Blog it Forward: What Inspires Me?

French fashion bloggers! Pandora and The Cherry Blossom Girl use fashion as an expression of their love of history, art, and their beautiful city -- Paris.

It's time for the "Blog it Foward Mashup." This project was started by the talented San Francisco Girl by the Bay as a way for bloggers to share what inspires them. It's a bit like a chain letter for blogs, and today it's my turn. Check out the links at the end of this post to see who is coming up next...I'm pretty sure you'll be addicted {like I am!}. Or, you can find your favorite bloggers on the full schedule here.

Traveling to strange, out-of-the-way destinations. I've visited some bizarre places, like the Surrealist Folly Gardens in Xilitla, Mexico, and the desert art communes in Marfa, Texas, but there are so many unusual spots I'm dying to explore: the Absinthe Museum in New Orleans and the Seti satellites in Puerto Rico are at the top of my list.

Strong, eccentric women with a flare for the dramatic. Tilda Swinton is always unflinchingly original {left, dressed as the Marchessa Casati}, and Anais Nin lived a life more fascinating than even her books reveal.

Art, both new and old. The brilliant Hayv Kahraman is a recent discovery {left} and decadent artist Aubrey Beardsley is an obsession that will never fade...

Books that move, challenge, disgust, and inspire in equal parts... these are two books that changed my perception of literature forever.

Eating...and cooking: the ultimate creative act. It inspires and nourishes. Since discovering my love for cooking, I have come to realize that making food can be as fulfilling {and filling} as making art...corny but true. {Images via Canelle et Vanille}.

Vintage magazines and vintage advertising. I would wallpaper my apartment with vintage ads if I could! I think vintage ad designers are truly forgotten artistic geniuses...

What inspires you, dear readers??

And coming up in the Blog it Forward Mash-up:

• not your average ordinary 3/3 • occupation housewife 3/4 • oh hello! 3/5

• oh, hey great 3/8 • oh, mishka 3/9 • oh so beautiful paper 3/10

• old sweet song 3/11

Weekend Links

{Mind-boggling wallpaper from Tapeten Agentur}

I've spent most of the day so far catching up on blog-reading and staring at my prettily-wrapped packages. I finished all of my holiday shopping early this year, and now I can just sit back and enjoy! I tried to buy most of my gifts on Etsy, and it feels much more meaningful than the hustle and bustle of the mall and the big department stores. How is your list coming along?? If you're still stressing about finding something special for that someone special, be sure to check out my gift guide for those hard-to-buy for folks on your list. I truly hope you are all able to relax, breathe, and enjoy this time of year...

Here are some fun links for your spare time!

::You can certainly find memorable items on Etsy...the ones featured on the hilarious Regretsy are just memorable in a different way.

::Hey, local-yokels! Check out the tips and restaurant reviews on Tulsa Food Blog.

::Dandies and Quaintrelles is a club I would be honored to be a member of -- be sure to check out the images from their "Tweed Ride" on their Facebook page!

::A compelling talk on how technology enables intimacy.

::What I wouldn't give to be in NYC for Tim Burton's exhibition at MOMA.

::An Education: 60's era period piece film -- looks romantic, beautiful and inspiring!

::There is no rest for the wallpaper obsessed; awe-inspiring wall art at Decor8.

::My bar area is currently being taken over by Christmas gifts, but as soon as the holiday season is over, I'm going experiment some more with chic-ifying it...using these photos as inspiration!

For the Love of Tea.

{Anna Karina seductively sips her tea...}

Since discovering my new favorite tea {African Honey Bush} at the gorgeous Dragon Moon Tea Co. here in Tulsa, my interest in teas of all kinds has been awakened. I've always been aware that tea was good for you, but I didn't fully realize its endless healing and antioxidant properties until recently. I have been trying to incorporate tea into my daily regime and researching the healthiest options...

While exploring the web for new teas to try out, I came across Kusmi Tea Shop -- a beautiful French tea shop that sells the famous Detox tea that French women apparently swear by. This tea allegedly has diuretic and antioxidant properties that help you stay slim and feel energetic {without the side-effects of caffeine}. It sounds delicious, too: green tea, blended with Mate and lemon.

