{Tuesday Thoughts}

Trying to capture the last bits of summer's colorful beauty before we head into the pumpkins, lattes and vanillas of the Autumn season...she looks so calm and restful floating in a whimsical bath of petals. 

"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body."

- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Remember to enter the KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON giveaway to win your very own 18x24 print! 

*images via Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello

Makeover Monday: ART.COM GIVEAWAY!

Did you know...Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, to raise the morale of the British public in the case of invasion. It was little known and never used. The poster was rediscovered in 2000 and has been re-issued by a number of private sector companies, and used as the decorative theme for a range of other products.

Now's your chance to have your own Keep Calm and Carry On piece of art to give your own space a little makeover! This week I'm holding an Art.com giveaway where you could win either this red or teal 18x24 Giclee print worth $49.99! You pick!

I used these rooms to illustrate how either of these pieces could perfectly perk up and complete your living room (or bedroom, kids room, dining room...) with either a red print or a teal print!

So, here's the scoop: 

1. To enter the giveaway, simply visit Art.com to check out the vast array of prints, pictures, art and posters and leave a comment on this post telling me which piece is your favorite. The winner will be selected this weekend... good luck!

2. To receive an additional entry, you can link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.

3. Post about this giveaway on Twitter with a link to this blog post for another entry (follow @jamigoldsmith on twitter in order to show me your tweet). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your additional entry after tweeting about the giveaway.

4. Please follow imagine on the sidebar on the right. 

The winner will receive this red or teal 18x24 Giclee print worth $49.99! Framing is not included, but if you're in need of a little artistic assistance in choosing between the colors, then I'll be ready to assist!

*Domino room image from Brides.com, Living Room image via Decor Pad, Foyer image via Decor Pad

Fresh Find Friday!

Earlier this week, I sent out a tweet asking what kind of art people preferred - vintage, canvas, framed, abstract, watercolor... and this lovely lady responded with these...

Aedriel Moxley specializes in chic personalized earthenware for every occasion! All pieces are lovingly hand painted & kiln fired. Aedriel Moxley never uses paint pens, decals or stencils. If you're interested in a custom design, just contact her and she'll design something special for you!

Dine with them or hang them on your wall as art! You can also purchase "invisible plate hangers" from her Etsy store. Any occasion would be the perfect occasion for these little beauties...Ladies Night, Bridal or Baby Showers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations, Holiday Decorating...you name it, she can do it!  

Thursday's This + That

Fly away with me...

Hang this Copper Bird Pendant from your ceiling while dangling that little Birdcage Necklace around your neck.

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Will Style)

Yay! We're half way through the week and the weekend is right around the corner! My Blogger friend, Will from Bright Bazaar is serving up Peppermint Martinis here on imagine today. Normally, we think of peppermint as being a Christmas-time treat, but why not beat the heat with these minty martinis? 

For me weekends are all about going with the flow; some are crazily busy and some are quiet and chilled. Either way, come Friday evening I love to pop on my favourite tunes, light a scented candle and mix up some Peppermint Martinis. They are quick and easy to make, look great when entertaining and aren't too time consuming if you are just after a quick, but refreshing drink before heading out for dinner, or to meet friends. 

Impromptu entertaining is always the most fun and in fact, this weekend just gone, we ran into some friends whilst out shopping; we invited them back and made these very cocktails - they went down a treat! If preparing in advance I like to make five or six and line them up for guests to pick up as the arrive. I guess the old adage that things look better in multiples applies to cocktails, too... cheers!

Will, thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us today! I would've never thought of serving Peppermint Martinis in the middle of August, but the mint-i-ness would sure provide the coolness that is so needed in Southern California right now! I can't wait for the weekend!

*image from Sweet Paul

{Tuesday Thoughts}

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school." 

~Albert Einstein

This is the first Autumn in quite a while that I haven't prepared to head back to school as many of you and your children, I know are doing this week. I received my diploma in the mail today and I couldn't feel more accomplished! 

And the above statement couldn't be more true...for me at least! School and classes taught me masses, but actually working in the field and designing real projects have left me with unparalleled experience that cannot be taught with any textbook. 

*photos from Liz Bell Agency

Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

Today I'm heading to Pasadena with my client to pick out some bathroom hardware for the master bath remodel that I've been designing. Even if you're not remodeling your entire bathroom, there are a bunch of cheap and chic ways to freshen up your space! Here's a handful to get you going!  

