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Friday, December 31, 2010

New Finds (from West Elm) for the New Year

I was absolutely delighted to receive the new West Elm catalog in the mail the other day.  I standardly love WE, but they have really stepped up the game for 2011.  I highly recommend that you check it. 

Some of my fave finds...

Modern Windsor Accent chair...good lookin'!

I am intrigued by this headboard/four poster combo...

Iznik dhurrie

David Starck Zebra rug...in JUTE!

Coconut Chandy
Deciding if this is fug or fab for our dining room....

A little JA styling it seems...

Jacks tray side table. 

Let me know what items you like for purposes of ringing in our fresh new year!

I hope y'all had a good 2010 and that 2011 is the most prosperous, healthy and fun year yet.  Thank you for being Gimlet readers...2010 has been a good year for Gimlet.  After all, it was its birth year!

Auld Lang Syne,

JSH

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Thank You, Santa and Beau!

As I mentioned in my last post, Santa was ridiculously good to me this year...spoiled Beau, me and the bebe waaaayyyy too much.  We are very blessed and lucky to have such a wonderful Santa that visits each year! 

Beau was also an excellent gift giver this year (it really is a great quality he has).  We established some pretty strict budgeting parameters for ourselves this year, and he truly rocked my socks with his selections.  One thing that was pretty awesome was my Kindle cover.  I asked for one to protect my birthday gift Kindle and expected a normal leather one from amazon.  However, Beau presented me with this guy!

Who knew that Diane von Furstenberg (an idol!) designed Kindle covers? 

A sneaky peek at the fuscia interior. 

They are called Kindle clutches in DvF speak.  Here are some other options...


If you have an e-reader and want to jazz it up a bit (and need help finding it in your big bag or purse like me...), perhaps you too should consider the wrap dress of Kindle covers!  Great gift idea, too...

Cheers,

JSH

Monday, December 27, 2010

Guest Post for Lambchop Designs

Dear Adrianne of Lambchop Designs asked me to write a guest post while she was out on maternity leave.  She is still on break enjoying adorable baby Anna and big brother Davis.  It has been nearly impossible for me to resist the urge to fly up to Virginia and snuggle them both for a long weekend. The blizzard of 2010 (oh, and the impending arrival of Bebe Haynes!) would likely prevent this trip from occurring any time soon, though. 

Anyhoo, Adrianne's lifestyle blog accompanies her painting business which produces "Fun Art for Cool Kids."  Naturally, much of her blog content addresses fun activities, party ideas and decor for kiddies.  Right before Anna arrived, Lambchop's posts were dedicated to nursery decorating, with Adrianne providing tons of ideas for painting and decorating the sweet one's new space. 

Adrianne wrote a thought provoking post about "going dark" from all technology prior to Anna's birth.  She avoided email, phone, texting, TV, etc. for an entire week!  I was intrigued, jealous, scared, amazed, and have committed to doing the "going dark experiment" at some point soon.  However, if you are simply unable to "go dark" from technology for whatever reason, whether it be professional (check!), personal (check!) or just sheer lack of willpower (double check!), there are some other ways you can go dark in your own life. Since pre-maternity leave Lambchop was focusing lots on nursery decorating, I decided to talk about how you, too, can also go dark in nursery decorating for yourself, a friend, or family member. 
First, let me start by saying it was virtually impossible find more than about ten examples of dark and bold nurseries (done well). That being said, I think we will start to see more of this decorating trend as it is incredibly sophisticated, chic and unique. What a refreshing change in nursery decor...not a "character" (Disney or otherwise) in sight!



Jenna Lyons' nursery, hopefully starting a longstanding trend. Although black walls in a nursery may initially seem counterintuitive, look how cozy it is! A little cave for your cub.



This nursery from decorpad uses textural woods to provide its sense of dark warmth. Kind of a modern rustic effect that is still appealing for a kiddie.


Check out the deep choco brown in this greeeeeat nursery from apartmenttherapy. Design tip: Utilize dark paint to make small spaces appear bigger (I know, not your mama's decorating tip of the 80s!). Love that sputnik light too.


