Happy Monday!

Article Posted on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 12:51 pm

{ Warning: This week’s links are very, *very* random, but I think you’ll love them all! }

: Listen :

I read Blaine Hogan’s blog; If you don’t, you should. (Have you read his book yet?) Anyway, last week he posted about this project a friend of his  is working on called A New Liturgy. It’s beautiful. Think of it as a personal worship service that you can participate in anytime, any place. It’s perfect for your car ride home, your time on the treadmill, or your lunch hour. I’ve found it really rejuvenating and a great way to start the week off in the right mindset.

: Read :

Last week, Elsie had some really great sewing tips on her blog, A Beautiful Mess. Between her guide to seams and Husband’s encouragement to make a few things for the house and for ourselves, I have a feeling I’ll be dusting off my sewing machine this week. ‘Bout time, huh?

: Dress :

If you saw the Bill Cunningham documentary, or if you’ve ever seen his curated photos in the NYTimes style section, I’m sure you too *heart* Bill Cunningham. So how great is this tee from Barneys?

: Live :

Just try and tell me that looking at these pictures of Martha’s Homekeeping Room doesn’t make your little heart skip a beat. From the organized labeled bins to the wrapping station, these pics make me want to organize, organize, organize. What better way to brighten things up on dreary January days for free? First on the docket this week: organizing the kitchen cupboards.

Happy Monday to all! Make it the best you can! xo* Hannah B.

Just Sharing Some Favorite Finds

Article Posted on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 1:21 pm

This time of  year comes with an abundance of cold, gloomy weather. As a result, I think it’s even more important to add a few little touches to your home that makes it just a bit cozier. The other night I found a few items on ShopTerrain.com that I particularly thought would do the job.

Every Belle knows there isn’t a better way to cozy up your home than a wonderful meal. I’ve wanted this particular cookbook ever since I read The Bucolic Plague, but ShopTerrain has an abundance of great cookbooks. One of our personal New Year’s Resolutions has been to eat in more, and I have taken this as an excuse to mix things up in the kitchen. Cooking the same old things was getting old so gathering some new inspiration has been such a help!

These Honey Tobacco beeswax & soy blend candles have become one of my new favorite things. We always try to keep candles burning in the evenings. Our usual choices are cinnamon or apple scents but when someone sent these for my birthday, I became a total devotee! It is the *perfect* scent to cozy up your living room while you eat ice cream and watch Netflix.

As a Southern girl, I have a personal affinity for cotton. Needless to say, when I saw these cotton stems, I needed them immediately! I love decorating with white in the wintertime and for some reason these little guys remind me of snowballs; they’re like winter’s cozy answer to the bright floral arrangements we usually try to keep around the house.

Getting in the Spirit

Article Posted on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 at 11:03 pm

I love *love* love this time of year, and it has me in the spirit to engage in some craftiness. I’m thinking there may be some sewing, paint, and sparkle in our future! Pictures coming soon!

Get Ready for Office Inspiration Overload

Article Posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2011 at 8:00 am

I was quite thrilled to see so much chatting about Jenna Lyons office over the last couple of weeks–mainly because I’m totally in love with the color of her desk and I’m still lusting after that yellow luggage. The other reason, however, has nothing to do with JCrew nor Jenna’s office in particular, but just the office eye candy. As you know we’ve been working on our house this summer and the next room on the list is my office. While I’ll have to wait a bit to buy some new things, it does have a fresh coat of paint, and we are currently working on moving around some of the furniture. All that to say, this post is chock full of inspiration for your home office. These first ones are my 2 favorites…

{ source unknown //  Elle Decor }

{ source unknown // The office of Alaina Kaczmarski }

{ office of illustrator Julia Denos // source unknown }

{ Designer Matthew Patrick Smyth // Alex Papachristidis }

{ Amy Fine Collins in Elle Decor // Ashley Edwards Domino Magazine }

{ Aerin Lauder // Michael Bastian’s home office }

{ The Glamourai // Gwen Stefani, }

{ The offices of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia }

There wasn’t enough room in this post so if you’re in the mood for a little more inspiration overload, then
click here to visit my *Rooms I Want to Be In* pinboard.

