I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
In preparation for the many celebrations this time of year naturally brings I’ve been trying to step outside my comfort zone and create new cocktail combinations. Case in point: my Bruleed Grapefruit & Gin Fizz. By combining the sugary-caramelization from bruleeing with the natural tartness of grapefruit, and topping it all off with a dash of lime and a sprig of thyme, you’ll be toasting this season with the most perfect of sips. Cheers! Truly, MKR
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I don’t know how we’re at week 6 of the One Room Challenge, time seems to have literally flown. Looking back I also don’t know how I was able to actually pull this all off, and while the room isn’t 100% complete (which you’ll read about below) I must say I couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out.
If you remember when deciding to remodel my officethe two most important things where to lighten up the space and make it more functional for myself and my growing team. I kept the oh-so popular Thibaut Tanzania wallpaper, my giant silver chandy, and horned sconces, but everything else went out the door. To lighten up the space I got rid of all the black and brought in modern crisp whites and warm maple woods which not only made the space immediately feel light and bright, but also much bigger which is always a plus. Staying true to Martha’s signature colors I anchored the room with pops of orange, mango and all shades of blue plus metallic accents of gold and silver. I mixed it all up with modern and traditional pieces giving it a more collected and eclectic feel.
When it came to functionality my old space only had one very large desk and because I can have anywhere from 1-3 team members with me on any given day I knew I wanted to add a table. I’ve adored the Knoll table for years and now I had the perfect opportunity to add it to my arsenal, but the Knoll is made to order and wouldn’t make my tight turnaround. However, I wanted to show the space finished so I subbed in an Ikea table while I patiently await the Knoll. An Oomph Tini Table provides a catch all for keys, phones, and any personal affects plus its the perfect table for cocktails. And the traditional jute rugbalances out the modern touches and brings warmth to the stark white and clear acrylic ghost chairs, plus it defines the space allowing this area to not get lost in the room itself.
I moved my Blu Dot Strut desk directly in front of the window because while the enormous silver chandy is gorgeous it doesn’t put out a lot of light so the more natural light I can utilize the better. I also chose to face away from the window enabling me to converse with my team rather than have my back to everyone the entire day. For my desktop I wanted to keep it clutter free so because the Blu Dot Strut doesn’t have drawers I added a rolling file cabinet from Ikea plus a second Oomph Tini Table which houses a few desk necessities. I laid a sheepskin rug underneath allowing my feet to have a soft and cozy place to rest, plus it provides the perfect spot for Addison to cuddle up on. Lastly, my custom drapes I agonized over for weeks turned out to be the centerpiece of the room. Going forward I don’t think I’ll ever do a drape without a pop of color (preferably a velvet color) again!
The Modloft Pearl Bookcase, while beautiful, needed to fulfill its purpose as an actual shelf which is why you’ll find Shop products, styling props, and art sprinkled amongst my personal items. The Pearl is also home to my latest, and quite possibly current favorite, Marshall Stanmore Speaker (worth every penny my friends). On a side note another Pearl bookcase is on its way so the entire wall will be shelving, and when she arrives I plan on sharing a step-by-step #shelfie styling story so stay tuned (say that five times fast).
Lastly, I replaced my black book shelves with two maple consoles from Ikea that have doors allowing me to store Shop products without feeling like a hoarder. Instead of styling the consoles I chose to leave them simple and clean, but flanked the sides with two media towersto house my never ending book collection.
Well I think that about sums it all up, though I’m sure I’m forgetting something…oh yeah, what do you think of my new space?! Truly, MKR
…EVERYTHING ELSE…Wallpaper, Thibaut Tanzania || Horned Sconces, Waiting On Martha (email for details) || Fiddle Fig Basket, World Market || Maple Console, Ikea || Stacked Book Towers, Hayneedle
Nine times out of ten when casually entertaining you’ll find me preparing a DIY taco bar for guests to enjoy. You see we eat a lot of tacos and all things Mexican over at the Rye household which makes a DIY taco bar a natural go-to for me (grab my recipes for homemade guacamole, queso, and tortilla chips which are SO worth the time). Plus you can prep the majority of ingredients the night before, and with a few simple protein and veggie options plus a whole slew of toppings you can rest assured that even the pickiest of eaters will find something to satisfy their cravings.
So with National Taco Day being this Saturday the 4th might I suggest you grab a sombrero, mix a margarita, and have some of your nearest and dearest over to nosh on a taco bar of your own. Truly, MKR
P.S. If you’re not a fan of the whole cooking thing Williams Sonoma is offering a ready to go taco bar version!
*Grab the recipes and shop the story below || Photography, Rustic White
Vegetarian Options (roasted potatoes & black beans)
Various Salsa options
Queso (recipe link in story)
Guacamole (recipe link in story)
Refried beans
Chopped lettuce
Chopped tomatoes
Chopped onions
Shredded cheese
Sliced jalepenos
Sliced radishes
Chopped cilantro
Sour cream
Sliced limes
Instructions
...FOR THE SHRIMP
Coat deveined and tails of shrimp with olive oil, salt, and fresh pepper.
In a small skillet on medium high shrimp cook shrimp 4-6 minutes, browning and slightly crisping each side.
...FOR THE ROASTED POTATOES
Slice baby red potatoes and generously coat in olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper, and cayenne pepper if you like heat.
Place on a small lined or non stick coated baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until potatoes soften and brown 20-25 minutes. Stir potatoes occasionally.
...FOR THE SKIRT STEAK
Pound out steak about 1" thickness.
Pat down with 1 tablespoon olive oil, chili lime rub, fresh squeezed lime juice, and fresh cilantro. Let marinate for 30-60 minutes. Do not marinate for more than 60 minutes as the meat will begin to sour and break down.
Grill on a low heat till preferred doneness is achieved. I suggest for guests serving at a medium rare/medium temperature.
Let rest 2-5 minutes before cutting and serving.
...FOR THE TOPPINGS & SIDES
Make homemade tortilla chips (recipe below), chop vegetables, and shred cheese up to 24 hours in advance. Refrigerate until serving.
Make guacamole just before serving, squeeze a tiny bit of lemon over the top to preserve color and prevent browning.
Lay out all ingredients and let the taco building begin!
By Mandy Kellogg Rye @Waiting On Martha
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/
…WAIT THERE’S MORE…Molcajete, Williams Sonoma (I’m also dying to get the pig) || Cutting Board, Vintage similar HERE || Dipping Dishes, Waiting On Martha || Gold Silverware, One Kings Lane, old similar HERE || Napkins, Vintage similar HERE || Wood Serving Set, Waiting On Martha (email customerservice@waitingonmartha for details) || Salsa Bowl, Sur la Table || Seasoning, Williams Sonoma chili lime rub (my husband swears by it)