Make Your Sirens Call

I need a challenge.  A before-and-after project would do.   Perhaps you’re considering a bathroom remodel, a living room facelift, kitchen upgrade?  Maybe a simple reset of mood in your space- home or business?  Feeling stranded in uncharted territory of a new home?

Should you be looking for advise or direction consider this offer… either share your aesthetic dilemma on facebook (comment on this link at   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Shapiro-Aesthetic-Design) or send me a brief description through a message.  I’m looking for material (photographed before-and-afters) for a fun project I’m working on.  All design consulting and implementing of project is on me.   Cost of goods and materials, you… sorry.

A brief description of your area will do. If you have photos, even better. A local project may be more desirable, although an online re-design would be given due consideration! Deadline, Friday, March 6th.

My #1 image of inspiration this week. Is this a color palette you’re looking for?

There’s a healing and soothing vibe in this image that I love. Very influential. A look that can be incorporated in many settings.

Martha Angus was named in Top 8 Designers. An encouraging and motivating article.

Make your sirens call!

My Prevailing Needs, Relatively Speaking

As February comes to an end- a month filled with inconsistency and a push and pull between dark and light- I rely on my “goods”.  A  list of my current cravings, routines, essentials, and just stuff I want to devour:

1. Beauty Counter body and facial products are essentials. They are so great that they incentify a morning and nighttime regimen

2. Allagash White with orange- a big time craving come late afternoon.

3. The New Basement Tapes- “When I Get My Hands On You”, vocals by Marcus Mumford. Perfection.

4. A pour-over and really good beans. And a grinder that grinds very fine. My first cup needs to be of double or triple espresso intensity. And although this may be contrary to how some baristas may advise, I think I’ve nailed it. So I grind my beans (local and dark roasted) extra fine and use 3 heaping scoops to my filter before adding the 202 degree water. Boom. E-SSENTIAL.

5. Cupcakes made with coconut oil. A craving I want to devour.

6. Ten Minutes in front of fire. Alone. No noise, no distractions. This happens to be in front of my wood stove. As close to meditating as I come.

7. A simple black cashmere hat. Essential.

8. A cold pitcher of brewed green tea. Always available. Detoxifies the cupcakes. A craving.

9. An accessible trail-for walking, running, skiing or snowshoeing on.

10. One good t.v show… or two. I have two- they’re back-to-back and keep me in the moment of the early to mid 1900’s. Yes, Downton Abbey followed by Grantchester. There’s just something about Sidney.

My slightly revised list will be edited and available come spring, when cravings and moods change!

Beauty Counter’s Jasmine Oil has been my foundation since their start.

What is it about Sydney that keeps me watching?

Cupcakes have been calling my name this winter.

A timeless bad-hair day, keep-warm essential.

My unwaivering #1.

Applied over Beauty Counter’s Oil, your face will have an unparalleled barrier.

A well-loved staple. Nude will never let you down.

When the air is unbearably dry, Beauty Counter’s Rose Water Spray is a staple in my bag.

Helps shed the winter doldrums. Beauty Counter Sugar Srub.

No need for explanation, right?

The Art of Cookware

With tones ranging from electrifyingly vibrant to subtle and understated, and all with gleamingly gorgeous finishes, how could one not be crazy about a beautiful pot?

When my canary yellow Le Creuset is missing from the stovetop, where it typically lives, the kitchen seems sparse and boring.  My investment pot has become the artwork for our kitchen, which needed some soul.   Like clementines in a rustic wooden bowl or green apples in clear glass set upon a dining table, cookware can also be a “useful” statement piece of a room.  Purposeful artwork.

My tried-and-true.

My mother recently re-tiled the backsplash of open shelving in her kitchen in glistening white to create a canvas for her extensive collection of timeless cookware.  Some of her pieces date back to the 70’s (wedding gifts to be specific), while others have been more recent indulgences.  All still appear beautiful and well loved and I can attest they have been the vehicle of many insanely delicious meals.   The collection, strategically placed, has created a gorgeous contrast in her kitchen, where her cookbooks used to reside.  A fantastic and rather simple makeover!

Without constituting a sterile or cold setting, I tend to prefer a simplistic and minimal tone in a kitchen.   And so a visible cumulation of pots and pans typically does not appeal to me, aesthetically speaking.   The key is to choose one or two pieces that bring some oomph to the room.  Here are some photos of inspiration for you to work from:

Black, timeless and utilitarian. Always a safe bet.

Ivory, always a classic. Although I might cry the first time it got dirty.

And the colors just keep on comin’. So tasteful, the choice becomes difficult!

Oooh- for all you Northerners keeping toasty with wood heat this winter, try using a beautiful pot or tea kettle as a humidifier on top of your woodstove.

Butterscotch Oaties Recipe

Because I promised, and have been reminded (CHL), here is the altered-100x recipe.  I’ve revised it enough so that it is actually pretty healthy and delicious.  Makes only 15 small-medium size cookies, so I’d recommend doubling the recipe.

Butterscotch Oaties:

1/2 cup coconut oil- or 1 stick of butter if you prefer

1/3 Cup Sugar

1 Egg

2/3 Cup Oatmeal

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 Cup Flour ( I like spelt the best)

1/2 tsp baking powder

Lots of chips of your choice (we love butterscotch or a combination of butterscotch and milk chocolate)

Suggested Additions or variations:

Add 1/2 cup dry shredded coconut (nature store offer a much better quality coconut- worth the trip for)

Add 3/4 or heaping big spoon of almond or peanut butter for a very rich version

Replace sugar with a natural syrup of your choice (I like agave or Maine maple)

Add Walnuts!  That’s a big favorite.

Enjoy!

No mess is worthy of raining on this parade.