1. Add fresh flowers. 2. If you’re running out of space to store toiletries, keep the overflow in a rustic wooden bowl or wire basket 3. Invest in new towels to replace any that are looking worse for wear. 4. Install new faucets for a quick upgrade. 5. Find a new use for an old chair by painting it a bright colour and stacking magazines on it.

*bath tips from Style At Home, Pink chair refinished by Absolutely Beautiful Things

Blogging + Fashion + Design in LA!

Last night, I had one of the most fun nights in Hollywood that I've had a in a while! Ashlina invited me to go with her to the Kelly Wearstler book signing event at Trina Turk in Los Angeles. 

I've never seen Kelly Wearstler in person or been to Trina Turk's store, so it was a night of firsts for me! I'm very familiar with Trina's clothing (I did a post on her Peacock Feather dress) and her home accessory line, but I had never actually stepped inside her lovely store. 

Both Trina and her store were very inviting! It just happens to be that Kelly Wearstler designed Trina's store in 2003. The decor is still fresh and relevant despite it being 7 years old! Kelly did a great job picking out furnishings and fixtures that wouldn't lose their luster or shock value after a year or so. 

I felt as if I were walking into a pink glass of champagne! The walls were covered in a soft pink wall covering with a wood texture, the tiles on the floor were also in a soft pink hue, and the light fixtures looked like champagne bubbles floating around the room! Trina told us that the soft pink really makes her clothes look good on shoppers and it brings out the rosi-ness in everyone's skin (hmmm....maybe I'll paint my bathroom/dressing area a light shade of rose!). 

Not only was it my first night meeting these huge icons in the fashion and design industry, it was also my first night meeting these lovely fellow LA design bloggers - Laura & Eileen, both of whom who in the Interior Design industry and share their passion with us through their blogs! Laura (Shop Design Spark) was so sweet to bring us all bracelets from her online store. So cute!

We met the girls at Sur, in West Hollywood. It was my second time to this quaint little restaurant, and let me tell you, I'm glad I went back! The host was extremely gracious and gave us a little tour of the place and the whole staff seemed to just jump off the pages of latest fashion magazine! 

The night was filled with old friends, new friends, blogging, fashion and design...couldn't get much better in my book! Have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy the last bits of summer before Autumn falls before us and we're all decked out in fashion like this!

Fresh Find Friday!

Just so you know...

you're going to be seeing a lot of leopard this Autumn. It's going to be everywhere from the runways to the walls! I'm in heaven.

Ralph Lauren Roberto Cavalli La Mer Alexander McQueen Nina New York Gold Nordstrom

*top photo from here

Thursday's This + That

Get wired...

Shop around with this Jayson Home and Garden Boucle Wire Shop Basket and come home to rest your weary body on that CB2 Reed Chair.

*While rolling through your daily blogs reads, please hop on over to Odi et Amo today. I'm sharing all my designer shopping secrets!

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Staci Style)

Staci's in the house! Raspberry Mojitos is what Staci from Staci Edwards Design is serving today! Not only is she slinging drinks, but she's letting us know how she spends her oh-so-precious weekends. I recently met Staci on Twitter and I was immediately drawn to her bubbly personality that is evident even through her tweets! So, without further ado, take it away Staci! 

Hello to all the readers at Imagine! My favorite way to spend my weekend is by doing nothing! I find my weeks are so busy, that by the weekend I am ready to relax, don’t you? Anyway, my dream weekend would be to sleep in on Saturday morning, squeeze in a little work out before packing a bag for a little weekend getaway with my darling Adam. We’d spend a few hours in the car heading up north to cottage country {with me singing Pat Benatar no doubt} and stop for refreshments and ice cream in one of the small towns as we go. We would arrive at the small and trendy resort to settle in and do a little reading on the patio. Next we would change and head to dinner where we would split a bottle of pinot noir and enjoy a spectacular meal! We would then retire to our room to enjoy another glass while chatting and looking at the stars on our patio {with ample bug spray on of course}. The next morning I would sleep in even longer and enjoy a light breakfast before we make our way to the lake. Our morning would be spent lounging on a dock, taking dips in the lake and reading magazines. I would interrupt Adam every 5 minutes to tell him something funny or interesting I have read, he would roll his eyes every time, and we would laugh - at least that’s what usually happens. We would then head into town and do a little shopping, have lunch, and more ice cream {it is my ideal weekend after all} before heading back home. 

