Sweetiepie, NYC

I wanted to share some cute pictures of of an interesting little restaurant named Sweetiepie located in NYC's West Villiage. Sweetiepie is a restaurant, dessert bar and absinthe den wrapped into one. It has been described as "the imaginary restaurant that your little sister wanted to open when she was 11—but with hard alcohol." I am going to have to stop by and try to figure this place out for myself next time I'm in town for a visit.

Carrier & Company

Oh my! I covet these rooms from Carrier & Company's Forge River Guest Barn and Forge River collections. They are just fabulous and I'm ready to move in...how 'bout you?

Thank you, Federica (http://www.sweetasacandy.blogspot.com/). You know just where to find all of the good stuff!

Cottage Living Chair Makeover

I went back to an older issue of Cottage Living (August 2007) to bring you these wing chairs. I just love them so much and I think the use of vintage grain sacks with the monogram top center is great looking. I'm missin' my Cottage Living magazine (circulation stopped at the end of 2008).

Flower Votives

I love the simplicity of a single bloom attached to a votive candle sitting in a little saucer of water (which is practical to keep the flower fresh an also adds a nice little reflective quality). This is a winning display of both color and light! I just love it...so simple!
Credit: Martha Stewart

Tree Cups

I think these little tree cups make the cutest little table decoration...they are sweet in the mis-matched tea cups and could have an entirely different look planted in a sleeker, more modern cache pot. They would also make nice party favors to send home with each guest after the event is over, too.

Credit: Martha Stewart

A Tweet Craft

My 10-year old daughter Claire made this adorable bird's nest and had a great time doing so. Here are the instructions if you happen to know a little one looking for a fun summer-time crafty activity. Thank you Michelle and Zoie for the great idea, via Woman's World magazine and for gathering all of the necessary ingredients!

Above: Photo and instructions from Woman's World magazine and photo of Claire's finished project.

Idea Paint

I wanted to mention another fun thing I recently ran across..."idea paint". It turns any surface into a dry erase board. Just think of the unlimited amount of fun!

Crab salad cups

I'm thinkin' that I might make these little salad cups tonight for a light fresh dinner. Yum! Thanks to myrecipes.com for this great dish!

Zubble-Bubbles

I must have bubbles on the brain...

I love these colored bubbles from zubbles.com. that don't stain when they pop. How cool is that?!

Popping Bubbles

This photo, courtesy of a cup of jo.blogspot.com, is a little series that I thought was quite nice. Bubbles are magic, aren't they?

Smiling Baby

We received this adorable baby photo last week to be placed on one of our birth announcements to celebrate the arrival of sweet little Maggie. This photo (courtesy of www.freshartphotography.com) definitely made us smile!

Post-It Love

I found this "Post-It Love" video at one of my favorite blogsites, "A Cup of Jo". Isn't it sweet? Have a great weekend!

Technicolor Tabletops

A few days ago my sister Lauren called from Memphis where her son will be performing in a summer theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She was nominated to decorate the buffet tables where 300 people will have dinner after the show. She said "they need to look like the show" and wanted to know if I had any ideas? Well, unfortunately, I get very excited about projects like this and usually end up wanting to do them myself. The problem is that I only seem to have time in the wee hours of the night usually between midnight and 3:00 am! The other very unfortunate thing about me is that I am "Last-minute Louie". I wait until the night before a project is due... always! Well, anyway... I've never seen Joseph's technicolor dreamcoat, but this is my interpretation of it. These flower vases will give the tables pizazz with their poppin' color. I shipped them yesterday by UPS and she will get them today just in time to buy flowers and decorate her tables for Friday night's festivities. I snapped a quick pic, so that she can visit the blog to get an idea of how to do the flowers. I was pleased and I hope that both she and my nephew Brian will be too.

Break a leg Brian!

Love,

Aunt Stacy

Melt-in-your-mouth Melon

Isn't this a precious treat? I'm heading out to the market to buy my honeydew melon and raspberry sorbet right now...my family will love it!

Credit: Family Fun Magazine.

