Snow & Graham Calendars

I've been on the hunt for a new desktop calendar and fell in love with the designs from Snow & Graham. 

But then,

I 

Saw

this 

new

design...

How great is this new addition?! 

Love it.

I think I need both the desktop & accordion, right?

Love List: Holiday Lovin'

via West Elm

We've been a bit spoiled with warm weather this fall... that is until this week. Snow.

It officially feels like the holiday season is in full swing, especially with the 

Christmas music on the radio now. Yikes. 

Well, this Love List is full of fantastic holiday or winter finds.

 via Pottery Barn Teen

via Modern Palm

 Habitat Tea Towels.

These could be used in kitchen or in the bathroom for house guests.

via Garnet Hill

 What a fun advent calendar

These PJ's look oh-so-cozy! 

It makes me want some hot cocoa right now.

Waiting for Superman

A must see! This film is shocking, amazing, emotional, powerful and horribly true. 

Does anyone have a soapbox for me? :) Right now I'd like to use it, because 
I recently saw a movie that uncovered an old passion of mine...Education. 
 Those of us who live in America, need to take a stand and realize that our education system is connected to the success of our future as a nation. If we fail our children, we are failing the future of America. This is such a serious problem, and I am so grateful that some of the people involved in this film have the courage to speak out against the "untouchable" unions and politics of the education system.  Yes, I was a teacher, but No, I was never a member of the teachers union. I am a firm believer that the unions have their place to protect teachers from unfair and unjust situations.  However, I DO NOT feel that the unions have the right to protect ineffective teachers who are doing more damage than good to our children.

**There was a stat used in the movie that said basically:
1 in 57 Doctors will loose their medical license. 1 in 95 attorneys will loose his/her law license... 
but only 1 in 2,500 has even lost their teacher credentials.
REALLY!?
The teachers union is has the strongest protection of any group of workers, meanwhile our schools are failing. It seems we are more concerned about protecting the adults here and not the children.

I was able to see this film a few days ago and I'm so glad that I did. I have too much to say on the topic of the education system here in America. I have taught both high school and junior high, and although it has been seven years since I last taught, I still have a strong opinion on what is happening in America.
Now, I'm experiencing public school on the other end, with two children attending our local public school. Luckily, we are blessed to have a good school, and so far, excellent teachers. However, once upon a time, I did teach in an inner city high school in Washington DC and experienced first hand the corruption and hardships that these large cities are facing. When I was there, the Washington DC District received the highest amount of money per student and yet they had the worst school system and schools in America.  Huh!?
How does that happen?  The DC District has been through several superintendents recently, one of which, is an amazing woman who took DC by storm. If you watch the movie, then you'll see what I mean. She was hired to revamp the DC District, and revamp is what she did!

ok, ok... I'll wrap this up. I could go on and on about my experiences.
But the bottom line is that something needs to be done...
for our kids, our future, and our nation.

GO WATCH THIS MOVIE!
PLEDGE!
BE INVOLVED WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND 
YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL!
WRITE CONGRESS AND LET THEM KNOW WE CARE AND UNIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE POWER TO PROTECT INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS! 
WE NEED BETTER EDUCATION NOW.

"When you see a great teacher, you are seeing a work of art!"

Before & After Kitchen Ideas

Love these before and after photos of kitchens from Architectural Digest . 

It is always fun to see how people change rooms and change taste.

Love this unique cabin pitch in the ceiling. And I am such a huge fan of interior brick! 

When building our home, I had plans for similar brick, like the picture below, 

in our breakfast nook. But when it got to the end, we had to cut costs 

and that is one of the things that went... maybe someday!

Holiday Gift Ideas from Modern Palm

It's that time of year when we all start thinking of the perfect gift

for the wonderful people in our lives.

Here are just a few gift ideas from

Modern Palm

that might be perfect for a special someone in your life.

Everyone could use a stylin' apron, oven mitt, and tea towel, right!?

For your mother, grandmother, sister, friend or that someone who just loves to bake,

we have several designs so you can pick the perfect style of apron.

Oh! and there are also oven mitts and tea towels to match.

These unique designs come from Scandinavia, where we have found fresh

colors and designs like the European bonsai, 1950's dandelion, modern astrid,

eclectic poetic, woodland habitat, charming aviary, graphic floral margot,

ethic medalian neema, and botanical souvenir.

There is something for everyone to love and enjoy!

Aprons, oven mitts, and tea towels make a great gift individually,

or you can combine them to create a lovely gift basket

and include your favorite recipe or cookbook.

We hope you are enjoying this  

wonderful season

and as you prepare for the holidays,  
don't forget all of the unique and wonderful gifts 
that can be found at

Modern Palm!

Katherine Rally Custom Art at Modern Palm Boutique

Why, isn't this lovely, fun and unique?  

This canvas happens to be hanging in my kitchen right now, 

and it makes me smile whenever I pass by.  

I'm so in love with it!

This wall art was custom made for me by Katherine Rally Textiles and is 

shown here in the Les Amis pattern
(just like the Les Amis patterns on the pillows in Modern Palm) 

and in the color Tangerine (we have some fun Tangerine colored pillows as well).

***If you'd like a custom art piece as well, you can email me 

and tell me the dimensions, 

pattern and color (which are shown in the pillow section on Modern Palm). 

As soon as I finish painting the kitchen I will post a photo of this fantastic canvas in my kitchen.

