ps - can't forget this one

One other thing that I've been swooning over - the magical and delectable Amy Atlas designs. Check out her website for a portfolio of past events that's absolutely amazing!

Return from the Land of Busy

The last two months have been a big change from warm, laid-back, outdoorsy summer days to structured weeks of mostly indoor, child-centric activities and obligations. A welcomed change at first, but it left little time for becoming inspired.

Here are a few things that have caught my eye and I actually remembered to post on the blog:

Restoration Hardware's Flatiron Table - I saw it yesterday at our local store and I think that it looks far better in person than in this photo. Loving the use of the recycled door! I'd love to set this rustic tabletop with my Vera Wang china.



Anthropologie's various wallpaper options - especially this one called Avian Apartment. Wallpaper is certainly making a comeback. Perhaps I should jump on this train?!



The decor and architecture of a somewhat new restaurant in my neck of the woods - Bastille and Bar. My first visit there was with the small fry, so obviously a return trip is necessary to sufficiently absorb the ambiance. Much of it inspired from century old train stations in Paris.


Clean and simple design of this lovely home via House of Turquoise



More to come as I embrace this colder, darker, more regimented season of the year.

Two favorite things

In the last week, I employed two of my favorite kitchen items:

First, the legendary Cupcake Courier that I purchased just prior to having my first child, knowing that this phase of life would require an easy and efficient way to transport muffins and cupcakes (and cakes for that matter)


Second, the inaugural use of my cupcake stand that my hubby gave me for my birthday. I can't believe that it took me this long to pull it out and fill up the tiers with frosting slathered cakes

*these cupcakes are coconut cake with coconut frosting & yellow cake with chocolate frosting, made for my daughter's first birthday a week ago. Instead of making a full two dozen so that I didn't have many tempting leftovers, I made small pink paper flowers to fill the empty spaces.

Dressing Room

Along with the squeaky floors mentioned in an earlier post, one of my other main complaints about my 1919 house happens to be the lack of closet space. They're non-existent. Thus the pile of clothing on the floor of my minuscule "master" bedroom.


I saw the above dressing room in the September 09 issue of Living, Etc and just fell in love with it. Imagine - to have an entire room to organize one's clothing!

Then I ran across another dressing room on Decorpad - what a fun and playful space! I'm dreaming of a day when it could be mine...even on a small scale...

The perfect home fragrance

This morning I found my nose wrinkling in disgust as I was surrounded by the typical, offensive smells that are so common when one has a 1 year old infant and a 3 year old toddler. Blah. Thinking about which smells transport me to my happy place, I thought that it'd be wonderful to somehow create a candle with the following scents:

Shoe leather,



a lovely perfume like my current favorite, Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb,

and add a dash of one of my favorite coffee blends, Kenya from Starbucks.


Serenity Now!

Wearing my art instead of framing it

A month or so ago I mentioned that I was eager to frame and hang a new print coming in from England with the motto "Keep Calm and Carry On". Well, as usual, I've procrastinated on the visit to Aaron Brothers, but in the meantime I've thoroughly enjoyed "wearing" the art with my nifty new purse that doubles as a diaper bag:

Now that the busy summer days of trips to the park, BBQs and other such time-consuming diversions are coming to a close, I should get my fall to-do list organized and completed.

Backyard Solution

In our neighborhood, I've noticed that many homes are now in a flurry of remodeling - whether an exterior paint job or raising the entire house to create a basement or garage, people are staying put in this economy (unless they get a steal on a cheap house).

At one time, possibly 1919, our back shed was once a garage...maybe a horse stable (just kidding). We use it for miscellaneous storage, but since it dominates our backyard, I'd love to convert it into something like this:

MetroSheds are amazing pre-fab kits that can be change one's backyard into an urban oasis of leisure and chicness.

The challenge would be whether it'd turn into a retreat for the male species or mine...