bangs, a beard & ballyhoo

2012-01-30T17:42:00.000-05:00

I'm coming back. Stay tuned.

2011-08-04T10:18:00.002-04:00

Bangs, a beard & ballyhoo began as a chronicle of our cross country journey and a place to write about decorating our new space once we arrived in San Francisco. I had this grandiose idea that it would be wildly popular, I would make a shit ton of connections, and eventually become a reputable blogger. In hindsight, I think I wanted to start a blog because of the many bloggers that I admire. Their passion is amazing and inspiring. For those of you who may read this as bloggers, please do not think that what I’m about to say is a criticism because I really love this community and what it has to offer.

I’ve realized that just because I respect and enjoy those individuals doesn’t mean I have to do what they do. There’s a reason that I enjoy reading what they share and that’s because they are truthful, open, dedicated, and devoted.

When it comes to blogging, I don’t embody those qualities. Until recently, I was not open about my personal life on this blog. I’m not very dedicated or devoted. I find myself posting for the sake of having content rather than being excited about what I’m sharing. When I first started blogging, I was so busy focusing on what I could plan to do in the future that I wasn’t experiencing life in the present.

Also, I don’t do anything to drive readership. There’s no etsy shop, or design firm, or a craft.

Why did I have a need to share the details of my improvement projects, or travels, or life in general? If I am truly honest with myself, it was probably for pure popularity. Seriously. I really think in the back of my mind that I was thinking, “Hey world! Look at this cool shit I did, bought, and acquired. Look at this awesome picture I took and this amazing place that I’ve been. Look at this incredible dog! Don’t you love him!?” That is purely egotistical, and it’s insane to me that my driving force was validation because I don’t need that. I think it's competitive, in a sense, which I vehemently dislike. I feel happy, grateful, complete, and supported when I come home everyday and see Jon and Duke or join my friends for dinner.

Why am I sharing my life in a public forum? I really don’t know. I’m not that type of person. I mean, I will always have something to say, but at this point in time, I’m not sure that I want to do that publicly. Also, it’s pretty obvious that I’m not doing this to sharpen my writing skills because I barely write anything in my posts. I have a graduate degree in creative writing for goodness sake that I don’t even utilize (an entirely different issue!). If I really wanted to write, I would be … in a different genre.

I’ve realized that this blog has become an extension of myself that isn’t me. As much as I love having visitors, I no longer feel the need to share details about our house, or our travels, or what happened throughout our day. I’ve been pondering the concepts of “What does this prove? How does this make my day better? What am I really trying to accomplish?” I keep coming back to the fact that this blog was not a product of passion.

My dad recently said, If you want to be someone important, then do something important.

Doesn’t that ring true on so many levels? I have been thinking about that repeatedly … against many situations that have nothing to do with this blog. It’s time to do something important and rejoin all of you when I feel comfortable sharing.

So this isn’t goodbye. It’s a vacation. You can still keep up with Jon and I through flickr and pinterest.

Much love to all of you for your support!

xoxo,
Julie

The dining chairs

2011-07-29T09:55:00.006-04:00

Remember last week when I mentioned that I had a project for the dining chairs. Well, it happened. It happened in a major way.

Once I restored the wood on the chairs, I was on a desperate hunt for fabric. You may remember a few posts about the direction I wanted.

The entire time I had roughly seven yards of Kelly Wearstler Edo Linen sitting in the hall closet, which was graciously given to me by the infamous Design Junkie (who has such an amazing eye by the way). You may remember that this fabric was inspiration for our save the dates. That's how much I love this fabric. Guess what? I pushed my own envelope and used it. I was so afraid of pattern and color on these mid-century chairs because I wanted to stay true to their original aesthetic. Sometimes you have to say who gives a rat's ass.

Take a look at the chairs before. You can see more of the grimy fabric and neglected teak here.

Behold the after! Now, here's a ginormous shout out to my dear friend Ellen of VintAge Before Beauty because she kindly reupholstered every chair ... and she ROCKED IT!!!! I keep telling her that every time I round the corner into our dining area, I stop and stare at how awesome everything came together. Ellen is amazing. Her etsy shop is in constant rotation so check it out frequently.

Okay, on to the chairs for real.

I still need to finish the dust cover and cover the screws holes with wood plugs, but summary of this project: I "got by with a little help from my friends!"

Many, many, many thanks to everyone involved.

I'm here!

2011-07-28T13:26:00.001-04:00

I have something pretty cool to share tomorrow, but for now today is going to be a great day. I know it!

Julie's bored

2011-07-21T11:23:00.002-04:00

Forget Duke's boredom! It's so lonely around here without Jon. All of these chairs and no one to share. Whine, whine, whine. So lonely in fact that I had to put away the cushions and save them for another sunny day. Jon, come back already!

Duke's bored

2011-07-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

Life's a little dull when Jon's traveling, and it's just me and Duke. Every night, around the time Jon usually gets home, he runs around the house looking for him. Then, he stares out the window waiting for his car. Finally, he gives up and mopes around the rest of the night. Case in point, see the pictures below. I bribe him with rawhide bones, which is what's covering his nose. It's not chapped, just caked with rawhide. A little vitamin E oil always does the trick. See, I even contributed a helpful dog hint today! I have to admit, I mope around as well. Jon's the Paul to my Linda.

What Jon likes

2011-07-19T08:18:00.002-04:00

Jon said this is the best plant and vase I've ever purchased. I think he has good taste.

It's all about perspective, you know?

A taste of what's to come

2011-07-19T08:17:00.007-04:00

This mess is going to be transformed, and it's going to involve the planters below.

This stool that we found by the side of the road is getting the hook up.

And the dining chairs finally are getting the makeover they deserve with help from a very special and amazing friend.

Stay tuned!

Slap some gray on it

2011-07-14T12:36:00.004-04:00

You know the Portlandia video "put a bird on it?" Well, I feel like my decorating go-to is "slap some gray on it." Lately, when something needs sprucing, I get Jon to paint it gray. So gray's the hottest neutral? I'm boring myself here.

Case in point, the campaign chairs. We tried stripping them to bare wood and restaining, but there was this horrible red lacquer that wasn't worth the energy to sand off. Really, the man hours would have been astonishing because that crap was there to stay. So what do we do? SLAP SOME GRAY ON IT!

Case in point, the outdoor storage bins. We've been staring at these dilapidated bins and shelves for almost a year now. They were painted a brick red and looking haggard. We decided the bins needed to stay because the slate patio does not extend beneath them. Plus, we have no other outdoor storage. The shelves stayed too because the wood was decent, so what do we do? SLAP SOME GRAY ON IT!

Am I making fun of myself? Totally. But here's the thing, I really like the improvements. The gray adds a level of maturity to the chairs and makes them even more timeless. Meanwhile, the gray outside is bringing our house into the 21st century.

I need help though. Our life needs some color! For now, "slap some gray on it!" may become a weekly feature.

Hold on

2011-07-13T10:18:00.001-04:00

Today’s post was meant to focus on “slap some gray on it,” my version of Portlandia’s “put a bird on it,” but that’s going to have to wait until tomorrow when I’m ready to present my case in point.

Meanwhile, check out the yard! I need to dig out a picture of the fig tree one year ago. It was so tiny. Look at that beast! We really need to trim it back because it’s out of control. My flowerbed against the driveway is dismal, but the Zinnia’s are about to explode. Nice to know one of the plants we selected for that location proved successful. You can see the lone rose stalk peeking through too. The Japanese Maple was moved to a shadier location because the leaves burnt in full sun, so we will remember that next year. Otherwise, he’s a happy camper with a few Magnolia leaves resting on the soil.

I promise tomorrow’s post will be more stimulating.

Food

2011-07-07T11:19:00.002-04:00

Let’s talk about food for a second … because I love it. Jon and I have been eating out so much but finally put our feet down and loaded up on groceries. Here’s what I’m digging lately.

DISCLAIMER: Don’t knock it until you try it because it may be awesome!

What to do with that zucchini?!?!

Do you like egg salad? Do you like bacon? Do you like homegrown tomatoes and lettuce? Then you should really try a B.E.L.T. sandwich. We visited a butcher and bought a pound of country bacon, which was delicious by the way. If you need an egg salad recipe, try 101 Cookbook’s. I substitute yogurt for mayo, plus add Dijon mustard and red onion in mine as well because that’s the way I like it! A friend of ours who hates condiments said that egg salad was "really good." There’s a chance he was just being nice, but this is our new favorite summer staple.

Okay, let’s wax poetic about the butcher. I know I sound like an amateur here, but I’m just excited I finally joined the club and can support a local business! I’ve never visited one before and was pleased by the quality of meat and the multitude of options. Case in point, the thick-cut country bacon was tremendously better than Trader Joe’s thick-cut bacon. It didn’t shrink or cook as fast. I don’t think I even need to talk about flavor. Jon and I are trying to figure out if a freezer pack (90+ lbs) is beneficial for us. That stuff isn’t good after a while guys, and I’m not sure how much meat we’ll eat!

Do you have a Trader Joe’s nearby? I'm going to redeem myself for taking a jab at their bacon. Grab their gyoza dipping sauce. Next, make a bowl with tinfoil, pour the gyoza sauce, low sodium soy sauce, and sriracha to taste. Add some lemon slices. Salt and pepper two tuna steaks, wrap everything up and throw it on the grill. Sometimes the easiest things taste incredible. Quick is okay!

Thank you Patricia Wells’ Salad as a Meal. This cookbook really excites me! A good cookbook can perk my interest in the kitchen when I've been in a rut. I think I’ve dog-eared every single page. I made the crab salad with lime and avocado the other night, which was phenomenal. I don’t even really like crab that much (blasphemy, right?!), and I had three helpings.

Zico Chocolate Coconut Water - A few friends tasted this and were “meh,” but I’ve had one every day after yoga and sometimes in the morning. I think it tastes great, and it’s a good source of potassium.