Navy and yellow from designsponge. An unusual, but delightfully kid friendly combo. Dark paint does not always mean a mature space.



I had to include the eponymous Lee Kleinhelter nursery, even though everyone has seen it. The reason being that I have been so focused on its beautiful grasscloth, I kind of didn't notice the black or navy window treatments. Dark and bold statement....and functional blacking out for baby's sleep.





Okay, I had to save the best for last. I simply adore this nursery nook from Little Papercuts' blog and think that the black wall with black dresser was a bold and genius move. I am sure that when the decorator told her friends that the nursery walls were going to be painted black, the naysayers balked! No risk, no reward, though.  Check out all the shots here and swoon.




I included this shot from decor pad because, although not "dark," per se, the use of red is brilliant and unusual. Also, I have a soft spot for the hanging basket chairs...and think that the one painted white is presh.

I sincerely hope this guest post encourages you to think outside of the box when considering a palette for a nursery space. Ignore the message boards that say that dark nurseries are "depressing and understimulating" for babies (yes, I actually saw that online somewhere!) and go for something bold and dark when creating a spot for your chicken.

Thanks so much, Adrianne, for entrusting me to write for your blog for a day!  I am excited to see this post in lights on your blog when you come back from maternity leave. 

Cheers,

JSH
P.S.  Was Santa good to everyone?  He spoiled me too much this year.  I am a very lucky girl. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Mad about the Holidays

Merry Merry Everything to all Gimlet readers! 

May your holidays be a time of reflection...


May your office parties be rowdy shindigs...



May Santa bring you exactly what you wished for (except for boxes of Lucky Strikes!)...



And, may you give this delightful book to any Mad Men fans in your life as the perfect stocking stuffer!

It is a TREAT!
Thanks, Jennifer (and Emily...)
It has provided our household with much humor over the past few days. 
Find it here

Stay warm (or cool, if you live in Nola) and enjoy this time with friends and family. 

Cheers,

JSH

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

For Sale: West Elm White Lacquer Picture Ledge New in da Box

Gimleters!  My loss is your gain...stinks, but I have realized that this cute picture ledge is not what I need.  It is not deep enough to display my shitake.  SO, please feel free to buy this from me.  At a discount, natch!

It is brand new...I just bought it during my Houston run in November.  Literally, still in the box.

Here is the pic from West Elm as well as the link

For $25.00 or your best offer, you will receive this two foot guy in white lacquer.  I posted it on Craigles List as well, but, per usual, had to share the deals and steals with Gimlet Nation.  Let me know if you are interested. 

Cheers!

JSH

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

My new favorite color combo...

Today is my birthday and in honor of same I plan to keep this post super easy breezy...after all, I have an exciting conference to prepare for today as well as Christmas shopping to do.  (This is what happens when you have a December b-day, and, weirdly, I am totally fine with that because I love the holidays so much!)

I recently treated myself to new stationery for purposes of writing shower-birthday-baby-holiday-anytime thank you notes.  I am seriously obsessed with my selection, particularly the color combo...a new favorite.

Check out my new paper goods, which I designed and ordered through The Stationer in Nola.

Lavender, gold, mustard and gray, oh my!

I actually spied a similar color combo in an ad for Tisa's Beauty Bar in this month's Cue Magazine, Gambit's source for Nola shopping and design.

A blurry iPhone snap from Cue..you get the idea, though.
I have been in Tisa's Beauty Bar, which is combined with a great shoe shop, Angelique, and their joint decor features this fresh combo. 

Could be delightful for a femme office of a tiny girl's nursery? 

Cheers...off to play with my new Kindle! 

JSH


Monday, December 13, 2010

Fug or Fug: Holiday Edition

First, please do not "de-follow" Gimlet after you see the below photograph of the exterior of our home. 

Today, I initially planned to display pics of our lush and green Christmas tree, lovingly bedecked in our collection of painted glass ornaments (all of which have special meaning) as well as my very sparkly vintage tabletop tree, carefully decorated with atomic-era ornaments.  That will have to wait. 

