72 days, 06 hours and 56 minutes

The days, hours and minutes until the Summer Olympics in London! With my captivation of all things London you would think it was my actual place of birth. Ahhhhhh…… how I would welcome my name as a colorful symbol and tattoo on David Beckham’s married right athletic arm, sipping black tea with the Queen till my right pinky gets a spasm, adorn an embellished and foo-fooed hat for a day, all the while being hypnotized and allured by the distinct London accent. If I were to attend the summer olympics, without pause, I would have to deviate slightly, turning my cheek to the torch and seek out the grand castle and each lovely character from Downton Abbey…..

Shall we carry on? Union Jack flagging it…..

Besty Burnham

Mydecoblog

Union Jack Door Mat

Pure and Simple Interiors

Sugar and Spice

Elle Decor

Home Klondike

Wallpaper....Junior Magazine

Gltc.co

Oh, and 2012 also marks the 60th year of reign and Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Queen. I shall keep calm and carry on for 72 more days! Go Team U.S.A.!!!

“He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not……he loves meeee!” These slow spoken words every crooked-tooth schoolgirl speaks as she begins to pluck away the lively yellow petals of a Black-Eyed Susan clutched within her playground soiled hand. All the while, time stands still, her loyal little friends hold their breath awaiting the flower’s prophecy of her “one true love”. This lone flower holds the power of destiny! If it were only that effortless….

We are in the season of love! Engagements, weddings and anniversaries are popping up and one’s heart full of flutters tend to always spill over and ignite my own heart with fantasy. When the weather begins to dangle its warmth and those that are close by begin to plan their own day and whimsical story of love, it unleashes a sense of rekindling. It always brings me back to revisit my own journey of young love from when it began at the tender and sweet age of just 14!

Style Me Pretty is a treasure that houses hundreds of weddings from all over the globe created to inspire those that are looking for love in all the right places….yes another song I had to throw into a post. If you have found your love in the right or wrong place and you two still melt each other’s heart like the gooey, seeping chocolate left on the dash of your car on a unanticipated sunny day, pop on over and visit www.stylemepretty.com. Each and every time I visit, it faithfully gives me the warm fuzzies.  From the photography, florals, the weddings drenched with tradition or those weddings with “no stuff” or “no fluff”….it takes me away every little visit. Visits like these……

This has to be one of the most beautiful bouquets I have every seen!

Maybe your tennis shoes are all laced up and purposefully running from love…no worries, as I said there is something for all forms of love and lovelies.

And for your back-up plan, it may not be a bad idea to simply just plant a few Black-Eyed Susans…..

TAKE THE SUBWAY

All are mindful of the unspoken, incessant fears of a subway. It is more or less a melting pot brimful, crowded with on-the-go souls along with a few uninvited nostril odors. There are the peculiar souls, quiet souls, elbow rubbing souls and a few that shall remain nameless souls who daily choose the subway as their vessel for transportation. Then again, it is an experience like no other and it allows you to transfer from point A to point B without having to hail a cab! And, if you are anything like me “people watching” is a closet passion of mine.

Choosing your subway tile shouldn’t be as harrowing or intimidating of an experience as the subway. When chosen it can be your vehicle of transportation to transformation of a room’s cohesiveness. Simple as that and the key word is “chosen”. Simply make the choice….. It can be a bit distressing from what style, what texture and what color? Grout color is also key for allowing your subway tile to “pop” or remain a seamless look. Throughout it all subway tile is a timeless, classic presence and can modernize a casual space with the right color choice or can bring warmth to a traditional space yearning for more!

Subwaying it….

Decor Pad

Apartment Therapy

Attic Magazine

JJasmin Interiors

Apartment Therapy

Curbly

Coco Cozy

JJasmin Interiors

And a few sweet finds admiring the subway design….

Neiman Marcus

Light globe

An Iron Maiden

Traditional Home

Now that we have somewhat of a history together and are treasured sweet friends, by now you are almost certainly, flat out questioning if perchance I was a regular on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. With posts that somehow have a lyric or two or three of any given musical band I do see where the thought could visit your mind. It is fallaciousness! Although, rumor has it I did scribble in my diary how I pondered becoming a Solid Gold dancer …..the scrunched legwarmers, color coordinated sweatbands and shiny gold leotards. Oh me oh my!

