Clove Studded Oranges

I remember making these clove studded orange pomanders with my sister when I was little. I loved them back then and I love them now. I think they evoke nostalgia for many people. They have a wonderfully sweet holiday smell. And, best of all, they're easy to make, which make them perfect for both kids and adults!

As I was doing research for this blog, I found there are many different recipes out there. Some recipes call for using sandalwood oil, orris root, and crushed spices, which the oranges are rolled in before or after being studded with cloves. I don't remember doing all this back in the day. Other recipes are really simple, and you just pierce the oranges with cloves, then tie a string around them to hang them. That's more like what we did as kids. It is best to use a toothpick, or something similar (knitting needle, skewer, fork), to poke holes in the oranges before putting the cloves in. Otherwise, you'll quickly find that it can be tough to get the clove in the orange, and those sharp little cloves can be painful! The simple kind last 1-2 weeks. The more complex recipes last longer because some of the ingredients are natural preservatives.

You can get creative and use different fruits like lemons, limes, and apples and try different designs with the cloves. Also have fun with your ribbon. Select one you love, crisscross it, or leave a strip of the orange clove-less that will have the ribbon over it.

These make great gifts and holiday decor. Let's keep this tradition alive!

Spring 2008 Color Forecast

Check out Pantone's Spring 2008 Fashion Color Report. Love the fresh feel this palette has, especially the cantaloupe & lavender...

a little thing

I'm virgo, so I can't help but get caught up in the little things. And, one little thing I love is the basic wooden clothespin. These are a cheap and aesthetically pleasing alternative to the Chip Clip (which is a totally unnecessary product that marketers have convinced many people they need, including my mom). I use these wooden clothespins on every bag in my kitchen and I'm always finding new uses for them around the house. You can find these at Target, hardware stores, or grocery stores. Or, here's a bag of 24 clothespins for .99!

divine desktop find

I mysteriously found this gorgeous picture on my desktop today. After researching all possible places it could have originated from, I finally traced it back to one of my favorite blogs, desire to inspire. The photography is the work of Jonny Valiant. Beautiful!

Playing Interior Designer With My Sister

My sister recently moved into a new house in Canada and it's a blank slate that needs to be filled in. I offered to help her figure out what to do with her living room, as she wants to buy some chairs for that room next. The parameters of the space are:
-it was just painted a neutral tan (no repainting)
-there's beige carpet
-they have a gray sofa from Ikea
-the room has a mantle and fireplace
-the living room opens up to the kitchen, so the rooms need to flow

Now, I'm not an interior designer, but I love whipping together these rough collages to help show what different furniture and colors will look like in a space. She sent me pictures of the key elements of her room and I added furniture, rugs, art, and accessories to get her inspired. All of the collages incorporate vintage items with new items for lots of character.

She's decided to go with the first yellow collage look below, which is really cheery and will help get her through the Canadian winters (she is a Southern girl). Which one do you like? Would love to hear your comments.