I must confess to you upfront that our house is no longer my personal holiday wonderland, but rather, something out of "Eastbound and Down" or, actually, an episode of "A Jerry Springer Christmas."  Before issuing any judgment one way or another, it is imperative that you know that I married Clark Griswold, for better or for worse.  Beau loves Christmas more than anyone I know, and he truly believes that a Christmas without "fun" decorations (a.k.a. campy tchotchkes a go-go) is not a Christmas worth celebrating.  He has truly longed for colorful lights and blow ups on the front lawn (to be put up by him whilst wearing his IU Santa cap...) for as long as I have known him. 

This year, despite our agreement to go crazy with a fleet of white-lit grapevine deer, he unilaterally brought the Christmas cheer to our street.  Duh, we are the only people in our entire neighborhood with a motorized blow up on the front lawn. 

Without further ado:

Beau said that this snapshot includes Indie "for scale."  The Santa is 7.5 feet tall and is lit up at night.

Marriage is all about compromise and, despite my utter visceral hatred of lawn blow ups at Christmas or any season, how can I deny my truly precious husband this one thrill?  As he told me (using the teenage defense), "It is not like I am out gambling our money away or doing something shady..." 

Please, if you pass by our house, enjoy the view, but don't tell Beau about it.  It will only encourage him to add the reindeer to the roof that he is "saving" for next year.   

More to come later...

Cheers!

JSH


Friday, December 10, 2010

Pantone Color of 2011: Honeysuckle

A bold and kind of surprising choice...in a good way.  Pantone has announced "Honeysuckle" as its Color of the Year. 

Described by Pantone as "the color for all seasons," it considers Honeysuckle to be "Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it."

As an unabashed lover of pink, I would agree with this description.  I also wonder if this will be a pink year for Beau and me?  Is this a sign??

Some of my fave pink interiors, featuring a honeysuckle-ish shade...



Amanda Nisbet bathroom via decorpad


Gina Kates via decorpad
I have featured this beaut before because I love it so much.

A standard delight...Ruthie Sommers' nursery
via Sara Gilbane Interiors

And, of course, how could we forget my own personal snapshot of one of my favorite color combos...fuscia (aka honeysuckle) and gray for a front door!?


I was inspired by this Annie Selke door I posted a while back as well. 



Bring on the honeysuckle for 2011!  What do y'all think?  I am excited because one of my favorite color combos is light pink and red, so a reddish-pink may just be an ideal shade for me. 

Cheers,

JSH

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Designer Social

I have a not-so-slight obsession with Designer Social, a web-based and recently-opened showroom in Nola, where you can find a bevy of pre-owned, new, and vintage designer bags, shoes, and accessories.  I am on its mailing list and just got the "New Stuff!" email.  Dying!

Some of my top pics for your holiday gifting (to yourself) needs...behold:


Chanteuse Necklace by Nathou.
Vintage 1950s. 


Nathou Maple Necklace.


Vintage "double Cs" clip earrings by Chanel.
...there are a TON of vintage Chanel jewels!

Vintage butterfly earrings with stones.
Want.

I highly recommend the vintage section, but you can also delight in the gently used or even new sections on the site as well.  Shop Nola this holiday season!

Cheers,

JSH

P.S.  Tell me what you snag!


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Consignment Store Thonet Rocker in Action! (...and a nursery-oriented shower gift)

Hi, Gimlet Nation!

I am trying...I really am.  Why have things been so nutzy?  I think it is a combo of the holiday merriment, a jury trial, 15 birthdays of my friends and family, client dinners, and, oh, most importantly, a very impending tiny arrival! 

Anyway, my updates, although brief, hopefully will keep you satiated. 

First up....remember my teaser about the awesome proxy find by my friend Anna (consignment store, Northshore of Nola, $60.00...)  Well, here he is!

Perfect, right?  No need to even paint it.  I like that beaten up look amidst of the sleeky new shiny stuff in the nursery.  Oh, and the dog in the pic is not Indie...just her stuffed doppleganger, courtesy of my sister. 

