The Stamford Wife

Letting Go

2010-10-12T11:09:00.006-04:00

So, as you may have guessed, based on my long moments of dead air here, I've lost my blogging mojo. Life has just gotten so busy for me that I have to really use my time effectively and as a result my blog has been put at the bottom of a long to-do list.

Some exciting real life things going on here...

We are putting our house on the market and looking for our "forever house"

My design business is booming

Grayson has started pre-preschool

and

We are trying for baby #2 (not pregnant yet)

{spending as much time with this little man as I can!}

Eventually, this blog will be linked up with my professional website which is still in the works. Until then, I'm signing off to enjoy my little ol' life. I hope to see you all soon and I thank you for reading and supporting me!

Teresa

aka: The Stamford Wife

Shippan Designer Show House & Technical Difficulties

2010-10-05T10:27:00.002-04:00

If you're in the neighborhood, go check out the Shippan Designer Show House on Ocean Drive West here in Stamford, CT. Proceeds support the Stamford Museum and Nature Center which is an awesome place to take the kids!

On an annoying note...I have NO clue how my blog got all askew. Everything that once was on my right sidebar is located way below all of my posts. I must get this fixed, but of course, I have no time to do so. UGHHHH. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Favorites From The Latest CT Cottages & Gardens

2010-10-02T17:20:00.000-04:00

I'm a huge fan of free things (who isn't?). Connecticut Cottages & Gardens is a free magazine found at any stylish shop in Fairfield Co. (and maybe beyond?). I usually get my copy from one of my local go-to sources for great lighting here in Stamford The Accessory Store. There were so many great rooms in the current issue that I had to share my favs...

This dramatic black and white powder room certainly caught my eye. I always love a nice teardrop style chandy as well.

This den is right up my alley with it's mix of antiques and modern pieces. Love all that white too.

This living room, with is simplicity really appealed to me. I'm particularly interested lately in the juxtoposition of modern furniture with classical architecture.

Happy Saturday!

Moving On? {Prepping A Home To Sell}

2010-10-01T18:00:00.000-04:00

{Living Room BEFORE}

I spent one day this week helping out a lovely young family get their home ready to put on the market. We didn't want to spend a penny (who does in this economy?) to spruce up the place, so we used what they already had in the home. This isn't one of those super dramatic TV show make overs by any means, but the subtle changes make a huge impact to the overall "energy" of the home.

They have two gorgeous little girls, so the living room furniture was pushed up against the walls in order to make a play space for the children to scatter their toys about. However, that arrangement didn't showcase any of the rooms selling features.

{Living Room AFTER}

We rearranged the furniture to create a more cozy feel by pulling the pieces away the walls and floating them in front of the fireplace. The homeowners love color, but we decided to paint over the accent walls to match their current butter yellow walls to make the room more cohesive and less "taste specific".

{Living Room BEFORE}

Here you can see the sectional in it's previous position against the wall (and a little princess hiding from the camera, lol).

{Living Room AFTER}

Using the homeowners artwork on the mantle and repositioning the furniture, the fireplace is now the focal point.

{Fireplace BEFORE}

We simplified the mantle and the built-ins

{Fireplace AFTER}

{Shelving AFTER}

Using the homeowners camera collection and just a few books and magazines, we created a clean shelving display.

{Living Room BEFORE}

The homeowner had three different paint colors viewable in this one room which fit their young and artistic personalities, but to some the colors could be considered distracting.

{Living Room AFTER}

We chose to just paint over the blue and a small bit of the persimmon to just make the room more cohesive.

{Dining Room BEFORE}

The dining room was primarily used as a craft area for the two young artists in the family.

{AFTER}

The walls were painted to match the living room (which is open to the dining room) and all toys were moved to a playroom.

{Little Girl's Room BEFORE}

One of the girl's room which was really quite cute in person, but looked like most children's rooms, toys toys toys everywhere.

{Little Girl's Room AFTER}

Someone did a nice job cleaning her room!

