Decor to Die For: Slab it to me...We heart Marble topped yumminess!

Ooooohhhhh sooo chic, so vintage yet totally modern, crazy classic with out being boring, cold in the warmest way and clean but not in a hospital kinda way. We are talkin' 'bout marble people.

Yes, that white rock from the metamorphosis of limestone...the gorgeous one with pale grey (and sometimes pinky tan) veins running through it.

There are about 5 different kinds of white marble but we will spare you the Nat Geo detail and get to the good stuff.

We could never even begin to talk about our super heartfulness in Heartville without first showing a picture of the most magnificent piece (well pieces really ) of marble ever created by man.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. It is said that it was built in honor of an Emperor's wife after she died giving birth to their 14th child....

Um, yeah boys?...We better get something along those lines if you want 14 children pushed out of our honey pots.

But we digress...we Heart white marble!

Our most favoritest ways to get our fill of marble is as in the kitchen...we lied...all of the following ways are our faves. But we do get a wee bit faint of heart when we see a beautifully done kitchen in marble...

Don't or can't do marble in your den o' food and yumminess? Try this gorgeous marble top french industrial-esque island from Crate and Barrel.

Big enough to use as a food station or bar and storage and small enough to be affordable and totally mobile around your abode.

We loooove open storage PS.

No room in your kitchen? Try their dining table version. Sooooooo good!!!!!!

We love the contrast between the black and white...

Oh how amazing would pink peonies in silver or black vases look on top of this table!

YES SI VOUS PLAIT!!!!

Oh hee hee kinda like this TDF dining table!!!!

OMFG!!!!!!! And those pendant lights? No words except...done and done....

Oh...ya know where else we heart white slabs o' love? In the place it goes best and easiest...the place of peace and solitude....the bathroom

Huh....somebody...and for sure not me...has a bathroom reminiscent of this Tiffany blue bathroom...Her's may be a more classic metropolitan version but we get a bit sick (in a good way) every time we see it

Yummy yummy yummmy!

If we were allowed to do a guest bathroom over we would absolutely looove to have it look kinda like this! So chic and parisian-esque...who would'a thunk it is from Pottery Barn?
Chrome or polished nickel were born to marry white marble. And that cute hexagon floor! Wooooo...we are breakin' a sweat!

Um...hmmmmm....we are both on a never ending quest to finish decorating our houses...no seriously NEVER ENDING! Have you ever tried to mix your style with your lover? Yeah then you get it...

But the one thing both of our loves have 100% agreed with both of us on these crazy sexy tulip side tables from the vintage modern designer, Eero Saarinen.
It's perfect. Light with out being girlie...substantial with out getting in the way...clean with out being untouchable and can go with almost any style. Wooo hooo... We'll take 2 please!

Oh good God! Hello stunningly silly Saarinen Tulip Dining Table!!!
Yup this marble topped mommy to the side table we heart is sooooooo perfect for any dining area. They paired this one with the matching Tulip chairs for Knoll, but we would love to spice it up with chairs that don't quite match as well. But geesh this table is great!

You can get really really good copies of these tables at places like Ikea and Room Service to get you started...You're Welcome!

Uggghhhhhhhh to the 100% power.... LOVE this foyer that welcomes you with a gorge tulip table and bent wood chairs!
The warmth and modernness of the chairs makes the elegant Saarinen table a bit more comfortable...well done! We are JEALOUS!

So we have established that marble hearts kitchens, bathrooms, dining areas....what about coffee tables? Yup it totally does!
Lover? JN? Do you like this one or too round and modern?

This CB2 coffee table would totally die to be with a navy velvet couch and would easily elevate any space with chicness.

You friends would walk in and say, "J'adorable place!"

Sometimes marble can do not so nice things....Sorry Goddess of our lives Kelly Wearstler but it's true.
We super get what you are doing here but yikes! We will stop there since we lurve her...

Marble is a crazy easy way to sleek-ify, Paris-ify and classic-ify any space...try Craigslist and vintage furniture stores for good deals if you wanna try a wee bit o' marble yourself...

xoxo things we heart

Yummies: We Heart Goodies As Gifts!

Give your loved ones something you know they will like...something they won't have to return, try on, pretend to love or wear every time they see you.

Unlock your inner Martha this season!

Make them some love! During these crazy times where moolah is tight and most peoples jobs are as unstable as walking on a tightrope, making your loved ones gifts is the best thing!

No one can resist gorgeously wrapped goodies this time of year...(and PS diets actually go into reverse until Jan, so anything you or they eat doesn't count)...handing someone a box of homemade love is the best one they will get (unless they get a pair of Brian Atwood stilettos or a Rick Owens jacket..but I bet the cookies will get waaaay more love)

And making and baking does not have to be hard! We are gonna show you a few of the yummiest, easiest and super cute Goodies as Gift ideas we could find *

They have all been tested by my belly and they totally pass the tests.

