Java Jamboree

I attended my first "blog party" yesterday called JAVA JAMBOREE, hosted by my amazing friend Kelly from Sequins and Scissors.  Kelly is the talented lady who takes care of my wild mane of hair every couple of months!  She's been doing my hair for a few years now -- we always find ourselves talking about blogs, Pinterest, crafts, and decorating.  And now she has her very own blog, so it was so nice to get to know all of her other "blogging" friends!

The day was filled with coffee sipping, cupcake eating, and lots of other great desserts to nibble on as our group of eight chatted about our lives!  Overall, it was just a great girls days.

The coffee was sponsored by Hubbard & Cravens. A local coffee shop serving "locally roasted artisanal coffee since 1991."  Their "local" coffee just means their beans, which are actually from around the world from the best coffee retailers, are sent straight from the farm, so they are fresh, sustainable, and great quality coffees.

You can find their product at seven retail locations around Indianapolis, and in many fine restaurants and hotels around the country.  This location is right around the corner from my house in Carmel, in the Carmel City Center.

Hubbard & Cravens provided us with three different coffees to try.

 

BLUE MOON ORGANIC -- from the northern Bali islands has a rich, earthy taste.  A darker, stronger tasting coffee, but still mild and sweet.

 OAKLAND ESTATE -- from Kenya is winey and tart.  It had a lightness and sweetness with notes of grapefuit and raspberry. 

 

SoBRO ORGANIC -- from SW Pacific is their Signature Blend with hints of plum fruit and a milk chocolate finish.  

My FAVORITE coffee of the day was the Kenya AA Oakland Estate.  I normally have to add milk and creamer or sweetener to my coffee, but this was so light and sweet that I think I would actually drink it straight black!  My second favorite was the SoBro Organic.  And my least favorite was the Blue Moon Organic.  It was just too dark and strong tasting for me!

The cupcakes from Gigi's Cupcakes were also amazing!  As you can see, they didn't last long!  Gigi's has four locations currently in Indiana! 

They are known for piling on their frosting!  Usually the height of the frosting is bigger than the cupcake its self!

image found via web search

I made my favorite dessert Individual Strawberry Cheesecakes to take along with me to the party! I usually only make these in the Summer because it is often hard to find strawberries that are big enough to stuff with cheesecake.  But they are a great easy, bite size dessert that everyone loves!

All you need to make this dessert is strawberries, cheesecake (no-bake box or sometimes you can find a pre-made tub of cheesecake), graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate drizzle is optional.

Just hollow out the strawberries with a knife.  Fill the strawberries with the cheesecake.  I fill a zip-lock bag with the cheesecake filling and snip a hole at the end to make this step a little easier.  Throw your graham cracker crumbs on a small plate and dip the cheesecake ends in the crumbs.  I drizzled chocolate on the top for a little added touch!

Kelly's decor for the party was so cute!  She put so much time into all of the little details, which I love!  See her post here for more information about the decor for the party! 

I was obsessed with her TJ Maxx napkins!

We also played a few games where we had to wear some crazy headbands on our head to hold the cards!

The Hostess with the Mostess!  Kelly!

Aleks won the gift bag from the day!  Filled with a coffee mug and some other great coffee supplies!

Overall, it was a fabulous day getting to know some fellow bloggers like me!  I love meeting new people and especially connecting with other bloggers!

All of the ladies from left to right.  Check out all of their blogs!

Host Kelly - Sequins & Scissors

Aleks - A Slocum Story

Elise - Sunday Charm

ME

Valerie - Chicken Scratch

Amanda - Amanda Lynn Designs

Eva - Eva Marie Taylor

Amber - The Browsing Brunette

I LOVE Pillows + Exclusive Promo Code!

If you know me, you know I am obsessed with pillows!  It is one thing that I could just buy and buy and buy, over and over again!  I never get tired of buying pillows or run out of places to put them.  If I had more storage in my house (and more money) I think I would have an entire closet dedicated to pillows just so I could change the pillows on my couch every other day!  :)  It's fun for me, what can I say!  So, I love changing out my pillows season-to season, but it can get expensive.  And I could just make new pillows when I get the urge for a little pillow makeover from time-to-time, but then I have to buy the fabric and take the time to make the covers, and sometimes it's just easier to buy new! 

Look Here Jane

So, that is what I did!  I found a deal online that was too good to pass up, so I turned to LookHereJane through Etsy.com and made the purchase!

