Style Parade 8.29.10

Today I met my ladies for brunch. I've had these oxfords for a month and have been clueless on how to style them until now. Don't you love all the menswear styles this Fall? I think the key is mixing them with feminine pieces, like this frilly lace top. It was funny though - I got a couple of weird looks from people in this outfit. Mainly from folks who don't think outside jeans and a tank top. It's like "Yeah, I'm wearing knee high socks and shorts. Whatcha gonna do about it!" haha.

It was on the cooler side this morning so I brought along this cropped mini trench from H&M. Such a great find at $30.

Cloche: Target; $14. Trench: H&M; $30. Shorts: H&M. Lace top: Kohl's. Knee highs: Target; $5. Oxfords: Blake Scott available at Off Broadway; $39.

New blog design

I needed a new look. Perhaps a new look for the new season? Check it out.

The black bathroom

Our guest bathroom before. After a fresh coat of black paint, here it is...

Beautiful. Sexy. Dark & romantic. Just like I wanted. Let's take a closer look, shall we...

The mirror door for this medicine cabinet was chipped, leaving a dangerous edge. So I removed the door. I mulled over several ideas on what to do with the remaining cabinet (decoupage, wallpaper) Do you remember this Anthropologie catalog from July? I was totally inspired by the chalk illustrations of objects like wall frames & furniture. To mimic the effect I sprayed the cabinet with chalkboard paint & drew a couple of medicine bottles and calligraphy. I wonder if guests will leave us messages on it.

I changed up some textiles here. Target has some really great ones right now.

The cabinet was unfinished honey oak. Yuck. I painted it the same black as the wall, which in case you're wondering is Valspar paint in Cracked Pepper (available at Lowes). I learned a very valuable lesson about painting cabinets. I vow, from this day forward, to NEVER EVER use an oil based primer again. When people complain that oil based paint/primer is a hassle to clean up - that is an understatement. Anyways... I added some lovely new hardware from Anthropologie. Don't you just adore the keyhole drawer pull?!

Speaking of hardware. I added a new TP roll dispenser...shiny. One thing that annoys me is disheveled hand towels and lets face it - guys really don't care about keeping towels hung straight. So I hung the hand towels with shower curtain rings! Problem solved.

Wow. This is turning out to be a rather gratuitous picture post. Oh well. Two of these items were gifts from my mom. The beautiful flower soaps on the pedestal and the giant key wall hook. I ended up gold leafing the key and added vintage metal lettering to spell out our monogram. I covered the switch plates with leftover wallpaper from the laundry room cabinets. 

Lastly, a little wall shelf (you can see it in the master shot in the first pic).

Recipe time

Chicken Enchiladas
Start to finish: 40 minutes     Makes 10 enchiladas

I whipped up this recipe on my own, but I'm sure there are very similar ones out there. The flavors are mild and sweet and this dish makes great leftovers. Just reheat in the oven for 15 minutes to prevent soggy tortillas.

Ingredients:
-1 cup salsa
-(1) 4.5 oz can diced green chile peppers
-8 oz pre-cooked chicken strips, cut into smaller pieces
-1 cup mexican blend cheese
-1 cup frozen, canned or fresh white corn
-16 oz lowfat sour cream
-1 bundle fresh cilantro, chopped
-2 tablespoons lime juice
-1 tablespoon crushed garlic
-1 teaspoon cumin (or to taste)
-Diced avocado (serve 1/2 avocado per 2 enchiladas)
-10 taco sized flour tortillas, room temperature

Instructions:
-In a medium bowl, combine salsa, 8oz of sour cream, corn, green chilies, garlic, cumin, chicken and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Mix until ingredients are well incorporated.
-Spoon the mixture into tortillas, should make about 10 total. Carefully roll, secure with toothpicks (optional). Place completed tortillas in shallow baking dishes. I used (2) 13x9 ones.
-In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8oz of sour cream and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Melt on low heat, whisking occasionally. The sauce should be slightly thick, not too runny. Add chopped cilantro.
-Pour sour cream sauce over rolled enchiladas. Top with cheese.
-Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
-Serve with freshly diced avocado.

Plans: kitchen nook

It will be a while before we actually tackle the kitchen remodel, but I would like to concentrate on the adjoined breakfast nook.

The latest inspiration...

sources: Remodelista, unknown, CB2 Fall 2010 catalog

Style elements of warm natural wood tones & metal with pops of bright happy yellow.

The room - as it stands today.

Being a nook, it's a small cozy space so I'm sticking with compact furniture options so it doesn't overwhelm. Another concern - don't break the bank. This becomes increasingly difficult when I see awesome tables like this and this. Both come with a $400 price tag, and we haven't even gotten to seating yet! Instead I finally found a lovely alternative (and yes, it's from Ikea).