You know when you get those "retro" tins filled with store bought butter cookies that are so fake tasting they actually taste like old coconuts instead of butter?

Well, save the tin...feed the cookies to the furry friends in your local park....and replace them with something you made!

Everyone will swoon...we promise.

The best thing to put in those tins is some TDF white choc bark!

Great way to give edible gifts...in a cake stand! A GIFT IN A GIFT!

Bark is minty, melty, smooth, creamy and chocolatey...UM HI...YOU CAN"T GO WRONG! Sorry for yelling ;)

Ingredients

17 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), finely chopped
30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)
7 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

1. Turn large baking sheet bottom side up. Cover securely with foil. Mark 12-x-9-inch rectangle on foil.
2. Stir white chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth and candy thermometer registers 110°F. (chocolate will feel warm to touch). Remove from over water.
3. Pour 2/3 cup melted white chocolate onto rectangle on foil. Using icing spatula, spread chocolate to fill rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermints. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.
4. 
5. Stir bittersweet chocolate, cream and peppermint extract in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until just melted and smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes.
6. Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture in long lines over white chocolate rectangle. Using icing spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate in even layer. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.
7. 
8. Rewarm remaining white chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F.
9. Working quickly, pour white chocolate over firm bittersweet chocolate layer; spread to cover. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermints. Chill just until firm, about 20 minutes.
10. 
11. Lift foil with bark onto work surface; trim edges.
12. Cut bark crosswise into 2-inch-wide strips. Using metal spatula, slide bark off foil and onto work surface. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 sections and each section diagonally into 2 triangles.

Oh...if you are too busy to make...Williams Sonoma has the yummiest bark around and it comes in a tin.

Not quite as cute as this vintage one we found on Etsy but almost....cuz the Etsy one you made!!!

OMFG! Please help us! Please! We are dying to use this "vintage" egg crate for something and me thinks me just figured it out!

Create some unbelivable homemade fudge (waaaay easier to do than you think and waaaay yummier than you remember) roll into truffle like balls...OH WAIT! You can make truffles too!!!

OK sorry.. create truffles or fudge balls...roll into cocoa and place in this super ridiculously cute turq egg crate!!!! Wrap with celophane and a big black and white striped bow and tada!

Best gift ever!

Are you in the mood to make some crazy yummy cookies like the ones from Bittersweet LA?

We found a cookoo crazy easy recipe for "Snowballs"

They are minty sugar cookies that you can make from a store bought mix...add a few personal touches and voila! Home made lovin' ;)***

Put these suuuper cute cookies in a big apothecary jar from Crate and Barrel (IKEA has ones too) tie a red grosgrain bow around the neck and you are the queen of cutey mcgoos.

**Bittersweet LA does not use mixes we are told...they only make super yummy homemade goodies**

OK..OK it's time for the reason we did this post...the thing that would make Mrs. Fields proud...

Magic Bars...they are essentially 7 layer bars but with a few different ingredients for the crust.

The owner of Bittersweet made these last night for her King of the castle and the word on the street is he snuck down stairs after she fell asleep and ate most of them.

Magic Cookie Bars

• 1 cup whole wheat graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 Tb brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
• 1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
• 1 cups flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 325°F . Line a 8x8-inch baking pan.

2. In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, oatmeal, brown sugar, and butter; mix well.

Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of baking pan.

3. Sprinkle chocolate chips, coconut and pecans on top. Pour the condensed milk evenly.

4. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until slightly golden on top.

5. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan.

Oh...and the best part? Besides the flavor that is...they take 40 min start to finish! Wooo hooo!

These would look suuuper cute in a white cardboard box from Michaels Crafts or Container Store filled with festive tissue paper.

Put a great label on the outside and you are super GTG (Good To Go)

We heart these MS labels from Michael's...

And for the reason we heart this post soooo much...the packaging that made us giggle, swoon, envy (in a good way) and recreate and give to friends...

Homemade Vanilla Hot Cocoa powder...and the wrapping is almost as yummy as what is inside.

Grab some vintage-y MS labels from you local Michael's Crafts, ribbon, old school lunch bags and a silvery Sharpie and your friends will vote you best gift giver.

All of the above gifts make AMAZING Host gifts as well or just thank you for people in your life or neighbors (the ones you like...we can think of something else to put in that hot cocoa bag above for the neighbors you don't like but this is a nice post so we will be good).

Festive poster containers make suuuper rad cookie holders! Go to Container Store for some!

We love Tiny Prints for custom gift tags or find some amazing DIY templates and put on these ridiculously divine stickers from Miss S...soooo good!!!

Find these Vintage-esque labels at Michaels...or this suuuuper cute tissue at CS.....

Be recessionista chic! Make your gifts and be the sexiest, cutest gift giver ever!!!

