I was organizing my photos tonight and found these pics from our trip to Boston last summer.
Oh, and a photo of our (formerly a) kitten, Ollie.
Did my heart good, it did...
Don't photos of your family just make you swoon?
Welcome to your next stop on the Parade of Homes!
I was so honoured when Andy at Poppies at Play asked me to be involved in her Parade of Homes Tour. There are some very beautiful homes being featured, and I hope my little house can keep up! Be sure to scroll all the way to the end of the post so you can be directed to the next house on the parade.
Let the tour begin!
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Welcome to our home!
We live in a back-split bunglaow/rancher which we built in the summer of 2006. It is the fifth house we built, and much of it was done by us. We don't shy away from DIY projects, which is a good thing since our budget doesn't usually allow us to hire out that which we can do ourselves.
I hope you enjoy the tour. It is always a work in progress as we think up new ways to improve and make the most of our living space, both inside and out.
Our Kitchen:
Living Room:
Master Bedroom:
Main Bathroom:
Reading Nook:
Sophie's Playhouse:
(full tour is here)
Our Pool area:
Thanks for stopping by and, again, thanks to Andy at Poppies at Play for hosting this fun tour!
Now, allow me to direct you to the next stop on the tour:
(full tour is here)
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Thanks for stopping by and, again, thanks to Andy at Poppies at Play for hosting this fun tour!
Now, allow me to direct you to the next stop on the tour:
Family Matters...Modern Family
How can I adore a character so much when she looks like this:
Maybe because she says stuff like this:
"You be the wind in his back, not the spit in his face.' ...It's gorgeous in Spanish."
and this:
" I'm Colombian. I know a fake crime scene when I see one."
And my favourite male character:
He makes me spit out my drink with his wanna be the cool dad ways.
Phil-isms, if you will:
"Trust me, I had plenty of fun in my time. Then, I met your mom."
and this:
"You never want your kids to see you scared. You want to be that rock that they grab a hold of in a stormy sea. Actually, a rock would sink. So a floating rock."
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Never watched it before?
Gasp!!
You don't know what you're missing!
I. Never. Miss. It.
And it's on tonight!! (ABC)
Get Your Crazy On...
Yesterday, Sophie woke up with this hair:
A tangled, matted mess from going to bed with still damp hair. An accidental hair disaster, clearly.
Today she went out the door with this hair-don't, on purpose:
It's Crazy Hair Day, after all!!!
(Does that mean I don't have to style/de-frizz mine, either?!)
Happy Weekend!!!
Sarah's House, part two...
Although I haven't delivered on my threat to do a high/low post about Sarah Richardson's latest project, Sarah's House (in the country), I thought it might be fun to share more photos of her not-so-modest-but-entirely-inspiring farmhouse flip project. Maybe you can tell ME where YOU can find some of the things that she used for significantly less.
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Now, I love this yellow mirror. That's easy enough: paint + fleamarket mirror
Same goes for retrofitting an old dresser or dry sink as a vanity.
And this tub. Sarah was excited that she got it for "$200 people!" I think it is the most inexpensive item in the bathroom. I love that she painted its exterior yellow! I could live without the curtain fabric, though. It feels reminiscent of the nineties florals. But that's just me...
I LOVE the kitchen island in yellow!!! It is the best part of the room, in my opinion.
Is anyone else thinking those stools could have been better with something more industrial farmhouse? Not that I'm giving her advice or anything...I'm not an IDIOT!!
She did call me up to ask me how I did this to the stairs of my project:
(I'm kidding, of course!)
Funny, but she didn't think stick on house numbers was fancy enough for her version!
Now, your turn!!
Please Knock before Entering...
Well, here is my latest labour of love from the handyman...where all the "magic" happens, I like to joke! As you can see, I have been pretty quiet over here, but that's not to say the keys aren't tapping! Seems it can be difficult to come up with topics of interest when I rarely leave my new perch, and with the adjectives flying, I fear they will be in short supply for my first baby.
Okay.
This was a cost-effective solution to creating a fancy-pants work space from which to write. Indeed, I remain open to passers-by and pretend to tune out those who ask where their socks are when I am trying to write "in peace!" Using some left-over wood (and about $100 of new wood, I'm told), my husband braved the clutter of our garage and made me this little desk. You may recall I was having difficulty deciding upon a colour. Well, practicality reigned, and I decided to use the unopened can of paint that was hiding in my utility closet. It is a happy shade, and the price made the handyman even happier. I even found the pulls left-over from when we built our house so that was a savings, too. I will now be able to be more organized and keep all of my new writing projects straight.
