Covet Living

I did a curatorial snapshot of the best goodies to hit the blogosphere last October, and it got such a great response from you guys that we decided to make it a monthly feature here at Covet Living. So, behold (!) Here’s how some of my favorite blogettes & magazines kicked off 2011. With a buzzang.

1. Gasp (!) Visions of Paris are dancing in my head. Is it time to go back to Europe yet?

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PS – That vintage aqua / mustard color palette running through the photos above makes me want to wear gorgeous pieces like this come spring:

2. These Kate Spade gumdrop studs were just featured in Rue’s new issue. Yummy. And at $38, that’s what I like to call goody gumdrops.

3. This little shot from an old Lonny is zany and totally happy. It would have never occurred to me to “cover up” wallpaper, but I’ve seen it done a lot lately, and the layered look of it is growing on me. PS, Did I just teleport to Nanny’s house in Florida?! If so, I’d love to post up on the aqua sofa in front of the A/C, flick on some Golden Girls, and eat Cheetos and chocolate cake with Nanneroo herself.

4. Ethereal ruffles, billowy fabric, and feminine details everywhere.

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5. I love this little papier mache tray that Jenny over at Little Green Notebook made. That girl radiates budget DIY rays of sunshine and goodness.

6. Gorgeous headboards. It makes me wanna Annie-get-my-staple-gun and go bonkers on mine.

Grace Bonney’s Headboard

Calico Corners’ Tilbury Lapis fabric – set of A Single Man

Caitlin Wilson Design

7. Dreams of warm weather vacations to places with clear blue water and umbrella drinks… (sigh)…

8. Rustic woods + modern touches + creamy backdrops with hints of gold sparkle + green plants for good measure = my JAM.

Amy D Morris Design out of Hot-lanta. Look at the horizontal paneling and the gold sink. Ping! ..and those SCONCES.

Ina Garten’s home via House Beautiful

9. Uh, THIS laundry room that I ran across over at Little Green Notebook. AKA the most beautiful laundry room that anyone has ever seen. Ever.

10. SERIOUSLY digging on all these mosaic cement tile floors.

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11. I adore this gorgeous photo I stumbled on here. It reminds me of me and my (more like a sister) cousin Jill… staying up till the wee hours talking on family vacations. We would always trade stories about the stuff that had gone on over the past year, trade scratches, or read aloud to each other, like these vintage floozies are doing.

12. Kitchens and pretty vignettes that felt so warm and cozy, they made me want to roll out my sleeping bag on the tile floor and move in.

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13. Walls and furniture steeped in deep sea blue hues… This Mediterranean color is mysterious, rich, velvety and delicious.

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These are a little more sparkly Caribbean blue, but I love ’em just the same.

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14. These flawless fashionistas:

Girlfriend looks like she didn’t even have to try. Totally 70’s glam, and totally fabulous.

The collar is admittedly a little fraggle rock, but she’s stunning, the color is stunning, and that ring is to die for.

Totally effortless on a Tuesday night.

15. Love this quote…

…from none other than this lady:

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Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (!) Happy February!

…other than a train wreck, a waste of brain cells, and borderline painful to watch?

It’s an excuse to mini-rage on a Monday! Much like Book Club, it’s a reason to have your friends over, pop open some vino, nosh on some good food, and round-table rip-to-shreds everything that goes down on the Most Dramatic Season E-VER of the show. It almost makes Monday like the caboose of a 3-day weekend every week.

A few weeks ago, I made Karrie’s Turkey Chili for Jess & Mary – two of my whip-smart girlfriends who also happen to be totally hilarious and TOTALLY ruthless. Letting those two loose with an easy target like ABC’s “The Bachelor” is like watching a comedy routine. I was literally doubled-over, howling/laughing – the way you do when no noise comes out of your mouth, but tears come out of your eyes. My landlord actually called upstairs to ask “what in the @#$%” was going on. I’m pretty sure that was the painfully cheesy episode where Ashley What’s-Her-Last-Name and Brad went to the carnival. And then we all ralphed in perfect unison.

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I give up though – that show is sheer garbage entertainment, and I’m totally hooked. Between Voldemort Michelle’s shenanigans (have you noticed they play circus freak music when she talks?? priceless), Ashley H’s self-induced meltdowns, Brad’s shrink coming on and spewing crap like, “Brad, this is therapy for you, make out with as MANY girls as possible,” and girls jumping into Brad’s arms, à la “1-2-3-WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” – it’s JUST too good.

So why don’t you shoot out an email invite to some friends, cue the DVR, bop over to the groc after work, and whip up some comfort food for your homies? Here are a few ideas…

If YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU:

1. Called in sick to work today and have a few extra hours this afternoon, try this Boeuf Bourguignon Soup recipe from Martha Stewart. It’s a twist on Julia Child’s classic, but easier. Note: I double my mushrooms and carrots. Also, the horseradish chive bread ‘serve with’ suggestion was not my jam, so I’d kick it old school with a hot, fresh, crusty baguette.

2. Won’t have time to whip anything up after work, hit the easy button and do takeout. You could grab a couple of Kashi pizzas (or fresh ones from Whole Foods), a little fresh basil, a few bottles of red, and you’re golden. [If you wanna put in a smidge more effort, make a small green salad too.]

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