New Pattern Invitations

We have been working hard on a new collection of fun and fashionable all-occasion invitations that will be available soon on our website. Here's a sneak preview of a few cards, along with some of my "photo inspiration" of beautiful spaces. Check out website in the weeks ahead to see all of the new designs.
Images courtesy of delikatissen.com (first three) and mylife-myloves.blogspot.com (last).

Annie B Boutique

My 13 year old daughter Annie started a jewelry and hair accessories business about a year ago. She enjoys keeping up with her business...shopping for the findings, designing and actually making the product and making her rounds to the various shops that she sells to. She does all of this with my help along with the assistance of her 10 year old sister Claire. annie b boutique (anniebboutique@gmail.com) is a fun business that we all have a blast doing together even though there are some days we don't do anything because Annie declares that she "just wants to be a kid today." The business is growing as her product offerings have expanded to include: hairclips, pony-tail holders, necklaces and rings. A portion of the money that she is making is being donated to St. Judes research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Here are a few photos of her ever-changing line.

Even puppies enjoy pony-o's by annie b boutique!

A "Sticky" Situation

Here are a few fun "foods-on-a-stick" that I found in my latest issue of Food Network Magazine, which I think makes terrific party food. Salad on a stick

Pizza on a stick

Strawberry Waffle ball on a stick

Pinkberry

We don't have a Pinkberry in Birmingham yet, but I'm sure that it's just a matter of time. It's so hot outside today, I could really go for a nice cup of this healthy yummy treat. Everything looks so fresh...mmmm....

I noticed a recipe in my new Food Network Magazine that says they have been able to duplicate Pinkberry's secret recipe. I have to try this out!

Girl's Best Friend

This is a quick shot of some pieces that I did for a recent charity art show in Rosemary Beach benefiting The Alaqua Animal Refuge. I used three little shadowboxes, lined the back with new patterns from our line, then pasted hand-cut silhouettes of my favorite pooch, Addie on top of the patterned paper. I thought they ended up looking very "beachy" and would fit right in to a cute beachside cottage. Hopefully they will make someone happy and raise a little money for a terrific organization.

Here is what I can tell you about AAR...

The TRANSFORMATIONS art show and silent auction benefits the Alaqua Animal Refuge (www.aarflorida.com) which is a no kill shelter that was started by one individual super woman named Laurie Hood. It is located on her ranch in Freeport, Florida and is truly a beautiful happy place with rolling pastures and shady trees. She has a great adoption rate but things have slowed down with the "economy" and they have sooo many animals now that need our help! The art show has a website where you can view the artworks and even bid online. www.goingtothedogsfl.com .

Flower Power

I am quite sure that I am a little old for this fun hippie look, but I can't help myself. I must have these fun nails! You can get this look with an adhesive film called minx, which is applied at a professional salon for about $55. Go to minxnails.com for a salon in your area.

Fun and Games

I found this game on it's all good and it really works! How does it work? I don't understand why it works because I'm not a math/numbers kinda' gal. I'll just 'chalk it up' to magic and go on. Try it... you'll be amazed!

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know! YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH This is pretty neat. DON'T CHEAT BY LOOKING DOWN FIRST! It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read ...Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50.
5.If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759...If you haven't, add 1758.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number.
The first digit of this was your original number. (i.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)The next two numbers are YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!!!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Cake Toppers

I just love this precious wedding cake topper from lollipop workshop. Also... a few wedding party invitations from Stacy Claire Boyd.

Another adorable cake topper from lollipop workshop with a few fun girly party invitations from us at Stacy Claire Boyd.

Yellow Party

I found this adorable yellow-themed party in Cookie Magazine. When my children were younger, we had a yellow-themed lemonade stand/party. It was one of our best parties ever. Having the yellow theme to work with really made the shopping for the party so much more fun...it was easier really because the color dictated what we would buy and it all worked together so nicely.

Anyway, this party for 2 year-old Creed looks like a sunshiney good time!

Wrapped up in the details

I love good packaging...even if it's just a package that you're sending off to your child at camp, it's all about the packaging. These decorative tapes, mailing labels and envelope-wraparounds from tapeswell.com are must-haves for shipping out your pretty parcels.

Cannelle et Vanille

This is a beautiful blog that I found several months ago. Beautiful photography, gorgeous food... enjoy!