hawthorne threads: super cool fabric...

i just discovered hawthorne threads when i was looking for a springy background for my blog. they have some awesomely cool fabrics which are fantastically priced. i tried to share the pictures they show of what other people made out of the specific fabrics, but no such luck.... have a look and get inspired. my 85 year old grandmother asked me yesterday if i could help her start sewing again as she is in need of a new apron. i obliged. hopefully i will have something to share sooner than later....oh and these fabrics are ridiculously fairly priced and they offer $5 shipping on all domestic orders...you can also find ty pennington's new fabric line here, case 'yer lookin...

candle love...

currently burning: votivo smoke on the water: the smell of sweet caramel musk absorbed in patchwork flannel and the residue of smoked cedar, evergreen and hickory oak chips enshrouded with the cold, wet mist of moss and fallen summer leaves- the ensuing dawn on the lake after a night of discussion around the hearth. 

sounds perfect to me on a sunday eve...

there is something about the flicker of a candle burning that makes me feel at home and relaxed. i'm picky about the color of the candles i buy, usually opting for cream or browns with earthy musky scents or~ plain old vanilla...my bf got me this new fave on a recent trip to LA and i've burned it every day for about two weeks (says it burns for 50 hrs)....heavenly, and wanted to share!

coffee or tea?

for me these days, it's nothing but tea out of one of these lovely mugs (mine of course has an E...) from ANTHROPOLOGIE

it started sort of unintentionally, the quitting of coffee that is~ although i have done it many times in the past. i've gone on a green tea kick or tried to completely banish sugar from my diet. i never liked the green tea, it hurt my tum so early in the morning and made me feel weird. so now it's english breakfast, earl gray, or irish breakfast with honey & cream.

not to make this a useless post, here are a few benefits of both, coffee & tea:

tea:

-contains antioxidants 

-less caffine (2-3 times less than coffee)

-may reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by keeping arteries smooth and clog free

-protects your bones, may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals

-good for your teeth, it contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay

-bolsters your immune defenses (i have not been sick one time this winter- TRUTH)

-increases your metabolism

-tea is calorie free (not mine w/ honey & cream!)

via ivillage

coffee:

-antioxidant rich

-magnesium rich, which many are deficient in

-antibacterial and anti adhesive qualities- good news for your teeth unless you like your sugar with coffee and cream (a little beastie action there...!)

-promotes digestion 

-improves athletic performance

-decreases depression- study done on children who drank coffee were less likely to develop depression later in life

-decreases risk of developing colon cancer

-offsets damaging effects of smoking (not sure how much i believe this one)

-treats asthma and headaches

-reduces risk of liver disease

via hubpages

so there you have it. either way, drink one or the other. and going by what i found, several cups are the trick..! just do yourself a favor and DON'T drink diet pepsi or 5 hour energy as your morning boost....please...!! happy sipping

gorgeous voice, silent visual explosions...adele

something to think about...

found on a twitter followers blog daybookofadaydreamer from a philosophy body wash bottle

looking for light on a dull day...

via here

LOVE love looove this ceiling. talk about a work of art! of course i found this under a generic image search so i am not sure where this is from, but what a sight. i can only imagine how gigantic these chandeliers are given the ant like appearance of the people....wow...want to go there...

via here

totally funky designed by dutch designer  Piet Hein Eek made by combining a bunch of vintage light fixtures!

via here

having first come across this image without a track back, my first impression was abigail ahern...i dug around a bit, and sure enough, it is! i just loooove her style. i did a blog post on her a couple of years ago too... maybe cause i'm a total junkie for gray interiors these days, but there's something about her use of monochromatic tones and visible textures that gets me every time.

via here

here is an image from friend and interior designer deb mcbride's own kitchen with super funky roost chandelier. there's something about the industrial look paired with the super homey that gives her that unique, warm design style. (i was lucky enough to enjoy the most fab dinner beneath that chandelier friday night!!)

via here

here's a great funky solution for lighting a library where it can be tricky to get enough light from table lamps that make for comfortable reading. it's also a great way to make a rather boring space (no offense readers!) seem more interesting and inviting.

i can really appreciate every one of these styles~ which makes it difficult when choosing lighting for my own home. i tend to jump back and forth from what i think is my style. truth is, i am an eclectic decorator, dresser, eater, etc.! i don't really want to be held to one thing or the other, and honestly, there's no reason to! happy monday, i hope your monday is a bit brighter that mine in snowy/wet new england! xo