A new endeavor...

I was very lucky to get in on a Department of Defense program for military spouses that funds education in portable careers.  I just received my materials to begin the Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  It is a distance learning program, so I can do it at my own pace which seems ideal with an infant and many moves in our future.  I am giddy over the thought of challenging myself to learn more about something that I am passionate about.  I have to do several projects for the program so I hope to post some of them here.

Here goes nothing!

Sneak Peek...

I am still trying to figure out the best way to put the Wipe On Poly on the desk, but I am so happy with how the color turned out.  We decided to move the desk down into our bedroom hoping that the desk will get more use than it did up on the third floor landing!

I will post more pics once it is complete!

Happy Valentine's Day...

I got to spend Valentine's Day weekend with my oldest friends.  We were so honored to have Meagan, Joy and Blair come visit.  Saturday, we went downtown, walked through the Faneuil Hall area, and then onto the North End.  We saw a woman literally rolling one precious pasta noodle at a time...we all agreed...it looked very therapeutic and even more delicious!  We ate dinner at Euno and all the food was incredibly rich and flavorful.  I especially loved the complimentary champagne that they brought us while we were waiting for our table!  Then, of course, onto Mike's Pastry for some dessert.  By the way, canoli's make a good breakfast.

On Valentine's Day, we had a girls' afternoon out.  We went to Tea at the Taj, shopping on Newbury, cocktails at the Cheer's bar, and then back to the house for a night of southern food.  Sean made some killer fried chicken for us....yum.

I can't tell you how many times throughout the weekend I counted my blessings that I have these amazing women in my life.  To be living so far apart for so long now, and to be able to come together and have so many laughs, to reminisce, to speak of the past, the present and the future, and to feel like we never skipped a beat - it really speaks to the meaning of true friendship.  Girls - thanks so much for coming to see us...can't wait until next time.  Love you all!

The stunning flowers at the TAJ...

Breathtaking (thanks for snapping this one, MC!)

Tea sandwiches...scrumptious.  I need to make these little cucumber sandwiches.  Okay, and the prosciutto ones as well!

Here comes the sweets! 

Love the detail on the bottom of the strawberries...

Won't you be mine?

macaroons are the prettiest.

Back at the casa, we had champagne cocktails...

I made Brenda's delicious chocolate raspberry cake with ganache frosting.  decadent.

Happy Valentine's Day...

I am on a personalized straw kick, can you tell?  Fun straws make champagne taste better...

Bakerella's cake pops...this time I made them with strawberry cake.  I filled the vase with sugar to help them stand up.

Square Root Baby

So, Sommer has an awesome theme for her son's first birthday party.  He was born on 3/3/09, making him a rare "square root baby"...which turned into the theme for the party....LOVE IT!  (I already told Sommer I may have to sort of copy her and do a Friday the 13th theme for SP.)

She made adorable invitations, and is planning a menu where everything fits the theme.  She is going to take lots of pics...I am hoping I have convinced her to either guest blog here or I will link to her inspiring new blog when she posts all the fun details!

I asked if I could help from afar and make a few little fun accessories for the throwdown!  So, I kept with the theme and color scheme of chocolate brown and black.  I created some straws, food picks, and food labels.  They were all so much fun to make...thanks for letting me help, Sommer!

The front of the 'party picks'...

 

The back of the party picks...

  

 The straws...

 

Don't you think things are even more exciting when they come in cute packages?  I whipped these up, just for fun...

Simple tent cards to place near the food, if she wants them...

I was so happy to have the little glassine bags on hand that just happened to work for these!

Happy early birthday to the Square Root Baby!

Wish I had an eye for color...

I hope that I can get better at picking colors one day.  I am horrible, TERRIBLE, at picking colors.  It usually takes Sean and I about four tries to get a color right.  So, I need help.

I got this desk last year when we moved here on craigslist.  It was a steal, and I think it could be adorable with a little TLC.  It is currently sitting on our 3rd floor landing in a space that isn't very usable.  The ceiling is only 6 feet tall, so at 5'11", it feels a little claustrophobic.  Nonetheless, we will only be here for another 3.5 months (WOW...I can't believe we are leaving that soon!), and I am thinking that any projects I can get done now, I should.

I wish I was more of a risk taker when it comes to stuff like this.  I would love to paint the desk a bold red...I was inspired by this piece...by the way, Jenny's blog is my latest favorite.  She is incredibly talented, resourceful and tasteful.

As much as I love the piece above, I think I would go for something a little deeper...this is the red that I picked out today at Home Depot (Glidden Red Delicious)

The more conservative part of me says to stick with a color that could go with almost everything...a white or a cream.  For inspiration, I love this desk.  There is some detail work on mine that I could paint a contrasting color, but I don't think mine would look as good as this one.

And, wouldn't it be fun with a modern chair?  I have my eye on this one from craigslist:

Or maybe a chair from West Elm...or...maybe I should paint the desk yellow and get this gray striped chair!?

What to do, what to do? Suggestions anyone??

My favorite Ikea gadget

What is better than a fun coffee?  We have drastically cut back on going out to grab a coffee.  I love to stop and get a coffee but it kills me when we get two drinks at Starbucks, and I could have bought two pounds of coffee for the same price.  Thus, enter the Ikea frother.  For only a $1.99, it really brings a little bit of 'special' to my morning :)

I first heat up my milk and raw sugar...

Then froth...

 

Keep frothing!

  

Add hot coffee...

 mmmm...frothy goodness...

Okay, normally, our hearts look better than this, but apparently, I am not very good at taking pics and drawing with chocolate at the same time!

 

YUM.

My first Valentine for Sean...

Admittedly, my husband and I can get very 'lost' in the internet.  He is a news junkie (I wish I could say I was), and I am a blog junkie.  I learn stuff...just different stuff, right? :)

We have been joking that we need to divorce our macs at night so that we can hang out with each other, instead of zoning out with our computers.

Thus, Sean's 2010 Valentine...(I had printed it and forgot to snatch it off the printer, so he foiled my valentine when he found it this morning!)  Back to the drawing board...

I Do...

We got some fantastic news this weekend.  My brother proposed, and Jamie said YES!  We couldn't be more thrilled for them.  Here's to wishing them a fun engagement and a fabulous forever.  Cheers!

p.s. Ry & Jamie - keep an eye out for this package!

More spottings...

Okay, so it looks like those chairs I am obsessing over are called porter chairs...

The owner of Pieces, Lee Kleinhelter, has not only a porter chair, but also a fiddle leaf fig in her home!  GORGEOUS!

See the tour here...

from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle

"It's all up here"

Years ago, I gave my dad a picture of a Pottery Barn bed, and said, "Dad, don't you think you can make this for me?"  In the next few years following that exchange, I would ask, "Hey Dad, how is that bed coming along?"  The response would be (while pointing to his head)..."It's all up here, Meghan.  It's all up here."  One day, the bed was finally ready, and let me tell you, it was gorgeous.  He did a fantastic job.

Once I knew Paddy was coming, I asked my dad if he thought he could whip up a kiddo-sized coat rack and one of those wooden changing table toppers.  Needless to say, he didn't disappoint!   Again, the quality of his work is amazing.  Sean Patrick is lucky to have such a handy grandpa.  I hope my dad will be able to pass some of his knowledge along to our little man.   I feel so blessed to have such a talented Dad...and one who is willing to go along with my ideas!