The greatest and the least...

"The greatest and the least,
The rich and the poor,
The weak and the strong,
In sickness and in health,
In joy and in sorrow,
In tragedy and triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN"

Today's a sad day, it marks the end of an era. The very last episode of All My Children will be airing in just a few hours. It all started on January 5th 1970 when the world got their first glimpse into the fictitious Pennsylvania town of Pine Valley. This gorgeous little town that is somehow convenient to NYC, the Bahamas, Hawaii, LA and has both a beach with yacht club and also dense forests with random fallout shelters in the forest floor,  yet it appears to only have a hand full of residents that have a penchant for marriage, drama and questionable medical practices. There just aren't enough words or sequins to explain this twisted group of people who I love.

So in honor of my exile from Pine Valley, today we talk pine...

Pine trees are native to the majority of the northern hemisphere. From ornamental uses such as the Christmas Tree to practical uses like construction, the pine is the most commercially important species of tree.
There is a word that you come across quite frequently when shopping for pine (especially in a flooring capacity). Heartpine- it is just that, the wood from the heart of the tree. Because trees are harvested at a younger age now, they no longer grow long enough to form the darker decay resistant heartwood, thus creating a wonderful reclaimed second life for this product that is called antique heartpine. Heartpine is also used to refer to the heart wood of southern yellow pine.

reclaimed wide plank pine flooring is rich in character

Eastern White Pine has been the flooring choice for hundreds of years for New Englanders

Pine flooring often has color variation, grain and knots that give it tons of character and can make a big impact.

But if pine flooring isn't your thing- you can still give your own Pine Valley tribute on the walls- Pine needles have so many gorgeous shades of green in them so there is something for everyone!

"green-wash" pays homage to forest it comes from with the color of young needles and the beauty of the grain showing through.

The dark pine green of mature needles gives this tile a reptilian feel

So Pine Valley- you will be missed!

Guess I'll just have keep the story alive with my very own Erica Kane...

after all she hasn't married Ken yet...

She whom you can neither name nor measure...

Legend states that Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality was actually born out of sea-foam. For a goddess who had many lovers and whose beauty could incite war it is fitting that the descriptors for Sea Foam (Pantone 12-0313) are Capable, Enterprising and Talented.

July 13th's color, Sea Foam, encourages action, joy and participation with others... all things that Aphrodite had no problems with- so why not bring a little into your life.

When paired with tomato red it gives a fresh feel that is a far cry from the sea foam schemes of the early nineties florida style I instantly think of when i hear the word sea foam..

the sea foam accents are soothing and complementing of  the neutrals while the red pops and enlivens the whole room

Aphrodite's not the only thing to come from the sea foam...sea shells look perfectly at home on display against a sea foam wall

golden accents sparkle like the sun in a sea foam and neutral palette

I have a huge weakness for sea glass and old bottles... group them in clusters where the sun can catch them or use them for impromptu vases for flowers from your yard...

and it's not just for your walls- sea foam actually looks amazing with a deep golden tan (full disclosure- I feel 31 is a bit too old for sea foam nails but if I was 16 again I would totaly rock it!)

I found these beauties on Etsy... summer tan + flowy sundress+ sea foam earrings= summertime chic

What's a Piquant???

Today's Color: Piquant Green (Pantone 17-0235)
Solid
Interesting
Persistent

"Piquant Green reminds you that there are different ways to achieve your desires and that the skills you acquire on the journey enrich you as much as arriving at your final destination."

and for the record... Piquant is an adjective often used in cooking to mean a pleasantly sharp taste or exciting to the mind!
Pretty cool word for a rather average boring shade of green...pretty sure this is the color of the Green Crayola Crayon...

So here is the funny thing- I was about to take this post down because I realized it is not June 13th's color... it is May 13th's color...but then I looked at my calendar to see what I did a month ago today and frankly that was the best Friday the 13th I have ever had- so it stays...

Today's color is actually:

Bright Chartreuse (Pantone 14-0445)

Creative

Loving

Capable

"Bright Chartreuse invokes financial protection and trust in the universe"

Ming...

