Sunday, January 31, 2010

December highlights

On the eve of the 2nd month of 2010, I thought I would post some of my favorite pictures from the last month of 2009. Better late than never!


We did a lot of lying around by the fire.

And being couch potatoes because the giant pillow on the floor is clearly not as comfortable!

We even made it of the sofa and got dressed up for a holiday party for a Jamaican reunion


We baked cookies with Brynn, Grant, and Abbey

And had our first snow of the season


And after a slow, snowy start, finally made our way up North for our annual Hakkarainen Christmas in Brookside

Where it was more napping and relaxing. This was Charlie's first trip to Heikki's. He really made himself at home!

Meeko stuck close to his favorite buddy

And last but certainly not least, we snuck in a romantic getaway to my favorite city

All of that travel and holiday cheer cost a lot so we sent Charlie off to work


And that is our month in a nutshell. I hope to have more pictures up on our Flickr account soon.

Stay tuned!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Wetting the whistle

Just because I haven't personally blogged, doesn't mean I haven't been reading them. Especially design blogs. I just can't help it, it's in my blood. Here are some things I have found to tide me over until I can work on my own home again. Hope you find them as inspiring and mouth watering to look at as I do.

Have you seen the movie, It's Complicated? I was in awe over the set design and was anxiously awaiting for Julia over at Hooked on Houses to do a Movie Monday on the set. She dug up a few visual stimulating photos to hold us over until the DVD comes out later this year. You can check it out here.


Don't tell my husband, but I already have ideas for a kitchen like this in our next house (and maybe our current, shhhhh).

And just today I saw a post over at Design Sponge on a swoon worthy office. Who wouldn't want to come to work everyday with digs like this?

And my favorite Interior Designer/blogger/new mama, Erica over at Urban Grace Interiors blogged about Birmingham Architect Bill Ingram's lake house that was featured in Cottage Living (it has also been featured in many other publications, check out the links under publications for more pictures and details). I fell in love with the play of bold textures, dark wood, and soft hues immediately.



And those striped hardwood floors are making me consider painting ours. Hmmm...

p.s. I never know the proper way to give credit to images/ideas found on other web sites. My purpose is to share, not offend so If this is your work and you do not want it displayed, please let me know.

p.p.s. We are learning idioms in my strategic reading class. Don't you like how I have incorporated it into my day-to-day living? My teacher would be so proud ;).

Monday, January 4, 2010

I'm baaaack

Hi there! It's been awhile. I didn't mean to take a vacation from blogging but it just sort of happened. December, as it usually does, got a little hectic. We had a great month full of parties, family, travel, and friends. I wanted to document it on the blog but the days started to run together and before I knew it, it was 2010.

The longer I was away, the harder I found it to come back. Not because I don't enjoy blogging but I just didn't know where to start. I haven't taken very many photographs over the last month. I wasn't really in the mood. I do have some photos of Christmas to put up but I can't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. Oh well. I'll eventually get there. And, I haven't done much to the house as far as decorating. I'm on a hiatus after all the fall renovations we did. Which, I also need to blog about but want to do so with before and after pictures (see above sentence). I have been cooking A LOT. I go through phases and that is the phase I am in now. I have had shorter work days this month and have been using the extra time in the afternoons in the kitchen. I go back to work full time next week and I am really going to miss my extra "free" hours. I didn't document any of the items I whipped up but was generous to share with a few friends and family.

I guess I have just been enjoying living my life off-line. It's nice to do every once and awhile! We will see how much longer it lasts now that I will be in the office for a full 40 hours a week.

So, stay tuned to see what's next.