Houzz.com

Pinterest is my new favorite thing.  I've found recipes, gift ideas, things to do for the house and the garden... you name it.  Need inspiration?  Pinterest is a great place to start.

Most recently, Pinterest introduced me to Houzz.com.  The WSJ calls it "a digital look book for home decorating ideas."  And as you might imagine, I'm obsessing over kitchens.

Look at all the natural light in this one.  And I love the exposed beams.  My goodness.

Design by Philadelphia general contractor Echelon Custom Homes

And here, I love the farm sink and the drain board built into the countertop.

Design by Boston architect Battle Associates

What I would give for a pantry like this!  Such a fun use for a library ladder.

Design by Minneapolis architect Murphy & Co.

A red island and butcher block top.  Yes, please.

Design by Atlanta general contractor Kara O'Brien

Do you see the little faucet in the wall, right above the cooktop?  It's a pot filler, so you'd never have to carry a full pot of pasta water over from the sink again.  Swoon.

Realistically, all that's happening in this kitchen any time soon is perhaps a new backsplash and spring faucet.  { It drives me nuts that our current faucet is polished and everything else in the kitchen is brushed. }

Santa, I've been a good girl.  And we wash a lot of dishes.

Sweet dreams of counter space!

Furniture Meets Fashion

As a Floridian girl in the '80s, I lived in jellies.  I had purple ones, pink glittery ones, clear ones { for my Cinderella dress, natch } and in sixth grade I even had a pair with some fabulously chunky two-inch heels.  I mean I rocked it at CSMS.  That is, as much as a chubby girl with frizzy hair, braces and pink-rimmed Coke-bottle glasses can rock it.

All that to say, I have a special place in my heart for plasic shoes.  And my semi-grown-up self is learning to love flats.  So when I saw these beauties { aka "Bow Wow Ballet Flats" } from the collaboration of two Italian icons, Kartell and Moschino, I fell in love.  It's furniture meets fashion.  And look at the bow!  Plus, if you feel so inclined, they are 100% recyclable.  Though if you're going to get a pair and then feel the need to recycle them... I think I can help with that.  Size 9, please.  Did I mention I love the bow!?!

But of course patience is a virtue.  They aren't available until January.  Probably a good thing, though, because I haven't formally broken out my fall wardrobe yet.  So in the mean time, bring on the boots!