Decor to Die For: Book Worm

If you are anything like us (even when we lived in our cutie bean apartments the ole H'wood) we looove a good book on display. Everything from gorge coffee table books, to our fave decor books, and the books we get lost in.

Nothing tells a better story (haha we are talking books and said "nothing tells a story" ..funny) about you like the books you keep.

But what happens after you read them? How do you part with a great book that changed your life or even just took you on a journey away from your real life?

2 things...

1. Donate them to schools, book trucks, Goodwill....

2. Decorate with them! Display them...they are a part of you now. Why shove them under a bed or in a tired old bookshelf?

Here are a few of our fave ways to display your readings...besides just stacking them up on a coffee table (yes, i am talking to you Mr. TWH)

OK...so you know we are getting a wee bit obsessed with Lucite everything...so it will be no surprise that we totally uberly heart this way to show off your books.

So casual, yet totally chic when stacked under a clear bedside table....

Oh, what's that? You don't have a bedside table? No problem!
Stack your faves (to about the same height) next to you and put up a cute vintage lamp...voila! Chic bedside table. OH..PS...just make sure the rest of your room is crispy and clean...that way it will look stylish and not "Oooops I need to take a trip to IKEA and pick up a cheap pair of tables"

Uuuuggghhhhh!!!! We are dying over this room and how they display their books!! And hanging a dress as art? YES PLEASE!!!!!

The black walls and the crisp (yes a bit too opulent) furniture are perfect backdrops for the bright book covers to look like perfect works of art.

*** We also need to state here...when ever displaying books...stack them in different directions. On their sides, up, diagonal, between collectables....***

Yummy, yummy, in my tummy of my brain!!!!!! This gloriously beautiful yet tiny NYC apartment comes alive with all of the stories they have collected!!!

Love the wall made into a mini library and how all of the white is the perfect backdrop for the books and collectables...See how they stacked them here too?

OK....DEEP BREATH...deep! Now breathe out....and in....and...AHHHHHH!!!

Give...us....please! With a cherry on top! (not moschino cherry...a real one!) Organizing and displaying books by the color of the cover is Tres Chic! No need for anything else with that wall of popping color!

Remember above? Yup...stack your big coffee table books up to make a divine end table.

Throw a beautiful candle on top and voila!

Still not sure what to do? Make a book shelf from your books!
Love the theme here ;)

Here we go again....how fucking gorgeous is this room filled with books??!?!?!?!

The crispy white, the lucite, the powder blue ceilings, the stunning objects against the walls of bright and perfectly displayed books? Done and perfectly done!!!!

A beautiful chair is a good a place as any to display your faves!

But what good is a great book with out a perfect place to read it? Get your self a reading nook!

Hello beautiful and welcoming reading nook! How are you? Perfectly feminine with a pop of all of our fave colors? Yup...you are yummy!

Nothing says serious reading goes on in this nook like the joys of masculine yet totally chic greys and blues! Get a pipe and you are good to go!

We love the partnership reading going on in this slick and sleek mini library nook...
And that floor? TDF! You and your partner can have a read-off!

Hello seaside perfection....this nook is glorious! Sooooo welcoming and cozy!!!!

P.S. You don't need a big space to create a reading nook...here are a few easy breezy steps to get your own...

1. Get a great chair...flea market or salvation army and reupholster yourself! go here to learn how

2. Plug in a cute light or lamp

3. Throw on a cozy blanket

4. Grab a small side table (or make one of books) to hold your candle wine or hot cocoa

5. And of course a good book

What ever you read, collect, display...do it with love and intentions....you will kiss us later ;)

xoxo things we heart

Random Hearts: Kung Fu.. And Kung Fu films.

There is Mr. Miss Me's favorite Kung Fu....

The two tiny, junior Mr. Miss Me's favorite Kung Fu....

And now we have the brand new Karate Kid turned Kung Fu...

And yes, we will take your Kung Fu anyway you want to serve it.

Because we are desperately in love with the fluid and graceful movements of this martial art.

When you mix these awe inspiring, gravity defying stunts with the breathtaking beauty of the Chinese landscape... You have us 100%.

If you want to see the most beautiful images you have ever seen.

If you want to be awed by the most insane art direction and set design and costumes.

