First off, I’d like to thank the people who were courteous enough to either comment about or email me the above photo. The fact that there are at least 17 people in the world who immediately think of ME when they see a nearly-naked Morrissey (posing with his band for the inner sleeve of “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris”) warms the cockles of my heart. Seriously.
Moving along, a few notes from the weekend:
I finished tiling the bathroom floor at 2:00 AM Saturday night. Or does that count as Sunday morning? Either way, I was totally out of my mind with exhaustion by the time I finished. Aside from some imperfections resulting from my lack of experience with tiny, round, mosaic tiles (or lack of experience with tiling, period), I think it looks great—and it’s going to look even better once it’s grouted. The tiles are matte-black pennyrounds, and I’ll be using black grout. (Photos soon, hold your horses!)
We’re pretty sure we’re going to use the white room as a bedroom. It’s the perfect size, it’s far away from the street, and it will free up the two larger bedrooms for other uses. I’m itching to buy the MANDAL bed from IKEA. I think it would look amazing on the white floor, and those drawers could easily hold all of our extra sheets and blankets (I suspect they could make nice “sidecar” pullout beds for the dogs, too!).
Last night we had friends over for dinner, which was lovely. I’ve said this before, but it’s really nice to have gotten to a point where we have a semblance of a social life in Newburgh. I made Ina Garten’s Macaroni & Cheese, which was completely delicious and immediately became my favorite new recipe. I also made broccoli rabe, which to my surprise was enjoyed by all six guests! Usually there’s at least one person who doesn’t like bitter veggies, but that was not the case last night. I love broccoli rabe as a complement to rich, sweet foods. (Speaking of rich and sweet, one of my friends brought dessert—crème brûlée—and a blowtorch to caramelize the sugar! Maybe I’m just easily impressed by fire, but I thought it was all very exciting.)
My local Target now has some of the Orla Kiely collection in stock. This weekend, I picked up a couple of closet organizers and the laundry bag. Very cute! I’m crossing my fingers that my store ultimately gets in the entire collection. (EDIT: The full collection will hit stores on February 15th. Thanks, Holly!)
How was your weekend?
53 Comments
Very good, thank you. Didn’t make it to Target. I heard it was packed, but not for Orla, but for superbowl snacks.
Will check out Ina Garten’s mac and cheese and see if it compares to my sisters.;)
So glad I’m not the only one thinking of you with regard to Morrissey references…that’s the good / weird thing about the age we live I suppose.
I like the look of that Ikea bed. Unfortunately we don’t get as large a range of product here in Australia, but they are getting better. I was kind of burnt by Ikea when the sofa I purchased specifically for the fact it has removable covers that only cost $100 to replace was discontinued. White sofa + three year old = permanently soaking sofa covers.
We’re looking at that bed too! Do you think it can be painted? Right now I’m just using a metal bed frame – it’s frightening.
mmm… crème brûlée. You’re making me so hungry!
LOL!
I had every intention of sending that pic when I frist saw it as well and just assumed there were a few ahead of me that already would have. I had no idea it would be as many as 17 people!!! (I guess that it is a good thing, thinking of you when I saw that picture??? I could go either way!;)
Best,
D.
I *love* that you used the word “cockle” in reference to that Morrissey photo. I am so impressed with all of your hard work – we are in a holding pattern at the moment, awaiting our next trip to the mainland for Target and IKEA. O, the longing in my heart.
I love the sidecar idea 🙂 I can just see them both, each in one. hahaha…
Sorry? What? Grout? Orla Kiel-who? There seems to be something distracting me from reading the rest of your post…
A busy weekend for us, too, but no socializing. We are still hard at work on the bathroom, which pulls us off of finishing the kitchen. 🙁
Someday my bathroom will be as lovely as yours, I hope. Still no floor or toilet… but we have HVAC! 🙂
I saw that pic on another blog too EWWWWW
And yeah I’m one of those people that really don’t like broccoli rabe.
I can handle an “ewww” over broccoli rabe, but an “ewww” over Moz&Co wearing nothing but 45s?! For shame, that’s some quinquagenarian hotness there, thank you very much!
there’s no ewwww from me there! pretty good for his age i reckon!
ok so, jealous that you have a new bathroom (tick), jealous of your white floors (tick), jealous of that bed (tick), jealous of mac & cheese & broccoli (tick), jealous of orla in target (tick)….
do something wrong or bad or dumb please? might make me feel better 🙂
made a new mac-n-cheese this weekend too, mine was from the williams-sonoma catalog and had smoked gouda + cheddar. yum!
Hi , just on an orla kiely note , i found this amazing use of her wallpaper ! i think its just fab !!!!
have a look an see for your self
http://www.livingetc.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/56014/an/0/page/0#56014
really creative !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Barefoot Contessa — just about every recipe of Ina’s I’ve tried, I’ve loved.
