A Fun Project & Chicken Recipe for Wednesday Night

I thought I'd share my latest idea for a craft and dinner which I hope to accomplish tonight after work: a simple flower in vase decoration & lemon-roasted chicken with arugula salad and dilled orzo :)

I was inspired by something I saw in Target and was tempted to buy it for $9.99, but held true to my beliefs in making things myself and perfecting my craft, rather than buying from big commercial stores (yes, it can be unavoidable at times). So here is what I found in Target and really liked:

I guess it is pretty popular because when I went to grab this picture from the Target website, the item was interestingly enough, sold out. 

I'd like to make it with a vintage clear glass, either a drinking glass or mini vase and am going to look for a pretty faux hydrangea and that fake water stuff at Michael's Craft Store during my lunch break. I hope to post pictures of the finished product later tonight!

Update! The finished product, I'm very pleased :)

See the little vase on the table below? Just like that...

                                         

Brabourne Farm Blog

For dinner I plan on making this which I got off of Everyday Food.

                                                     

1 chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds), cut into 10 pieces

6 garlic cloves, smashed

2 lemons, quartered

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 cup orzo

1/2 teaspoon dried dill

2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

3 bunches arugula (12 to 16 ounces total), thick stems removed, washed well

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Set a large saucepan of water to boil.

On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss together chicken, garlic, lemons, oregano, and 1 teaspoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast chicken, skin side up, until golden and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, generously salt boiling water. Add orzo, and cook until al dente; drain well, and return to saucepan. Add dill and 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper, and mix gently to combine.

In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. When chicken and orzo are ready, add arugula to bowl; toss to coat. Drizzle chicken with pan juices, and serve with lemon wedges, orzo, and arugula salad.

Update: Dinner was excellent and so so easy! I used a box of rice pilaf and asparagus instead of arugula because I had it all in the fridge - still delcious!

Balcony Surfing...

I am so into my porch these days, borderline obsessed. As most of you already know Brian and I live in an apartment so we don't have a yard with grass, but this balcony is perfect for us right now! There are these french doors that lead out to it from our dining room and there is nothing better in the summer than opening those doors and hanging out in the fresh air. 

Last summer was our first summer out there and I didn't do much with it. This summer however, a whole different story! I am so excited to plant a couple of flowers and veggies (in pots) and maybe hang one of those upside down tomato things from it. The blacony is big enough for a little bisto table, our new weber grill and a couple of plant stands.  It measures 6' x 14'. Here are some photos from last summer:

I have been doing some browsing and am happy to share what I have found including a great balcony makeover from Chicago and 10 great tips for transforming an outdoor space.

Here is the makeover story I found on apartmenttherapy:

"We really wanted to create a space that was multifunctional, allowing us to entertain, eat alfresco, enjoy some pretty scenery, and help hide the view of the busy street on which we live. All of this without having too much cramping the space or overpowering it, and of course, as affordably as we could get." Lisa from Chicago 

photos via apartmenttherapy

HOW ADORABLE?

I love what they have done with this and I could just imagine being at a party in their apartment, sitting on the balcony with a few people to get some air...

 I found the nice wood tile flooring on overstock and might consider putting that in...

I also thought one of these bamboo fences might be nice around the railing...

a start

I also love this wave rug! 

source

 For all of you who are in a similar position as me, or just need a little freshening up, here are 10 tips I found so great!