Among so many truly wonderful, thoughtful and necessary gifts that were given to me during my beautiful baby shower (more to come on that as soon as I get the photos back from my sis), I received this guy from my friends Jenny and Mary.  Remember him?

As usual, putting my wish lists up on the blog certainly helps!
He is currently sitting on the Ikea dresser that Beau and I finally declared victory over after two days of work.  He will soon be up on the wall above the rocker, though. 

My cup runneth over with gratitude for my friends and family who hosted and attended the baby shower as well as everyone who has invited us to fun holiday festivities.  It is the time to celebrate and be grateful, and I so am.  I swear...more to come.  I will not leave you hangin'.

Cheers,

JSH

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Well, hello Alexa Hampton!


There is a truly special store in the .25 a.k.a. "The French Quarter" called Nadine Blake.  Absolutely stunning and unique home and personal items.  I highly recommend that you stop in.  Oh, and check out her Facebook page.  Really. Great. Holiday. Shopping. 

Anyhoo, lucky us!  Nadine is hosting a reception honoring Alexa Hampton's new book this Friday....E. Lee and I have been waiting for this event for about, oh, 3 months!  Cannot wait to meet and buy the new book of this design LEGEND.  ....kind of nervous, actually....

Who will be there!?

Cheers,

JSH


Monday, November 29, 2010

Hi, y'all!

Gimlet!  I hope everyone had a wonderful T-give.  I am sorry that I have been completely MIA.  I have missed you guys, but have been laid up with a disgusting ear infection (Am I 5 years old?) and sinus infection.  I hope that some of you are still reading the blog after my long absence. 

Well, there will be lots of posts now that I am back in the saddle.  Hint: My sis' awesome friend Anna tipped me off to an ah-mazing find at a consignment store on the Northshore of Nola. 


Here is the pic that Anna posted to my Facebook Wall....do you KNOW what this is?
(and it is yellow!)

In the meantime, however, check out this great Cyber Monday post shared by one of my fave bloggers, Copy Cat Chic!  TONS of excellent coupon codes for any holiday shopping you need to get started on. 


Thanks for your patience, kiddies.  Um, BTW, I guess I kind of didn't really process the fact that when you are pregs, you can't take any medication except for Tylenol.  NOT delightful.

Cheers,

JSH

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Last Minute Dynamite Turkey Day Recipe: "Lucy's Pecan Pie"

Gobble, gobble from the vegetarian over here at Gimlet Eye!  Y'all know that I won't share complex recipes with you as adventurous culinary endeavors are not in my wheelhouse.  That being said, I try to hook you up with a couple of rave worthy showstoppers every now and then.  Hopefully this "Thanksgiving edition" will not disappoint!




I share with you my delightful pecan pie recipe taken from the best cookbook series of all time, "River Road Recipes" aka "River Roads."  Do you know about River Roads?  I hope you do....



In my opinion, River Roads and River Roads II, the original cookbooks published by the Baton Rouge  Junior League, are the seminal cookin' books for Louisiana recipes.  Often called "The Textbook of Louisiana Cooking," I use the series for all of my standards, including red beans and rice and roux (as does every mama and grandmama in the South!)

The River Roads series is actually the best selling community-based cookbook of all time.  Who knew?  It is delightfully kitschy in some ways as it was originally published in 1959.  I particularly enjoy the "Men Who Cook" section, in a tongue-in-cheek way, of course. 

Anyway, back on to my favorite recipe in the River Roads series.  Located in River Roads II, "Lucy's Pecan Pie" is literally the best pecan pie that "people" have ever tasted.  I say "people" because I actually don't eat pecan pie, but the ongoing rave reviews reinforces the fact that it is, indeed, the best!  In fact, my law firm even won a charity cooking competition with our mini versions of "Lucy's." 

The real reason that it is a winner in my book, however, is because it is EASY. 

Lucy's Pecan Pie

3 eggs
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup light brown sugar
2.5 cups of sliced pecans
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 pre-prepared frozen pie crust (I know, blasphemy!)

