blog vacation

 

meant to log on and let you know that i was not going to post this week because i'm spending some quality time with family at the beach. packing for the twins, potty training and the rhode island d.m.v. got the most of me before we left last week. so i hope you all have a lovely 4th of july holiday and i'll be back next week to post on some new artists i discovered, summer salad recipes, and carefree design for summer. cheers!

image by bbbcraft sisters for design sponge.

summer fun + a little experiment

happy 1st day of summer! after living in newport, rhode island for over a year now, i think i have learned to embrace a more laid-back coastal country, beachy lifestyle in stark contrast to our life just outside boston, mass. we signed up for a c.s.a. vegetable program through simmons organic farm in middletown, ri. we have eaten dinner outside every chance we get and taken walks/pushed the girls on their tricycles to see the sunset over at the point. i learned how to cook with mussels and josh has perfected a dark n' stormy. we have spent mornings at the beach and hours have passed and i don't feel guilty about it at all. we leave our dutch door open in the back of the house and let the breeze sail right through. and we have spent the last 2 weeks without t.v. and cable. yep, i turned our cable box in and i sort of wanted to skip back to the car after doing so. of course i had to wait to see the last oprah, but it's our little summer experiment for our family. so instead of watching t.v. at night, josh and i have been sitting down and having some great conversations. we wrote a summer wish list of things to do and here it is:

-margarita party with neighbors
-make a recipe with mussels
- host a cocktail party the friday night of josh's family reunion in july
- host a book exchange party for friends
- tour the historic home in the point (forget the name)
- newport jazz fest
- take more walks after dinner
- blueberry and peach picking at sweet berry farm
- go to salvation cafe for dinner date
- newport gulls baseball game 
- newport kite festival at brenton point
- ballard park outdoor movies
- south county hot air balloon festival
- go to the beach on sunday morning and then stop by anthony's on the way home to pick up fresh seafood for dinner
- tiverton four corners sculpture park
- boston children's museum wizard of oz exhibit 
- newport film outdoor movies. independent thought provoking films!
- purgatory chasm
- july 4th in rockport, mass. fireman's parade and bonfire at back beach
- newport butterfly zoo
- make more frozen yogurt treats
- westport, mass. day trip: allens pond wildlife sanctuary, eat at the bayside, wesport rivers vineyard and winery

and some not so fun things to do this summer:
- potty train twins
- persuade karoline and rory not to rub greek yogurt all over their body when they are eating it
- find my drivers license that the girls have hid

so cheers to summer. salt water hair that hasn't been washed for days. bare feet. learning to step out of your comfort zone. cold drinks. seafood on the grill. fire pits. the smell of ocean roses. surf culture with v.w. buses and wood paneled station wagons with loads of gear on top. lots of ice cream. and reading good books that take you to places you have never been.

image by bob weeks via switch-foot

weekend still lifes

happy father's day josh

thanks for being the best daddy to karoline and rory!

disco fever

a disco ball never looked so chic. love the simplicity and calmness to this room. the metallic ball adds another layer when combined with the french chair, neutral floor and walls, stacked wood, white magazines, and black books. love everything about this bohemian room.

photo by loupe images/polly wreford for redonline.co.uk

mark seelen photography

some inspiring interiors and exteriors thanks to mark seelen photography via aubrey road.

section 2 of the high line in nyc

the high line that i originally posted about here has expanded with the opening of section 2 on june 8th. if you aren't familiar with the high line park in new york city, it is a recently renovated park that was once a raised train track. once an eye sore, the design team of  james corner field operations and diller scofidio + renfro  has transformed it into an urban oasis. i absolutely love seeing an area revitalized to it's fullest potential.

all photos by leonel ponce for inhabitat new york city.

ginger joe

wish i could get my hands on this before father's day. but, stone's ginger joe alcoholic ginger beer is only available in the UK. and check out that cool label. why do all european labels look better than u.s. marketing?

margarita madness

these pictures were all taken before the madness hit on friday night. i should have gotten a before and after pic. it was quite an aftermath. lots of fun and the rain held out. our neighbors, aybuke and peter did the drinks and josh and i did the decorations and food. peter and aybuke concocted the best margaritas i have ever had. fresh juice from limes, lemons and oranges. the mason jars are my new favorite for summer entertaining. they look great with garnishes and you can also put candles in them and use them as votives. the best $9 for 1 dozen i have ever spent.

happy summertime

hope you all have a fun filled weekend. i'm in the party prep zone for our margarita shindig tonight. lots of decorations going up and fruits and vegetables being chopped in the kitchen while the girls nap. i love doing this. hours have gone by and i hardly feel like i'm working. i guess that is a sign that i'm doing something i'm passionate about and i'm using my creative juices. hmmm, i see lots of parties in the future.

anyway, thanks for reading my little blog and hope you have a weekend filled with your favorite things.

photo from modern residential design via notcot.

american flags map

created by these are things, this united states map would look dear in a kids room. each map is printed by hand and silkscreened in five colors. measures 20" x 30"

buy it here.

quercus design

 

i have a huge design crush on this photographer, jennifer steen booher of quercus design in bar harbor, maine. buy her photographs at her etsy shop here. check out her blog here. genius idea. why didn't i think of that? we were just scouring the beach this morning for crab shells and quahog shells. she gets it, she really gets it. the simplicity, precision, placement, and eye for mixing natural curiosities makes me want to jump up and hug her even though i have never met her. strange i know, but i can't contain my excitement. get on over to quercus design and start ordering.

all photos by jennifer steen booher of quercus design via remodelista.

scenes around our house

oh happy day giveaway!

jordan at oh happy day! is giving away a trip for two to paris!! my friends, this is better than winning the lottery, better than santa leaving presents under the tree, better than the happiness i get from receiving a lifetime of design magazines in the mail, better than the feeling of waking up to a snow day.  i mean how rad would this be!! josh and i are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this october and this would be the forshizzle if we won. check out the details here: http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris.
good luck!

happy monday

love this room! i think it's brilliant to take a hallway or foyer space that is small and turn it into a declaration of who you are and what you like. the colorful paintings, the white floors, the antique garden chairs, the necklace hanging on the lamp, the stack of books.

hope you all had a great weekend! we went to the zoo with the girls and i have never seen rory so excited. lord, she loves animals. we also planned a little party with our neighbors to kick summertime off this friday night. margaritas with fresh lime juice. homemade salsa and chips. colorful party decorations. and the gypsy kings. more on this later...

photo by paul costello — house originally featured on livingetc) via automatism

washi tape birthday cards

my cousin, allison, and friend, laura, will be receiving these handmade birthday cards in the mail. got the idea from annemarie buckley at scout's honor co. blog. she used japanese washi tape to make colorful cards. i had bought the washi tape at pretty tape's etsy shop last year and i had some vellum envelopes which make it extra special because they are see-through.  just used scissors to cut the tape out in the shape of candles and then smacked an abstract expressionist stamp from 2010 (which you can still purchase through amazon right here) on the envelope. i am not an expert at crafting so it looks amateur, but i feel it's the thought that counts and i love using my own two hands to make something.

i like..

1. painting by arite kannavos. 'eye candy'
2. ballard campaign chair.
3. e.a.t. table linens designed by emersonmade and sold by one sydney road
4. pink rainbow cake by call me cupcake.
5. piia tunic by marimekko.
6. washi tape cards made by annemarie buckley for scout's honor co. blog 
7. j. crew salina leather sandals.