Monday, February 28, 2011

Doily Love

I thought my little fling with doilies was going to be brief.
It's still going strong, so here are a few more little doily goodies for you today.

via

 Crafting a Meaningful Home via Angie Padilla

via

Table Runner Tutorial and photo
via Ashley Anne Photography/under the sycamore tree

Tea Towels


Doily Wallpaper via bloomerism


Hope you had a great weekend. I'm starting the week off with a bang: kindergarden shots for Mr. H. I think I'm more nervous than he is. I hope I don't cry. ;)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Get the Look: A Splash of Raspberry

I'm really loving the raspberry accents I mentioned earlier. Here's a little shopping guide, just in case you feel like adding a dash of berry flavor to your home.

{wallpaper, pillow, tea light, pouf, chair, stationery, accent table, bedding}

Have a great day. I can't believe it's Thursday all ready!

A Splash of Raspberry

I keep seeing this gorgeous raspberry shade splashed about. Love the way it adds instant personality and really brings a space to life.

via House Beautiful

via
atlier pompadour's studio, via Design Public

via Ideal Home

via Bella Notte

 Nuevo Estilo via ACHADOS DE DECORAÇÃO 


via Harlequin
Pretty fantastic, right? I'm dying to add a healthy dose of raspberry to my place. I'm planning a special trip to the flea market in search of wooden chairs I can paint my new favorite color.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

things that make me happy

I spent the entire night on the couch with a teething toddler. This morning, her big brother woke up with a fever. So there's my "official" excuse for not having a blog post ready first thing this morning.

Here are a few things making me happy right now:

 this picture makes me happy.


Tiny shoes always make me smile.


Wooden colored pencils. Pretty cute, eh?


 How can you not smile at marshmallows all cozied up in a blanket of caramel?
Let's call it what it is: I'm a grammar nerd. But I love this excellent demonstration


We're making some slime this afternoon.
Squishing slimy goop between your fingers is a prescription for instant smiles, didn't you know?

image credits: 1. London Evening Standard, 2. Baby Bloch, 3. beau coup, 4. Hammonds Candies, 5. We Heart It, 6. our best bites

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Night Time with Hudson

Hey Kids. It's me, Hudson. Remember a while back when I shared my top secrets for avoiding bedtime? Well I'm back with another one. And this one's so good it couldn't wait till morning. Here's what you do:

1. Come out of your room for "one more hug."
2. Find your mom working and notice an extremely large zit on her forehead.
3. Ask her what it is. She'll probably sugar-coat it for you, and tell you that it's an "owie."
4. Play along, so you don't make her feel bad.
5. Offer to give her your last Star Wars Bandaid to help her owie feel better.
6. She'll think you're so cute she'll need to take a picture with you.

Good luck, fellow kids...I hope this one works for you as well as it did for me.

Just be Nice

Anthony Burrell Poster

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." -Henry David Thoreau.

This quote from Thoreau keeps popping into my mind. The scale of desperation varies: whether we're desperate for love, money, attention, physical health, sanity, sleep (the list goes on)...I'm sure we all feel some sort of desperation on a daily basis.

Some of my desperation is of a more un-serious nature. The other day, we were in desperate need of milk. I drug my two tired and hungry children out in the pouring rain to the store. As I loaded them in the shopping cart, crying and whining ensued. And in Charlotte's case, the crying quickly turned into full-blown screaming. A kind elderly man stopped me and tried to comfort my child. I desperately wanted to keep moving, get the milk and get the {you know what} out of there. He asked me if I was going to be there for a while. I felt uncomfortable with the situation so I replied that I was in a hurry. I watched as he stashed his grocery basket on a shelf and walked out into the pouring rain. He soon returned with two stuffed animals: one for each of my children. My heart softened. Who was this man who would go so far out of his way to offer kindness to a stranger and her children? I felt ashamed that I had been suspicious of his intentions. I felt sad that I had wanted desperately to get away from him. The man, whose children are long since grown, told me that he had twin sons. He loved them more than anything and missed having them around. So now he tries to make a few kids happy each day so he doesn't feel so lonely.

What a humbling lesson. This kind man turned his desperation in loneliness into kindness and service for others. I appreciate how his actions helped me in a desperate moment of my own. Although the desperation I felt at the grocery store was a more fleeting variety, he taught me how far one simple act of kindness can go.


  • I also want to thank the kind person who pulled in my recycling bin this morning shortly after the garbage truck left. Your kindness did not go unnoticed, or unappreciated. 


  • And one final thank you. To you, dear blog friends. Thank you for your kind words. For your constant encouragement. For the time you take out of your busy lives to visit me here. I hope someday I can return the kindness you show me everyday. I appreciate you. I love you. 

And a quick quote from one of my favorite authors:
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, February 18, 2011

More Maps

If maps on the wall aren't your cup of tea, how 'bout these little goodies?

bespoke map heart
You can take your hometown with you wherever life may lead.


Atlas Pinwheels
 This would have been the perfect solution for my nude map conundrum.


