Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Eat well, enjoy loved ones, and give thanks!

And, if you're looking for a last-minute dessert to make, try this recipe for Pumpkin Cookies, found on the blog Habitually Chic. I make them each year and they are a HIT.

Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin

½ cup butter

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup raisins

Glaze:

¼ cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 – 2 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, pumpkin, butter and orange peel. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and raisins. Drop by teaspoon onto un-greased baking sheet. Bake until light golden brown about 8-10 minutes*. Immediately remove from baking sheet and cool. Spread with glaze. Enjoy!

*I usually bake them for ~15 minutes in my electric oven.

Chic Shelving

This black, bamboo-detailed shelf is new at AAI/H&G.

If it were staying in my house, I would probably use it like this:

or this:

or, if I had room in my kitchen, like this:

The possibilities for stylish storage are endless!

The Decorista Agrees

One of my favorite bloggers, Ashlina of The Decorista, had a great post over the weekend about zebra ottomans. She wrote this:

"Absolutely every space in the world should have a little bit of something exotic.

I will always suggest a beautiful zebra ottoman, it just makes a room sing.

They may seem to be a little repeated at this point, but a wild animal print is still so chic.

In my opinion, if your home needs a pick me up... grab one of these bad boys and rock it!

Easy peasy."

So, in the words of The Decorista, make your room "sing," people.

Perhaps with one of these:

(Found at Hunt & Gather/Anna Applegate Interiors)

Pretty New Things

Email me for details...

Apple Art

I loved this post by blogger Kelly Green on Enzo Mari's La Mela print, a fun, inexpensive piece of art that goes in a variety of rooms in a home. How I would love to have one in my kitchen!

Holiday Open House at Hunt & Gather

In all of the hustle & bustle of moving new pieces in and tiding up the booth last night, I didn't have a chance to take individual pictures of new items to post today. But, here's an overview picture of what's new in the booth; lots of great finds, many of which I really wanted to keep for myself!

Stop by Hunt & Gather (Bernard St. location) for their Holiday Open House, today from 10-6 and tomorrow from 1-5. Hope to see you there!

And we're back

It's hard to believe that my little guy is already 3 months old. It feels like time is flying by, yet August 9th seems worlds away as well. When everyone told me that it gets easier and more fun every day, they were right. We're having a ball and (thanks be to God!) getting more sleep, which is a total game-changer in the best of ways.

my little guy

Now that Rob's 3 months old (and I'm getting more sleep), I'm getting back into the world of design, which has felt great. My Mom and I took Rob on his first furniture-hunting trip a few weeks ago, and he did wonderfully. He enjoyed his ride in the Baby Bjorn, snuggled up close with his grandmother amidst stacks of furniture. He even got some naps in amidst all the chaos; what a trooper!

Speaking of furniture, I have lots of great new pieces to share with you, all of which will be on display in my booth this weekend, just in time for Hunt & Gather's annual Holiday Open House this Saturday and Sunday at the Bernard Street location in Raleigh. There will be munchies and a store full of fabulous "finds" to help get your home ready for the holidays. After all, it's almost the middle of November! Where has the year gone?!?

Thanks for your patience over the past few months while I've spent sweet time with my little one. Stay tuned for posts on some great new items at AAI!