Meet Miss Jones

Thanks to some relaxing Sunday afternoon blog wandering (there really hasn’t been enough of that lately), I stumbled upon the fabulous Mrs. Lilien and her styling house. By fabulous, I’m not joking around–this is one grandiose gal. One part stylist and one part graphic designer, her blog is an absolute feast of color and fun.

I’ve always been a big fan of Kate Spade, Cynthia Rowley, and other ladies who have found a way to bring retro glamour into everyday life. While I can’t (and probably will never) afford the clothing and accessories they purvey, I still love to get inspired and learn from the fresh way they see the simplest things.

Mrs. Lilien definitely fits in this category. Her carefully curated collections make me smile with their color and style. They’re a great reminder to appreciate the classics and make life fun on a grand scale. Best of all, I can enjoy her fine taste without dropping a fine dime.

So head on over to her blog and start your Monday morning off with a pop & a bang!

I’ve been a bit under the weather ever since Thanksgiving (hence the lack of posting), but I managed to stop coughing and drinking tea long enough to enjoy the incredible array of inspiration that is The Selby.

Created and photographed by Todd Selby, the site features photos of creatives and their personal spaces (like the kitchen of Kate and Andy Spade, above). Todd has an amazing eye for detail, and there’s no shortage of brilliant individuals showcasing their space.

Just looking at these places make me want to take more care and creativity in the spaces I inhabit. I love the energy that comes from both carefully curated collections and mish-mashes of artistic material.

(Thanks to Caitlin from Feather & Webb for sharing The Selby on Facebook)

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Ree Drummond’s blog, The Pioneer Woman, I envy you. Because the first time I was introduced to her tasty step-by-step recipes, hilarious stories and drool-worthy ranch (the kind with cattle, not suburban neighbors), I was blown away. My friend Erin sent me a link to Ree’s series of posts about how she and her husband met and fell in love (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels) and when I looked up, hours had gone by.

I immediately found a more comfortable chair and got lost for a few more.

Ree is the hilarious, self-deprecatingly confident friend you’d write for yourself in a novel. I have no idea how she finds the time to do the things she does, but I’m so glad she, well, does. Thanks to her blog, I’ve discovered the best way to chop an onion, how to make killer pico de gallo, and what my dream sink looks like (ok, maybe I was better off not knowing that last one).

Her recipes almost always include a cast of real food characters (despite a cameo now and then from the sugar villain) and they are pretty much fail-proof. Her meticulous step-by-step photos may be too much detail for some, but for me they go a long way towards helping me perfect my cooking techniques.

Some of my favorites:

Fresh Corn and Avocado Salsa

Potato Bundles

Crispy Yogurt Chicken

Rosemary Sweet-Roasted Acorn Squash Wedges

Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza

…and that’s just to get you started. Go check out The Pioneer Woman and enjoy!

Happy Friday! Here are a few fun things from the interweb that have made me smile this week:

1 :: From Me to You is a captivating blog from NYC photographer Jamie Beck. Her photos are filled with stories and the blog design itself is incredibly detailed.

2 :: I’m really excited about making these homemade pop tarts from Smitten Kitchen. Mr. Jones is a big fan of pop tarts, but he only gets them on trips because I never buy them at home (you don’t even want to know what’s in them). I’ll be sure to do a post on how they turn out!

3 :: My father and brother-in-law recently bought some chicks and they are growing fast! I’m going to help them build a coop soon and am looking forward to some of their tasty eggs (or, to be honest, some free-range chicken if they don’t lay enough). Making it Lovely just featured some stylish and fun chicken coops–mostly out of my price range, but great inspiration!

4 :: Speaking of “out of my price range,” I could never afford this Kate Spade dress, but its polka dots and ruffles are splendid! I’d love to wear this while enjoying the lighter weather of May.

5 :: Mother’s Day is coming up, which means a crop of fun new cards. I went to college with the talented Anna Bond and am always excited to see her new illustrations. This Mother’s Day card is just one of the charming pieces of stationery from her shop, be sure to check them all out!

6 :: If you’re in the mood for a DIY project this weekend, Dried Figs and Wooden Spools just did a great how to on making over your trash can. Simple and cheap!

My plans for the weekend include a trip to the farmer’s market, helping Caleb set up an electric racing track for the Awana Grand Prix on Sunday, and a birthday party for one of the sweetest one-year-olds I know. Happy last day of April!