On a side note...

Our lovely wedding photographer, Adrian Hitt, just contacted me. A few of our wedding photos are currently being showcased on her blog for those of you who'd like to see. Click here to sneak a peak....and have such a wonderful night!

Cafe au lait, please.

So if I could do anything with my days, and really anything, I'd open a teenie little neighborhood coffee shoppe (with the pe, of course). Half of the shoppe would be a retail area/show room for my furniture and home textile concoctions, but the other side would be designed to entice local residents to relax over a steamy, simple cup of joe. I'd keep my offerings local & as inexpensive as possible. I'd scour flea markets and garage sales for each and every lonely cup and saucer out there, and I'd gather them all on rustic shelves to serve the coffee in. I'd collect well-loved books and keep them in stacks around the store for customers to peruse while they're present. I'd revamp tired walls with chalkboard paint so kiddos could draw to their hearts content while their parents enjoyed themselves beneath my random assortment of sidewalk umbrellas. I'd showcase local art, and sell the best free-trade coffee beans by the ound from over-sized burlap sacks. I'd put an amazing, mint green vintage stove to good use, and would have each of my employees wear amazing little aprons (if they're girls, of course). I'd even invite pups to the patio, and would the hubby and friends play live music during the evenings. Okay, okay...I could go on and on, so I may as well stop this day dream now. If only I could make this happen... :)

My gift...to you.

So I've decided to do a little maple & shade free-for-all. Yes, I'm giving one of you readers a spiffy assortment of treasures from a local shop here in Lexington...The Black Market. And I decided to throw in an amazing set of blue & white porcelain measuring spoons from the beloved Anthropologie. So, if you'd like to be eligible to receive a nifty & free package in the mail, please do the following:

• For 1 entry, please leave a comment about this particular posting.
• For 2 entries, find "The Daily Maple" on the sidebar of the blog, and become a follower. Each of my dedicated followers will have their name put in the hat twice.
• For 3 entries, feel free to post a blurb about my give-a-way on your blog, and email me that you've done so. mapleandshade@gmail.com

The deadline to enter the give-a-way is next Friday, June 19 @ midnight. I will randomly select and announce the winner Saturday morning, June 21...so make sure you check back in! I'll be summoning mailing info from whoever I pull out of that hat :)

So now all you have to do is comment & spread the word! YAY! And if you've yet to discover the array of treasures tucked within The Black Market (and you're in Lexington, of course)...pay them a visit. They have the must fun assortment of home goods, gifts, jewelry, clothing & shoes. And super cute baby accoutrements. Not to mention that eclectic vibe that is oh-so contagious. They're located at 516 E. High Street, and they're doors are wide open Monday through Saturday from 11-6.

Enjoy your Saturday!! And good luck to you!

Just bike it.

I have a bike crush. Her name is Jenny. She's yellow. And brown. With zig-zag stitching. It was crush at first sight. But there's a competitor, vying for my affection. Her name is Cream. Admittedly, not as pretty of a name as Jenny, but her good-looks & undeniable charm make up for that lacking.

Now let me introduce you to Coffee. He's dark and handsome...with an air of confidence that comes with being lean and well-built. I think he and my husband would get along quite nicely.

How cute is this little number? I'm totally thinking of having her printed and hanging her in my house as a friendly little reminder to bike it whenever I can.


Hmm...if I got Jenny, I could change my # to 867-5309. Added benefit. :)

So, Jenny or Cream? Any thoughts?

Vintage bliss...in the kitchen.

So another day of work is done...and now it's time to dream. What is it that I'm longing for today, you ask? Why, vintage refrigerators, of course. Although I'm trying very hard to "live in the moment" and "appreciate life as it is now," (which I do, I promise! I love my life!) I can't help but get a wee-bit weak in the knees when I envision one of these beauties sitting pretty in my kitchen someday.

Last night Corey and I spent far too long on this site trying to determine which color would fit just perfectly in our dreams. We decided a light, baby blue that has a hint of gray to it. I also quite like that happy yellow fridge. Oh my...

*above images via www.bigchillfridge.com

Don't you think this baby blue...

would look amazing in this kitchen?

I'd add some more pops of color, of course.
Like maybe this fabric as cafe curtains in the window.

And, I'd have an amazing, rustic-looking chalk-board wall with hooks to hang all of my mugs/tea cups...and of course for the kiddos and the hubs to write love notes on...

And, last but most certainly not least...I'd crown my kitchen jewel with a dutch door leading to my herb garden.