5 Random Things

Article Posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 at 9:40 pm

1. I heard this overview called “The Bee’s Knees” on NPR the other day, and I just loved it. Husband plays one mean “Flight of the Bumblebee,” and I, of course, have a special affinity for the little things just because of my name… Hannah *B.* Plus, you have to respect such a tiny creature that has such a bold look. After all, it’s not just any thing that can pull off a wardrobe of strictly black and yellow! All that to say, I thought it was absolutely adorable, and you should totally listen to it!

2. Last week would have been Leonard Bernstein‘s birthday. He’s one of my all-time favorites, so I just couldn’t resist watching a few clips on Thursday when I ran across this little gem. A bit unexpected from the man that made it his mission to make classical music accessible to the masses.

3. To celebrate the 40 years of Chez Panisse, Alice Waters has partnered with Levi’s (who has been known for some amazing collaborations of late) to produce these designer T’s. Artists include: Alice herself, Sofia Coppola, Dave Eggars, David Byrne and, my favorite, Maira Kalman.

4. The entire Terrain site keeps reminding me how very ready for Fall I am. Don’t you just love how warm and cozy all of their goods looks right now? Also I may have to try this recipe for Apple Spice cake.

5. It is impossible to watch this video without smiling…

I Charleston Berlin from Vincent Pfäfflin on Vimeo.

xo~ Hannah B.

Friday’s Random Things

Article Posted on Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 1:15 pm

1.) I have been coveting this custom dress Tory Burch wore ever since the CFDAs! What star were you fawning over?

2.) I am totally in *love* with TradHome (the fab online mag, that I wish was a real-live-holdable-magazine) created by a partnership between Lonny & Traditional Home. In particular, I thought this Proper Table Setting tutorial from Mrs. Lilien (of Sunday Suppers) was the perfect little addition to the Belle’s home handbook…

3.) How much do you *love* this hat?

4.) If you aren’t on Pinterest, you should be. It’s the perfect distraction when you’re waiting in an elevator or lunch line. One of my *favorite* pinners is Ez of Creature Comforts. (Click here to see the rest of this mood board she made for her sister’s wedding and here to follow her on Pinterest.)

5.) These bottles were designed by a student at the Fashion Institute, and I saw them on The Dieline. I’m adoring the typography!

And now for a little…

Article Posted on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 1:19 pm

We are in the midst of trying to get our house just the way we want it before Husband goes back to school for his MBA this fall, and to that end, I am collecting a little inspiration here and there for different rooms. Today I just couldn’t resist sharing some great finds for our dining room. Last week, I was lucky enough to inherit my grandparent’s dining room furniture from my Aunt V. which includes a good size table as well as a large buffet–so large in fact that we may have to store it somewhere else until we have a dining room that is larger than 10×10! I was also thrilled to get the silver tea service that my aunt has had since I was little, and I’ve been dreaming of tea parties ever since! All that to say, today you see the inspiration and hopefully within the next month you’ll see the finished product!

{ West Elm chandeliers }

{Schoolhouse Electric chandeliers }

{ Safari rug from West Elm }

{ Fog Ikat from Mood Fabrics…  possibly for the curtains? }

For your English cottage…

Article Posted on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 11:40 am

I know you all have a weekend cottage in the English countryside. I mean really, who doesn’t? This Anthropologie chandelier would be the perfect edition to any little breakfast nook.

“The cup of tea on arrival at a country house is a thing which, as a rule, I particularly enjoy. I like the crackling logs, the shadedlights, the scent of buttered toast, the general atmosphere of leisured cosiness.”
from The Code of the Woosters

A Belle never forgets…

Article Posted on Thursday, May 19th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

… to bring something to a housewarming party
& preferably that something is alcohol.

Our very 1st Thanksgiving after getting married Husband and I hosted family and friends at our house for the very first time. In fact, we’ve made it a point not to have an empty house for too long since then! On that day, one of our most thoughtful friends brought a bottle of Beaujolais. He told us that it was a wine of celebration and the perfect way to kick off the entertaining in our home! Ever since then, it has been my go-to gift for any house-warming event–to some it may just be a bottle of wine but to me it is a *beautiful* sentiment and always brings good luck!

In thinking about our living room…

Article Posted on Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 9:00 am

Lamp //  Gingham Rug //  Giraffe Sculpture //  Bird Sculpture //  Fresh Flowers

My own pic from a shopping spree at Bliss // Mirrored Accent Table