mother's day at the haskell nursery

after moving ourselves to newport with the help of my uncle rob (who i think could win survivor seeing that he has more energy than my pathetic 33 year old self) brother matt, and a 26 foot penske truck we thought it was time to leave the boxes at home and go have some fun. so josh planned for us to head to the haskell nursery in new bedford, ma. on mother's day. we had been there twice before the girls were born, but were excited to see how they would like it. it was a beautiful day and it was just as i remembered...a 7 acre sanctuary of greenhouses, topiaries, plants, chickens, and historic buildings that stirs the spirituality inside of you. feels like a museum. allen haskell, the famous horticulturist started the business almost 50 years ago, and his son, david now presides over it. martha stewart and jacqueline kennedy onassis are said to have been patrons. if you are in the area, you should definitely check it out.

jamie shelman

via black eiffel. love these abstract paintings by jamie shelman. i'm so inspired to paint right now, but with twin girls roaming the house i don't think it's realistic. this sudden urge to paint may come from the fact that we just moved and our walls are bare and screaming for some artwork.

design candy

1. kitka blog via decor8
2. hytteliv via my scandinavian retreat
3. marieclairemason.com via blue pool road
4. bolig via black.white.yellow
5. pisarapilvi via emmas designblogg

these are images i have spotted around the blogosphere. love the clean lines and feeling of openness in all these images.

newport, ri

here we come! josh started a new job last week in newport so we are packing up and moving this weekend. we are so excited, but after living almost 4 years in the boston area i was kinda getting used to the fast paced life and crazy drivers. i'm relieved we don't have to say goodbye to our friends in boston because they are only 1.5 hours away. ikea is right in between newport and boston, so i'm hoping to plan some get togethers over swedish meatballs and lingonberry juice. i have a hard time with change so instead of thinking about all the things i'm going to miss or the fact that our family doubled in size here in mass., i realize i need to look to the future. so here are the places i want to visit in and around newport once we get settled in our new place:
-the modern printed matter store + studio in warren, ri
-nonchalant mom's store in wakefield, ri
-roger williams park zoo in providence
-breakfast at the barn (15 main road) in adamsville, ri
-newport art museum
-the redwood library and athenaeum
- pick up a growler of beer at buzzards bay brewery in westport, ma
-horseneck beach, easton's beach, gooseberry beach
-tiverton four corners
-westport rivers vineyard and winery
-south country hot air balloon festival in kingston, ri
-newport antiques show
-casey farm in saunderstown, ri
-hike at beavertail state park in jamestown, ri and fort adams in newport
-rhode island antiques mall in pawtucket, ri
-the haskell nursery in new bedford, ma
-take a drive on ocean drive
-hike the 3.5 mile cliff walk in newport
-newport yachting center festivals (chowder cook off, irish, ocktoberfest)

polka dance

i'm a sucker for polka dots! look at these new patterns from ikea. i think you could do an entire theme for a kid's birthday party around a table cloth in one of these colors.

easter weekend

hope you all had a fun easter! cheers to new beginnings and a happy spring! my parents + josh's parents traveled from ohio to spend easter with us. on thursday we went to mount auburn cemetery to check out the spring buds + dinner at jasper white's summer shack. on friday we went to the park + my brother hosted a cook out with our entire family in the area. saturday we took a day trip to rockport, ma. and sunday was church and an easter celebration at our place with everyone. here are some of my favorite pics from the long weekend:
r+k

grandma + grandpa t with r
k
r


family pic

what we're really like
my bro,uncle rob being goofy, and my mom

josh + matt holding k+r/ wearing the girls hats

my mom + i in rockport

josh and me


k on easter morning

r with her easter bonnet

my dad and the girlies

the men hanging out on easter

matt teaching k how to make farting noises with her hands...lovely
k

gemma smith

our place is pretty much decorated with white, black, and grey. i think one of these paintings by gemma smith would add some vibrancy to our walls. pretty spring colors. it makes me want to run to the art store to get a canvas and some large brushes.

daffodil centerpiece

via stephmodo. stephanie always has the greatest ideas! she found this martha stewart paper basket bouquet here. i think i might line a couple of these down the center of my easter dinner table. i like that they are low so everyone at the table can see each other. i also love natural colored materials and that paper bag makes it not so fussy.and bonus- i think i saw bouquets of daffodils at trader joe's for like $1.50. score.

friday inspiration

some design eye candy. these are some images that get me going. hope you enjoy!!

{image1} from the new york times

{image 2} via remodelista

{image from domino magazine}

{image 4} via remodelista

{image 5} via my scandinavian retreat

{image 6} via emmas design blog

{image 7} via jordan ferney

easter eggs

photo from here at trufflegirls.com blog. looking forward to dyeing some eggs this year. how pretty are these! via design mom