MONDAY INSPIRATIONS...BABY BOY STUFF

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS!

Well this Monday kicks off a week of baby boy inspired things. The reason: little Roo's first birthday is coming up next week (Feb 8). I've been thinking and planning a little party for him--which will be just us for now since we are still away from home in Louisiana. I thought I'd share some of those projects and finds here on my AF blog-thats what its all about right?!

So here are some baby boy Monday Inspirations that I LOVE and some photos of great nurseries I came across during my internet travels in search of inspiring things!

Hope you like...

monday inspirations baby boy

1. Ontwerp duo cradle-kidsmania
2. Oeuf Sparrow crib-modern seed
3. natural Eames elephant
4. cool kids bike
5. Rug-Design Public
6. storage-as seen on Inhabitots blog
7. City bedding-Land of Nod
8. onesie
9. Plushy Friends-sleepy king kids Etsy
10. art-babble blog
11. vinyl wall decals-find these everywhere-check Etsy first!
12. love this nursery-as seen on cheap & chic blog
13. awesome treehouse indoors
14. cool outfit set-as seen in LMNOP magazine
15. grey wool chairs for kids-as seen on inhabitots blog


CHECK OUT THESE GREAT NURSERIES FOR MORE IDEAS....

 PICs ABOVE AS SEEN ON: Modern Nursery, Kensiepoo blog, Rocky Top Designs-etsy, DecorPad, HGTV-Sara's House designer Sara Richardson, Design Dazzle blog, Stella and Henry blog.

If you have any questions about resources I'm happy to share-just send me a comment!
 Thanks for checkin' me out!

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK:

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR TUESDAY DIY: KIDS PARTY CRAFTS AND DECORATING!

FRIDAY NITE SUPPER CLUB: BURGERS & BREWSKIS

Rounding out my industrial, Detroit inspired week is a yummy dinner selection. What better typifies blue collar than a great burger and a cold one?

 According to the Detroit Free Press, the places I've gathered below are some great burger joints from around the Detroit Metro area.

  Be sure and sample some local Detroit brews while your downtown-from Atwater Block Brewing Co, Motor City Brewing Works, and Detroit Beer Company or check out some of the other creative and award winning brewers from around Michigan.

Also of note: The Winter Microbrew and Music Festival in Traverse City , MI-is February 12th-nice Valentine's getaway for beer lovers or folks looking to drown their sorrows! JK

CHEERS!

 1. Millers Bar, Dearborn  2. Nemo's Bar, Detroit  3. Howell's bar, Dearborn 4. Shamrock's Irish Pub-Utica
5. Mason's Bar & Grill, Livonia  6. Cutler's Bar & Grill, Detroit  7. Red Coat Tavern, Royal Oak  8. Detroiter Bar & Grill  9. Rattlesnake Club, Detroit  10. Forte, Birmingham  11. Fiddlehead's, Royal Oak  12. Hunter House in Birmingham

DON'T FORGET A COLD ONE...

Michigan Brewing Company,   Arcadia Brewing Company,  Founder's Brewing Co.,  Mt. Pleasant Brewing Co.,  Shorts ,  BELL'S--you must 21 or older to enter these sites!

For those of us who can't make it to one of these great establishments, here are a couple of  gourmet burgers to make at home! YUM!

ALL GONE ONION BURGERS

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Makes 12 1/4-pound burgers

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds of ground round
• 1 package dry onion soup mix
• 2 beef bouillon cubes (crumbled)
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons beer

Preparation:

Mix all together and shape into 12 patties. Grill over hardwood coals until done to your liking. Stand back and watch them GO!!

 TO DIE FOR BURGERS

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Makes 4 1/4-pound burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 2 avocados
• 1 red onion, sliced thin
• 1 jar roasted red peppers
• 4 large onion rolls

Preparation:

Mix together ground beef, minced onion and pressed garlic. Pat into patties and sprinkle with Montreal Steak Seasoning. Grill to your liking. Place hamburger patties on an onion roll and top with red onion, lots of roasted red peppers, and avocado slices.

PS: BUYING BEER IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR MONDAY INSPIRATIONS-KID STUFF!

THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS

OK-so like I said last week I am away from home and I have definite limitations in the art department. However I had fun creating some things on the computer. I did paint the " ghetto city" print but taking a pic of it doesn't really capture the textures and colors very well. Anyway enough of the that.

Since Detroit has been the focus of this weeks inspiration I did a little text art project with the D in mind. I also had some machinery from a construction site on my phone, a cool jeep (love jeeps)-kinda mechanical looking, and a vintage Empire State oil sign I peeped in an antique store near Middlebury, Indiana last summer. Hope you enjoy.....

ghetto city II

ghetto city I



detroit print black and white



detroit sign print green

detroit print brick

construction site dots

construction site pink

empire state red

empire state pink/green

Empire state pink

jeep green/yellow

jeep pink/yellow

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR FRIDAY NITE SUPPER CLUB....HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

ETSY ARTIST WEDNESDAY

Continuing on with the Detroit inspired industrial theme I've got going on this week, I went in search of cool things and of couple of Michigan artists for this weeks Esty Artist Wednesday.  Click on the photo or the shop name to access these Etsy shops! Woo-Hoo for all things handmade!!!:)

COLLAGE-O-RAMA:  Really great prints-tons of stuff! Really love this upcycled eye chart printed on an old dictionary page for punch of vintage in an office or wherever...

collageOrama

  AM radio: This Michigan girl has some really cute vintage things in her shop-here are a couple of examples of things that can add a wee bit of Industrial flare to a room:

JMBARCLAY: This Swartz Creek Michigan photographer has some cool prints. Check it out here:

Austin Modern:  This super store is a totally awesome vintage, industrial, modern architechural salvage sweet spot! LOVE IT!



