Blue & White Delights from Black & Spiro

Morning y'all!  Well, today is pretty much an overall gloomy day.  It's cold and rainy and poor Edward has a bad stomach virus.  This is his first one in life so he's totally confused about why he feels so bad and it's so sad.  Needless to say, I need a pick me up.  So I'm turning to one of my favorite designers Anna Spiro and her newly launched web site for Black & Spiro Interior Design.

I pretty much find everything about her style completely delightful.  I've been reading her blog Absolutely Beautiful Things for years, and more recently, I started following her on Instagram,  obsessively "hearting" all of her photos. 

So I finally had a chance to browse through her Projects on her web site and the first thing I saw basically took my breath away and then made me teary with joy (I'm not kidding it's that gloomy here).

I mean, Holy Blue and White, yesssssssss!

How about that gallery wall in the back??

And this whole sunroom situation??

So ya,  I'm a little obsessed.

And just for fun I included some goodies from her Instagram because that's really where she brings me the most joy.  I find it fascinating that someone I've never met, halfway across the world can post a picture of something and instantly put a smile on my face.  I love technology. 

My day is better already for writing this post.

xo 

Birthday Blue & White Wishes

I wish I had a birthday coming up.  It is in fact nowhere near my birthday.  I will be having a baby before my next birthday, so it's really a ways away.  This is unfortunate only because I have a lot of things I want right now.  Over the past few weeks I've been wasting time online scouting all of the things I would buy myself for Mother's Day/Kip's Birthday/Fourth of July/Tuesday.  It's getting bad.  I know it's just from being stuck indoors for so long and I really don't need all of this stuff.  Sooo once again (see Tuesday's post) I want to share them with you so you can get them!

This time it's all blue and white lovelies.

First, this blue and white toile tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma.  I saw it in person at the store and I fell in love.  I don't have a table to go under it, but maybe I can wrap up Little Robertson in it to bring him home from the hospital. 

They also have placemats in this pattern, as well as coasters, napkins and a table runner.  They know a good thing when they have it.  I would just like a big roll of this fabric please.   

 

Next up, this Hadley Pottery Sweet Tea Pitcher.  I posted long ago about my love for Hadley.  I want some more and this would be a perfect way to start off summer.  Kip and I love sweet tea in all it's sugary goodness.  We both have the drinking habits of 9-year-olds i.e. fruit punch, suicide fountain drinks, Jolt (just kidding on the last two).

 

And this, this blue and white Anthropologie eyelet embroidered sheet set, this makes me happy, happy, happy (it's a Robertson thing).

Finally, this John Derian Melamine Charger is so unbreakable and pretty.  Two things I love.         

So there you have it.  My deepest wants and desires at the moment.  You're welcome.

ALSO, huge thank you to all of the great advice on my Gas Lantern post!  When I asked Kip if we had a gas line yesterday, he looked at me just like Nick Lachey looked at Jessica Simpson when she asked if Chicken of the Sea was chicken or tuna.



Sooo I guess we have one that we can use for the lanterns?

I'll keep you updated! 

Happiness is Blue & White and Leontine Linens

Morning y'all! Have you seen the super fun and bright home of Jane Lilly Warren in this month's Matchbook Magazine?  It's definitely worth a look, especially if you're having the winter crazies like yours truly (seriously, I'm turning into a total coocoobird these days). 

Her bedroom totally got me.  It was like taking a happy pill and washing it down with champagne.

{images: Courtney Apple for Matchbook March 2013}

Obviously, I spotted the blue and white walls and Leontine Linens and got teary-eyed.  I dream of Leontine.  I love the chartreuse with the blue and white (I think lavender would look really pretty as well).  I also love the bright yellow drummer boy lamps on her dresser.  I can't imagine ever being sad in a room like this. 

P.S. For all you renters out there, the wallpaper is EasyChange Removable Wallpaper from Sherwin-Williams! The pattern is Kathy Ireland Grand Estates EasyChange SW8EG5382  It's such a great way to add color and texture without harming the walls. 

Suzeday Tuesday: Blue & White Heaven

Morning y'all!  It's Tuesday and The Suze came in town to help me try to function like a normal, not-pukey person and sneekily do my laundry while I sleep (angel's work, I have an obscene amount of dirty laundry). 

