Hotel Review: Elounda Mare, Crete – Fabulous!
After a brief two-night pitstop in Athens, my new hubby and I headed to Crete to really begin our honeymoon at the lovely Elounda Mare in Elounda, Crete. Set on a calm bay in the Cretan sea, Elounda is in north-eastern Crete near the small city of Agios Nikolaos. The Mare is part of the Relais & Chateaux hotel network, and is connected to its sister properties, the Elounda Beach and Porto Elounda.
We lost four hours of our time on Crete thanks to a transportation strike in Athens that delayed our flight, so the glasses of champagne we received at reception were quite welcomed. I was thoroughly annoyed to learn that our travel agent neglected to inform the hotel that we were on our honeymoon, but the very observant desk clerk noticed how clean and shiny my ring was and in twenty minutes a staff member gave us a tour of the immaculately landscaped property and explained the restaurants as we walked to our room. We were booked in the main hotel, but thanks to the very kind and clever desk clerk we were upgraded to a bungalow with private pool and sea view, where a rose-petal covered bed, candles, wine, and fruit awaited us. Score!
The room featured a couch, coffee table, and small tv (which seemed to be a theme in Greece, even at luxury properties), good-sized armoire, slippers (they even noticed that I’m a foot shorter than my husband and provided a pair of small-size slippers!), and robes. The bathroom was huge, with side-by-side sinks, separate toilet room with a sink, and very large jacuzzi bathtub. Deluxe toiletries were replenished daily.
All of this was wonderful, but the main drawback was that the room appeared to be designed for Hobbits. My 6′ husband was always dangerously close to hitting his head on the ceiling and door frames. Also, there wasn’t a separate shower stall and the shower hose was too short to properly stand up in the tob – attempting to do so would spray water all over the bathroom. Rather awkward.
Compared to the large beach of its neighbor, the Elounda Beach, the Mare has quite a small beach in a private little cove with crystal clear waters and hot sand dotted with white umbrellas and yellow chairs. There is a beach bar where overpriced cocktails can be ordered but won’t arrive for another twenty minutes (I’m convinced the bartender was actually out in the field picking the strawberries for my daquiri). Jet skis, snorkeling and scuba equipment and paddle boats can be rented at the beach. We rented a paddle boat for an hour, and it was a great way to explore the area and take in the amazing view of Crete’s mountains surouding us on every side – the water is incredibly calm and there was no boat traffic.
The Mare has very helpful staff who seem to get to knoew their customers. At breakfast on our third morning, I wasn’t even asked for our room number since the same matre d’ seated us every day.
During our four-night stay we discovered two downsides. First, we seemed to be the youngest people there by a long shot. There were bridge games happening every night, and only once at breakfast did I notice another couple that appeared to be around our age (late twenties, early thirties). The rest of the clientele were clearly eligible for AARP or the French/German/British equivalent (there were very few Americans).
Second, eating at the Mare was extremely expensive and often required “elegant” dress at the resort’s three restaurants. Walk a mile down the road into the village of Elounda to find many restaurants at significantly cheaper prices. Case in point: my seafood risotto for dinner at the Mare was around 26EUR. At Zorba’s Place in the village, we ate spanikopita, pizza, soda, beer, and chocolate-banana crepes (amazing!) for 22EUR. Although the quality wasn’t nearly as good as the Mare’s, if your jet-setting doesn’t include a celebrity-sized meal budget the village offers plenty of options.
While at the Mare we visited its sister property, the Porto Elounda, for golf and a massage. Mr. TravelSpark wasn’t impressed with the 9-hole course (he rated it only “fair”). Our massage at the new, award-winning Six-Senses Spa, was great and the spa itself is quite impressive. If you pay for a service, you can stay and use the other spa facilities such as the hammam, sauna, and indoor/outdoor pool. Note that on the Mare’s website it seems that the spa is at the Mare, but it’s not. The spa is indeed at the Porto Elounda and is a ten-minute walk away.
In May, Greece – particularly the islands – are still in the off-season, so the village as well as the resort were incredibly peaceful and quiet. Many restaurants were empty or nearly so each night and waiters were begging us to come and eat. The weather was sunny and warm (but not hot), but the ocean was still cool.
Overall rating: Fabulous!
All photos were taken by TravelSpark. Please credit accordingly.
Foodie Fridays: Chicken Shawarma
If I can only find a smaller jar of tahini sauce, I plan to cook up this recipe for Chicken Shawarma from the July issue of Cooking Light. The Middle Eastern flavors seem like they will be delicious, and a good way to use the left over pita pockets that have been pushed to the back of the fridge (but still good!). Note that tahini sauce is like peanut butter, but made of sesame seeds. I found it in the international food aisle of the grocery store in my suburban Boston hometown (in the Greek foods section), but suspect I could find more size options at a store in a more culturally diverse neighborhood – or even at Trader Joe’s.
