Ella Mint...minty fresh :)

So, friends...Ella Mint (my little design venture with my friend Annie), has been granted the amazing opportunity to design an entire loft with a Retro Mix design scheme for a non-profit design showcase here in Lexington. Thought I'd give you an inside look to the color palette we've chosen and are oh-so-excited about, as well as a link to a more thorough description of the event.

click here for more info.

Have a lovely, lovely day. C and I are actually sitting for the 3 kiddos I sit for...for 6 days...5 nights...while the parents are taking some much needed relaxation time in the Mexican sun. We, on the other hand, are having so much fun...anticipating parenthood. Hmm...maybe in 3-5 years instead of 5-7. :)

What do you think of the color palette? Unexpected retro? I'm so anxious to hear!!

Shutter bugged.

I'm not much of a photographer...but I love to pretend anyway. I'm constantly rearranging trinkets within my home in order to make for a good photo (and therefore driving C quite mad). I love the creativity fix that comes from staging furniture and accessories to be captured by the wonderment of film (so, not to go off the deep end...but have you ever thought about film and how it's able to capture and reproduce a moment of our lives? mind-boggling). So I was taking a peek at my photo inventory tonight, and thought I'd post some of my favorite results. Hope they make you swoon the way they do me. :)










Each photo with the exception of one is of the beloved trinkets that comprise my home. The second photo from the top is of my friend & business partner's home...Annie. I'd love to hear your comments! And, if you happen to have any photos of your favorite collectibles, please feel free to send them my way. I'd love to feature some!

Have a wonderful night. I know I am :) Delicious tuna pita for dinner (okay, okay...and cheesy poofs. Okay...lots of them)...and mint brownies for dessert. I'm celebrating, and can't wait to post why!

Sometimes white is right.

I can't even believe that it's Monday...and that I haven't posted since the previous Monday. I've been spending my evenings ironing out lots of details for ella mint, and unfortunately maple & shade took the brunt of it. But no more! I've happily resumed posting...and dreaming...of airy white spaces filled with bliss.

each photo linked to its origin.

I love the thrill of color, but I always seem to drift back to a desire for white. It's so serene, and paints the perfect backdrop for a display of furniture and unique finds. I feel as if it really allows for one to combine an eclectic mixture of styles...the simplicity and neutrality keep a space from really becoming too busy or overdone. Today's post makes me want to drop everything and curl up on a cozy couch with a steamy cup of joe in hand. The power...or shall I say, the peace...of white.

Monday love.

And this Monday it's doilies.

all photos via flickr. each is linked to its original owner.

Their beauty, I think, lies in their delicacy and their ability to add a lovely hint of detail in an understated way. Hmm...I want to put them everywhere.

Take a peek.

So, if you are somewhat curious about this ella mint I keep mentioning, click here for a selective peek into our very first furniture showing. As soon as my weekend settles down I'll be posting many more up close & personals of our ella mints of design. :)

Fresh & happy weekend.

I'm so very excited to say that Annie and I are having our first ever furniture show tomorrow as ella mint. So, if you're in the vicinity with an open-ended weekend, head to downtown Lexington to "An Antique Affair" on Manchester Street. Ella mint has a booth in the warehouse from Friday til Sunday, 9 am-5pm, where you can feast your eyes (and wallet contents if you'd like) on our "fresh & happy furnishings." Wish us luck!!

& check back in...I'll post pictures tomorrow of some of our offerings.

We are so blessed.

Here we are--the Maple family last January in California.  Christopher is on the far left, with his arms outstretched. So typical of him and his wonderfulness :)

So sorry for the lack of posting.  My brother-in-law, Christopher, was in a horrible accident this past Wednesday in Memphis, so we have been living in the hospital with him.  By God's grace he is alive...and we are so thankful.  Despite severe damage to his aorta and every other internal organ in his body, he survived--and is recuperating extremely well.  In fact, Corey and I are driving home to Kentucky today--so I will be back in the blogging mode sooner than later! Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed 4th, and just remember what an amazing gift this delicate life is!

Eggplant parmigiana.

I tried a new recipe from a lovely cookbook the other night and felt obliged to share it's ease and simplicity with you. I've been vying for eggplant parmigiana ever since I spotted those deep purple beauties at the farmer's market, and this dish was simply delicious. The recipe can be found amongst the pages of Jame's Beards American Cookery, a book that should be a staple in the kitchen, so I strongly urge that you give it a try. It surely won't disappoint. :)
(Recipe details listed at the bottom of the post).

...in 1/2 to 1 inch slices.

...with just a dusting on each side.

...in olive oil. When both sides are nearly browned, add two finely chopped garlic cloves to the mix.

Cover the bottom of a baking dish( I used a round dutch oven) with a layer of eggplant. Top that layer with a little bit of tomato sauce and sliced mozzarella. Continue to layer in this manner. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the entire dish and sprinkle liberally with parmesan cheese. Add sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Isn't this table just lovely for a rustic dish like eggplant parmigiana?

For this dish you will need:

2 medium or 1 large eggplant
2 chopped garlic cloves
Olive oil
1 lb mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
grated Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper

Mmm...i hope you delight in it as much as I did.