Bracelet Love at Stella & Dot

I am seriously lovin' the bracelets at Stella & Dot right now! 

They have the perfect selection of bracelets to dress up for the holidays, or dress casual for everyday. 

The best part is that the entire selection is perfect for some fabulous layering. 

So many colors and styles that still coordinate to express your unique fashion.

And how darling are these friendship bracelets for little girls?! 

I think these would be such perfect gifts for a girl to give her friends for Christmas! 

I think that these bracelets would make a great gift for moms, daughters, friends, and grandmothers.

These are a few of my faves:

The Bardot Spiral Bengal

The Clover Leather Double Wrap

The Petra Braided is AMAZING!

And the Soiree Pearl Pave Collection is a classic fave for everyone!

Christmas Dresses for Little Girls

via Mini Boden

I love the clothing for little girls, especially all of the fun dresses. I still remember getting so excited to get a winter or Christmas dress, and I've carried that on to my daughter. 

We are on the hunt to find a darling dress... here are a few that I'm loving.

Love Next for dresses. These are just perfect!

Both of these lovelies are found at  JCrew

I'm dying over these darling dresses at GapKids.

I'm just getting started! How to decide? There are so many beautiful dresses for girls. 

Why don't they make these for women too?

 And what about these lovelies from Janie and Jack?
Love the plaid.

 

I know miss Ashy would adore this dress... she loves to twirl.

This dress, though a bit more formal than the others, is absolutely beautiful.

I'm still on the hunt...  I'll post more, if I find anymore that are note worthy.
Do any of you have any good sources?

Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

 Photo and Recipe from The Pioneer Woman

So, if you didn't get enough sweets this weekend, 

you might want to make this scrumptious dessert! 

I made this recipe that I found over at The Pioneer Women a few weeks ago 

when I had our monthly lunch at my home for the gals in my family. 

Every recipe that I've made from Ree have just been amazing. 

Do you have any must-make recipes? I'd love to know them if you do.

Menu:

Tortilla Soup

Rosemary Corn Muffins 

and this must-make for dessert:

 Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 5 whole To 6 Whole Fresh Peaches (best When Not Overly Ripe Or Soft)
• 1 cup Flour
• ½ cups Sugar
• ½ cups Light Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
• ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• 1 stick Butter (1/2 Cup)
• ½ whole Lemon
• 7 Tablespoons Real Maple Syrup, Divided
• 1-½ cup Whipping Cream
• 3 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup

Preparation Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt using a fork or pastry cutter. Cut butter into small pieces and gradually add to flour mixture until evenly mixed.
Peel peaches into a bowl. Add the zest from half a lemon. Squeeze juice from lemon half and stir in with peaches and zest. Add 2 tablespoons real maple syrup to peaches, stir well.
Pour peach mixture into a small pan (8” or 9” square) and cover evenly with crumb topping. Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until crisp and brown on top.
Maple Cream Sauce:
Pour whipping cream into a saucepan. Add 5 tablespoons real maple syrup, 3 tablespoons corn syrup and stir over moderate heat until thickened and reduced by about one-third, approximately 15 minutes. Refrigerate mixture until it is cold and thick, or set the saucepan into a small bowl of ice (the ice will melt and turn into ice water). Stirring your mixture, it will cool and thicken in about 15 minutes. Drizzle sauce over peach crisp. Serve warm.

INSPIRING COLOR: ORANGE

At Modern Palm we are

Falling for Fall Colors

especially the

Inspiring Color:  

Orange

 journals, bakers twine, mugs, and serving pieces

Orange is  powerful, warm, energetic, and spicy. It is one of the healing colors, and is said to stimulate enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance, and curiosity. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Orange has become a great base color for interior decor and can be used in both traditional settings as well as modern.

Put some orange in your life when you want:

• to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
• to become more involved in something
• to increase creativity 
• relief from things becoming too serious

thank you cards, soap & lotion, serving pieces, art work

 

books, perfume & lotions, notepads & to-do lists, home decor

These are just a few examples of items found in

Modern Palm Boutique

that are inspired by  

Orange.

What we Love about this season:

Falling leaves. Cool breeze. Sweaters to wear. Harvest to share. Pumpkins.Football. Back to school. Full moon. 

Frost soon. Family Feast... Lots to eat. Fall.

We hope you are enjoying this  
wonderful season

and as you prepare for the holidays,  
don't forget all of the unique and wonderful gifts 
that can be found at

Modern Palm!

Timothy Whealon in The Hamptons

Elle Decor featured this lovely home in the Hamptons a bit ago.
New York City decorator Timothy Whealon purchased this home in
Southampton, New York, "just steps off the main street and a short bike ride from the beach. 

The train station is close enough to walk to, so Whealon doesn’t have to contend 

with the hideous summer traffic."

I wouldn't mind having this home to go to on the weekends.  

It is lovely and fresh, the perfect retreat. 

Oh! how I adore those navy denim blue walls.  Amazing!

In the kitchen, Whealon painted the floor as a big checkerboard, and painted the walls a crisp white.

Those floors are just...are there words? Incredibly fabulous?!

I really like the striped fabric mixed with the Batik and Ikat-ish looking pillows.  

These pillows remind me of some fabulous pillows found in Modern Palm Boutique... I'm just sayin'. ;)

And just to mix it up, I think the elephants add a fantastic touch to the classic landscaping.