Custom World Map Canvas
 I've always wanted a map where I could put a pin in everywhere I've gone. Wouldn't that be cool in a playroom/family room?


chloe fleury illustration
And you all know I'm crazy for any SF maps I can find. This one's no exception. Love it.


What are your plans for the long weekend? We'd toyed with the idea of going to the snow. But taking H up to the snow and telling him to keep his big red cast dry seemed downright mean. So instead, we'll be hanging out here and I'll be giving Charlotte remedial sleeping lessons. I think I've only spent about 8 hours in my own bed this entire week. (And she's my good sleeper!) To put it plainly, my children are not champion sleepers. In fact, they're both pretty lousy. All I ask is four hours of sleep all to myself. Pretty high maintenance, eh?

Have a great weekend! xo

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Beach Babes

Disclaimer: You may want to cover your ears as you read this post. It's set to the soundtrack of my shrieks of joy and spontaneous giggling outbursts.  

Really, now. Aren't these little goodies from Janie and Jack not the cutest thing you've ever seen? Ever. 
hat, sunglasses, bathing suit
The Lady: This little black-and-white ditty is perfect for hanging out wading-poolside. For the little darlin' who only wants to dip her toes in. She can kick back, read the latest issue of LuckyKids, and look  sweet as can be the whole time.


bathing suit, swim cap, sunglasses
The Synchronized Swimmer: She's way too cool for floaties, but she's too polite to point that out. A strategically placed ruffle or two gives her the confidence she needs to strut her stuff both in and out of the water. Because nobody should be insecure about chubby thighs.



The Daydreamer: She'll build sand castles 'till snack time; she'll splash in the waves. But her favorite beach activities include watching the clouds go by, feeling the sand squish between her toes, and looking for sea shells.



hat, cover up, bathing suit
The Socialite: She's charming, outgoing, and full of personality. She can sip juice boxes with the best of 'em; and she'll keep the party going way past nap time.




bathing suit, tunic, sunglasses
The Socialite II: Because everyone knows you must have a wardrobe change ready at a moment's notice. This one will let her move a little more easily, while still looking polished and presentable as she frolics near (but not to near, mind you) the waves.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Decorating with Maps

I've always loved the idea of decorating with maps. The one time I tried was a miserable failure, however. I wanted to frame a vintage map for my son's bathroom. I found one on ebay and scored a super bargain. You can imagine my horror when the map arrived with little nude people all along the border. The little nudes would have been humorously appropriate for a bathroom; but I felt a little weird about putting them in my kid's bathroom. Call me awkward, but I don't want to have that birds and bees talk before it's absolutely necessary. Needless to say, that nudity-riddled map never found a place in my home.

I've been seeing great map-related decor everywhere I turn lately. And all these maps are nudity-free. Imagine that! This first one is my absolute favorite:

via Femina
I love, love, love the casual room dressed up with a chandelier.



Elle Decor; BHG
I love the muted tones of the first room
And creating a little vignette with the color from the map is a great way to pull it all together.


Top: via an angel at my table; photo by Mari Eriksson
Bottom: Elle Decor
 From kids' rooms to work spaces, maps are the perfect focal point.


via Nate BerkusBHG 2007
Get creative with maps: stick 'em to a dresser or a door.


top: Elle Decor
 bottom: via Apartment Therapy
I really don't need one more thing to collect, but these globe collections are screaming my name. I especially love the bottom one from Sharilyn Wright of Lovely Design. You can see her studio tour on Apartment Therapy.

That's it for today. Now we're on our way to get Mr. H a "real" cast for that little arm. Have a great day!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Spring Trenches

Here's a story: when I graduated from college I bought myself a graduation present. What was it, you ask? Why a cotton candy pink trench, of course. Not joking. While I still wear (and love) that trench, I've since realized it wasn't the most practical color to choose. It's definitely not a piece I can wear everyday. So I dream of giving that pink trench a more neutral companion to hang out with. Here's a little look I threw together straight out of my trench-filled daydreams:

Mossimo, House Of Harlow, O.p.i, 7 For All Mankind


ShopStyle


If ruffles aren't your thing, here are a few other more neutral styles: 


Have a great day...now I'm off to re-claim my kitchen after my Valentine's Day cooking frenzy.
In summary:
strawberry shortcake = heaven.
chicken cordon bleu = memorable disaster

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you're having a great Valentine's Day.
If you're looking for a few last-minute ideas, look no further.


B and I went out to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday. He took me to a little Grilled Cheese restaurant in the city. In my book, nothing says "love" more than hot, melty cheese and an afternoon spent with your best friend. Since we celebrated early, I'm planning a dinner at home tonight: chicken cordon bleu, roasted red potatoes, and thyme braised green beans, followed with strawberry shortcake for dessert.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?


 If you're still looking for the perfect friend valentines...check these out. Stop at the party store and grab some mini magnifiers, print out the free download and you're in business.


And if you need to run a little sweet treat around to your friends, print out these darling wrappers and you're all set.

Have a great Valentine's Day. Big hugs to you all for stopping by every day. I've found so many wonderful people through blogging; and I feel so lucky that you'd choose to spend a moment of your day here with me. XO