Thoughts on home

***Courtesy of Jonathan Adler

(oh how I'd love to splurge on one of those fruit pillows. and many other things).

Here are a few of my faves from his manifesto:

We believe that your home should make you happy.

We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right.
Unless the husband is gay.

We believe colors can't clash.

Read entire manifesto

his book is still on my wish list.

The Good Report

1. Someone at church told me I exude style. Which made me feel incredible especially under current wardrobe conditions.

2. The hubs organized his part of the closet. Major purge. It looks like we now have about three items of clothing. Each.

3. Got some cash for unwanted baby/girls clothes at Kid to Kid.

4. Finally cleaned my stove which means no more house fires every time I cook.

5. Operation: "Ladies who Lunch" in full effect.

6. I've always wanted to do this very project. Some one beat me to it. Artists and their creative spaces. Spend some time.

7. Cut and color!!

8. The hubs surprised me with some cupcakes from here. Just because.

9. Yellow tulips on my kitchen table. A beautiful sight.

P.S. I'm really dragging me feet with this potty training biz.

Another scarf on my wish list. I like stripes. A lot.

Time waster (Photo Booth)

L was stalling before bedtime. Which usually means a mad dash to the computer to push as many buttons as possible before we catch her. Then we got sucked in. These are the most flattering of some very unflattering pictures.
Doesn't M look so cute in that family pic? Awww....

Sifting through the noise {Gettin' comfy}

In my early days staying home, blogs played an important role. They made me feel connected. I lived vicariously. I felt inspired, but lately I've been so turned off. It all feels like so much noise. Too many opinions and styles I don't like. Maybe I'm settling into this life phase or my needs are just evolving, but I'm real sure I'm admitting what matters to me and getting comfy with who I am. (Aesthetically and all the much more meaningful stuff too). Not trying to be a hater (which is why I'm not going off on specifics)..... just finding my focus. And remembering what matters because motherhood really threw me off.

So here is to new beginnings, and getting back on track, and remembering who you are, and balance, and all that good stuff...

See you next week for some "daily life".

Less is More

“The less you have, the more you enjoy.”

French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld

discovered here

50 Years

In April they will celebrate 50 years of marriage. So cool. My brother-in-law's parents are some of my favorite people. They were always so nice to me during my single days. We heard some great stories during their visit. Some funny. Some serious. Not everyone who has lived 80 years wants to talk about it. I like the ones who do.

Jeff and I kept wondering what our life will be like after fifty years. It's pretty exciting to think about.

When boredom sets in

I usually pull out the polaroid

P.S. I really want a flatbed scanner but it is waaaaaay down on the list.

The Good Report

1. I can now comfortably zip and wear one of my pencil skirts. Sunday morning was a glorious day.

2. L is already used to M's middle of the night cries and mostly sleeps right through them. Couldn't be happier.

3. Scored some needed t-shirts basics for cheap. Highly recommend them in tall. Long enough sleeves, long enough body. Great fit!

4. Completed all the quilting on the zig zag quilt after two marathon days at my sister's. I'm so making my deadline. Next up....binding.

5. Rediscovered my favorite home tours from Martha Stewart. Some of the photos have been stuck in my mind for years.

*Brooklyn Pad (Lotta Jansdotter)

*Westchester Ranch (probably because he's a photog)

*Texas Ranch House (another photographer)

6. We are seriously rockin' our no eating out rule.

7. Surprisingly, I did not want to crawl into the fetal position after watching September Issue.

8. More beautiful weather and some park days.

9. $12.50 skinny jeans at Forever 21.

These recipes were a hit this week:

Shredded Pork Tacos Another hot one. Made the house smell amazing.

Also loving Lands End Canvas. The catalog. The colors. The clothing. Mmmm hmmm.

Words of Wisdom {Robert Frost}

"Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with."

- Robert Frost

Originally seen on The Montage

Channelling Reese

I'm taking this little photo blog of mine on a detour for a while. Today I'm into gettin' myself lovely.

I've been drawn to the look of casual Reese Witherspoon. So simple. Exactly what I'm looking for.

I love me a great scarf. Always have. Already on my update list.











Scarf wish list:

GAP


Lands End Canvas


P.S. It's also about to get real motherly up in here. I'm prepping to potty train next week. Something I've been avoiding for a long time. (Wow, so much on my mind). Helping the girls adjust to sharing a room. Meal planning. Teaching/helping L clean up after herself (all day, every day). Her own spills. Her toy messes. All of it. And hoping some day it pays off. It's very important to me. And she's been cooking with me also. Hoping that also pays off in later years. But all of this means everything takes a lot more time. And I have to continually tell my perfectionist tendencies to be gone. They are so worthless in mothering.

