House Beautiful

This Week’s Fab 5

brigitte bardot happy friday

What’s uuuuupppppppp you GUYS!?  Ahhhh Steph here.  I’m having blogging withdrawals and – like everyone else – trying to figure out how to $&^@@ balance everything.  (I totally haven’t figured it out yet)… I’m all about stopping the glorification of busy (because we’re ALL seh. biz-ay. – and I can’t even step to peeps with little chickens in diapers – so when I start complaining about being busy I seriously want to slap myself in the face à la JJ from Kaitlyn’s season)… but seriously – this happened last week.  Trying to brush my teeth in the car (whoops) and running around so fast I dropped an ink pen on my fresh & clean clean white blouse.  Sigh.

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The point is, what I have noticed about not blogging for long periods of time is that my head gets jumbled with 9 zillion things I wanna post about, and then I get overwhelmed and either dump it all in one post (who has time to read that?), or don’t post at all (sad face).  And that’s no bueno, because in the 5-1/2 years (holy crap) since we started blogging – I have come to realize my little soul needs exercise (in the form of writing) the same way my physical self needs exercise.  SEH.  Even if it’s a Lunchables-esque post like this one, imma squeeze it in.  Because I see SO MUCH COOL STUFF all the time that it’s a shame not to share.  Fab 5, anyone?

1.  CHAIR LOVE.  If these little thrones don’t inspire you to be fearless with color and pattern, I don’t know what will.  This first one freaking slays me… it’s an antique recovered in Pierre Frey’s “Arty”.  I cannot even.

Chairloom Pierre Frey Print | Covet Living

This one from Kate Spade’s new furniture line is also 2 Legit 2 Quit.

Kate Spade Drake Slipper | Covet Living

And this situation from Tharon Anderson Design.  Bravo!

fab chair

Sorry can’t stop won’t stop with the chairs.  I ran across THESE in a vintage issue of Domino I was reading at the beach the other day.  I’m thinking of house-stalking whomever’s house this is and knocking on the door and asking if they still want them, because I think I need um.  I’m in Malibu a lot – I can totally swing it.

Vintage Domino | Covet Living

2.  THE CUTEST LITTLE LAMP I EVER DID SEE… aka the Lana Lamp from Arteriors, which I ran across yesterday at the ARD while sourcing buffet / candlestick lamps for a client.  Most of which are a real snooze, but this one has pizzazz.

Arteriors Lana Lamp | Covet Living

I also bought these bad boys from Goodwill last weekend for pocket change – they’re bulky BUT they’re not that wide – less than 12″ – so they fit on most skinny pieces of furniture, like entry consoles & dining buffets.  Thinking about changing up the base color, but overall I loves.

Goodwill Lamps | Covet Living

3.  BOHO FEST 2.0 PREVIEW:  Speaking of Goodwill, Hopes and I did a quick excursion to a few thrift & consignment shops this weekend because we’re hosting a darker, moodier version of Boho Flower Fest tomorrow for our friend Lilly’s birthday… and this is the jam we’re working with.  Hope scored those Kelly Wearstler-esque place settings for less than $40, we collected the brass candlesticks to add to my lucite collection, runner is existing and that Agate in Ebony fabric would’ve been to die for if we’d had time to order some pillows er somethin.  But you get the idea:

Boho Fest 2.0 Preview | Covet Living

4.  JE LOVE THIS TOTE.  And should probably invest in one for Trader Joe’s runs so I stop using plastic.  It’s called the “Every Mother Counts” tote – an organization founded by timeless beaut Christy Turlington to promote global maternal health. maman je t'aime | covet living

5.  THE PRETTIEST TILE, EVER.  This is my longtime fave in a different color way. Seeing it was like seeing your favorite celebrity crush in person.

