tote with embossed python. Hell, they even monogrammed it for me. You know how I feel about a monogram. I am so into high quality yet simplicity when it comes to my handbags. I want something that will carry me from outfit to outfit and season to season. I like it all around. This bag gets an A+ from me and I am physically trying to restrain myself from grabbing my wallet and adding another to my repertoire. Self control. Something I do not have. 

And an up close shot of this reptiley perfection. I love it so much it makes me want to adorn myself in python only. Call me Don Lindsay. 

Here it be in a better shot, sans my fab monogram. 

Teddie Tote

And another little something I have my eye on for fall. Hmmmm? Hmmmm? I mean who doesn't need one of these?

Embossed Python Barrel Bag

Another little carryall on my radar...basically, I just want it all. Let's be frank. 

All in One

And other stuff that has caught my eye this week. Addison Weeks. My newest love dove in jewelry design. I mean a gold cuff and agate stone? What more can a girl ask for her arm to be adorned in? I mean really. I am loving navy for fall and this would be no exception. Hello. 

Maddison Cuff

I see this layered amongst other fabulous pieces. Love the layers. 

Marxen Necklace

And the image I am sure you have all viewed this week. This amazing DIY Snakeskin Table by Recently. I am determined to find a piece of furniture in our house to fall victim to this project. I am so serious. I am humbled by the vision and creativity here. We know I love snakes now. Bingo. Bango. 

Well now you see it. My severe ADD and lack of sleep all rolled into one. I will return next week with a clear head and concise thoughts. Oh who am I kidding?!? This weekend will be filled with fabulous cocktails and mindless jibber jabber. Just what I need. Loves!

AllModern is givin' it away: Face Time

Do you know AllModern? If you don't by now, you certainly should. As Simply Red put it, "If you don't know me by now, you will never never never never know me. Ooooohh."  Well they were wrong. Now is your chance to know AllModern in the non biblical sense. They have everything you could imagine for the home. And no, and it is not for the minimalist and modern loving only. They have it all! From furniture, to knick knacks, mirrors, art, rugs. You name it. They have it. So when they contacted me to spoil you guys with a giveaway, I was all over that like white on rice. Don't you worry. We got you some pretty stuff. First up. A double sided face vase. You heard me. Face vase. Told you there would be some major face time. 

A boy on one side...

and a girl on the other! Get out of here. 

Utopia Jonathan Adler Boy/Girl Vase

AND! That is not all folks. If you enter right now, you also have the chance of winning this animal face time pillow...Just call me an infomercial already. But wait, there's more!

Fauna Elephant Cushion

Don't we just adore? I can think of a place or two I'd like to put that cushion. Why did that sound so dirty? Still on vacation brain I guess. Let's get down to business.

To enter:

You must be a follower of S+S {if you already are, thanks! If not, just click the little follow button over near the top right column} Visit AllModern and come back here to comment, leave your email address and let me know your favorite item in their shop. 

For additional entries you can:

• Like Sadie + Stella on Facebook
• Like AllModern on Facebook
• Follow Sadie + Stella on Twitter
• Follow AllModern on Twitter
• Tell your Facebook friends about the giveaway and link to this post
• Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post 
• You can also tweet about the giveaway, mentioning @sadieandstella and link to this post in your tweet!

 *Be sure to leave a comment each time you do one of the above! 

This giveaway ends Thursday September 6th at midnight.

Spicy Thai Coconut Soup

As of right now, my kitchen most resembles the show "Hell's Kitchen". I feel as though Gordon Ramsey is going to pop out at any minute and begin yelling expletives. Something has got to give. Ok. So ever since my cruise, I have been craving soup like woah. Blame it on the fact I was served like 5+ course meals. I began starting every meal of mine with some fancy dancy soup. One that really got me going, was the Tom Kha Gai soup. For those of you who are not familiar, it is a very spicy coconut soup. Embarrassingly enough, I requested seconds. No wonder I am now attempting a fast. This soup was super spicy (my fave) and had the most incredible flavor and aroma. It had to be recreated. Duh. Thankfully I found a lighter and healthier version than one with the straight up coconut milk. Lucky me. Lucky you. Seriously, you will enjoy this to infinity and beyond. Just as Buzz would have intended.  