So in honor of the super hero mom and grandma powers she's bringing to my poor neglected household this week, I am giving her this home designed by Pam Pierce.  Please celebrate Suzeday Tuesday (with Booze-day?) and enjoy this bit of Blue and White Heaven (preferably with a giant glass of wine for me, since I can't have one until August - that's depressing).

* images via Antique Shops & Designers Volume 7 

{Last week, Joni from Cote De Texas ever so kindly alerted her readers to the online presence of this magazine that is not available in print to mere peasants like me in Kansas City.  I spent 45 hours this weekend going through every issue.  If you're bored you can check them all out here}

So refreshing right?  I would kill somebody for that screened in porch and those french winery doors in the third picture, those would be great for smug conversation with people taking a tour of your house. 

Have a lovely day y'all! 

Who's The Suze?

See all of The Suzeday Files

Inspirations of Late

Before I go all crazy Christmas lady on you, I wanted to share some images I've seen lately that I absolutely cannot get out of my head.  I picture these images whilst choreographing a dance routine to Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Outta My Head.  For the record, my brain is in a constant state of choreography in addition to the images of Christmas, Edward's cute ham-hock legs, puppies and pretty decor rotating around up there.  So if anyone is ever wondering why I'm so spacey sometimes, that's why.  It's a lot. 

Good God that door is beautiful!  That's what the entrance to Heaven will look like for me.

via RDuJour

via Paul Raeside

via Habitually Chic

via Habitually Chic

via Eclechic

via The Foo Dog Ate My Homework (if someone has an original source, please let me know)

 

 

I love the opulence of all of these images.  Even the spare, white bathroom has a shot of rich, cobalt blue and gold.  The black and gold desk is going on my wishlist for things I would like to have in my lifetime.  I'd like a small one for my bedroom or a larger one for the future library we're going to put in our formal living room. 

Anyway, I just had to put those out there.  They are keeping me up at night.  How does one deal with so much prettiness in the world? (obviously if you're me, you start a blog about it and then write weird things in the white space)

I'm almost finished putting up Christmas decorations! Also, we are painting the basement and I took a peek and I'm so in love with it. I'm having them paint everything Benjamin Moore Sage Tint - trim, doors and walls.  I could eat the paint I love it so much. Kip wasn't too sure about it, but I said, "trust me, my love, it will look amazeballs." (just kidding, I don't talk like that, I'm in a weird mood)  I'll share some sneak peeks on Facebook this afternoon! Have a loverly day!

Kitchen Accoutrements: The Slow Cooker

Morning y'all.  I'm in mourning.  I broke my slow cooker.  Ok, I'm being a little bit dramatic.  It's just the pot that broke.  I was using an ancient Mayan technique called hand-washing and the pot slipped out of my hands and broke in the sink.  I was momentarily devastated.  I use my slow cooker multiple times a week.  But then I remembered that I came across this beauty:

 

I know.  I'm a huge nerd.  But it's been ordered - you can order it here.  I'm also going to order a replacement pot for my other slow cooker because you really can't have too many (I mean, you can but whatever).

Last week, I shared my Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe that I made in the slow cooker.  I also use a lot of recipes from the Crockin' Girls web site, like this Coke Roast.  I signed up for their mailing list and they send you a couple recipes a week, which is great for meal planning - something I try to do so I'm not in the grocery store every day.  (This week I've not been so successful)

Do y'all have easy slow cooker recipes you want to share?  Or cookbooks you love? I'd LOVE to know, since it's about that time of year (my favorite time of year for eating).  Hoping those of you in the throes of the Nor'easter are warm and cozy and eating comfort food.

House Happenings & Halloween Decor

Afternoon y'all! I just woke up.  HAAAAAAAAA! Just kidding.  I did sleep until 8 though, which is amazing when you have a 2 year-old/early-riser.  He's been waking up at 5:30 am every morning and this morning I was all, "oh no you di'n't!" and I gave him some milk and a kiss and he went back to bed.  It's a small but huge victory for this mama. 

Sooo last night I got a very lovely package from Jennifer at The Pink Pagoda.  For those who don't know, she has a gorgeous Blue & White Porcelain online store, and in a ridiculous moment of blue and white kismet, I won her ginger jar giveaway!  Well, yesterday I received not one, but two ginger jars.  I thought it was a mistake, but Jennifer insisted it was a housewarming gift.  It was so sweet and beyond generous of her.  I can tell you they are truly gorgeous in person.  You should all go out and buy a pair right now.  I'm not even just saying that to be nice.  I'm going to try and do all of my Christmas shopping through bloggers' online stores, you know support my peeps, and I will definitely be spending time in all of The Pink Pagoda shops - she sells porcelain, prints and accessories (like my famous iPhone case, and cute mugs and pillows and stamps, oh my!) Definitely a great resource for gifts and blue and white. 