The Kraken rum. It’s so smooth that I could drink it neat, but put a little Ting in too and I'm a happy, happy lady.

Now that I’ve thoroughly grossed everyone out … I promise, I don’t eat egg salad, chocolate coconut water, rum, and crab all at the same time :) We’ve had a lot of fun this week firing up the grill and wiping off the cast iron skillet.

The weekend

2011-07-05T09:27:00.003-04:00

I finally convinced Jon to use instagram, and it's addicting! Here's a few pictures from the weekend. Our friends' adorable and funny son loved getting splashed in the kiddie pool. He made us laugh so hard. Aside from the bbq, we saw Transformers, visited the local watering hole, took some naps, ate a ton of food, admired that beautiful old cruiser, said goodbye to a good friend who is moving to South Carolina, and found that huge zucchini in the garden.

We grew something! I screamed when I saw it. I wasn't expecting it to be there, and it's huge. yum!

When to buy a knock off

2011-06-30T09:42:00.002-04:00

That chair is not a real Eames rocker from an authorized dealer. It’s not even a Modernica fiberglass shell chair. Why? Because that rocker is a permanent outdoor fixture, along with its partner.

Yes, I understand the real thing can bear the grunt of any storm, but I just can’t bring myself to leave the real deal outside when it rains; snows; oozes blistering sunlight in 100 degree weather; is subject to bruising from deer, bunny, and chipmunks. So I bought a knock off. While I don’t mind paying for quality and respecting designers, those chairs are going to be beaten and roughed up in two years flat.

I think this is a good reason for a knock off, right? We sprayed clear Rustoleum on the base to further weatherproof everything. Now I have to get over the fact that I bought two rockers for an uneven slate patio. Ha! Oops!

Duke

2011-06-29T09:12:00.006-04:00

It’s been exhausting and rewarding, frustrating and humbling, funny and sincere. Duke is getting better y’all! I mean, deep down I knew he would, but it’s so hard to remember that fact when you’re in the weeds.

Yesterday I’m sitting on the couch answering a multitude of e-mails, and here comes Duke, face planting into my lap. Here’s me, pushing him off so I could type. It’s funny when you realize you’re being a moron. Three weeks ago, I was sitting in that exact spot, without Duke, reliving the memory of his body shutting down while I held him. Really Julie?! Fool. Here he comes again – that bulldog determination is a mighty force – and he succeeds. The butt wiggling, face licking, and arm pawing victory dance commences and ends with Duke rolling over and falling asleep on his back while is legs dangle and twitch as he softly snores.

His surgical scar is thick and his trach wound is scabbed over. Pink scar wounds freckle his nose. The hair grows in unevenly on his chest and legs. And he is overwhelmingly happy.

He wakes up for no reason and bounds off the couch, sliding into a chair because his left side is still slightly neurologically deficient from the stroke, but he trots along anyway kicking his buffalo down the hall and tearing him a new one like the defiant badass that he is. He does his daily ritual of slowly approaching the corner of the hallway until he taps his head. Of course, this makes me laugh … really hard, but then I like to believe that my dog is capable of teaching himself a new depth perception since one eye is bunk.

We do our daily ritual together of bicycling his legs and pretending to poke him in the left eye, but each day it’s different. Several days ago, he nipped my hand. He saw it! So that’s the new game we play, and everyday he reacts more and more.
Jon comes home and Duke climbs in his lap, grunting softly while Jon cleans his wounds, but he doesn’t protest.

And we eat dinner. And that’s how life goes in our house now because Duke is here to stay.

p.s. These pictures were shot pre-surgery.

It's been a long time

2011-06-29T09:10:00.006-04:00

How do you begin to explain two weeks of ups and downs?

I’ll start with the first downer – Fire Walk With Me. Why did David Lynch do that?! Jon and I were devastated that our Twin Peaks marathon was over and had to watch the follow-up movie. Ugh! That’s all I will say. Ugh. Twin Peaks was amazing, and I’m a huge Lynch fan, but the sour taste of Fire Walk With Me is blech.

Now that I’ve purged that from my memory bank, it’s been a while. You know if that’s been the worst thing to happen, then my hiatus has been successful.

We’ve been nursing Duke back to health, which I’ll post about a little later today. We’ve experienced a little stress from the situation, but right now I feel lucky to have Jon’s support. We’re one hell of team. Unstoppable at times, really.

Plus, I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne nonstop. I don’t care. He’s the shit. How can I enjoy David Lynch and Lil Wayne you might ask? Because that’s the way it goes.

But really, the biggest high that I’m still riding is a Vinyasa yoga teacher assistant program I took this past weekend. I knew that a lot of time would be spent exploring my physical and emotional limits. When you’re assisting someone via touch, you have to consider the energy you bring into their space. Twenty-three hours in a hot room proves to be eye opening.

I’m not one to share, but I’m trying. I have always told Jon that I feel like I’m watching a television episode of my life and that I’m simply playing a character of myself. When I was in San Francisco, it was the first time in years that I saw glimmers of me … that assertive, creative, compassionate, often-called bitch, that was left behind in Roanoke 10+ years ago.

This weekend taught me truth and fearlessness. I was the base during a partner exercise (basically, the equivalent of playing airplane), and I couldn’t lift my partner up. I was telling the class that I didn’t want the responsibility of having someone trust me, and the teacher said, “maybe you don’t trust yourself.” And it’s true. Somewhere down the line, I quit.

Let’s be honest (again), this blog is an example of that. Let’s slap a theme to it. I’ll talk about home décor rather than myself. I’ll hide behind fun things I find because no one wants to hear about me, right? I’ll use Jon’s pretty pictures rather than take my own (not that I mind Jon’s pictures because they’re amazing).

Slowly, the evolution to a lifestyle blog is taking place. I like that.

Oh, and I chose the picture above for two reasons:

I took it during my favorite time of day in our house – early morning

One of my goals is to toodle around the country some more, and those flags remind of all the places Jon and I experienced together … the Grand Canyon especially, as we raced up from Flagstaff at 90 miles an hour to beat the sunset with Jon running out of the car to the edge and saying “Wow” as he stood there soaking it all in.

xoxo.

Duke

2011-06-12T06:56:00.003-04:00

I don't even know where to start. It's another Duke post. Let's admit it up front, people want to hear about your sick dog as much as they want to hear about last night's dream. It's boring and has no impact on them personally.

But I need to replay all of the events this week ... to remember, to not repeat myself, to process, to heal. Afterall, this is really a lifestyle blog, and this is what is consuming my life right now.

If you follow along regularly (and don't worry if you don't), you'll know that Jon and I brought Duke home with us last July. Let me back up a minute and say that we knew the conditions affecting French Bulldogs and set aside money to fix the various breathing problems that would more than likely rear their ugly heads. We told ourselves, this will be our only purebred dog because we wanted him so badly. Was it irresponsible to buy a brachycephalic dog? Maybe, but I don't feel like entertaining that question ... ever.

A heart murmur was not on the radar, but there it was. We brought him home anyway knowing that he had a minor heart murmur, according to the breeder and the vet that vaccinated him. When we consulted several vets and a cardiologist here in Virginia, we learned his murmur was much worse. It was severe, and it wasn't going away. He was diagnosed with pulmonic stenosis, which is a narrowing of the pulmonic valve and causes the right ventricle to work harder than normal and causes thickening of the valve as well. Our option was valvuloplasty, the closest equivalent would be angioplasty or balloon surgery for animals.

Once he turned a year old, we decided to book the surgery. There was much deliberation because many people cautioned us about the negative effects of anesthesia on Frenchies. So which risk do you take? Attempt to prolong your dog's life and relieve pressure knowing anesthesia isn't so great, or hoping they live until the age of five when they're predicting to suffer heart failure based on how rapidly their murmur is worsening?

On Monday, the surgery went great. Duke's gradient reduced by 65 percent and is no longer an issue. But that risk didn't pay off so well, and he suffered a stroke from the anesthesia. He couldn't use his left side for two days, but is trotting around just fine six days later ... and ... he is unable to see out of his left eye. The doctor's haven't given up hope that he'll recover from this, and we've noticed a very, very slow improvement.

He was ready to take home on Wednesday, one of the hottest days of the week, and I left work early because Jon and I couldn't wait to have him home. Duke came trotting out into the waiting room, bumped into my legs because his depth perception is off, and walked right by me. He had no idea who I was, and it was heartbreaking. We took him away from the other dogs as we checked out, I turned the air conditioning on full blast in the car, he walked 30 seconds in the 100 degree weather (no joke), got into the car, and couldn't breathe.

I thought if I just drove away, that he would calm down, but I didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he vomited, defecated, and urinated all over the backseat. I rushed around and carried him back inside. Thank god one of the techs grabbed him and ran. We are so indebted to this woman. I didn't know what to do, so I grabbed paper towels, and went outside to clean up the car in my nice new dress and shoes that were covered in puke and shit. As I bent over showing the world my underwear trying to sop up puke, a total stranger walked up and told me stop. I turned around, and she said, "You have to stop. You need a hug. Come here."

And I lost it. I was sobbing in this lady's arms.

We were so close to having Duke home and ready to deal with the setbacks and now this. As I sat in a room by myself after the doctor came in and told me they weren't sure he was going to pull through, I kept beating myself thinking how many things I did wrong. I should have asked the nurses to bring Duke into a private room, not the public waiting room ... I should have asked them to seduce him so he wouldn't be excited ... I should have waited longer before putting him in the car, but I didn't want to be that crazy dog lady. Plus, I have a huge problem inconveniencing someone, which comes with that Southwest Virginia upbringing. Couple this with my attitude that I MUST handle everything myself, and Duke didn't stand a chance.

Duke's temperature was 107, and he suffered heatstroke. 30 seconds! 30 seconds! He wasn't responding to the oxygen, and in a split second I had to make a choice. Let him die or put him under once again and go on a respirator until they could perform a tracheotomy. It could have been pure selfishness that I couldn't fathom Duke expiring so early in his life, or maybe it was the fact that he was fighting so hard the entire week, and I didn't want that effort to be wasted, but he went under again.

