Summer To-Do List

Ever since creating my home agenda, I've been tackling some "to-dos" around the house and making lists of larger projects I want to accomplish in the future.  Watching my son go from rolling over and cooing to running around the house at mock speed while singing his ABC's makes me  consider what's important and how I want to spend my time, since life seems to go by so quickly! Yes, I like to have a clean house, but I also appreciate seeing those tiny handprints on the fridge, near the middle, since that's as high as he can reach.  And the toys strewn about our sitting room floor?  I find myself smiling at them, because it's a sign that he's still here.   Maybe I'm a sappy new mom, but I have a best friend and mom to two (ages 2 and 4) who theorizes that teenagerhood might be akin to pregnancy- when you get to the end, you are ready for them to be out! :) 

But I'm not quite there yet, and summer afternoons have a way of slipping past all too soon if I'm not intentional about them.  So, enjoy them we do!  If you were to drop by our house on a random weekend in the recent past, you'd likely find us playing in the backyard (while piles of clean laundry wait to be folded) James naked, wet, and covered in dirt, both of us enjoying melting popsicles and our little blow up pool.  These are the days!  

The laundry can wait until bedtime:)

What else do I want to do this summer?  Here's our "to do" list:

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 2, 3, 4

via

What's on your summer to-do list?  

Quiet Time- Happy Father's Day

Father, it is Your Commandment that we should honor our fathers;

Hear the prayers we offer You for them.Grant them many years on earth and keep them in health of mind and body.

Bless their word and all they do.

Give them back a hundred-fold whatever they have done for us.

Inspire them with Your love and help them to fulfill Your holy law.

One day, may we be their comfort and support,

So that having enjoyed their affection on earth

We may have the joy of being with them forever in Your home in Heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

"da-da"

James must say "Da-Da" 50 million times a day.  When he wakes up in the morning, "Da-Da, Da-Da!" As soon as I carry him downstairs and smell the aroma of the coffee that my sweet hubby already brewed, "Da-Da, Da-Da!"  When Jimmy is at work and James hasn't seen him in a while, "Da-Da, Da-Da!" as he runs through the house, looking around.  As soon as the sound of garage door raising is heard, "Da-Da, Da-Da!"  Try as I might, the "Mamas" are few and far between.  But that's okay, today is Da-Da's day!

Here's to you Da-Da and to my "Da-Da" too!  

New Sponsor Welcome- Designer Alycia Wicker

I'm so happy to have Alycia Wicker as Honey We're Home's very first designer sponsor!   I love her motto: "Interior design you can't mess up!"  because that's our fear right?, that we'll spend money on something that doesn't work or that we'll end up hating in a few months.  There is much to be said for hiring a professional that can help you through the process and pull together a spectacular-looking space that feels totally like "you" but without all the anxiety (and unnecessary expense) that decorating can bring if you need help.

Alycia understands those concerns and works with her clients to help define their style and to incorporate what they already own into the design (if they want!).   She can design an entire room in the time it might have taken you just to choose one lamp, rug, or fabric!  She's got several design packages to choose from, but can also create a custom plan.  Go HERE to see her design packages.   Also, you can request a 20-minute phone consultation before you decide to hire her, which I think is awesome because it gives you a chance to see if y'all are a good fit first!

And she's the real deal, a California Certified Interior Designer with more than 14 years experience in various design fields including residential design, commercial design, model home design, product development, furniture design, and construction project management.





If you are interested in Alycia's services, you can email her at:  

hello@e-decorating.com

And even if you're not currently needing interior design help, you've got to read Alycia's take on Million Dollar Decorators! (I've been watching, have you?) (click below read!)

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Yay for Friday! & Guest Post at Home Stories A to Z

Are y'all looking forward to the weekend as much as I am?  Now that it's summer, it seems like all I want to do is play!!  Today, James and I will be shopping for a Father's Day gift, and this weekend we'll be hanging with family and some friends who are celebrating an engagement and another friend who is turning 30- lots of play time for sure!

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Okay, seriously, how cute is that collage?  Guess who made it?  Beth of Home Stories A to Z!  She took the time to create it using pictures of our home, my blog header, and of course, adorable baby James:)  I love the little clipboard too! 

This month Beth invited several bloggers to offer some of their best decorating advice for the DIYer and today my post is up!  You can read it here:)  You can read all of the posts in the series here too.  I'm honored to be included in such good company!

http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2011/06/how-to-decorate-series-day-12-decorating-with-flowers-by-honey-were-home.html

Love The One You're With- My Notting Hill

Today I am so excited to have Michele from My Notting Hill as a guest blogger! Her blog is one that I have been reading since I first started blogging, I feel like we go way back, just like old friends.