XOXO things-we-heart

Thursday: Bedknobs and Broomsticks

(Princess and the pea) 

Recently while on vacation with some friends, we started talking about the beds at the hotel... 

The group was split down the middle about whether the beds were amazing or horrible! 

I couldn't believe it... I thought that the bed was so soft and comfy I could stay in it forever, my husband thought it was WAY to soft and made his back hurt.

Since our group was split in the middle we could never figure out who was right... 

(Lucy & Ricky)

But when we cam home and slept in our own bed, we both agreed that it was super No Bueno! (Perhaps this is linked to my insomnia)  And so the hunt begins for a new bed! 

This makes for a happy Miss Me since the old bed came along with us during our move and although it is beautiful, it isn't the right style for the new house! 

Here are a few of the amazing beds out there... with so many choices how is a girl to decide what to do? 

Well, if I were a kooky millionaire I may spend $28,000

on this floating bed! 

(Bed by David Trubridge, a New Zealand designer.)

It is so whimsical and beautiful, it reminded me of this painting by Waterhouse. 

Sadly, while I am kooky, I just don't think that I have the funds to buy a boat bed, at least not this one. 

But a sleigh bed is a little like a boat, and even better when it is cushioned and upholstered! This beauty from interior gurus Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is so lovely, you may just want to stay in bed all day. I love the smokey blue color. 

This would look fantastic with the Kelly Wearstler for Sferra 

bedding!! Oh stop me now I am getting ahead of myself! 

Because Restoration Hardware has this stunning Warner bed!  I have been really jonesing for a soft cushiony bed. Being that we have a four poster teak bed right now... This looks like it may be what I am looking for.

The Warner bed is not only a cushiony upholstered dream, it has satin nickel nail heads!!! Calgon take me away! P.S.. This bed is available in a number of colors and fabrics. So if by chance your husband says this one is too "Beigey" then you are in luck! 

Ok, so you are gonna have to excuse the really bad brothel style lace bedding in this picture... Remember we don't style these! 

Instead of the bedding focus your attention on the actual bed... I know it is hard for me too. 

But this bed is really cute, and guess what? It is affordable too!* 

(*For an upholstered number)

From The Bean Bag Store of all places! 

Feeling crafty? Time to break out the stencils, take a cue from this bedroom done by Catherine Golden winner of Domino magazine's first ever decorating contest 

(And sadly their last :() and featured in Domino mag. 

(Domino) 

Not only did she hand stencil her white bed, she did it with chartreuse, in a baby blue room and then added a lime green throw pillow!! And to top it all off she had her beautiful chair upholstered in white with hot pink banding... This is one girl who is not afraid to mix color and boy does she do it well! Check out her house here. 

Go ahead and try your hand at painting your bed with this super light and airy 4 poster from Swedish Super Store Ikea!! (We heart Sweden!) 

This pretty bed retails for $299 for a queen size! 

So recessionistas this one is for you! 

Did we mention that we heart Sweden? Well here is another reason. Ikea has this really cute and stylish upholstered bed also a recessionista special at $399 for a queen. Once again, use your imagination to picture better bedding and place this bed in your sunshine yellow room! 

Maybe you are looking for something a little bit more cutting edge and unusual? 

Well, feast your eyes on this piece of work. 

(Photo by Annie Schlechter, Domino May 2007)

Not only is this bed super gorgeous and bold, but I love the benches at the foot of the bed. I don't know who makes this bed.. But I will bet my last dollar it is super expensive! 

In the jungle the mighty jungle, you can sleep tonight.

Well, if you have this super fabulous and exotic Ikat headboard from Anthropologie you will feel like you are sleeping in the jungle. 

(Anthropologie) 

Wow, this is so me I can hardly stand it! But alas, I already have Ikat curtains and I am afraid that would be a little too much even for me! 

The direction I'm headed is a little more soft and subtle, I am really loving this bed from Crate and Barrel.
I heart how simple and clean it is and how you could really let the bedding make the statement in your room. 

Plus, check out those nail-heads!! Yep, I'm a sucker for them! 

The Colette bed is available in three colors. 

Remember when we told you about being in super hearts-ville with Pottery Barn Teen? 

Well here are two more reasons the love affair continues. 

Super clean and chic, the Lewis headboard comes in three colors kelly green, bright pink, and brown. Wow if you had a giant room and three little girls you could be in preppy bedroom heaven! But that is the mommy in me talking.. You could also make a super modern and sleek bedroom for the savvy single girl. 

How about this beauty? Put this pretty Tiffany blue headboard in a brown and white room and you just classed up pottery barn teen! 

No one will be the wiser! 

This tufted velvet version of the Lewis headboard is on SALE now. 

So don't snooze! (haha) 

Please let us know if there are any wonderful beds we have missed! 

Happy bed hunting! 

And remember any bed is a good bed, if you have the right person to share it with. 

XOXO- Things-We-Heart