Ingredients
Chicken:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 16 (3-inch) strips
Sauce:
1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt (such as Fage)
2 tablespoons tahini
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
Remaining ingredients:
Cooking spray
4 (6-inch) pitas
1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
8 (1/4-inch-thick) tomato slices
Preparation
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. To prepare chicken, combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss well to coat. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes.
3. To prepare sauce, combine yogurt and next 4 ingredients (through 1 garlic clove), stirring with a whisk.
4. Thread 2 chicken strips onto each of 8 (12-inch) skewers. Place kebabs on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 4 minutes on each side or until done.
5. Place pitas on grill rack; grill 1 minute on each side or until lightly toasted. Place 1 pita on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1/4 cup lettuce and 2 tomato slices. Top each serving with 4 chicken pieces; drizzle each serving with 2 tablespoons sauce.
Yield: 4 servings
Time: 45 minutes
International Recipes at epicurious.com
I received an email today from epicurious.com promoting their international recipe collection and wanted to pass it on to the foodies among you:
epicurious.com/recipesmenus/global/recipes?mbid=RF
I’ll have more to share when I return from Athens…
Foodie Fridays: Crepes
Food is an integral part of every culture, but what I’ve always found interesting is how certain foods differ slightly from country to country, but are essentially the same thing. For example, I’ve been eating Nalesniki my whole life, usually rolled up and filled with applesauce or strawberry jam. I believe though that the French have most popularized this food, which we know as the Crepe. French crepes are usually folded into a triangle shape and my favorite is a crepe with Nutella, banana, and a scoop of ice cream for good measure. And yes, a picture of one has been purposefully added here to make your mouth water! Below is a recipe for a basic crepe and you can stuff it with anything your appetite desires. They can be eaten for dessert but also as a meal and stuffed with various ingredients such as cheese, veggies, and meat.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat 1% milk
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons butter, melted
2 large eggs
Preparation
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Combine milk, water, melted butter, and eggs in a blender. Add the flour mixture to milk mixture, and process until smooth. Cover batter; chill for 1 hour.
Heat an 8-inch nonstick crepe pan or skillet over medium heat. Pour a scant 1/4 cup batter into pan; quickly tilt pan in all directions so batter covers pan with a thin film. Cook about 1 minute. Carefully lift the edge of the crepe with a spatula to test for doneness. The crepe is ready to turn when it can be shaken loose from the pan and the underside is lightly browned. Turn crepe over, and cook for 30 seconds or until center is set.
Place crepe on a towel; cool completely. Repeat procedure with the remaining batter, stirring batter between crepes. Stack crepes between single layers of wax paper to prevent sticking.
Yield: 13 crepes
Recipe courtesy of: cookinglight.com
Chic Eats: Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier
My dad suffered through many summer Saturdays in Kittery, Maine with my mom, grandma, and I as we slowly made our way through the town’s countless outlet shops. When we finally gave in to hunger, he drove away from Route 1 in search of the perfect uncrowded eatery. What he discovered was Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier.
I can’t recall when I first ate there, but I know I was pretty small. It’s on a quiet (well, it used to be quiet) street, set down a steep hill on the bank of the creek. Lobster boats drive up to the dock and drop off the day’s catch, which later ends up on your table. All the tables are outside, some under a roof to keep out the elements.
Chauncey Creek provides the foundation for your meal, but you’re free to dress it up however you want. It’s BYOB, and the menu has all the basics: lobsters, fried clams, lobster rolls, steamers, and other shellfish. It’s common to see people setting up their own intimate meal, complete with tablecloth, wineglasses, and coolers full of various side dishes.
When you arrive, pick a table, notice the table’s number, and go to the window to place your order (they’ll ask for the table number). Have a seat, and wait for your piping hot lobster to be delivered.
I took Mr. JourneyChic there for the first time a few weeks ago. I hadn’t been in several years, and wondered if it had changed. The only differences are slightly upgraded bathrooms, a few more menu items, and a sign on the road directing traffic to the restaurant. The result is that my dad’s quiet lunchtime spot away from Kittery’s crowds has become quite busier, but it’s still a great alternative to Route 1′s chain restaurants.
Get There:
Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier
16 Chauncey Creek Road
Kittery Point, ME 03905
Ph: 207-439-1030
Hours: Post Labor Day to Columbus Day 11am to 7pm Tues-Sun
Rating: Fair. The food is good but basic (think Wonder Bread untoasted rolls)
Foodie Fridays: Mediterranean Supper Omelet…and an ode to olives
I’m not sure why but I never grew up eating omelets. It was only when I struck out on my own that I discovered how much I like these, and that I prefer them to scrambled eggs. I usually just throw one together with green peppers, mushroom, onions, and cheese and sometimes enjoy them for dinner. Looks like I may have to kick it up a notch though and try the recipe for a Mediterranean supper omelet below.
