Rando Design Inspiration Friday!!

How jazzed are you all for this weekend? RIGHT?? Anyway, to speed it along (not that this week could have gone by faster), here are some lovely pictures that I found that made me smile.

I'm really loving Mollie Johnson's portfolio. This bedroom in particular really caught my eye. The simple white and soft green palette is so refreshing. I also can't take my eyes off that nightstand.

I love the preppy style of design of John Loecke. Sometimes it's a wee bit over the top but still playful and fun.

Am such a sucker for books...and a gallery wall...and a fireplace mantle. By Glen Gissler.

I bought a bolster pillow form but haven't gotten up the courage to attempt to sew a cover for it. I did make a square pillow last night though for someone special...who will receive it?? This one above, the Shali Bolster is from Anthropologie for only $228.

I SWEAR I'm going to make strawberry jam this weekend. THIS recipe from Martha Stewart looks pretty simple.

Last night was my last class for the summer so I celebrated with dinner and then went home and made a pillow. I'm really excited for my jam project and some more cooking projects that I've been inspired to try. Cough PAULA DEEN Cough. Speaking of which, I've started to follow some foodie blogs! I love the images, the recipes, and the enthusiasm that matches that of a design blog! Sunday Suppers, Simmer till Done, and Out of the Event are some of my favorites. I love to bake cookies and treats but I think I should up my difficulty level and go for larger projects. Do you guys have some favorites? What are you plans for the weekend?

Alicia B.

Paula Deen Home Collection?

Is this real? Are all my dreams finally coming true? I can't remember where I saw this but I Googled it, and found a few articles about Paula Deen presenting her new home collection at the High Point Market, March 23rd! I'm practically out of breath with excitement! HERE is the article in Home Textiles Today online. Apparently she already has collaborated with Kaleen to put together her own line of rugs.


The new collection with include 25 fabrics and about 50 different pieces of furniture. Deen describes her own personal style as, "ranging from Asian-inspired to shabby chic." How cute is she? Paula describes her collection, "I like so many things, and if they are put together properly, it is stunning. Some of the furniture is shabby chic and has a distressed, casual look. We also have pieces that are solid wood that have more of a formal look. These pieces can be mixed and matched." By the way, when you read it, you have to read it with her amazing accent. Just a bit of advice.

Personally, the rugs aren't exactly my style but who doesn't adore Paula Deen? I love her cooking show; she's so funny, adorable, silly, and caring. I think I first fell in love with her when I caught her cooking show when she was making Ginger Bread Men/ladies cookies. She was making the cookie version of her husband come on to the cookie version of her! Amazed.

Give-away contest for the floor lamp ends today at 8PM EST. HIT IT, Y'ALL.

Alicia B.

Let Me Eat Cake

How cute is this one? Very spring looking. No Bake Marshmallow Cake!

Let's take a break from design for a hot second, yes? I've been looking at some cakes lately for a special someone's upcoming birthday this Saturday. My assumed parameters are the following:

1) Cannot be healthy or a pie.
2) Must have chocolate in it
3)Cannot forget important ingredients like eggs or baking soda. This has NEVER happened before, I swear! (It's happened twice, WHATEVER.)


As any good Martha Stewart-ite, obviously I will be making this cake from scratch; that's not even a question. Here are my choices so far:

Okay I know this doesn't have chocolate but it DOES have ice cream so perhaps I could slip that one by him. Muah ah ah. This is a Martha Stewart Inside Out Strawberry Ice cream cake. It looks so fresh and yum.

This one looks INCREDIBLY rich. The Mexican Chocolate Cake is from Real Simple. And apparently this cake is "kid friendly."

This one is fighting for first place in my mind. Its just simple and beautiful and not too much work for me! Moist Devil's Food Cake. YARMMMMM.

There's truly no way that I'll be making this cake but I just thought it was funny. Burgers are somewhat of an addiction for SOME PEOPLE. HA. I found it at good ol' Betty Crocker.

From Cooking Light (love you!), this decadent Dark Chocolate Orange cake doesn't look "light" at all.

Hopefully in this endeavor, I don't end up eating all the dough and/or frosting myself before I put it in the oven! Does anybody have any other suggestions? I also looked at my secret love, Paula Deen's recipes but there are no pictures! Hmm.

PS: Possibly could be doing a surprise give-away next week. TRUST ME, it's really good! Look out for it!


Alicia B.