Friday, July 30, 2010

In with the Old: Office Decor

As some of you may have heard me mention, I'm currently in the process of moving my workspace from one bedroom of our house to another. The new space is smaller but the natural light is a so much better, which can really make all the difference in your mood and mental health when life is (cough) challenging. With a move in our not-so-distant future, I'm keeping the decorating and furnishing of my new space simple and semi-neutral, and as cost effective as possible, and I'll soon be sharing all the details, inspiration and lots of pics with you.

One of the best ways to change or freshen up any space on a budget is by finding second hand treasures in thrift shops around your town or in the vintage section of Etsy. There are, of course, also times when the really cool old stuff costs more than something new, but the uniqueness, charm and character justify the price.

Whether it's furniture or desktop organization, an office space really gives you a lot of room for creativity and repurposing of items that originally had a different use. Here are a few office-related vintage finds to help you get organized or maybe inspire a workspace revamp of your own.


Refurbished Metal Typewriter Desk rerunzvintageshop $80

Pair of Lotus Bowls findingfabulous $8

Leather Handled Metal Box TheFancyLamb $28

Desk Chair TopsyDesign $265

Rustic Book Rest lovelyhomevintage $12

Metal Cage Flower Frog littlebyrdvintage $12

Cole Steel Desk Tray MondayPie $35

Metal File Cabinet AMradio $23

Scotch Tape Dispenser vintagenownandthen $12

Vintage Cork Desk Organizer MadisonRoseVintage $26

Hollywood Regency High Back Chair thevintagesupplyco $375

Lime Green California Pottery Dish harlowmonroevintage $10



Shabby Chic Desk and Chair darlingoctopus $375

Rand McNally Globe chicagoartist29 $24


Retro Painted Desk poppycottage $425

Couture du Jour: Fancy Friday



Silver Lotus Earrings craftsyuri $32.90
1960s Vintage Silver Clutch starletvintage $32

Click here to submit an outfit of your own for Couture du Jour and be entered into a monthly drawing to win jewelry from my shop!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Sharing Favorites with Tickled Pink Knits

It's time for a new edition of Sharing Favorites! if you missed the debut of this new series with Emily and Amanda of Ureshii, you can check it out here.

Today, Elena of Tickled Pink Knits gives us a peek at what's currently on her most hearted list along with a few favorites from her own collection.

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I adore discovering new artists and artisans, and shopping handmade. Here are just a few selections from my long list of favorites on Etsy. For more art-, design-, and nature- eye-candy, please stop by my Tumblr blog, Pretty Serendipities, where I post lovely finds from around the web almost daily. When I'm not ooh-ing and aah-ing over pretty things made by others, I am head over heels in love with knitting and designing. I create the fashion accessories for myTickled Pink Knits shop in my Westchester County, NY studio. I also have a little shop for my knitting patterns — AtelierTPK (Knitters, take note, more patterns are coming very soon).

Many thanks to Nicole for letting me share a handful of my Etsy faves with you, and a few things from my new summer collection as well.



Hydrangea Cluster Necklace PatrickIrlaJewelry $155


Inner Calm FrancesPhotography $75

Seville Necklace natashakahndesigns $75


Queen Anne Notecards scarlettdesign $13.95


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And from my shop, here are few pieces from my summer Sea Kelp collection:





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Thanks so much for sharing Elena!

If you are interested in sharing your favorites, drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you, nicole@lillyella.com.

Couture du Jour



Iliana Earrings blueserendipity $14
Smooch Sandals Zappos $90

Todays ensemble was created by Christina of Coffee and Cream ~


Click here to submit an outfit of your own for Couture du Jour and be entered into a monthly drawing to win jewelry from my shop!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Slow Food in a Modern Kitchen

Hi everyone! Shawna here from Pinkkiss Pottery with another treat for your slow kitchen. With summer now in full swing and (sorry!) fall on it’s way, what a great time to break out your pie tins and use up some of those deliciously sweet summer fruits. I recently purchased a book called Rustic Fruit Desserts by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson after hearing it mentioned on a couple of my favorite blogs. Rustic desserts are my favorite kind! Not only do they lend themselves nicely to my collection of ceramic bake ware but the “rustic” nature of them also means that they come together quickly and are not fussy to prepare.