On a side note, I wanted to digress a bit and talk about olives and since they are a part of this recipe, it’s kind of related. I dislike olives, a lot really. There are many varieties but I’ve never been a fan. Until I went to France of course and was prodded to try olives stuffed with anchovies during the aperitif. Yeah, I hate anchovies too. But apparently these two make for a delicious combination …especially since our hostess paired them very well with my drink. So for other olive haters out there, give it one more shot. You may still dislike them, as my brother did after I made him try one, or you may enjoy them. Thus far, I’ve only been able to find them at Stop & Shop in the ethnic food aisle (see Goya pic). And now, on to the recipe.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 cups thinly sliced fresh fennel bulb, fronds chopped and reserved
8 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped pitted green brine-cured olives
5 large eggs, beaten to blend with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 4-ounce package crumbled goat cheese Provençal (with thyme, basil, and sweet red pepper)
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Preparation
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fennel bulb; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Cover and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and mash with fork; mix in olives. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to medium bowl.
Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to same skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Add beaten eggs and cook until eggs are just set in center, tilting skillet and lifting edges of omelet with spatula to let uncooked portion flow underneath, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle half of cheese over half of omelet, then top with fennel mixture. Sprinkle dill over, then remaining cheese. Using spatula, fold uncovered half of omelet over cheese; slide onto plate. Garnish with chopped fennel fronds and serve.
Recipe via: epicurious.com
Foodie Friday Guest Post: Broccoli Sautéed in Wine and Garlic (Broccoli al Frascati)
Enjoy this recipe from my lovely friend & colleague, M:
I’m always looking for different ways to prepare my favorite veggies. Broccoli is one of them and this looks like a super easy and tasty side dish. And if you pronounce it by its Italian name, it sounds way more gourmet than it really is!
Ingredients
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3 pounds broccoli, cut into spears
1 cup Frascati or other dry white wine
1 tablespoon hot red pepper flakes
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Grated zest of 1 orange
Preparation
In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat the olive oil with the garlic over medium-high heat until just sizzling. Add the broccoli and cook, tossing frequently and gradually adding the wine to keep the garlic from browning until the stalks are tender 8 to 10 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and zests, and tossing well, serve immediately.
Recipe via: epicurious.com
It’s a mod, mod world
Just got my CB2 catalog in the mail and several modern, global pieces caught my eye:
And two items that I recently purchased and love…
This neutral yet interesting duvet cover for our guest room’s bed:
Fun and bright throw pillow for our master bed:
Tank Tops
A trip to HomeGoods last week didn’t yield the bookcase decor I hoped for, but I did walk out with a few things. I can’t very well leave there empty-handed, can I? The two practical little gems I purchased are toilet decor. Yup.
The toilet tank is an often under-dressed household feature. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you dress it in something like this:
Eek.
What I am suggesting is a little tank topper to corral the bathroom necessities you already stash there, like tissues, an extra roll of TP, and room spray.
Our toilet tanks aren’t quite flat, so more times than I can count the tissue box has slid to the floor. That won’t happen any more thanks to the cute and cheap solutions I found at HomeGoods.
A little capiz tray for $12:
Dark woven basket for $7:
BTW, the room spray in both baskets is from Bath & Body Works and is the best of its kind. One little push of the button is all you need to have your loo smelling fresh.
Apartment Therapy has great discussions about what to put on the tank top here and here.
Do you keep anything on top of your tank (that you can share publicly, of course)?
Hitting the Deck
When we lived in Boston’s hip South End, our private 600 square foot roof deck was a sanctuary in the city, perfect for getting a suntan above the hustle and bustle below. Basil, tomato plants, and sunflowers thrived – until they were mercilessly eaten by squirrels who scoffed at the metal pie plates I strung up in an effort to deter them.
When we moved a few miles away from downtown, we went from this lovely view
to this
A little different, huh? This photo is from when moved in last September. Thanks to a complete lack of evergreens, in the early spring things looked pretty bleak:
On the right, you can see a pile of brick pavers. The previous owners had about 80 left over from building the patio, and instead of getting rid of them, they attempted to build a little path (which they never finished), and left the rest strewn around. So I dug them all up and a colleague carted them away so her mom could use them to build a fire pit. Everyone was happy! If this was our forever home, I would have ripped up all of the pavers and rebuilt the whole thing with flagstone.
As spring progressed, I discovered a random set of perennials planted by our predecessors (say that five times fast). With limited gardening skills, I slowly spruced things up with annuals:
and basil, rosemary, and flat-leaf parsley:
No amount of planting, however, could make up for the eyesore that was the deck:
The potential for storage space was huge, so I commissioned my super-talented dad to build an enclosure and finish the stairs. After a lot of hard work and a fresh coat of stain over the whole deck, we now have something much more useful and easier on the eyes:
Except it’s orange. Yeah….apparently “redwood” isn’t really dark red, like it looked on the sample in the store. I seriously hope that it darkens over time.
