Theresa Himmer

Theresa Himmer is an amazing Dutch artist. She takes sequins and creates beautiful art pieces on buildings. I don't know about you, but I think I would pay her to sequin-cover my whole house. Gold, please. 
This is the best thing since yarn bombing! Gorgeous? Yes. Technically illegal? You could say that. But all the trees are now cozy, so you've got some give and take action going on.
(1,2,3)

Wedding Dresses

A friend of mine is getting married soon, and as is my custom around weddings I start looking at gowns. It's a problem that I should probably seek help for. Seriously, even the slightest hint of a wedding has me scrolling through pages of gowns on David's Bridal.

I think my favorite is the third one, with the beautiful bow. 

Now back to scrolling.

(1,2,3,4)

Don't Judge

Sometimes it's hard to love people. That neighbor who always blares their music, that stalker guy at the Walmart deli (true story), or that coworker who always wants to tell you her life story...in perfect, awkward detail. 
But do you realize that we are not called to judge and condemn the world, but to love it? The Bible talks about love so many times. Just one of these is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, which says "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 
If you are honest with yourself, you will come to the conclusion that sometimes you are not easy to love, either. But God still loves you. He never has and never will give up on you. It's your job to take His love and spread it around. 
(Image source)

Black as an Accent Color

Black is such a great color. Strong, graphic, and powerful, it makes a perfect addition to any home. But too much can make your home feel like a cave. Which, unless you happen to be a grizzly, is undesirable. 

I love when black is used as an accent. It gives grounding and substance to a space, especially when used on a piece of furniture. But, like beige, this guy needs some friends. When used with white and bright colors, you get the perfect balance in your space. Because in design, as in life, balance is key.

(1,2,3,4)

Nutella Smores Bars

How delicious do these look? I believe it's time for smores.

Nutella S'mores Bars

Yield: One 8x8 pan (16 squares)

Ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cups flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg 
pinch of vanilla powder (or 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
1/2 cup Nutella
7 ounces marshmallow creme
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides. 

In a bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat until creamy and well blended. Add dry ingredients and beat until just combined. 

Press half of the dough evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon marshmallow creme over the dough, then use the back of a greased spoon or a greased angled spatula to spread it out. Spread Nutella over marshmallow creme. Sprinkle chocolate chips over Nutella. Break apart chunks of the remaining graham cracker dough and scatter on top of the chocolate chips, like so.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely in pan, then lift out using overhanging edges of parchment paper and cut into bars.
(Image and recipe from Culinary Couture)

Click, Click, Click

Very few people know that Dorothy's ruby slippers were actually silver. I love silver shoes. Target has some really cute ones, like these or these. Super cute when worn with cuffed jeans, like in the second picture. Or you could wear them with a skirt like Atlantic-Pacific did. 

How would you wear them?

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The New Classics

I've always been a classics girl. I still have a copy of Little Women from when I was 8 years old...signed by myself. How adorable are these copies of the classics beautifully designed by the team at Mr. Boddington's Studio?

Nothing better than a rainy day and a good book. Oh yeah...and some Saltine crackers. Bingo.
(Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Wuthering Heights)