for the record: jennifer of a merry mishap

for the second installment of for the record interviews, the lovely jennifer of a merry mishap has been so kind as to participate. jennifer's blog is always chock-full of beautiful interiors, stationary, and perfectly refined fashion. if you're not already following her, get to it. thanks so much for participating, jennifer!


favorite designer? it's incredibly hard to pick a favorite designer! they change constantly but i always love everything by phillip lim.
favorite restaurant?
i'm really fond of this local restaurant called angell's. my husband took my there for one of our first "real" dates.
favorite place to have a drink?
i really don't drink. i did go with a friend to a wine tasting last summer at a local saturday market.
what can’t you travel without?
for me, it's more like who can't i travel without. these days it would definitely be my 8 week old son. it's almost impossible to leave him!
last book you read?
well, this isn't very glamorous, but to be perfectly honest, i read through the baby book. a great resource for first time moms!
any pets?
we have a 2 year old dachshund/spaniel mix. she's a lot like a little person, she enjoys sitting on the couch with me, watching martha stewart in the mornings!
what’s for breakfast?
lately, i can't stop eating spinach & havarti omelets. in the summertime, it's some sort of berry medley!
at age seven, you wanted to be...at seven, i wanted to be a fashion model. children are so innocent!
biggest self-indulgence?
reese's cups. i remember i got a bag of miniature reese's one year for christmas, and they were gone that afternoon!
favorite place to shop?
online! especially now that i'm home with a little one, i don't know how i'd have time to do any shopping were it not for online shops! etsy is a great place for me to find a little of everything in one stop.
favorite furniture designers? i'm a sucker for anything by charles & ray eames. everything they designed was so beautiful and timeless that i think i could fill my house with furniture just from them!
car? i don't know much about cars but my husband and i love land rovers and the audi A8.
always in your closet?
dresses. they're the easiest, most fool-proof outfits. throw one on with a blazer or cardigan and a pair of boots or heels. extremely versatile and a life saver now that i have to pull myself together in less than half an hour! at the moment, this one would be the perfect all-day dress for me.
hobbies?
before my son arrived, i loved crafting. anything that i could sew, paint, embroider or crochet. i'd love to get back to that someday.
hero?
easily, my mom. sounds cliche but she really is extraordinary. i couldn't possibly begin to tell you what an example and inspiration she is to me. she is a 4th grade bilingual teacher who also mentors other young teachers, is working on her master's degree, finds time to come help me out with cooking or cleaning when my son refused to sleep through the night and is one of the best cooks! she's a best friend to her 3 sisters, a shopping buddy to my sister, a comedian to my son and a second mom to my husband. i could want nothing more than to be more like her!
what piece of art would you most like to own?
my husband is an illustrator and adores one of his old art professors, bill carman. as dates, we used to go to local galleries to see his latest work. i wouldn't mind owning one of his paintings. i also like anything that comes out of studio violet.
favorite vacation spot?
it's been over 2 years since we've been on a real vacation, so almost anywhere! we're warm weather people so it would have to be some place warm, and definitely with a beach. my family is from guatemala and i would love to take my husband and son there someday!
favorite musicians?
they're a bit dark but i've been liking the dead weather. my husband has followed jack white and all of his bands and it's a bit contagious. on a lighter note, florence and the machine is downloaded on my phone right now and i love their music videos!

mixtape monday, no.4

...via amazon

1. rufus wainwright | peach trees
2. port o'brien | i woke up today
3. architecture in helsinki | frenchy i'm faking
4. my morning jacket | wordless chorus
5. edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros | 40 day dream
6. department of eagles | no one does it like you

style spotlight: ginnifer goodwin

there's nothing i love more than a shapeless shift + tights for a night out. and ginnifer goodwin always seems to nail that polished-without-trying look.

...via ginnifer-goodwin.net

words of wisdom

wearable wednesday: red tights

all of you fashionistas out there have sold me without hesitation on investing in a pair of red tights. clearly they are the answer to sprucing up an all-black ensemble. just check theses ladies out for some inspiration.

...via blushing ambition, freckled nest & experience parisienne

jonathan berger

i think this is still my favorite interior spread from this year. i'm definitely not partial to pink (at least in large doses), but something about this house really does it for me. i think because it doesn't take itself too seriously.

...via house beautiful

tastebud tuesday: vodka cream pasta

a tried and true favorite that i think i originally found from rachael ray's cookbook. it's so simple and always hits the spot; a perfect mid-week dinner.

...via cookography & simple anne's

ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
coarse salt and pepper
16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
crusty bread, for passing

directions
heat a large skillet over moderate heat. add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. add chicken stock, tomatoes. bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. season with salt and pepper.

while sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). while pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

stir cream into sauce. when sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. drain pasta. toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. pass pasta with crusty bread.

oren lavie

i'm sure this has been posted here and there a number of times over the months (years?) but i still love it in all it's beautiful simplicity.

old + new

i know we've all seen it before, but lately i'm loving the look of a great antique dining table paired with crisp modern chairs, or vice versa. there's something about the juxtaposition that's very refreshing.

...via 1st dibs, dwr & dwr, jayson home and garden

mixtape monday, no.3

...via amazon

1. air | napalm love
2. thao with the get down stay down | beat (health, life and fire)
3. st. vincent | now, now
4. crystal castles | untrust us
5. clap your hands say yeah | gimmie some salt
6. mates of state | now

au revoir + weekly roundup

somehow i've managed to be completely swamped and have only had a second to regroup now: two days late. however, still wishing you all a happy weekend (it's not over yet!). hoping some pictures of my pup at the beach will make up for it.

...by me

1. a puppy party that pretty much melts your heart - they're all so cute!
2. a pretty idea to spruce up your thanksgiving spread - mint water.
3. channel your inner parisian with a green beret.
4. you can never go wrong with a classic envelope clutch.
5. a collection of colored pencils in ever color imaginable.
6. awesome packaging for the six feet under box set.
7. mmm...an easy but hearty kale salad.
8. some vintage bus tickets that would look amazing framed.
9. a great round-up of men's oxfords - i can't get enough of them lately.
10. a delicious recipe for mexican chocolate on a crisp autumn day.

style spotlight: caroline sieber

now this little lady knows how to make a big statement with her clothing - and i suppose it's no wonder, since she serves as a muse to mr. lagerfield/chanel.

...via the fashion spot

themed thursday: shades of blue

this color really has no place in winter time, which could be why i'm gravitating towards it. is it just me or does every color and pattern disappear from the stores when winter comes? just because it's cold doesn't mean i want to dress in grey, black and gold only. i'm just sayin'...

1. talking japanese watch
2. textured glass tumbler
3. ladylike blouse
4. annamoa fabric
5. abstract blur skirt
6. elizabeth and james randi

words to live by


wearble wednesday: marni

some slightly eccentric yet inspiring patterns by consuelo castiglioni for marni's spring ready-to-wear collection.

...via style