FEBRUARY R.E.P.O.R.T.

A recap of everything that was beautiful about February:

Reading: Lucy Score’s Heart of Hope

Love is in the air and this cozy small town romance is just what the month of love called for. I laughed, I cried (a shocking amount of happy-sad tears), I got a little hot and bothered. It’s fun and heartwarming.

Eating: Creamy Veggie and Tortellini Soup

There is nothing quite like tucking into a warm, steaming, bowl of soup on Sunday evening after a long, fulfilling weekend. This soup from Brita Cooks is packed with veggies (I found the parsnips at Whole Foods - though you could sub potatoes too) and I’ve been using bone broth for an extra punch of protein. Two other substitutions I’ve enjoyed: Silk non-dairy cream in place of the heavy whipping cream and Rana’s Chicken and Mozzarella tortellini instead of just cheese! Tuck into a bowl here for your next Soup Sunday!

Playing: CAZAYOUX

In line with the New Orleans recommendation below is the band CAZAYOUX. Sadly we missed them when they came through Houston in February but I’ve been jamming out in my headphones while I walk, clean the house, work. Perfect music for having playing in the background or dancing to in the kitchen. Listen along with me here on Spotify!

Obessed with: GINGHAM

This quintessential spring pattern is everywhere these days - on dresses, lampshades, skirts. I love that you can vary the scale of the print for different impacts. I love it in every color and size. Right now I have olive green gingham bedding, a brown and tan gingham skirt, a large scale gingham linen table cloth. I think I would love it on just about anything these days. Some favorites from around the web:

Recommending: A Weekend GETAWAY at HOtel Peter and Paul

Hotel Peter and Paul is located along the river in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orelans and I haven’t been this excited about a hotel since the first time I stayed at The Carpenter in Austin. The vibes are immaculate, every detail was thought of, and its walking distance from Frenchman St. where live music is always happening. This collection of church and school buildings was first built in 1886 to serve the English speaking immigrants in the Marigny neighborhood. Each building (The Schoolhouse, the Rectory, and the Convent) house impeccably appointed rooms of all sizes. Their restaurant and bar are just as beautiful and absolutely delicious (highly reccommend brunch). And speaking of gingham - they really did it right!

Treated Myself: TWO NEW COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

This was the month of inspiration and these three books are dishing it up in spades. Stephanie Sabbe’s Interiors of a Storyteller (heck yes I did preorder!) and Banjo Beale’s A Place in Scotland: Beautiful Scottish Interiors. Both are huge inspirations of mine and I can’t wait for them to get here so I can dive in! I still regret not saying hi and fangirling over Stephanie when she was on my bus to Highpoint from the airport. In the meantime you must absolutely go listen to her podcast episode on Business of Home - you’ll see immediately why I adore her!

Can’t wait to do the March R.E.P.O.R.T with even more goodies! What else is coming down the pipeline? More gingham, the Roundtop Spring Show, and a new series I’m calling “Vocabulary Lessons” all about words we use in the interior design world! OH! And possibly a brand new project reveal!

Click here for the January R.E.P.O.R.T. if you missed it!

JANUARY R.E.P.O.R.T.

Some of the best things from the first month of the year (because we have to look for joy or I’ll cry):

Reading: Ina Garten’s Memoir: Be Ready When the Luck HAPPENS

Have you ever wanted to live in Paris? Host your friends in the Hamptons? Before reading I honestly knew nothing about Ina Garten outside of her drinking giant Cosmos during the pandemic. Her writing voice is so authentic and entertaining and her life story is as fabulous as it is incredible. Not to mention it will make you want to book a trip to Paris immediately. Bonus: she includes a few of her favorite recipes too! Find your copy here!

Eating: One Pan Creamy Lentils, Japanese Sweet Potatoes, + Kale

We have been making this almost every other week since I saw Gathered Nutrition’s recipe come across my FYP on TikTok. How are there still potatoes I havn’t tried? Japanese Sweet potatoes are key - we find them regularly at Whole Foods. I tried the recipe the first time with yukon golds - good but not great - the Japanese Sweet potatoes were life changing.

