Happy Fourth of July! Hope your holiday is lovely!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Day 369's inspiration
Can I just say, I really love the Fourth of July?! So far, I haven't really had the chance to go all out and decorate for one, but maybe one day. For now, I'll share my ideas with you!
Social Couture has tons of great patriotic-themed party decor -- enameled pails, red, white, and blue ribbon, miniature flags, bamboo dinnerware, and more.
And of course, MarthaStewart.com is currently filled with anything and everything you could ever hope to bake or make for the Fourth (and probably much, much more than you will ever have time to).
Instructions for these ribbon stars here.
These little fans are so cute!
A bucket full of flags is probably about as far as I'll go this year, but it's effective in its simplicity.
Photo by Brian Francis for MyHomeIdeas.com
Drinking out of Mason jars is so fun. I recently invested in a package of 12 (about $7 at Publix) and have already used them three times. They are also adorable filled with something small like sand, black-eyed peas or birdseed with a votive candle tucked inside.
Photo by Robbie Camponetto for Cottage Living
I'm sure it's no surprise that I dig this patriotic hydrangea arrangement. Step-by-step instructions are here.
Also, these red, white and blue candles are super-cute, and don't forget to brush up on your flag etiquette!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Day 368's mischief maker
Doesn't Maddie look like she's up to something? Well, she was. Last night after our lovely and delicious meal at Gian Marco's, we came home for some year-old wedding cake. I must say, it was pretty good -- the almond extract flavoring really had time to soak in! We ate it straight out of the fridge, and I suspect it will be even better now that it's come to room temperature.
Here it is with the super-sweet Muscadine wine we bought at a wine shop at Folly Beach on the honeymoon. We were very proud of ourselves for waiting an entire year to drink it.
Wes and I were sitting on the sofa enjoying our cake (but languishing about how much we wished we had saved a piece of the delicious chocolate groom's cake) when Maddie started barking from the kitchen. I walked in and found her with her front paws on the kitchen counter (!!!) barking at the cake, which she had pushed back out of her reach (she frequently barks at toys when they are under the sofa and she can't reach them)! I guess the little stinker felt left out and wanted in on the celebrating!
Luckily Wes had put it just far enough back on the counter that she couldn't do anything except lick the icing. I don't even want to imagine the mess on both the floor and her snout if she had been able to knock it off the counter.
It's a bit hard to see in this photo, but look closely and you can tell that she ate along the corners made when we cut our two little slices.
Maybe she was still on a sugar high this morning, or maybe it was just the squirrel playing at the base of a tree across the street, but just as Wes walked out the door she bolted out of the yard (despite the obvious pain she suffered when she crossed the electric fence!). He spent the next 5 minutes following her through 4 backyards while shaking her treats in a vain attempt to lure her back. Then he spent about 20 minutes driving beside her as she gallivanted down our street playing in the bushes and flowers.
Luckily, a neighbor was walking her giant labradoodle (or some kind of -oodle) and Maddie can never resist making a new friend. Wes was able to snatch her up and toss her in the car while she was distracted by her funny-looking furry new pal. Needless to say, the trip back to the house did not look like this:
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Day 367's anniversary festivities
Last night we kicked off the anniversary celebrations with a surprise trip to Leaf 'n' Petal to pick out hydrangeas for the yard. Sadly, they didn't have what we were looking for, but we still had fun poking around this really cute garden shop. While we were there, we scored some great little pots that were on clearance and a plant we'll call our "love fern," round 2 (I neglected the first one ...).
After a low-key burrito dinner (I'm low-maintenance, what can I say?), we headed home to exchange gifts and relax a bit. Following tradition, we bought each other paper. Wes bought me another egg print to go with the one we brought back from our Charleston honeymoon and I gave him a gift certificate for some golf lessons.
And, of course, we hung the egg prints as soon as we could!
Hanging pictures with an engineer is always an adventure. There was lots of measuring and remeasuring and making pencil marks on the wall. I just stood around sipping my wine (and taking pictures) -- I'm really more of an eyeball-it kind of girl, so my involvement in the process typically entails handing him the hammer if he can't reach it. But hey, they are very straight so no complaints here.