At this point, I had no idea how brain dead and blind Duke might be if he suffered another stroke from another round of anesthesia. Through it all, you may be asking, "Where's Jon?" He had to stay at work because he's just started a new job. We were on the phone the entire time, and I was so upset that I was in that room alone. He was so upset that he was in the bathroom at work alone trying to hold it together between the multitude of sales deals he was pitching that day.

Now here's the funny thing. The heatstroke had nothing to do with his heart condition or the neurological deficits he was experiencing. It was an absolutely isolated incident. Perfect timing, but 100 percent isolated from everything else. I left Duke on a table with a breathing tube down his throat after I stroked his head and held his paw until they told me it was time to go.

Another surgery was performed to correct Duke's elongated palate, deviated septum, pinched nostrils, and something else that I don't remember off the top of my head. So were the doctor's taking us on a run for our money? Are Jon and I absolutely crazy? Who knows, and I don't really care because if those are the only questions that someone may have, I don't feel like placating a money-driven, uncompassionate attitude.

Duke is finally home after six days. He didn't recognize Jon either. It's horrifying to see a huge open wound in your animal's throat from a trach tube and watching them stand shakily deciding where to step. Once I scratched his little butt like I always do, it triggered his memory, and it was so incredible to see my best friend's face light up for the first time. He won't leave my side. It's heart wrenching watching a dog that was so full of life have a look of sheer confusion on his face. Jon and I spent the day exercising his legs and holding him. This morning, he tried to jump up and lick my face, sat and stayed on command, recognized his name, and had a little more life in his trot. Each day will get better. The determination in this household is overwhelming.

I know many, many people are sick of hearing about it. Jon and I are both sick of talking about it, but it's our life right now and it drives our days. We both feeling silly caring about an animal this much. This week, we've gone out just the two of us or stayed home because we don't want people to know how much we hurt and worry. We've beaten ourselves up because we feel so stupid for a dog impacting our lives this much. I know that many, many people don't understand how we can love Duke so much. I also know people have talked shit, and that's not worth our time.

We are a family. Duke has brought a tremendous amount of happiness and worth into our lives. He is a constant reminder of the power of unconditional love. We did everything this week with the best intentions and will continue to do so as long as he is strong enough to be in our lives.

As I see it

2011-06-07T09:32:00.005-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Duke had surgery yesterday, which I will definitely post about once he's recovered. For now, I wanted to share a few photos. I realized that most pictures on the blog are taken by Jon, so I thought it may be fun to see things from my visual perspective!

We've recently been combing through photographs to blow up for our living room, and I came across a few that were taken one afternoon in the backyard of our casita in Texas (I say "ours" like we own it ... I mean the one we rented!). It was such a beautiful day, and I just thought that yard was the shit. It really made me feel like I was so far removed from the world.

Looking at Jon's pictures vs. my own, I realize what an amazing eye he has for landscapes, framing content, capturing a mood, etc. I tend to focus on what's close at hand, textures, etc. What I really need to concentrate on is focus in general. My pictures are so blurry sometimes! Neither of us really like taking portraits, but are slowly building confidence. So because Jon always untags himself on facebook, I'm posted his beautiful face right here. I love these pictures of him and his charisma! We'll time how long it takes before he e-mails me and asks to take them down :)

Daily drool

2011-05-26T09:14:00.004-04:00

I want this necklace from solis jewelry! Someone (*ahem ... Jon) should think about how pretty this will look around my neck. Until then, I'm going to stomp around like a three year old until I get it :)

Watch me fly by

2011-05-24T13:27:00.003-04:00

No time for pictures today. Why? Jon and I decided Saturday morning that we'd throw our first house party today. Why? Because the Duke is one today, and that's as good a reason as any.

So is this a small party? Heck no! Holy cow there's a shit ton of people coming over, and we're way to excited!

We've got burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, smitten kitchen's slaw tartare, guacamole deviled eggs, homemade sherbet, homemade cookies, apple crumble, appetizers, lemonade, herbal tea, booze ... everything! We didn't eat dinner until 10 p.m. last night because we were getting everything ready.

Let's see if this goes off without a hitch! Keeps your fingers crossed that the rain stays away too.

As promised ... Marfa and beyond

2011-05-18T09:19:00.008-04:00

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but check out more on Jon's flickr page (link to the right).

Getting there

2011-05-17T14:24:00.002-04:00

Isn't he a doll? A fast moving little rebel!

It always feels like it takes a long time to get back to normal after a vacation. It takes time for me to stop dreaming and get back to reality. Reality sucks sometimes, you know? My first day back to work last week, I was yelled at, had a horrible commute, cry, cry, cry ...

Jon and I did so much over the weekend even though the rains threatened to ruin our little garden parade. Jon's been taking care of the garden, and my arms are still sore from all of the trimming I did. Those shrubs get out of hand fast! Nothing a little bourbon and ginger can't fix. Back to the garden, the carrots, beans, and spinach are going crazy. My seedlings are coming along okay too. C'mon tomatoes!

Finally, that little guy up there is going to be one next Monday! Can you believe it? Then, he has surgery the following week. Hopefully, he'll be stronger than ever afterwards and feel 100 percent. It was weird to not have him around when we were on vacation. I'm so used to having him at my feet all of the time.

I'm back

2011-05-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

I'm back! Our getaway was amazing, and I'm waiting for Jon to upload a few pictures before sharing all the details. Look what was waiting when we got home! Peonies and roses. This is the joy of taking over a yard that's been established for 60+ years. I couldn't kill anything if I tried! I even have little maple trees popping up in my flower beds due to years of neglect.

So we'll have a slideshow either tomorrow or Monday, but some highlights of the trip are:

Meeting two wonderful, new friends!

Hot Springs

Driving to Terlingua and Presidio

Picnic in an Airstream

Dinner at Miniature Rooster

Outdoor movies

hi

2011-05-02T08:59:00.002-04:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A. for a bit. We had a little scare with Duke last week, but he's okay and back to normal. My mom came up and stayed with me a few days while Jon was out of town, and now we're getting ready to go on vacation. So I'll be off the grid and relaxing for the next week, but there will be a ton of wonderful images and stories to share when I return.

Have a fun week!

Finally!

2011-04-22T14:49:00.002-04:00

Look what's coming home with me! Well, next week, but it's mine ... and Jon's too. My hook up is awesome. Okay, he doesn't know he's my guy because I've only purchased two things from him, but he is amazing!

Finally, a vintage success!

Spring!

2011-04-20T12:05:00.002-04:00

The azaleas! The azaleas! They're finally starting to make an appearance. Even though they were entangled in weeds for years, we were able to clear enough out and witnessed this yesterday. Azaleas are my favorite.

Jon also posted some more pictures to flickr, so click on his link to the right.

CRAP!

2011-04-19T12:29:00.002-04:00

Oh, the ones that got away! This has not been my week for snagging good finds. Seriously, I'm miffed! That chrome chair would have looked fabulous downstairs. Those Salterini clamshell chairs are from a Texas cragislist, but I found two similar rockers here. I almost cried when the seller didn't call me back to tell me his potential buyer fell through. What omen from the gods is this? This better mean that something more awesome awaits!

The weekend

2011-04-18T08:52:00.004-04:00

The Dash and Albert rug has arrived! I love it. I can't believe it took me this long to be pro-rug, but it's made such a difference. We also ended up at Terrain this weekend, since we drove to Philly. There wasn't a lot of stock compared to the last time we went, and I felt like prices increased too. I guess I was a little disappointed, but ended up getting a cookbook and candle.

The best thing was that Duke came along for the ride. I love watching him fall asleep in the backseat. He hides his head under his blanket and uses his stuffed animals as a pillow. So, I went a little crazy with the diptych feature on Jon's phone. The bookcases have made a cameo above as well as a scene from Philly and pictures from old National Geographic magazines at my dad's house. Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a happy Monday!

Hoorah for Friday

2011-04-15T09:57:00.006-04:00

Jon's been in Toronto this week, and it's nice to have him home. We're off to Philly this weekend to stuff our faces, shop for fabric, watch a ball game, relax, etc.

So it's the middle of the month. My To-Do list due date is here. Let's see how far we came, shall we?

To strip, restain, and reupholster our campaign chairs. Okay, every time I felt ambitious, the weather was horrible.

To restore and reupholster the teak dining chairs. Can I mark this done? I called the upholsterer, but he's flaked.

To reupholster our benches (the fabric is hiding in the closet, and I'm hiring a professional). We've decided to use the fabric in the closet for the dining chairs, which means I get to find new fabric this weekend.

To buy another couch for the basement/den.

To install the bookshelves!

To paint the downstairs (who am I kidding?! Jon will repaint!).

To choose plants lining the sidewalk.

To choose plants and start seeds for our garden.

To build outdoor benches. We didn't need to! We found a daybed by the curb in our neighborhood for free! A new project awaits!

To build a headboard. We're still squabbling over this one. I want one. He doesn't. He's afraid it will cause the bed to stick out too much, and we'll lose floor space.

To take up photography again.

To go to bikram at least twice a week. Okay, so this doesn't happen every week, but it's happened, and I've figured out how to adjust my schedule so it happens more. Also, my friend and I found a Baptiste studio that we love and is our new home away from home.

Aside from all of this, we also had a great contractor install recessed lighting in the basement, outlets in the bathrooms, a security light, and a pendant lamp in our stairwell. We also planted forsythia in the front yard, bought a rug for the living room, and are about to start composting. I say it was a successful quarter!

Duke update

2011-04-13T09:34:00.004-04:00

I haven't really given an update on Duke since the last post. Our cardiologist spoke with her colleagues and they determined that even though he has another issue with his pulmonary artery, surgery will still be beneficial.

