.Happy Six.

One morning I was casually browsing the trusty old web, and came across this lovely blog, Bliss.

She not only had beautiful pictures and an organic feel about her blog, but she did this series that totally inspired me to do the same. It's called 'I heart Monday'. And basically it's lists of her current favorite things {or just things that make her happy}. And she so cleverly titles each, "I heart.....".
{Cupcakes and Cashmere does a version of this called Five Things, as well as my friend Nik who calls hers Super 6}.

So I am borrowing from all of these blogs, and starting my own. Hope they don't mind ;)
Here are my current "5 happy things"{or really, just things I'm loving at the moment....besides the husband, bella, family and friends}
{5 happy things}

{this Clock makes me happy. need it for my bedroom}

{this Pencil Skirt {with black top} would make me happy. want it. badly.}

Design*Sponge at Home {sold here}

{my new book, design*sponge, looks perfect on my coffee table, makes me very happy, and inspires me to do some more around the house}

Holiday Throw  in Winter White {blanket} sold here.

{cozy and gorgeous blankets make me happy in this weather}

Erinn + Jenny: Circa, 2010

{lunching with old friends, like i am about to do right after this post, makes me very happy indeed!}


"FRIENDS, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY??"

.Noteworthy Reads.

Recently I've acquired some very noteworthy books that I felt I should share with you.

Some are cookbooks, some are novels, and some are for home decorating.

But they all have one thing in common {besides me loving them}...

They are all gorgeous works of art.

Check out the links at the bottom of the post for more info!

I personally like to display some of my more beautiful books stacked neatly on my coffee table, or display them on my bookshelf {the one that isn't actually for books, but for fun stuff, like vases and pictures!}. This allows me to glance at them when I feel the need to flip through something, but also adds a pretty design element to my rooms.
AND FUN NOTE: It's also super interesting to see which books your friends and guests go for when they come over....you learn a little something about them just from the books they grab!

My work-in-progress Bookcase {located in my main floor living room}

Personal touches make a bookcase in my opinion. This may be a bit busy, but each item means something to us.
Here I have a vase from our wedding, pictures of loved ones , my prettiest cookbooks, a orchid that was a wedding gift {and still alive!}, and some gifted african statues.

NOTE: My camera battery died right before I snapped a picture of our coffee table, but I will post it later this afternoon, so check back for that!!

1} Fast, Fresh, Simple, by Donna Hay {just like the title says, fresh/fast/simple meals for everyday}
2} Design*Sponge at Home, by Grace Bonney {THE design book to have. Period. It's pretty fantastic!}
3} Domino the Book of Decorating {from my favorite, and now defunct magazine production, Domino. This book is a compilation of the best of the best, and a classic for any design lover}
4} Seasons, by Donna Hay {donna hay is magnificent and this is the best of all cooking seasons}
5} Plenty, by Yotem Ottolenghi {THE new cookbook to have on your self. Trust me!}
6} Alice's Adventure in Wonderland and Other Stories, by Lewis Caroll {a beautiful hot pink novel. who wouldn't WANT this? Also classic stories just pull at my heart strings}
7} War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy {a gorgeous classic novel. Admittedly I haven't finished it, but so far so good. And with about a million pages to read, it'll last you all through the cold winter, curled under a warm blanket near the fireplace. heaven.}

.The Bird Shirt.

The Bird Shirt.  Shirt: Zara, Bracelet: Stella and Dot.

Today I was planning on letting you all know just how much of a Superstar I am {in case you didn't know, after yesterday, I really am....}. I was going to tell you how I got up at 3:00 am to get ready and drive to a seminar 3 hours away, work all day,  then drive back home {managing a total 17 work hours}. 

BUT.......

......then I downloaded pictures of my outfit from sunday night, and this shirt completely distracted me.

It's pretty Great.

It has birds, long sleeves with baby buttons, and it's navy {my current fav color}.

Also Husband managed to snap some pic's of me and I sort of liked my hair.

So that's what you're getting today. An outfit post with some curly hair.

Some new favorite essentials! Neclace: Melanie Auld, Bracelet: Stella and Dot, Lipstick: MAC Blankety, Lipglass: MAC Orange Tempera & Curvacous.

.A Greek Feast.

Sunday night consisted of a Unique Group of 14.
A Greek restaurant.
Lots of Wine.
Yummy Food.

And a Birthday Celebration for this lovely lady {with her kinda-cool hubby ;)}

It was a Beautiful Time.

Thank you 'new and old' Friends for a Great Sunday Night.

And thanks to the awesome staff at Koutouki's Downtown. Service was awesome. Food was Delish. And that bottle of wine you supplied afterwards warmed our hearts.

If you ever need a Dolmades taste-tester, I'm your girl.

Till we meet again.

xx

.Whole Wheat Waffles.

Last night I was looking over some of the recipes that I've posted on this little blog of mine, and I realized that I really don't have too many 'fun' delectable flavors on here.

So I decided to make some delicious waffles for breakfast.

And they sure were delectable!

I couldn't find my Aunties Donna's famous waffle recipe {it's around here somewhere!} so I made these bad guys. I liked it because it doesn't call for yeast, so you can get to your food faster! I also substituted the white flour for whole wheat flour {hey, I still gotta try to make it a little healthy} and came up with the apple sauce to top them with. Okay, husband actually came up with the sauce....but I cooked it! 

Yum-dilly-umcious!

Best Belgian Waffles

Makes 5 - 6 Large Waffles.

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (or you can use White flour)

3 tsp Baking Powder

2 tbsp Powdered Sugar

1 tbsp Oil

1 1/2 cups Milk

3 Eggs, separated {you'll need both yolk + whites}

2 tsp Vanilla

Pinch of Salt
Whip Cream {optional}
Apple Sauce Topping {recipe below, optional}

Directions:

1. Beat egg whiles until the form stiff peaks (or just until frothy and foamy....trust me they still turn out). 

2. In a separate bowl, mix all other ingredients: flour, baking powder, powdered sugar, oil, milk, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt. Then gently fold in the egg whites.

3. Cook on Belgian waffle iron. Serve warm with the yummy apple sauce topping {recipe below} and whip cream.

Apple Sauce Topping

Ingredients:

2-3 Apples, peeled and cut into small chunks

2 tbsp Butter

2 tbsp Brown Sugar

1 tbsp Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat.

2. Add apples., brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix until all apples are coated and let cook for approx. 5 minutes or until apples start to soften and caramelize. Keep warm until ready to use.

**Some other delicious serving combo's**

 *Fresh fruit + Whip cream

*Maple Syrup

*Ice Cream + Jam {any flavor!}

*Nutella + Whip Cream

*Honey + Yogurt + Fresh Fruit