Island Canary

Reading Nook

2011-12-09T17:15:00.002-06:00

In our new apartment, my bathroom has a tub that runs water, but doesn't plug. I could go out and purchase a plug for the drain, but I decided I would rather have a reading nook. And voila, there it is in all its glory! (Little Diego snuck his way into the tub the minute I got it all set up!)

Let me tell you what, this baby is comfy comfy comfy!!! The perfect spot for a Sunday afternoon, whether for browsing through books or taking a nap after lunch. You pick!

Christmas in the City

2011-12-08T16:03:00.001-06:00

I'm dreaming of Christmas in a big city this year. Sometimes I wish I had family out-of-state that I could go visit for the holidays, but then again, Des Moines is nice as well. I just wish we had a few more tall buildings, that's all. :)

Bonne week-end!

(Via honestlywtf, Dazzling Luxury, howstuffworks, Pinterest, NewYorkChristmas, megannlove)

Shimmer & Shine

2011-12-07T12:51:00.001-06:00

Glitter is my new obsession. I think it's important to add a little shimmer and shine to your life (and wardrobe!) when there aren't as many sunny hours in the day anymore! This is also why I have my Christmas tree lit nearly 24/7. Who cares if it lights on fire while I'm sleeping??

Today I landed into sparkle heaven when I stumbled upon some of Topshop USA's holiday pieces from their All That Glitters collection. I'm going a little gaga for that midi skirt and skater dress!

(Top photo via Pink Heels)

Steak Florentine

2011-12-05T18:11:00.006-06:00

So Ben and I have been poring over Giada De Laurentis' book, Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes, this past week, and have made multiple grocery store trips so we can equip ourselves with everything we need. We've tried lots of different recipes like Cheese Ravioli in Light Chicken Broth, Roasted Bell Peppers, and our favorite so far, Steak Florentine!

It was such a cinch, and only took about 30 minutes total! A simple rubdown with some garlic, salt, and pepper was all that was needed. We don't have a grill in our apartment, so we baked the steaks in our cast-iron skillet for about 15 minutes, and then drizzled some lemon juice over them.

To. Die. For.

Blue and White

2011-12-05T10:12:00.006-06:00

Blue and white is a much-loved color combination, and I can see why. Despite the cool colors, they can certainly cozy up a space.

It brings the essence of a charming cottage, don't you think?

(First image from an amazing blog, Beautiful Portals)
(Other images via Pinterest and Delightful and Delovely)