There’s still a lot of potential for our little deck and little yard, which includes replacing this horrendous plastic patio set…
…with one more like this:
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it goes on sale soon!
A Hero’s Home
While at the gym last week, I picked up the July issue of InStyle to distract myself until my time on the elliptical was up, and it made me wish I still had a subscription. The issue featured Kristen Bell (of “Heroes” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) and her lovely home decorated by Stacey Vuduris Interior Design.
I’ve read Everything LEB gush about Schumacher’s “Chiang Mai Dragon” fabric and got to see it in all its glory in Bell’s living room:
I love a lot of things about this living room: the neutral base with pops of color, the Chinese garden stools (I have one in my living room, too), the colorful piping on the side chair, and most of all the gorgeous turquoise lamp.
Her kitchen is so cool and inviting. I really want to have white cabinets and light gray granite or marble counters someday. Notice how Vuduris carried the Dragon fabric into the kitchen with the upholstered stools.
Finally, I’m smitten with her outdoor space. I’d take that pool any day, and the couch looks like the perfect place to relax with a mojito in hand:
Bell’s house seems so unpretentious and inviting, a great mix of basics and interesting colors and objects to keep things interesting.
Kristen, I think it’s a shame that Elle was killed off and would love to discuss the character’s budding romance with Sylar over cocktails, poolside. Your pool, naturally. Care to take me up on it? 
I was right!
Yesterday Brooklyn Limestone hinted at a mysterious overseas trip to a cool (literally and figuratively) location, and I correctly guessed Moscow!
She’s an amazing photographer and has some lovely pics up today. I’ve been to Moscow a few times for work (and found out today that I’ll be there again in October), but only once have had any time for sightseeing. Sadly she discovered the lack of t.p. in public restrooms. This was actually the subject of my very first blog post back in March 2008. Mrs. BL, I highly recommend bringing a travel pack of Charmin on your next trip!
Here are some photos from my visit to Moscow back in July 2006 (when it was 50 degrees F!). Like Mrs. BL, I’m fascinated by Russia’s two sides: extreme wealth and extreme poverty. On this particular trip, there was an old woman selling kittens and puppies in the middle of Red Square. It was freezing, and the kittens were all huddled together in the cage trying to keep warm. It was heartbreaking! I wanted to shove them all into my laptop bag and bring them home with me.
Inspiration from Eddie
While perusing Eddie Ross’s blog last week, I found the perfect inspiration for my sewing machine table make-over:
I happened to already have a swatch of the paint he used. Let’s see how it turns out…
Foodie Friday: Quick and Fresh Pasta Sauce
Last Friday night I came home and was HUNGRY. Like, I need to eat now or I’m gonna blow a gasket kind of hungry. Pasta is always a quick solution to tame my hungry inner beast. With overripe vegetables on the counter and in the refrigerator, I felt mighty guilty opening up a jar of sauce. So I chucked it all into the food processor and let it simmer. I was pleased with my work but the Mr. was left feeling like the sauce was missing a little something. Here’s how it went down:
3 vine-ripe (well, overripe) medium tomatoes
Handful of basil leaves from our herb garden
Handful of flat-leaf parsley from our herb garden
Generous dash of dried oregano
2 garlic cloves
1 small white onion
Dash of black pepper
Dash of salt
1 tablespoon of EVOO
Into the food processor it went until blended, then transferred into a large skillet. I then added a small can of plain tomato sauce to make it a bit thicker. I set the stove to medium and put a lid on it, then walked away and did a few other things while the sauce got nice and hot and flavors blended (read mail, made salad…fun stuff). Next, I put a pot on to boil and when ready added angel hair pasta. About 7 minutes later, ta-da! Dinner.
The sauce cooked for about 25 minutes total. The next time I make this, here’s what I would do differently:
Add tomato paste for additional thickness. We didn’t have any in our cupboard then. We do now.
Add a bit more salt.
Be more generous with the oregano.
Use three garlic cloves instead of two. Bad breath usually equals a tasty meal.
What are your favorite things to make with overripe vegetables?
I’m off for the weekend. Have a great Labor Day and “see” you Tuesday!
Before & After: Coat Closet
I get a certain twinkle in my eye while scanning the rooms in our house. This has become known as my “home improvement look”, and my husband can recognize it easily. “What now?” he asks, knowing that simply acknowledging my look means that he’s roped into another trip to Home Depot.
Martha made me give our coat closet “the look”, because I stumbled upon this on her website:
Look how pretty it is, with its pastel coats and bags and coordinating storage containers!
Our coat closet was fine – but there was room for improvement. I’ve never been a fan of ClosetMaid’s wire systems, and the biggest annoyance here was that coats could not be moved smoothly across the pole.
With plenty of space above and below the coats, the storage potential was high. After taking a series of measurements, Mr. JC set the DVR to record the Patriots game and we headed to HD. Yes, he humors me and I love him all the more for it.