I love Marianne's concept of "Love the One You're With" and was very excited when she asked me to participate. The reality is that we bought our house more for the location than the layout and over the years it has been a source of occasional frustration. Although there's been additions and remodeling projects, I've chosen a few spaces that weren't going to be altered but still needed to be improved upon. First up - the right corner of my living room. No matter the furniture placement, it always seemed to be a dark, forgotten corner. This was particularly troubling because the room doesn't receive much light anyway. For a number of years a large round table was there but that only seemed to reinforce the slightly off center placement of the fireplace. One day I was moving furniture around and by accident this demilune table from Wisteria ended up near this corner. Well, it seemed to work, especially when paired w/a narrow mirror I had recently bought, painted and couldn't find a place for until now. During the day the mirror picks up light from the other room and at night reflects back the light from the lamp.
This is where the black demilune table used to be - off to the side of our front door. Now there's a more practical bench that serves as a temporary place to collect kid's backpacks, etc.
Our house is a 1950's ranch and I hated how the bedroom door opened directly into the hallway right off the living room. After much complaining on my part, my husband agreed to move the door over a few feet (into a former closet) to create a small entry before you now enter the bedroom from the side. This entry is 3 1/2 ft wide and 5 ft deep and for a long time there was nothing in it, leaving it feel a bit neglected. Now I'm happy w/this narrow bamboo table that also adds interest to this space when you view it from the living room. The bamboo piece is the bottom half of a coat rack and the books stacked on top camouflage the opening where umbrellas go.

Marianne - thanks again for asking me to participate. It always feel better to love what you have than to pine for something different!

Thank you Michele! I especially love the mirror and now I have added a bamboo piece to my wish list after seeing yours.

Food Friends for Life- Val So Cal

Much to my husband's dismay, I have been cooking a lot lately!  Having a baby that I want to eat healthy has forced me into the habit.  I've always loved cookbooks and beautiful food photography, but now I'm actually inspired to cook.  We've been eating spinach and goat cheese stuffed portabella mushrooms, shrimp pasta with pesto and tomatoes, lasagna, caprese salad, spaghetti, roasted veggies, and grilled chicken.  

My sponsor and fellow blogger Val of Val So Cal has dished up some deliciousness at her blog recently that I wanted to share with you.  I've been particularly enamored with her salads since summer has me wanting a lighter bite.  I think the avocado one is my favorite.  P.S. She takes these photos herself!

     Val says: This time of the year I try and eat salads with every meal. I love salads, especially with

     fruit. What is not to love about this one...Raspberries, Cashews, Kiwi's and a homemade

     dressing. I'm sold and I might be making this, weekly. You can also make cinnamon-

     sugar croutons and take to the next level. Enjoy!

    Raspberry Salad

      6 -7 cups baby spinach

      2 cups fresh raspberries

      3 kiwi's peeled and sliced

      1/2 cup red onion, diced

      a handful of cashews or toasted almonds

      1/4 teaspoon pepper

      3 tablespoons olive oil

      2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar

      3 tablespoons raspberry jam

        In a jar with a tight fitted lid, combine the oil, vinegar, jam and pepper, shake well.

        In a large salad bowl, gently combine spinach, 1 cup raspberries, onions, and some of

        the cashews. Top with kiwi, berries, nuts and croutons if you made them. Drizzle with

        dressing.

     Avocado Feta Salsa



      1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

      2 avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped

      1/4 cup red onion, chopped

      1 garlic clove, minced

      1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

      1 tablespoon olive oil

      2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

      1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

      salt and pepper

      4 to 5 ounces crumbled feta



       1) In a bowl, gently stir in tomatoes , avocados, onion and garlic. Mix in parsley

       and oregano. Gently stir in olive oil and vinegar. Then stir in feta. Cover, and

       chill for 2 to 4 hours.

       Greek Pasta Salad



         1 package pasta - your choice

         1/4 cup olive oil

         one yellow onion

         4 garlic cloves, minced

         2 cups of mushrooms, sliced

         4 chicken breasts, cut into strips

         1 (14 oz) jar artichokes in water, chopped

         2 tablespoon oregano

         1 tablespoon basil

         1 tablespoon parsley

         1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

         1/4 cup white wine ( optional)

         3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

         the juice of one lemon

         8 oz feta cheese

         handful of cherry tomatoes

         salt and pepper



        1) Cook pasta and set aside. Meanwhile in a skillet heat olive oil on med-high heat.

        Cook chicken until cooked through and set aside. In the same skillet add onion, garlic

        saute for 5 min and then add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms have color.

        Add veggies and artichokes to the pasta.

        

       2) Mix white wine, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and spices. Mix well

        and add to the pasta. Top with Feta cheese and tomatoes.

Val is a mommy to an adorable daughter and fellow coffee and Target addict.  She really stole my heart, though, when she posted this:   

         Val says:  Ok ladies, it's time to get the dust off of the blender. Grab the keys to the car and go

         to the market.....All you need to buy are 3 ingredients and you will have the best

         shake experience, ever!!!! Ha.

      Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

      1 bag of large marshmallows

      2 cups of milk

      2 cups vanilla ice cream

       Line a large cookie sheet with tin foil. Place marshmallows on cookie sheet and broil

       in oven until toasty. About 1 to 2 min. Stand by the oven. It happens fast.

       Place milk, ice cream and most of the toasted marshmallows in the blender, save a few

       for the top. Blend until smooth and serve with cute straws.

If you want to show Val some love, you can become a follower of her blog here.