1. Think Positive prints; available here $33
2. KULLA pendant; Ikea $69.99
3. PIRO clock; Ikea $9.99
4. DIY filament light tutorial via Design Sponge. 
5. Expensive-ass yellow trash can (similar to my find at Home Goods - see current space pic)
6. Tall stool; Wisteria $129 each
7. BILLSTA cafe table; Ikea $129.99

The accent wall color will be the same gray we used on the opposite wall for the backsplash. I think I created a monster when I decided to paint the guest bathroom black. I'm excited to paint more stuff! And paint it dark, dark, DARK!

Why are there 2 pendant lights, you ask? I haven't decided which one yet. The KULLA pendant is quite the large black mass, whereas the white Edison bulb pendant is very minimalist. I'm waiting for the room to be finished before I decide.

If you haven't browsed Ikea's new catalog yet, there are tons of amazing seating options. I momentarily considered going with one of their more affordable chair options as well, but as I said before - I'm seriously obsessed with these gorgeous stools. That is where I'm choosing to splurge. And with the recent Reed chair purchase I think I'm becoming a total chair whore.

Style Parade 8.22.10

Last night was my friend Lisa's birthday. If you remember, Lisa was one of my bridesmaids (she's the one in the green dress). I'm loving these warm late summer nights. I mean seriously perfect for dressing up shorts. Funny thing, while getting dressed I realized that I own 3 pairs of black shorts. Cotton, silk & wool blends. Whoops. Oh well, I love all 3 pairs. These are the cotton ones.

I paired with this pretty vintage lace blouse and strappy black heels. These are my sexy shoes and I love them even though they have a 2 hour comfort limit. I added a bit of color with the clutch & big gold bangles.

Blouse: thifted; $10. Shorts: Old Navy; $20ish. Clutch: Forever 21; $20. Bangles: JC Penny; $5. Heels: Forever 21; $18.

Friday link love

photo by me.

This week zoomed by for me. Another free weekend for projects. I haven't forgotten - I will be showing you the finished black bathroom very soon. I'm just waiting on a last minute detail to arrive in the mail before I show you the reveal.

Here's some other things I'm loving these days...

I Just Can't Get Enough of these amazing reclaimed wood pieces that seem to be everywhere this Fall. If only it was budget friendly.

Dreamy inspiration of salmon & navy stripes.

Desserts for Breakfast. Bookmarking everything on here.

Smart solution for an unsightly bar - wrap it with rope!

Pantone storage boxes. Brilliant.

The most perfect use of black & white, vintage & modern.

I had a dream last night that I ate this. Pesto & tomatoes are divine.

Crate & Barrel pets

available here.

Mr. Poli & I do not have pets. I still visit my super cute black lab (Chloe) and kitty cat (Buffy) at my parent's house though. But aren't these just the cutest pet accessories? Just wanted to pass these along for those of you that do in fact have pets.

Date night

Last night Gary & I had date night. We went up to Huntington Beach, off of PCH & Main Street. On Tuesday nights during the summer months they have a farmers market with vendors & live music.

I opted for this relaxed look. Beachy, but put-together cool. I love this slouchy knit from H&M. It's pretty big, so I tied the corner to give it some shape. I feel so 80's with my bare shoulder and knotted knit. haha.

It was the perfect balmy late summer evening in California. And despite being right on the beach, there was no breeze, just warm and beautiful. We planned on eating at this restaurant called The Shore House Cafe, but I guess it went out of business sometime last year. So sad! This was one of the places Gary took me back when we first started dating. Now the space is occupied by an Italian restaurant, so we ate there anyway.

After dinner and a couple of drinks, we walked along Main Street checking out all the booths. Nothing too exciting, but I did rather enjoy our moonlit walk down the pier. It was beautiful and romantic, unlike the last time we walked on a pier during a weekend trip to Santa Barbara in 2008. I'll have to share that story with you all sometime. It's quite humorous.

 I've had this song playing over and over in my head this morning. An old favorite.

Style Parade 8.16.10

I don't frequently take photos at the end of the day, but I really enjoy it when I do. There are so many ways to play with the lighting. I mean really, I'm sitting on the kitchen counter. But the lighting is beautiful, yes?

I've worn this dress bunches this summer. It really is effortless. But today, I mixed it up with some new shoes and ankle socks.

Blazer: Ann Taylor Loft. Dress: Old Navy. Ankle socks: H&M; $4. Maryjane oxfords: Urban Outfitters; $38.