1. Gather some seating - A balcony can be seen as an extension of the living room. Adding a few key furniture pieces can make a balcony seem warm and inviting. It's important to consider the size of the balcony before purchasing patio furniture. If the balcony is small, choose a couple chairs and a small table. Bistro sets are perfect. Target offers a number of affordable bistro sets. Add some design flair and color with patterned, weather-resistant cushions. For larger balconies a patio table and umbrella makes for the perfect getaway. With comfortable seating balconies can easily become a great place for entertaining guests.
2. Add some greenery - A balcony is outdoors after all. Therefore it should look like the outdoors by bringing in some green. Plants are also the easiest way to decorate a dingy balcony. Planting pots work great for balconies because they are often design elements all on their own. If space on the ground is limited, then think hanging flower baskets and planter boxes on the balcony railings. These are perfect because they take up no actual space on the balcony itself and still add loads of color and greenery. Be sure to choose flowers that are appropriate to the amount of sun or shade that hits the balcony.
3. Lay outdoor flooring - Bring part of the living room outdoors. Outdoor carpeting is a great way to define a space and to detract from the cement balcony floors. Outdoor carpets come in a variety of colors, are inexpensive and can be custom cut to fit any size. Carpeting can make the balcony feel more inviting and allow kick off your shoes and relax.
4. Create mood lighting - If an electrical outlet is available on the balcony, stringing a set of party lights on the balcony railing is a great way of bringing light to the patio, allowing you to enjoy your balcony late into the evening. If an outlet is not available then candles also do the job effectively and inexpensively. Look for some decorative outdoor lanterns at your local garden center.
5. Plant an herb garden - It may not be possible to grow an entire vegetable garden from an apartment balcony but a small herb garden is certainly not out of the question. Dedicate a corner of the apartment to some small, decorated pots containing favorite herbs. This not only adds color to the balcony but also provides an enjoyable hobby and some delicious herbs for gourmet cooking.
6. Put up a privacy fence - If your balcony is not very private you might consider purchasing some privacy screening. Bamboo sheets can be purchased at your local garden or building center. They provide some well needed privacy and also work great in the overall design of an outdoor oasis. Even if you already have privacy walls, placing bamboo fencing against the existing brick or cement walls can completely transform the look of the balcony.
7. Bring art outdoors - Art doesn't have to stay in the living room, try bringing it outdoors as well. Look for weather-resistant, outdoor art pieces that can be hung on a balcony wall. There are a variety of metal and wooden wall art pieces that are meant for the outdoors and will add some style to the outdoor living space.
8. Add outdoor sculptures - If hanging art on the balcony walls is not permitted then think of art pieces that are freestanding, such as garden statues and structures. Obviously choose pieces that fit the size of the balcony. These are great for adding personality to a balcony and can easily be swapped in and out to keep the space looking fresh. A self-contained water fountain is another idea. The sound of running water provides a soothing atmosphere.
9. Hang some wind chimes - Wind chimes belong in any backyard or balcony. They are things of beauty, provide pleasing chimes, and also take up minimal space on a balcony. Bamboo wind chimes are quite popular as they produce a lower pitch and provide a more tropical feel to the balcony.
10. Grill it up - If allowed, purchase a small barbecue for the balcony. A barbecue can easily become the centerpiece of the balcony. It allows the balcony to become a place of gathering and entertaining with friends and family. Char-Broil's Patio Caddie is the perfect choice for the balcony as it takes of minimal space.

Source

goodnight, happy sleeping :)

Live Chic

So often I find myself dreaming of a chic life which normally includes the most stylish and expensive clothes, the most beautifully decorated rooms and homes (on the beach), elaborate parties and events (near the beach or in a fancy city), really nice cars, exotic places, you get the idea... Now, please understand that I am not saying I want all of this in my life because I really do like what I have and think to myself almost everyday how lucky I am to have what I do!

I don't think dreaming of these things is necessarily a bad thing, after all, all of the luxuries in life are undeniably beautiful and I am afterall an aesthetically-driven person.

So all this is great but today I realized something, just about eveything I blog and tweet about involves some sort of material good, but really, the most important type of chic doesn't come from these things at all but rather the person and their good taste in...well, being.

I've started a list of chic qualities in a person and I am looking for comments on what you all think makes a person, chic!

a good attitude


a genuine smile


work ethic


honesty


loyalty


MODESTY


open-minded


charitable
 

source

Do you agree? What else makes a person chic?

