Design Idol: Windsor Smith

I have loved Windsor Smith since I saw her Los Angeles home featured in the August 2007 Domino Magazine.  The whimsy and femininity she adds to a space is right up my alley.  I was reminded of how much I like her when I recently saw her work in the October Veranda (Thanks, Carolyn!).  Smith's ability to make a room elegant and luxurious, but still inviting and comfortable is a gift I aspire to everyday.

Feast your eyes on Windsor Smith's work for the Veranda showhouse, aptly named, "The House of Windsor":

Four Design Books to Buy. Now.

the little miss and i generally head to the library at least once a week.  she enjoys seeing the kids and i am always amazed by the selection of art and design books.  after checking out a lot of the interior design and decorating books available, i realized that there isn't anything in them that i can't find on the internet.  there are lots of decorating books chock full of pictures, but few offer valuable words and suggestions.  a good design book inspires original ideas and gives the reader the confidence to take risks.  here are four of my favorites that do that and more.

1. i just checked this one out and it is fabulous!  it's full of beautiful pictures with explanations that inspire, not to mention PAGES of wonderful diy ideas. both the page and interior stylings are fantastic. i will be purchasing this one asap.
2. the novogratz are my favorite designing duo.  maybe my favorite designers period.  they have no formal interior design education (like myself) but their anything goes style and uncanny confidence is so invigorating and inspiring.  i actually felt like a more confident decorator after reading this book.  it reminded me not to think too hard.  just do what feels right and don't be afraid.
3. a classic.  i bought this one when it first came out and it's my go to for when i'm in a rut.  it's great for new and first time "decorators" because it takes you through the process one step at a time.  run, don't walk to pick this one up.
4. lili diallo is a domino magazine alum and she's my favorite stylist out there.  her ability to genuinely and seamlessly style dissimilar or mismatched objects is unbelievable.  this was another book that reminded me if you decorate with confidence, then anything goes.   

Simple Homemade Tomato Salsa

It's Saturday and that means football.  And, of course, a day of football means a day of football food.  This season, homemade salsa has become a Saturday staple.  It is an easy and healthy alternative to greasy snacks.

Simple Homemade Salsa

1-2 lbs tomatoes (I use Campari tomatoes when available, but have used plum tomatoes in the past)
1/2 onion (red or white)
1/8 to 1/4 cup parsley (or Cilantro.  I'm not a fan of cilantro and I never have it on hand, so I use parsley)
salt and pepper to taste
juice of one lemon wedge
dash of balsamic vinegar (or whatever vinegar you have on hand)

Roughly chop tomatoes and onions.  Dice parsley.  Combine all three.  Add salt and pepper and stir.  Add lemon juice and dash of vinegar.  Mix.  Add more salt and pepper to taste.

instagramtastic

i resisted the smart phone craze for many many moons.  i had the same LG from college and i [thought] i liked it that way.  i would tell people, "my phone makes and receives calls and that's why i have a phone, sooo... mission accomplished"  i thought of myself as a carrie bradshaw type.  resistant to change my old flip phone because it did everything i needed it to do.  and then i caught the iPhone bug.  it was as if my artsy friends had sneezed one too many times in my direction and suddenly i had to have an iPhone.  so i got one and i'm not going to lie...  it's been borderline life changing.  one of the amazing things i have so enjoyed on my new phone is a little app called Instagram (follow me!  whitneymcgregor).  it's kind of like twitter in pictures with the ability to alter the photos taken.  i put together my personal highlight reel as my salute to this fabulous application.  what can i say.  it's instagramtastic.

how to: silhouette in GIMP