So here are my new ginger jars on the mantle in the family room:

Purdy purdy right!


One more view from the front door.  I'm kind of obsessed.

Speaking of front door, it has not been painted.  I'm totally confident in my painting skillz, but I'm not confident in Edward's, and since he is hell-bent on "helping" me, I decided to leave it to the pros.  Now I just need to call the pros ... 

Here's my new little black and white pillow from the Nate Berkus for Target collection.

I'm not like obsessed with Nate or anything, but I happened to walk past this pillow and then I felt it and sniffed it (I worry about smells) and I was like, "oooh soft" and somehow it ended up on my sofa and I like it.  It feels like cashmere. 

Here's a little display in my entry.  I share this because those pink shells miraculously made it through the move.  I picked them up at the beach in Costa Rica and carried them on the plane in my pocket with a baby and a diaper bag.  They're super delicate so I'm amazed they've lasted. 

Things on the table to remind me to do them:

Bag of silver stuff to polish, tobacco leaf plates to hang (I'm in love with the tobacco leaf pattern), and mini-pot pies to make from the November House Beautiful.  (It's Sandra Lee so it's easy)

And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for .......

my Halloween Decor!  

Er uh hmmm.  I just, well, there's a pumpkin? and a jar of candy?  The Laura Trevey Rooster is going to be framed someday.   Hopefully soon, but ya never know! Anyway, I just can't get in to Halloween this year.  Maybe it's because Edward is terrified of every costume I try to put on him.  I think we're just going to skip it this year.  Except for the candy part.

Okay y'all! I've talked way too long! My posts have gotten way longer lately.  I'm a woman of a few thousand words, I've been told.  Have a lovely day! 

Wall to Wall Blue and White

Coming at ya from JMA Interior Decoration in Florida (but first spotted by moi over at my new favorite tumblr, The Handbook Authority, gotta give credit y'all)

I like it.  I like it a lot.

They also did some blue and white business on this yacht.

Right?

Ok, ok, ok, ok (Edward's new favorite phrase).  These next two months on the blog are going to be a bit cray cray.  I'm in a holding pattern waiting for the move and it's making me insane because all I want to do is decorate.  But now that it's getting closer, I know I need to hold back and wait until we get in there before making too many more purchases.  The good news is once we get out of this house and into the new house I'll probably be posting 25 times a day asking y'all's opinions on every single thing.  I drive by our new house everyday - it's on the way to the grocery store and no matter how hard I try, I always end up going to the grocery store everyday - anyway, I really want to sneak up and paint the front door.  It's red now and I want it blue.  Would that be inappropriate?

Kk have a good day!

Tootles Y'all!

Mary Mcdonald via The Pink Pagoda

I love this so much! I mean, I pretty much love a cluster of blue and white jars and pots anywhere.  I can't think of one time where I'm like, oh no not another grouping of ginger jars.  If that ever gets old, well then Belclaire House will be out of business and that would be kind of sad.  Don't worry, I will probably never stop blogging.  I like to talk to much. 

Veronica Beard

Anyway, I'm heading out of town again, hence the title.  I know, I'm such a jetsetter (not really).  I'm heading to Tuscaloosa to visit my sister as she goes through her last few days of rush (oy vey).  I'm sure I'll be tweeting so you can keep up with me on the twit.  Other than that I probably won't be posting until next week sometime.  So sorry. So sorry. 

Janet Simon via thefoodogatemyhomework

I'm sad to leave my little munchkin, especially since yesterday was one of those days where I just couldn't get anything right. Edward let me know it because he's almost two and really has no filter. It's all emotion with him.  We may have had to cut our grocery store trip short, leaving without groceries.  Soo I'm hoping to get it right today so Edward will think of me fondly while I'm gone.* 

* As I'm typing this Edward is having a mental breakdown over a car that he wanted, that I gave him, but I don't think he realizes it yet.  

Robert Couterier

Hope the totally random, flowery images make up for it (all random pins of late).

Ok y'all, have a lovely weekend!