An afternoon of work yielded a result that will grow with us as we accumulate more stuff (meaning: when we eventually have kids or my parents kick all my crap out of their house, whichever comes first).
Ok, so we don’t have color-coordinated coats and bags, or fancy storage bins (yet), but there’s a lot more usable space. After removing the wire system we took three key measurements before going to the store:
A comfortable height for the new pole (I’m 5’1″ and he’s 6′ so it has to work for both of us)
Height of our tallest boots to ensure they would fit under the lowest shelf
Length of the longest coat
This, combined with basic depth and width measurements helped us to customize the shelving. We bought two 72″ solid ClosetMaid shelves, and cut them down to the 52″ we needed. The remaining two pieces were glued and mounted together to create the upper of the two bottom shelves. This created a short shelf that allowed the longest coat to hang (with room for a few more), and is the right height to hold low baskets or board games under the short jackets. The floor now has plenty of space for boots and larger storage bins.
If we were to do it again, I would have listened to my hubby when he argued for using ClosetMaid’s track system. It would have meant fewer holes in the walls (we used a bunch of L-brackets), and the ability to adjust the height of the shelves as needed. Oh well – it looks good and functions perfectly – I think Martha would be proud! Now I’m on the lookout for inexpesive and attractive baskets. HomeGoods, here I come!
Ch-ch-ch-changes, and giveaway winner
I’m moving from wordpress.com over to wordpress.org this weekend to prepare for a whole new blog design that will go into effect in the next few weeks, and to add more features like Google Friend Connect and a Facebook fan page. I’m totally freaked out about losing all my posts, images, and comments, but if everything goes according to plan this move will be a very good thing!
The move may cause some interrupted service. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to post on Monday as planned.
Also, if you subscribe to my Feedburner e-mails, I believe that you will need to resubscribe. Please follow me on Twitter to keep abreast of the changes. I’ll post a notice there once the move is complete!
And before I forget, the winner of the Joss & Main $50 e-spree giveaway was lucky comment #2, Andi, who won with a tweet!
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
Six Reasons Why I Still Love Suzani
There’s something about suzanis that make me turn my head every time I see one. Whether embroidered (the traditional method), painted on ceramic or printed on fabric or paper, the common suzani motifs of flowers, vines, and fruit are colorful, bold, and anything but boring. Is this trend over yet? Have the design powers that be started to tire of this ethnic print? Frankly, if they have, I don’t give a damn. Here are six reasons why I still love suzani and why I think you should, too.
1. It’s a souvenir from an exotic local, whether or not you’ve been there.
I’ve been fortunate to visit Istanbul several times for business, and on two of those occasions I had time to shop and see the sights. My favorite purchase (even more than the handmade prayer rug I brought home), is a small ceramic plate hand painted in an intricate print reminiscent of traditional embroidered suzanis. I spotted the bright colors from across the little shop, and it was worth the $175 I spent on it.
Since most people don’t have the opportunity to visit the countries in central Asia where the suzanis come from, a pillow, rug, curtains, and other accessories will make you feel just a little more worldly.
2. It’s so colorful that it can fit with any decor you already have, or set the tone for a whole space.
Here in my entryway, the suzani print valances that my mom made for me set the tone for the rest of the entryway’s color palette, from the dresser to the pillows, and artwork in the other hallway that’s out of view. With so many colors and patterns it’s easy to add something suzani to your existing decor, or decorate an entire room around it.
3. It makes a traditional room more interesting.
This bedroom, designed by Krista Ewart, has a country cottage vibe to me – a hip country cottage, mind you. The pitch of the ceiling and simple patterns add to the traditional feel, but the bench covered in a suzani fabric brings a bit of global flair into the room. I love it paired with the Madeline Weinrib zig-zag rug. Someday I will own one of those!
4. It softens a modern space.
The curves of suzani prints, and the soft fabrics, help to break up the straight lines of modern rooms. In this office designed by Bryn Alexandra, the fabric pin board combined with the soft printed curtains softens the lines of the desk and pendant. I really like how the suzani print mimics the round lampshade.
5. It adds warmth to a cold room.
Personally, I’m not a fan of extremely neutral spaces. I definitely like more color and pattern than Kara Mann chose to use in this living room, which is part of a stunning oceanfront villa with a view that is artwork in and of itself. The suzani pillows in the living room and adjacent outdoor space provide the only color, and in my opinion keep the rooms from being too bland to the eye.
6. It’s glamorous.
Actress Megan Mullally’s dining room, designed by Ames Ingham, is a great example of how suzanis can add drama and glamor to a room. The chandelier makes a big statement, but the dark vintage suzanis are what draws the eye in. Find vintage suzanis on Ebay and Etsy, or try the cheaper alternative of framing suzani printed fabric.
Ok, so a giant embroidered suzani for your bed or your wall isn’t in the cards, but there are plenty of ways to add this vibrant print to your home. All these choices are under $80.
