I'm in a Mexico state of mind....

With less than a month to go til our Mexico trip, I can't seem to be getting much done. Work is really busy right now with August being shut down month for all of my Italian tile factories.  Outside of that, I just can't seem to be in to doing much else!  I think I'm just so ready to be in Mexico!  We are going in August and I'm taking my hubby for our Anniversary (3 years) and his early birthday present (sexy 40).  Here's a little preview of where we're headed! 

{i need to get back on blogging!!}

 I can't wait to swim here...

 relax and sip tropical drinks here...

drink and eat all of this....

soak in that tub and rest my head here. 

It's going to be a great trip. 

Summer Salads and Salsa? Yes Please!

 Who's ready for summer?  I can't believe I'm saying that because I can't believe it's just around the corner!  What has happened to the first 3 months of 2011?  Ok, back on track!  I have always had a black thumb for gardening...I mean I have killed bamboo...  But since October, I have grown Basil from seeds and been able to keep it alive and cook with it!  Going along with the momentum of my new found green thumb, I am tackling a whole vegetable garden.  From the seedling to the harvest!  Happy growing!

The Goss Garden is now growing:  Broccoli, Squash, Zucchini, Cherry and Beefsteak tomatoes, assorted Bell Peppers, Chives, Sweet Onions, 6 assortments of Lettuce, Parsley, Oregano, Cilantro and Rosemary! 

 I started with a Jiffy soil kit I puchased at Home Depot.  You just add water and the soil expands, add your seeds (2-3 per soilette) and gently cover.

Voila!  My own little starter greenhouse!  I wish the cover didn't look so ghetto with JIFFY across the top, but oh well!  They will remain in here for approx 20 days before I start exposing them to the outdoors then, bam!  Plant that exact soilette into the ground!

See you guys in 60-85 days for Harvest!! 

Check out that Basil!  YUM!

First LEED certified Neighborhood in the South - Say what?!

So I was in Nashville this week for work and when I'm there, I always do a little shopping.  Knoxville is great and all but Nashville is killing it with the shopping!  One of my favorite places to visit is the Urban Outfitters in the super cool Gulch area.  Every place and every part of Nashville is trying to be something "up and coming."  I mean Nashville has the coolest novelty stores now for your favorite treats:  from $5 cupcakes all over the city at Gigi's and CeCe's, to Las Paletas fresh made gourmet Popsicles,to you name it.  But the developers of the Gulch area decided the up and coming "thing" they were going to be was Green.  Not just cause it's chic but because its sustainable.  The area between downtown and midtown has just become {well as of 2009} the first LEED certified neighborhood in the South. {so cool right?}  And in this urban chic land is one of my favorites:  Urban Outfitters.  We were supposed to get one in downtown Knoxville, but that didn't happen.

Renovated Gulch Area

One thing I loved in Urban Outfitters {other than the $19.99 clearance dress I scored!}was the wall paneling in the dressing rooms.  It was some kind of reclaimed particle board that had this pattern etched in it.  Inside the pattern was painted a dark pink/burgundy.  Such a simple way to be "Eco friendly" and a cool way to be creative.  Kudos's Urban Outfitters!

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new project: a place to rest my head

Well unfortunately since I won't be owning this for a while, we are starting a new project! Build our own tufted headboard! I'm kind of obsessed {and have always been} obsessed with upholstered headboards that make a statement. To me, your bedding should be the supporting actress to the lead role of the headboard. I learned a lot about this working in New York for Craig Nealy Architects. We had a pretty fabulous project on 5th Avenue in the famous Olympic Tower where the client loved the idea of a statement headboard or wall I should say. I can't find the picture, but just imagine rectangular panels perfectly tailored for a full wall installation: floor to ceiling. It sounds a little obnoxious but it was sooo beautiful.

So now I must decide....which headboard is for us? My sweet husband gives me free reign on these types of decisions, but I know he'd like me to go with something simple since he is my contractor and co-builder. We will see! I know I want a POP color or pattern and a cool shape. And tufting...lots of tufting!!

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my girl Kelly Wearstler's chic custom headboard
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I really want to do a pop color! Love this!
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very unique shape
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classic black and white

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sooo much to love about these twins! Love the pop color, the "mini" wing at the top and how the tufting only goes 4 diamond rows!

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waaay to busy but love the yellow headboard

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Ahhhhh the Chesterfield

Rarely has a piece of furniture maintained a new way to live in today's society like the Chesterfield sofa. This 18th century masterpiece is the epitome of structure, comfort and class, with its typical tufted top grain leathers, nail heads and rolled arms. From the smoking and brandy rooms of the 18th century, to the Victorian living rooms of the 19th, to the bars, libraries, lobbies and living rooms of today, no sofa has made such a bold statement like the Chesterfield. I happen to heart this sofa more than any other sofa on the planet and am dying for one. It's not practical for my house now, but for my next home, bring it on. What I love about this sofa is its ability to almost always feel modern in its setting while vintage in its stature. Below are some of my favorites, introducing other fabrics such as mohair and chenille to the Chesterfield.

Anthropologie's Atelier Chesterfield in my favorite color
love it.

Chesterfield + the Union Jack= Heaven!

1950's vintage French Chesterfield

Love these turquoise Chesterfield's in the lobby from Nip/Tuck

love love love love this. Wish I could find it's roots!

Love it in the plum with the non-tufted cushions

super sexy in all white

If anyone sees a vintage one on craigslist, let me know! I'll rent a U-haul and be there asap! :)

I wish I may, I wish I might...

rest my head in this bed tonight! God I love Anthropologie.

Here's hoping I get a large, juicy tax return back!
What a one of a kind masterpiece to pass through the family, right?

I must have this....

...a new addition to my favorite chairs of all time. Period.

I stumbled across this amazing website called hivemodern and they have the coolest, coolest, coolest furniture items I've ever seen all on one site. They have the modern classics every designer knows and loves, but they also have a nice collection of late 20th and early 21st century pieces too. Below is one FAV I stumbled upon, the Peacock Chair. The Peacock chair was born in 2009 by Israeli designer Dror Bershetrit, a big "it" designer of the moment {well since 2009}. He's had items made for Target {which is pretty big to me} and also many other projects, such as his luxury eco-friendly hotel in Abu Dhabi, I believe still under construction. I look forward to seeing all things from Mr. Dror in the future!

Made of wool and felt with metal base

which is your favorite? I'm partial to the blue