public displays of collections

In the words of Rachel Zoe, "Some people collect stamps or art.  I happen to collect clothes."  Through the years, I have been known to say that exact same thing, but these images really make me wish I had a cool collection to display.

I do have a thing for grabbing bottles, vases, glassware, etc. when I'm in junk stores.  How fabulous is this color coordinated collection?  

Love this display...

Organizing your things by color can make a space and/or collection shine!  I adore this rainbow of books!

Speaking of color coded items...how cool is this bottle cap collection?!?

(From Flickr member Benita)

Mixing up the colors proves to be just as successful here...

Don't you want to run to the flea market right this second and start buying antique tea pots...or is just me?!?

A more sophisticated teapot collection...

(via Desire to Inspire)

Globe collections seem to be popping up all over lately...maybe this is the new "it" collection:)

Aren't these inspiring?  Does anyone have a cool collection or an interesting display?

Have a great day!

the blonde

It's a Wrap!

While the first day of summer is technically still a month away, this weekend was Hot! Hot! Hot! and all I can think about (besides that SATC2 opens Friday), is the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend and a crisp, cool, sparkly blue swimming pool!

Despite an injury that kept me out of the gym for about 3 weeks, I've been working pretty hard this year on that never-ending-quest to prepare for bikini season.  Since I still have a ways to go, lately I've been focusing not on the swimsuits, but the cover-ups!! 

While I haven't found any great ones yet, (don't worry I'll let you know when I do), I have noticed some really cute headwear. 

I have always been a huge fan of the huge floppy straw hat...

and still am...majorly...so classic...

lately I've noticed girls sporting cute scarves tied around their hair.  I know this is nothing new or trendy, but coming from someone who typically sports a rolled up bandana...this would be a major improvement!

Doesn't it look so cute and vintage tied up top in a bow??

(Naomi Megan from Rockstar Diaries if you haven't seen her blog - amazing!)

You can even go bigger...

or biggest...

yeah a little huge for me  :o)

Or tie it in the back and let it hang...

this looks very Mod to me..

So pretty!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

~ the Brunette

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Laurel, winner of our first giveaway!  Laurel has a fabulous blog, Beyond Function, that is full of fun, inspiring quotes and amazing photographs.  Check it out here! 

Send your mailing address to us at blondeandbrunetteblog@gmail.com and we will get your goodies to you asap!

Didn't win?  Don't worry!  Amazon has the book for only $11.60!  Not a reader?  They have the audio cd too!

Again, thanks to all our readers! 

~the blonde and the brunette

last call!!

Today is the last day to enter our giveaway!

Comment on any post from this week to enter for a chance to win.  Remember, the  more you comment the more entries you receive!  The contest ends at noon today, and you can read the official rules on Monday's post. 

We will announce the winner this afternoon!!

Thanks again to all our readers and new followers - cheers to you!

As American As Green Tomato Pie....Huh?

Okay first off, I swear this is not becoming a "book blog". 

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain for college credit.  I know, right??  All I had to do was write a report on one of the cities we were visiting on the trip, and present it to the other girls (and token guy) in my Studio.  Before the trip, one of my professors (total foodie) - invited us over for paella and to present our reports. 

The best part of the night was - literally - the best PIE I ever ate in my entire life. 

I had to know all the details of this recipe - immediately!  Of course the secret to the crust was her husband's perfect technique.  But the filling - oh, the yummy yummy filling - she informed me could be found in a beautiful book called "The Artful Pie".  She said she had baked all but 2 pies from the book so far and they had all been amazing.  I'm SOLD!

I promptly bought the book and baked the pie.  YUM!!

Truthfully, I have several flagged "to bake" - but have never made another since.  In 5 years.  One pie I have been incredibly curious about (because it sounds so weeeeeird) is the Backyard Green Tomato Pie.

So last night - I baked it!!

Backyard Green Tomato Pie

6 med. tart, firm apples, peeled, cut into chunks

4 med. or 6 small green tomatoes, unpeeled, cored, and cut into chunks

2 T currants (optional)

3/4 cup sugar

6 T all-purpose flour

1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

2 t quick-cooking tapioca

1 t ground cinnamon

1/2 t ground ginger

1/4 t salt

3 T unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Egg Wash and Topping: 1 large egg, beaten w/ 1 T milk, 1 T sugar

(this will make the crust beautiful and brown)

First step: Cut up the apples and tomatoes.  This literally takes about a DECADE!  I seriously needed one of those apple corer slicer doo-dads!