To tell the truth, I think Jon and I accepted whatever his fate may be. We were heartbroken but came to the conclusion that any time we have with him is amazing. He's so cool and makes us both giggle uncontrollably. If he lives 3 years, great. If he lives 10 years, even better.

Now it's back to square one ... contemplating the risks of anesthesia, etc. There's one more test that needs to be done before he's in the clear too. At this point, Jon and I want to make him as comfortable as possible. Even with surgery, his heart murmur will still be considered severe, but it will reduce the stress in half. All this time, he continues to be the same rambunctious, rebellious, funny member of our triumvirate. He's wonderful.

I love this little guy so much.

70s plant love

2011-04-12T15:09:00.000-04:00

Remember yesterday when I posted a picture of two houseplant books? Check out these pictures. They're grainy, but rad. I think I was born a little too late because I was destined to live in the 70s (not just experience my birth at the end of that decade).

Check her necklace out! Plus, she stares at that huge terrarium as lovingly as staring at a newborn. She's so proud of her work!

Oh, hello awesome yellow table planters paired with an ash tray. Every home needs an orange chair, a white lacquered table, and a butt load of plants in the corner.

What can I say, I'm digging everything about this photo.

FAIL

2011-04-12T09:05:00.002-04:00

So the little elephant received a makeover with a fresh coat of paint. He was gleaming and happy and strutting his stuff ... until Jon got excited and wanted to place him in a prime spot. He dropped him. Jon swore if I saw it happen that I wouldn't believe it. I believe it. He's a little bit of a klutz when he's in a hurry. Do you see that after picture? See how his legs aren't even attached? Yep. Then the little a-hole took a nose dive yesterday and BOOM! the trunk's gone.

It was a good thing while it lasted little guy.

The weekend

2011-04-11T10:00:00.005-04:00

This weekend = THRIFT SCORE! Let's face it, the thrift stores around here are kinda lame. It takes some serious digging to find something decent, but I decided to give one next to my house another shot. See that bag? Total score. I can't wait to take it to the farmer's market. It's the perfect catch all. The Nature's Harvest cookbook has so many good recipes in it that I wanted to stay home all day Sunday and whip up a good brunch. The Dim Sum book is for a special friend who's way more patient in the kitchen than me. I also snagged a belt and scarf that I'll debut later : )

Daily drool

2011-04-06T09:54:00.004-04:00

I have a very fashionable coworker who happens to have this Barbour International jacket. I love it. Guess it's time to start the umpteenth piggy bank for things I'd like to buy because this one ain't cheap! Maybe I'll just have to stand next to her more often and dream of owning one by proximity.

I heart Spring

2011-04-05T15:11:00.006-04:00

The tree in our front yard is so stately and wonderful. Plus, the forsythia that we planted is going to look great in a couple of years once it's all filled in. I read that you can simply prune the branches after they bloom, plant them, and they will root themselves. We'll see how that goes!

Look who decided to show up

2011-04-05T09:59:00.003-04:00

Friday was a great day. Check this big girl out! She is so comfy and beautiful. Duke loves her buttons and rubbing is smelly backside down the length of her cushions. We've had a slumber party with her every night. Let the good times roll! P.S. How awesome is the DwellStudios pillow?!

Junk in the trunk

2011-03-31T09:17:00.004-04:00

Literally. No, for real. This is what I found in the trunk of my car this morning. I didn't put it there, but then I started thinking, wow, maybe I did have a few drinks Monday night. No. Then the scene from Godfather with the horse head started racing through my mind, and I ran in the house, woke Jon up, and he said oh yeah. I found that. Just like that; we have an elephant. I hope by "found" that Jon doesn't mean "took." Now we need to mend his leg, touch him up, and find a home for our new friend.

If I had all the money in the world

2011-03-30T08:52:00.009-04:00

I would snag Jonathan Adler's new Nixon dining table. It would be the perfect mix of new with old. The side table could work too, which I'm showing because you can see the beautiful walnut top. I'll take anything! So in love.

The weekend - a day late

2011-03-29T10:27:00.008-04:00

The procrastination is killing me! I didn't watch Taxi Driver, I didn't make new buttons for the blog, and I didn't do anything I said I would. But, Jon and I did manage to plant some forsythia, buy a little japanese maple and debate on how to pot it (there may be a concrete pot-making tutorial coming your way soon), make the most amazing garlic bread ever, celebrate a birthday, and watch You're Gonna Miss Me! So the pictures below could be a entitled: Hey, change the filters on your camera! or Hey, start using photoshop. The lighting is just plain terrible in some of them.
Finally! Some sage is popping up in the background. Look at the snow that melted by 8 a.m. Duke was ticked. And ... I gave the dracaena to my friend and scored big time on the yellow pot. I think I was heavily influenced by Dabito's DIY on Old Brand New.

2011-03-25T12:12:00.003-04:00

image source

The weekend is here! I hope everyone has plans to do something fun.

So here was my e-mail to Jon:
Wanna:

Buy a grill?
Fix the cast iron patio set?
Buy our rug for the living room?
Go to the pope-leighy house with me?
Buy some forsythia and lavender at the nursery?
Pull some weeds, kill some ants, etc.
Have fun?

Guess what? It's supposed to snow here! I can't believe it. All of those outdoor activities to spruce up the yard will have to wait until next week. Sounds like the perfect time to watch the latest Netflix, Taxi Driver. I love a young Jodie Foster. I love the fact that this to-do list is really not that fun. I mean, where's the wanna light firecrackers at the neighbors? wanna go to the park and make fun of the LARPers? wanna adopt a tiger?

Okay, back to normal. The forsythia is crazy in our neighborhood right now, and we've decided to join the club and plant some next to our front steps. We need to amp up the curb appeal just a tad!

Oh, and instead of talking books on Friday, I think I'm just going to make a button to let everyone know what I'm currently reading. So we'll put that on the weekend to-do list.

Have fun!

xoxo

Pillow talk

2011-03-23T10:23:00.006-04:00

It's countdown to couch time and that means dressing it up a bit with pillows. Right now, I have no direction. Since the downstairs is currently a deep blue with white accents (I lost that battle), we have to try extra hard to avoid the beach theme (I won the battle of NOT hanging our beloved photograph of Block Island rocks down there). The couch is a sectional in medium-tone gray micro-boucle fabric.

So, do we want to go formal with a Dwell peacock pillow or spice shit up with the gold? Okay, I really love that gold pillow. It's a keeper.

Should we go for these beauties from Wolfum that I've been eyeing?

Should we throw in a suzani or kilim covered pillow from Sukan?

Can I just buy everything and play around? I'm tempted to get the gold, the blue Wolfum, and the suzani and see what happens. It's way too much going on. Maybe just the gold and the blue Wolfum? This is why it takes me forever to make a decision.

2011-03-21T10:02:00.004-04:00

How was the view in your neck of the woods? Wasn't this amazing!? Jon went outside after I fell asleep, equipped with a beer, tripod and dog.

Oh, and let's mark number 12 off the list: to do bikram at least twice a week. Okay, I managed to do baptiste power yoga on Wednesday and bikram on Friday. Ever since I've read this article on bikram, I've been hesitant ... not that I didn't know some of this already and not that I didn't find the author's slant sophomoric, but it just sucks to be reminded of the negatives. I still feel wonderful afterwards though.

2011-03-18T09:04:00.002-04:00

Birthday

2011-03-17T11:51:00.003-04:00

So my birthday was Tuesday, and I decided to rest a bit. In between finishing my book and keeping up on Japan, here's what went down:

Every birthday girl needs a few flowers, right? I decided to go into the backyard and cut my own. Hello spring! Apparently, every birthday girl needs a tick too because I found one on my hand when I came inside. blech!

Then, it was "crisis tomato." My tomato plants are too spindly for the pots. I'm using horrible lighting to grow seedlings. I know this, which is why I'm chalking this year's garden up as a learning experience to make next year's better. The tomatoes are now in slightly larger pots with the stems buried under plants lights.

Of course when I'm not looking, Duke decides to chew the rug. How sweet. I don't know why I let him do this, but I thinks it's hilarious because he rolls around on his belly and attacks from all angles.

During a little nap, Jon went to a house in our neighborhood that was selling orchids and surprised me! He heard me fawning over a friend's plant the other day. I've never had orchids before, but here we go.

A little gift

2011-03-15T12:03:00.007-04:00

I think this might be the one for the living room. A little birthday present for myself?

The weekend

2011-03-14T11:47:00.002-04:00

Isn't it funny that the weekend was, oh, yesterday, but I can't remember anything we did? I had Sunday Blues so bad. Jon had to buy me M&Ms as we drove around looking at neighborhoods close to ours just to try and perk me up. No success. We found a great street right in our own hood with contemporary homes that back up to the park. I think that's going to be the new dog walking route.

Look! We finally snagged the outdoor dining set I was spying on Craigslist. We're waiting for a good rain to wash all of the gunk off before we spruce it up. The rust is superficial (we checked), so it'll look as good as new in no time. I just liked the simplicity of this vintage set. Usually when you see wrought iron dining sets there's always ivy leaves adorning the back. blech. Speaking of ivy, please ignore that hot mess of a landscaping issue behind the table. That may be next weekend's project.

The Chemex also arrived. I put the old barista skills to use and brewed Jon some coffee Saturday morning. I haven't brewed coffee in ... ages. I can't wait to brew herbal tea with this!

Horseshoes anyone? These were attached to the awning we took down. Jon hung them upside down all over the house one day, so I had to explain the good luck theory before we had bad vibes.

Did you see this?

2011-03-10T13:44:00.003-05:00

Design Milk featured Andrew Clifford Capener's Scrabble last week, and I can't stop thinking about it. I'm on the mailing list. The obsession is bad. I'm not really a game person. I mean Scrabble, Apples to Apples, and Yahtzee are about as far as I go. Give me dominoes, dice, or cards any day! But this. This is amazing. Typography at it's finest. Yes, I'm drooling.

