[ design notes ] May 14th Edition

Happy Monday! Here are some of my favorite pins from the last week ~ enjoy!

Vacation spotting [ Freshome ]

Dark & dramatic [ La Dolce Vita ]

Geometric [ Freshome ]

Lovely home office [ The Designer Pad ]

Supercool scarves [ Peep My Styles ]

Mirrors done right [ Desire to Inspire ]

Cool handbags [ Honestly WTF ]

Graffiti art[ Ideas to Steal ]

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ instagram ] May 13th Edition

1 – Gastown with the supermoon in the background
2 – Happy smiley stickers
3 – Well? How are you doing?
4 – From the Buddhist temple down the street

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ weekend links ] May 11th Edition

House Tours

A beautiful Spanish apartment [ Shimmer Like Gold ]
White, black and mirrored Aussie loft [ Desire to Inspire ]
Grown up nerd style [ Peep My Styles ]
Charming in Berlin [ Remodelista ]
Modern meets ornate in Turkey [ Freshome ]

DIY & Projects

A neon animal garland [ HGTV ]
Make a herringbone stamp [ A Beautiful Mess ]
Handmade clay pots [ Say Yes to Hoboken ]
Geometric wall art [ DesignSponge ]
The water bottle chandelier [ Oh Happy Day ]

Fashion & Beauty

Anna Dello Russo x H&M = hell yes [ Honestly WTF ]
Turn mom jeans into skinny jeans [ Uber Chic for Cheap ]
How to dress joyously [ Yes and Yes ]
Glass bottle necklace [ Sincerely Kinsey ]
Tory Burch necklace DIY [ The Glitter Guide ]

Hotels & Travel

Soho House, Berlin [ Remodelista ]
Mama Shelter, Paris [ The Designer Pad ]
The new W hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand [ Freshome ]
Shelter Co, California [ Poppytalk ]
The Standard, East Village [ on bluepoolroad ]

Entertaining & Parties

Cute! Bite-sized brunch [ Mrs. Field's Secrets ]
Pop up place cards [ Camille Styles ]
High style low cost party [ Remodelista ]
Pomegranate gin smash [ Signed by Tina ]
Ginger syrup cocktails [ DesignSponge ]

Miscellany

Faceted ring boxes [ My Adventure is Your Advantage ]
Tiles by Lenny Kravitz [ Freshome ]
Tips for choosing cabinetry [ Centsational Girl ]
Angry Birds theme park (!!!) [ Freshome ]
Remembering MCA [ Kottke ]

Happy weekend everyone! Hope yours is both relaxing and full of sunshine (as I’m hoping mine will be).

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ what I ate ] Easy Rapini and Garlic

I do love my kale but I’ve almost been overdosing on it lately – which is why I was inspired to pick up a new green to try this week. A fresh bunch of rapini made it’s way home with me and I couldn’t wait to try it. Rapini (or broccoli rabe) is not something that is intuitive to cook. It looks like greens but it does really need to be cooked to be soft enough to eat. I was looking for a simple and straightforward way to use it and that is how I found this recipe by Rachael Ray at the Food Network.

This is as simple as a veggie can get really. It’s basically just sauteed garlic and steamed rapini with broth (veggie broth in my case). But the results were delicious. (I mean – of course! Pretty much any veggie with garlic is amazing.) It was garlicky and chewy and satisfying and I will definitely be bringing home more rapini in the future. New vegetable success.

The Savory

Nearly raw tahini noodles [ VeganYumYum ]
Shaved asparagus salad [ A Couple Cooks ]
The best macaroni cheese [ Cup of Jo ]
Sundried tomato basil pesto pasta [ Oh She Glows ]
Artichokes with spaghetti [ Sacramento Street ]

The Sweet

Carrot cake pancakes [ Including Cake ]
Peanut butter banana chunk cookies [ Shelterrific ]
Chocolate sauce and sea salt honey caramel sauce [ A Beautiful Mess ]
Mini bourbon pecan pies [ Crepes of Wrath ]
Orange blossom sesame cake [ My New Roots ]

Bon appetit!

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.

[ daydream destination ] Hotel Boca Chica, Acapulco

The Location

Acapulco is the classic Mexican resort town which rose to popularity in the 1950s as a getaway for the rich and famous. It may have faded slightly from its former glory days but it is still the number two destination in Mexico for spring break among U.S. college students. Nowawadays, most of the tourists are actually Mexican. However, it a worthwhile adversary to the larger Cancun and is the largest beach resorted city in Mexico. The north end of the bay is the “traditional” end, known for its nightlife while the south end is dominated by luxury high rise hotels.

The Hotel

If you are after that original 1950s Acapulco vibe, then Hotel Boca Chica is right for you. The property was featured in Elvis’s Fun in Acapulco movie. Grupta Habita acquired the property and opened Hotel Boca Chica in 2010. A deft minimalist make-over has smoothed over the faded edges and breathed life into the space.

Renovating a building while keeping the original spirit is a tricky task for most. But thankfully many elements of the 1950s still shine through here thanks to Mexican artist Claudia Fernández who was in charge of the redesign. The exterior remains largely unchanged but the interiors are sleek and mostly white. Furnishings and details are on the minimal side but quirky accents – such as the vintage soda dispenser in the lobby – show off the hotel’s personality.

In a town full of massive resorts, the Boca Chica seems downright tiny with a mere 36 rooms. Each has a bay or ocean view and a roomy balcony outfitted with a hammock – the perfect spot to indulge in an afternoon nap. Jalousie doors open to allow ocean breezes inside and ceiling fans keep things cool. Amenities include Dr. Bronner products, wifi and 24 hours room service.

The Extras

The restaurant’s large open air palapa is the perfect spot to down a few chilaquiles. The restuarants Executive Chef Keisuke Harada provides an eclectic menu, including a sushi take-out menu.

The retro-style pool is a hip place to hang both day and night. Slide up to the bar to try an Acabrown, the hotel’s own tamarind and mescal blended cocktail. Or if you want to see how the locals live one of Acapulco’s most popular beaches is right next door. If you are in the mood for adventure, take the hotel’s boat to nearby La Roqueta island – an ecological reserve that’s the perfect spot to do some snorkeling.

The on site gym and spa are ready for those who desire it. The spa is a striking departure from the rest of the hotel decorated in dark and moody colors. There are several massage cabans and a therapy area where trained experts offer a full menu of body and facial treatments.

Once the sun goes down, the hotel turns into one of the hippest places in town. The onsite disco provides a place for guests and locals to dance all night long.

Hotel Boca Chica
Playa Caletilla
Fracc. Las Playas
Acapulco, Guerrero,
México, 39390
T. 1-866-978-7020
Rates from $95 USD.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of style- whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.