But since I don't - luckily I have a helper to keep me company while I peel and slice!

Second step:  Mix the sugar, flour, brown sugar, tapioca, cinnamon, ginger, salt - whatever else, I forget.

Third Step: Pour the dry mix over the apples and tomatoes and toss to coat

Fourth Step: Prepare your crust.  I'm not ashamed to say I cheated and bought Pillsbury which is pretty tasty!  My only complaint - they're not quite big enough.

Fifth Step: Put the apple and tomato mix into the crust.  I feel it's important at this stage to point out that the tomatoes are, in fact, still in the mix.  I didn't pick them out, this isn't a prank!  :o)

Sixth Step: Cut up small pieces of butter for top of fruit, put the top crust on, pinch the edges, mix the egg wash and brush over the top.

Last Step: BAKE IT!!

(@ 400-F for 20 min., reduce to 350 and bake for 40 min.)

And the moment of truth...

Pretty good!  Tasted like apple pie really.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday - the weekend is so close you can almost Taste It!

~ the Brunette

p.s. Interested in trying some Artful Pie Recipes on your own?  You can pick up the book on Amazon using this link:

Artful Pie

I promise it won't disappoint!  Oh and the amazing pie from college is the Maple Sugar and Cream Pie if you decide to give it a test-run!  YUM!

chair flair

I know we've talked about how once you notice something then you start seeing it everywhere...well, that is exactly what happened with the Porter's chair.  The brunette actually studied design (and graduated with a degree in it) so she knows all about furniture styles and their historical relevance, but the blonde does not, and I just thought these were some new, crazy cool chairs...oops!

Today, these chairs are uber glam and super hard to come by but their origin is quite the opposite.

(Warning: short history lesson so some might want to skip ahead)

During medieval times, Porter's chairs were designed for the gatekeeper servant.  These servants sat by the door to screen all guests and since there were often drafts near the doors these chair were designed to shelter them from the wind.  

Wow, we actually learned something today besides what SJP wore to yesterday's press junket!

These luxurious jade velvet and black lacquered chairs are the first Porter's chairs I ever noticed. 

Aren't they delicious?

   

I also love the clean black and white set....aww, this room kills me...the chairs, the lucite, the black mantle...it's all too much:)

Then all of a sudden these chairs were everywhere even on the cover of a recent Restoration Hardware catalog?!?

Aren't they gorgeous?

Of course the super chic Max Azria has a beyond glamorous silver pair in his home.

Porter's chairs with a funky flair!

I love these chairs!  They always make a serious statement.

Remember to keep commenting to increase your chances in winning the giveaway!

Happy hump day,

the blonde

dressing rooms

So I really, really love when other bloggers/magazines show rooms inspired by a fashion look or vice versa.  I just enjoy seeing different peoples' interpretation of images and how they translate.  Some people find common themes between photographs like this beautiful soft blue hue one.

Others are completely inspired to create their own looks.  The brunette and I tried doing this a few weeks ago, but it didn't quite work out for us?!?  Coco+Kelley proved much more successful with this perfect interpretation...click here to view the post and read her explanation.

From this room she made this look...

I Suwanee also nailed it in her outfit to room design...

This little BCBG dress inspired her to create this amazing room...some people are so talented!

The City Sage recently paired images from Anthropologie's latest photo shoot with rooms that matched. 

This is perfect!

One of my personal favorites from Coco+Kelley...

And now probably my most favorite outfit to room ever...I love this look for my home and myself!

(I feel just awful because I can't remember who did this and they definitely deserve credit...please comment if you know where these came from.)

Okay, so I already admitted that I was really awful at creating an outfit from scratch based on a room, but I can pair outfits to rooms that look like they were designed for each other.

Here's my outfit...

(shocker -- SJP photo)

to room...

Here's another...outfit

to room...

I can't even explain how much I love this room!

Here's a few more I created for one of our first posts ever, {style definitions:}the blonde.

Don't forget to keep commenting and linking all week to increase your chances in winning the giveaway!

Each comment gives you one entry and each link gives you three...read yesterday's post for more details!

~the blonde