Appetizer Plates, Pier 1 Imports: $5 (I really want these to hang on my kitchen wall!)
Pillow, 3BMod Living: $22.95
Notecards, Whitney English at Lemon Tree Paperie: $65 for 25 (Yikes!)
Vase, Z Gallerie: $79.95
Purse, Yurdan: $71.40 (on sale)
Passport wallet, Gracie Designs: $17
What do you think? Are you over suzani, or will you happily keep it in your home for years to come?
P.S. I’m finally on Twitter! I planned to wait until my new blog design was rolled out in a few weeks, but what the heck – why not start now? I’m still getting the hang of it and am happily accepting tips! Follow me: @journeychic.
St. Patrick’s Little Secret
Contrary to legend, St. Patrick did not drive the snakes out of Ireland. Nope. He grabbed an opportunity when he saw it and had those snakes turned into fabulous accessories like these!
Bracelet, Kenneth Jay Lane: $40 at Zappos
iPhone case, Zazzle: $42.30
Booties, Pour La Victoire: $216.75 at Zappos
Tray, Multi Chic: $30
Tote, Jessica Simpson, $98 at Zappos
I am seriously dying over those booties. They are way too expensive for me, but they are so friggin’ sexy, aren’t they? I spotted them at a few other sites, but it seems like they’re being discontinued and sizes are very limited. Snakeskin (preferably faux, of course) is a fantastic neutral. I’ve had a pair of Guess pointy-toe flats in a faux python for years and they still look great and make so many of my basic pieces look cooler.
For all the traditionalists out there (myself included), I couldn’t skip St. Patty’s day without sharing a selection of green items for both wardrobe and home.
Cardigan, Banana Republic: $66.99
Dishtowel, Crate & Barrel: $3.95
Glass handle, Anthropologie: $7.95
Door mat, Wisteria: $34
Picture frames, Z Gallerie: $12.95-$19.95
Party dress, ModCloth: $119.99
That dress is so fun; it can be worn with or without straps, and the fabric is actually a polka-dotted pattern.
Since the JourneyChic family is indeed Irish (my ancestors and my in-laws, who still have brogues even after decades in US), it was appropriate for Junior to wear this to “school” today. He has the most kissable little Irish cheeks!
Have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Today’s the last day to enter the giveaway for a $50 shopping spree at Joss & Main. Go to the giveaway page to enter before 5pm EDT today!
What You Get for $50 at Joss & Main
The giveaway for a Joss & Main $50 shopping spree is almost over! Wondering what $50 can get you from this new members-only site? Here are a few items I found from recent sales:
Whether you want to cook, entertain, decorate, or give a fab gift, Joss & Main has loads of designer finds at 25-70% off, so your $50 prize will go far. For your chance to win $50 to spend on whatever you choose, head on over to the giveaway page and leave a comment after you join Joss & Main (if you’re already a member, simply browse their site and let me know how you’d spend your prize). Comments left on this page won’t be included in the drawing, so please be sure to go back to the original giveaway page.
The contest closes Thursday, March 17 at 5pm EDT.
Setting Your Table for Spring
Don’t forget to enter to win a $50 e-shopping spree at Joss & Main! The giveaway closes at 5pm Thursday, March 17!
With the weather slowly starting to warm up here in New England, and the first tiny buds starting to grow on the trees, I’m pleased to share lots of lovely spring entertaining ideas from Joanna at Design Shuffle. This weekend some of my friends came over for lunch, and since I’m on single-parent duty for almost a week, the best “table setting” I could come up with was a new runner from Target and a quick grocery store bouquet. Joanna shares some lovely ideas for setting a pretty table for Easter, Passover, and the annual flood of springtime weddings and showers. Your guests will surely be impressed!
Even if spring hasn’t officially sprung, we’re ready to celebrate its arrival. It’s been a long winter in many parts of the country and lots of us are suffering from the winter doldrums. What better way to welcome the new season than with a table setting inspired by Spring? These are eight of our favorite interior design ideas for spring table decor.
Birds Nests
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We love the little bird’s nests on the place settings. The budding branches are a nice alternative to flowers.
Daisies & Gingham
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Dining al fresco is one of the best parts of Spring. The blue gingham runner reminds us of picnic blankets. We like how the gingham is also used on the ribbons and cushions. The daisies are an inexpensive and happy accent.
Bulbs
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How nice to give your guest a small pot of grape hyacinth to take home! Grape hyacinth is one of the earliest spring flowers to pop up. This is a great idea for an early Spring brunch or party.
Spring Green
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Pink and green is a classic color combination. We think this is a fun, modern take for a Spring party.
Yellow & White
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Daffodils, yellow tulips or even daisies combined with white and yellow linens and place settings create a warm, inviting table.
Posies
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We love the small flower arrangements called posies used on this table. Blues, pinks and greens combined with white accents are fresh for table decor.
