This 'n That Thursdays: Early Inspirations for Autumn

A weathered metal bucket filled with autumn branches
(from Upcycle Art).

We are just starting to notice a hint of autumnal coolness in the air here, and I am so ready for my favorite season to arrive.  I decided to take a look at some simple ways to add a touch of fall décor to the home, just to put myself in the mood.  The following photos are a few of the ideas I found.

1) A bittersweet wreath hung on a rustic outside wall:

From Inner Interior.

2) A slate blue door adorned with a sunflower swag:

From Pinterest.

3) An ebony and white staircase lined with two rows of white pumpkins:

From DigsDigs.

4) A very contemporary room warmed up with accents in autumnal shades of brown and pumpkin orange (I love that fireplace surround):

From Couture Colorado.

5) A fireplace mantel given the simplest of autumnal touches with a white pumpkin painting:

From Jones Design Company.

6) A cozy reading nook readied for the season with the addition of an autumn-hued pillow, orange flowers, and a cup of tea:

From HGTV.

7) One corner of a country kitchen decorated with pumpkins, an old coffee pot filled with fall branches, and a big basket of warm blankets:

From The Tale of an Ugly House.

8) Glass canisters filled with nuts and a pinecone add a hint of fall to a kitchen counter:

From Tips, Treats & Treasures.

9) Two rectangular trays filled with gourds, leaves, and bittersweet top an otherwise unadorned dark wood dining room table:

From The Desert Blossom.

10) If you are lucky enough to live in a place where fall foliage is spectacular, just a pot of mums and an arrangement of fall produce on an outdoor table amid a scattering of fallen leaves and a backdrop of autumnal trees is all you need:

From DigsDigs.

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All of these photos definitely put me in the mood for the cool, crisp days of fall!  How about you?

                

Wish List Wednesdays: Horse-Themed Bedding from Cuddledown

I found even more horse-themed items to add to my wish list, this time as sheets and bedding from Cuddledown. These horses are more eastern than western in design than those I described last week and the week before, but they are just as lovely.  The Sultana Sateen Duvet Cover ($199-299) and Sham ($59-69) are made in Italy of soft 300 thread count Egyptian cotton sateen, and are certified free of harmful chemicals:

The Embroidered Royal Horses Sateen Flat Sheet ($89-119) and Pillowcases ($54-59 for a pair) are 400 thread count combed cotton sateen, free of harmful chemicals, and both shrinkage controlled and wrinkle resistant:

All of the bedding comes in a range of sizes to fit just about any bed.  As a horse lover, I would be delighted to bring home the whole collection and let these elegant horses prance across my bed!
             

On the Homefront: An Imperial Moth

I found the handsome fellow above clinging to one of our deck posts this morning, and snapped a photo before he decided to fly off.  I had no idea what type of moth he was, but a little searching on the internet informed me that our visitor was a male imperial moth (Eacles imperialis imperialis).  These large moths can have a wingspan of 3-7 inches, with females being larger than the males.  The males have more extensive dark markings than the females, but both have the distinctive yellow and brownish/purplish coloring.  I took the above photo with a flash as the moth was on the dark side of the post, so here is the shot without flash so you can see that it was actually daylight outside:

I've always thought that the luna moth (Actias luna) was the most beautiful moth that I have ever seen, but the imperial moth may just change my mind!
             

Weekend Wardrobe: Modern Gothic Romance 4x4 Wardrobe

Mia Wasikowska in a romantic costume and Jessica Chastain garbed in
gothic style for the movie "Crimson Peak" perfectly embody the idea of
a gothic romance wardrobe (from Pinterest).

Did you know that August is National Read a Romance Month?  I didn't, until a few day ago.  That discovery, plus an inspiring post on The Vivienne Files (always a great source of inspiration, by the way), and the fact that I recently saw the movie "Crimson Peak" (2015), which is definitely not for the faint of heart, got me thinking about a wardrobe that is very different from any that I would normally consider. A little bit goth, a touch of romance, and voilà -- a gothic romance 4x4 wardrobe is born!

My modern version includes clothing on the casual side, but in fabrics that are anything but casual.  Velvet, satin, silk, brocade, lace, and cashmere, in black for that gothic style, but softened with ivory, lavender, and peach to heighten the romantic look.  The lack of voluminous skirts and dresses will hardly be noticed!

For the first set of four, I decided to start off with all of the pants instead of mixing up tops and bottoms, for no other reason than the desire to be different:

Left to right: Boden Velvet Trouser in Black; St. John Collection 'Emma' Satin Ankle Pants in Caviar; Norm Thompson Women's Packable Silk Pants in Black; Dolce & Gabbana Brocade Trousers.

The next set introduces more black, in one simple but feminine dress and several tops:

Clockwise from top left: Diane Von Furstenberg Zarita Long Dress in Black; The Tog Shop Stretch Velvet Shirt in Black; Pure Collection Beaded Satin Top in Black; New Look Black Velvet Lace Trim T-Shirt.

For the third set, tops in ivory are added to lighten and soften the look:

Clockwise from top left: Baliencaga Ivory Silk Blouse; Pure Collection Silk Satin T-Shirt in Ivory; Pure Collection Cashmere Satin Cuff Sweater in Soft White; Pure Collection Cashmere Cowl Neck Sweater in Soft White.

And the last set brings in some gentle pastel colors intended to let you breathe a sigh of relief after so much severity from all of the black apparel:

Clockwise from top left: Nini Ricci Pointelle-Knit Wool Cardigan in Lavender; Gambattista Valli Lilac Ruffled Silk Chiffon Blouse; Phillip Lim Draped Silk-Satin Top in Neutral; Alice + Olivia Arlene Draped Silk Georgette Top in Blush.

