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.

Please...come in.

I've been so excited to post this amazing interior belonging to Annie, my good friend and business partner. Together we run "ella mint," which is our new & exciting venture that transforms sad & abandoned pieces into "fresh and happy furnishings." Well, Annie's home is the epitome of fresh and happy. She has such an amazing eye and an adventurous flair to her decorating...everything in her house is so unexpected yet pieces together so well. I absolutely had to share it with you. And the best part, you ask? Nearly every piece of furniture in her home was found on the curb or discovered amidst the rummage of flea markets and garage sales. Cheery paint colors and happy fabrics transformed this home into a chic & thrifty retreat. ENJOY!!

So Annie and her son, Asher, live in Lexington, Kentucky. And, if you ask me, he might just be the luckiest 8 year-old ever...I mean, his very own white, glossy parson's desk? And did you see that tree house? It rocks!!

But, I must say, part of the reason I'm so thrilled to feature this home is to give readers a glimpse into Lexington. Our city for so long has been regarded as somewhat snobby and very classic and preppy, and I love that I'm able to show such a different side to it. Lifestyles in this city are changing...& thanks to people like Annie who aren't afraid to pick up that amazing chair just because it's on the curb. So yay for Lexington!

And, if you happen to be enamored with Annie's home & any of the design elements within, feel free to shoot me an email. If you'd like some custom furniture from "ella mint," we'd be oh-so happy to arrange a consultation.

Have a wonderful afternoon and, most importantly, happy dwelling!

Weathered love.

As much as I love bright colors and cheery spaces, nothing tugs at my heart more than weathered & rustic elements of design. I can't quite put my finger on the appeal--maybe it's the character that comes with an aged and overly-loved piece, or the mystery and charm behind its story. Either way, I've been enveloped in dreams of a weathered home and all the rusted, dented things I would strategically place within its airy walls. Luxurious linen curtains, my mom's old pie safe, the barn door that we're converting into a dining room table...galvanized metal buckets, mason jars, farm fresh eggs in tattered wire baskets...oh my. An exceptionally amazing farmhouse sink, exposed wooden beams, old wooden windows. A white, ruffled shower curtain, and a ticking-stripe skirt hanging from the kitchen sink. Someday...I hope.

So enjoy your weekend. May my dreams of all-things rustic inspire you to embrace the things you love.

the lovely images above may be accredited to:
C.Mariani
Lara Ferroni
abetsybug
woodleywonderworks
the lulubird
decorology

Be sure to check back in Monday...I'll be giving you a peek into a most magnificent home.

Dear Santa, won't you come early?

I'd really appreciate it, seeing that my wallet may never allow for any of these items to appear in my home. Therefore, I will have to rely on your, umm, rather bouyant rudolph to somehow land on my sweltering, clay tile roof, and for you to pummel your rotund little self and your very heavy bag (as it will be loaded down with very heavy trunks from Anthropologie) down my narrow, soot-ridden chimney. But, I've been quite good this year, and feeling rather deserving of a 6-month treat. I'll make you extra yummy cookies with ghiradeli chocolate chips...I'll even pour you an ice cold glass of organic milk. Won't you please make the visit?

Tunic: Free People. Pillow: Jonathon Adler. Sunglasses: Swell. Tea cup & trunks: Anthropologie. Sandals: Christian Louboutin. Print: Keep Calm Galleries.

And....

A very, very warm thank-you to Creature Comforts for the amazing mention. I'm so excited! If you have yet to pay the blog a visit, you absolutely must do so now. Its one especially near & dear to me--as I check it...mmm...about 4 times a day :) Most definitely one of my favorite sources of inspiration! It's a reliable provider of my daily creative fix...and should be yours as well.

Feeling blue.

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And quite okay with that.

xoxo.

A lovely congrats...

...to Allison!! The very first winner of a maple & shade give-a-way. I hope you're enjoying your Saturday, and that this winning makes it that much better. Be sure to email me at mapleandshade@gmail.com so I can gather shipping info from you :)

And a BIG thank you to all for your kind comments as well as your support. It made my week so amazing--and I'm so appreciative. Thank you!!

*photo via flickr. see it here.

Cheers to a good Friday.

Looking for something fun and a little different to fill up your Friday evening? For those of you in or around Lexington, check out this local event:

Renowned shutterbug Amy Murphy will display gorgeous poster size canvases and prints featuring a mix of natural and urban subjects. The Woodland Computers staff will be on hand for crowd control and general street cred.

Date:	Friday, June 19, 2009
Time:	5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Woodland Computers
Street:	507 E. High St

So, if you're even slighty interested in the gallery hop, just take a peek at Amy's amazing photos above, or pay a visit to her flickr page. That might really convince you to go give her your local support :)

Have a delightful Friday!! & hope to see you there.