Thrift score

2011-03-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

Look what I picked up at the thrift store yesterday? This lady was wheeling around a cart of sheets, and I tracked her like a hawk. The colors remind me of Vera, but there's no cute little signature with a ladybug :(

That's quite all right because the whole set was 3.00.

Practice makes perfect

2011-03-09T11:51:00.004-05:00

I'm here! This week has gotten off to a rocky start. Holy cow life give me a break. Hopefully, I can share the full story one day when I'm able to laugh it off. For now, I've sequestered myself at home and am forcing Duke to sit on my lap while I stare into space and drink bourbon. How else do you cure the blues?!

Maybe go to New Orleans?

2011-03-04T11:27:00.003-05:00

Yay bigger pictures! So I bought this little string of pearls plant because I felt the bathroom window needed some life. Plus, I didn't even explain my post title yesterday and feel silly. Does anyone remember the show Viva Variety? Well, they played a game called "plant or animal" and contestants had to guess whether the noise was Robert Plant or an actual animal. I'm weird. I know.

Happy Friday! I'm going to finish reading The Savage Detectives this weekend, hopefully score my patio table, clean all of the leaves out of the flower beds, and take it easy. What's on everyone else's agenda?

Plant or animal?

2011-03-03T11:30:00.002-05:00

image source here and here

Oh, these pictures are making me swoon. Now that the sun is shining (even though it's 40 degrees outside), all I can do is think where I want plants on our patio ... an asparagus fern on the dining table, a dwarf japanese maple in a huge pot by the benches we're building, herbs on the shelves once it's warm. You heard right, the thyme is finally peeking out of the soil, and I saw one little tip of rosemary! The spring fever is so bad!!!!

I find excuses to stop by the nursery on the way home everyday. Jon and I drew this horrible mock-up of our patio yesterday. We have so much to do. It will be a 3-year plan. Meanwhile, I'll just keep finding plants for the bathroom like the picture above.

Potential score

2011-03-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

Trying to score this patio set on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed!

I'm also playing around a bit with the layout, so bear with me. I figured if Jon and I are stepping up our photography game, then the pictures need to be a little larger! Plus, I can be long-winded at times, so why not give myself some breathing room to ramble on.

Feel free to let me know what you think once it's all said and done.

Practice makes perfect + the weekend

2011-02-28T11:33:00.008-05:00

Jon and I had a photo shoot yesterday. My outdoor shots were horrible, but here's what the weekend looked like for us.

The obligatory Duke photo.
Sorry, I will never get tired of taking his picture.

Look! It's baby tomato and onion plants leaning towards the sunlight. I'm so proud of myself for even sprouting plants, so we'll see how the cultivation and transplanting goes this spring.

On the other hand, my herbs are taking their sweet time.

*Sorry vegetarians!

Yesterday, I decided to roast a chicken at 9 a.m. Who knows, don't ask! Ina Garten's lemon chicken with croutons is such a simple but delicious recipe to adapt to your taste. Instead of croutons, I add carrots and potatoes to the roast about half way through. They absorb all of the lemon-infused juices that run out as well as the sweat from the onions that are under the bird. So simple and so good.

What wood you say?

2011-02-24T09:44:00.008-05:00

I haven't been too prolific on pinterest lately. You know, the whole living life thing gets in the way of my web browsing. But, I keep coming back to this find because it makes me happy.

What wood you say has been featured everywhere, but just a little synopsis, it stems from Sighn's ITSOK project (hand-carving one million "It's OK" ornaments). Now you can pick your favorite word, phrase, lyrics, etc. and have them hand carved for $5.00 a character. Pretty cool.

I have no idea what I would get, but my mantra to relax (I recite it over and over during yoga) is an Anne Carson poem Betwixt Me and Thee Let There Be Truth:

At the border crossing all I could hear was your pulse

and the wind combing along my earbone

like antimatter.

I'm pretty sure I've exceeded the maximum character allotment with that one!

Hello new obsession

2011-02-22T09:58:00.007-05:00

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Antique Roadshow you've done it again! I'll be honest, I didn't have a clue about Acoma pottery until last night, but now I'm grateful that Antique Roadshow was the only worthy thing on television. Lucy M. Lewis pottery is beautiful. It looks as though I'll have a new collection. Move over Fornasetti plates! I'm really drawn to the monochromatic star and lightning patterns. Of course, I can't afford a Lucy M. Lewis piece, but I'm sure I can find something beautiful to appreciate.

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Practice makes perfect + the weekend

2011-02-21T12:55:00.005-05:00

We're still enjoying the long weekend. I feel like I got so much done ... planted a few seedlings, finished The Interrogation, took a few long walks, stuffed our faces with bison and kangaroo, worked on my scarf, picked out a new wedding band, did the adult thing and bought life insurance, activated a new phone (thank goodness!) ... the list goes on and on. Jon added a few photos to flickr of his favorite LARPers that were in our backyard again. Seriously, it's worth the visit over there.

Finally, I got a little more practice with the D90. Slowly but surely, and Duke's such a great muse :)

I just wanted you to know

2011-02-18T10:13:00.002-05:00

One of the new Chilewich mats will be mine. Thanks.

Sip and stitch

2011-02-17T09:24:00.003-05:00

Y'all, look how far I got with my scarf! Ha! I started over three times, cast on, and decided it was time to head home.

Last night was my first attempt at knitting, which further affirms that I have no patience. Maybe that's a belated new year's resolution? It's horrible, but if something isn't perfect the first time, I usually give up. Well, I'm not giving up on my little scarf! I'll be done right in time for spring weather.

Regardless, we had a great time and our instructor at Stitch DC was super cool.

I suck at fabric

2011-02-16T10:24:00.004-05:00

I ordered a ton of samples for the dining and campaign chairs and am so bummed with the results. Out of the 20+ samples, nothing screamed at me. It's always surprising how a picture translates in reality because I was smitten with the third sample above, but it was not looking so hot in person. I need affordable fabric that stands the test of time. Nothing too feminine ... I've always tired of feminine pretty easily, even though I initially find it beautiful. It's all a blur, and the frustration mounts!

Hello sexy pt. 2

2011-02-14T10:44:00.004-05:00

I've waited so patiently to find a nine-drawer dresser for the bedroom, and look who shows up. Now Jon and I can both have underwear drawers in the same room. Storage in a 1950's home isn't easy to come by. The next goal is fitting all of our clothes into one closet. Yeah right!

Look at this walnut beauty though! To tell you the truth, I started plopping my clothes in there without looking at who made this, but I believe it was Bassett (at least the jewelry holder in the top drawer says so). Doesn't it look similar to this, but with additional handles?

Anways, thank goodness!

Blogs and books

2011-02-11T09:52:00.012-05:00

I finally made it to the library! Right now, I'm reading The Interrogation by J.M.G. Le Clezio. Next up are The Savage Detectives and The Satanic Verses. You know, I was reading Anna's (from Door Sixteen) summary of the Prince concert, and she remarked about how lame she felt writing reviews. At times, I feel exactly the same way. She said, "My instinct is usually to let the work stand on its own instead of picking it apart, but at the same time, I like to share my feelings about stuff I love." Yep. That about sums it up.

I guess a graduate degree in writing can give you a leg up, but I've always been hesitant to thoroughly discuss movies, books, art, etc. because everyone's reaction differs. I'm not an intentional debater. My reaction is so personal sometimes that I'm not willing to expose it. The last thing I want to do over dinner is explain or justify my likes and dislikes. Blech.

With all that rambling nonsense, here's a synopsis of the book for those who are curious.

Oh, the tangents! Speaking of writing, I realized how often I make grammatical errors and misspellings. It's atrocious!

Enough about me.

The blog I've visited repeatedly this week is Design Junkies. Killer style. Seriously killer style ... and a plethora of design knowledge that blows my mind and puts me to shame any day of the week. Plus, I get to see it all in person one day! Party on!

P.S. When I post on a different computer, the paragraph breaks mess up. Sorry!

Show me what your working with

2011-02-09T10:49:00.005-05:00

Here it is. Our main living space on a rainy day. After six months, it's still a blank slate. The picture is taken from the dining area, and the galley kitchen is directly to the left. You can see the credenza peeking out to the right. The space needs help!

The goal is to move our leather sofa upstairs once the sectional comes. It's the Ikea Kramfors sofa, but Jon and I can't seem to part with it.

The scenario: the only space to put the sofa is along the wall to the right as well, which is going to make everything so heavy and focused on that side of the room. I'd like the campaign chairs to flank the sofa once they're refinished ... or maybe both should float in the center between the sofa and credenza to break up the eye a bit? I'm not sure. Since it's a small space, should the goal be to trick the eye and have no interruptions in the line of vision? Everything is pretty much the same height as well, so another dilemma is how to add depth and dimension without shrinking the room.

The chair in the corner with all the blankets is moving elsewhere and so will the bench under the console table to the left. We're definitely adding artwork ... possibly a tall lamp ... a tree ... to rug or not to rug? I've seen a few houses in the neighborhood with the same floor plan and the room can feel cramped fast. The furniture and accessories should probably be kept at a minimum.

So many decisions!

Progress

2011-02-08T09:18:00.004-05:00

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We can officially cross 7 and 8 off the to-do list.
7. To choose plants lining the sidewalk
8. To choose plants and start seeds for our garden

Believe it or not, but there's already sprouts along the sidewalk. I'm curious to see how many peonies and iris appear. Since it looks like we're going to have a hearty bunch, we went light on our flower additions. Jon and I decided to have a black-eyed susan vine, lavender, and potted chamomile. I've been reading about growing lavender in our area, and people have been successful. Also, I read that chamomile has done well potted but not inground. I can't wait to open the bedroom and bathroom windows and smell the wonderful fragrance.