Bright idea

Loving these patterned frosted glass light bulbs from Melissa Borrell on Supermarket. I've never tried using a glass etching kit - perhaps this could be a DIY project. Have you tried etching glass? What projects have you made?

Friday morning.

It seems like the work never stops around here. About a week before we moved in last summer, Home Depot totally screwed us by not having our hardwood floor order in time. I was in panic mode 2.0. Luckily Empire Today was able to meet with us and have our floor installed within 2 days. However, since then there was this small area where the floor popped up (too tight I suppose). Well anyway, the repairmen are here for the second time and are having to replace about 2/3rds of it. Hopefully this will be the last of it. Meanwhile, I'm boarding up in my office upstairs drinking coffee and munching on an orange glazed cinnamon roll. Watching Gilmore Girls & True Blood.

Have a great Friday everyone! 

Vacation -All I ever wanted...

Like many workers out there lately I've been feeling overworked & unappreciated. I'm realizing how direly I need a vacation! I have lots of fun things planned, with the first starting in T-minus 19 days (I'm not counting or anything...haha)

First up, 3 days spent camping by the river, near Parker Dam. This has been a frequent trip for Gary & I over the years, courtesy of our friend Bob and his awesome family. We haven't been since 2007. Whoa. Here's some pics from our last trip...

The second trip is an extended weekend with my friend Melinda. We're flying up to the Bay Area for some city adventures, then trucking on over to Sonoma for the Tomato Festival at the Kendall Jackson winery.

Then come October, Mr. Poli & I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary in New Orleans. I've wanted to visit this city since like FOREVER and I'm so excited to finally be going and on an extra special occasion no less. We're staying at the Renaissance Pere Marquette, just off of Bourbon Street. Doesn't it look fab?

Did you travel anywhere this summer? Any exciting plans on the horizon?

Patterned chairs from Target

 1 2 3 4

Wow. Target has really kicked it up a notch in their home department. Love these bright whimsical prints. I wish I had a need for one.

Style Parade 8.11.10

I suppose I'm already falling for Fall. I'm loving the gorgeously rich berry tones in the latest collections. This morning I was flipping through the latest Anthropologie catalog for some inspiration in my own wardrobe. Pencil skirts, feminine frilly tops and layered knits.

This sweater jacket is from Simply Vera's new collection. I see it quickly becoming my favorite new piece. It looks great with jeans, skirts & dresses and is the perfect neutral gray.

I picked up the most fabulous cloche at TJ Maxx yesterday. If it were cooler weather right now it would top off this outfit perfectly.

Sweater: Simply Vera by Vera Wang for Kohl's; $44. Lace cotton blouse: ELLE for Kohl's; $24. Skirt: Target; $30ish. Maryjanes: Kohl's. Bracelet & bag: Etsy sellers.

Lovely things: yardsticks

I love these creative uses for vintage yardsticks! Such a simple way to add visual interest to your home. I especially like the use in the picture ledges.

 sources: coat rack  backsplash  table  art hook  stairs  picture ledges

The distraction

I had a plan this past weekend. Yes, I was going to do touch up paint on the black bathroom & get new hardware for the cabinets. Instead I spent 3 hours wandering around Ikea, looking for a small table to go with this...

You see, I really don't need a cafe table for our kitchen breakfast nook but now I want one because this stool is fabulous. Warm natural wood, a sleek metal base... oh le sigh I'm in love!

Needless to say I did leave Ikea with a table, but not the right one. It is going back. Even though I contemplated this particular table for what seems like an hour (yes, I'm that weirdo who stares at a piece of furniture for a freaking hour at Ikea) I got it home only to discover that it doesn't just look like a sawhorse table, it is a sawhorse table. The legs don't actually connect to the table top. WTF? 

After throwing a mini tantrum my oh-so-wise husband reminded me that I'm not finished with the bathroom and that I should really finish what I started. (He's so right) Sometimes I feel like I have the attention span of a 5 year old. Luckily I had some time this morning and finished up the touch up in the bathroom. But guess what my mind is still on? Yep. This stool. I'm hopeless!

stool from Wisteria

A night at The Edison

The Edison for Thursday night drinks & jazz. My partner in crime, Miss Melinda...

I snapped the pictures I could. It was rather dark in there. But feast your eyes on this amazing chandelier of tiered Edison bulbs.

We sipped on a specialty cocktail - Brass Flowers. Elderflower liquor, sparkling wine & grapefruit bitters made for a surprisingly intoxicating concoction. Believe me, I paid for it Friday morning.

Don't worry though, I totally ate before I drank! The shrimp cocktail was amazing. 

And of course it wouldn't be jazz night without a little burlesque...

I think it was his birthday.

It was a fabulous time.