Awhile back I saw a really neat inspiration pic in MSL of a black harvest table lined with light blue Windsor chairs. After browsing and browsing for ideas to turn our Chicago brick bungalow dining room into something extra-special, that lit the bulb. So far we've installed a beautiful crystal chandelier, picked up 2 antique candlestick lamps at an estate sale, found a beautiful old black wood buffet at a flea market, and scored big time on a bartered harvest table made locally out of reclaimed barn wood. I've sc...
read more
This morning I was brushing my teeth when Dave walked into the bathroom with Will. He's developed this new thing where he opens his mouth wide when he sees you eating or drinking, like a little begging baby bird. After seeing that I was enjoying a feast of toothbrush and toothpaste, Will started mooching, so I held the sonic brush up and let him see what it was all about.
Hilarity ensues.
read more
At LEAST get the boxes unpacked that are in the dining room and front room.
Buy light blue spray paint for the set of Windsor chairs that I've picked up here & there. (Still need 1 more for a set of 6)
Paint the Windsor chairs!
Hang the electric sconces in the front room over the daybed.
Mount all the guitar and mandolin-hanging hardware in the front room next to the piano.
Clean and organize the laundry room.
Clean and organize the kitchen.
Clean all 3 bathrooms.
Make a checklist of loose ends...
read more
Sophia and I just whipped up our first batch of meringue ghost cookies. They were SO easy and a lot of fun to make.
Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
1 1/2 cups of sugar
7 egg whites
Extract (optional, we used 1/2 tsp. of vanilla)
Put the egg whites and sugar in a double boiler on simmer and gently whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and pour into mixing bowl. Beat the egg whites with a blender fitted with a whisk attachment on high for 8 minutes until very stiff....
read more
I just turned 40.
FORTY.
Thankfully I am married to a super sweet guy who planned a romantic trip for just the two of us last weekend as a birthday present. It was WONderful. I mean, I am totally in love with the guy, but there's a lot going on around here to keep us distracted. We talk a lot about the kids, who's turn it is to put the chickens to bed, how much half and half is left, what we're having for dinner, who can pick Sophia up from Brownies...on and on and on. So to have 3 full days of, "Oh yeah! H...
read more
I just realized I haven't posted an update about the chickens in way too long!
So here's a quick catch up. A couple of months ago we had an absolutely heartbreaking morning. Dave, who opens the coop door in the mornings on his way to the garage, came into the house and said, "There aren't any chickens out there!" My heart sank. I knew they had been locked up tight the night before. My mind skimmed a few scenarios. I threw on my shoes and ran back there, Sophia running behind me. I yelled for her to go back in the ...
read more
I'm refining the dining room concept. Dave and I love the fabric that I'll make curtains out of. It has a sense of humor, but is still cute and pretty. We changed our minds about the twig chandelier and went a more traditional route with crystal. I think keeping things more "flea market find" allows the mishmash to work together as fun & whimsical. In also makes the mid century credenza work, which makes me happy.Dining room revised by kitschykitten.com on Polyvore.com
read more
I knew this route by heart as a kid. As a matter of fact, I had to look up the names of a couple of the streets because I just knew to turn left at the old Moody house, right at the big yellow mansion, another left by the Catholic school and so on. 
I've been inspired by the recent trend of displaying vintage transit scrolls in home decor, but wasn't moved by any of them because the routes didn't mean anything to me. Plus they sell for way out of my price range right now. Then I had an idea to create my own "b...
read more
After clicking, clicking, clicking through all sorts of design sites over the past couple of days, I found something that made the light bulb pop up over my head.
We're going to paint the resale shop dining table black and hunt down a set of Windsor chairs and paint them light blue. Oooh! See below. I think this look is crafty, sharp, fun, and interesting. What do you think?
read more
Meh....Leaning toward the Windsor chair in black, but I'm hoping to find some juxtaposition between the traditional table and the mid-century credenza with a chair that plays nice with both. Sigh...
Dining chair options by kitschykitten.com on Polyvore.com
Victoria Ghost Dining Chairs
$330 - roomandboard.com
Antique Bronze 6-light Crystal and Iron Chandelier | Overstock.com
$249 - overstock.com
Wood Chair with Temp Seat | Overstock.com
$172 - overstock.com
Wood Leg White ...
read more
The new dining room is decidedly one of those "mix and match" things. I'm totally OK with not being matchy-matchy with a complete set in there, but we're swinging from one end to the other as far as eras and styles. Our credenza is a mid-century Danish modern piece and I just picked up a more traditional dining table at a local resale shop for under $200 that seats 10-14. I can't decide if it should be painted black or white just yet. Suggestions? Hilarious because we eat most of our meals at the coffee table, but I ...
read more
Hi! My name is Will. I'm 1 year old, rocking a dapper new haircut, and am standing like a pro.
read more
Recently I decided to finally put everything that I know from my day gig as an Interactive Creative Director to work and build myself a little shop called Bluebird Goods. I'm selling the fun stuff I like to collect for my own home. Someday I'd love to have a brick and mortar store of my own, but for now I'm getting a tremendous amount of joy out of this. Going to market, setting up wholesale accounts, developing the shopping cart process, photographing product, writing the descriptions...It's like getting to use all ...
read more
Will, 2 days shy of his 1st birthday.
read more
My "primary" job is working as an Interactive Creative Director. I've been designing and developing websites for about 15 years now and I've really seen the industry grow to be a lot more accessible for start ups these days.
Thanks to open-source tools like Joomla and Wordpress, it's so much easier to build an online presence. Sure you can go drop $40,000 for a website like many clients have, but I want you to know something...you don't have to if you're willing to put a little elbow grease in and build your onlin...
read more
The mornings have been really nice lately, fairly cool and mild. Will and I have been spending them in the backyard, where we'll allow the girls to free range while I have my coffee and check email. The past 2 mornings they've been pretty timid, but I'm guessing those days are behind them!
read more
My cousin and I were very close growing up. He's about 6 months older and grew up outside of Portland, Oregon. I spent the bulk of my childhood in coastal Texas, but our parents made a point of us spending time together. His parents, educated, creative, and progressive, made sure he grew up with his eyes wide open and since I looked up (and still do) to him quite a bit, a lot of that rubbed off on me. When I was 20 I went out to spend some time with my cousins, aunt, and uncle in Oregon. I remember him coming up ...
read more
Sophia and I are the ones who wore Dave down on the whole backyard chickens issue. She's my partner in crime. Now he has one, has named it, and is as into it (almost) as much as we are.
She tends to them several times throughout the day, checking their water, sitting with them, holding them on her lap and petting them. The chicks will come and eat right out of her hand and seem more tame around her than Dave or me. She's a natural animal caregiver. Animals love her and she loves them.
read more
