Storm clouds

Spooky sky yesterday as I went home.

Food:

When I'm homesick for life in Ireland I turn to familiar foods from my childhood. A scalloped potato gratin was a recipe that I ate a lot, its creamy warmth instantly transports me to our Ballyvaughan kitchen table (where I usually sat at dinnertime surreptitiously trying to read the book balanced on my legs under the table). The lovely Bea of La Tartine Gourmande is married to an Irishman and in celebration of his grandmother's long and lovely life she posts a recipe for scalloped potatoes and turnips au gratin with onion and sage that I absolutely have to try.

I'm so excited for Aran's book (Small Plates, Sweet Treats) to come out. She recently filmed a kick-ass trailer for the book at the home of her friend Nadia of the gorgeous lifestyle blog La Porte Rouge. The trailer was filmed beautifully by Ryan Marshall of The Panic Room, check it out here on Nadia's blog.

Fashion/style:

The fall 2012 collection of Emerson Fry is out and everyone (including me) is loving it.

Do you love Minnetonka? You could win a super rad pair of knee-high lace up boots from A Beautiful Mess.

Just in case you're in the mood to shop at ASOS (and really who isn't) make sure you use the Cup of Jo discount of 20% off. Good until next Monday! Code is: 20ACUPOFJO

Interior design:

Abbey of the lovely lifestyle crafting blog Aesthetic Outburst has a new book, You Are Awesome, coming out, and to celebrate Design Sponge has posted a project today from the book. It's a stitched screen door! Now if I had a screen door I'd be taking a needle and thread to it pronto!

If you're in the mood to look at dreamy vintage modern living rooms today, head to SF Girl by Bay to get some inspiration from Victoria's well curated collection of images.

Brooke Astor's furnishings and art are going to auction at Sotheby's next week (9/24 and 9/25). While I'm not going to be bidding on anything of hers, her collection is open to the public until Sunday 9/23. But just in case you aren't in New York or can't make it up there, Heather from Habitually Chic has already taken a tour. Check out her photos here.

Sigh, am I the only one who is sad that Bachelor Pad is over?