Top 40 Posts Of 2012

A few weeks ago I was taking a look through the past year in posts and decided to put together a Top 40 collection for 2012. I had hoped to spread it out over a few days and organize everything a bit, but a family death and extended stay in Pennsylvania over the holidays set me back and I had to lump it all together. Thank you so much for continuing to help make this site such an amazing part of my daily life – here’s to 2013!

 

Best-Of-2012-1-Design-Crush

15 Chances to Find Your Ultimate Mac + Cheese // Day to Dinner to Party // New Addition //
Berry Lemonade Vodka + Homemade Blackberry Vodka

 

Best-Of-2012-2-Design-Crush

B-B-B-Buffalo // Best Word Ever // Campfire Cologne // Celebrated

 

Best-Of-2012-3-Design-Crush

Coriumi // Popsicles + Poptails – Take 2 // Little Corners // Courtney Martin

 

Best-Of-2012-4-Design-Crush

Electrolux Design Lab // Mojito Madness // Top Knot // Fluffy Raspberry Mousse

 

Best-Of-2012-5-Design-Crush

You Can Do It: Create a Gallery Wall // What I Learned: Alt 2012 // HP Designer Matchup //
Luxe Liquors

 

Best-Of-2012-6-Design-Crush

You Can Do It: Golden Glass Bottles // I Like Notebooks And I Cannot Lie //
Mixtape 17: Where All Your Girls Are Pretty // Mobile Foodie Survival Kit

 

Best-Of-2012-7-Design-Crush

Mosantimetre Turkish Coffee Pots // Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats // Pete //
Paper Sculptures

 

Best-Of-2012-8-Design-Crush

Pumpkin Marshmallow Pie // Magnetic Wallpaper // Sigils of the Houses of Westeros //
Wall Tape

 

Best-Of-2012-9-Design-Crush

Song Map // Dream Thanksgiving // Paper Flowers // Tiffin Lunch Kit

 

Best-Of-2012-10-Design-Crush

Tobias Tovera // Urban Geodes // Mighty Summit 2012 // Camp Brand

0

Cookbooked

Cookbooked-Design-Crush

I’m kind of a cookbook junky. Okay not kind of, I am. Winter always puts me in homemaker mode which means lots of time spent in the kitchen, and this past year has seen lots of fantastic cookbooks that I’m still dying to get in my hands. Do you own any of these? Do you love them?

The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods, What Katie Ate: Recipes and Other Bits and Pieces, Seasons: The Best of Donna Hay Magazine, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi, Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes, Modernist Cuisine at Home, Bouchon Bakery, Vintage Cocktails

9

New Year’s Party

New Year’s Eve is one of those holidays that’s really easy to hype up and then be massively disappointed by. My dream evening is a party at my own house, with friends who feel free to dress in cocktail attire or pajamas. Lots of appetizers – because by that point in the holidays we’re all bloated and tired of sweets – and plenty of cocktails. Throw in some party props and I’d be one happy girl ringing in 2013!

 

NYE-Party-Details-Design-Crush

 

NYE-Party-For-the-Guests-Design-Crush

 

NYE-Party-Cocktails-Design-Crush

 

NYE-Party-Table-Design-Crush

 

NYE-Party-Apps-Design-Crush

THE DETAILS
Gold Fringe Backdrop – Wood & Grain
Ice Lanterns – Willowday
DIY Moon Pinata – Oh Happy Day
Scalloped Glitter Garland – Steph Loves Ben
Sequin Vase – Inspiring Pretty

FOR THE GUESTS
Foil Gold Bar Favor Boxes – Shindigz
Mini Gold Sparklers – TOPS Malibu
Glitter Cone Horns – Shindigz
DIY Mini Hat Fascinator – Her New Leaf
DIY Leather Crowns – Think Crafts

THE COCKTAILS
Apple Cider Cocktail – Sugar and Charm
Blood Orange Champagne Cocktails – Martha Stewart
Fig Sidecar – Valley & Co. Lifestyle
Fresh Cranberry and Vodka – Sweet Paul
Maple Concord – Etsy
Orange Margarita – Confections of a Foodie Bride
Sparkling Apple Sangria – Spoon Fork Bacon
Spiced Chai – A Beautiful Mess
Winter Thyme & Key Lime Cocktail – Sweet Paul

THE TABLE
Foil Dot Napkins – Anthropologie
Fold Unfold Tablecloth – A+R Store
Kamal Snow Dos Dinnerware – West Elm
Metallic Leather Coasters – Woonwinkel
Resin Champagne Bucket – Calypso St. Barth
The Countdown Glasses – Indigo