Let me first just say, Etsy.com is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE websites for many reasons!  If you have never purchased anything from this website, now is the time because you won't be disappointed!  It is individual artists, antique dealers, crafters, carpenters, etc. from all over the world, all together in one convenient place to shop their hand-made or collected vintage items!  So not only are you getting amazing hand-made items, but you are supporting and buying from small artist shops and collectors, rather than big-box stores or directly from China, and it just doesn't get any better than that!!  It's like the small "mom-and-pop" style stores with individualized, unique items made to order! 

"Etsy is a marketplace where people around the world connect to buy and sell unique goods. Our mission is to re-imagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world." 

 

 So, another addiction of mine is Jane.com where I originally found this awesome deal on pillow covers.  It is a subscribed email list, which emails you DAILY about select shops within Etsy that are having an exclusive "flash sale" for these Jane.com subscribers.  So, you must act quickly before the items are gone (it is a limited supply) but sometimes you are getting items from these shops up to 75% off, which is where my impulse buying comes out and before I even know what just happened I bought something!  But these deals are really too good to pass up sometimes!  Really!

Here is an example of some of the deals they are offering today.  Typically the deals last 2 to 3 days or until the items are SOLD OUT, which happens a lot!  They have everything from home decor, baby items, clothing, and jewelry. 

So, when this deal from LookHereJane popped up, I was so excited to look through this girl's shop!  Hand-made pillows in a variety of coordinating fabrics.  I ordered two 16x16 pillow covers to slip over my existing pillows on my couch for about $12.00 each, which is about a 30% discount from her online Etsy shop!  I'll take two!! 

I think they look great with my existing Ikea pillows!  They are sewn with great detail and quality.  The fabric I purchased is a heavy duty fabric that I am sure will last a very long time!  The pillow enclosure is a nicely sewn envelope enclosure to easily cover your old existing pillow or a new pillow insert.

When my one pillow didn't arrive to my satisfaction, the owner of the shop sent me a brand new pillow for FREE along with TWO new additional pillow covers!  Another reason to buy from Etsy!  A real person, with real feelings!

Fabric.com is one of my premier sites I head to when ordering fabric for myself or for other projects.  I like Look Here Jane because she uses a lot of the same fabrics I see and love on this website.  Another reason she makes it tough not to just buy her already made, ready to go, pillow covers.

I couldn't resist this shot with SUNSHINE actually beaming through for a change!

It is the perfect time to order some new pillow covers for your home.  Spring is right around the corner (trying to be optimistic about this weather) and you will be wanting to add some bright, Spring colors to your home.  So, LOOKHEREJANE is exclusively giving Jessica Stout Design readers a 27% discount through the month of February!  

Click HERE to shop LookHereJane on etsy.com

If you decide to order any pillow covers from Look Here Jane on Etsy.com, be sure to use your promo code FEB27 and mention this post in the notes to seller to get your discount!

Valentine's Day Outfits...For Him + Her

HAPPY FRIDAY!!  Don't know what to wear for your big date night next Friday (it's Valentine's Day if you didn't know)?!?  Well I am switching gears today, and doing something a little fun and different today.  Instead of talking about home decorating and design, I am talking a little fashion today!  (Warning:  I'm no expert in fashion, these are only my opinions!)

I have pulled together two looks for him and for her, that are super cute for a date night IN or a date night OUT!

Valentine’s Day is only a week away from today!  Do you have plans yet?  Do you usually go out to a fancy 5-star romantic dinner or stay in and make dinner together?  My hubby and I change every year.  Sometimes I feel like getting all dolled-up and going out, other years its been cold and we stay in, make a yummy dinner together, then just snuggle on the couch watching movies.    

We always, always get cupcakes from The Flying Cupcake!  Best cupcakes in town!  Hands down!  I can never choose between the Red Velvet Elvis (with chocolate chunks in it) or the Pretty in Pink (strawberry flavored), my two favorites, so I usually just buy one of each so we can have a little of both.  

Either way, here are some outfit ideas no matter what your V-Day plans are going to be.

The first look for the ladies is the “Date Night In” outfit.  A comfy, over-sized sweater with a heart.  Pair it with black tights and cozy slippers.  Keep the jewelry simple with heart shaped rings or earrings and a little leopard print!  Comfortable and cute for cuddling on the couch by the fire! My favorite accessories for staying in on Valentine's Day are cupcakes and a bottle of wine!     
 

