Chevron: The Alternative Stripe

I am a big fan of stripes and the combination of straight stripes and chevron stripes is about perfect, in my estimation, for a big WOW!

Source: decorpad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: decorpad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I could definitely live with the bold use of color and only pattern of chevron rug as in this room.

Source: madelineweinrib.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Maybe a pillow would be a good place to start.

Source: etsy.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I love the work of jillrosenwald

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

If you want to try making a chevron wall art, click here for a tutorial.

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Missoni has been doing chevron patterns for more than 50 years.

Source: designsponge.com via Deborah on Pinterest

How charming is this table?

Patriotic Pinterest Picks

I am very new to Pinterest, a virtual pinboard, where you can collect all the wonderful things you've found on the web.  Here are a few of my patriotic picks for the 4th of July.

Source: williams-sonoma.com via Deborah on Pinterest

 Pinterest is  like a folder of all the things you've been saving for years from magazines but with no clutter on your desk.  It is all there on the web for you to check out whenever you want inspiration or share with a friend or anyone who is interested to see what inspires you.

Source: flickr.com via Deborah on Pinters

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: picnic.typepad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Click on any of the links to view my Pinterest boards

Summer Drinkware

Quench your thirst in style with some colorful glassware from Uncommongoods.

Summer Drinkware by Spiralstyle on Polyvore.com

Strawberry Weekend

Strawberry season is coming to an end in southeast Michigan.  Hubby and I picked strawberries again this weekend.  While they were a bit harder to find on the plants, I think they were sweeter than last weekend.  

I decided to have Meatless Monday a day early.  Spinach salad (harvested from my garden) with strawberries, onions and blue cheese along with grilled salmon.  

This is the second time in 7 days I've made this Strawberry, Sour Cream Bread. 

I did a search on Etsy for some strawberry influenced items.   Here are some of my favorites.

Porcelain Berry Basket  $30 forestclearing

Berry Bowl with Saucer $65 Emilydyer

Decorative 8 inch glass strawberry plate $25 ZIGZAGARTS

Two vintage strawberry tablecloths

        $38 from pumpkintruck                                                 $52 FindMeAMemory

Block print strawberry towel $16 artgoodies

Strawberries hand dipped in gourmet chocolate  $30 JCsGourmetCakeBites

Happy Monday

This week has gone by in a blur.  My puppy, Libby, is so active and naughty inquisitive I imagine it is what having twin toddlers must be like. 

 I leave you with a photo of the beautiful dogwood blossoms from the tree outside my dining room.   

Have a wonderful weekend.

Make It Pink

Wow, gotta be careful of Polyvore and its Quick Share setting.  While I was preparing this post, I inadvertently "quick shared" to Blogger and Facebook!  This is what I was checking out.  House Beautiful had an article of 50 Ways to Go Pink.  

Make it Pink 

Pink is not usually a color I seek out but these items are so pretty, I think I could get to like pink.

Flavor of the Week: Fresh Mint

 

Refresh-MINT 

A cold glass of water is so much more appealing with a sprig of mint and slice of lime.  What would a mojito be without mint? Not to mention a mint julep.  Fresh mint is a key ingredient in Asian, Middle Eastern and Northern African food.   Widely used as a flavoring, this herb is used in sweet and savory dishes.

Fresh mint is a great addition to a salad

Arugula and Frisee Salad with Peas, Pistachios and Pecorino

from Food & Wine 

Mint and peas are a natural combination

Fettuccine with Veal, Peas and Mint

another Food & Wine recipe

photo by me

Three Herb and Chicken Spring Rolls 

from Dim Sum by Fiona Smith

In this recipe, mint, basil and cilantro team up deliver a flavor punch to a Vietnamese spring roll.  A sweet/tart dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment.  I like these rolls for a cool dinner on a hot summer evening.  They are also fantastic for a cocktail party as they can be made in advance and cut in half and arranged on a platter for a two-bite finger food.

Place the herbs in the center of the rice paper wrap...

...then top with chicken slices and mango is you like.  When the spring roll is wrapped, the herbs will be on the top, a nice effect.

Enjoy-mint!

Summer Colors

Happy First Day of Summer

For hot days of summer, I try to use the sheerest, smallest amount of makeup possible.

I've been using Laura Mercier Creme Eye Colour for several years.  There are two formulas, a metallic and satin.  The metallic is a bit to shimmery for me so I am using satin in the colors  shown above.  Of course there is a brush for application but your finger will work well too.  That makes it simple for travel, just pop them into your makeup case.  You can blend colors to achieve your own custom color.

I like a very sheer lip and Laura has two products that match that description.

The Apricot and Rose above are HydraTints This muti-purpose lip balm is moisturizing, has and spf15 and gives the lips a sheer stain of color.  The Rosy Glaze is actually a lip plumper gloss   but Lip Glace is a gloss without the plumping effect.  I included this Nars Lip Gloss  which is very close to the natural lip color.  

