House of Earnest

May 7, 2013

Shopping it Simple for Mother’s Day

ONE rosewater driftwood kitchen set from caldrea TWO petit four plates from BHLDN (come in a set of eight) THREE glass dome serving tray from red envelope FOUR kristen kern journal from minted FIVE litho print from sarahandbendrix SIX coconut milk and mango candle from illume SEVEN initial bracelet from Nordstrom EIGHT ridged tin vases from BHLDN NINE State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.

Mother’s day is always a fun holiday to shop for because you can buy pretty, extravagant, things to light up mom’s life. I like sticking to fun, indulgent goodies. Sometimes that means stuff mom needs (but is still a little frivolous) like a sweet scented cleaning set or something totally fun like the dessert plates (SO cute, right?)

Guess what? One of my top picks is available for you to WIN. My mother’s day gift list is all rounded up on Keep , and if you make a similar round up on Keep, you’ll also be entered to win the Caldrea gift set that I have on my board. Here are the rules:

1. Hop on over to Keep.com and sign up

2. Create a Mother’s Day board

3. ‘Keep’ the Caldrea gift set off of my board (so I can track it).

4. ‘Keep’ at least 9 other things (10 total)

All of the boards created by the end of today will be entered to win the Caldrea kitchen set! You guys are gonna become addicted to Keep.

*all products can be found here

5 Comments

May 6, 2013

Easy as tea

in Party Style with 10 Comments

The notion of a Mother’s Day Brunch isn’t new. It’s probably even the first thing most people think of for Mother’s Day since women love brunch and all mothers are women.

But, I’ve devised a casual tea-party type brunch with lots of color and pretty elements that not only will be a departure from the quiche and fruit salad of most brunches, but consists of fun, girly food that goes perfect with a spot of tea…

Speaking of tea, since it’s now officially the height of spring, I’ve put together three different types of iced tea beverages for everyone in your group. Fruit tea is unique here in the north, while a premixed Arnold Palmer makes for easy serving and classic iced tea with lemon is just that – classic.

When entertaining in my home, I like to keep things super easy so that I can join in on the fun, so all of the dishes can be premade and served at room temperature. Each dish doesn’t have more than 4 ingredients and that makes things even easier.

Keep reading for the full recipes and more photos!

10 Comments

May 3, 2013

Friday Faves 5.3

in friday favorites with 1 Comment

ONE ombre pillow from Target’s Threshold Collection TWO new, removable wall tiles from Hygge and West by Joy Cho. THREE brass and lucite two tiered table from Jonathan Adler is totally perfect. FOUR gold glazed pebble dish would be perfect for entertaining and comes in a set of two! FIVE I’ve been obsessed with these juju headdress wall ornaments and this one in emerald is to die for. From Ecochic. SIX bring an outdoor party up a knotch by using wood instead of plastic cutlery (and it’s better for mother earth).

SHOP THE ENTIRE COLLECTION on KEEP.com

Happy Friday, guys! Today, I’ve rounded up all of my faves in one easy place on Keep.com. This is where I save most of my shopping inspirations and get new ideas, so I thought I’d let you guys know so that you can take advantage as well!

This weekend, I’m in super creative mode already and have so many ideas swimming around that I don’t even have enough days in the week to share them all with you! I’m going to hunker down and do some projects today, possibly landscape around the new patio tomorrow, and finish reading my book, State of Wonder, which I’m really enjoying!

What is on your weekend agenda?

p.s. We have a GIVEAWAY going on! One corksicle and a set of break resistant wine glasses are going to one lucky ready courtesy of Wine Enthusiast! Go Enter!

1 Comment

May 2, 2013

Sippin’ in Spring – giveaway closed

in Outdoor, Party Style with 57 Comments

I was so excited to debut my patio redesign yesterday, that today we’re celebrating outdoor festivities and hosting a fabulous giveaway. Just in time for the springy-summery drinks that make sitting on a patio, porch, or deck so enjoyable, we’re giving away a Corksicle to keep your beverages nice and chilly.

I’m going to blow your mind here, but we don’t have air conditioning, so a bottle of red wine in the summer months around here gets pretty warm. I used to (gasp) put an ice cube in it, but I don’t have to do that anymore – and neither will you!

The folks at Wine Enthusiast don’t want you to drink warm wine and to show you how much they care, they’re going to throw in a set of the break resistant (perfect for outdoors) glassware to go along with your Corksicle. Exciting!

Join in the fun and enter by leaving a comment below telling me about your favorite summer beverage! For an additional entry, you can also share this giveaway on facebook or twitter. Something like “wow, @HouseofEarnest is hosting the cooooolest giveaway” would work lovely!

Ready? Go!

57 Comments

May 1, 2013

Introducing our patio

in Home Decor, Outdoor with 17 Comments

We ate our first al fresco dinner last night on our new patio and I am so excited finally to share it with you guys today! It was meant to be an old world, natural, organic feel which will only improve with wear and the increase of foliage once our plants get going.

These photos are just a sneak peek, but you can head on over to the Patio Style Challenge on The Home Depot’s site today to catch the FULL BEFORE & AFTER. Let me know what you think!

How do you think it compares to the feeling of my inspiration?

