image via Kelly McGuill Home

I’ve always loved how a map looks in a frame hung at someone’s home.  It always felt so personal, like this person has a true connection to the area in the map.  My former roommate and good friend Mary has a map of her home town hung up w/all the resident’s names circa 1980.  Its beautiful.

image via desiretoinspire 

image via Kelly McGuill Designs 

image via Martha Stewart Living

I’m excited that I was able to find a nautical map online of Anguilla & St. Barts together.  Where the hubby and I recently honeymooned less than 2 months ago.  (feel’s like forever ago).   These rainy days that we’ve been having in the northeast really make me grateful that we had the chance to go somewhere tropical.  And wanting to go back right this minute now more than ever ;)  I’ll post pics of the fabulous accommodations we stayed in soon…

image via desiretoinspire 

I’ve been on the hunt for fabric to cover my teak dining room chairs for a while.  I’ve picked up some remnants here and there, but I haven’t been able to commit.   Now that we are moving into a new house (signed the p&s yesterday!!!), the dining room definitely needs a face lift, i.e. brass chandelier and sconces, beige everywhere.

I’m loving these fabrics from Calico Corners.  And loving the price even more….

 images are from Hulya Kolabas

We are working our way to becoming home owners.  What a scary, exciting, thrilling process all at the same time.  We are so excited to finally be in our home.  The ideas going through my head our endless and I am looking forward to every minute of it.  We are purchasing a gorgeous cape that was built in the 1960s.  Its in a rural suburb about 50min outside of Boston.  I did get over my anxiety attack about living outside the city a few days ago, and now I am good.  I’ve lived the urban life for 15 years and I am ready to let it go. 

Our new home is a gem.  Its in a large town, but the country roads are endless and the greenery is breathtaking.  It sits on almost an acre and requres little, to no, work.  Except for the ocassional painting and a few light fixtures here and there.   

I’ve never really considered my style at home.  I always like vintage modern mid-century, but the ocassional farmhouse always gets me too.  Anything Scandinavian, forget about it. I’m excited to put life back into this blog to track our adventures in our new home.  Much inspiration to come…..

I really love the look of caligraphy on invitations.  I’ve received a few of them and they always made me a little more excited than I already was for a wedding.  My good friend Stacey introduced me today to a way to “do-it-yourself” caligraphy.  Never thought those two words would go together.

Stacey found this project over at http://www.cardgirldiy.com

found originally over at Design Sponge, this inspiring wedding invitation detail has me thinking that I can really come up with a beautiful invitation all on my own.  I’m going to be a spending a lot of time on this blog.  stay tuned….

One of my favorite blogs to read is Domestic Reflections.  I love her wit, her little bits she gives us about what she loves and her home (which is amazing).  One thing she does every week is plan out her meals - which I think is not only a good way to attack the  the nightly 5pm “what are we eating tonight?”  question but a great way to put it down for yourself so it doesn’t go anywhere.  I used to put write it out on a piece of paper and then it would be lost by Tuesday.

We may not have a family, but Raff and I are officially saving for a wedding.  So what a great way to start of the new year with a little weekend meal planning!

Here we go:

Friday

Semi-homemade pizza w/cheese, sauce  & green salad (oranges, fennel, parsley & lemon vinagrette)
Saturday

Chicken Enchilada verde  w/green salad

ps. new year’s resolution is to eat more salad & veggies.

I just booked my 3 day retreat from the world at Kripalu in the Berkshires.   One word to describe how I feel right now: excited!   I’ve been practicing yoga for almost 9 years.  The majority of the time was on and off, but for the past 2 years, I’ve been getting a very regular practice going and trying out many different styles which have lead me to seeing what Kripalu is all about.

The past few months have been a little difficult on me for some reason.  Could be the time of year, could be the decline in the real estate market, I’m not sure.  What I do know is that when I asked my parents to help me go to Kripalu for a 3-day retreat, I knew that this is where I needed to be.   Turn the cell phone off, no email and no television.  Heck, they don’t even have coffee there   Here is just a sampling of the things I will be doing:

•  Twice daily yoga classes: Kripalu Yoga & Vigorous Vinyasa Yoga
•  Meditation
• Origins of the Human Diet
• Ayurveda: A Life in Balance
• Guided hikes (weather permiting)
• Whole foods cooking demos

amazing photo was taken by Tanja Lippert

We are engaged!  Yaaaa!

I am so excited to be engaged to my best friend Raff.  What a wonderful Christmas Eve we had and we’ve been celebrating with family and friends ever since.  The outpouring of happiness that our friends and family have displayed is truely unbelievable.

Let the planning begin!  There are so many great resources out there that we can probably pull of a pretty awesome affair with some research and resourcefulness.  We are not sure where or when the great event will take place, but it will be New England!   Stay tuned for the upcoming details regarding the festivities!

I am becoming more and more a fan of mid-century residential architecture.  Maybe because I live in the land of Colonials and Capes, but this is my perfect dream.  I love the simplicity.  How the the details of the house are it’s features, not the items in them.   The way the outside is part of the inside.  Its perfect.

This Palm Springs home was auctioned off in May for $19Million and is back on the market due to the deal falling through.  The listed price:  $12.98 Million .  Here is complete slide show from the WSJ Real Estate Section.

I used to hem and haw over the menu for Thanksgiving.  Wanted it to be good food, but also a little unusual.  Due to lack of time and energy this season, I turned to Raff and asked him what he wanted to cook for the big Turkey-day.  His response:  Our theme this year should be “keep it simple”.  I couldn’t agree more.

Here is the menu:

Appetizers:  Antipasto w/provolone, procuitto, salami, artichoke hearts, pickled veggies.

Roasted Turkey via Alton Brown (Raff thinks he is a genus and we’ve been doing this recipe for 3 years now)

Huge bowl of Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing (courtesy of Mary Lou - we don’t do stuffing very well and she is the master)

Green Beans w/Shallots and Pancetta

Roasted Acorn Squash (cut into quarters)

Cranberry Sauce (Recipe on the back of the Ocean Spray Package)

Popovers (if I can handle it - didn’t come out too good last year.  I found out the secret is to pre-heat the pan)

Dessert:  Ricotta Pie (Another Mary Lou favorite that I now can’t live without) & Pecan pie (My first attempt at a pie, we’ll let you know how it goes)