June 5th's color: Ming (Pantone 15-6120)
Exuberant
Friendly
Youthful

this lovely soft succulent shade of green can help you slow down so that you can receive the answers that only come when you are in a restful place. Ming helps you release excess energy and become quietly conscious

Absinthe makes the tart grow fonder...

 June 4th's color of the day: Green Glow (Pantone 13-0442)
Hardworking
Enterprising
Tenacious

The Absinthe like glow of this color helps you know when to shine and when to share and much like the outlawed drink it encourages you to interact with others on a more intimate level...

and also like the mind numbing cocktail...use with caution- this color is intense and a little goes quite a long way...

So bottoms up! Happy Saturday!

xoxo

How doth the little crocodile...

"How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile,
On every golden scale"
-Lewis Carroll
 
Today's color is Nile (Pantone 14-0223): Clever Lively

Wearing and surrounding yourself with this calming green tone will help you attract a partner that matches your vibration. It moves you away from juggling and gives you courage to choose.

Personally,I instantly think animal print when I hear the word Nile- and of course what goes better with a good animal print than a healthy dose of green (Good Ole' Mother Nature never gives a bad suggestion when it comes to color palettes and themes that mix well)

and no one ever said your accent color has to be fabric or paint! If going for this look, two pieces of advice- don't over do it and end up in some sort of surreal botanical garden in your house, and second- keep the plant alive!

I love a good bottle green leather- it lends an unexpected note to leather without being cheesy

And why limit the animals to their native colors???

Designers from Dolce and Gabbana  to Lee Jofa to old favorites like Brunschwig and Fils have mastered the art of coloring animal prints so they are sexy and stylish- not contrived and cheesy.

and who does green better that the Queen of Pink and Green??? Lilly of course- and to team up with Lee Jofa for her new home line of fabrics equals sheer genius!

and while animal prints have been deemed a "new Classic" they are not for everyone...let your imagination take flight and pull some green in with inspiration of some feathered friends

unlikely but perfect pairing...

I spent last weekend at the wedding of one of my very best friends... hence the lack of postings (packing before, recovering afterward). Now don't get me wrong, I am happy for all of my friends- but from the very first time I met her now husband, there has been something about them as a couple that I just love. She is one of the most important friendships I have so I frankly didn't think anyone would be good enough for her but she found her one- they are the perfect balance for each other; her dry wit is countered by his sometimes over the top silliness and they bring out the best in one another.
So when she said they were getting married at the yacht club I knew it would be the perfect wedding for them. The old gray sand battered yacht club got swathed in gorgeous greenery that made for the most fitting color story for them...
Green tends to symbolize life, nature, fertility and well being
Gray tends to symbolize security practicality and maturity. Native Americans associate it with friendship...
This combination is them perfectly!
This unlikely pairing of colors also happens to make the perfect palette for your home... Gray is the ultimate neutral- it can go masculine or feminine, it can be bold or subtle, it can be modern or traditional. Green is possibly the safest color on earth to use- when in doubt go green! Green goes with virtually any color- don't believe me- go take a walk outside and see what good ole' mother nature pairs it with...

grayish green cabinets paired with stainless steel make for an unexpected yet extremely cozy kitchen

ok- so this isn't so much gray but there are definite gray undertones to this eclectic work space

Soft greens and gray can create an ethereal romantic feel

soft bluish gray is the perfect background for a bluish green giving just enough contrast while still lending a monochromatic feel

bright pops of green make this open space feel young and fresh

I love the gray tones of worn wood

The traditional bottle green on these modern chairs is kept in check by the neutral gray walls

acid green and gray are popping up in fabrics and trims everywhere

so this is way more a greenish yellow but still...

I adore painting the insides of cabinets- it is a fun surprise and it looks great with glass front cabinets when you have white dishes

did I mention green and gray can be traditional....

Steely green plants like olive trees and lavender can create an uber romantic feel in a garden and look amazing with the worn wood of a well used deck