New Read: Style & Substance

I've been pouring over the pages of Elle Decor's hardbound and hard-to-beat book: Style and Substance.

The pages are filled with decor eye candy. According to the description on Amazon, it's a "lush compendium of inspiring spaces." I don't think I've ever used the word compendium in a sentence, but I concur!

Peabody's Nursery Inspiration

It came to me this weekend... after I pushed all thoughts of blush and rose and peony out of my mind... A book that has captured my interest for over 10 years: Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.

I am fully aware that this book is the muse for Pottery Barn's Summer Collection and for the ubiquitous use of red coral pillows and such. My plan deviates from the au curant (but at this point a bit ho hum) studies of sea life.
Peabody's tiny room (9X11+two teeny closets and a heck of a lot of wallspace consumed by windows and doors) will be a modern twist on Seba's cabinet. Clean lines mixed with natural textures, it will feel like a clearing in the forest where deer come to graze and lizards come to bask. I'm working on sketches and I can't wait to share more as it develops!

New Crop of Cookbooks

For my recent second 29th birthday, I received several fabulous new cookbooks. Simply cannot wait to crack them open! (Menu for the Week should be a snap next week!)
Here's the lineup:

This guy takes Mexican cooking to the next level- Luxury guacamole bar? Sign me up!

Mark Bittman is, quite frankly, a food genius. With him, Julia, and Ruth Reichl by my side, I should never make a cooking misstep.

I'm a sucker for Ina's laid-back hosting style. Effortless and elegant are her middle names, if she has two middle names. Plus the pics in this book make my mouth water!
Happy reading! (Surely I'm not the only one who reads cookbooks like novels?)

Pat The Bunny Baby Shower

The playgroup feted Julia and Erinn with a party inspired by a childhood fave: Pat The Bunny.
Who new such a simple book could inspire so many ideas for food, decor, activities and more!
Event:
Pat the Bunny Baby Shower
Menu:
(Rabbit Food!)
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Veggie Eggrolls and Dumplings
Crudite of arrots, jicama, celery and more with Garden Veggie Dip
Carrot Cupcakes
Activities:
"How Big is Bunny? and "Hear the Tick-Tick Bunny?" Guessing Games
See Mommy's Shiny Nails Pedicures
The expectant mamas took home gift baskets full of PTB books and puzzles, PTB onesies (created from Iron-on transfers) and some other fun girlie stuff. Plus, "Feel Daddy's Scratchy Face" portraits of the daddies!

Julie & Julia

By the way, we watched the movie last week... and Mark and I agreed: not necessarily less Julie, but definitely more JULIA!

So enchanting... and I'm not even a huge Meryl Streep fan. But, really, you should read the book. I'm adding My Life in France to my goodreads queue.