Mystique Sandals

A friend of mine had mystique sandals on recently and I kept being drawn to them...the jeweled look added a punch of glam to her outfit and with the leather sole, they were very comfortable. Something fun to add on to your "to buy" list...

Pass the bread please...

These twig looking bread sticks would be a fun recipe to try when entertaining. They'd look inviting and delicious if you stuck them in a vase/cup container sticking straight up...light and tasty.

Recipe (below) found out of this month's Metropolitan Home -- bon appetite!

Scampo Breadsticks

Ingredients
• 1 (¼ oz.) package active dry yeast (2¼ tsp.)
• ¾ cup warm (105˚–115˚F) water
• 2½ tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup semolina flour
• 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 tbsp. coarse salt
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. coarse salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 3 to 4 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 to 4 tbsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Directions
Combine yeast and warm water in the bowl of an electric mixer. Stir and let stand 3 minutes, until mixture is foamy. Attach dough hook or paddle, add remaining ingredients and mix to combine. (Dough should pull away from the side of the bowl. If too wet, add a little flour; if too dry, add a little water.) Mix until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate at least overnight, or up to three days.

Line three baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush with oil or coat with nonstick spray. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to a 24-by-8-inch rectangle. (If dough becomes difficult to roll, let stand ten minutes to relax, then continue rolling.) Trim uneven edges with pizza cutter. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, cheese and rosemary.
With pizza cutter, cut strips from short side, ¼ inch wide and 8 inches long. Transfer strips to baking sheets, stretching each gently to about 10 inches in length. Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until rounded, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bake breadsticks until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Serve immediately, or keep in a closed container up to one week. Makes 70 to 80 breadsticks.

Essential Scoop Neck

I have a feeling about this linen scoop neck sweater...I saw it in J.Crew a couple days ago and I should have bought it. It's one of those effortless tops that can be perfectly casual and cute, but refined enough to dress up with a few accessories. It doesn't look like much, but it has that linen/gauze feel to it, just on the edge of being see through - breathable, sexy in its own scoop neck kind of a way and adorned with 2 understated pockets that make it quite memorable. Women will ask where you got it...it's one of those types of shirts. Unassuming but fully loaded. Moral of the story, go get yourself one...I know I'm going to.

P.S. It also comes in a gorgeous navy, but may be exclusive to stores only as it's not listed on the website.

This color looks better in person...

Come on in...

Your first impression to someones home, the front door. It can be as basic as a place to enter, or come to life with personality in its color and accessories surrounding it. Seems a little goofy to be the house on the street known as "the house with the yellow front door", but it also seems welcoming, unique and fun. Something to think about next time you need a little face lift on your exterior space.

John Robshaw Textiles

My sister introduced me to John Robshaw Textiles and I officially want all new bedding. Its look of bohemian style is combined with a whimsical and chic color palette that creates a very distinct look. The baby collections are absolutely precious and all the bedding looks soft and inviting.

A breeze through their website will leave you intrigued and inspired...

Cotton Voile Quilts

Circus

Noah's Ark

Blurry Pillows

Pink City Bed

Precious Metals

Folk Pillows

Lapis

ACK

Hydrangea bushes, grey shingled cottages,cobble stone streets, lobster bakes, salty air...the pleasures of Nantucket stir up many good memories. There is something about this island that keep people coming back each summer to crowd the streets of the small downtown and fill up cottage rentals all over the island. Popular places to stay: The Wauwinet Inn and Summer House ... a vacation to this cozy island will be fun, relaxing and memorable.

To the Outback

The natural beauty of Australia is both stunning and mesmerizing with its diversity in landscape, wildlife and terrain. Going to the outback could mean a number of different things - you're heading to the beach, the mountains, the plains, the dryland, the city, etc...all packed in to the world's smallest continent, but largest island.

If I were going to Australia I would have a long list of things to do - see a beach with huge waves, pet a kangaroo, snorkel in the great barrier reef...the list could be endless.