{book: Peace Meals cookbook}

I recently was told about this book, and promptly ordered it here .

This time of year makes me start thinking about Spring dinner parties and the summer spent with friends and family. These occassions, whether casual or formal, always revolve around food- and I'm always looking for new ways to entertain. I love this book not only for the recipes (which all come from The Junior League of Houston, and some of their chef friends), but also for their tablescapes, complete menu ideas, and party prep/setup.

Those Texas girls have lots of great ideas! Now all I need is to get an invite to one of their parties and check it out first hand.

{book bargain: 30,000 years of art}

I just ordered this book on amazon , received it yesterday, and felt compelled to share. I'm constantly updating my collection of books and have boxes at my door everyday.

Now, I'm no book snob, and am just always feeding my voracious appetite for words and pictures due to my constant need of stimulation. I find that stimulation in books.

This book, with 1072 pages and 1000 high-quality color illustrations is an absolute bargain, on sale for $32.97. If you love art, history, or just need a big important looking book for your coffee table... you will love this book!

{book: Building With Reclaimed Material}

I was recently at a warehouse hunting down old barn wood for the floors of my cabin that is being renovated, and stumbled upon this book. It was a wonderful find for anyone that needs fresh ideas for old materials. You will love the pictures of how they mixed the woods with reclaimed marble, and stone. I found the book on Amazon.com. Let me know what you think.

{design: books, cases, and libraries}

I recently saw on blogger Alkemie's click here blog, her amazing post on home libraries. I was swept away, because I too, am obsessed with bookcases and books. I'm having some beautiful, ceiling high, bookcases built into the new addition of the cabin, and was thrilled to see these ideas.

Do you remember when JFK Jr. gave the interview about his mothers' passing, and he said, "She was surrounded by her friends and her family and her books and the people and the things that she loved." That has always stuck with me, not only because he was talking about the great, Jackie O., but because her books made the top three list, right up there with her friends and family, all the way to the end.

I searched for the picture of an incredible library/dining room that I've saved for years but couldn't find in time for this post. UGH.

Karl Lagerfeld's impressive book room. How cool that they are all placed horizontally.

Alkemie's book recommendation available from Amazon.

I also have this pic in my Design/Inspriation book, and am using it as a guide for an existing room in the cabin that I want to transform into a room like this.
I hope you are as inspired by these pics as I am! I've sat and inspected every last detail a thousand times... obsessed.

{books: design book shopping}

a good article in the NY Times about LA based interior designer, Kelly Wearstler, and her quest for design books. i myself am overly obsessed with design books, and have tons of them, several of which are penned by ms. wearstler herself. that being said, i like her design aesthetic, very LA and hotel-ish, which is not my first choice of design, but she makes it work. what i do like about her, although, to date, i have not met her personally... but i like that she seems a little off and kooky. so much more interesting than, on and predictable. go kelly.

click here for NY Times article