COME VISIT TOMORROW FOR THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS...

TUESDAY: FURNITURE FINDS-INDUSTRIAL STYLE

I think sometimes people fear "industrial". They might think its too modern or geometric or a little cold for a traditional space-but I wholeheartedly disagree!

I think industrial designs can blend seemlessly with almost any decor because of the neutral color palette (mostly greys, wood tones, silver, rust, black and golds) and even add texture because of their sometimes rusty, shiny, and chipped-up qualities. Industrial designs can be both modern and vintage, simple and ornamental. Lots of modern cottage styles feature industrial elements these days-but don't be afraid to incorporate them into more sophisticated spaces, natural settings and of course urban retreats.

Hope you like my "sophisticated industrial" room. I also put together a natural office and a retro kitchen with industrial elements to show how layering can acheive good balance in a room. Check out some more examples of rooms with industrial elements  here. :)

sophisticated space with industrial elements

natural office and retro kitchen with industrial styles

JOIN ME AGAIN TOMORROW FOR :WEDNESDAY ETSY ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

MONDAY INSPIRATIONS

Recently I came across an article on Etsy about  a new photographic book by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre called  appropriately enough "The Ruins of Detroit".  The photos were beautiful and also haunting. Check out some more photos of Detroit here.

Having grown up in the shadow of Detroit, these images were sad and familiar to me. When I look at them I'm reminded of an era gone by, the toll the downfall took on the families of once proud men, and the exodus that followed. 

There is also always a sliver of hope. Check out this NPR article about a group of local artists doing their part to revive the slumping Motor City.

I was so inspired by these photos. I decided to dedicate this week to Industrial designs. So here's a little Monday inspiration from me to you....

1.  leather couch from Room & Board

2. Subway signs $86- Redefinehomestore.com

3. Titan I pendant light-$450-DWR.com

4. Oliver Gustav home in Copenhagen-as seen on the fab blog Griege

5. vintage curved arm Jielde lamp $600 -farfetchers.com

6. pillow- IGE designs

7. "the Circle of Labor" Sonja Anderson

8. Boots-Anthropologie-as seen on Jennifer Ketler's blog

9.gun pillow-Bedzine.com

10. Steampunk ring- Inspired Vintage.etsy

11. "Lancashire scene"1925-the fine art company.co.uk

12. Dining area-frenchie and flea.com

13. scooter pillow-Junkcultureshop.com

14. industrial inspired jewelry-search for things like these on Etsy!

15. grey vases by artist Sara Paloma

16. Alt Ctrl Del pillow-diffractionfiber.etsy

17. succulents

18. crane art-flickr german artist unknown

19. library-Ruins of Detroit-see above-Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre'

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR TUESDAY: FOUND FURNITURE : INDUSTRIAL STYLE

FRIDAY NITE SUPPER CLUB

Well hello again!
I thought Friday would be a great day for posting yummy and sometimes healthy recipes, cocktails, n/a kids drinks, entertaining ideas, table decor, holiday stuff and more!

 Friday Nite Supper Club was the creation of a few of us girls, getting rid of the men and kids once a month to indulge in some gourmet food (made together at one of our houses) and some interesting drink we wanted to try. Well, we had alot of ideas but found it difficult to find the time-there was always a wedding, b-day-camping trip, no sitter, etc. So, I reincarnated the Supper Club right here on AF! Belly up sisters!


This week's recipe is a staple in my sister-in-law's house. I have to admit when she was making it for us one night I was a little skeptical but was quickly won over! This is a delicious stew chock full of healthy veggies and fruit with a little kick! The perfect, colorful, warm compliment to cold, bland, January day!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 pound chorizo sausage, chopped
• 1/3 pound cooked ham, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (1 pound) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 large red bell pepper, diced
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 small hot green chile pepper, diced
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 (16 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook the chorizo and ham 2 to 3 minutes. Place the onion in the pot, and cook until tender. Stir in garlic, and cook until tender, then mix in the sweet potatoes, bell pepper, tomatoes with juice, chile pepper, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender.
2. Stir the beans into the pot, and cook uncovered until heated through. Mix in the mango and cilantro, and season with salt.

I also wanted to find a complimentary cocktail to serve with this and found a fun Cilantro Martini. I have not actually tried this yet but plan to!

 I spent about 7 years bartending at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City Michigan. One thing I really miss is the opportunity to sample chef prepared gourmet dishes and experiment with different liquors to concoct creative "new" drinks. I'm going to rekindle some of that here on fridays! Salute!

Ingredients

heaping handful fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated and minced
juice from 1 lime
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
2 oz citrus flavored vodka (Absolut Citron or Ketel One Citroen)
1/2 oz gin (Tangueray or Bombay Sapphire)

Preparation

1. Fill shaker with cilantro, lime juice, and simple syrup. Muddle well.
2. Add ice vodka and gin shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail shaker and enjoy.

I would throw the lime right in there and mash everything really well. Then strain through a mesh sieve to prevent the leaves from getting in there...but that's just me! I also included a simple recipe for simple syrup-lots of recipes call for this simple ingredient!

Ingredients                        

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool.

Dress your table up with some natural elements from around the house, like plants, a basket and a chunky candle in a pretty arrangement. Use extra limes and cilantro in vase for an additional pop of color!

SEE YOU AGAIN FOR MONDAY INSPIRATIONS!