For the garden, we're starting off small. We decided to incorporate our favorite vegetables from the crop share last year with a few items that we know will work well in our zone (aka I peeked in my neighbor's backyard). Fingers crossed everyone!

pickling cucumbers
tomatoes
butter lettuce
romaine
spinach
zucchini
eggplant
onion
carrots
leeks
tomatillos

I definitely have to thank Abigail for the tomatillos. I would have overlooked them, but loooooooove them! On a side note: our neighbor had great success with peppers, but I just wasn't feeling it.

So this can go horribly wrong or amazingly right, but I'll keep everyone posted either way!

Practice makes perfect

2011-02-07T08:31:00.008-05:00

The results of my early morning photo shoot were better than anticipated. It's been ages since I've fidgeted with a camera, and there is plenty to learn about the Nikon. The shots below were my favorites. A bed always makes a good backdrop. Jon is somewhere underneath that rumple of covers.

It's going to take months before I feel completely comfortable and confident with my photos, but I am so glad to be behind the lens again.

Heartbreak

2011-02-03T14:16:00.002-05:00

When Jon and I flew back to California for Duke, it was one of the happiest weekends of our lives - and a little sad too. Two days beforehand, we learned that Duke had a heart murmur. Without going into detail, once we came home and visited a veterinarian here, we found out the murmur was much worse than we were told.

It was not something that would disappear with age, and Duke would need surgery to live past the age of five. We've kept a close eye on him, but today's visit to the cardiologist didn't go well.

Duke's murmur is worse. It is now severe, and the cardiologist found a new development that she was unable to see before because he was so small. Today we learned that the surgery may not do anything to prolong Duke's life.

So, the waiting game continues as our cardiologist (who is amazing, by the way) shares his case with her colleagues and determines if surgery will be beneficial in any way.

I love this guy so much it's incredible. I can't imagine him not being here for a long time, so Jon and I are keeping our fingers crossed that his bulldog determination will trump the odds.

I apologize for the sad post today. Maybe someday I'll discuss lessons learned about buying from a breeder, research, etc., but now I'm going to smother Duke with hugs until worms away.

Thanks and xoxo,
j.

Fireplace alternative

2011-02-01T09:48:00.005-05:00

Our home is one of two houses in the neighborhood without a fireplace. Now that it's winter, I really want to sip hot chocolate next to crackling logs.

When I first saw Mikael Toth's fireplace, I seriously considered extending a wall in our living room. Seriously. I almost dialed the contractor. Then I realized it would look awkward to not keep the existing nook. But oh my, how I cherish this arrangement. It's so perfect and a wonderful, functional use of space. I love how the rest of the room is further justification of how stark white can transform into a warm atmosphere with natural light and the right accessories. I could lay on the floor of this room all day, and that's the ultimate compliment.

Weekend progress

2011-01-31T09:12:00.003-05:00

Jon dubbed the past three days, "the weekend of acquisitions." Numbers 4 and 11 are officially crossed off the list.

We caved and bought a couch. I hyperventilated over the sticker shock, although I kept reminding myself that it will be in our lives until death. Somewhere in my will, I will mandate that I'm buried with that sucker. It took some liquid courage, but after three mimosas, I spit my breath mint at the sales representative, picked it up off the carpet, attempted to hide it in my coat pocket, and managed to walk away the new owner of an expensive ass sectional.

And the photography. Jon and I decided our belated holiday gift to one another would be a Nikon D90. I think that's enough motivation to start taking pictures again. I loved my manual Pentax camera and never really crossed over into digital photography. I think there's enough bells and whistles to keep me entertained though.

So here's the run of the progress list:

To strip, restain, and reupholster our campaign chairs.
To refresh and reupholster the teak dining chairs.
To reupholster our benches (the fabric is hiding in the closet, and I'm hiring a professional).
To buy another couch for the basement/den.
To install the bookshelves!
To paint the downstairs (who am I kidding?! Jon will repaint!).
To choose plants lining the sidewalk.
To choose plants and start seeds for our garden.
To build outdoor benches.
To build a headboard.
To take up photography again.
To go to bikram at least twice a week.
To make a shower curtain.

Looking good!

Oh, this is the amazing dinner we had Friday of Korean sundubu jjigae.

Here's what happens the next day after too much tofu soup and karaoke. It's nap time aka annoy-the-piss-out-of-the-dog time.

Snow day

2011-01-27T10:58:00.003-05:00

How was the snow? We lost power around 6:30 p.m. last night. The Sagaform and Jean Pelle candle holders came in handy though. The Pendleton Glacier National Park blanket was a lifesaver ... so warm. But, we've abandoned the basement camp out for a friend's house that's warm and well-lit.

Watching thunder snow was very beautiful though, and watching that transformer blow up down the street was beautiful too in its own terrifying way.

Hope everyone is safe and warm!

xo,

Stepping out

2011-01-26T10:06:00.005-05:00

Just an aside, but since I treated myself to these jeans, I've been hunting for shoes that are impossibly tall. You know, the kind that makes your dad say, "why are you walking all funny?" or make your significant other bark, "wait, wait, let me help you to the car." Can you tell that I have a love/hate relationship with heels and wedges? Now, I really want these. Time to see if I really can break my ankle!

Progress: shower curtain

2011-01-25T09:41:00.005-05:00

Nothing was marked off the slated to-do list because we were out of town this weekend, but we did manage to assemble a custom shower curtain in 15 minutes. We've had the same white, Martha Stewart shower curtain for years, and I was bored. It's done the job well, but it's time to move on. Goodbye waffle knit curtain! Hello soft, lovely peshtemals!

First, I ordered two peshtemals from Turkish Bath that were longer than 72 inches (the average length of a shower curtain).
By the way, Cem from Turkish Bath was awesome and shipped everything quickly.

Once the two towels were stitched together, I placed the trusty Martha Stewart shower curtain underneath the peshtemals as a guide to measure and mark the space between grommets.
Fluorescent lighting = creepy hands
i
Next, the fluorescent lights attacked Jon's hand again! Ack! We used a standard grommet kit. The cylindrical tool to the left of Jon's hand is used to punch a hole through the fabric. Then a grommet is attached and a washer is hammered down tight using the tool in Jon's hand.

Voila! Grommets are affixed.

The curtain is hung.

The bathroom gets a customized upgrade.

Duke approves.

Painting, staining, and assembling

2011-01-21T11:15:00.006-05:00

IGNORE THE LIGHTING!!!

Yes, I'm yelling because I'm so frustrated with those tacky-ass fluorescent lights messing up my shot.

Rather than put more horrible pictures up, let me paint the picture for you. We painted the entire area a blue inspired by Farrow and Ball's Hague Blue (more on this in a second). The L-shaped bookshelves were are pine board stained Mahogany and hung on black shelving brackets. The stain looks dark in the pictures. This is Jon's big project, and he did an amazing job. The pictures are a let down to me because it is actually quite beautiful down there. The blue is incredibly moody and has so much depth.

Why this blue?
We couldn't find anything that we loved as much as Farrow and Ball's Hague Blue, but we weren't spending $120.00+ on a gallon of paint. We took the sample to Sherwin Williams and had it color matched. Here's the tip I was talking about the other day, and Jon will kill me if I get this wrong, but chances are I will!

Having a color matched will be extremely close, but never 100 percent. Since Farrow and Ball is speciality paint, it has two additional pigments that contribute to the richness and complexity. You will never be able to add pigments at a basic paint store to achieve this.

So, coming as close as possible involves another approach. Basically, don't listen when someone says, "oh yeah, we have that in our database." Ask the paint representative to dip a color strip into your sample, air dry it, and then use the spectrophotometer to customize the color. It's more complicated than the average "color match" because they aren't simply following what the computer says will be the best combination.

Why those bookshelves?
I've had Ikea Billy bookshelves forever. I thought about bookcases with glass doors, formal built-ins, etc. I've had our books color-coded, arranged by subject, alphabetized, etc. I thought about what was most important to me. Books need to be accessible, informal, and casual. They are meant to be touched and combed through. They are meant to be pulled off the shelf in quick reference to read a favorite passage in the middle of the night or research a point and hastily returned to the shelf. So no more color-coding! This is organized chaos!

P.S. just doing a little bloglovin' housekeeping.
Follow my blog with bloglovin

2011-01-20T06:25:00.002-05:00

Training this week has really put a damper on my blogging life. Although, after today, I'll be a master of high-impact communications. You know, after that five-minute speech I stumble through. I hate public speaking and am so nervous.

Aside from the chair refresh, Jon is done staining the bookshelves and the library is now open for business. I've taken roughly 20 photos, but the fluorescent lighting in our basement is hideous and distorts the color so much. I even tried to hang ambient lighting but the bulb broke, and we were back to the fluorescent. I'll figure something out because I really want to share!

I also have another little project that I'm proud of, so stay tuned tomorrow. We'll have a crazy weekly wrap-up!

Can't wait to join the real world again!

Progress

2011-01-17T07:57:00.005-05:00

Ignore the fabric and see how fabulous the dining chairs look! It's amazing how something so easy and not very time consuming can make such an impact.

To refresh the teak dining chairs (Pardon me, I should have said restore previously ... not refinish), I followed Morgan Satterfield's instructions to a tee on The Brick House.

Pat on the back for myself. Oh, and fabric samples are in the mail for reupholstery. I was trying to be ambitious and strip our campaign chairs this weekend as well, but it's too cold.

Jon has been an effing champ. He painted our basement and installed our bookshelves, which I have plenty to share once the stain dries and we hang everything. I think I may have a good color matching tip.

Marking off the to-do list!

To restore and reupholster the teak dining chairs.
To install the bookshelves!
To paint the downstairs.

Duke was a little ticked that he had to stay in his room during all of this, but he got a nice bone out of it.