Mental prep for next week: Be kind and patient and encouraging.

The Good Report

1. Developed my plan for connecting and making friends. Motherhood is a lonely road peeps.

2. Did you peek at new Oliver + S patterns? I'm already planning.

3. Remembered where I could get ideas for teaching my class.

4. No more sinus pressure. Yipee!

5. Scored my Liberty of London bowls early.

6. A warm enough day for the park.

7. The crying did not last as long as I thought it would when M slept in the same room as L.

Try this week's Thai Red Curry Chicken if you like it hot. Not painfully so, but a nice little burn.

I'd also like to try Thai Ginger Chicken

Family pic possibility

JCrew

How about that splash of yellow? I likey.

Gotta love friends

Starting to print and collect and matte my photos for the basement ledge, and sew pillows, and scour the universe for a lovely rug. I'll reveal the whole room when it's done properly. Which will be a long while. Until then, I'm off to the lab to get some enlargements printed of our girls.

Thanks again, Ang, for the jump start to my photo wall!

Need a cow print? They are equally awesome in person.

I'm also thinking of stealing Alli's idea (kid art) and letting L have at it with a black crayon.

It takes time

Guilty, guilty, guilty

"When friends come over and compliment you on your lovely home, do say thank you and refrain from telling them everything you'd like to change if only you had more time and money," Kimberley says.
(seen here)

I've done this so many times. But I won't be that annoying girl anymore. Because it's annoying and unnecessary. And really, really annoying.

See all 2010 decor do's and dont's

Home Sweet Home

Lots of words on my blog lately. I haven't cared to photograph much. Been focusing on other parts of my life. Like the home.

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris, 1882.

I just love that.

The Good Report

1. A friend surprised me with this!!! One of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.
2. Watched Coco before Chanel.
3. Finished the Playdate Dress. Take that lingering pile! (see my version HERE).
4. I'm really glad the Olympics are over so I can sleep.
5. Quilt is now assembled. Ready to quilt. Meaning, I just might make my Easter deadline.
6. Chilled Kit Kat dipped in peanut butter. Dee-lish.
7. Can I get an Amen! (followed by hysterical laughter)
8. Spring 2010 Oliver + S patterns revealed tomorrow.
9. Phillip Lim Kids Spring 2010.
10. Get more home inspiration on my new favorite website.
11. Chatting into the wee hours with the hubs. One of my favorite things.
12. More epiphanies about my life and overcoming some hang-ups.
13. Change of heart is a beautiful thing. Facilitated by #11, relating to #12.
14. My fat jeans are suddenly very loose fitting. Sweet.
15. Deleted all the blogs that make me feel like total crap from my daily read. Ah, much better now.

S.0.S.

Hey winter months, I surrender.



Cough, congestion, sore throat, head cold, sinus pressure, or stuffy nose have been lingering for weeks. As soon as one is gone the other begins. As soon as one of us feels better the other gets it. And it all just keeps getting passed around. I can't take it anymore.

FEED ME

I came across this quote last night as I was organizing my recipes. Prepping to wow my taste buds next week.

I love this:

"Eating well gives spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to good will and happy companionship."
--Elsa Schiaparelli, SHOCKING LIFE

Next week's new recipes:

Spaghetti with homemade meatballs

Skillet poached huevos rancheros (although this version looks good too)

Cream of Turkey and wild rice soup (from sis in law)

Mediterranean Salad with chickpea patties

I'll let you know which ones are worth it.

Zig Zag teaser

I can hardly stand it. I want to post photos of my progress so bad. But I told myself I had to wait until it was completely done (a personal incentive to actually get it done). It's going to be a stunner!

Daily Life: Toy Kitchen

wearing another Oliver and S top. one of my favorite versions paired with leggings.

Daily Life: The Grocery Store

This was a test. I shot the last three frames of a roll in about two seconds. I liked where I was going with it. And then no more film...

P.S. I was getting a lot of stares. Stares like: hey crazy lady why would you take a picture in the parking lot? Lauren looks like she is wondering the same thing. Ah, well.

Give me a "K"

Started my K collection. I'm really into yellow these days. Can't get enough of it.





Purchased this white K at Joann's and traced it onto one of my favorite papers (linen textured scrapbook paper). Mounted with spray adhesive. I think the letter was $2, but I had a coupon so it was less than that. Can't remember.

Time wasting ooh la la

Not so sure about my celebrity twins. I'm just not seeing it.



Even tried looking at more pics of Norma Shearer. (who is she anyway?)




Make your own

Daily Life: A Sunday Afternoon.