This heavy metal band straight from London during the 70′s I had sheepishly forgotten about until just today. I promise! And, no I do not dress or own any weathered vintage t-shirts of theirs, but I do believe my husband may have a song or two of this legendary rock band on his iPod.

Even though I am not a dictionary defined “maiden” for the obvious reason that I am a hitched girl, I can happily say I am a maiden with a heavy crush on iron….distinctively wrought iron. Why another crush and how many crushes can one girl have you ask? With a delayed and squirmish response, not a trace of eye contact to be had and a slight shrug of the shoulders…..”a boat load” I assert.

Now onto the crush…

Home Inspirations

Restoration Hardware

Skona Hem

Traditional Home

Traditional Home

Pinterest

Pieces I pine for…..

Clayton Gray

Clayton Gray

So dog cute!

Crate and Barrel

It is the earthiness, heavy and anchoring traits that I simply adore about iron. If but only one stand alone piece, it makes its presence known wherever it finds its home. It looks weathered even when it may be outright new and the older, blacksmith tough-aged appeal steals my heart even more!

MAY GIVEAWAYS

$100 GIFT CARD TO KING ARTHUR FLOUR BAKING CATALOG/STORE AND A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE!!!

The abundance of rain in our very early May has caused a fabulous May giveaway. It is Real Simple…..win a $100 Gift Card to King Arthur Flour Baking store or on-line catalog and a one year subscription to REAL SIMPLE Magazine.

1. If you are a Facebook fan or want to become a fan of JJasmin Interiors it is real simple, tell your friends to “Like” JJasmin Interiors on its Facebook page, not just the post.

2. The Facebook fan with the most new “Likes” wins a $100 Gift Card to King Arthur Flour Baking store or on-line catalog and a one year subscription to Real Simple Magazine.

3. Be sure and have your friends post your name after they “Like” it on JJasmin Interior’s Facebook page!

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 31ST!!!!

The Sideboard

House and Home

My predictable self….some cherished sideboard history. The sideboard also known as a slab table originated in England in the 1700′s. During the 1790′s it found its way across America prettifying the most prestigious dining rooms most customary of the well-heeled.

If your needs were humbly being met, they were often simple wooden tables with marble tops placed at the side of a room where cutting and serving food defined its function. Excess was a rarity and not all sideboards were used to house and showcase collections of the finest china, polished silver and crystal. Harsh reality was most guests invited for a well-earned meal would arrive and leave with their own fork.

There were of course the highly skilled master carpenters that produced ornate and robust dining furniture for the wealthy that still inspire furniture finds today and is globally familiar.

Meredith Heron Design

Crate and Barrel

Etsy

Sundance

Sundance

With enclosed and hidden storage, sideboards are now utilized in every room of one’s home, not just the common dining room. Colorful function from kitchens, mudrooms, entryways, hallways, neglected little corners and favored as entertainment centers…the uses are endless. Which side will you choose?

Tumblr

My youngest pastry chef in training is about to turn 12! It is Happy Happy Birthday time “Joyeux Anniversaire” and my colorful mind marbles are turning as I find my inspiration for the celebration!

Darjeeling Dreams

As with designing, finding a piece or color to inspire brings unclouded direction. Birthdays and gatherings begin with the invitation and the colors and inspiration unfold from here.  This french macaron invitation and thank you notecard from River and Bridge Design it is! (www.riverandbridgedesignblogspot.com) The party planning has begun….a Parisian Birthday!

This invitation is just the sweetest of sweets and I decided the pistachio green and framboise pink tones it shall be!

That Silver Touch

etsy

Cafe 906

Leila's General Store

Audrey Magazine

Marzian-Pistachio spring rolls

Sur La Table

It is the seeking and finding that I love! We will bake and experiment enjoying the pre-party mishaps, dive into the french macaron recipe that takes days to ready while reflecting on the past 12 abundantly blessed years the birthday girl has gifted to us. We are weeks away and photos are promised once I gather my finds!