The second look for the ladies is the “Date Night Out” with your man outfit!  I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.  So even a night out on the town is still pretty Casual and Comfortable for me with just a little glam in the accessories.  It starts with your perfect fitting pair of jeans, paired with a cute blouse.  This one from J.Crew has hearts on it.  Top it off with a black Blazer to make the look a little more formal.  Also, just by tucking the shirt in and adding a fun belt, takes the look from casual to formal.  Stack on the bracelets with a fancy watch, simple earrings, and a statement necklace.  Switch out your bulky, tall winter boots for cute, little booties like these for a more sexy, evening look.  This is a very realistic ‘night out on the town’ look for me.  Especially in the winter!  

The first look for the men is the “Date Night In” outfit with a layered look.  A t-shirt expressing his love for his woman layered over a henley.  :)  All wrapped up in a cozy J.Crew cardigan and casual jeans.

 

The second look for the men is the “Date Night Out” with your #1 lady outfit!  A little more polished but keeping it casual still.  We are a pretty cool + casual kind of couple, can you tell?!  Keeping the dark jeans, this time we start with a red plaid shirt layered under a nice shawl sweater also from J.Crew.  (just don’t call it a “shawl” sweater or your man won’t wear it.  It doesn't sound "manly").    Take his everyday look up a notch to make it an evening, date outfit with a dressy belt, a nice watch, a pair of nice dress shoes, and he better have flowers in hand!!  These are two looks my hubby would definitely wear!  (He might actually own half of these clothes already!)

A fun way to get you in the Valentine's Day spirit!  Even though I do think Valentine's Day is a little overrated, take it for what it is and just take the time to slow down with life, indulge in a Red Velvet Cupcake and a glass of wine or 3, and just appreciate the person you are with!  I am starting to like days like this more and more.  Life can get SO busy and overwhelming now a days, that it is days like this where we can just be still for a little while and appreciate life in general! 

We haven’t decided on our Valentine’s Day plans yet, but at least I now have outfit choices!!

**All of these looks were made by Jessica on Polyvore**

Trend Spotting...ARROWS

Because Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought I would talk about ARROWS for today's TREND SPOTTING!  

 

Arrows are the latest and hottest trend I am seeing everywhere!  And I mean everywhere!  In home decor, fashion, and jewelry.  It is also my latest and biggest obsession.  As you can see in my recent branding overhaul here on my blog.

All you have to do is search "arrows" on Etsy.com or Pinterest and you can get a sleuth of images and products that pop-up from pillows, artwork, wall decals, jewelry, washi tape, wedding invitations, and even dinner plates all with decorative arrow motifs.  It just goes to show that anything ARROW is in high demand right now!

Here are some of my favorite ARROW products...

1.  Arrow Ring - Copper and Dipped Enamel - Seafoam via MijuAndYou at Etsy.com
2.  Arrow Bookends via Pottery Barn
3.  Arrow Tea Towel via OllieJays at Etsy.com
4.  DIY Gold Leaf Arrows via Confetti and Stripes Blog
5.  Medium Arrow Tail Nesting Trays in Soft Tones via Ebonotti at Etsy.com
6.  Follow Your Arrow Pillow Cover via LouLouMade at Etsy.com
7.  "Tapestry" Wallpaper in Gray via Cavern Home

Here are some of my favorite ARROW fabrics...

all fabrics via Spoonflower

1.  Warm Beach House Ikat Chevron #2146451

2.  Arrows Gray #1454355

3.  A Shot in Black  #2237788

4.  Black Arrows  #2304130

5.  Arrows Pastel #2645182

6.  Watercolor Arrows in Neutral #2307971

This is one of my personal favorites.  I bought this Arrow Pendant Necklace from World Market last year, and I don't think I have taken it off since!  Just love the daintiness of it!

via Cost Plus World Market

Easy ways to bring this Trend into you Home...

The easiest, quickest, cheapest way to bring this new TREND into your home is with some DIY artwork.  You can search Etsy.com for a downloadable, printable image for as low as $5 or try making your own on your computer.  This one from PennyJaneDesign on Etsy.com is only $5 and it would look great framed for Valentine's Day. 

That's my ARROW round-up!  Hope you are inspired to bring in the ARROW TREND into your home and you can even leave it out long past Valentine's Day!

Getting My Dream Kitchen.....Kind Of!

I am really excited to share a new project I am working on in my home!  Finally, the first project of the New Year!  One step closer to my DREAM KITCHEN!  Kind of...

 

 

via Houzz

My husband and I bought our home almost 3 years ago now.  We have made some small upgrades in the home through the years, but one thing I have always wanted is a BACKSPLASH in our kitchen.  And I am finally getting one! 

