purple closet

We're converting one of our bedrooms into a library. We're then converting said bedroom's closet into a study (where the computer, office supplies, stationary, etc lives). I love that we can just close the closet doors when we don't need to be on the computer - out of sight, out of mind. Which really is a wonderful thing because I am too distracted by technology.

Because of my flair for the dramatic, we're painting the closet deep purple.... Lavender Suede, to be precise (doesn't that sound perfect?). And my dear, sweet sister Marge is helping me paint. She is the best!

The color is much more rich and dark in person. We're only one coat in and already I can see places where the paint is showing true to color. 

Paint makes me so happy.

B

kitchen decoration

I'm getting awfully excited about our library (post with pictures to come), but today I'm thinking about the kitchen.

Because our cupboard space is somewhat limited, I've had to be creative with storage solutions. And I want my kitchen to look fancy pants too, as I expect to spend more and more time there as the years progress. So space saving and darling - is that too much to ask?

I've taken a leaf out of Smitten Kitchen's book and put all of my spices on display. The glass jars are a perfect fit on the super cheap ribba shelf. A few rows of spice shelves saves me a ton of cupboard space. And it looks really nice too.

I'm also growing fresh herbs. See?

I realize my dill in particular is looking a little sad, but that's mostly because I accidentally squished him :(

There's still a lot of empty wall space, so I'm trying to decide what else to put up. I have so many ideas for the rest of the house – the kitchen’s been overlooked. There are these 2 etsy posters I’ve had my eye on:

but I can't make up my mind....

I guess I'll go poke around pinterest for more ideas :)

B

disgusting day

Today's forecast has a high of 60 F. Cloudy. Chance of rain. 'Unseasonably cool' the weather report says.

I'd be in a better mood if today were only a fluke. But it's not, because we live in Chicagoland. It's only downhill from here - a straight nosedive into 6 months of winter. Grey slushy snow, fingers that never warm up, cloudy skies, icy sidewalks....Grrr I might just move to Australia.

So in an attempt to put a positive spin on this situation, I'm wearing my favorite corduroy pants (in stable brown). And I'm planning a fabulous menu: Roasted Garlic Soup with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. Think 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme, a splash of heavy cream and a touch of fresh lemon.

Give garlic a try. How could anything this lovely not be incredibly delish?

Beautiful potatoes

We'll cozy ourselves away and feast. We'll pull out the quilts and invite the cats to cuddle. And we'll rest in the quiet that comes with early sundowns.

Perhaps I shall survive the cold.

B

my new 'Type A' personality

We're so thankful for our new house. It's been officially ours for 3 months now, and the longer we stay the more we love it.

I'd be posting pictures all over the place if we weren't so far behind in getting everything put together. We are notorious procrastinators, especially when it comes to cleaning and organizing.

Which is why I'm on a mission to become OCD about all things clean and organized. I realize that this is a huge change (for the both of us), but I'm really excited about the possibilities. I actually get quite giddy when thinking about a future when someone asking to 'stop over' doesn’t send me into a panic. And as with all big projects, certain tools are helpful. 

This is where I share what I’ve found to be invaluable in my quest for clean.

Method's Lavender All Purpose spray. Smells wonderful and is the perfect clean and green cleaner.

Scotch's Fur Fighter sweeper. With so many animals, fur is our #1 problem. This has replaceable felt-like sheets that grab fur like no other. Ever try to sweep up cat hair with a regular broom and have the fuzz fly everywhere or get stuck on the broom bristles? Never a problem with this baby.

A well stocked and organized cleaning caddy (doesn't hurt if it's super cute too). Ours is stocked with non-harsh, environmental friendly, no-animal testing products.

The best in class, dreamy Dyson dc28 Animal Vacuum. This thing is a beast and has been on our wish-list for a very long time. And it's now ours, after help from a wonderful anniversary gift and some bartering at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I've never been more disgusted yet satisfied as I was when emptying out the collected dirt/fur after one round of vacuuming.   

I'm sure once we get this under our belts, a baby's going to show up and we'll have to start all over again from square one. Or learn to deal until they're out of the house...

Does anyone ever really get this down perfectly?

B

high living at the county fair

Maybe it’s because I’ve been so overwhelmed with the adult world.

