Day 926's confession

We're eleven days into the New Year; how are you doing on your resolutions? I admit, I'm off to a rocky start already! One thing I wanted to do in 2010 -- not so much a resolution, per se -- was learn more about and use my camera more.


I planned to join this group on Flickr, until I read the rules and discovered that it is a self-portrait every day, not just a photo (I'm not-so-interested in self-portraits). I have been taking photos, though not quite every single day (battling what felt like the flu didn't help).


And now I have discovered this version of the project, so I'm trying to jump back on the bandwagon.


Eventually I'll get everything into Flickr and organized, but I'm also going to share my photos here on Mondays as sort of a week-in-review.


I'm sure there will be plenty of shots of boring things like old books on a shelf, and more than plenty of a certain mischievous Border Collie-mix. Hope you don't mind.

Day 923's pretty

I'm Atlanta this morning and "snowed" in. Really, more like driveway's-too-slick-to-drive-up, so I'm working from my sweet friend's sofa with a stomach full of homemade waffles. Not a bad way to start the weekend at all.

Happy Weekend!

(last Tricia Foley photo of the week, promise.)

Day 921: back to normal

I was a little sad to take our Christmas decorations down, but I suppose it's nice to have the house back to normal. I picked up these pretty tulips for a birthday party for my mom (she and my dad and my dad's mom are all New Year's babies) and they are sitting one of the pewter julep cups my father-in-law gave me for Christmas. Can you tell he reads the blog?! Thanks, Ed!


I think I cooked breakfast almost every morning we were home. It's a nice treat, but not-so-great for the waistline.


I finally packed everything up on the second. I'll miss my ornaments while they're tucked safely away.


These are some of my favorite Christmas things.


This corner of the dining room looks kind of bare now, and I miss having this chair in the living room. But, it is nice to get back to normal I suppose. Which reminds me, I'd better get ready for work!

Happy Birthday, Wes!

Today is my dear husband's birthday! Unfortunately, he's traveling for work and I can't give him a birthday hug and kiss for the first time in four years. Luckily we celebrated early, and I'm sure he's proudly wearing his cool new birthday belt. Happy birthday, honey. You're a blessing to me everyday and I hope you're having a great day.

Day 920

In the fall, I attended an event at the Birmingham Museum of Art celebrating the 250th anniversary of Wedgwood and the BMA's recent acquisition of a very large collection of Wedgwood (it now holds the largest inventory outside the UK). The lecture was very informative and interesting, and the collection is absolutely stunning, if you're ever in town. All this to say, I also got my copy of Tricia Foley's At Home With Wedgwood and it is easily now my favorite inspirational book.


The book features the Wedgwood tablesettings of tastemakers from Charlotte Moss to Thomas O'Brien to Martha Stewart, and even Lord Wedgwood himself, but Tricia Foley's own collection of black basalt is my favorite.


Her Upper East Side apartment is set for a casual winter gathering featuring white flowers, a roaring fire, and her beautiful black basalt.


I really love Tricia's carefully edited style. Sometimes neutral spaces can be boring, but Tricia's illustrate that even a well-edited home can be warm and filled with the things you love. Personally, I don't have the discipline for such a strict palette, but I think it's lovely. Maybe one day.


And of course, I love black basalt. Wes surprised me with a little piece of black Jasperware for Christmas and I love it!


It has just enough modern sensibility (this one isn't mine, by the way).


But the classic white is pretty great, too.

Photos are by Jeff McNamara.

Fun Atlanta Event

If you will be in the Atlanta area this weekend, Eddie Ross and Larson-Juhl will be hosting a framing workshop and tea party on Saturday, January 9. He'll also be headed back to Scott's for a flew market shopping trip on Sunday. I did the shopping trip last year (see it here and here) and had a great time meeting Eddie and Jaithan and other bloggers from around the Southeast. The framing workshop is free for bloggers ($10 for the general public) and space is limited. If you're interested, e-mail Jaithan (jaithan@eddieross.com) to reserve your spot!

Day 919: inspiration for a new year

Can you even believe it's already 2010? I for one, cannot. Though I'm not sure how the year sneaked up on me, as I spent the last days of 2009 doing basically nothing (and it was wonderful!).


I do have a few personal and professional goals for the coming year, of course. Mostly, they involve the usual out with the bad and in with the good, but the goal that encompasses them all is to enjoy, daily. Enjoy. Enjoy my life, enjoy my family and friends, enjoy the home we've been blessed with, enjoy my job. To enjoy every day more than the last.


So one of the first things I'm going to do is enjoy my kitchen. I have admired so many in photographs, and it's high-time I enjoyed my own. It's a bit rough-looking at the moment, and this will be a small over-haul to tide us over until the big renovation, but I think it will make a difference.


In the interest of honesty, I actually started this little project something like 6 months ago, and the blue painter's tape still hangs from that first go-round. But, it's a new year, so I'm not dwelling on my past indiscretions!

Isn't this kitchen lovely? It's by Margot Austin and the photos are by Donna Griffith.

Day 912: Christmas snapshots

Our Christmas wasn't quite as exciting as this one, but it was lovely in its own right. Hope yours was, too!

Day 907: the Homies are back!

The Homies awards, hosted by Apartment Therapy, are back. From now until December 29, you can nominate your favorite blogs in five categories: Home Design, Home Tech, Kids at Home, Green Home, and Home Cooking. Voting on the top nominees will take place from December 30 to January 6, and the winners will be announced on January 7.

I hope you'll take the time to nominate and vote for your favorite bloggers, and it's okay if it's not me, haha.

Day 906's Christmas Essential: Festive Tunes

I love Christmas music. Yes, I am a little sick of the line-up on the local radio station (at least they seem to have banned the Hippo song), but there is still lots of good stuff out there. And it helps me get in the Christmas mood. We grew up listening to the classics on a record player -- Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and yes, Gene Autrey, the singing cowboy.

This year I've been playing Chris Tomlin's album Glory in the Highest pretty much on repeat. I love worship music and it is a great daily reminder of why Christmas is so special.


This is my favorite holiday album, ever. I've been listening to it for so long it's about time to get a new one (or I could just put it on my iPod!). I confess that I love Jewel (early Jewel mostly), but even if you don't, you will like this. Beware, there is yodeling. Wes hates it, but I love it! Where else can you hear yodeling? Her version of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is my all-time favorite. What are you listening to this year?