Monday Musings: Gallery Wall

Happy Monday and MLK Day readers! Today I wish I were a teacher so I could be at home kickin' it like my counterpart. 

I don't know about you, but there are a few empty spaces on our walls where we have been tirelessly pondering the possibilities of art. Art can absolutely transform a room, but I know sometimes it can be an uneasy thing for people to arrive on. Gallery walls are a great way to showcase a vast array of art and memories of all sizes. You can mix and match colors of frames and also sizes and shapes. It is basically limited to where your creativity can take you. The possibilities are endless! Frankly, I love the funky and eclectic feel it has and its imperfections make it perfection.

Holy Statement...

{southern accents}

A hodge podge yet elegant gallery

{west elm}

A refined and tailored gallery wall

{mindre}

A sophisticated and lovely striped gallery wall over at Abode Love

{abode love}



Another lovely stripey

{domino}

Need this ampersand!

{caitlin wilson}

{pottery barn}

Love the monochromatic detail

{cottage living}

Have you all utilized the dramatic effects of the gallery wall? If so, we would love to see it in action!

S+S chow: some like it hot (Chorizo Stuffed Bell Peppers + Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos)

With all the cold weather we like to heat it up in the kitchen. Here are a few of our favorite stuffed pepper recipes. enjoy!

Chorizo Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

2 chorizo sausages

3 red bell peppers

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic

cumin

chili powder

½ cup bread crumbs

½ cup asiago cheese, grated

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1.    Preheat oven to 400°F.

2.    Cut the tops off of the peppers.  Remove seeds and ribs from peppers.  Dice the tops.

3.    Remove the sausage from the casings and break up into small pieces.

4.    Saute the onion and pepper until soft.

5.   Add the sausage, garlic, cumin, and chili powder and sauté until the sausage is cooked.  Remove from heat.

6.    Add the egg and the bread crumbs to the sausage mixture.

7.    Mix in the asiago cheese

8.   Stuff the peppers with the sausage mixture.

9.   Brush the outside of the peppers with olive oil.

10  Bake the peppers for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is slightly crunchy.

      Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos

      Ingredients:

      1 lb bulk pork sausage (for more of a kick, use spicy)

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

      1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese

      22 large jalapeno pepper, halved lengthwise and seeded

      Directions:

In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and Parmesan cheese; fold in sausage.

Spoon about 1 tablespoonful into each jalapeno half.

Place in two ungreased 13-in x 9-in baking dishes. Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until filling is lightly browned and bubbly.

    

Magic Carpet Ride

I'm not sure about you, but I find searching for a rug to be a challenging task! With nothing but hardwoods, I'm in serious need of the perfect rugs. Every time I begin to look I am overwhelmed with choices; bold print or traditional, color or neutral, what size do I need... and the list goes on. I am determined to start covering these floors and I decided to take you along on my magic carpet ride. Here are some helpful tidbits I've found to begin the hunt:
* In a dining room: leave enough space so that the rug extends beyond the back legs of a chair when someone is seated. 8x10 is the most common size for a dining room but measure your space to make sure that's what you need! 
* For a living room it seems that there is no standard size or 'rule' for choosing a size. However, the larger the rug, the more it will pull all of the elements of the room together.
* In a bedroom the 'experts' say to allow for a few feet on either side if the rug is placed under the bed. 
*Don't be afraid to play with colors and designs! Rugs are a great way to bring some spice to your room and can tie everything together. They do not need to be matchy matchy- have fun with your choices! 
I know, I know, obvious suggestions. But sometimes you have to be reminded of things like this before getting started. 


Ok onto my search! I am looking for rugs to put in the living and dining room. They flow together so I want two rugs that will compliment each other nicely. After measuring the spaces I know I need approximately a 8'x10' in the living and 5'x7' in the dining. The dining room walls are wood panel and pretty dark {something I'd love to change but we're in a rental}. Because the space is dark I'm looking for a rug that will lighten the area up a bit, a bold color perhaps or a fun, bright pattern. The living room is much brighter and bigger, I think I can go a more neutral route for this room, something with a subtle pattern that will blend well with something bolder in the dining. Gentlemen, start your engines, it's time to start looking.  


