I'm Loving: Geometric Rugs

I'm loving geometric rugs right now. Probably because I'm in the market for one and have been doing some serious searching lately. Geometric rugs aren't exactly new on the scene, but in the last year or so they have become much more available and affordable! You can get gorgeous options at any price point. If you haven't gone down the road of patterned rugs, I would highly suggest giving it a shot. A rug can really inject some life into a room and help pull everything together. Here are a few I am currently loving...

/// High \\\

1. Modern Kilim, Weavers Art, $5000+
2. Navy Talitha Rug, Jonathan Adler, 8x10, $2300
3. Black Bridget Kilim Rug, Johathan Adler, 8x10, $995

// Medium \\

1. Jasper Aqua Rug, Crate and Barrel, 8x10, $742
2. Flakes Bokrum, Zinc Door, 7x9, $1010
3. Jaipur Maroc, Zinc Door 8'x10', $644.00

/ Low \

1. Modern Art Area Rug, Target, 8x10, $585
2. LAPPLJUNG, Ikea, 6'7x6'7, $89.99
3. STOCKHOLM RAND, Ikea, 5'6x7'8, $249 

Happy Tuesday!
xo
C

Mascarpone Spaghetti Carbonara

Mmmhmm. I did that. Made one of the richest pasta dishes richer. Although, I did remove all of the egg yolks that traditionally make the sauce (except for one), so that balances it out. For all of you that may be Spaghetti Carbonara virgins, this is basically bacon pasta- and it is AMAZING. My mom used to whip this up for my sister and I in a flash when we had nothing else in the fridge. To this day, it might still be one of my favorite pasta dishes. I made some garlic and herb bread to go on the side, because who doesn't want carbs with a side of more carbs on a Saturday night? Not me, obv.

 

Mascarpone Spaghetti Carbonara

Ingredients:

• 1/2 a yellow onion, diced
• 6 strips of bacon, sliced into 1/2" pieces
• spaghetti for 2-3 (when held in your hand, about the diameter of a toonie) or half a box.
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2/3 cup mascarpone cheese
• 2 tbsp chopped  flat leaf parsley
• salt and pepper

  Method:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your spaghetti as per the directions on the package.
2. In a large saute pan, add the bacon pieces and cook for approx 1-2 minutes on med-high heat.
3. Add the onion, and saute until the onion and bacon are golden brown Turn the heat to low and using paper towel, sop up the excess grease in the pan and discard. You may have to do this a couple of times- until there is no "puddle" of grease left in the pan, but the ingredients are still glistening in bacon-y goodness.
• You could attempt to drain off the fat, but I find the paper towel method easier. BE CAREFUL though, that grease is hot, hot hot!
4. While your bacon and onion are getting to know each other, combine the cheeses, egg yolk and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
5. When the pasta is ready, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, set it aside and drain the pasta.
6. Pour the drained pasta right into the large saute pan with the bacon and onion. Turn the heat off and pour in the cheese mixture- stir until everything is combined.
• If you find the sauce is a bit thick, you can add a bit of pasta water to thin it out until you find your desired consistency. (I didn't end up needing any)
7. Gather the spaghetti with tongs and heap it into pasta bowls, top with the chopped parsley and enjoy.

 

Have an awesome Monday all!

xo

C

4 Favorites

Friday already- and a gross one at that. Its raining in Toronto and all I feel like doing is cuddling up on the couch and watching a movie... a really bad chick flick, like The First Wives Club or A League of Their Own. Actually, lets be honest, both of those movies are amazing and I love them.
Anyways... What are you up to this weekend? Dave and I are passing on Collingwood- its gross out and the skiing will be terrible. Instead I will be working Saturday and Sunday to catch up on a few projects I have on the go- fingers crossed I get some cooking in! Here are 4 Favorites from this week:

[A few pictures from a shoot that I styled yesterday for a friend.]

 

[Playing around with images and layouts for my new venture- Ten and Co.] 

 

 

[A behind the scenes shot of this post... these cookies weren't exactly photogenic...]

[I'm dog sitting this pooch for the week, she has already found her favorite spot.]

 

Happy Weekend!

xo

C

Im Loving: Pantone- The Colour of the Year

Drum roll please... The Pantone colour of the year is Emerald! It's funny, I felt like Emerald was big last year, even though Tangerine was considered the Pantone colour of the year in 2012. Regardless, I love the colour. Its moody, but classic in an old world kind of way. It's already popping up everywhere and I can't wait to inject some of it into my own life! I'm loving...

 

 

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

 

Happy Hump Day!

xo

C

Chocolate Banana Pecan Cookies

Yup, these are as good as they sound. They have a soft, almost spongy interior and crisp bottom- filled with chocolaty banana goodness. Lets be honest... I basically found a way to put chocolate banana bread into cookie form. I whipped these up on Sunday for a sick hubs that needed some cheering up. They are quick to mix up and even faster to bake- you will have your house smelling good in no time... 9 minutes to be exact!

 

Chocolate Banana Walnut Cookies

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 mashed ripe banana
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 1/8 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup toasted pecan pieces
• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix together the melted butter and mashed banana. Add the egg and vanilla bean paste (or extract) and mix to combine.
3. Mix in the brown and white sugar and then the flour, oats, cornmeal and baking soda until combined.
4. Add the chocolate chips and pecan pieces, mix only until incorporated.
5. Spoon 2 tbsps of dough onto parchment lined baking sheets 2" apart and bake at 375 for 9 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
6. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the pan until transferring onto a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy and have a great Tuesday all!
xo
C

4 Favorites

Well that was a quick week, some how yesterday came and went without me so much as looking up from my computer. I also think I'm still in a bit of a fog from the holidays. I am looking forward to clearing my head this weekend and being ready to take on 2013 on Monday... even though it will be the 7th, but who's counting!?

Lots of exciting things in there right? Pancake snowmen, custom fonts and gorgeous city sunsets.... OH and the fact that I am starting another side to my business!!!! RIGHT, there is that as well. I can't even tell you how excited I am to debut many exciting designs. I hope to have my new shop up by the end of January so you can start shopping!

There will be more info to come... promise.
Happy Weekend Team!
xoxo
C

Ps. If you can't wait to buy a set of those super fantastic notebooks, shoot me a msg and I would be happy to give you more details! coatley@rogers.com There are also these...

What I've Been Up To...

Hey you!
I have missed chatting. I hope you had a great vacay- and for the lucky ones, continued fun vacay until next week!

I have been enjoying some time off and spending quality time with family and friends. It's so nice to recharge and regroup for the next year. I have a few resolutions to share with you this week, but lets start with an update:

It has been a great holiday to say the least! And yes... I got my amazing tablet for xmas... bare with me while I learn how to use it without making everything look like a 3 year old did it.

 

xo

C