Once home we are never ready to let the weekend end so we would have dinner and enjoy a cocktail or two in our backyard, whether it is just the two of us or with a few guests… Which would be the perfect time to serve Raspberry Mojitos, which is the drink that I’m sharing with you today!

Thanks, Staci! I love this series mainly because I get to try all these cocktails that I've never even heard of! Luckily, my guy and I entertain quite a bit, so we always have a liquor cupboard stock full of various liquors. This raspberry mojito will be the perfect cocktail to serve at this weekend's BBQ by the pool! 

*image via a la carte kitchen

{Tuesday Thoughts}

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

― Buddha

Living in the present has always been a conscious effort on my part, I've never just been able to naturally do it. I always seem to be caught up in my thoughts with what I have to do next. I'm an expert multi-tasker, which at times, can be a curse! Watching Eat Pray Love, the movie, this weekend gave me a reminder that true joy can be found every single second of the day, as long as we are "there" in that second. I know that I'm not alone...what do you do to live presently? 

*photo via Lauren Max

Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

1) Buy a photography or botanical book, take a razor blade, and cut it up. It's not sacred. Put a dozen pages (the more, the better) in matching inexpensive frames, and hang them in a row or a block 2) Buy a big pretty tray — try lacquer. Take all the things on your coffee table and arrange them on the tray for a whole new pulled-together look 3) Paint a white paper lampshade your favorite color — the color you'll never find in the lampshade department 4) If you have a modern room, make yourself buy one traditional thing, like an old ceramic bowl or brass candlesticks with beeswax candles 5) Create book storage wall space in and around a passageway or above a door frame

*tips from House Beautiful

Fresh Find Friday!

Feeling a tad bit nostalgic for the good ol' blue & gold...

Metallicy indigo + golden goodness from AREAWARE = fresh finds. I'm curious, what was your high school mascot? School colors? 

Thursday's This + That

aqua + tangerine cubism & wedges = cool sunny delight!

Punctuate your pad with this set of Jonathan Adler Laquer Nesting Cubes and prance around in that pair of eco-friendly Beyond Skin Women's Sunny Platform Sandals.

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Julieann Style)

Hello everyone! Today I have Julieann from Create Girl & Jace Interiors behind the bar serving up Pimms Cup! Just because I loved the previous Pimms recipe Helena shared with us and since I had never heard of the drink before then, I thought it would be great to feature it again here on imagine! I love how colorful and summery this little cocktail is, so join in the fun, read on about Julieann's favorite way to spend her summer weekends and add these ingredients to your grocery list!

My favorite way to spend a summer weekend. It would start with an early morning at the flea market finding great finds for myself and my clients than would move to the beach where I would enjoy myself without iPhone and just my beach read. The next day would be spent exploring the city. I love walking around the streets of Boston admiring all the architecture and hidden streets than I would gather friends and family for a late afternoon dinner on the deck! Sunday is my absolute favorite day to entertain, nothing is better than a long casual dinner to end the weekend!

My favorite drink is absolutely a Pimms Cup. When I lived in London a big pitcher would always be sitting on the restaurants bar for lunch and dinner ready to be served! The fruit slices and sprite make it the perfect summer drink, it is so refreshing! This would be great for summer dinner party...for one just cut down the recipe to one pitcher!

Thank you Julieann for taking over the bar for me today! This drink is fresh and vibrant and has been a total hit at our last couple summer get-togethers! Take it from Julieann and I, it's a good one!

*recipe and photo from Sunset

{Tuesday Thoughts}

“We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.”

― E.B. White

*images from Liz Bell Agency

Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

With about a month remaining of this beautiful summer, I can't help but continue on with my outdoor/backyard makeovers! Summer has always been my favorite season and I love spending the majority of my sunshiny minutes outdoors - so why not make it beautiful? Here's a handful of summer makeover tips that can help make your space blissfully beautiful!

1) Hang a mirror in your outdoor room 2) Bring your favorite piece of outdoor furniture indoors 3) Replace your ten-ton coffee table with two ceramic Chinese garden seats. Or a big ottoman with room for everything and your feet, too 4) Pull apart a big inexpensive mixed bouquet from the supermarket. Group similar flowers and put them in small vases. You'll have some for every room 5) Mix fresh herbs into your flower arrangement, instead of florist filler.

*tips from House Beautiful

Strawberry Fields Bunny WINNER!

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

the winner is Ludmila of The Creamy Life! Congratulations!

Fresh Find Friday!

Just a really cute online store...

...with some really cute home accessories! Apartment 48 New York.