Blogs and book

2011-01-14T09:54:00.005-05:00

gasp* Dare I say it?! I haven't dropped by the library to get a new book. I've been reading the newspaper all week, so now I'll reign terror during Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

While that blip about the Miss America contestant finding it "real hard" to gain weight so she'll look great during the swimsuit competition was so compelling, it was further proof that I need to bury my nose in something non-realistic. I've been a total Pinterest addict this week, so I've rediscovered my love of Tumblr as I comb for great photos.

But the best photo this week belongs to my friend Jodie, who recently visited the Palace of Versailles. Simply gorgeous!

Have a good weekend!

xoxo,

2011-01-13T09:35:00.005-05:00

Jon and I are itching for our faux road trip in May, and I happened to find, via Pinterest, El Cosmico, Liz Lambert's lodging concept in Southwest Texas featuring trailers, yurts, and teepees.

According to the site, More than just a place to spend the night, El Cosmico offers opportunities for creativity and play. Our evolving program of workshops and retreats ranges from sewing to cooking to art classes to writing workshops and more. Over time, we will add a series of art shacks - a silk screen workshop, a pottery studio, a darkroom, and others - places for both guests and locals to get their hands dirty. In addition to the Trans-Pecos Festival of Love and Music held annually onsite, our program of events and festivals is expanding to include film, music and cultural events. How cool is that?

I am in love with this yurt. We were hoping to stay in one before we left California but never had the opportunity.

oops

2011-01-12T09:39:00.005-05:00

Do you occasionally have a disastrous night in the kitchen? This doesn't happen very often, but last night was a mess. The portobello mushroom lasagna tasted delicious, but I was like the Swedish Chef on meth assembling that masterpiece. Bork. bork. bork.

The recipe I followed started off simmering milk for the white sauce. Problem one: I used all of the milk for that delicious milk punch. No worries because I had every other dairy product known to man. Problem two: While I was tending something else, the milk spewed all over the cooktop stove.

Then it went downhill. My noodles started sticking, I was skimpy on the mushrooms, and I totally forgot I had chicken in the oven for something else. Whoops. In the middle of it all, my beloved measuring spoons kamakazied themselves off the kitchen counter.

Here's the huge kicker - I've never made lasagna! I knew it would pale in comparison to Madre Lasagna aka Jon's mother. It had to be the nerves ... at least that's what I'm telling myself. Jon's reaction, "For all of that mess a while ago, I really didn't think it would taste this good. It's good."

We'll leave last night behind us. Gersh gurndy morn-dee burn-dee, burn-dee, flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip-flip.

I pledge ...

2011-01-11T11:42:00.008-05:00

If I write this down somewhere, then I have do it. The finish line is mid-April, which gives me plenty of time. Ambitious, yes. Achievable, sure!

To strip, restain, and reupholster our campaign chairs.
To refinish and reupholster the teak dining chairs.
To reupholster our benches (the fabric is hiding in the closet, and I'm hiring a professional).
To buy another couch for the basement/den.
To install the bookshelves!
To paint the downstairs (who am I kidding?! Jon will repaint!).
To choose plants lining the sidewalk.
To choose plants and start seeds for our garden.
To build outdoor benches.
To build a headboard.
To take up photography again.
To go to bikram at least twice a week.

There's 50,000 other things that I would love to do, but I really need to push these off my plate. Bring it 2011!

The weekend

2011-01-10T09:24:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, the Sunday Blues were cured with Smitten Kitchen's Milk Punch. Jon said to call it "booze with some milk." Whatever you want to call it, the libations were flowing and were mighty tasty.

My friend Chris gave us the best glassware and barware set (above and below). The glasses have the obverse and reverse of Roman coins, which placates my nerdiness for all things classical. The barware set is so sophisticated that I feel officially ready to throw a party in style.

Of course, the ever-allusive Duke found it more important to stare out the window than participate in my Sunday morning photo shoot.

Jon and I also decided to purchase another camera, a good one, so I've made a badge to his flickr as inspiration to do this sooner rather than later!

Blogs and books

2011-01-07T11:19:00.007-05:00

My mom gave me Julie Klam's You Had Me at Woof as a stocking stuffer. For a light-hearted read, it was nice. With that being said, I think it's high time to kick the fluff and return to my normal reading habits. The book moved well, Klam's a sincere storyteller, it tugged at the heart strings, and made me bear hug Duke so much that he started hiding under the dining room table. Again, it's a book that left me with "something's missing." I hate to agree, but I found this review on Amazon and it's true:

I just found it really hard to connect to the author, particularly after finding out she was trying to be a pet psychic, which is quite comical later when you realize how little she can actually read from a dog's behavior (she's honestly a little oblivious). She makes horrible mistakes with her dogs and fosters throughout the book and at times it's just painful to read.

Y. Sommer

It's crazy, but I was wincing in parts, which I feel extremely bad for judging because I'm sure it's like parenting ... everyone has a different method and that doesn't mean one is always right.

I think if I read another dog-related book, the next will be Mark Doty's Dog Years simple because I studied his poetry and enjoyed it.

Moving on, I really enjoyed all the photos here this week. It's nice to find new inspiration!

P.S. I apologize if there are no spaces between paragraphs. Not sure why this is happening today!

Daily Drool

2011-01-06T12:04:00.004-05:00

I know Thursday = Etsy favorites, but I have looked at so many things online the past few days that my eyes may pop out of my head. It's overwhelming! I generally don't get excited by rugs, but these Momeni rugs strike a special chord. We currently have nothing on our hardwood floors, and our house is loud ... like I can hear Jon sneeze upstairs from the basement. Not cool. Time to bite the bullet and consider putting something down. Now the inspiration begins!

I've also slowly added more pins on Pinterest and am making a list of projects that I will complete by Spring. It's the beginning of an ambitious Winter!

An old friend

2011-01-04T06:20:00.005-05:00

circa 1995. OMG, she's going to kill me when she sees this! This photo crop is courtesy of another dear friend.

While the house projects are on hold until Jon recuperates, I had dinner with an old friend last night. She's been living in Belgium for the past year+, and it was a total surprise to her that I would be sitting at the table! I can't believe I kept my mouth shut for over two months. I was so nervous for some reason and kept turning away from the window hoping she wouldn't recognize me as she walked in.

We lost touch for several years, but one afternoon in September, she called me out of the blue from Belgium, and I realized that I really did miss her. I'm happy to have her back.

2011 is off to a good start. Here's to keeping old friends near in our hearts!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T06:57:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend and rang in the new year in style! Since Jon has felt so under the weather, we went to see a movie of his choice Saturday, which was Tron. We heard very mixed reviews, so the expectations were low, but it turned out to be pretty decent. At least it was insane to watch.

I was entertained for two hours, and ended up with a bit of inspiration. Sam Flynn has an amazing dwelling inside several shipping containers that come complete with a suspended fireplace. I thought, "that would look perfect in the corner of our living room." It's an awkward corner, meaning a chair or piece of furniture would look like it was hanging out in no man's land. So the verdict is out and the hunt is on!

Right now, Cocoon Fires is the front runner. How cool would this be in copper (too bad it's not an option)?

By the way, I'm the latest Pinterest victim. I haven't completed any boards (I currently have seven pins) but decided to add as I stumble along something. You can follow me here.

Perfect

2010-12-30T08:35:00.005-05:00

Yesterday Jon and I were deciding if we could have one splurge what would it be. I opted for a Caitlin Mociun ring. The Spring 2010 Stars and the Moon collection is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. There's also a gold band of turquoise and diamonds that I will covet for all eternity, and I think I'm fixated because right before Thanksgiving a diamond fell out of my wedding band ... again.

Yep, that's the third time the tension setting has failed me. Miraculously, I keep finding those tiny buggers, but Jon and I are frustrated and trying to decide how to alleviate the issue because it's borderline absurdity (long explanation omitted). Don't fret. Where there's a will there's a way!

Daily Drool

2010-12-28T09:10:00.003-05:00

A little inspiration from Lonny Magazine today. I know we just painted our bathroom, but this is the exact layout and size of our bathroom ... that sink, that medicine cabinet, that light fixture, the simplicity! Ah! Maybe somewhere in the future a nice wallpaper will fit the bill as well.

Goodness, when you're sick there's a lot of time to kill. The online shopping is getting out of hand!

I'm cold

2010-12-27T06:55:00.004-05:00

I would love a face mask right now if people didn't think I was trying to rob them. It's so cold and windy today that my dog won't even stay outside long enough to poop. He's just sitting by the heating vent looking frozen. He also keeps looking at me weird because I'm sick and so is Jon (he's much, much worse). All he's heard for days on end is this miserable cough emanating from our bedroom. He climbed in my lap and sniffed by breath for a good five minutes. Nice hint Duke. I guess that mask would take care of sick breath too!

By the way, when did Fornasetti plates on ebay jump in price? It's been awhile since I've looked, but the holidays must have wiped sellers out. There were only three Tema e Variazioni plates. Hmmmm.

Innovation

2010-12-23T08:35:00.009-05:00

Before we wind down for the holidays, which apparently I already have because I posted nothing this week, let me introduce you to Jon's stroke of genius ... or boredom.

What happens when you like three paint colors, but they don't quite have what you want individually?
The colors below are Sherwin Williams' Pavestone, Mink, and Earl Gray.

You mix all three together and watch the magic happen! May I introduce you to our new bathroom wall!

As my sister-in-law would say, "loverz it!"

I realize paint color is so hard to capture, but it's a nice, warm gray with brown undertones.

FAIL!

2010-12-17T11:10:00.004-05:00

My arch-nemesis - the Rosslyn metro escalator

As I mentioned to a friend on good ol' fb, the moral of this story would be: Vans aren't acceptable snow shoes.

It's 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. There's a light dusting of snow on the ground, and I'm leaving work early. I don't feel like sitting in traffic while everyone freaks out about "the snow." I head to metro, swipe my card, and start walking down the escalator. BAM! What can I say?! Picture me sliding down 10-15 stairs while my purse flew out in front of me.