Using a wire whisk, mix the eggs and brown sugar together in a bowl.  Add the Karo syrup and pecans.  Gently mix.  Add the vanilla.  Pour the mixture into your pie crust.  Bake at 300 degrees for one hour and forty-five minutes.  Cool.  Serve. 

I know, ridiculously simple, right?  I am telling you, it is a crowd pleaser!!  Try it...you'll like it.

If you are interested in ordering your own fresh copies of River Roads, you can buy it directly from the Baton Rouge Junior League.  It can also be found on amazon.  (I highly recommend trying to find a vintage copy, though, replete with someone's granny's notations and dog ears!)

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Gimlet Nation!  I am so abundantly thankful for so much, including each and every one of my gentle readers. 

Cheers,

JSH

P.S.  In my research for this post, I discovered that River Roads even has a Facebook page.  Pretty nifty!




Tuesday, November 23, 2010

SOLD!

The cute chair has been sold to the fastest Gimleter.  Thanks for playing, y'all! 
...more to come soon. 


Cheers,

JSH

Monday, November 22, 2010

Would you like this chair for the holidays?

Greetings, Gimleters!  Sorry for my radio silence.  Things at work have been, ahem, quite daunting and busy.  I also hit Houston with my mom and sis for some retail therapy this past weekend.  I will be sharing some of my finds with you shortly...

To get this Thanksgiving week started right, I thought I would offer Gimlet Nation first dibs on my cute den chair that I am selling.  I just posted it on CL, but I seem to have better luck with the Gimleters...and y'all seem to appreciate my design accidents more than Craigslist scammers. 








Email me if you are interested.  It is listed for $200.00, but I have also been known to give a Gimlet discount!  ;)  I purchased the chair about eight months ago, and it is in perfect condition.  Check out its cutie roller legs. 

Happy short Thanksgiving week!

Cheers,

JSH

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Want this, get that: Thonet Bentwood Rocker

I have come to the realization that the chair that currently resides in our living room is a bit too big/ awkward sized for the bebe's room.  Oh, and re-upholstering it will actually cost more than the chair at its time of purchase.  Forgot to mention that!  Soooo...I will actually be selling that little guy on craigslist (and Gimlet) in order to make room for the womb chair.  Stay tuned if you are interested! 

Anyhoo, I have been on the hunt for a comfy (aka high backed) vintage rocking chair for a couple of days now, to no avail so far.  I am not discouraged, though.   I have a plan!

I want this:

Lee Kleinhelter's nursery, featuring a vintage rocker with nubby apple green fabric
I know you have seen the Pieces Princess' nursery a million times, but have you ever really examined that rocker?  It is good looking.

However, a rocker like that beaut is hard to find.  The kind-of-similar one I spyed on 1st Dibs was, unforunately, in the four figure range and such a purchase would defeat the purpose of ditching my upholstery project for a more economical option. 

Enter the Thonet Bentwood Rocker (all CAPS), of course.


How many of you had/have these or a knock off? 
I have a soft spot for them and always have...

If you would like a 25 second history lesson on the beautiful bentwood design, click here. Something I learned today was that I have always pronounced Thonet as "tho-nay" but it is actually "Tone-ette."  Makes sense, considering he was Austrian, but I digress...

Anyhoo, there are some decent options on ebay.  Not all of them are original Thonets (and those that are, of course, are cost prohibitive), but I will not let that stop me...especially if I decide that the sucker should be sprayed white or even something more fabulous than white. 


Antique Thonet, listed on ebay for $1,497.99


Knock off listed on ebay for $99.00

My plan is to search around locally as I have received a hot tip (thanks, E.Lee!) that some Thonet-y looking rockers were at Salvation Army.  I also added a Craigslist search to my google feed and have alerted some local dealers that I am on the hunt. 

That being said, Gimlet Nation, please heed my call!  If you spy one of these rockers somewhere in or near Nola, will you contact me?  I promise you will be pleased with your finders fee! 

Cheers,

JSH

P.S. Speaking of Lee Kleinhelter, the One Kings Lane Tastemaker Sale is featuring her selections today.  Um, there are some bentwood pieces on there.  Of course!  Check it out even if just for the eye candy and inspiration!