{Spicy Thai Coconut Soup}

Ingredients

2 t canola oil

1 C sliced mushrooms

1/2 C chopped red bell pepper

4 t minced peeled fresh ginger

4 garlic cloves minced

Dried Chiles 

1 (3 inch) stalk lemongrass, halved lengthwise

2 t fresh ground chile paste

3 C chicken stock

1 1/4 C light coconut milk

4 t fish sauce

1 T sugar (I use Splenda)

2 C shredded cooked chicken breast 

1/2 C green onions

3 T fresh chopped cilantro

2 T lime juice 

All the Sriracha your heart can desire 

Directions

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil to pot. Add mushrooms and the next 5 ingredients (through lemongrass). Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chile paste; cook 1 minute. Add Chicken Stock, coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 10 minutes. Add chicken to pot, cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Discard lemongrass. Top with onions, cilantro, lime juice and all the Sriracha your heart can desire.

So what do you think? Do you feel me on this? Looks incredible doesn't it? Soups are making a major comeback in our household, so expect lots of liquid meal posts. Loves!

Favorite Room Feature: My Crafty Home Life

Darlings! Today we have one of my favorites, of course. Like I would ever give you anything less. Linda is like a really fun, not annoying, blog camp counselor. Linda is the genius behind the One Room Challenge, amongst a few other crazy challenges. Linda is cray cray and I adore her. I know it is going to come as a surprise to you that this space has zero leopard in it. Sigh. That's OK Linda. We have to switch it up sometime. Now let's see her space!
Hello Lindsay's Lovelies! I'm Linda, from My Crafty Home Life and I am thrilled to be sharing my favorite room with you. Since I only have 2.5 rooms in home finished....I flipped a coin.
My dining room won. This is the first room that you see when you enter my home. It was actually the inspiration for the very first One Room Challenge.

It all started like this...from a bad iPhone picture and long before I blogged. I lived with it looking like this for years. Project by project....I tackled the room.

The chairs were a make-over project that you can read about here. I also turned the head chairs into side chairs.

The china hutch was another make-over project that you can read about here. I bought it from a neighbor of mine and it sat in my garage for several years.

The lanterns started off red and dull. I loved the shape, but they lacked sparkle.

After I obsessed over paint choices, the lanterns became blue. You may also notice that the ceiling now has a plank treatment on it. It wasn't hard, and you can read how to do it here.

For the window treatment, I made a custom pagoda cornice

You can see the tutorial for this, here.

I am so happy to have been able to share my favorite room with all of you.

Setting a time limit on a project or room is really a great way to force yourself into finishing. Did you read how Lindsay finished a room in one night? Now that's good! Thanks for inviting me, Lindsay. 

Did I tell ya I was obsessed with leopard or what?

So I have this hallway, and it was slightly boring. And by slightly I mean extremely. I was left thinking what to do to jazz this lame and uneventful walkway up. I mean, I don't know why I didn't think of it before, because there is really only one clear and obvious answer here. Wait for it. Leopard. When Rugs USA contacted me to select a rug for our home of my choosing, I almost became incontinent. Good news is, I didn't. Close call though. But I mean come on! Rugs USA. One of my absolute go-to's for my own home and also for my beloved clients. Thank baby Jesus, that they actually had the perfect leopard runner to adorn this otherwise blah blah hallway. Feast your eyes. 

{Kalahari Runner in Grey}

I could have also lived happily with the sand color. However, I didn't want to push my luck with the boy. I have been on leopard overload lately and you never know when the leopard gravy train might end. This was the safe and obvious choice. Plus, it goes fabulously with the color scheme of the hallway. And the much needed close up. 

I mean, don't we love? I can tell you one thing, Stella and Billie are all over this floor dressing. Maybe it is the plushness of the rug, but I choose to believe that it is because they are equally as obsessed with leopard as their mom. They take after me. Lucky ducky for you all, the rug is 20% off right now in all shades. Go getcha some leopard!

monday musings: will I ever quit leopard?

Lovers!! Oh how I have missed you! Did you think I was gone forever? Well I am not. I am back and you are stuck with me. These past two weeks have been a little "Where in the World is Lindsay?" First we were back in Kansas City, then down in the Caribbean, then back in KC and then finishing the grand tour up in Chicago. Lots of ground covered with Stella and Billie in tow. Highlights? Being a few shades darker, coming back with 10 additional pairs of shoes, stuffing our faces for 5 meals a day on the cruise, seeing the family and being so jam packed in our rental that one would think a clown car scenario was taking place (this could also go in the low light section). One thing is for certain, after all of that time off, I still have a major thing for leopard. Who knew? These spaces will make you understand why. 

On chairs. 