Keeping cool and looking our best.  That's the idea.  

Eclectic Antique Finds

This is the purchase that got the day off to a great start!

I'd hate to be snorkeling and come upon this blowfish.  We couldn't pass up this "preserved" specimen for our Bahamas house.

Next we spotted this boat compass.  

It fits right in with the beach theme decor on the coffee table.

Somewhat related to the compass is this old, iron armillary.  I wanted to find one to display near the large wall map.

Hubby has been searching for a place to store his fly tying gear for years.  This old card catalog will be perfect.

This one will take some imagination.  I've been looking for years for a bar cart or butler's tray for the dining room.  The plan is to use it as a bar or for serving during a dinner party or a place for used dished during a cocktail party.  This stand is the correct height and I like the rustic look.  It has history.  I've ordered a large tray for the top.  I'll replace the straps with leather for a richer look.

Here's my selection for meatless Monday.

This is my reinvention of a salad I had at the gym cafe.

The basis for the salad is a can of beans, in this case, garbanzo beans.  I added chopped spinach and cilantro, sun dried tomatoes, diced onion, olive oil salt and pepper.  A liberal dose of fresh lemon and lime juice brightened the salad and feta cheese added a salty flavor along with protein.  I think this would be a nice summer salad with open face egg salad, arugula, and tomato sandwiches. 

Sweet Weekend

I'm sorry my post is late.  It has been a hectic week and I'm ready for the weekend.  

Sweet treats in the Laduree window, Paris

Sun and warm weather is promised for the weekend.  Plans here include the monthly Antique Market.

My dear hubby celebrates his birthday and Father's Day this weekend.

I'll make his favorites, paella and strawberry shortcake. 

Celebrate Fathers and have a great weekend.  See you Monday.

Parisian Mystery Series

I saw this sign for a detective agency in Paris and it reminded my of the fiction series of books about Aimee Leduc, a PI in Paris.

Each book takes place in a different part of Paris with titles such as Murder in the Palais Royal, Murder in the Marais, or Murder in the Sentier.  

Cara Black is the author of this mystery series.  She grew up in San Francisco and attended a French Catholic school where she learned to love all things French.  She says the best part of her job is her research which of course she conducts in Paris.  

Aimee Leduc, the protagonist of the books,  is her alter ego.  Aimee is a vintage clothes horse wearing flea-market Valentino boots and kohl-rimmed eyes.  She rides a Vespa and sprints across cobblestone streets in stilettos while solving crimes.  Her partner is a computer whiz dwarf.  Yes, dwarf!  

If you've ever been to Paris or wish you have, try the Cara Black series featuring Aimee Leduc.  

Spiral Style 2nd Anniversary and a Proposal

Thank you, dear Spiral Style followers, for another year.  Hard to believe I still have things to say and share after two years.  Actually, I am always looking for new ideas to post for your consideration and comments.  And oh, how I love to read your comments! 

So, here is my proposal.  For anyone with an Etsy shop, business or blog, I would like to feature you on Spiral Style.  Please contact me with your post idea and if it meets the Spiral Style aesthetic, I'll feature your venture.  If you have a blog and would like to guest post, I welcome your ideas.  The only stipulation is that you are a follower of Spiral Style.  Just send me a message by clicking on the orange "Email Me" button on the top right column.  

I look forward to hearing from you.  Have a lovely day.  

Green Idea for the Refrigerator

I'm embarrassed to think of all the plastic bags I've sent to the landfill that have held half used portions of fruit and vegetables.  I was delighted to find Fresh Pods by MSC International Jo!e.

I picked up a set of these colorful pods at Marshall's for about $2.99/each.  The tops twists into the base for a tight fit.  The fruit and veggies stay fresh and keep the frig odor-free.  

You can buy the pepper pod here for $5.97

Happy Monday

I hope you had a relaxing, recharging weekend.  I had no real agenda and had fun playing with the new puppy, reading magazines and testing recipes.  I did a little weeding in the garden and will be enjoying freshly picked arugula by the end of the week.

I read the new Sweet Paul Magazine online and found this recipe for a Rhubarb Strussel Cupcake.  More like a muffin than a cupcake, these little treats are delicious.  I had just enough rhubarb left from another use so I whipped up these confections.  The rhubarb is roasted to make it sweet and mellow.  

Rather than incorporated into the batter, the rhubarb tops the batter and then capped with a strussel of flour/butter/sugar and some slivered almonds.

Rather than cake-like, these "muffins" have a dense, somewhat rustic crumb.  The rhubarb adds just a touch of sweet/tart and the strussel further adds a pleasant sweetness enhanced by the toasted almonds.  If you make these, and I hope you do, increase the amount of rhubarb you prepare.  I ran out of rhubarb and substituted candied orange peel for the remaining three muffins.  

Be sure to check out Sweet Paul for lots of great recipes and summer ideas.  

Have a great week