fade into summer

when the sun begins to shine and the temperature warms up, no other time of year conjures more memories for me of my childhood spent in the vast open fields and dewy meadows of my hometown. I grew up among rolling fields of farmland and endless miles of country road filled with hills of lushness and acres of trees. On the most beautiful of days my friends and I would head to a state park known around the world for the ten waterfalls it kept hidden among it's trails. My great uncle lived in a house that was the original homestead of his parents (his nephew, my uncle, lives there now) and just across the hayfield beyond the small forest was my grandparents home. My brothers, cousins, and I would make that trek on a daily basis, exploring and taking in all the fresh air and vast sky we could. Summers were absolutely glorious. And although I couldn't wait to graduate and move onto the big city (admittedly taking a lot of this natural beauty I was born into for granted) where I knew I would find myself, looking back I am grateful to have had a childhood that may be all but extinct today. Although my son will have a much different growing up than I did, we can still make the most of our surroundings and spending time in our backyard does just that. With all this nostalgia floating around me I was compelled to apply a technique to some of my favorite wardrobe pieces that would evoke the breezy, faded afternoons of my youth. Lars was only too happy to help and kept me supplied with fresh water after every application.

my 'new' summer essentials...

Use 1 part bleach to 10 parts hot water in a non-reactive tub or tote.  Let items process 10-30 minutes, or until desired effect.  Rinse thoroughly in a clean, cold water bath and let air dry.  Machine wash as normal.  Always wear rubber gloves.

closet case

Here are some cute closets I am going to be using as inspiration on my makeover project next week :

1.  An artful way to display your wardrobe.
2.  Getting creative with a small space.
3.  Glamorous in pattern and lighting.
4.  Create an anywhere closet with the use of wardrobe racks.

food color dyed easter eggs

We spent the morning dyeing two dozen easter eggs using simple food coloring mixed with white vinegar and water. The process proved to be enjoyable and easy for my son, as well as quick. Since we were going for a more pastel look with the colors, just a minute or two was all it took to achieve the results. A good thing for Lars, since he was all over getting each one of those eggs in and out of the dye bath on his own, without any hesitation and as quickly as he possibly could! We finished in under an hour with some very pretty half hard-boiled and half hollow (and now slightly cracked) colored variations; and two very stained toddler hands... i'll be scrubbing at those for days :)

*For food dyed eggs mix 20 drops food coloring with 1 tsp. white vinegar and 1 cup hot water in glass jars or containers deep enough to submerse the eggs. For very deep, rich toned colors leave eggs in dye bath up to10  minutes.

montessori makeover

After picking up a library book on the history of Maria Montessori, I was inspired to create the experience for Lars in our home. I've been intrigued by the theory long before my son came along, and even took tours of a few local montessori's when contemplating returning to work full-time. Since the toys were beginning to take over his room I couldn't think of a better time to implement this strategy. To create the space we picked up a shelving unit by Closetmaid and used on-hand food storage containers to organize everything by likeness. The idea is to keep a limited variety of items of interest within your child's reach, and rotate the options periodically. Meant to foster independence building, I've also been enjoying the benefits of my two and a half year old happily content to play for
30 - 45 minute stretches at a time!

weekend

it was another sunny sunday this past weekend and we took full advantage of it. after a breakfast of the best waffles out there, we headed out back to survey the damage done by six months of snow, rain and wind. our yard was looking pretty shabby due to overgrown grass and a few projects left undone. before we knew it lunchtime rolled around and we had a shorn lawn and new flower bed. after eating we went back out to soak up more sun and finish our work... that is until my son was ready to collapse from all the fun around 3pm... we'll plant the flowers next weekend~

paint pastel

we took advantage of the sun this past weekend and completed the first of a few furniture paint projects.  this is a simple wood table from ikea that was in desperate need of a makeover;  i've been inspired by candy colors and chose this paint color in particular to brighten up our bedroom.  the entire project was completed with one sample jar of martha stewart's grape jelly bean (appropriately named!) and i couldn't be happier with the results.

spring project : stenciled floors

three months after our son was born, my husband and i discovered that the carpet in our home was giving him allergies. although i professionally cleaned them every six months, we wasted no time ripping it out of every room, including closets. what waited for us underneath was a softwood fir floor covered in paint splotches of various color and a very uneven tone in the wood. i tolerated looking at it's unattractiveness as long as i could (which seemed like forever) until concluding that something had to be done with it before i lost my mind. after doing a little research i decided painting would be the most promising, albeit affordable option at the time; although not the easiest. i enlisted my seventeen year old brother-in-law to help (much to his chagrin) sand, prime, and paint two bedrooms, our front room and hallway~ everything but the kitchen and bath. time, weather, and space (to move the furniture) were not on our side, but somehow we managed to finish the project a week before my son's first birthday party. now only a year and a half later the shortcuts we took are starting to rear their scuffed and patchy holes. i need a solution this spring and i think i've found it~ below are some of my favorite ideas for stenciled floors... i'm heading out now to buy the supplies. Stay tuned for my results!

images via web

DIY reed diffuser

 links via images

home fragrance is one of those little details that always seems to come in and out of my life.  i buy candles, when i remember, but don't light them nearly as often as i used to now that i have my curious son; potpourri has never been my thing; and weekly flowers only go so far.  being a big fan of reed diffusers (but not their hefty price) i'll be taking a cue from whole living and making my own this season.  follow the recipe below with your choice of branches for a combination said to open the channels of communication and lighten any mood.

50 drops of bergamot

30 drops of cedarwood

20 drops of geranium

soak small twigs or dried grasses in a shallow dish of your blend, then pour the rest into a glass vessel and stand the sticks inside.  let the conversation flow.

holiday home top 10

~wooden bird napkin rings~scrap fabric garlands~

~coffee filter pom poms~vintage glass balls~

~whimsically wrapped gifts~tons of ribbon and ornaments~

~a very excited two year old~guitar rock pjs~

~wool sock monkey~handmade felt garland~

describe your holiday home  'top 10'....