Playing: Dopamine by Madeline

This song has big cool french girl vibes. I especially like the “Split Brain” Version where she sings in French and sings in English over it at the same time. Tres chic. (Can you tell I have Paris on the mind?)

Obsessed: Ruffles and Skirts

I can’t stop adding skirted sinks to my instragram and pinning ruffle edged pillows and pleated skirt sofas. Striped ruffles, floral ruffles, give it all to me. It softens a kitchen, adds another texture or pattern.

Recommending: Create Academy

If you’re an Anglophile and life long learner like me you’re going to love this one. I joined in January of last year and have taken several courses. One of my favorites was Dan Pearson’s Naturalistic Garden Design Masterclass, which, in addition to endless valuable takeaways it has the most beautiful imagery of the English countryside. Currently I’m taking Tess Newall’s Introduction to Decorative Painting. I’m seconds away from painting flowers on every surface in my house (tastefully of course). It feels good to stretch that learning muscle.

Treated Myself To:

New kicks! Spring is already kicking down the door here in Texas and these Vince sneaks have been haunting me. I finally pulled the trigger and I can’t wait to wear them with skirts and light wash jeans and dresses. Next on my list is a fun colorful pair (sambas? goyas? alohas? …red? burgundy? cobalt?).

SHOP THIS POST

A COTTAGE CHRISTMAS

December is here, and the decorations are going up at the cottage. As a bit of an anglophile myself I’m overjoyed that the English Cottage aesthetic is full blown this year. I love the natural elements, the coziness, the colors and patterns and textures. I love the idea of Christmas decor being an extension of your home and yourself (but don’t get me wrong if I didn’t have cats my tree would be covered in vintage glass ornaments). Some of the key elements are natural materials, handmade decor, crafts, and even recycled materials.

If you want to lean into the look yourself I’ve gathered some of my favorite pieces (and some I’ve bought for myself already!)

First Row:

I’m absolutely enamored with this giant bow from Piglet in Bed. In case it sells out as it frequently has… I found two great options from makers on Etsy; one in gingham and one in satin should your taste run a bit more refined.

I bought this Afloral wreath three years ago and the faux Norfolk Pine is beautiful - I added some colorful drapey satin bows this year. Not to mention it’s held up beautifully.

Talk about a GREAT Etsy find - could you get more English-Christmas-authentic than William Morris stockings handcrafted in England? Yes, I did buy two of these stockings.

Second Row:

These bells would be perfect hanging in the center of your wreath, solo on your front door, or off the corner of a fireplace garland.

Wish I had seen these tapers sooner! Candles are cozy, and I love this shade of french blue with the brown ribbons I have tied to anything that doesn’t move. You can always find vintage brass candle sticks at thrift stores and vintage shops - keep your eyes open and you’ll have the perfect collection by next Christmas.

LIttle bell garlands add sparkle and magical sounds to your tree, your greenery garlands, hung around your doorways.

Third Row:

Is it even christmas until you make dried oranges? This has been a tradition in my household for the last few years. They’re gorgeous - especially backlit by twinkle lights - and compostable at the end of the season! There are so many wonderful tutorials online but the basics are heating your oven to 200°F slicing the oranges about 3/8” thick, patting them dry, laying them out on a baking sheet with parchment. You’ll want o flip them every hour until all the moisture is gone. It typically takes me several hours so it’s the perfect activity for a cold, cozy, weekend day at home.

These faux Norfolk branches match the wreath - I’ve used them layered as a garland (about 3 make a pretty full 5’ garland) and in a vintage vase.

• And finally this dark brown and medium brown ribbon made plenty of bows for my 7.5’ tree. I love the subtle difference in tone and ordered extra to tie on as bows on my gifts and at the corners of my doorways.

Tell me below what your Christmas aethetic is. Are you a colorful maximalist? All childhood ornaments and paper garlands? Rainbow colors or disco balls?