so i hosted a dinner party last night for eight of my friends and i must brag about how fantastic everything turned out! josh made his version of home made asian chicken dumplings with spicy mustard sauce (i'm so lucky the boy can cook!) and his asian slaw. i made a GIANT beet salad w/asian citrus dressing, grilled flatbread w/summer veggies & goat cheese and a blueberry cheesecake for dessert! usually, something goes terribly wrong in the kitchen when we have people over, but not this time! mostly, i'm thankful for my super fun friends and especially glad they all ventured out to the country for a perfect night filled with laughs, cocktails and great food. what's better than that?
i don't have pictures of the party as of yet (but i do seem to remember the flashes of cameras hurting my eyes during the evening...) so i found a good assortment of flickr tablesettings for your viewing pleasure. this first one isn't my kitchen, but it's a good replication of what my kitchen DID look like once everyone left! no worries, it was all worth it.....
Thursday, August 6, 2009
summer dinner party
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
i know this isn't a fashion blog, but.......
it's been a while since my last post (hi, momma!!!) but i can't pass up an opportunity to blog about my favorite bachelorette, jillian and her jen approved pick, ed! yes, i know i should be too embarrased to admit i actually watch the bachelorette, but i can't help myself. i liked ed from the beginning and i was so happy jillian picked him. the episode before last was a little bit of a kick in the pants...the one where ed busts out his green, douchey girl shorts but as far as i'm concerned, he redeemed himself when he picked out that gorgeous engagement ring! and i don't want to talk too much about the bachelorette, but i know half the reason i tuned in every week was to see what jillian was wearing! okay, i was obsessed. i wish i was shorter and svelter and had access to that closet of hers! every week i was amazed at how great she looked and wished i could get my hands on those dresses, skirts, shorts and tops! they could take the boys OUT of the show and just call it, clothes you know you want. right?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
spring sprang but i could do without the rain....
spring has finally sprung here on the mountain and although i couldn't be happier, i'd quite prefer it to quit raining so much! the pool opened over the weekend and we got two days of sun but ever since, it's just been raining like crazy! we've been doing all kinds of new projects around the house, well i say WE but that usually means josh, my husband and his helpers! i walked around and snapped some fresh photos of the gardens and newly started projects...
Saturday, May 9, 2009
ahhhh, pedestal tables
so i'm loving pedestal tables right now and looking all over the place for my perfect one! i want it for my living room, complete with chairs, a lamp and a stack of good design books-the perfect place to sit and read! okay, look at pictures...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
missing domino...again!
evey once in a while i get nostalgic about domino magazine. it's true i do miss it every month! so i just get my thrill by diggin up old domino photos...i wish i could be sitting right there under that umbrella while i read the latest (non-exsistant) issue....
Monday, April 6, 2009
in my dreams...
we had our first NICE day, yesterday. it was a very warm 76 degrees and the sun on my face reminded me how much i want a pool! we have always planned on putting one in, but only lately have we begun to think about what we really want in a pool. i'll just keep looking for ideas and daydreaming about my pool house...especially on days like today when it's raining.
boarded up pool house
oh, if i could only get my hands on this one...imagine how a little vision and a lot of sweat could really make this look amazing! i'm thinking, wisteria growing on the columns, big sliding barn doors & some fabulous lounge chairs...
Monday, March 30, 2009
dogs in the garden...
i thought i would give some love to dogs in the garden this morning. we lost our beloved puck this past weekend and being in the garden was his (and mine) favorite place to be. my husband and i brought puck home when i was 19!!!! and josh was 24!!!!! we had JUST moved in together and he definitely completed our little family. we always called him the best dog ever because we never really had to even train him, he just always did the right things. he was truly the best friend we could have asked for and it feels like a piece of me is missing now. it will definitely be hard to get out there and garden this spring, without him following me all around the yard. we are fortunate to have our other (SIX!) babies to help us heal. and even more fortunate that we had the opportunity to be with puck for 13 long, wonderful years! so, hug and kiss your dog today and remember puck...
132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2008 Madison Square Garden NYC, originally uploaded by MikeRicePhoto.com.
Monday, March 23, 2009
new project...
i've always wanted to paint a runner on our stairs. i LOVE the way it looks, but i've lacked faith in my painting skills. i bit the bullet yesterday, while shopping at lowe's and bought the big roll of blue painters tape. i figure now is as good a time as any to start. i love this picture (thank you, flickr)..only difference is my stairs and railings are all gray so i'm going with a white middle. i think. wish me luck!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
soon...
well, my birthday is fast approaching and i'm hoping the weather will cooperate with my plans to have a nice outdoor dinner! being so early in the spring, it's up in the air until a few days before but i'm going to keep my fingers crossed for warm air and sunshine! this is my idea of a perfect outdoor dinner party....
Sunday, March 15, 2009
random rooms i heart...more flickr goodies
it's a yuck, rainy sunday and i'm daydreaming about how to change up the rooms in my house again. i found myself searching for inspiration at flickr and here's what i've come up with so far...
Modern mix L.A. dining room: Stained tile floors + shell chandelier, originally uploaded by xJavierx.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
back to school?
so i'm contemplating going back to school. i never finished simply because i never really knew what i wanted to be when i grew up! i still don't really, but i have always wanted to finish. of course, my dream job would be interior design but i've always been interested in psychology and that seems to be the way i'm going lately...in the meantime, the interior designer in me is happy to daydream about having the perfect desk area...