{Master Bedroom BEFORE}

The homeowner is a sewer and did her sewing in their bedroom. While this worked nicely for her, it made the room look smaller.

{Master Bedroom AFTER}

She relocated her sewing machine to the basement for now and what a difference it made. We also painted over the mural (which unfortunately the homeowner hand painted herself and it was adorable). The mural gave the room a slight juvenile feel which was a little confusing...was this a nursery or a master bedroom?

{Kitchen BEFORE}

The kitchen didn't need much to begin with...just a little decluttering and paint touch up.

{Kitchen AFTER)

{Kitchen AFTER}

With nothing more than a can of paint, simplifying and furniture arranging, we made this family's home ready to list on market.

Just to recap what we did:

Paint: got rid of accent walls and bold colors, took most artwork down and filled holes, touched up all walls and trim to hide any scuffs or imperfections.

Declutter: removed all unnecessary items from all rooms and put in storage. Cleared shelves and just left decorative arrangements. Cleaned out all closets, cabinets and storage areas and organized.

Depersonalize: Left only a few personal photos and strategically placed artwork. Removed wall murals and other "taste specific" decor. Buyers want to picture their things in the home, not the sellers.

Rearrange: Strategically arranged furniture to showcase the selling points of each room (the sofa now faces the fireplace).

I hope these pointers can help anyone who may be getting ready to move on to bigger and better things!

Where I Shop {Antiques & Artisan Center}

2010-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

{a beautiful peacock (?) in one the vignettes at the Antiques and Artisan Center}

I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine consisted of housework and client work (WAY more fun than housework). I love shopping for clients because I get peruse all of my favorite haunts for goodies. Today I visited my favorite antiques store the Antiques And Artisan Center here in Stamford in search of some vintage pieces for a living room I'm currently working on. It's a massive building housing seemingly endless vignettes of antique and vintage furniture, accessories, lighting, housewares, even fashion (I spotted a vintage Hermes Birkin there today) and art. I thought I'd share just a small glimpse of all the goodies you can find there.

Here you can see the peacock resting on top of a gorgeous mirrored console.

This pair of mid century black chests certainly caught my eye.

As did this pair of lucite tables!

This vignette has an eclectic mix...lovin' that nail head trim.

I feel in love with these chairs in the style of Frances Elkins (I believe there were 8!)

A full set of vintage lime green Baccarat stemware.

1930's French lucite and brass table. They have an enormous selection of lucite pieces throughout the store.

A white Chinese Chippendale dining set.

More pretty stemware (love the tray too).

I spotted this wheat sheaf coffee table (for a really great price!). I'm surprised someone hasn't snagged this pretty table up. Good thing, because it's a contender for one of my clients.

So is this black mid-century chest of drawers.

I'm also a sucker for a nice bust.

More fabulous lucite, this time a bar cart.

So if you're in the neighborhood, you should make a stop by the Antiques and Artisan Center and you'll lose track of the time and hopefully leave with something pretty.

Onward and Upward

2010-09-24T12:55:00.003-04:00

{I have no idea where this beautiful image is from. It's been in my "favorites" file for ages}

I just couldn't leave that crappy comment up as the first image all weekend long. First of all, thank you so much for the positive comments. They mean a lot to me and I'm so happy to have such awesome blog "friends". I didn't mean for that post to become a pity party, but just a "WTF?".

So, onward and upward! I have a weekend full of good intentions aka: trying to get through my long to-do list of home projects.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

South Beach & Nate Berkus

2010-09-22T21:17:00.012-04:00

So are you all tired of reading about the Nate Berkus blogger show yet? Yeah, me too. So, I'm going to catch you up on what I did over the weekend.

My husband and I checked into our room at the Tides and I was instantly relaxed. So much so that the hubs had to convince me that we should go walk around or at least get a cocktail somewhere. Leave it to him to coerce me with booze (it worked).

I love that stitching detail in the leather chair...so clever.

Welcome drinkies!

I also made my way up to visit the bride-to-be in the penthouse and to snap a few photos (which just don't pay it any justice!)