Yes...I'll keep dreaming. Sweet, sweet dreams of baking chocolate chip cookies everyday in this kitchen. Yes, C, I promise to make you CCC everyday if we can create this beauty :)

I want to hear your thoughts on vintage appliances! (or, I guess I should say vintage-remakes...) Would you ever purchase one for your kitchen?

Villa la....i miss you.

I've got that travel itch. I'm longing for an amazing get-a-way that rivals any one place I've ever been before. Seeing that our bank account won't exactly allow for such an adventure at the moment, the only easement is reminiscing. In Argentina.

Corey and I were blessed beyond reason to have spent 2 weeks of our 3-week honeymoon in South American bliss. This escapade consisted of splitting our time between the pristine, cozy little town of Villa La Angostura--which is nestled amongst the cascading peaks of the Andes in the Patagonia region. The rest of our time...in Buenos Aires, the Paris of the south. And this, it truly was.

So...I invite you to reminisce with me :)

Addicted to my desktop.

So, I've been surrendering every free minute today to my mac. Unfortuately, I only have Microsoft Office--no nifty creative suite programs yet, but I've been attempting to design some business card mock-ups for a few personal side ventures. Thought I'd give you a glimpse into my Friday. Other than scouring desolate warehouse lots and chatting my way to some free furniture, this is all I've done.

Let me know what you think! To print...or not to print? I kind of like them, but I may be a wee bit biased.

Oh, if only I had photoshop and indesign...the possibilities :)

Pop that corn.

Can't wait to settle in on the couch with some red wine and popcorn in hand...my most favorite way to take advantage of alone time. Just made it back from the library, where I accumulated a massive number of amazing books that all revolve around design. Can't wait to discover what's teeming within those pages. Also plan on delving into an exciting personal project that I hope to launch within the next few months. So, lots to do...but so fun to do.

And, for you, my dear readers...
the most random compilation of inspiring photos.
but, i love them. all.






dwell happy.
all photos via flickr. they are linked to their lovely owners, so please, explore.

Sunday Breakfast.

I love, love Sundays. I covet that peace & quiet that comes with the morning. Sunday--it's such a day for doing the things you love, and showing those you love just how much you really do. And, hopefully, it's a day for piddling around the house and playing in all the messes you've desperately wanted to create but just didn't have the time to do so.

I especially love Sunday breakfasts.

So, last Sunday I whipped up a simple little meal for that hubs of mine. And it was so fun to sip our coffee (french-pressed on Sunday, of course) and eat. On the front porch. Watching the world go by. So, so fun.

And, I thought I'd give you the steps to a simple & yummy Sunday breakfast.

Brown that sausage of course.
I only used half a roll of Jimmy Dean & froze the rest.

Roll out those biscuits. I used Pillsbury in the blue
can & rolled 3 together per ramekin. Grease & flour each ramekin.

Squish the dough into the ramekin, and drop some sausage in.
Divide your egg between each ramekin! I made 4 ramekins, and used two eggs with milk, cayenne, salt & pepper whisked in. Bake at 350 until the egg is set and the biscuit edges turn golden.

Prepare to serve & enjoy :)

Poppy, patiently waiting to beg.

I love to pile everything on a wooden cutting board...
makes a simple display of everything you've worked so hard to prepare.

And there's that Corey...happy for breakfast.

May you have a happy day full of fun & good food!!
Feel free to send me an email with any further recipe questions...I know I was a little vague :)

Embracing the gray areas.

I found this picture while perusing the ever-promising houzz. If you've yet to dabble in the amazingness of the site...you must! Anyway, I was so taken by the eccentricity of the space. I'm so tired by today's standard in home design, which to me is defined by the very safe store-bought furniture & decor items that have no individualistic/interesting qualities to them. I'm constantly seeking photographs of good design, which, defined by me, means that the space embodies a personality all it's own...not Pottery Barn's. And I love PB! Just not when everything in a room is purchased from a page in the PB catalog. I love to see trinkets displayed from worldly travels, your grandmother's arm chair recovered in a vintage fabric or your dad's old ties displayed on the wall. Something, anything unusual. Anyhow, I love to find design that symbolizes independent thinking. The room above just may be the epitome of independent thinking and eclecticism. Who ever would have put any of these elements together? Yet look how fun and amazing and truly unique the space is. Ahhh...good design. Some people just get it.

Feel free to comment!! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this photo. Am I the only one that loves it?