fictitious home.

{house beautiful}

{domino}

{decorpad}

{house beautiful}

{Nate Berkus}

casual. elegant. comfortable. primitive.
i love how these elements combine to create such a cozy and livable environment.
check out that kitchen cieling, and how the blue and green accents transcend from room to room.
i will leave here, please and thank you.

p.s. is anyone else having a horrible / frustrating time with the new posting form in blogger?! argh!

missing you, Domino.

rather ferociously.
you were a highlight to my months: i couldn't wait to buy you. take you home. curl up on the couch with you. sip a cup of joe with you.
so now i must resort to savoring your backissues. glancing at them sparingly in an attempt to forever be surprised.
...it's not working.
...i've memorized your every issue.
...please, someday, oneday, come back to me.

your covers never fail to provide the eye candy i crave.

your color schemes are delectable, to say the least.

and i envy your simplicity.

if i had my own dock, on my own lake, it would look like this.

and i would probably never go inside.

 yes, pink couch, i think i will eat you for dinner.

you are that scrumptious.

oh, marfa. not only is your name entirely awesome.

so are your desert bike rides.

any of you been to marfa? i won't deny my envy if you have...

note to self (& hubby):

someday have a fabulous backyard.

like...this one.

so yes...Domino, i am missing you.

thank goodness i have an expansive blog arsenal to keep me plenty occupied. or, maybe distracted is a better word.

and, speaking of blogs, have you seen...

this post on design*sponge?

i've always wanted to sew a shower curtain, but have yet to acquire the confidence to match the depth of the project.if you're in my boat, this may help :)

and, if you're still suffering from Domino withdrawals, there's always the brilliant Lonny Magazine. very domino-esque, and quite considerate to the pocket book, considering it's free.

then again there's always delightful design musings to be seen and read over at Creature Comforts. a day hardly passes in which i don't drool over her style.

HAPPY wednesday, all.

today, please.

today i want to:

dangle in the water.

{daniellekiemel}

read a pretty book.

 {fine little day}

start my own business.

{sip, slowly}

grow legs this long.

{deadbeatdancers}

what do you want to do today?

{mapled}

{Apples for Jam}

a delicious little recipe. makes for a wonderful side dish. i served mine with chicken. could also make for a lovely little morning meal.

olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled and squashed
1 to 2 small zucchini, finely sliced
3 or 4 basil leaves, torn
4 eggs
6 tbsp grated parmesan
a little lemon juice
salt

*makes 4 omelettes

heat 2 tsp oil in a nonstick pan.
add the zucchini and garlic and satue over med-high until lightly golden.
season with salt and mix in the basil.
remove from the heat.

whisk one egg in a bowl.
heat 1 tsp of oil in a 6-inch nonstick frying pan over med-low.
add the egg.
scatter about 1/4 of the zucchini over the egg
also scatter some parmesan.
cook until the omelette is set.
slip out onto a warm plate while you cook the rest.
season with salt, pepper and lemon juice, if you like.

fried, eh.

waving goodbye to my friday.
monday will soon follow suit.
another week. more job hunting. more job searching. ,job wishing, hoping...praying, if you will.

however, in the meantime...

{mapled}

...i will give my time to the beach.

happy weekend, y'all.

swag me.

swagbucks.
brilliant, i tell you.
wishing i had known about this...mmm...3 years ago. at least.
anyway...now i do.
and so do you:

earn money while you browse.
it's that simple.
and also legit.

check it out:

 and, if you're feeling generous, you can help me earn points.
just click here.
bemusing, wouldn't you say?
exciting, or so i think.

in the raw.

so, you probably know already.
Jessica Simpson posed for Marie Claire...with no make-up.
or, very little.
but certainly with no airbrushing.
i tried to resist re-posting this, as it's everywhere.
but the more i saw it, and her being bashed for it...
strong feelings ensued.

 i mean, i think she looks  beautiful.
if anything, simply because of the act of  bravery she just committed.
i'm terrified to take photographs of myself...in my own home...with no make-up.
much less look at the ghastly results.
and here  she is, in the raw, for the whole world to see...and judge.

she looks just as plain as i do.
she didn't even try to fake a tan.
and i like it.


and then you have Louise Bourgoin... 

un-airbrushed.
and still...untouchable.
this woman reeks of beauty.

so...
thoughts?
on this new wave of un-airbrushed photoshoots?

rather refreshing, until you discover why models become models.
they are gorgeous, no matter how hard one tries to disguise their beauty.

get out your wallet.

introducing...

(very enthusiastic drumroll)

...

the newest addition to the maple and shade family.
www.shopmaple.blogspot.com
cheers to thrifty shopping.
and supporting a good cause while you're at it.
now that's responsible.

if you have any questions, just email me :)

en la cocina: mango salsa and tilapia

 





{Joy of Cooking}

extremely light. extremely yummy.
goes wonderfully with a simple salad.
takes 20 minutes (at the very most) to prepare AND cook.
yes, that's my kind of meal.

1 small red onion
1/4 C fresh lime juice
1 small red pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 C coarsely chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 C fresh orange juice
1 jalapeño, finely chopped

combine first 2 ingredients in large bowl.
prepare remaining ingredients, setting them aside as you go.
then add them all at once to onion mixture.
season with salt and pepper.
serve immediately. on top of broiled tilapia, for my favorite results :)

now, for the tilapia:

   also,
{Joy of Cooking}

 1.5 to 2 lbs fish filets, rinsed and patted dry.
 olive oil
lemon juice
salt, pepper

brush filets lightly on each side with olive oil.
sprinkle with salt and pepper.
broil in oven for 4 minutes.
once exterior of fish turns opaque they are done.
sprinkle with lemon juice.
top with above salsa.
and enjoy, of course.

like I said...
so easy.
so yummy.

U.O.

So, I'm in a phase with Urban. 

And yes, that phase is lust.

You know that song, "I want it all?"

Well...I want it all.

  

mmm...yeah...

I want it all.