casapinka

Pink Christmas

My kids are getting so excited for Christmas to come that Juniorette couldn't even fall asleep tonight. I'm glad they've somehow ascertained that this is a festive season, since mommy has pretty much dropped the ball. I've been having a flare of the Lyme Disease the past couple of weeks and spent the last three days in bed. I hesitate to share this here, but whatever. You guys have your trials, too, I imagine.  And mother guilt have I: The stockings are barely hung, I've baked one round of Suck it, Martha! Cookies (recipe to follow along with bad attitude), and I set Juniorette to work making a Swedish Fish garland, but that's it. And let's face it, what kind of genius hands her seven year old a bag of candy and instructs her to string them, don't eat them? Yeah, that was really going to happen - followed by Junior tearing up the stairs to complain about the inequity of being four. I looked at him, thinking: Dude, you're wearing pink swimming goggles, and you want me to give you string and a needle? 

Swedish fish photo from Pastelhearts Flickr page

Back to the guilt: No making of the usual scrappy glitter ornaments and gumdrop wreaths with sticky fingers (although they did bring me glasses of pink lemonade cut with half a glass of sugar this morning. That was sticky.) Homemade cards, cut out snowflakes, not so much. I'm great at putting on The Grinch for the thousandth time and letting them dance around to Lady Gaga. Even better at being intensely irritable and impatient and telling them to go help Daddy. Luckily, I'm married to a wonderful human being and I don't even think they've noticed what a wagon I am (Husband's lovely Irish word for beeotch.)  Thank you all for listening; for being such a charming captive audience.

Strawberry coconut cake from Kim's Flickr site. 

Suck it, Martha! Cookies (sorry Martha, nothing personal. I'm just pissed off that I don't feel well enough to bake a pink coconut layer cake, which you probably did while having a C-section.)

Ingredients:

Bag of small pretzels and several rolls of Rolos

Heat oven to 300. Place pretzels on baking sheet and top each with a Rolo. Bake on middle rack for 5 minutes only. Let cool.

Junior's teacher asked for a family cookie recipe for Christmas and I sent her the Suck it, Martha! recipe (It's Catholic school - I did alter the name a bit.) She sent me back an email that said: "Wow, these are really simple. You're funny!" I think she thought I was joking. She's still waiting for the carmelized raspberry macaroons dipped in dark chocolate and surrounded by a tiny filament of spun sugared peppermint. Dream on, lady.

Photo credits from first picture:

1. I see stars, 2. hot chocolate lollies again!, 3. my pink christmas tree, 4. Christmas Is A Time When You Get Homesick - Even When You're Home, 5. Wonderland, 6. Odette Clothilde, 7. ♥♥Merry Merry♥keh♥♥, 8.Pretty in Pink, 9. Blue Feather Butterfly, 10. C A L O R I E S - W H O . C A R E S ?, 11. r e g a l o, 12. Vintage Christmas Cards, 13. IMG_062714. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Dior Cruise 2011

I don't really expect this to be under the tree, but I love this Dior dress so much I thought it deserved a place on Casapinka.  Husband is sitting next to me and just leaned over and said, "Wow, that is pretty." I'm sure he thinks it's from The Gap and might set him back $49.95. Ah well, let's not burst his bubble, shall we?

 

Pretty Scandinavian Home

Let's start the weekend off with appreciation for this Scandinavian home. I am always drawn to white interiors with a lot of natural light. Perhaps because this is the antithesis of my current home, which has windows that are unacquainted with the sun.

This children's room is very simple but what a fantasy room for that little girl! There is plenty of space for girl business and I imagine Junior could also kit out a corner with his firefighter apparel. I would definitely put in a metal fire pole for Junior if we had this room!

Our television is in a console like this but I never considered lacquering it red, so Husband I hope you aren't reading this because I don't want to be headed off at the pass. I am completely charmed by those little stools and what looks like needlepointed covers.

I like so few kitchens that I think my taste must be strange. Black counters, that neutral Martha Stewart green color for the walls or dark wood cabinets depress the heck out of me. YUCK. Give me white, light and windows! Lots of bright colors in the dishes and artwork, of course. The cushions on the stools are wonderful, aren't they, and so easy to make!