I scored the Orla Kiely laundry bag, too! My target also randomly had a few of the kitchen items (mugs, melamine plates) but that’s about it. Hopefully the rest will come in on the 15th — I’m dying for the placemats.
the same day i saw that photo on another website, a long lost high school friend emailed me with memories of going to see him at i believe the paramount in nyc and it was just such a lovely coming together of my past.
on the other hand…I can’t believe your Target had the Orla stuff!!! I called Poughkeepsie, Kingston AND Colonie Center yesterday, all to no avail. Well, maybe I’ll be taking a ride if the weather doesn’t suck.
Can’t wait to see the grouted floor, sounds beautiful!
Oh, and i forgot to mention, broccoli rabe is among my top 5 favorite foods, actually maybe top 3, yuuuuuuummmmm.
The guy in my Target said the collection was hitting stores February 8th (but that they were actually putting it out today, because people kept asking about it!). They seem a little confused…
I LOVE that mac & cheese recipe. A friend made it, and I don’t think I can ever make another version.
I saw that pic this weekend and it made my day. Which Target had them?? the nearest one to me is Monroe. I was there on Sunday and I didn’t see ANYTHING. I refuse to go to the one in Mt. Kisco. There was talk about a Target coming to Peekskill but alas, it never happened. Pout.
Hi Anna! I am a new reader of your blog and just LOVE it. I have never heard of Orla Kiely (I know, gasp!) but I will definitely check her collection out at Target (because Lord knows I’ll never miss a chance to go to Target). I took about an hour today to take a look at your posts, the work you have done in your house is incredible – and SO inspiring to me! Glad you had a great weekend!!
to answer heather’s question about the bed being able to painted..you will have to lightly sand first and then prime well. the bed as sold has a clear satin finish, it is not raw wood.
yummy mac n cheese, yummy black tiles and grout, and yummy, yummy photo above
Funny, we had friends over for dinner last week and I also made macaroni & cheese (tried the recipe from the lastest RealSimple) and broccoli rabe!
So, if you move your bedroom to the “white room”, what are your ideas for the leftover bedrooms?
I love that photo and did think of you when I saw it. (I used to read your old blog way back when…)
I wanted to tell you I saw the mandal bed in person this weekend and it was REALLY yellow. The photo online looks like a white pine, but I think the store model must have yellowed in the light -I didn’t like it at all. It looked very 70’s knotty pine-ish.
thank you so much for the update about orla at target. on saturday i called three targets and no one knew what i was talking about. then my friend called this morning, got confirmation that the orla goods were there and we went only to find shoe organizers and a few storage bins. good to know that the melamine plates hadn’t skipped my store. they are an integral part of my summer plans!
unfortunately I spent my weekend sick on the couch. fortunately i had that photo of morrissey to keep me company! will you be going to any of the upcoming shows?
Hi Anna, I’m a big fan of your blog! I recently made the Ina Garten mac and cheese recipe too – it was printed in this month’s GQ magazine. It’s definitely one of my new faves.
p.s. Love the Morrissey pic!
faroutbrusselsprout: Do you know about Bemz? Maybe they make covers for your discontinued sofa!
heather: I don’t see why it couldn’t be painted — just a light sanding and a coat of Zinsser primer should prep it just fine!
kristy: At least half of what I do on a daily basis is wrong and/or dumb. This blog is devoted to the OTHER 50%, obviously. 😉
edwina: Thank you for sharing that photo, I love it! Have you seen this post?
Regan: The Newburgh Target has a small display set up right now with the closet organizers, the laundry bag, and the fabric-covered boxes/trays/magazine holders. The display is in the back near the ironing boards and plastic storage tubs.
Vicki: I have no plans for the other rooms! We have to edit a LOT and figure out exactly what our needs are (dance studio? bowling alley? giant dog bed?).
martha:: You used to read my old blog?! I had no idea! (Hi!!) I’m sad to hear that the bed you saw looked so yellow. 🙁 I’ve seen it in person a bunch of times, but the one at my IKEA doesn’t look yellow at all. I have a feeling that means IKEA is using different wood stock, and it’s probably luck of the draw what it looks like out of the box. I’m a little freaked out now. (Of course it can be painted…but I really wanted white pine!)
suzanne: Tragically, ALL of the NYC Morrissey shows sold out within about 5 seconds of them going on sale, so I missed out. TRAGEDY. I’m going to have to watch Craigslist very carefully and hope for at least one to pop up for sale at a non-ridiculous price. :/
i heard this song on the weekend on triple j in australia. the greatest radio station in the world – you can listen online… cool song. is not available on itunes yet – i wanted to do the ipod bop to it but no luck yet.
That nutmeg really does something for the Macaroni & Cheese, huh?
May I place my vote for the bowling alley? 😉
Ooh, my weekend was nowhere near as exciting as yours. =) Three nights of studying for a test was not fun. But the effort was paid off!
And I love that bed! I think it would complement the room beautifully!
