Out cold

Two weeks of nursing a 5 year-old with a 103 degree fever and pneumonia and I had escaped without getting sick. I couldn't believe he had coughed on me kept me up all hours every night asking for water and I'd gotten a hall pass.

Well, that hall pass expired on Friday afternoon. Yep, I've been in bed with a fever since Friday night and the x-ray yesterday confirms pneumonia. And to top it off - my nine year-old - has it too. It's good times at my house. Nothing like being sick and having to still watch Nickelodeon and ESPN all day. I do have multiple episodes of Sarah's House, Project Runway and Real Housewives but of course I can't watch them. Oh and I still have to get up every few minutes to get someone water. Who needs a vacation when you can get this kind of rest?

FYI... not my chest (gross)

Hope to be back soon.

Dying...

I'm dying for the latest version of Lonny magazine. I've always liked Lonny, but this issue has me drooling. Seriously, there's so many good articles and rooms that I couldn't just pick one.

I can almost forget that I have to look at it online. Love the access to images and content online, but being very tactile I need to be able to flip through my magazines over and over. I always start with my magazine collection for inspiration when I start a new project. Each time you look you find things you didn't see before. Seriously - nothing gets between me and my magazines. Seriously.

Lonny... looks like I'm going to have to make a printed copy of you for my files. You may just edge out some of my traditional shelter magazines for inspiration. There are so many incredible designers and rooms that I couldn't pick just one to post about. Not to mention the J.K. Place hotel in Florence and Capri. That would have to be a separate post and I just don't have time today.

Keep up the good work Lonny. Love it. If you haven't experienced it yet, it's a must.

The fabulous Celerie Kemble

Always chic Ruthie Sommers

Mid - Century Mod from Lulu DK

I'm busted

I just overheard my 9-year-old tell my sister the following:

"I think we're out of ice cream -- Mom's been eating ice cream sundaes everyday... She says it's 'cause she's nervous..."

Cue my sister laughing mercilessly and me having no other option but to 'fess up: I am a closet eater of design-induced, ice cream sundaes.

Still Crushing Hard

on Suzanne Kasler. I know I'm not alone in this, since loving her is as unique as saying I think George Clooney is the bee's knees. But, I am what I am, and what I know is that her rooms make me want to crawl right in to that photo. A friend lent me her copy of "Inspired Interiors" and after I promised not to let anything spill on it, I've been pouring through the pages.

What makes me love her is the restraint with colors and how conscious every decision of her's is -- It really feels like every piece is there for a reason, while still being traditional and warm and refined. None of that "don't you want to curl up on this 2x4 and watch a movie" thing, because I'm convinced people really don't LIVE in some of those rooms we see in the contemporary magazines. I'm all for layered rooms (it's usually what I live and breathe by), but the restraint that Kasler has is like a big sigh of "ahhhhh".

Those stairs just make me want to cry, they are so gorgeous.

Seriously. Beautiful. Kitchen.

I've got a thing for bookcases and these are the design equivalent of the aforementioned George Clooney on Oscar Night (Sans Italian girl with the armband tattoo)

I mean really, that sofa and seating area combined with the bed is out of this world.

*All photos courtesy of Inspired Interiors, Suzanne Kasler, (c) 2009

Sunday Soup

I love to make a hearty chili, soup or pasta on Sundays in the Fall. It's become a weekend ritual of mine. Plus the leftovers mean I don't have to think about dinner one night during the week. As I was going through recipes this morning I stumbled across this recipe from Everyday with Rachael Ray that peaked my interest.

Creamy Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup -

Cooking stains and all

The "creamy" hooked me as I love anything cream based. Cream, salt, bread, cheese - those are the ingredients that get me every time. The only ingredient that was missing was pasta... but it would be a good substitute to the wild rice. Maybe next time.

I'm not a huge Rachael Ray fan, but this recipe was so easy and delicious I thought I'd share it.

Creamy Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

-----------------------------------

Serves 6

Prep - 20 minutes (plus soaking)

Cook - 35 minutes

-----------------------------------

1 ounce dried mushrooms any variety ( I used shitake)

6 cups chicken broth

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 carrots, coarsely chopped

1 onion, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

Salt and pepper

One 6 ounce box long grain and wild rice mix (I added some of the seasoning from a chicken flavored one)

3/4 pound white mushrooms, sliced

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast (I used a roasted chicken from Costco)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1. Using a food processor, soak the dried mushrooms in 1 cup of chicken broth for 10 minutes. Process until coarsely chopped.

2. In large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heart. Add the carrots, onion and sage and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the rehydrated mushroom mixture and cook for about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Stir in the remaining 5 cups of broth, the rice mix and the sliced mushrooms and bring to a boil. I added the already cooked chicken and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. (But if you want you can add a piece of chicken and let it cook for about 25 minutes, remove it and shred it and then return it to the pot.) Stir in the heavy cream; season with salt and pepper and simmer for about 5 minutes.

That's it. So simple, hearty and delicious.

Simmering

Served up and ready to eat with a big crusty piece of bread and a salad.

Great, easy meal. It will reduce down so you may need to add a little more chicken broth but otherwise it's fail proof. Maybe I'll try Rachael Ray again sometime.

Hope you had a great weekend.