Cox and Cox

I have absolutely fallen in love with the mail-order company Cox & Cox. Their motto: "have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful". Check out some of my favorite things, and tell me...what do you like? I want to hear.

Display Box

Shadow Box

Walnut Key

Lotus Tea Lights

Heart Stamped Sugar Cubes

Famous Faces Masks

Heart Sparklers

Mouse in a Box

Liberty Rabbit

Frances Janisch

I came across this wonderful photographer's work on Sweet Paul's blog.

Check out her lovely website here.

The bottom photos were a project Paul did for Parent's Magazine.

Here are his instructions for the cute felt flowers:

You need two smaller and two larger flowers cut out in felt.

Glue them on top of each other with a hot glue gun.

The middle is made of a little roll of felt that you fringe.

Glue it on with hot glue gun as well.

Cover a craft metal wire with felt and glue the flower to the wire.

Cut out one small and one larger leaf in felt and glue them together.

Hot glue the leaf to the wire and you now have a pretty flower.

Papabubble

Do you know about this candy store? They make delicious and beautiful hard candies and lollipops. The brightly colored treats are made by hand, and if you're lucky, you can catch the show as they make them in the shop. They also do fantastic personalized candies with little initials made for wedding favors or business promotions. If you're planning a trip to New York, you'll have to check it out: Papabubble, 380 Broome Street (between Mott and Mulberry) in Little Italy, NYC.

Chalk it up to a Good Time

I have long been a fan of the disposable cup version of this glass. They are so great for kid's parties and terrific for sleepovers too. Here they are in the grown-up version just in time for having friends over to watch the ball game on t.v... Chalk-talk glassware available at World Market. Here are a few fun football snack recipes (all from Southern Living Easy Entertaining magazine) to pair with the fun glasses:

Foccacia Tiles

I found this recipe for these beautiful "Foccacia Tiles" in this month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Served with a nice bowl of mexican soup or chile and you have a gorgeous meal!

Ice-Cream Dream

I love this adorable ice-cream bar via eatdrinkchic.com. The soft marshmallowy colors just make me feel like a little girl in an ice-cream shop...but not just any ice-cream shop...it would have to be some place magical like when I was a child on a trip with my dad in NYC.

I can't wait to get a copy of this new book Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bikerk ($19 The Little Bookroom, 2009). This guide will give you a taste of where decorators, designers and stylists go to shop.

Ribbon Roses

One continuous strip of wire edge ribbon with no sewing makes a beautiful rose which can add the perfect little detail to your gift wrapped package, table linens and so much more. Here's how... courtesy of the book 'Ribbons' by Mary Norden.

Kate Gosselin Wig

I found this Kate Gosselin wig on little one of a kind and thought it was kinda' funny. I wonder how many of these we'll see on Halloween night!

Health & Body

Here are two articles that I found interesting in Glamour Magazine's October 2009 issue:

Swamp Juice

This is almost TOO gross! Thank you, Family Fun magazine, for creating the world's ickiest looking drink EVER!
Gag!

Monster Munch

This recipe is a proven hit at our house. If you are making it for a party, just be aware of children with peanut allergies. It is so yummy!

1 box Rice Chex cereal
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
12 ounces chocolate chips
2 cups powdered sugar
orange and black M&M's (optional)

Melt peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips together in the microwave or on the stove. Stir into cereal. Put powdered sugar in a paper sack. Add cereal mixture to sack and shake until well coated. Sprinkle orange and black M&M's for color, if desired. Enjoy!

Here are some more great Halloween ideas from Martha!

Decorate pumpkins using candy and pushpins or toothpicks.

Pumpkin family using items from Mother Nature.

Fall Decorating

Fall is just around the corner and with it comes a fresh new palette of color and texture to incorporate into your home. Here are some great decorating ideas.

Halloween Cards

The mums and pumpkins are here, and it's time to start thinking spooky scary Halloween thoughts. Here are some of our Halloween cards to help you get ready for a very bewitching holiday.

Fortune-Telling Birthday Book

I have had this little book for years, but I noticed that they still sell it at Anthropologie. It is from chronicle books and sells for about $10.00. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled this little book out. It is a great little fortune-telling birthday book and it's just fun to read the little blurb that they have under each birthday of the year. It has never failed me. It's usually 'right on the money' for each person that I've looked up... Way better than a crystal ball! Here are a few random birthdays so that you can get the idea.

Hoop Art

okay... I do realize that I am, and have been for years now, fixated on these embroidery hoops. I can't help it... I think they're great! What an awesome gift these make... handmade embroidery from a company called Minature Rhino. I found these on Made by Girl and I just had to show you. Aren't they the best?