An Inspiring Day for an Aspiring Designer at DIFFA"s Dining by Design!

Can you imagine my excitement when I opened the email from the public relations team at the New York Design Center asking me to be a guest blogger at this year's DIFFA Dining by Design event?? I was completely thrilled and ecstatic to be contacted for such a thing! I would have the chance to not only attend such an inspiring design event, but actually participate on behalf of Shorely Chic! It was such an amazing experience to be there representing my very own business and meeting so many successful people in the industry.

 

Welcome to Pier 94!

 

can you imagine my excitement when I saw this poster?!

  

I was stationed at the New York Design Center, NYDC's, Connected table tweeting live about the show for about an hour. I ended up having so much fun with the girls from the NYDC and my fellow design bloggers, Tamara from nestnestnest.blogspot.com and Amy from abcddesigns.

 It was so fun to put a face to the name of these women I blog and tweet with almost everyday!

 

recognize what's on the screen? It was so cool to see my blog blown up so big! 

  

a better view of the table, minus that vacuum-looking object on the left! 

Tamara from http://nestnestnest.blogspot.com/ - such a talented designer and she keeps such a beautiful and informative blog, take a visit :)

 

the RL table

  

  

table by Bradley Stephens

  

this was my favorite table, so so chic!

 

pretty interesting with the life statue...

more Audrey - loved this table, too! 

 

liked this one, a lot.

 

New York School of Interior Design table, all about sustainability

 

Kravet's table

  

yes, iphone candelabras

 

I thought this garden-inspired table was so neat, how each place was carved out of the greenery.

Thanks for stopping by, and to learn more about DIFFA and the NYDC, please visit their sites!

Here @ THE DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN blogging and tweeting live

This is such an amazing event and I am so so lucky to be sitting at the New York Design Center's and DIFFA's Connected table :) If you happen to be at the Architectural Digest Home Show at Pier 94, pop into Dining by Design and visit me at the table.

I look forward to meeting any and all of you!!

shorelychic.com - what do you think?

Since I started Shorely Chic, getting my own website up and running has been a major goal of mine. I have had great success selling on Etsy, but with that, you must only sell vintage pieces and hand-made items. I am aiming to sell both hand-made/vintage AND things I purchase from vendors. At they New York International Gift Fair I was in heaven with the unlimited selection of beautiful items from so many different vendors and couldn't wait to buy and share my favorites with my customers.


After the NYIGF I made the website a priority. I put some feelers out to have a web designer build me a custom e-commerce site but the lowest quote I got for a decent design was about $2500.00 - no can do right now. I looked and looked and finally found something classy and elegant looking and suprisingly affordable (boutiquemama.com). Robin, the web designer I worked with was great, I especially appreciated her patience with the countless emails I sent her with change requests and questions. Here's is a simplified version of how the process work: Boutiquemama.com offers different templates you can choose from, then they customize your selection to fit the look of your store, and then upload the template to a webhost site, I chose pappashop.com. From there, you start adding products and other simple customizations.
http://shorelychic.com is brand new and I still have so much work to do on it, but I thought I'd share with you all and see what you think!

I categorized my items into 4 separate pages:

Bath & Body
Shorely Chic Vintage
Shorely Chic Home Collection for the items I purchase from various vendors
Shorely Chic Signature Collection for the items my mother and I make


Do you think these are good? I need to organize more within these categories, i.e., make sections for pillows, frames, mirrors, etc... but for now I am just busting my tushy on getting the products up.


My biggest concern is that the site looks homemade to the point where people would be skeptical to purchase anything from it.



What do you think?  http://www.shorelychic.com/

Sunshine on my Shoulders Makes me Happy :)

I love the sun so much, a little too much as apparent by the freckles on my face, but I just need it, I do! As soon as I wake up in the morning, I can't wait to lift the shade to see how sunny it is and open all the windows to let it all in before heading out the door to work :) As soon as I get into my office, I start thinking about my lunch break and being outside in the nice weather and what I can squeeze in for Shorely Chic in that one hour (not sure if all of you know but I do work a fulltime job as an HR Generalist doing a bit of everything - benefits, recruiting, misc. admin, etc...).