The complete 4x4 wardrobe shows that this look, with its mix of gothic black and romantic pastels and ivory, is actually quite balanced, neither too austere nor too insipid:

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The apparel chosen all fit my gothic romance category nicely, but are unlikely to reduce any heroine to swooning point.  As in my last fashion post, it will be the accessories that add the drama to this wardrobe, and I will present those items next week!
             

Foodie Fridays: Asian Noodle and Vegetable Salad

My recipe for Asian Noodle and Vegetable Salad is loosely based on the salad ingredients from a recipe for Soba Noodle & Raw Veggie Salad plus the dressing from a recipe for Healthy Asian Noodle Salad.  I changed ingredients based upon my preferences and what I had available in the house.  This side dish could easily become a complete meal with the addition of chicken, shrimp, tofu, or any other protein of your choice.  It is a perfect recipe for hot summer weather as the only cooking required is the boiling of the pasta.  Make this salad early in the day and you will have an instant side dish ready for lunch or dinner!

Asian Vegetable and Noodle Salad

6-8 oz. whole wheat spaghetti, cooked and drained
1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled and shredded
6 oz. frozen shelled edamame, thawed
4-6 green onions, sliced
2 yellow summer squash, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 small head red cabbage, thinly sliced
Peanut Butter Dressing (see below)
roasted, salted peanuts

Combine all of the ingredients except the dressing and peanuts in a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over and toss until well mixed.  Chill for several hours before serving.  Serve cold or at room temperature, topping each serving with a handful of peanuts.  Serves 6-8.

Peanut Butter Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 4 T. peanut butter, 2 T. peanut or canola oil, 2-4 T. soy sauce, 2 T. rice vinegar, the juice of one lime, 2 tsp. sesame oil, and 1 tsp. minced fresh ginger.

Note: Next time I will add about 2 T. sweet chili sauce to the dressing, something I had intended to do this time but forgot!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Walk on the Wild Side 4x4 Wardrobe Accessories

Biba Panther Print

When selecting accessories for my Walk on the Wild Side 4x4 Wardrobe based on Biba Panther Print apparel, I definitely chose to go wild!  The wardrobe is relatively mild in comparison, even with all of the bright and high-contrast colors, so the wearer could decide how outrageous she is feeling on any given day and accessorize accordingly.  Let's start with shoes:

Clockwise from top left: Nina Originals Edge Flats in White Patent; Bandolino Edition Flats in Black Mulit Leather; Shoes Glorious Shoes Washable Microfiber Leopard Print Boots; Tom's Black to the Floor Canvas Women's Paseos; Center: Lucky Brand Emmie Flats in Blue/Turquoise.

The black and white shoes go with just about anything, but the leopard print and bright blue pairs make this wardrobe even more unique.

Some stylish accessories are up next:

Clockwise from top left: Fenbay Chiffon Leopard Patter Shawl; Circus by Sam Edelman C166 Sunglasses in Blue Animal; Sava Leopard Print Black Leather Tote; Fownes Women's Black Velvet Gloves with Leopard Print Cuffs; Center: Salvatore Ferragamo Navy Floral Panther Print Scarf.

Obviously I've chosen a black and white leopard/panther print accessories theme, but isn't that colorful panther scarf just fabulous?

Now let's check out some jewelry:

Clockwise from top left: Novica Sterling Silver Lapis Lazuli Necklace Beaded Jewelry, 'Timeless Blue'; Platinum  over Silver Black Spinel and White Topaz Panther Pendant; Bling Jewelry Blue Sapphire Color Tennis Bracelet; Argento Italia Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver Double Panther Heads Weave Hinged Bangle; Center: Thalia Sodi Black Crystal Jaguar Stud Earrings.

I went with panther and bright blue jewelry for this wardrobe.  For the panther theme, if one is willing to spend big bucks, there is always the Panthère de Cartier Collection to consider.  I happen to love the gorgeous collectible Cartier Panther Diamond White Gold Necklace shown below, available for a staggering $9,700 (but so worth it if you can afford that price!):

Finally, let's add some more layers in our wardrobe colors, including coats:

Clcokwise from top left: Northstyle Soft Cotton Big Shirt in Blue; Marella Robert Double Face Wool Longline Coat in Yellow; Pure Collection Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan in Poppy Red; 'Wanda Nylon x Tom Greyhound' Optic White Cotton Trench Coat; Center: Abaday Lapel Leopard Print Slim Black-White Blazer.

I managed to sneak in a couple more tops as layering options (the big shirt and cardigan) for even more versatility!

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For the woman with a bold personality, this colorful panther-themed wardrobe could be a great way to express her inner wild side!  Are you that woman?
               

Wish List Wednesdays: A Pair of Pretty Pony Pillows from Pendleton

Horse-print items with a western theme seem to be popular right now.  In addition to last week's sweater, I also found the lovely pillows shown above in the current Pendleton Home catalog.  The one on the left is the Quarterhorse Pillow and the one on the right is the Pinto Horse Pillow.  Both were designed by Brooklyn artist Stephanie Housley, are printed on natural linen and have a feather/down fill, and are available for $145 each.  The horses sport blankets with a Native American aesthetic, in keeping with the Pendleton company's signature product.  As my husband and I get closer to our goal of retiring to New Mexico, I am ready to start shifting my home décor to a more appropriate look, and items like these horse pillows would go a long way to achieving that change!