THE APPETIZERS
Bourbon Cocktail Meatballs – Authentic Suburban Gourmet
Buttery Roasted Chestnuts Bon Appetit
Lemon Goat Cheese Dip – Country Living
Mini Apple Calzones – Delightful Crab
Bourbon Infused Sugar Cranberries – A Subtle Revelry
Peach Prosciutto Ricotta Crostini – Bon Appetit
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus – Eat Drink Paleo
Roasted Red Pepper + Goat Cheese Truffles – How Sweet It Is
Sweet + Salty Roasted Almonds – Refinery29

3

Alcoholidays

Alcoholidays2012-1-Design-Crush

 

Bourbon Chai – Saveur // Charred Cherry Cocktail – Style Me Pretty // Cherry Whiskey Smash – How Sweet It Is // Cider Punch – Not Without Salt // Classic Mulled Wine – Style Me Pretty

 

Alcoholidays2012-2-Design-Crush

 

Cranberry Ginger Spritzer – The SoHo // Gingersnap – The Best Remedy // Honey Sage Gin Fizz – How Sweet It Is // Hot Buttered Rum & Cider – Joy the Baker // Meyer Maple Leaf Cocktail – Quitokeeto

 

Alcoholidays2012-3-Design-Crush

 

Midnight Milk Punch – Snippet & Ink // Mulled Beer – Magda’s Cauldron // Peppermint White Russian – A Beautiful Mess // Persimmon Margarita – Santa Barbara Chic // Pomegranate Margarita – How Sweet It Is

 

Alcoholidays2012-4-Design-Crush

 

Pomegranate & Basil Gin Smash – Bakers Royale // Sparkling Ginger Prosecco – Front & Main // Spiced Pear Collins – Saveur // Spicy Ginger Man – Single Minded Women // The Happy John – Taste Buds

 

Alcoholidays2012-5-Design-Crush

 

The Mint Icicle – Intoxicology 101 // The Snowball – The Boys Club // West Hollywood Punch – Ministry of Alcohol // Winter Sun Cocktail – Two Tarts // Winter White Cosmo – The Clever Carrot

Alcoholidays 2011

 

2

Luxe Liquors

It shouldn’t shock you too terribly much to know that I shop for wine and liquor much like I shop for household products – according to how well-designed the packaging is of course!

Clockwise from top left: Lovejoy Vodka, Art in the Age Root/Snap/Rhuby, Reyka Vodka, CORZO Tequila, Master of Malt’s Drink by the Dram, Junior’s Midnight Moon Moonshine, Elements of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Kings County Whiskey, Bully Boy Distillers

7

Happy Weekend

01/ The Mason Jar cocktail shaker. Hipster approved.
02/ Humiliating giant head squirrel feeder.
03/ A DIY to save your sofa arms and spare an end table.
04/ AmoeBAND, a customizable bandage.
05/ A combo Beer/Shotglass, talk about space saving.
06/ Cookie + coffee cup = the cookie coffee cup!
07/ Animal sculptures made of reclaimed household items.
08/ Ever think of painting your shelves?
09/ Solar. Making triple digit temps look good.
10/ STACKED – wine, stemware, and corkscrew in one!

7

Mojito Madness

Last summer was sangria, this summer is mojitos – at least by my humble declaration! I love the fresh and simple ingredients all of these recipes use. A mojito is a great excuse to use the last pieces in the fruit basket or to experiment a little and try something new with herbs and other essences. (Click on the image to be taken to the recipe.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos and recipes copyright of their respective source unless otherwise noted.

8

Happy Weekend

01/ Such a great geometric DIY picnic blanket.
02/ Alcohol-infused gummy bears!
03/ These DIY Painted Confetti Tumblers would make a sweet summer hostess gift.
04/ A world map made of coins.
05/ I’m a sucker for these Full Moon Sticky Notes.
06/ Room portraits – from above!
07/ Platter of Friendship.
08/ Would you have a cocktail out of The Porthole?
09/ The Bill Murray Coloring Book!
10/ The Etcetera Planter looks like a great small spaces solution.

2

Berry Lemonade Cocktail + Homemade Blackberry Vodka

I think I might have found my go-to Summer 2012 cocktail – Berry Lemonade! (Which I totally made up.) It involves a little bit of thinking ahead, but you’re all good for that. Check it and see if it’s your go-to as well!

 

Berry Lemonade Cocktail

• 2 oz Homemade Blackberry Vodka (see below for recipe)
• 1 oz Strawberry Balsamic Simple Syrup
• 2 oz lemonade (I used pink)

Fill a highball glass with ice. Combine blackberry vodka, strawberry balsamic simple syrup, and lemonade and give it a stir (or shake if you’re Bond-like). Garnish with a few berries and you’re done!

 

 

Homemade Blackberry Vodka

• 2 pints blackberries
• 4 C vodka

Combine berries and vodka in an airtight container. Refrigerate for a week. DONE.

6