{paper city}

{the foo dog ate my homework}

{MMR Interiors}

{isuwannee}

{architectural digest}

On stairs. 

{elements of style}

{dress design decor}

I mean, how could I ever quit leopard? I am so glad to be back to you all, and look forward to catching up with each and every one of you. Loves!

can I get a winner?

Loves. Thank you for sticking with me during this week of silence around here. We are wrapping up our two week vacay and I will be back as good as new next week. Promise. Let's get down to a Zhush winner. Shall we? And the winner is...

JennyAugust 20, 2012 10:37 AM

loyal follower here! and as for my favorite item in Sue's shop??? How could one ever choose such a thing.... there is too much pretty in there. But if I HAD to choose I would say the agate coasters. I am obsessed with agate and just think they would be a fabulous addition on any table and make such an impression with guests~!

That lucky Jenny! I know she will put that zebra somewhere worthy and deserving in her abode. Thanks to everyone for entering! 

Design Darling Party Must Haves

Hi there! I'm Mackenzie from Design Darling and I'm excited to be guest posting for Lindsay today! I decided to share a few surefire tricks for a fabulous summer party. As a summer birthday girl I'll take any and all of the following ;)

Something fabulous to wear...

Someplace pretty to celebrate...

Something to sip on, of course!

Summery snackables — finger food is my favorite!

And something sweet to top it all off! I hope your summer is full of fabulous fêtes and lots of fun ;) Thanks Lindsay for having me!

I am here to remind...

I have been so M.I.A. this past week and will continue to be this upcoming week, but I am here to remind you about the Zhush giveaway that will be ending this Tuesday evening. Who doesn't want to partake in some zebra print? Exactly. 

Zebra Print Tray

To enter:

You must be a follower of S+S {if you already are, thanks! If not, just click the little follow button over near the top right column} Visit Zhush and come back here to comment, leave your email address and let me know your favorite item in Sue's shop. Make it good!

For additional entries you can:

• Like Zhush on Facebook
• Like Sadie + Stella on Facebook
• Follow Zhush on Twitter
• Follow Sadie + Stella on Twitter
• Tell your Facebook friends about the giveaway and link to this post
• Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post 
• You can also tweet about the giveaway, mentioning @sadieandstella and link to this post in your tweet!

 *Be sure to leave a comment each time you do one of the above! 

This giveaway ends Tuesday August 21st at midnight.

Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers

Hello blogger friends.  I am Natalie from Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers.   I am so honored to be guest posting on Lindsay's blog today.  She is one of my all time favorite daily reads.  Always inspiring me with her fabulous interiors and hilarious wit.  Oddly enough we both emailed each other to do guest posts this week because we are both on vacation- great minds think alike right?  Hopefully we are both busy consuming way too many beverages and tasty eats as you read this. 

I think I may quite possibly be the only person who gains weight in the summer.  So in order to shed a few pounds before we head on our beach vacay, I have been eating super healthy.  This salad is something I just kind of created with veggies I had on hand and it is incredible.  So light nd refreshing!  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!

SHAVED ZUCCHINI AND BUTTER BEAN SALAD

-1-2 ZUCCHINIS SHAVED

-COOKED BUTTER BEANS

- 1/2 PINT ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

- OLIVE OIL

- LEMON JUICE

- FETA OR PARMESAN

Shave the raw Zucchini with a vegetable peeler to create thin ribbon like strips.  Slice the Cherry Tomatoes in half and toss with olive oil.  Roast at 400 degrees for about 20-25 mins.  Cook Butter beans according to package.  I buy fresh butter beans and cook them in salted water about 30 mins until they are soft but you could totally use frozen or canned beans as well. 

Toss together the shaved Zucchini, Roasted Tomatoes and Butter Beans.  Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper.  Top with fresh Parmesan or feta cheese.

The Aestate

Hi, Sadie + Stella readers! This is Jessica from The Aestate, filling in for Lindsay while she's off jet-setting around the globe. Sadie + Stella is one of my all-time favorite blogs because Lindsay has such a great eye for new trends as well as the classics. A lot of times when decorating your place it can be hard to decide which trends are worth investing money in. Greek key is a motif that has been around for years, but I don't see it going anywhere soon. Lindsay knows what's up- love the gold Greek key O'verlays she used in her office makeover.

So, in case you needed justification to splurge on that $15/yard Greek key trim for the drapes, here it is...

I incorporated just a little bit in my old living room with this custom dalmatian bolster pillow with Greek key trim...

Thank you for having me, Lindsay! xo