welcomed

Did you know that the pineapple is a symbol of a welcoming home? Well it apparently stems from stories of Christopher Columbus and colonial Americans. The fruit was rare so using it in the home was a special treat for visitors. Now it is often seen on door knockers, house numbers, anywhere to keep the tradition alive. Sadly, I have heard that this is all a myth and the idea of it becoming a symbol of hospitality didn't come about until the 20th century. Either way, it's a nice story.

These vintage brass pineapple book ends from Estate Eclectic would be most welcome on any shelf of mine. Aren't they sweet? I think I would have to put some of my favorite old books between them.

welcomed

Did you know that the pineapple is a symbol of a welcoming home? Well it apparently stems from stories of Christopher Columbus and colonial Americans. The fruit was rare so using it in the home was a special treat for visitors. Now it is often seen on door knockers, house numbers, anywhere to keep the tradition alive. Sadly, I have heard that this is all a myth and the idea of it becoming a symbol of hospitality didn't come about until the 20th century. Either way, it's a nice story.

These vintage brass pineapple book ends from Estate Eclectic would be most welcome on any shelf of mine. Aren't they sweet? I think I would have to put some of my favorite old books between them.

deeper roots

 {photo}

Storms make trees take deeper roots.

Dolly Parton

All my love, thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by Irene this weekend, particularly those in my sweet hometown in New York as well as my family on the Island.

deeper roots

 {photo}

Storms make trees take deeper roots.

Dolly Parton

All my love, thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by Irene this weekend, particularly those in my sweet hometown in New York as well as my family on the Island.

simplify

I think today I will skip sharing with you what makes me merry and instead we can just have a chat. J is out of town again this weekend {he has been gone every weekend in August!} but I'm looking forward to it a little bit. I hope to do a lot of cleaning, a bit of creating, and hopefully some playing too.

Now that the summer is over {I know it isn't quite over, but as J is going back to school on Monday, to me, it feels like it is over!} I need to regroup and reorganize my life. I gave myself this week off. I decided that after such a hectic summer I was going to take the week in strides, not making many plans and just enjoying it. Mission accomplished.

{photo}

But now, it is back to the gym, back to the diet, back to school, back to a schedule, back to an ordered life. J use to try to teach me about order when we were in college {such a philosopher} and I kind of got it, but now that I'm a grown-up older, I really get it. Without having a structure to my day, I'm a hopeless mess. I love schedules and to-do lists and I really must use them more often. Sadly, pairing a tax accountant's schedule with a grad student's schedule is a bit of a disaster. But we can usually make it work.

{photo}

So this weekend I'm on a mission. I need to find a good way to keep a calendar on hand at all times. Also, a rolling to-do list is a must. I also need something to jot down ideas, sketches and thoughts on me most of the time. I do some crazy thinking on the bus sometimes and it really needs to be documented. I also need a good list of recipes to keep on the fridge {and the ingredients IN the fridge!}

Oh so many things... please any tips, advice, kind words and encouragement are most welcome!



PS - The things that are making me merry:  this new coffee cuff from Oh Sweet Joy!, having people to talk to at work again {over the summer I was in my own little corner}, babies and babies galore {5 in 4 weeks!}, and beautiful beautiful late August weather.

simplify

I think today I will skip sharing with you what makes me merry and instead we can just have a chat. J is out of town again this weekend {he has been gone every weekend in August!} but I'm looking forward to it a little bit. I hope to do a lot of cleaning, a bit of creating, and hopefully some playing too.

Now that the summer is over {I know it isn't quite over, but as J is going back to school on Monday, to me, it feels like it is over!} I need to regroup and reorganize my life. I gave myself this week off. I decided that after such a hectic summer I was going to take the week in strides, not making many plans and just enjoying it. Mission accomplished.

{photo}

But now, it is back to the gym, back to the diet, back to school, back to a schedule, back to an ordered life. J use to try to teach me about order when we were in college {such a philosopher} and I kind of got it, but now that I'm a grown-up older, I really get it. Without having a structure to my day, I'm a hopeless mess. I love schedules and to-do lists and I really must use them more often. Sadly, pairing a tax accountant's schedule with a grad student's schedule is a bit of a disaster. But we can usually make it work.

{photo}

So this weekend I'm on a mission. I need to find a good way to keep a calendar on hand at all times. Also, a rolling to-do list is a must. I also need something to jot down ideas, sketches and thoughts on me most of the time. I do some crazy thinking on the bus sometimes and it really needs to be documented. I also need a good list of recipes to keep on the fridge {and the ingredients IN the fridge!}

Oh so many things... please any tips, advice, kind words and encouragement are most welcome!



PS - The things that are making me merry:  this new coffee cuff from Oh Sweet Joy!, having people to talk to at work again {over the summer I was in my own little corner}, babies and babies galore {5 in 4 weeks!}, and beautiful beautiful late August weather.

100 shapes

How wonderful is this little book? I've told you before that I have very little artistic ability, so having a stockpile of stencils would be oh-so-very useful! Could you imagine all of the little projects that can be done now that you can draw things?!?

Some may call it cheating, I call it sheer genius. You can find the 100 Shapes Book over at Uncommon Goods, a store that has occupied so much of my time as of late.  What shape would you like to see in the book? I'm hoping there's a bicycle.