Best Tile Ever | Covet Living

(all-time fave, via House Beautiful years ago)

All Time Fave Tile | Covet Living

These bad boys are from Mosaic House, and about a billion dollars, but a girl can dream.  I mean.  Look at this whole showa done in their tile:

Mosaic House Shower | Covet Living

6.  TARGET FINDS!  I totally lied cuz I have 6 things.  My good friend Hope (fellow designer and Boho-flower-fest-co-planner) has an amazing sense of style (a bit edgier than mine – with a 70’s twist) and an even more amazing eye for deals.  She posted these Target finds on her Instagram the other day and they’re SPOT ON. {Note: Those faux bois plates are amazing in person, and I’m about to run and get that little round side table.}

Target Finds, Hope Pinc Design | Covet Living

And I pimp my fellow peoples out, because this is so so so true.  Is there even another way??  PS: What up Betsy Bracken!  Karrie’s SUPER PUMPED about your Christmas party again this year.  The one where she almost walked out with those amazing throw blankets thinking they were party favors. BWhajkfhdksahjkfdhjkahjkahhahaa. #wellbeinvitedbacknever

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7.  Pants on Fire – swear this is my last thing.  Do yourself a favor and PLAY THIS ON REPEAT today, as loud as you can.  I almost peed myself when it came on yesterday at work.  I dare you to try not to be happy and singing at the top of your tone-deaf lungs while it’s playing.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! xoxoxoxooxoxox

Steph's Scanned Signature

(THE BEST) Mango & Shrimp Salad. Ever.

mango shrimp salad | covet living via house and home

Happy Friday kids!!  Now listen.  I know I promised a Fall-ish post this week and TRUST ME – I’d love to wear a nubby scarf / sip a hot toddy / hear leaves crackle underfoot like the rest of the universe right now – but alas, we’re still in a So Cal state of HADES over here on the left coast… (life could be worse, I know, but it’s supposed to be 90 next Wednesday and I can’t even talk about it or I might start crying.  Cue the violins / Call the wambulance.)  Anyhow – so instead of a 20-yummy-things-to-make-with-pumpkin post – I wanted to share DA BEST salad recipe I made/adapted earlier this week from one in September’s House & Home… Cuz it’s DUHLICIOUS.  (Side note: do y’all read House & Home?  You should.  It was my respite during the Great Domino Mag Drought, and now I’m a lifetime devotee… I literally dog ear every single page because everything in it is great.  They don’t slack.)

My tweaks are in { }‘s – and there to encourage you not to sweat it if you don’t have a grill or don’t have the right quantities on hand.  This salad is SO easy to make and the ingredients are so good you really can’t screw it up…  So my So Cal peeps can make this now – and maybe all you Midwest / East Coast folk can keep it on deck for next May when temps get above 60 again 🙂

MANGO & SHRIMP SALAD

(Serves 6)

***

Ingredients

1 lb large shrimp (about 25 pieces), peeled and deveined

2 tbsp vegetable oil { I ran out and used EVOO }

sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 red onion, cut into 4 wedges, core intact { I subbed shallots }

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

2 tsp seeded, finely chopped fresh jalapeño

3 Ataulfo mangoes or 2 standard mangoes { I have no idea wtf this means… I just used the 2 joe schmoe mangoes I had }

1 tbsp chopped cilantro { pretty sure I used a 1/4 cup but whatevuh }

***

Barbecue Shrimp

1.  Preheat BBQ to medium high.  Toss shrimp with 1 tbsp oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.  Brush grill with oil.  Add shrimp to grill and cook for 3-5 minutes, turning once, or until shrimp is pink & cooked through.  Remove to a platter and let cool.

2.  Add onion to grill.  Cook 5 minutes, turning once or twice, until charred and tender.  Cool, then chop.

{ If you don’t have a grill or are too lazy to go turn it on like I am: Toss shrimp in oil, S&P and shallots.  Cook on medium high heat a few minutes until charred and until onions are a bit caramelized / translucent.  Take off heat and set aside. }

***

Assemble Salad

1.  Whisk honey with remaining 1 tbsp oil, lime juice and jalapeño.  Season with salt & pepper.

2.  Peel mangos and discard pits { and if you try to eat the rest of the mango like an apple, you best have dental floss on hand… otherwise that stuff is never coming outta your teeth }.  Slice mango thinly and place in a bowl.  Slice each cooled shrimp in half horizontally and add to bowl with mango.  Add onions.  Stir in vinaigrette and refrigerate.

3.  Stir in cilantro and serve.

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Happy Weekend!!!  Stay tuned for ridiculous posts on deck about the tribulations and hilarity of dating in Southern California… our favorite Etsy finds…  words to live by… dresser DIY’s & such.

xoxo!

Steph's Scanned Signature

*image via House & Home