Daffodils
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Daffodils and tulips are the most popular Spring flowers. Subtle and muted tones in the place settings and linens allow the focus to be on the lovely mixed daffodil centerpiece.
Moss
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Another way to introduce green into your Spring tablescape is moss. We think the moss runner is adorable. The green Bells of Ireland are another terrific green accent.
This content is provided by Design Shuffle, where you can find top tier interior designs from around the world – from New York Interior Designers, Los Angeles Interior Designers, and more, check out Design Shuffle.
I love the bird’s nest idea with those cool melamine plates. Perfect if you live in a warm climate and can have your spring celebrations outdoors! The pinks, aquas, and purples of the setting that incorporates posies reminds me of pastel Easter eggs. Which one is your favorite?
Mommy Monday: Cart Conundrum
Don’t forget to enter to win a $50 e-shopping spree at Joss & Main! The giveaway closes at 5pm Thursday, March 17!
About a month ago Junior had his first ride in the grocery cart. He loved every minute of it, taking in all the colors, sounds and people – and touching everything within his reach. That includes the grocery cart, which he eagerly licked. Fortunately, we put a cart cover in the seat so his tongue wouldn’t directly touch the nastiness. USA Today reported earlier this month that a University of Arizona researcher found that 72% of grocery carts that he tested had trace amounts of fecal matter on them. Ew
Our cart cover was a shower gift, and although I’m grateful for it and it’s definitely better than putting Junior in direct contact with flecks of other people’s poop, it has a few problematic features:
It leaves some parts of the cart exposed to baby’s reach, meaning the car still requires a thorough swipe of an antibacterial wipe.
Two adults are required to put it in: one holds the baby, while the other fiddles with the strap and about eight pieces of Velcro.
Foolishly, I didn’t take advantage of the 50% off sale on Buggy Baggs that showed up on Baby Steals the other day, and I’m kicking myself for it. What’s nice about these products (which are not cheap, retailing for around $50) is that they thoroughly cover the whole seat. Bonus: they feature designs that moms like, too.
The “Junior” model has fewer bells and whistles (no pillow), but honestly: if your kid is so tired that he needs to put his head down on the shopping cart, you need to go home and put him down for a nap.
But wait, you don’t want to pay $50+ for a cart cover? Neither do I, which is why I wish I had jumped on that sale! Here are some others that I found on Etsy:
How about a little animal print, for your little animal?
If you sew but don’t know how to make a cart cover, some Etsy shops also sell patterns. I found them here ($3), here ($6.50), and here ($5), but there are a few more options as well.
Do you keep your munchkin separated from the cartful of germs with a physical barrier, or do you rely on antibacterial wipes? No judgment, just curious. This weekend I didn’t want to wrangle with the seat cover, so I tucked Junior under my arm and went to town with the wipes before he sat down. He survived.
From Paper to Room
Earlier this week I shared the concept of letting pretty paper guide your outfit, and now I’m taking a stab at letting it guide a room. The inspiration paper was Yuzen Cherry Blossom Clusters from Paper Source, a lovely Japanese paper that is a delicate floral print with white and purple flowers on a deep blue background, flecked with moss green and gold.
A light, breezy take on this color palette comes from Jonathan Adler as featured in House Beautiful. A variety of blues softens the space, but there are only a few hints of purple in the fresh flower arrangements.
Designed by Jonathan Adler, featured on housebeautiful.com
I wanted to try something a bit more dramatic and glamorous.
Although I typically like lighter colors in the bedroom, I think there’s something to be said for a deep blue that’s so dark it could help ease you into a lengthy slumber. Goodness knows my insomniac self could use some extra slumber. For this mood board, I chose Benjamin Moore’s Symphony Blue purely because it looked good on my monitor, although I was originally thinking about Van Deusen Blue instead which we have in our half bath. But for some reason it looked really gray on my screen, so hopefully right now you’re looking at a nice, dark, rich blue!
On the floor, this wool rug from Overstock ($355.29 for approx. 8×10′) adds a cool tonal pattern. The bed is from Target (609.99 for queen), believe it or not, and is reminiscent of Crate & Barrel’s pricey “Colette”. I would top it with a feminine pleated duvet, also from Target ($69.99 for queen), because the fluffiness reminds me of the paper’s white flowers. On the bed are cheap purple pillows from Urban Outfitters ($19.99), and an expensive green pillow from Z Gallerie ($69.95), which frankly I would never pay for and would look for something similar at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods.
target.com
On the nightstands, which are accent tables from Crate & Barrel ($299 each), are ceramic lamps ($159.91) from Lamps Plus that bring in the Japanese paper’s leaves. While I like gourd lamps and that would have been the obvious choice, I’m sort of sick of them. This skinny shape takes up less space on the tables and is a nice change from the trendy gourds, but they’re also a bit on the pricey side. Always check HomeGoods for colorful lamps (or spray paint one if you find a shape you like) before laying down more than $100 for a single lamp.