Don't they look so happy together! I'm so glad our blank walls are slowly starting to disappear. The celebration continues tonight with an Italian dinner and our year-old wedding cake -- stay tuned!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Day 366
Day 366 ... you know what that means! It is really hard to believe it has already been a year since we said "I do." Our wedding day was beautiful and perfect and blessed and just so much fun! I would totally do it all again (my parents have denied that request).
After the wedding, we spent a week in Charleston recovering, drinking wine, eating shrimp and grits, and day-dreaming about filling our house on the battery with all of the fantastic antiques we saw. It was fabulous.
On Day 23, I started this blog. It took a few months for me to find my groove, but by the time 2008 rolled in, we were in full swing. Which was a good thing, because there would be plenty to document in the coming months.
After much tossing and turning on my part, on about Day 239, we moved into our first house. Boy has that been an adventure! We've done lots of unpacking, torn out one bathroom, replaced the mailbox, bought furniture, begged strangers for rugs, painted furniture, fantasized about the future, painted walls, debated about what to do with the office, and generally made due with what we've got (and what our parents gave us).
On Day 246 we adopted our Australian Shepherd pup, Maddie, and she is just a joy! She occasionally gets into trouble, but we just love her to death and she really has added so much to our first year.
Somewhere along the way, something unexpected happened: People started reading our blog! Some even decided to tell their friends, and that has just been the biggest thrill for us. We love hearing about your blogs and your lives, and we are so glad that you are a part of ours. Thanks for coming along!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 361's love
I really, really love the Idea House that Steven Gambrel did for Cottage Living a couple of years ago. It's just the epitome of what a summer-y house should be.
Whoops, another blue bedroom. I'm sure you're getting tired of them, but I am apparently not!
This is a totally fabulous desk that I feel like I could make (er, at least maybe Wes could). Sister, if you're reading, this is for you. It looks like a standard saw horse has been decoupaged with maps. I did some serious decoupaging in high school (and yet I still cannot spell it?!) and this makes me want to revisit my old friend Mod Podge.
And the dark window are so cool. We're thinking of painting the ones in our living room.
It's a bit difficult to see exactly what's happening in this picture, but it looks like a desk is in front of a fireplace -- what a spot to check your e-mail! I really dig the ball of twine on the mantle, too.
The combination of pale blue and red has really got me going lately, and this dining space is no exception.
Here, Gambrel proves that even everyday accessories (appliances, cookbooks, what look like gardening tools ... )can be used as display. It's also nice to see a "show house" styled with items that might actually be found in a real house. The trick, of course, is to keep it neat.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Day 360's follow-up
Annsley McAleer by Justin Bernhaut for DominoToday it became alarmingly clear that my obsession knows no bounds! At least I'm predictable?
T. Keller Donovan by Michael Price for House Beautiful
Suzanne Kasler as seen in House Beautiful
Laura Seydel for Domino
(I labeled this image "max_kim-bee." What does that mean?)
by Nicholas Haslam
Monday, June 23, 2008
Day 359
Last week, Beach Bungalow 8 shared some of a friend's collection of vintage wire baskets. They look great filled with everyday objects (Megan suggests toilet tissue!) or something special.
I have one made of chicken wire that I picked up at a shop in Homewood. It used to sit on my desk and corral my stationery, but now it just ... sits. Inside, you'll find some remote controls and coasters, and occasionally a mail-order catalogue on its way to the trash. I've got big plans for it for Christmas, but I feel like it's not living up to its full potential 11 months out of the year.
It's a bit shallow, so it doesn't quite hold a stack of magazines like I'd love it to. What would you put in it?
And hey, Megan at A Life's Design found some great ones online!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Day 356's pretty
This is what my dining room table looks like today -- you can imagine my elation! And yes, they were acquired legally and no, I didn't pay and arm and a leg for them at the flower store. More details Monday!
Happy Weekend!
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