Lisa and Nikki's Friday Finds!

Hi Friends:

What has inspired and delighted us this week? Here they are - the sights, sounds, tastes and one-of-a-kinds we loved!

This photo of our antique school bench decorated for fall makes us so happy! It comes from Judie Wagner in Wooster, OH. Judie, an avid antique collector, bought the bench and we had the pleasure of meeting her in person when we delivered it. Judie, this display is awesome! 

Andrew, a friend of Georgia's, sporting the new Brikka from Bialetti. This stovetop espresso maker is quick and easy to use and has a special valve that regulates pressure and makes the best crema (creamy froth) ever!

Nikki and I saw these mini wreaths of Sweet Annie at Randolph Street Market in Chicago and bought a couple. They are as decorative as they are fragrant! 

Go nuts! At a recent wine and cheese tasting, I sampled (and by sampled I mean consumed handfuls of) warm Roasted Rosemary and Brown Sugar Cashews. They are sweet, spicy and savory all at once. There are lots of easy recipes on the net, but I like this one from the Barefoot Contessa.

Threaded vintage bobbins. Wouldn't they look great displayed in a dough bowl or vintage basket? What a pop of color!

Georgia's loved participating in Chicago's Randolph Street Market where we received two Designer's Choice blue ribbons! Cari Giannoulias of LG Interiors described us this way, "Takes me back in time when the simple things mattered." Kenneth Walter of Gray & Walter Interior Design wrote, "lovely, clean and homey." Thank you so much; we enjoyed every minute and met so many wonderful people!

One more thing: Domino Magazine, one of our all-time favorite decorator magazines is relaunching on Tuesday, October 8th! Look for it on newsstands. Have a wonderful first weekend of October!

The Full Coffee Experience!

Hi Friends:

Coffee? Back then, I could take it or leave it. Honestly, I preferred English Breakfast tea with milk and sugar. But all that changed when I went to pastry school. The 4:30 a.m. wake up pushed me over the edge and into the hard stuff. It wasn't long before a latte turned into a cappuccino and a cappuccino turned into an americano; a tall turned into a grande and a grande turned into a venti! Espresso was preferred over drip, and the stovetop Bialetti Brikka system was best. Hold the milk and add frothy steamed almond milk made with a stovetop Bellman CX25S Stainless Steel Milk Steamer please. As for the coffee? Intelligentsia, Jim's Organic Coffee or Starbucks Reserve - preferably sweet and syrupy. I didn't intend for this to happen, but I've become fanatical, even maniacal about coffee! And now this....  

Vintage Hoosier embossed coffee canisters! I love them! What better way to house my fresh grind. Having one of these on the counter just makes me happy. Georgia's is hunting them down and will have them available soon. Do you have a coffee tale to share? Tell us about it in the comment section. 

Wishing you a cup full of frothy goodness!