Finally, the art above the bed would be three sheets of the inspirational paper, framed in large simple white Ikea Ribba frames. I actually did the same thing with Paper Source paper above my TV, and it’s both cheap and packs a nice visual punch.
Total cost of this room: $2146.99 (includes 3 Ribba frames and 3 sheets of paper)
I hope you all have a nice weekend! I’m looking forward to having some of my best girls over for Sunday lunch.
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a $50 e-shopping spree at Joss & Main! Visit the giveaway page for details on how to enter.
It’s Giveaway Time!
Just when I was thinking to myself, “It’s high time for a giveaway!” one falls right into my inbox. Have you heard of Joss & Main yet? It’s a new members-only flash sales site for amazing deals on great stuff for the home. The word joss means good luck, and don’t you feel lucky when you stumble upon the perfect accessory for your home (or yourself!) at 25-70% off? New sales launch daily, but last for only 72 hours. Past Joss & Main events have featured Missoni Home, Henckles, Le Creuset, Thom Felicia Rugs, and Dwell Baby among others.
Some of the great items coming up for sale at great prices include pretty pillows, gorgeous mirrors, fun wall decals and loads more!
So what’s up for grabs? A $50 e-shopping spree! Hooray!
The Rules:
Click on this link or the Joss & Main badge in the sidebar in the “Join + Shop” section.
Join Joss & Main, snoop around, and come back and leave a comment about what you’d spend your $50 on or towards. If you’re already a member, simply log on and report back here on what you love.
Blog, Tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway to earn yourself extra entries. When tweeting, please use the “@jossandmain” handle. Be sure to come back here and leave an additional comment for each one!
Giveaway closes at 5pm Eastern on March 17 (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)
The winner will be chosen through random.org and must be a Joss & Main member.
Your prize will be credited to your account for you to spend at any time.
Good luck!
<<This giveaway is now closed>>
Paper Dolls
Like most girls, I played with paper dolls when I was a child. It was so much fun to try out different looks, but I had to be quick before my cat decided to munch on an outfit. Now that I’m older, I wondered if paper could inspire an outfit. My wardrobe is starting to seem rather boring to me, but I’m not confident about how to mix up colors in new ways. Why not let a paper designer show me how to put different colors together to make an outfit or two? Pretty paper from Paper Source inspired my whole wedding, so I looked to that shop for some spring outfit inspiration. I quickly settled on Yuzen Cherry Blossom Clusters, probably because it’s reminiscent of an outfit I just bought at LOFT.
With a pretty, soft shade of purple, mossy green, gold, and white on dark navy background, this paper just screams “Spring!!” to me. Here’s a look that’s perfect for attending a springtime wedding:
Dress, J. Crew: $175 in Newport Navy
Wrap, J. Crew: $75 in Antique Lavender
Sandals, Nine West at DSW.com: $49.95
Crocus Visa Post Earrings, Anthropologie: $28
Wild Rose Hair Clip, $42, EmersonMade
Total cost: $369.95
No special functions coming up this spring? That’s okay, because our paper doll can go casual, too. Keep the chill out with a versatile trench but add some sparkle to your feet with gold flats, and add the earrings from the previous outfit for a simple, put-together look.
Embellished Tee, Old Navy: $10.50
Trench, Old Navy: $49.50
Jeans, Gap: $69.50
Flats, Fossil at Zappos: $68.00
Total cost: $197.50
Am I the only one who wants to go shopping now???
New Blog Features
Happy Monday, everyone!
After blogging for so long, sometimes I can’t remember how I filed a particular project, decorating or fashion idea that I’d like to revisit. So over the weekend I added a few more pages to the blog that I hope you’ll find useful and fun to look at.
DIY: From refinishing furniture to organizing the pantry, from sewing a pillow cover to making easy holiday crafts, my favorite posts are linked here.
Decorate: I have a lot of fun putting together mood boards for both real and imaginary rooms. Just click on one of the images to find out more about the products I’ve show.
Wear: Sometimes getting dressed in the morning can be so darn difficult. In my dream house, my closet is big enough for my own days of the week clothes rack so I can put all my outfits out on Sunday night and not have to worry about it. Until then, I enjoy creating outfit boards (could these be called mood boards too??) to help think of new ways to put basics together and find new pieces to put on my shopping list.
I also did some housekeeping: the blogroll now has it’s own page, called Read. This allows me much more space to link up to your blogs. So if you have a blog about fashion, decor, or generally living stylishly (or heck, trying to – I think that’s what most of us are doing), please let me know so we can exchange links!
After all my blogging business was done, I enjoyed the warm-ish weather by taking a neighborhood stroll with Mr. JC and Junior, and we discovered a brand new fabric and knitting store! They have some fun fabrics and patterns, and I already have one in mind to try.
Hope you all had a great weekend!