So I might not be getting my dream kitchen quite yet, that's a bit of a stretch, but it has been a dream of mine to install a backsplash in my kitchen.  

A backsplash in my dreams would look something like this...

via Houzz

Our main reason for installing a backsplash in our kitchen is for resale value.  We know this isn’t our “forever” home, so anything we can do to make our home stand-out in a town home community where everyone’s home looks the same, is great for resale value.  We plan to be here for a couple of more years, but I want to enjoy having my beautiful backsplash before we move. 

We started our search at Lowe’s.  We had seen a backsplash tile there in the past that caught our eye, so we went back to look at it again to see if we still liked it as much as we did then, and now that we are serious about doing this.  And it's right around the corner, so a quick and easy errand run for a Sunday morning! 

This WON’T be a DIY project!  Let's not get crazy!  Even though I am confident we could tackle this project ourselves, when we thought about renting a saw, learning how to install tile, and the pressure of installing this backsplash to my high standards...we decided NO on the DIY!  We will be hiring a professional to make this happen for us!   

DECIDING ON TILE...

I was looking for something interesting and something a little different than your typical generic looking tile backsplash. These are the choices that I liked and Lowe’s had IN STOCK!  I was pleasantly surprised at the options and selections that Lowe’s did have.    

And their prices are spot on with what we are wanting to spend.  When doing a project like this solely for resale value, it won’t be worth the extra money to buy the most expensive tile.  Find one that is aesthetically pleasing but won’t break the bank.  Don’t forget to look at ALL of the tile.  In most cases, you can use floor tile on the wall as well.  So think outside the box to really make a statement.  

1. Allen + Roth genuine Stone White Marble Natural Stone Mosaic Floor Tile  $11.98 per sheet

2. Carra Pinwheel Marble Natural Stone Mosaic Basketweave Wall Tile  $11.98 per sheet

3. White Venatino Marble Natrual Stone Mosaic Wall Tile $10.38 sq. ft.

4. American Olean Starting Line White Gloss Ceramic Mosaic Subway Wall Tile  $3.64 per tile

5. American Olean Delfino Stone Smokey Topaz Mixed Material Mosaic Wall Tile $11.98 per sheet

6. Style Selections White Glazed Porcelain Mosaic Penny Round Wall Tile $5.44 sq. ft.

Herringbone patterned wall tile (#1) is a modern take on the traditional subway pattern.  LOVE THIS!  Maybe my next house....

via Houzz

Penny Round Tiles (#6) are making a come back!  They used to be a thing of the past in retro design or homes built anywhere from the 30's to 40's.  But with their sleek new colors and finishes, they can work in a modern home or a retro style home.  I love these as well!! And the price!

As you can see, I am drawn to MARBLE and BRIGHT WHITE!  But I just don’t think all marble is the right choice for our style kitchen.  So I am comprising and have decided on none of the above!  Instead, we chose this...

We've decided on a linear glass and stone blend, with a bit of MARBLE!  The white marble pieces will really brighten up the space against our dark walls and dark granite.

7.  Venatino Mixed Material Mosaic Wall Tile $10.98 per sheet

It helps to read the REVIEWS on materials if at all possible.  Luckily, Lowe's website had lots of GOOD reviews on this tile and even some customer photos to get an idea of what the tile will look like in our space.

via Lowe's

The same tile installed in a bathroom. (above)

The same backsplash tile installed in a kitchen with dark cabinets. (below)

via Lowe's

Don’t forget, you can get creative and change up the way you install the tile to change the look.  The popular linear tiles that come on a sheet can be installed vertically versus horizontally for a new twist.  It is a new contemporary twist on the design that can visually add height to a space.

via Houzz

Here's an overall idea of what our kitchen will look like with the new backsplash.

I love the way the backsplash we chose coordinates with our stainless steel appliances with a touch of silvery glass stones.  And the darker glass strips look great against the dark granite.  Our granite, which was existing when we purchased the home, has a great variety of colors in the stone, like sea greens, and silver and black.  So this tile brings out all of those colors in a perfect way!

The conclusion I have come to is this.  The tile we buy for this kitchen, won’t be my “dream” tile or what I would pick out for myself typically.  I almost have to look at this project as a “client” design.  After all, we are doing this project for resale value of the home and not so much my personal style, so I had to choose a tile that will be attractive to the mass market.  Now I just can't wait to see it completed!  (we still have a couple more weeks for that!)