Or perhaps it’s because my recent return to journaling has made me incredibly nostalgic…

Whatever the reason, I can confidently say that today is one of my favorite days of the year.

It’s the opening day of the county fair.

Why do I love the fair?

Because I can see it from the front yard of our new house.

Because I can talk to people who know chickens. And Jersey cows. Which is important, because we will someday have chickens, and a Jersey cow. And it’s never too early to start preparing.

Because I can disappear for hours at a time in the horse barn, fantasizing about my return to riding. Admittedly, I struggle with jealousy as I watch little kids prepare their horses for show. I hope they know how incredibly blessed they are. They say memories are most closely tied to your sense of smell; the smell of a horse barn moves me like nothing else.

Because I can spin myself nauseous on the craziest of rides.

Because of funnel cakes.

And because of cotton candy, my favorite food in the whole wide world. Look at this fatty – he’s with me.

Don't take my word for it;  take a trip down memory lane and listen to this sassy goose.

It’s refreshing to spend time with ‘normal’ people. By normal, I mean salt of the earth. And by salt of the earth, I mean people who appreciate honest living and simple pleasures (I’m not counting the completely different type of ‘earthy’ people found at the DMV and dog fights…). The wealth and sterility of the suburbs can be mind-numbingly exhausting. Give me greasy food and manure to cleanse the palate from Escalades, 2.3 kids and Jimmy Choo’s.

All this to say: After 3 years of St. Charles living, I’m happy to report that there are indeed places to find anti-suburban activity. They’ve been difficult to find, but so totally worth the effort.

And for the record, I’m not saying I’d turn down a pair of Jimmy Choo’s….

B

the love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books

Now that we have 3 bedrooms, we finally get an official home library.

A room full of our many, many books.  Where sunlight streams in.  Where cats can snooze, climb and get into mischief.  With a couch you can read on for hours at a time.  And the most lovely, ornate Indian rug passed down from a grandmother (pictures to come).

One of our prize possessions is an original printing of Atlas Shrugged, a treasure we discovered while unpacking boxes and boxes of books that had been cooped up in storage.  It's an incredible find (no matter how you feel about the author).  It smells so nice and old too.

 Here's where we've been wasting hours at a time as we search for inspiration (very aptly named).

I'd just die if I could walk into this room every morning.

It feels good to let our 100's of books finally breathe.  We want the printed word to be an indelible part of our home's identity--we are thrilled to finally have the square footage.

T&B

crazy cat lady

Our four cats are jazzed about the new house.  They are excited for the extra space to run, the stairs to chase each other up and down and the big bay window where they'll spy on birds.

I'm excited for the chance to make our new place (even more) animal friendly.  I hate traditional animal supplies (ugly litter boxes, awkward cat trees, sloppy pet beds, etc etc).  It's been a challenge keeping so many furry babies happy while maintaining any sense of interior decor.

On my wish list (were budget not an issue....which it always is, but I still like to look)...

(This scratching post looks a million times better than the normal towers.

In fact, I would get it even if I didn't have any cats--he'd look so cute by an umbrella stand)

(With multiple cats it's important to think in three-dimensions.  Don't limit cats to the floor.

These perches give kitties a whole new world in which to play )

(Husband is incredibly handy...I'm thinking this could be a fairly easy project.

Plus, in the right color, it could be a fun addition to our wall art)

(A great way to hide the messiest bits.  

No one ever needs to see the litter box again)

It's loads of fun planning creative solutions to pet problems.

(Although, sometimes all you need is a good paper bag.....just ask Tennyson)

B

where the heart is

We bought a house!

Well, we close April 29th so it's not officially ours yet.  But that hasn't stopped me from planning ahead. 

Unexpectedly, instead of having every detail of the interior plotted out, I've been obsessed with the outside.  With the beautiful, big, privacy-fence-enclosed backyard to be precise.

First our collection of fresh herbs (because the dried stuff you buy at the grocery just can't compete with the fresh stuff).

Then our vegetable garden.  We saved probably $100 on tomatoes last year by planting our own (yes, tomatoes are ridiculously expensive to buy and yes, we eat an insanely large amount of them).

And then our backyard chicken coop. 

Although this chicken coop is just too precious:

We've been buying farm fresh eggs for years.  The only thing better than that are eggs from your very own chickens.

And we can't forget--

(although these rascals might be a few years down the line....)

B