I typically start at places like world market, pier 1 and overstock.com. As a girl who likes to find a good deal, these offer fabulous choices. Let's look at options for the dining room first...


As I began sorting through options I was drawn to the lattice patterns. I decided yellow would be the perfect color for the room. 

{world market}

 {home decorators}

 {west elm}

love. love. love. this might be at the top of my list.

{garnet hill}

{world market}

The grey is lovely but it might be a little to dark for the space.

{overstock}

For a completely different option I adore this cowhide rug and I know the hubs would love it too. With quite a few color/pattern choices this could be a possibility. 

{ikea}

Now for the living room, there is something about the look of a natural sisal or seagrass rug that I adore and it would work well with almost anything you put with it. Natural fiber rugs are also very durable and  usually a budget friendly option. 

 seagrass

{overstock}

I think I prefer the richness of color in this jute rug.

{overstock}

jute/sisal

{overstock}

A pattern might work too..

{layla grayce}

{overstock}

{world market}

{layla grayce}

Decisions, decisions. What's your vote? 

Here are few gorgeous rugs that I just might have to find a place for! 

divine.

{urban outfitters}

{pier1}

yum.

{layla grayce}

If you aren't an online shopper and want to find a rug in person we always recommend Home Goods, great selection and again, great deals! 

Monday Musings: If you like pina coladas...

So it is a balmy 29 degrees here in NC, and all we can think about is a tropical escape. Our first instinct would be to drop everything and hop aboard a plane going anywhere toward the equator, no matter the price or prior obligations. Ahem, Lindsay? But since we are responsible adults, we will satisfy the urge with tropical inspired home decor and fashion. Why is that I have 'if you like pina coladas and gettin caught in the rain,' playing on a loop through my head? I think they call that delusional. I have escaped to a more tropical place.

Whether it be plates, trays, pillows, bowls, clothing oh my! We are loving it all, especially in these bright prints.

{uzbek}

{design public}

{anthropologie}

{asos}

Calling all Gingers: Red Furniture and Accents

So...Elle Decor gets it. Clearly. Red is totally in. We get it.

{Elle Decor}

To continue on with the red theme, here are some accents, as well as, furniture to satiate your cravings for scarlet hues...

{west elm}

A few months ago, my boyfriend and I spent a good 10 months trying to find the perfect red piece of furniture to compliment our living room. We finally happened upon this amazing piece by Stanley below. Pictures to come of our complete living room.

{Stanley Furniture}

A cheaper alternative from Pier 1

{Pier 1}

{Urban Outfitters}

{Furbish Studio}

Happy Wednesday...or my Thursday this week.

How to: Gift Baskets

Gift baskets have long been a tradition of mine to give to family members for the holidays. There is nothing more exciting than homemade goodies with a decorative and personalized touch. This Christmas, I gave custom made melamine plates, monogrammed paperweights and other homemade eats to all of my loved ones. Here are the pictures and descriptions of each gift basket.

Melamine Plate: {La Plates}

Paperweight: {Two's Company}

Tea Towels: {World Market)

Ornament: {World Market}

Votive Holder: {Marshalls}

Basket: {Marshalls}

Homemade Peppermint Bark, Sweet and Saltines Bark, Hand-dipped pretzels, no bake cracker mix. Let me know if you would like the recipes to any of the treats!

Happy New Year all!

Monday Musings: Decoupage

Happy New Year!! Sorry we have been MIA as of late. Between the holidays and miles and miles of traveling, we found it difficult to stay in touch.

We are totally loving decoupage. In all shapes and sizes...

Trays

{west elm}

{Paris Hotel Boutique}

Paperweight

{marye-kelley}

Plates

{marye-kelley}

{john derian}

A how to over at Parlour, for a one of a kind decoupage table.

{Parlour}

Happy Monday. Its good to be back!