Inspiring Interiors - Monte Carlo

All images from architecturaldigest.com

Whole Wheat Strawberry Muffins

 Happy Sunday! I hope that everyone is having a relaxing weekend, while the weather is still a bit finicky here in New York, I am still in complete spring mode.  I am happy because berry season has begun -  my favorite fruit season. It begins with strawberries and then leads into raspberries and blueberries.  To warmly welcome this fruitful season, I thought I would share a recipe that I recently whipped up for Whole Wheat Strawberry Muffins that I served at brunch last weekend.  I rarely eat muffins, but when I do, I prefer them to be healthy, while not sacrificing flavor.  These muffins proved to be moist and fluffy, while the sweet strawberries added a burst of natural sweetness.    

 

A Few Things: I always like to taste the fruit that I am baking with, especially if it is seasonal - the sweetness of the strawberries allowed for me to add a little less sugar into the batter.  In order to finish the muffins off, I decided to roll the tops in melted butter and then I combined cinnamon and sugar and rolled them into the mixture before serving.  You could definitely substitute strawberries for blueberries, peaches, rhubarb, or raspberries and I am sure the outcome would be just as delicious. 

*Photographs by Alison

Golden Luster - Luxurious Home Goods

My personal interior design motto is that gold is a must-have.  Whether incorporated in an accent table, a lamp or a frame, this luxurious color is glamorous and opulent.  I am constantly searching for gold accents everywhere from thrift shops to Crate & Barrel.  Here are some of my favorites right now.  I am particularly loving the gold planter (how pretty would light pink blooms be planted inside) and the gold accent table.  

Table

Pillow

Gold Planter

Tray

Ikat Gold Pillow

The Grandeur of Versailles

The grandeur and opulence of Versailles is hard to articulate in words and easier with sounds, in particularly, gasps or 'oohs and ahhs'.  My life changed forever when I visited the Gardens of Versailles. I could have spent days wandering the impeccably manicured gardens and laying beneath the perfectly sculpted linden trees while the heady aroma of roses filled the air.  That being said, it is only fitting that the fashion world would be just as captivated by its beauty and use both the gardens and golden chateau as a backdrop for photographic masterpieces.  These images shot separately in the interior and exterior are extraordinary works of art, from the gilded interiors to the urns in the Orangerie that act as a pedestal to display couture gowns. Gazing at these images means that it is going to be a great weekend!

All images from fashionologie.com

Baby Blue

In order to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a friends baby boy, I decided to bake her baby blue macaroons with fluffy butter cream frosting.  I believe that macaroons can make anyone happy, especially if they are served at an occasion like a baby or bridal shower. They are particulary lovely since they can be created in an array of hues - my favorite being pastels.  

A Few Things: To color the macaroons I used Wilton Sky Blue Icing Color. I found through experimentation that typcial food coloring does not work when it comes to dying these beautiful cookies, rather using a gel adds a much deeper concentration of color, plus there is a plethora of colors to choose from.  

*Photographs by Alison

Inspiring Interiors - Colorful Eclectic

When I stumbled across this interior space, one word came to mind, Domino.  The eclectic design paired with bright colors and beautiful textures called to mind the design aesthetic of this former publication. It is still on my list to pick up the limited edition, Domino Quick Fixes - I plan on doing so this week. I adore the gold and blue chairs in the living room and the gold stripes that create a parlor-feeling in the dining room.  Have any of you picked up the new issue of Domino?

 

  

All images from traditionalhome.com

Pastel Biscuits

I recently discovered the blog, Griottes and was absolutely taken aback by the stunning photography, recipes and food styling. These lightly hued pastel biscuits are just so pretty, the perfect gift for a host or house guests.  

The Weekend That Was

(Spring, the most beautiful season, yet the most fleeting. Here an array of fallen cherry blossom petals)

(We hosted brunch for my boyfriend's parents Saturday, the table setting was white and gold)

(Our brunch - whole wheat challah bread french toast, turkey bacon and blueberries)

(A walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park after brunch, nothing is quite like this world-class view on a warm and sunny day)

(Clouds reflecting in a pond in the Park)

(Incredibly inexpensive frames picked up at a thrift store, I plan to do wonders with them and just a hint, it involves gold)

(Finished the weekend with healthy Asparagus and Broccoli soup, as the weather turned cold and rainy, a drastic change from Saturday, and this proved to warm me from the inside out)