(And I will fill you in on them just as soon as I'm allowed to...)
I searched high and low for a yellow chair or a stylish one I could paint yellow, but no luck. My dream chair would be an Eames chair, but for some reason they seem hard to come by in my tiny town. Go figure!
So, I picked up this white leather chair and although it is not my first choice, it is a very comfortable place to sit while working. Kind of like the sensible shoes option...not stand-out, but serviceable all the same.
I do have some fun fabric I might upholster it in (without damaging it!) just for a change/the summer, but we will see.
It seems I either decorate or write about decorating.
I never was good at chewing gum and skipping!
Where oh where can she be?
Poor litle blog.
Left all alone, unattended, to greet her loyal guests while mama left her be, neglected.
Bad mother!
Excuses?
Sure. But who really wants to hear them?
Let's just say I've been plunked at my new little desk working away on other projects. Some you know about, and others I can't reveal just yet.
I have also been doing a bit of clothes shopping (gasp!) for my upcoming trip to Arizona to meet NieNie.
Christmas in Arizona, in 100 degree heat?
What does one bring, besides lots of deodorant?
A hat for my (assuredly) frizzy hair?
Sophie thinks she should come because, in her books, Arizona can be considered tropical and thus she could scratch that off her list of things to do (go somewhere tropical!). She also saw photos of NieNie's girls, Claire and Jane, and she thought she would have a lot in common with them.
She definitely shares their cheeks and freckles:
I will miss my freckly girl (and boys!) while I am away.
Though I am sure I will come back with loads of freckles to share...!
Tomorrow, I will show you the desk in its entirety. Don't get too excited. I love it (I really do!), but it's no fancy pants office make-over like others create. Because, if you are looking for fancy offices, you'll be at the wrong blog!
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Now, have you a great holiday cookie recipe? One that you make each and every Christmas, package up as gifts to family, friends or teachers or that is the envy of holiday bake sales? Do you want to have your mother's or grandmother's (or their makle counterparts) cherished cookie recipe published in a holiday magazine? The head on over here and submit your recipe for a chance to be one of ten cookie recipes featured in Holiday with Matthew Mead.
I am thinking of submitting these mutants:
What do you think my chances are?
A Gift with Purchase?
Do you like these pretties, straight from Matthew Mead's tickle trunk of great, vintage stuff?
If you do, then purchase your copy of Holiday with Matthew Mead today or Friday and you will be entered into a draw for your choice of these two fine prizes!
I'm told I can't be in the running, which is a shame!
While you're there, check out our panel of bloggers who will be contributing their holiday ideas with us, and YOU!
A Kindred (Kitchen) Spirit...
I love a pretty kitchen. I have never felt the need to have a sleek, grand kitchen. I guess I feel that being comfortable and relaxed in a room that I spend a whole lot of time in is more important than feeling elegant while cooking or zen-like. Give me some open shelving, great colour, a comfy place to sit and a generous dose of pretty and I am in my element.
Victoria, of Whimsy by Victoria and I share a love of that aesthetic, and the kitchen in her new home is so lovely I could just knock on the door, enter in and feel at home. Pretty lighting, fabrics and fresh interpretations on old classics have led to a wonderful make-over of a previously tired and uninspired space.
Here is the before of her kitchen:
And now, with Victoria's warm touches:
The island her husband made for her:
To see more of Victoria's decorative touches, check out her blog!
Etsy and NieNie!
Shades of Easter...
Who doesn't love the beautiful shades of Easter? From soft pastels in blues and pink to more vibrant shades of yellows and purples...and the grass green that signifies spring is truly here... the return of colour fairly shouts its arrival after a season of cold and white.
Sophie and I decorated eggs with friends today and it was so nice to throw open the windows and let in the warm, spring air while we dipped our eggs into pots of colour.
The little girls squirmed as they emptied the eggs of their yolks..."Ewww...so gross!!"
In the afternoon, I cleared out my closet of most of my winter clothes. The sorry pile of sweaters and pants looked like an Ode to Black, and I vowed to make a few purchases next year that have a bit more colour.
I dug the children's Easter baskets out and lined them with pretty paper grass in preparation for some good Cadbury chocolate and fun spring trinkets. I treated myself to some spring flowers for my table and snuck a few little chocolate eggs, just to be sure they are as delicious as they look...
I hope everyone has wonderful weekend and I wish you and your families a wonderful Easter!
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(looking for Easter basket ideas?)
Enjoy!