17 Comments

April 30, 2013

Watercolor Ombre Cake

in Party Style with 19 Comments

I know it might be a little taboo to say that I love something that I’ve done, but I can’t help myself here. I LOVE this ombre cake. Everyone who has come to my house in the last 24 hours has gotten the pleasure of me pulling this cake out of the fridge to show it off. Up until this point, I haven’t been able to cut it, but I love cake for breakfast, so this morning might just be the morning to dismantle the masterpiece.

My history with fondant was a little rocky. I’d never actually decorated a cake with it, but it was much easier than people have let on.

(side note, my rocky experience was that I did make fondant from scratch one time in college during a food chemistry lab and it was sheer torture, so after the fondant was made, I was so sick of dealing with it that I threw the whole ball away. Don’t try it, I beg of you. Just buy it.)

When it comes to covering the cake with fondant, it was actually quite easy: ONE roll out the fondant to about one eighth inch thickness using powdered sugar to keep the fondant from sticking to the rolling pin. TWO loosely roll the fondant up on the pin to carefully unroll it over the top of your cake. THREE very gently smooth the edges of the fondant. Your hands’ heat will help to relax and smooth the fondant. FOUR cut around the base of our cake with a sharp knife.

Now that you have a fondant covered cake, you’re ready to ombre! Keep reading for the watercolor cake how-to!

19 Comments

April 29, 2013

Minted Master Bedroom Art

in Home Decor, our home with 8 Comments

After updating our bedroom sconces a couple of weeks ago, I was on the lookout for some art to go above the headboard. With the shelves on both sides and small space of the wall, I didn’t want anything to big or busy.

I usually think of Minted for paper party goods and invitations, but I realized that the same community of designers that create the invites make art too. I found something simple and unique by graphic designer Annie Clark and featured it in a frame that has a large matting for a little more white space.

I knew I wanted my bedroom to have a curated library look, but still be airy and calming. I think I’m getting closer!

If you get a chance, look at all of the amazing art on Minted… It was pretty hard for me to make a decision, there were so many great runner ups!

8 Comments

April 26, 2013

Friday Faves 4.26

in friday favorites with 5 Comments

ONE bring on the scents of spring! Verbena soap is $10 from Design Darling. TWO The mix of natural textures and graphic stripes is one of my favorite things ever and this seagrass trunk would be wonderfully chic for storage. $330 from EcoChic. THREE Parties are prettier with subtle little details like these baby blue berry baskets from Shop Sweet Lulu. Perfect for a sweet spring party and at $2 each, they make style super affordable. FOUR Jazz up your summer entertaining style with these brightly colored melamine trays from West Elm, $10 each. FIVE this might be my favorite find for the entire spring. An outdoor coffee table made of wrought iron is so pretty and isn’t crazy expensive! $168 from Terrain. SIX I must have this acacia tiered stand. I like that each level has upturned sides to corral rolling fruit or gooey brie. $78 from Terrain.

Well, it’s Friday, and I’m on the last connection flight home to Ohio. I am completely exhausted and kind of embarrassed that I just totally didn’t post yesterday! I had a really strange flight plan back and just was confused about what time it was at home. Regardless, my planned post for yesterday (a fun giveaway!) will go up next week.

I can’t want to get my hands dirty this weekend and get some DIYs up and running again. I’ve got a few up my sleeve that I think you’ll love and I am debuting my patio design as part of the Patio Style Challenge on the Home Depot’s website next Wednesday! In the meantime there are tons of other amazing bloggers sharing their spaces as well. Head on over to the Apron blog for a good dose of summer style.

See you guys on Monday, Have an amazing Friday and weekend!

5 Comments

April 24, 2013

Artfully Serene

in Home Decor with 14 Comments

It’s not really often that I feel as blown away by an artist as I did when I found out about the stunning art by Hillary Butler. Her landscape abstract paintings are so soft and pretty, capturing the feeling of moving color, which isn’t what I usually think about when I think about abstract art. Hillary’s talent is evident in how she acheives such bright, fresh color in a mellow serene way. I just love her pieces.

Hillary has a love of interior design as well which is what drives some of her on-trend colors, styles, and what gave her the idea for a new (completely awesome) tool. You can actually email her a photo of your home and she’ll photoshop the art into your space so you can see what it looks like before you buy it. I think that people are often overwhelmed by abstract art and have a hard time envisioning it in their homes, so this is a wonderful tool.

I am so excited to introduce her work to you and she is so excited also to meet you guys! For House of Earnest readers only, she is offering a complimentary 12 x 12 painting for any purchase over $250 until May 12th. We’re thinking that this could be a great opportunity for Mother’s day! Buy a beautiful painting for your mom (over $250) and get a 12 x 12 for yourself! It’s perfect! Just enter HOUSE250 at check out.

I hope you’ll hop over to her shop. I’m considering two different paintings at the moment and would love to see which ones you guys love. Let me know!

14 Comments

April 23, 2013

Bright Pop of Tropical

in Party Style with 13 Comments

The Saturday before I left for China, I did the flowers for a beautiful wedding reception with a bright, poppy, tropical twist. It was not only such a welcome surge of brights for spring, but it was a new challenge for me to work with tropical flowers.

I was a little nervous, but as soon as the blooms arrived, I was so overtaken by the texture, dimension, and color that the whole process just took on a life of it’s own. I wanted to arrange them the day of the event, since orchids are a little sensitive. I woke up super early, put on some music, drank my coffee and got to work.

I absolutely loved the entire process and working with such unique blooms. I added some lemon to the bottom of several arrangements to give them a little pop of yellow and add to the cheery, tropical attitude.