georgetown

All we did on the Florida vacation was swim, sit, eat, and repeat x 1082097. It was wonderful and just what we needed. But on the 21 hour drive home we thought we should go on an adventure... you know, to break things up a bit. Well, adding about 3 hours onto our trip for a Georgetown Cupcake(s --let's be honest) was beyond worth it. They were unbelievable and plans have already been discussed for the next trip back to Georgetown... to get more cupcakes.

I've watched DC Cupcakes on TLC since it started -- the little shop (and the old one around the corner) was just as charming as we imagined. It was our first trip to Georgetown and it was amazing how many cool things are squeezed into a little area. Definitely worth a few more day trips.

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Red Velvet, Chocolate Ganache

Toffee (best one), Red Velvet

And guess what?! CB2 was right down the street from Georgetown Cupcakes! We have been dreaming (dorks) of actually going to a CB2 store (instead of stalking their sight). Pretty much heaven.

And sang all the way home... while trying to eat cupcakes on I-95...

summer: naples, fl

And this is all we did. The entire trip.

summer: party favors

What a great weekend! Speaking of enjoying summer...

These are some favors we made for a anniversary party. I feel like they would work for any summer get-together.

Baker's twine and parcel tags make anything look sweet... I'm definitely using them for holiday gifts this year.

summer

Happy weekend!

Summer is fun and all... but I'm so glad fall is right around the corner. I've been wishing for crisp weather... raking leaves... trips to the orchard... hot apple cider... don't even get me started on halloween.

But here's to enjoying the last bit of summer... really... in what other season is it okay to use these cute straws? Maybe spring...

city prints

My cousin Ashley is moving to New York City. She came to visit this past weekend and I tried to convince her that I had seen the perfect NYC prints for her apartment...

The colors in this poster are amazing. I'm holding out for a Philadelphia print... any day now... I'm sure...

Print from These Are Things.

A little less modern and a little more cute.

Photo from Chez Larsson and print from Three Potato Four.

dining room: frame wall

Working on the frame wall.

You can get this amazing print from Nicole at Making it Lovely.

dinner: borscht

Even before I was a vegetarian, I had an unhealthy obsession with vegetables. Copious amounts of vegetables. In fact, I would choose sautéed zucchini over any dessert, any day. My most favorite food is cauliflower.

I'm also obsessed with beets. Beet soup? Yes please.

This Borscht recipe is from a beautiful food blog called Honest Fare. Also, check out this Beet Cake!

living room shelves: done for now

After a year, it finally seems like the living room shelves are in good shape.

I'm obsessed with this white storage bin. It's so pretty! Right now I'm keeping my current project in it. Nicole keeps toys in it.

The trip jars are still in progress -- just trying to track down the things we set aside from trips.

Hey, Wayne.

This tray was my Mom's when she was little. And she gave it to me when I was little.

He's coming out with a new book!

console

I'm always losing my keys (and ear plugs and ipod-arm-holder and chapstick) ... so I've been learning that corralling is the way to go. This little white bowl ($2 Goodwill) has changed my life. I walk in the door and throw everything I use daily into it.

See the stairs/shoe molding? We'll get to it... at some point...

hallway inspiration

Our 2nd floor is looking... ahem... pretty bad. The hallway is drywall but super textured so I'm going to sand it down to get the major grooves out. I really think I can make it look good. We'll see.

Here's my ideas in a nutshell. I was thinking of putting a chair rail molding -- this wallpaper on the bottom and a white/cream paint color on top. This may be the perfect hallway light.

cute packaging

Trader Joes gets bonus points for products that look as good as they taste.

Okay... I put the straw with it.

toilet paper roll art: finally done

*project from Chezerbey

TOO SMALL:

Better?

dinner: summer pasta

This pasta is so good. And really easy to make.

Saute zucchini, 2 jalapeno peppers, and lots of garlic in 3-ish tbs of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Once zucchini is cooked, add lime juice (2 large limes), 3/4 c parsley, 1/2 c mint, 1/4 c basil. Add pasta and 3 tbs of olive oil. Lastly, add a good sprinkling of cheese (any parm, pecorino, or locatelli) and some chopped walnuts (toasted). **reserve some of the pasta cooking water just in case you need it at the end (I only needed about 1/4 cup). Enjoy!

favorite etsy shops

It's no secret that Etsy is amazing. I've realized that I could spend the same or less on a gift from Etsy as I would a gift from a large chain store. It just takes a bit more planning.

Here are a few of my favorite Etsy shops:

1. how about orange

This is by far my favorite Etsy shop. And I have never actually bought anything from it! Jessica tracks amazing vintage finds (and orange too!). By the time you see a new item, it's usually sold. It's just fun to look.

2. the bakers confections

Here are a few things I ordered from this shop. For the same price you would spend on ribbon and tags in a chain store you can buy beautiful baker's twine and parcel tags. There are also great baking packaging supplies here -- perfect for holiday gifts.

3. mooza

Ahh mooza. You are a genius.

My parents got us this bathroom sign for Christmas. Isn't it the coolest thing ever!? We are going to put it on the door for our downstairs 1/2 bath.

4. cozy blue

Josh and I were never really into getting gifts for each other -- during the holidays or birthdays. We'd much rather just do something fun together. On Christmas we will usually do a few small things, but they have to be meaningful. Obviously this pillow was perfect.

Cozy Blue has so many beautiful and meaningful things... I love the "family tree" (check it out in the shop).

Happy shopping!

gimme!

We first discovered gimme! coffee during a trip to Ithaca to see The Flaming Lips. We stopped at The Carriage House, a little breakfast place in town, on our way home.

When I got my cup of coffee and took a sip, I realized it was the most amazing cup of coffee I have ever tasted. We asked the staff what their secret was: gimme! coffee. Our lives would never be the same.

Fast forward a few months and we took our parents to the same Cafe. They felt exactly the same... it must be a magical bean! And on their recent trip to Ithaca they brought us some back...

It's so easy to order online! You can also read there about their amazing company.

in-the-works

It's been a super busy week for Josh as he's trying to finish up paperwork so he can move into his new classroom in September. We are so glad it's Friday.

Remember this toilet roll guy? He looks pretty good in this shot. Especially with those fancy yellow pieces.

Wah Wah. He got swallowed up by this huge white wall.

The solution? Make him bigger! Now I'm just waiting on more rolls (that means you, mom and dad!). And of course I had to put this together on the middle of the living room floor...

We've been collecting these Ribba Frames for the dining room. Now that we have a few they're going up on the wall. Just need to find a good formation... but there's not much pressure since we will be adding many more.

Happy Friday!

dinner: succotash soup

Despite lots of chopping veggies and way-too-hot weather, this Succotash soup was really good. It can also be served cold.

Topped with Queso Blanco and blue tortilla chips.

The original recipe was from Rachael Ray (the magazine... recipe isn't online yet) but we pretty much just used whatever veggies were on the counter... saute 1 medium eggplant, 3 ears of corn (corn chopped off), 1 red onion, 1 red bell pepper, 2 jalapeno peppers, lots of garlic, 6 tomatoes (peeled), cumin, ancho chili powder. Mix in veggie broth until you get to the desired consistency. Throw in a big splash of lime juice, 1 can of black beans (rinsed), and parsley (cilantro is even better if you have it). Salt and pepper to taste.

coasters by mom

My Mom sewed these coasters from vintage-y fabric. I have so many memories of my mom at her sewing machine. There is something so comforting about her little baskets of supplies and even the sound of the pedal. She used to make our clothes and still makes pretty much anything. She has such an eye!

These two are my favorite:

Thank you, Mom!