Best Wishes to Dearest Jen!

My dear friend Jen is leaving this Friday to Maui, to get married to her one and only.  If anyone deserves to have the best trip, the best wedding, and best memories one could hold- it's Jennifer.

To Jen  (who I'll always continue to title "Dearest"), you'll be a stunning Bride, and gorgeous Wife, and always an amazing friend.  Hugs far across the Pacific to you and C  :)

One of my fave classic songs, for a stand up, classic gal. 

Summer 'Round the House

I'm well overdue for a much needed day of relaxation of doing nothing- laying in the sun, catching up on reading, then cooling off with coconut lotion in comfy clothes while perusing mags and eating frozen yogurt.  Sounds like a good holiday weekend to me! 

Summer Essentials:

Seashells all around (they make me happy)

Scott Weiland's new book- can't wait to read it!  Many of you do not know my STP obsessions, dates back to the 5th grade, no joke!

Lavender filled pitcher.  Puuuurdy.

Hope your Summer's off to a bang!

Happy Friday!

Have a Happy Friday!

photo via Hey Gorgeous

What Were Up To

So, more projects, more photos, and more things you'll be waiting to see "completed photos of."  Okay, okay, I will really try to better with the 'after photos'.  Not that I'm a tease, but seriously I'm a bit unhappy with my camera lately.  It's old school.  Bless D's heart for dropping big bucks on it years ago, but we both agree it's time for a camera upgrade.  I want to be able to take gorgeous photos, maybe even take some classes on how to use the new said camera.  Guess I better get a new camera first.  I kinda have been blog stalking photographer's blogs to see if they spill the beans on what type of camera they use.  Not that I need a fancy-schmancy camera, but I do want to invest in a relatively great one.  Anyone who's got any recommendations, I'm all ears (or eyes to read what you've got to throw out there)!

Anyway......here's what we've been working on.......

Painting frames for my 'show table' (that's another post), and for use in my studio office

Having a husband who is willing to spray paint frames on an annoyingly windy day = a grateful wife

Scraping lobster baskets to line with canvas, for storage use underneath our coffee table

Preparing fabrics for something exciting!

Keeping Busy!

Noting Lovely Things

Do you save inspiration photos?  Do you rip out pages of magazines of things you like, design ideas, recipes?  Do you have stacks of those pages that are waiting to be organized?  Do you save favorite items weekly in your Etsy "faves"?  Do you save photos you love while blog browsing (sometimes forgetting to jot down the source of where you found it)? 

I'm guilty of all of the above, and D would be the first to call me out about my magazine stacks.  I've slowly improved, not allowing them to build up so much before scanning through them.  I can't help myself with the inspiration- whether it's home design, holiday decor, recipes, baby/children decor, entertaining ideas, I save them all.  Perhaps I feel that if one day I happen to win the lottery (hey, who knows), then I'll be all set as far as what's possible.  And if not, then at least I'd have ideas to admire and contemplate what could be achieved on a budget.  Either way, I enjoy collecting.  What do you save?

Here are some recent finds:

via the career scrapper

via 6th street design school

via CB2

Ride

Today is National Skateboard Day- Rock it!

Happy Friday!

Thank goodness it's Friday.  I'll be up late finishing Etsy orders tonight in order to mail out on Sat., then comes time with HubbyD, a drive up the coast, a bit of window shopping, and who knows what else.  I like it that way.

Have a lovely weekend!

Stoked for Summer

I just purchased a lovely striped fabric for a little special something of a project.  I'm working with a FABULOUS Etsy seller to design a fun summer accessory.......................(rubbing my hands together in excitement).  Stay tuned within the next month to see the results!

I do apologize to those who have been waiting to see the hutch reveal!  D and I still need to add the hardware and we've decided against adding the glass doors since we favor the open feel of it, therefore that left some patch work and touch up paint to be tended to.  Soon enough we'll get it complete and I'll share- believe me you may get an overload of photos!

Also, the infamous chair has been completed for about a month now.  I'm also working on an office/studio overhaul and once that is complete, a much more appealing photo will emerge of just how lovely our chair turned out.  For now, here's a sneak peak:

Yes, we have one of our wedding photos as a screen saver (don't judge)

and

yes, those are uncontrollable, runaway cords that need to be addressed in the new studio design!

Neck Wrap- LOVE!

Loving this:

via Bath Style

Revived Tresses

The roots are revived!  Sorry for the repost (for those of you who have already seen the new hair pic on FB), but I feel like my life has been revived.   Isn't it amazing when you get a fresh hair trim and color?  I have a slight inclination that my Husband knew this, which is why he twisted my arm to make a hair appointment stat!  Feeling fresh, I can now begin my summer with a kick!

please excuse the cell phone pic

I still have gnarly eyebrows and nose hairs to tend to, but at least one "to do" has been taken care of.

Moving- Slowly

I'm moving slowly this morning.  This week is nuts with Etsy orders.  Went to bed just before 1AM, alarm went off at 5AM and I was not ready for the day.

Here's what life has been like lately:

Eyebrows are freakish, and although I remind myself to call everyday for an apt., it doesn't happen.

I did manage to squeeze in a movie with Hubby D last weekend- ahhhhhhhhh, the life of doing nothing for 2 hours, a treat which doesn't happen very often!

Have a gnarly bruise on my leg, actually 2, and don't know how they appeared.

Have been back on a running-workout schedule with D, which although is tiring, has felt extremely good and I know my body needs it.

I'm still running on Starbucks on a daily basis, haven't been able to kick that habit.

Well overdue for a hair apt.- but what's new?

D "allowed" me to buy 2 new dresses, and although they were Target finds, LOVE THEM!

I'm sure there's much more going on, but I'm too tired to think what more to share.  Hope everyone is having a great week- I have some major blog catching up to do!

A Busy June.........Already

Again, my blogging schedule has been a bit spared.  Busy with projects and Etsy, but soon enough these home projects will be all completed.  Just sharing a few photos showing what I've been up to:

Project Hutch.....almost done!  I couldn't wait to accessorize the shelves.

Working on Etsy.......in a messy office

(which is also getting a makeover)

Designing fun summer banners:

Fun news- Beach House in the City is hosting a giveaway for a custom banner designed by yours truly- ME!  Yay, I'm so excited!  Can't wait to see who I get to design for and what type of banner they choose!  Be sure to make your way over to Natalie's blog and enter.

An Awesome Blog Recommendation

Hello all!  A typical busy week again (this wedding season has made for busy Etsy-working days)!  Hope everyone is well.  Again, I need to catch up on all your blogs!

I newly found blog has really got me hooked, thanks to the lovely Tami for introducing me to it.  Natalie is the talent behind  Beach House in the City, an amazing blog, documenting DIY projects, home decor, and much more!  It's right up my alley in terms of style and I believe you all would really appreciate the step-by-step instructions and photos she offers up in her DIY posts.  Check it out here.  And a little FYI (she'll be hosting another giveaway once she reaches 150 followers)!

Natalie is also a wedding photographer, you better bet she takes amazing photos, another sweet treat of her blog.  Gotta love gorgeous photos (I admit, I'm a tad jealous b/c my camera is borderline ancient and I've been hoping for a new one to take pretty shots).  Someday.

To check out a freaking sweet DIY rug, read here (I may have to try this one)

all photos via Beach House in the City