Did I mention that being pigeon-toed has resulted in a hell of a lot of graceful falls? Rather than sliding on my ass, I was determined to catch myself, which resulted in my arm getting a nice scrape from the metal stairs. So I survived to tell the tale, but here's what made me a little sad.

I'll admit, It's almost impossible not to laugh at a clumsy fall. When I saw a man on his blackberry go up the wrong escalator last week and do some fancy, cartoon footwork, I busted out right in his face. I understand all of those metro riders behind me chuckling. I really do. But D.C. area residents, can you show some compassion? Not one person stopped to ask if I was okay or needed help collecting my things. I'll give you a good laugh any day, but c'mon people!

Really, my bruised ego needed a nice dinner with white chocolate bread pudding to heal.

Since it's Friday and I haven't mentioned a blog or a book in awhile, I've been reading the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series lately. I gave the first book to my mom as a present and started reading them myself. They are nice metro reads. They go by quickly and are entertaining ... nothing too heavy.

As far as blogs, I've really enjoyed Aesthetically Pleasing this week. Pretty.

Oh. See all of those moving stairs in the picture above? I ran up each one today just to show that stupid prankster who's boss!

My new favorite thing

2010-12-16T09:34:00.004-05:00

Jon and I finally got our wedding album last night! I say finally because we waited until September to discuss the layout with our photographer. Cassidy DuHon deserves a round of applause, again, because the layout is amazing. We decided to have multiple shots per page with a few special photos deserving a full spread.

The moral of this post is that I shouldn't take photos of a photo album at 7 a.m. Justice is not done in the shots below, but I was too excited not to share. Seriously, it's difficult to take photos of a book. The album is 10x10 with a soft leather cover, and I really couldn't explain the binding.

This shot does not accurately depict the title page, but I really like how it came out!

Just to make sure that we give Cassidy due credit, here's my favorite shot that isn't altered by iPhone.

Nikki McClure 2011

2010-12-14T11:15:00.003-05:00

Just got the Nikki McClure 2011 3-pack in the mail, and it's beautiful as always. I honestly can't remember how long I've used her calendar, but it's a little gift to myself each year. If you're still searching for a 2011 calendar, this comes highly recommended.

Hello sexy

2010-12-13T12:06:00.004-05:00

This burled olive wood beauty made by Founders just hopped in our cruiser Saturday and decided to make herself at home. We love it by the way. It was just the right piece to blend in with our mid-century modern furniture, but turn it up a notch. Now to recover that bench that's peeking out to the left in the Wearstler Edo linen, and we'll be set! Oh, and the arrangement is, of course, a work in progress.

Etsy favorites

2010-12-09T12:02:00.004-05:00

This time of year always strikes a cord (have I told you that I cry reading "The Little Match Girl?"). Right now, there's a little bird snuggled up against my office window trying to stay warm, and I spent the better half of the morning contacting shelters near my office after seeing a woman and her baby huddled against a building. I've seen this woman several times the past few weeks, and it is so cold today. My heart literally broke.

Today has been such a humble reminder of how fortunate I am. We take forgranted how easily we're able to provide luxuries for oursevles. And yes, I'm focusing on beautiful things this post, but rather than load everyone on your shopping list with the latest and greatest, why not buy one, meaningful gift for each and donate the rest of the budget ... or donate time to someone else this season?

So while we appreciate beautiful things, let's remember to do something beautiful as well, and I mean that in the most genuine way possible.

Yevgenia: hand painted ceramic pot

Turkish Bath: peshtemal

Sabrina Tach: Taos leather bag

Larime Loom: capri pants

One Black Bird: glowbowls (love Diana Fayt's work)

and it's gone!

2010-12-07T08:54:00.005-05:00

See that ray of sunlight beaming down on our house? The world was happy on Saturday when our rotting, weather-warped awning came tumbling down. Okay, the gutter came down a bit too, but the fascia board underneath is extremely old and needs to be replaced. It's an easy project, so no worries. Remember this shot taken at dusk of our awning? Yep, it was a haggard little thing hanging on by a thread.

Here's the demolition ... rusty nails and hibernating honey bees everywhere (don't worry, the beams with the bees were moved to a safe location), and these guys work cheap. Only one PBR per person.

Now that it's down, I'm not sure that we'll put another awning up again. It just appears so much more spacious. Maybe we'll look into a sun sail or similar solution, but right now we like the idea of having an unobstructed view into the backyard.

Magnolia wreath

2010-12-06T09:51:00.006-05:00

I have never had the pleasure of hanging a wreath for the holidays. Instead of buying something that would be thrown away, I decided to make my own using Magnolia leaves from our backyard.

There are a few lessons learned from my first wreath-making experience.

The only foam wreath left was a white, flat circle. Next year if I decide to use foam again, I will definitely choose a green, round circle. From a few angles you can still see white, so I'll need to fill in a little more.
Another disadvantage of the flat foam wreath is that it snapped in half. It was extremely flimsy.
Okay, the last thing about the foam - next year I'll wind yarn around the foam, so if there are any bald spots they will at least be pretty!
Make sure the leaves have strong stems. When I began inserting them into the foam, a few bent and would not stay.
You really don't need too many leaves. You can see where I started because I bunched multiple leaves together, but that's unnecessary. The more you spread the Magnolia leaves apart, the flatter they will lay.

It's still a mission accomplished. I am truly not a crafty individual, but I'm proud of my 10-minute project.

2010-12-02T07:01:00.002-05:00

Today is Duke Day aka give Duke a bath, clean his ears, trim his nails, etc.

Ugh, he's gotten so much bigger since our friend JD took this picture. Now, he's a little hellion kicking ass and taking names. Duke's actually such a great dog ... minus the occasional sock theft and squirrel chase. Jon said he barked at another dog for the first time yesterday, but hid behind Jon's legs the entire time. haha! What a bully.

And the days go by

2010-12-01T08:47:00.004-05:00

I apologize for the lack of posts this week. I'm training someone at work, so the days get away from me! I hope everyone had a nice, long weekend and enjoyed time with their family and friends. Jon and I are currently discussing paint colors and gearing up to finish painting what's left (bathrooms and basement). We're also strategizing how to tear down the awning in the backyard before winter.

image source

Meanwhile, we did manage to snag Gallery Urbane's casita in Marfa. Okay, we planned waaaaaaaay far in advance, so availability wasn't an issue. At least this spring we'll have time to explore West Texas properly. We really love it down there.

Back to the grind!

Outdoor Dilemma

2010-11-23T12:00:00.004-05:00

Friends of ours snagged a nice outdoor furniture set for 70 percent off, or something outrageous, so I decided to surf the regular furniture sites and see if I could snag a deal too. Why is outdoor furniture so hideous?!

If it's not absolutely vile (with the exception of 3-4 designs), it's wicked expensive. I would love to have the Maku sectional, but this is not within the budget right now ... or ever. Don't get me wrong, I understand good design and teak is worth the tag, but dang when you're hoping to do things on a budget! And a couple fiberglass rockers were going to be the splurge too!

I think I really need to keep looking. That was a bozo attempt. I know I can find better! The mission begins.

The weekend

2010-11-22T10:10:00.006-05:00

Time flies when you're having fun! While I spent the afternoons napping between wild nights, Jon:

reinsulated the attic
installed a new door for the laundry room (thanks to our friend for the help)
raked the backyard
reclaimed an old fire pit
cleaned the entire house

This may explain the lack of weekend photos. We ended up visiting our local garden center and have narrowed down the next houseplant to:

leea rubra - this almost looks like a purple ficus
dracaena marginata
fiddle-leaf fig

Jon really liked the leea rubra and the dracaena, but I didn't feel like they were substantial enough. Plus the dracaena is not dog-friendly, even though the leaves would be too tall for Duke to reach. Then, part of me feels silly having a fig indoors when we already have one outdoors. Decisions, decisions.

Blogs and books

2010-11-19T10:14:00.006-05:00

Holy cow this week has totally gotten away from me!

I really wanted to tell everyone about reading The Passage. I was so skeptical about reading a vampire book, but a good friend recommended it. It was great. Think The Road meets I Am Legend. I mean that in the best way possible, and I'm talking storyline here not writing style. No one compares to Cormac McCarthy ... period. It was an unexpected turn from my normal reading, but sometimes it pays to stray.

Make your own owl calendar - Today's feature on How About Orange

As far as blogs, I've revisited an old favorite several times this week. How About Orange has great projects that are simple, so even the most ill-adept crafter like me can feel good about making something.

What else is going on?

Researching these after flipping out about finding one on Duke.

Trying to figure out what to do with my cheese pumpkin.

Looking forward to making my own Magnolia wreath for the winter.

Still pondering if I'm bold enough to do Hague Blue in the basement.

Bedroom

2010-11-16T10:23:00.005-05:00

Since we have a new bed, I've poured over pictures of headboards, nightstands, etc. You know, I'm a little tired of nightstands or anything next to the bed for that matter. I have no reason for this at all except the fact that my pillow knocks something off of it every night. Plus, I feel like it's just another place for me to store crap I don't need.

I think I've found our solution.

I'm rocking the headboard that functions as a landing place for a good lamp and a book. My brother had a bed with book nooks and a shelf. I looooooooved it as a kid. Now, to convince Jon to build it!

By the way, the image above is from Castle and Things. I love them and wouldn't mind this above the bed along with their velvet pillow cushions.

The weekend

2010-11-15T09:45:00.004-05:00

I had a great weekend with my in-laws. We spent Saturday at Eastern Market in D.C., and I'm embarrassed to say that I had never been before. We scored delicious nittany apples and wild boar sausage with rosemary and sage. I'll be sure to let you know how that turns out!

We napped in the yard the rest of the afternoon and took a long walk through the woods ... the perfect way to wind down after a long week.

I guess "No Shower Sunday" is out

2010-11-12T14:26:00.002-05:00

Prunella Soap just made my day. How friggin' clever is this? Soap just became appealing. Plus the varieties are incredible. Ah, thanks for the laugh.