Do yourself a favor and watch House of Flying Daggers.

We promise you will not be sorry. And really, if you are we feel sorry for you.

Hello, Hero.

It is almost too much beauty to take.

When you say beauty and Kung Fu in the same breath...

You have to say Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Love stories beyond measure and serious ass-kicking? What makes a better couples movie night?

But it is not all stunning vistas and forbidden love.

Some films are just serious ass-kicking badness!

And as a girl I am ok with that sometimes... especially if Bruce Lee comes into the picture.

Bruce, that body is just redic! totes redic.

And you can have a laugh with Kung Fu too.

Pretty Much anything with Jackie Chan is good for a snuggle up and giggle movie fest.

So pretty much, what we are trying to say is... We love you Kung Fu.

Show no Mercy.... Keep sending the Kung Fu our way.

Next up... The Last Air Bender.

We are so super excited for this.. One of our favorite cartoons,

made into a epic live action film by one of our favorite ever directors....

Yes, the principal cast is strangely devoid of Asian actors....

O.K yes Dev Patel is holding it down for the Continent, but somehow we never caught on the the Fire Nation was India. Hmmm.

Maybe the actress playing Katara is Russian... Considered Asian in Hollywood?

Regardless we are super excited to see this one!

Everybody go Kung Fu fighting...

XOXO- Things-We-Heart

Yummies: Get ready...Get set...Cobble! We heart summer fruit crumbles!!!

Tear....drool....growl...lick....BLISS!!!!!

We heart summer fruit cobblers!!!! I mean who doesn't???!?!? No seriously... we want to meet them right this second to have a word with them and ask...politely...why they are so crazy!!!

Find the recipe for this TDF, eat it all in one sitting, perfect peach crisp here!

Cobbler...crumble...crumbler...cobber...what ever you call 'em we heart 'em.

OK,

there actually is a difference (not in this post cuz we are equal opportunity dessert lovers). A cobbler tends to have a more bready, sweet dough-y top,

while a crumble has a sweet, well crumbly crumble on top.

But which ever you please they are all SUPER easy to make. Shhhhh...no one will know!

Dear mom...THANK YOU for making us that ridiculously yummy mixed berry crumble the other day! Wait...No...NO thank you! We ate the whole thing!

It was filled to the brim with fresh summer berries and had the most yummy crumbly mix on top!

Since her recipe is tip top secret...we found one that we love to use from the food network.

You're welcome!

Oh jeesh...hold on to your pants...this one is gonna hurt! This apple crobbler (it's a perfecto mix of the 2) is sooooo good!!!!

Ingredients

Filling:

• 4 large Golden Delicious apples (about 3 pounds)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Topping:

• 1 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch fine salt
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch slices. Place apples in a large mixing bowl and toss with sugar, lemon juice, flour, and cinnamon. Pour into a lightly greased 9 by 13-inch baking dish, and spread out into an even layer. Set aside.

In another large bowl, mix together the nuts, flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, gently work in the cold butter until pea-sized lumps are formed.

Top apples evenly with mixture and bake until apples are bubbly and topping is golden brown, about 45 minutes, rotating once halfway through cooking.

Just save some for us por favor.

Ding...dong! Who is it? Amazingness? Amazingness who? The amazing blackberry cobbler to make all other cobblers jealous!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or margarine, divided
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
• 1/3 cup milk, room temperature
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices (syrup will be absorbed). Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm or cold. (*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)

And last but not the least bit least...a hybrid of a cobbler and heaven...Madame Martha's peach and blackberry triffle.

Outta my way pizza in the oven...I gotta triffle comin my way!!!!

Get the ridiculously mouth watering recipe here!

P.S. Take full and unabashed advantage of your local farmers markets to get the yummiest...freshest...farm raised...local summer fruits for the bestest desserts EVER!!!

P.P.S. Beware, your friends and family may ask you to make these yummies again...and again...and again...

And you can't...CAN NOT have a warm, gooey, tart crumble with out a heaping scoop of...ICE CREAM!!!

Take advantage of summer yumminess! Bake a cobbler or crisp for the ones you heart...or just for yourself...cuz you deserve a lil sweet!

xoxo things we heart