tag!

so a game of blogger tag has started and while i am not officially included i included myself. you are supposed to find an image that best describes your personal style-not AT ALL easy to do as there are so many different rooms out there all beautiful and stylish to me. but this one is pretty darn near me to a T. soft neutral color, girly without too many frills, pops of color, modern sensibility but still a lot of found, organic looking objects with a rustic edge.

mad cowhide disease

i KNOW!! terrible pun. but so bad it's awesome right? right?!?! anyhoo..as i stated in the last post on this here blog, i was interested in a cowhide rug for my living room and would like your esteemed opinions.

so here's the rundown of the room...benjamin moore's silver satin on the walls, orange-y blonde wood floors and soon to be this couch:ok, so i know this is a cheap couch. ikea is cheap. but it is exactly what i am looking for looks wise. it has clean lines and is white. and the slipcovers are entirely removable and washable. with a 4 year old who eats on the couch daily ne-HOURLY and 2 cats who enjoy sleeping and sometimes relieving themselves on it, i NEED cheap at the moment. so no judgement!!!

so now on to the rugs. i have narrowed it down to 4- OH! and remember to look at THIS for an idea of what i am going for- ok here we go...

i really am torn. the first one may be a little too orange. is it? hard to tell with a photo. i mean my floors are kinda orange...but i do like it.

i feel like i may like #4 the best. PLEASE give me your input!!

house tour

i first saw this paris flat owned by mariu de andreis of ZEF children's clothing line in cookie magazine a few months ago. she is also in the april issue of elle decor UK. i love it so much i had to do a house tour for you.

i love the cowhide rug and am seriously contemplating getting one for my living room. i have such a small living room this rug adds the right amount of softeness underfoot and warmth without taking up a lot of space. plus i think if you have pretty wood floors you shouldn't cover them all up. OH! and i need a new rug anyway- my 8 x 10 jute has seen a lot of accidents.
europeans DO love their fairy lights. and i am loving the disco ball. would you have one in your house? i would.

i am going to do this heart shaped poloroid thing above my bed. i love it. i just need a poloroid camera.

the little girls' rooms are so cute. if i could be a designer of any one room ONLY it would be little girls rooms. i tend to be drawn to a bohemian style for little girls rooms. like these...

happy monday images

elle decor did a spread on hollywood director brett ratner and b/c the guy seems like a hollywood sleeze bag i thought his house would reflect that. it does not. although it is heavy on the masculine i still love love love it. ESPECIALLY those old leather chairs. gimme. this image i snagged from someone's blog (sorry i cannot remember whose) but this bedroom is perfection. so clean, soft, airy, bright..and its both sexy AND soporific. 2 things a bedroom should be!!

and i just love this picture below. the old mirror hung to break up that expanse of window and the shelf behind it to showcase the owners favorite things. love it. going to keep it in mind when i design my dream home.

must...have....this....

truly. how good does THAT look??!! this makes me want to punch someone, it looks so delicious.

i need to have a dinner party so i can make it. seriously, making it for just my husband, daughter and me = dangerous. chocolate+caramel+sea salt=drool.
Chocolate Caramel Tart

SERVES 8
When making this dessert (from Brooklyn's Marlow & Sons), we found that darker, dutch-process cocoa powder makes for a more flavorful, cookie-like crust.

FOR THE CRUST:

1 1⁄2 cups flour

1⁄4 cup plus

1 tbsp. dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder

1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt

10 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed and softened

1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp. confectioners' sugar

2 egg yolks, preferably at room temperature

1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract

FOR THE CARAMEL

1 1⁄2 cups sugar

3 tbsp. light corn syrup

1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt

6 tbsp. unsalted butter

6 tbsp. heavy cream

1 tbsp. crème fraîche

FOR THE GANACHE

1⁄2 cup heavy cream

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Gray sea salt for garnish

1. Make the crust:

Heat oven to 350˚.

Combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until mixture is pale and fluffy; mix in yolks and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Transfer dough to a 9" fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and press dough evenly into bottom and sides of pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Prick the tart shell all over with a fork and bake until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
2. Make the caramel:

In a 1-qt. saucepan, whisk together sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 6 tbsp. water and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer inserted into the syrup reads 365°. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter, cream, and crème fraîche (the mixture will bubble up) until smooth. Pour caramel into cooled tart shell and let cool slightly; refrigerate until firm, 4–5 hours.
3. Make the ganache:

Bring cream to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Put chocolate into a medium bowl and pour in hot cream; let sit for 1 minute, then stir slowly with a rubber spatula until smooth. Pour ganache evenly over tart and refrigerate until set, 4–5 hours. Sprinkle tart with sea salt, slice, and serve chilled.