I read your blog DAILY and have never left a comment before, but the picture of Morrissey made me smile so much I had to. I saw it the other day. I’m going to see him in March in Rochester NY and I CAN’T WAIT.
I sincerely don’t know what I would do without your blog; it is such a resource. Thanks for taking the time to post EVERYTHING 🙂
Teehee…”cockles” heeheehee
Morrissey is the love of my life. If only I were a gay man.
Can’t wait to see the black pennyrounds… perhaps the floor of my dreams (although I love the marble version in your other bathroom, too).
I cleaned and unpacked like a crazy lady and still didn’t get as much done as I had wanted to. Guess I’ll be going to Target tonight for some organizational supplies and, um, all of the Orla Kiely items.
YIKES!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/feb/03/morrissey-naked-sleeve
DiP: You know what I have to say about that “review”, Dave? YAWWWWN. First of all, I highly doubt that a band as déclassé as the Red Hot Chili Peppers has ever even entered Morrissey’s mind, as an inspiration or otherwise. Second, is Paul Flynn familiar with ANY of Morrissey’s tongue-in-cheek antics from the past 25 years? The hearing aid? The bandaged nipple? The chocolate harmonica? The riding tractor? The topless photo of Phrank? The skinheads? The sleeve for “Tomorrow”? ANYTHING??? (How about this??) Did he REALLY think that Morrissey was artfully-serious about all of that???
Flynn needs to grow himself a sense of humor, pronto, and learn about the concept of wit when he gets the chance. Not everything in life is about being “artful”.
Also, I just noticed he referred to BOZ BOORER as “the fat one”!!!!!!!!!! Okay, that settles it — this guy is totally CLUELESS. Ugh.
I knew what the reply would be, I just didn’t know it would be so quick!!! :^)
You know how I feel about most, if not all so-called “critiques!”
Did you see the great Slipper Chairs at Target. Also, courtesy of Decor8! Check them out at my site http://www.girlzdealz.com. The orange one would look great in your white room! Nice photo- makes think of…
more smiths here…
http://bigcartel.com/account/32275/1136835/sea_freak_close_small.jpg
i hope the link works. if not then o huntin’ for sycamorestreetpress.com
my G is going out…
or should i say, “my is oin out”
i meant to say “Go hunting” in my previous entry.
now with a g that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t –
i feel as if i am in an edgar allen poe book!
I wanted to thank you for all the recipes (or links to them) you post here. When you were sick and made the 15-min white bean soup I though “Only 15 minutes! ” So I tried it and love it… and all your other recipes look so good. You posting these recipes, makes me (a non-vegetarian) eat more vegetables- which is great! The broccoli rabe looks like something I would like…
Anyway… Thank you!
P.S. Can’t wait to see the bathroom floor pics.
Anna,
I had broccoli rabe for the first time a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I was at a luncheon and other at the table didn’t eat theirs! I had to mind my manners, but I really wanted to snatch their plates!
You know, I truly do not believe that Ticketmaster even had any Bowery Ballroom tickets to sell – I don’t know of anyone who got them. I won’t tell you how many shows I am going to for fear of frightening you!
Good luck getting your hands on some tix 🙂 and if all else fails, there is always the Montclair NJ show or Foxwoods!
on the orla kiely flower blossom wallpaper you used in the ‘vegetable,’ are the leaves tan or gray? i can’t tell from any of the pictures i’ve seen online and was thinking of covering one wall of my light gray bathroom in it … also, any idea where i can get my hands on a roll? 🙂 thanks! (sorry for the double post)
the target near me had some of the orla kiely stuff — aprons, placemats, tablecloths, coasters, seat cushions, napkins, organizers… but no melamine to be seen yet.
We’ve had the MANDAL for several months now and absolutely adore it! Def great for story linens underneath and we have matress and boxspring of our on on it, which works just fine, though a little high for doggies. Now if we could train them to sleep in one of the drawers instead of between our knees…:)
I love that you couldn’t resist (well, I’m assuming this is the case) usage of the word “cockles”.
Thank you for giving that photo such a place of prominence on your blog. 🙂
how much U can hide behind small vinyl 😉
Sooo, Bee was showing your site to my mom to show off what a painted refinished white floor looks like. (we where visiting for my dad’s birthday.) and I have to share the quote of the weekend. she says ( as the site loads) ” so she likes naked men with records over their penises. ” I say “Mom its Morrissey”, and she says ” and you know him, ohh god” … now keep in mind she did have some wine in her. but.. how funny is that.
Isn’t it a relief to finally feel like you have a social life up here? It’s taken us a good three years to find a posse that we genuinely like to hang out with. And the title of this post was inspired, you clever minx!
Did you mean to say “cockles” 😀 Had a good laugh with that one! Your place is going to be awesome when it’s all finished!
I absolutely meant to say cockles! Though the double entendre was completely unplanned — though admittedly delightful! 🙂