Welcome Part 1: the Foyer.

The day is finally here. The day many of you have been asking about since last July when I moved in to my first house. The day where I show you where I spend my days, my nights and my in betweens.

I’ve decided to break it all down into posts about different rooms. Bite size pieces are much more manageable than one lump some, or so I think. They’ll be spread out over the next few days for your perusal. As with any house things are always changing and being updated, so this is really only the starting point.



This is basically the extent of what goes on in the foyer. Easily one of the most boring areas in the entire house. Peanut and Roxy think the bench is theirs and use it all of the time. Sun-bathing being on the more important in their lives and all. Peanut also likes to keep watch over the front yard from this vantage point.

The big picture plan is to eventually tear up the white tile and carpeting and install something like this bamboo chestnut flooring throughout the house. The tiles are textured, which makes them really difficult to keep clean, especially in the kitchen. The oatmeal colored carpeting was brand new when I moved in, but I’d love to get rid of it. Although I’m suspecting anything else wouldn’t hide hairball stains half as well!

On a smaller scale, I’d love to replace the light fixture. Then ditch the bench and clock and lean a large scale mirror against the wall.

Next: the Living Room

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On the Rocks: St. Joe’s Blueberry Mojito.

I had my first experience with mojitos at a fusion restaurant/bar in Minneapolis’ Uptown area called Chino Latino. (PS: If you’re ever in the area eat there – you won’t be sorry!) Since that day back in 2003 they’ve become one of my favorite cocktails. I think it’s the combination of mint and lime that floats my boat. That said, I’m really anxious to try out St. Joe’s Blueberry Mojito and its twist on the classic!

Ingredients:
– 10 mint leaves
– 10 blueberries
– 3/4 oz simple syrup
– 1 oz lime juice
– 1 oz chilled club soda
– 1 oz chilled Sprite
– 1 1/2 oz gold rum

In a cocktail glass, muddle blueberries, simple syrup, and mint. Fill the glass with ice. Pour the lime juice, club soda, sprite, and rum into the glass, pouring the liquid over the back of a spoon to avoid disturbing as much mint as possible. Swirl the glass to mix, and enjoy!

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Red Ruby Rose Clutches.

The clutches at Red Ruby Rose are some of the hottest I’ve seen. Rowena, the designer behind the shop, crafts them as an outlet to her ever-increasingly digital day job. She even creates some of the fabrics using her own photography and collage techniques. All of the colors and patterns are incredibly varied, so you’re sure to find something that catches your eye. I found about ten on the first page alone!

:: via Rare Bird Finds

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Karpati.


Australian-made Karpati nail polishes are free from toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate which is great because they’re all unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals.

But what I would buy this polish for is the bottle design alone. It’s super functional by slipping over two fingers, eliminating the need for a surface to set the bottle on. I’ve spilled more than my share of nail polish and ruined countless things in the process and this is such a simple, effective design solution. (Although it irks me that the image has dark red being painted onto orangey-red nails, which is odd and inconsistent… is that strange?)

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