Meditation 101

For us to become healthier we need to listen to our bodies. And what better way to do that than by learning to quiet our busy minds? Meditation can be intimidating for a beginner, but it does not need to be. All you need is a quiet place to sit, a few minutes of your time (and really, five minutes will do you wonders), and a peaceful cd with soothing music and sounds. And the reward for this investment in yourself? The benefits of mediation are too many to count:
‘Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients. Leads to a deeper level of relaxation. Reduces anxiety attacks. Decreases muscle tension and headaches. Builds self-confidence. Enhances the immune system. Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress.’

helpful links: HERE/meditation benefits: HERE

photo credits: pose:unknown; flower:lenareh; lotus:rodolfo; budha+candle: c.mariani; garden:hoppinger; man: mboudin.

summer centerpieces

Outdoors or in your own dining room, summer dinners can be a festive affair with some happy flowers and bright colored napkins. We looked at Martha's always reliable sense of aesthetics for some visual inspiration. Check out your local farmer's market for the most beautiful flowers, and be creative when fixing and matching place mats and napkins – the more colorful, the best…. and happy dinning in the sunshine!

full article at marthastewart.com

carried away

while Sex and the City 2 did not received very good reviews; we decided to honor the fashion in the movie. Even though the price tags of the clothes are so high, and only the rich and famous can afford to buy them – it is always nice to remember the immortal Coco Chanel: "fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

credit: article + photos featured here

Applelicious

Summer is here! And it did take up to now for things to warm up in Seattle. Nothing says summer time as the American Classic apple pie. There are as many apple pie recipes as there are types of apples, and our all time favorite is:

Uncovered Apple Pie

One pack ready-made puff pastry
2–3 Granny Smiths, peeled
2 tablespoons caster sugar (caster sugar is pricy, but oh, what sweetness!)
1 tablespoon melted butter
lemon juice

Preheat oven to 220°C.
Roll out pastry and score a 1.5cm border all round.
Refrigerate pastry for 10 minutes
Sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar on the pastry. Try not to get them on the 1.5cm border.
Pat the apple slices dry and arrange in pretty rows on the pastry.
Brush with melted butter.
Sprinkle with remaining sugar.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes

If you like your dessert a little sweet, at a little more of the caster sugar, or drizzled a little honey. Serve it warm with French Vanilla Ice Cream. Enjoy!
apples - here . fully covered pie - here . lattice pie - here . open apple tart - unknown

summer light

for the first weekend of summer, nothing better to begin our Saturday posts series than a darling outdoor wedding. this is an oldie but unforgettable one. held in our home state of WA, in the magic Bainbridge Island, the ceremony was featured in full summer light, having country coming together with romance. as a main guest, an antique gramophone... it simply doesn't get any cuter than that.
enjoy, and have a sun + fun + summer filled Saturday :)




featured here
photography by Sean Flanigan

unconventional pretty

Kimberly Baker is a local designer that is having a great national presence. her pieces are provocatively ethereal, and have adorned the likes of Scarlet Johansen and Lucy Liu. I love that I can choose the same piece in both silver and gold tones. check out Kimberly’s website and fall in love with her treasures.

numbered

#9 here . other #s here

LATTICE it is!

as you can all see above, Lattice was the most voted header for our blog new look. we are thrilled to bring a more dynamic and fun blogging structure and content to our lovely readers... stay tuned for fun things to come! thanks for all your votes and congrats to Helena, from a Diary of Lovely on winning a new header design. we'll contact you shortly!

and to kick off summer, solstice and a new layout,
here is a rainbow inspired board to celebrate the longest day of the year:

and don't forget to contact us for this week's only special offer:
a standard blog makeover for $50!
happy summer!

a special gift

house 09 one year birthday is tomorrow...

and with many good things to come here is a special one:
in order to celebrate it, we are offering a

standard blog makeover for $50!

oh yeah! for one week only you can get your blog all

to get your name on the growing list.

and hurry up!! this offer is just good till next sunday, june 27th.

...because summer is almost here and your blogging days will just get hotter and hotter...

new header

wanna help us choose our new blog header? take a look below and vote on your favorite. the most voted header will be installed. And here is the good news: one lucky voter will receive a free new header design to their own blog from house 09.

Let the best layout win!

LATTICE

FLOWERS

RETRO

to win a new header:
1. become a follower of our blog
(mandatory)
2. leave a comment below
(with a way of contacting you)
3. giveaway ends on June 20th at midnight PST
(winner selected by random.org)

For extra entries:
4. post the giveaway on your blog and leave me an extra comment
(linking back here)

5. become a house 09 facebook fan.
click here

'the best of luck and thx for joining in'

What is your favorite header?