I figure, anything that might help me look like an effortlessly-slim-and-sexy Parisian is a worth a try!

What are your favorite teas?? Any recommendations?

Herbal Remedies

I love cooking with herbs -- even when I make a super-simple dish, adding fresh herbs makes it seem more special somehow. I spend so much money on fresh herbs that I'm starting to think I should grow my own. The only problem is that my apartment is severely lacking in proper kitchen/dining room window-ledges {and my cat likes to munch green things}...

If I had a perfect sunny ledge right over my kitchen sink, I would definitely fill it with :: Design Night's cute, versatile Nature Planters. You can grow multiple herbs in one modern, little pot!

But, in the meantime, the Cuisipro Herb Keeper is a really clever way to preserve my leftover herbs, which always seem to wilt before I have the chance to use them.

Do you have any favorite recipes using fresh herbs?? I'm always on the lookout for easy dishes with sage, dill, or rosemary {my favorites}.


::Here is a yummy recipe for Sage Pasta, one of my favorite go-to recipes:

Ingredients

A small bunch of fresh sage {torn from stems}.
A package of fresh cheese tortellini.
Shredded Parmesan.
Olive Oil.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions

Boil the tortellini until al dente. In a pan, heat 2-3 table spoons of olive oil. Add the pasta and the sage. Stir pasta gently with sage and oil until coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking until the sage is soft and aromatic. During this process, you can also add some shredded parmesan {as little or as much as you like} and stir with the pasta and sage...or you can wait until the pasta is done cooking and let each person top the pasta with the cheese.

I usually just serve this with a simple Ceasar Salad. Voila!! So easy and yummy.

Things You Never Knew You Needed Until Now...

Bon Voyage Block Print by Shyama Helin

White Chocolate Cherry Cupcake Truffles from The Fancy Lady Gourmet

Red Flora Fabric Branches by Jane Joss

The Second Empire Pet Bed by Your Highness Pet Beds

Scandal and Roses print with frame from Tilly Bloom

Tea Pot Terrarium by Dew Garden Crafts

Raffia Fedora by Onnesti

Carved Rose Necklace on Rockett St. George

Dotty Tree Plates by Ninainvorm

Lace-up Ballet High tops by Spiro Creations

Weekend Reads: Links to the Strange and the Beautiful

I hope you will all be finding a little bliss this weekend...I am going to find some, somewhere, amidst all the work I have to do!

I'm not sure if you noticed the new icon on the right side, but I have joined the legions on Twitter. So, if you are a Tweeter [is that what they are called?], follow me and I'll follow you...somewhere.

Here are some fantastic links for your weekend reading pleasure. Cheers, my dears!!!

♥ Sweet and sassy: 1930's beachwear on Allure

♥ You'll get lost in the interesting articles and gorgeous vintage images on the Digital Library for Decorative Arts.

♥Be inspired by the super-short, but stunningly poetic stories and recipes from artist and writer Jen Altman

♥Want a basic tutorial on wine? Check out the virtual wine-tasting at Belle Maison

♥ A playlist for fashionistas: the top 10 songs with fashion references on Refinery 29

♥Victorian denim? Fabsugar features Current/Elliott's new collection.

♥ Atlas Obscura shares amazing places to add to your list of must-visit-destinations on this compendium of the world's wonders, curiosities, and Esoterica.

♥ In love with the 70's?? Check out Camp Comfort for how to pull off 70's fashion all the time.

Things You Never Knew You Needed until Now...

Straw Top Hat from Ergy Erg

Vintage typewriter from Poetic Home

Spicy Mayan dark chocolate by Have it Confections


Camille Neck Cuff by Efia Fair

Peacock Blue Clutch by Clutch That

I Read Banned Books Tee by Alimd

Rock Crystal Lamp from Cote de Texas

Caviar Ring by Bulfinch Barbary

Art Nouveau hand-built bowl by Deborah Gordon

Mod Round Velvet Pillow from Urban Outfitters