Have a great weekend everyone! I'm planning on hanging out with Ashlina {The Decorista} & Crystal from Plush Palate + Rue Magazine this Sunday in LA. If any of you bloggers in the LA area are interested in meeting up with us, email me and I'll give you details. We're looking to have more LA Blogger meet-ups in the future, so shoot me an email if you're interested! 

I hope you all have heard about my latest giveaway and have entered (it ends this Sunday)! Alison has some really pretty artwork, so be sure to check it out here or on the side bar to enter!

Thursday's This + That

I've got a thing for peacocks...

Strut your stuff like a proud peacock in this Trina Turk Nomadic Peacock Chiara Dress and dress your wall with that Peacock - original watercolor painting by Alison Fennell.

{You could win an Alison Fennell original}

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! 

Enter my Strawberry Fields Bunny original 8x10 watercolor giveaway!

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Jaime Style)

Sometimes less is more and Jaime from La vie J'aime proves this today while she is serving up one of her favorite summer cocktails: St-Germain & Champagne. Pull up a stool, order a cocktail and listen as Jaime shares with us her favorite way to spend her summer weekends from behind the imagine bar! 

My favorite summer weekend is heading down to the Cape, aka Cape Cod. It's just an hour or so drive from Boston...you tack on a bit more time with weekend traffic(!), but it's totally worth the wait. Not only can you enjoy the best seafood (fried clamsand lobster rolls are my picks), but the Cape has some of the best and most beautiful, sandy beaches in New England. If you are heading up anytime the remainder of this summer, watch the waters for sharks.... Yes, there have been several great white sitings, eek!

My favorite cocktail is St. Germain & Champagne. While I enjoy it year-round, I love it in the summer because it's sweet (but not too sweet), bubbly, and refreshing! I also love it because it's just 2 (or 3) ingredients, and anyone who reads my blog, knows I am not quite the best cook.

Thanks, Jaime! I love how this drink is composed of only a couple ingredients and there are slight variations on the recipe, which you can alter to your taste! This one is going in my recipe box! 

*image from The Nibble, recipe from St-Germain

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! 

Enter my Strawberry Fields Bunny original 8x10 watercolor giveaway!

{Tuesday Thoughts}

Wow! Talk about a punch of color and pattern, yet not overwhelming. I love this wallcovering! The designer, Sara Story, used orange (an unlikely choice for the bedroom) as well as a large pattern, covering all four walls of the bedroom. While packing a punch with color, she toned it down with the materials and furnishings, like the soft headboard with nailhead trim, creamy drapery with matching rods and natural colored nightstands with coordinating light fixtures. Even the flooring and carpet are covered in cream tones. 

"Do not be afraid of large patterns, if properly designed they are more restful to the eye than small ones: on the whole, a pattern where the structure is large and the details much broken up is the most useful...very small rooms, as well as very large ones, look better ornamented with large patterns."

-William Morris

What are your thoughts? Do you like seeing big patterns like this? Are you a fan of wallcoverings or wallpaper? 

Please remember to enter my latest giveaway! You could win that pretty little pink bunny right there on the right side bar! Help spread the word and enter here! Thanks and good luck!

*photos from: Sara Story Design

Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

Good morning and Happy August! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! On Friday, I announced an awesome giveaway that I'm hosting all this week and I'd love for you to enter! It's from the very talented Etsy artist, Alison Fennell. I think the piece she is giving away would look perfect in a little girl's room and it's inspired me to do a bit of research on decorating for children. Here are some ideas for decorating a little princess's room...

Bed of Dreams

Didn’t you always want a have a canopy over your bed, when you were a child? Tack one up to transform your daughter’s room into the bedroom of her dreams.

Pretty Storage

Use decorative under-the-bed storage containers for a fun and functional approach to small-space organizing. Mixing yellow and pink will avoid the rose-colored glasses effect.

Feel the Drama

Bring drama to her room with eye-popping colors and textural elements like faux fur, velvets and tassels.

Something Your Size

Mix in an adult size piece of furniture to make the room a space that’s comfortable for you and your little one. Cozy up together with a book.

Shared Space, Personal Place

In a shared room, using two colors that the kids can help pick out will give each sibling a feeling of ownership over their room.

Grand and Girly

Add an element of grandeur like a jewel-tone chandelier or floral wallpaper to make a standout room that will make your daughter feel like a queen.

Now go check out the Strawberry Bunny GIVEAWAY and enter to win! You could start re-decorating your own room fit for a princess! 

*ideas from iVillage