The bathroom that has room for a bench with baskets is a dream bathroom, indeed. I would love to have a basket for everyone - perhaps pjs to basket wouldn't seem as daunting as pjs to closet hamper, when they become as heavy as lead. A nice little cushion to sit and knit while the kiddles are having a bath and splashing each other. Maybe I would even stay dry while they bathe! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little tour which I found at the wonderful Bolig Magazine website. Have a simple and relaxing weekend, blog friends. 

Photograph Giveaway

Another giveaway to celebrate Spring! If you'd like an 8x10 photograph from my my shop just leave a comment. There will be two winners, chosen randomly next Thursday. Hopeful print from Betsy Walton.

Interior Inspiration

 I thought I'd just post a few inspirational sites today and take a break from my myriad projects that are in full swing. One thing on my mind lately is how much I dislike our couch.  It was great for the Hemingway room which was really done for Husband but now I want it reupholstered in the worst way. Funny, I just found this old post where Husband waxes lyrical on his beloved brown couch, so I feel a bit guilty but I'd love to have this Sweet yellow couch . Small apartment living room plus behomoth brown couch - you get the depressing picture. When we finally buy a house in Providence, now that we've decided to settle here for good, maybe we'll have room for two couches! The boring but well cushioned brown couch has protected Junior from eighteen or nineteen visits to the ER, I'll admit, so it hasn't gone entirely unappreciated.

As usual, I am drawn to rich colors and textures. Who needs a proper bed with such a pretty room? Eames rocker and pretty linen from Lutterlagcage's Flickr site.

 I don't know - there are some things in life that are difficult to get wrong and pink couches are one of them. LivingEtc, April 2009

 It doesn't take a lot of money to look around your home for little pieces of paper (make a bunting like the paper one above) or tins and other kitschy things that can cheer up a plain space. Paint a frame and put in a little postcard or greeting card for some instant art. Cheerful office space 

 So Easy to do and very happy - I love the turquoise and purple together and who hasn't admired that pink planter while racing to the checkout in Ikea while Junior barks like Astro, the dog from the Jetsons and Juniorette will only speak out of one side of her mouth because Wilma Flinstone does it that way. What, your three year old doesn't bark? Sorry, don't expect Harvard, then.   Wardrobe top 

Sis Boom fabric

Remember how I was going to recover the seat of my chair this weekend? I didn't actually do it but I did order this - a bit for the chair and the rest to make a quilt.  I just thought it was very beautiful and happy. I think I'll use the fabric on the bottom for the chair seat.

This has absolutely nothing to do with recovering chairs but I would love to have this shirt from Etsy seller Azmara. 

Purple house

Why hello, pretty purple house in Providence. I'm so glad I saw you while driving around Friday.

I wonder why more people don't paint their houses this color...I suppose it wouldn't be so special if they did.

It seems criminal that someone should live in such an adorable house AND drive such a cute car. This house really made my day and I hope it brings cheer to yours!

Pink armoire

I love the magazine Marie Claire Idées but it is hard to find in these parts. Look at this pink armoire: What a fun project!

I would love to sew the pink school bag for my daughter. The directions are in French and it isn't like I find it easy to follow a sewing pattern in English. Sigh. I can crochet flowers, however, and I just might.

Another fun idea. It reminds me of the John Derian couch in the NY Times that caused such an uproar because the owners let children take markers to the lovely sofa: 

You just have to do what you like and what makes you happy, especially in your home. Critics be damned!

Jane Foster

I discovered Jane Foster in my Etsy travels yesterday and am in love with her work. I left a completely dorky comment on her blog: "You should be making fabric." and (duh) I looked through her website more and found that she is. The colors and clear Scandinavian influences are pure inspiration to me. She mostly does screen prints but have a look at her home design and the vintage fabrics that she collects! I know you'll enjoy her work as much as I do and I feel sure we'll be seeing a lot more of her. Find her on Etsy here.

If...

If...I could spend the day barefoot in any kitchen.

If...I were going to buy an 8X10 original painting today

 

If...I could choose what type of farm to own.

If...I had a motto for the week.