100 shapes

How wonderful is this little book? I've told you before that I have very little artistic ability, so having a stockpile of stencils would be oh-so-very useful! Could you imagine all of the little projects that can be done now that you can draw things?!?

Some may call it cheating, I call it sheer genius. You can find the 100 Shapes Book over at Uncommon Goods, a store that has occupied so much of my time as of late.  What shape would you like to see in the book? I'm hoping there's a bicycle.

end of summer

As summer draws to a close, I've caught myself daydreaming about lazy days on the beach, soaking up every last ounce of sunshine, avoiding goodbyes...

{photo}

Fall, which we all know I love so dearly, is always a bittersweet welcome. Knowing that right behind it is a long cold winter, makes summer feel far too fleeting. It makes you want to capture it in a jar and so you can pull it out in the middle of January.

{photo}

How do you feel about the end of the summer? Are you excited to see it go? Already counting the days until it comes back? I think I'm a little bit of both right now.

end of summer

As summer draws to a close, I've caught myself daydreaming about lazy days on the beach, soaking up every last ounce of sunshine, avoiding goodbyes...

{photo}

Fall, which we all know I love so dearly, is always a bittersweet welcome. Knowing that right behind it is a long cold winter, makes summer feel far too fleeting. It makes you want to capture it in a jar and so you can pull it out in the middle of January.

{photo}

How do you feel about the end of the summer? Are you excited to see it go? Already counting the days until it comes back? I think I'm a little bit of both right now.

imagination

{photo}

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein 

PS - I do not have the original source of this adorable photo. If you know it please let me know!

imagination

{photo}

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein 

PS - I do not have the original source of this adorable photo. If you know it please let me know!

surprise proposal

How adorable is this proposal idea? Can you imagine the planning? How did they keep the signs dry?

Who cares. That girl was probably the happiest girl at Disney when she saw the pic. Could you imagine witnessing that?!? Did any of you have epic proposals? My proposal story is just perfect for the two of us {perhaps I will share the story with y'all sometime!}, but its always fun to see these big elaborate epic proposals. Goodness... I can not get over her face!

surprise proposal

How adorable is this proposal idea? Can you imagine the planning? How did they keep the signs dry?

Who cares. That girl was probably the happiest girl at Disney when she saw the pic. Could you imagine witnessing that?!? Did any of you have epic proposals? My proposal story is just perfect for the two of us {perhaps I will share the story with y'all sometime!}, but its always fun to see these big elaborate epic proposals. Goodness... I can not get over her face!

special offer {eShakti}

Remember when I showed you the wonderful skirt I scored from eShakti? Well, here it is again for your viewing pleasure! I absolutely love this skirt. It is the most comfortable black skirt I own and it is a perfect length and fit.

eShakti is offering my readers a wonderful deal right now. The code:

BMK0811 

will get you $20 (yes I said $20) off your purchase anytime between now and September 15, 2011. So get to it!

By the way, I'm totally crushing on this, this, this and this at the moment. {hint hint hubs!}

Please note: This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be clubbed with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period. BUT you can use the code more than once, just not two codes in one order!

equestrian

Today my niece turns 16. Before you start thinking I'm old, I was only 9 when she was born. Granted, I still feel ancient when I think of my 16 year old niece beginning her junior year of high school in a few days. She is beautiful, amazingly smart and very talented. For as long as I can remember she has absolutely loved horses, so when she got riding lessons for her 10th birthday we knew she'd be hooked for a while. I don't think any of us realized how good she would be. This girl takes home more ribbons than I ever thought possible... and she does it in a way that blows those hoity-toity equestrian girls out of the water.

In honor of this cowgirl niece of mine, I bring you some great equestrian finds. Enjoy!

{get lucky horseshoe necklace}

{equestrian print pillow}

{letterpress note cards}

{horse show refinery tee}

I'm not going to lie, despite being a bit afraid of horses, I am really loving that horseshoe necklace!

special offer {eShakti}

Remember when I showed you the wonderful skirt I scored from eShakti? Well, here it is again for your viewing pleasure! I absolutely love this skirt. It is the most comfortable black skirt I own and it is a perfect length and fit.

eShakti is offering my readers a wonderful deal right now. The code:

BMK0811 

will get you $20 (yes I said $20) off your purchase anytime between now and September 15, 2011. So get to it!

By the way, I'm totally crushing on this, this, this and this at the moment. {hint hint hubs!}

Please note: This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be clubbed with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period. BUT you can use the code more than once, just not two codes in one order!

equestrian

Today my niece turns 16. Before you start thinking I'm old, I was only 9 when she was born. Granted, I still feel ancient when I think of my 16 year old niece beginning her junior year of high school in a few days. She is beautiful, amazingly smart and very talented. For as long as I can remember she has absolutely loved horses, so when she got riding lessons for her 10th birthday we knew she'd be hooked for a while. I don't think any of us realized how good she would be. This girl takes home more ribbons than I ever thought possible... and she does it in a way that blows those hoity-toity equestrian girls out of the water.

In honor of this cowgirl niece of mine, I bring you some great equestrian finds. Enjoy!

{get lucky horseshoe necklace}

{equestrian print pillow}

{letterpress note cards}

{horse show refinery tee}

I'm not going to lie, despite being a bit afraid of horses, I am really loving that horseshoe necklace!