Rustic Fruit Desserts takes you through every season utilizing fresh seasonal ingredients although the recipes are easily adapted to suit your tastes and markets. So what am I making right now? My latest obsession from this book can actually be found in the back section labeled “pantry”. A recipe for a delicious Vanilla Crumb topping you can keep in the freezer and whip out whenever you need a freshly baked dessert for company or to satisfy a late night sweets craving. Why not give it a try?

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Vanilla Crumb Topping

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 light brown sugar
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
1 Tbs pure vanilla extract

Combine the flour, sugars, salt and butter in the bowl of a food processor or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle the vanilla over the mixture and pulse or mix briefly to distribute the vanilla.

Use immediately OR store in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Bourbon Whip Cream

1 cup cold heavy cream
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 / 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1-2 tsp Bourbon, according to taste

In a chilled metal bowl whisk the cold cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, vanilla and bourbon, continue whisking until the peaks become stiff and do not fall from your whisk. Serve immediately.

Try this:
For an individual crumble, cut up a fresh peach into 1 inch cubes and toss with 1 tsp corn starch. For a whole crumble use 5-6 peaches and 2 Tbs corn starch. Place the mixture in a small oven safe baker and top with Vanilla Crumb Topping. Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes or until topping is brown and the filling is bubbly. Let cool for 10 minuets before serving. Top with homemade bourbon whip cream. Enjoy with a mint julep on your back porch!

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Ceramic is the perfect baking material for rustic desserts, it keeps the crust warm and crispy while letting you take your dessert from oven to table. Check out these beautiful baking dishes from these artists on Etsy:



Pie Pan in Golden Harvest pagepottery
Medium Oven Safe Ramekin khphillips
Pie Plate in Aqua Trillium Design jmrpottery
Swirl Pie Plate MuddyWaters

I hope you all check out Rustic Fruit Desserts and whip up some freshly baked treats for your friends and family! See you next month!

~ Shawna of Pinkkiss Pottery

Couture du Jour



Cotton Jersey Dress outofline $128
Blue Bezel Set Ring friedasophie $45
3-Strap Denim Clog Creatures of Comfort $230

Today's ensemble was created by Sandra of Friedasophie. You can see her ring above and check out the rest of her beautiful creations in her shop.

Click here to submit an outfit of your own for Couture du Jour and be entered into a monthly drawing to win jewelry from my shop!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

In the Kitchen: Mini Oreo Cheesecakes



Why yes, that is a mini cookies and cream cheesecake with an Oreo for a crust. Need I say more? I think not.

Ingredients
21 oreos (15 whole plus 6 coarsely chopped)
1 pound (16 oz) cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temp
1/2 cup sour cream
1/8 tsp salt


Heat oven to 375° and line 15 muffin cups with paper liners. Put one whole oreo in the bottom of each lined cup and crush the remaining 6 oreos into small pieces, but not crumbs.


With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and beat until well mixed.

Beat in the vanilla and eggs, scraping the bowl as needed, until well blended. Lastly beat in the sour cream and salt and then stir in the chopped oreos by hand.



Fill the cups with the batter almost right to the top of the liner. The cheesecakes will not rise, and if anything, they will sink a bit after cooking, so you can fill them all the way up.

Bake for 11 minutes, rotate the tins and bake for another 11 minutes or until the center is set.

Cool completely in the tins on a wire rack then transfer to the fridge and cool in tins for at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove from tins before serving and store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.


These sweet little temptations require minimal ingredients and are super fast and easy to make. You can also substitute a different cookie such as Golden Oreos, Nilla Wafers or Gingersnaps – or how about those Oreo's with the peanut butter or mint cream centers? Now we're talkin…


And find more easy and delicious recipes here.