Wallpaper Elly

I think Sarah Palin needs this for her new baby's room. Available at Romp in several colors.

Balboa Island

Today we took little ride with Mom & Dad. I haven't spent much time on Balboa--the houses are beautiful. I especially enjoyed some of the landscaping...another fun shot from our day here.

I want to ride my Bicycle

Super excited about my new Electra Townie. Now the whole family is riding Electra Bikes!

Education for the Nation

Not quite sure how to VOTE this November? If public education means anything to you, check out the candidates' platforms on education. The two are completely different with hardly any overlap...it's very interesting! (Not that you want to base your entire vote on education, but this is good stuff to know...)

Obama
McCain

Small Fall

Check out these doll houses, and many other cool things from the current issue of Small Magazine.

K Active

Activeware with 37" inseams? It's about time! As a fellow six footer, I give Kerri Walsh a gold too! Check it out.

Eclectic Approach

A few weeks ago, I took this totally fun quiz about discovering your decorating style, found via How About Orange (Jessica is sharing her new fabric designs right now so you better click over for a peek). But, back to the quiz - you HAVE to take it! I know you will be equally enchanted.

And, those of you who have ever been to my house will know how accurate it really is after reading my diagnosis below... Eclectic approach? Mix and Match? Moi? Happy testing!

Margo Moritz Photography

Last week we went and saw this year's Pageant of the Masters performance in Laguna Beach. It was the first time for me to go to Festival of the Arts, and I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the photography of Margo Moritz and her "Getting Closer" portfolio. This photograph is of the wonderful M+J Trimmings in NYC--you should check out the rest, you might see someone/someplace you recognize!

Great Kitchens

Yesterday evening my cousin Heidi stopped by and we were talking about decorating and I remembered these...more here.

"If you don't believe in ghosts, you haven't been to a family reunion"

Our family reunion was amazing thanks to the generosity of many and a lot of hard work by my Mama and our cousin, Janet. The theme for the decor was vintage photographs and they decorated the tables with confetti and tags made from old family photos.

All the cousins got a packet containing a DVD of all the photos and slide show, an updated family address book and notes about our family history as the take away. Packages of tissue (also pictured) were given out before the slide show, and our cousin Brad emceed the evening in classic imitation of my Great Grandfather, Clyde. Everything was completely special and I'm still amazed by all the details and how perfect the evening was...

Family Reunion

Today we're off to our family reunion--I can't wait to see everyone. My mom has been scanning and archiving old photographs for months and is giving everyone a DVD of about 1400 old-to-new photographs, scans of her grandmother's paintings and other various ephemera.I got to help her with a slide show of pictures that we're showing at Friday evening's dinner. We created the presentation so that it looks like you're flipping through an old family album. Above is the album cover and below is a family tree for my Great Grandmother, Ophelia. The background is an old envelope that's addressed to her mother. In the actual presentation each photograph "appears" on the page, so you get to see the envelope by itself at first and it makes more sense...
The slide show is divided into chapters for each of Clyde and Ophelia's five children as well as other themes like Senior Pictures and Weddings. It's 40 minutes long, so I won't bore you with all the details, but wanted to show off the "chapter cover" for our family's section which is an old photo of my Grandfather.Speaking of family reunions, did you see these great t-shirts?

East, West...Home's Best!

(Image from the Hudson store website)

We had a wonderful time back East visiting friends in New Hampshire and spending a few days in Boston. The biggest highlight was being with our friends (isn't that always the case?!) We also enjoyed Boston's South End area, in particular a little "East meets West" store called Hudson, the South End Buttery Bakery & Cafe (for donut muffins) and a creative office complex on Waltham Street that we stumbled upon.

We had dinner on Monday evening with our California-friend Judy who happened to be in Boston for work--No. 9 Park was amazing, especially the prune-stuffed gnocchi dish with seared foie gras and vin santo glaze. I don't want to ever forget that taste! A few photos here.

Cuteness

I saw these on Etsy and HAD to get them for my adorable baby niece. I know it is tough to fathom, but little Aubrey is even cuter than these slippers! In the background is some Midwest Modern that will soon be magically transformed into Amy's new Birdie Sling pattern...

Catch Up - Travels

As you know, I've been lacking on the posts lately. Busy times these summer days! Here is a glimpse into how my summer has been flying by...

Mama and me @ Mother's Bistro in Portland

Strawberry Lake Brett's trout @ Strawberry Lake Paris? I wish! In Vegas over the 4th of July...

Pike Place Market in Seattle.

My first ever Salmon Berries... So yummy. I loved all the produce and flowers! Isn't summer wonderful?

Catch Up - Projects

Here is Brett holding baby Kambric (before he moved away from us... sniff). With my Aamie's help, this project magically evolved from 4.5" squares into a blankie!

New Pillows for the Couch (the front one is an Anthro find, its the other one you are supposed to oooh and ahhh over!)I've been making lots of aprons... This one is from Valori Wells's Life Style book - it is so easy and SO cute.