Today for instance, I dashed home to sit on my porch and take in the sun - I put on Jack Johnson and just sat there for a few minutes - it was so refreshing and made me feel so good! Actually I also managed to take a trip to a favorite thrift in town, made a sandwich, and packaged up a frame to be sent to a customer - don't ask how I fit all that in in under an hour.

Then it's back to work for a few hours, and out at 5:00 to enjoy this sunny St. Patrick's Day evening :) Brian and I are headed to my parents' house for some corned beef and cabbage, and Irish soda bread - yummmyyyy.

here is me enjoying the sun in my favorite city in the world!! can you guess where?

Spotlight on Designer: Maya Williams

I absolutely love this spread in the March issue of Coastal Living. Maya Williams designed this beautiful home in Pacific Palisades, CA for a family of eight. Can you imagine the love and beauty this house sees everyday?

  

I adore these white bamboo chairs, and the view aint too shabby!

 

love the yellow dog portrait - it adds life and charm to the room

 

how amazing is the driftwood table, and again, the view... 

 

ah the turquoise is so perfect, and those sconces!

simply gorg!

You're Invited!

Happy Monday to you! Hopefully all of you in the Northeast survived the hurricane like conditions this past weekend, I am one of the few lucky ones who has power. It was the worst storm Connecticut has seen in 50 years with trees and wires down everywhere leaving a majority of homes without power. Brian and I survived in our little abode and have been fascinated by the sights in town, especially by the water.

On a sunnier note, I wanted to let you know about a very special event that I will be participating in this weekend in NYC. From March 18th through the 21st, DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, will launch the 13th National Tour of DINING BY DESIGN. Be prepared for the same dazzling dining installations, the delectable food and wine pairings of TABLE HOP & TASTE, and the astounding innovation of the Student Design Initiative.

The New York launch of DIFFA's DINING BY DESIGN 2010 will coincide and be located next door to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94.

For tickets and show details, visit archdigesthomeshow.com.

For those of you in the NYC area, please come visit me at the Connected Booth! I will at the table on Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. and am looking forward to meeting lots of the people I blog and tweet with everyday :)

Tips to Make Your Home Feel Like a Cottage on the Beach

I stumbled upon this article on http://www.sunset.com/ and thought it was so useful and informative for anyone trying to get the Beach Cottage Chic look in their home, even if you're not living beach-side.

Susan Delurgio and Alisha Peterson, co-owners of Beach House Style in Fairfax, CA share their favorite design tips:


File ideas: Create a wish-list notebook to record your dream pieces (with accompanying dimensions and color swatches). This allows you to shop with confidence at flea markets and estate sales.

Paint the insides: Add a splash of color to the inside of a cabinet or armoire. In Susan's kitchen cabinet, aqua paint makes the eclectic display feel like a true collection.

Keep whites white: To preserve the fresh look of white slipcovers, buy extra sets. Wash slipcovers every other month as part of your cleaning routine.

Convert old textiles: Don't stop at recycling furniture. The striped pillow on the sofa and the curtain below the kitchen cabinet were fashioned from a tablecloth from Anthropologie.

Look in your closet: A good way to find your signature style is by assessing your wardrobe. This could reveal your personal color palette as well as your favorite patterns and textures.

Decorate with nature: Gather your finishing accents outdoors ― flowering branches and clusters of single-stem flowers are good bets. In Susan's kitchen, a single palm frond in a simple white bowl creates an almost sculptural display.

Tell a story: Create a vignette with similarly themed items. In the bedroom, a breezy summer tunic hangs next to a vintage oar and raffia beach bag.

Use mood lighting: Keep a collection of white candles on hand to enhance tranquility. Low-wattage bulbs also help set the right tone.

abeachcottage