An apple a day...

Just in time for the first official day of fall (tomorrow), my sweet tooth has started to demand its craving for candied and caramel apples! A delicious urge I get every year around this time. Get some delicious recipes to make your own, right here!

5 Great Kitchen tips!

image via apartmenttherapy.com

image from remodelista.com

ONE: Open kitchen cabinets or shelves in place of cabinets make your space feel lighter and airier. Use a combination of open and closed cabinets if you don't want everything on display.   

image via apartmenttherapy.com

TWO:  Using a rack to hang your pots will save you storage space in your drawers and cabinets and will make your pots and pans easier to find. Not to mention its a great way to display your collection of stove top items.

THREE:  Don't be afraid to keep out the items you use often or everyday and feel free to display the things you enjoy looking at. Fill fruit bowls with your market fresh fruits and veggies for easy access and a punch of color - or keep your hand and dish soaps on the counter in beautiful trays for organization. Just make sure after all is said and done you have plenty of room to still utilize your counter space when it comes time to cook. 

image via thedecoratingdiaries.blogspot.com

 FOUR:  Sneak on more shelving to your walls and use up all your wall space, especially if you have a small kitchen and not a lot of storage space. The shelves themselves can become artwork by using ornate and decorative brackets or the items you display can be placed as groupings to make them look more put-together as well.

image via marthastewart.com

FIVE:  A kitchen cart/island on wheels provides moveable storage and extra counter space and can easily double as a serving space or , best of all, a bar when there is company over!

Sweaters for your table

Fall is upon us and I think our homes should get the same attention to cozy autumn details as we do. To start, a set of cozy crochet coasters are a perfect way to add some snugly to your already hot morning coffee. This Oatmeal felted 'Whatnot' bowl  add a nice warm-fuzzy feeling to any centerpiece and a beautiful runner like this, above, is like a scarf for your dining table!
 

Sweet Treats

Help curb your sweet tooth and eat from your OTHER garden. Yep that's right, your flower garden! Dry Soda Co. has quite a variety, but I find this flavor, with it's floral undertones, sparkle on your tongue with its lively taste (and smell) of Lavender. Choward's Violet mints are not your average sweet. With it's vintage general-store-like packaging and distinct floral flavor and aroma they are more like an experience than a candy. And LouLou's Rose Petal Jam is handmade in small batches from farm-fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers. Bring any of these home to share or as a hostess gift and I am sure whomever gets the sampling with thoroughly enjoy!

Hear the Birds

For those of you who like a touch of whimsy or a little magic in your surroundings, check out these La Voliere Bird Lamps by Paris-based lighting designer Mathieu Challieres. These avian beauties are a series of strange yet beautiful, copper-wire lamps housing delicate birds colored like the rainbow.

Creative Advertising

A new commercial for Vodafone directed by New Zealand's Wade Shotter of Flying Fish. This advert is wonderfully creative - I can always appreciate a commercial that makes me say "wow" instead of turning the TV to mute. Well done.

Eye candy of your Wednesday

Dalton Ghetti is an artist from Connecticut who carves these amazingly tiny works of art into the lead on the tips of used up pencils. Click here for more of Ghetti's small scale work - it's really quite amazing.