Um, that bed had a lucite (or maybe glass...not sure) headboard!

One of the three bathrooms in the penthouse.

Loved this chandelier in the hallway.

A guest bathroom. Beautiful, yet not functional (ah-em, no mirrors).

A pool cabana

The lobby

The Coral Bar. According to the bartender, it is an actual speakeasy (that has since been refurbished) that was originally hidden behind a false wall during Prohibition!

One of the many sexy chairs in the hotel. This particular one was the ladies room.

La Marea, the main restaurant.

Some other great details from the lobby...

Then we were off to the Mondrian hotel for a group dinner the night before the wedding.

The outdoor lounge had an incredible view of the city.

"Cheers"

We then made our way to the W for some after dinner drinks. Of course I had to ask my friend for a tour of their suite as well. Trying not to be too much of a decor weirdo, I only took a few, discreet photos.

This print was hanging in the foyer of the room. Love!

The day of the wedding was just beautiful (duh, we're in Miami). The ceremony was held on the penthouse balcony/rooftop deck of the Tides.

The happy couple!

Me with my bestie. We had such a ball. I came home with a nasty hangover, mysterious bruises from a hard night of partying married girl style (with the hubs). Does that ever happen to anyone else? Ooooooofffff, it was a great weekend and I'm beyond happy for my darling friends S+A.

Oh, and yes, I too was one of the ba-zillion bloggers in the audience of the Nate Show on Tuesday. I'm sure you're sick of hearing about it by now. He's adorable. I wanted to hug him. I admire his design work. I'll just leave it at that.

{photo via Camila}

I also attended the lovely party hosted by Camila and The Nest. I just have to say that I truly enjoyed meeting so many amazing bloggers. I've never been in a room with so many warm, intelligent and creative (and gorgeous!) women in my life. I wish I could've met each and everyone there, but the night went by fast! Thank you Camila for the heads up and the invitation. I had a fabulous time!

Coming To You Live {The Tides}

2010-09-18T13:34:00.000-04:00

{"Hi"}

The hubs and I are enjoying a great weekend here in South Beach. I just thought I'd share some of the lovely details of our room at The Tides.

Much, much more to come! Until then, enjoy your weekend!

What I'm Loving Now {Gold, Berry & Ivory}

2010-09-15T10:45:00.001-04:00

Sources:

Bed

Chest

Nightstand

Chair

Fabric for chair
Lamp (bedside)
Lamp (on dresser)

*Do you need some decorating assistance? I'd be happy to help! Drop me an e-mail and let's chat.*

A Bathroom That Makes Me Want To Get Dirty

2010-09-13T09:58:00.003-04:00

{Interior design: Clodagh Photo via House Beautiful}

Bon Voyage Baby

2010-09-12T21:45:00.002-04:00

{table decor - a paper suitcase "packed" with the baby girl's necessities}

This past Saturday night I had the honor of co-hosting a going away party/baby shower for my dear friends Justin and Misato (they hosted one of our baby showers at their home in Williamsburg Brooklyn). They are moving in a week to Japan to be closer to Misato's family. I just thought I'd share some photos form the party with you.

{the table centerpiece consisted of simple (inexpensive) gladiolas}

They are expecting a little girl in December, so we went with the classic pink color scheme. The couple didn't want anything too fussy since it was more of a cocktail party rather than a baby shower. There were to be no games of blindfolded diaper changing or guess how many diaper pins, etc. Although, it would've been a hoot to have seen some of the semi-intoxicated men in attendance trying to diaper a babydoll!

The party invitation (found - here) was our inspiration...

...to string baby's clothes along a "clothes line" made of green yarn.

Some of the other flower arrangements consisted of assorted pink dahlias and celosia.

{"Bon Voyage Baby"}

We hung a DIY pink and green banner from their loft.

{Me, fellow co-host and my sister in-law Kristin, and the mommy-to-be Misato}

{the crowd}

{the parents-to-be}

I'm in tears just writing this post. Justin and Misato are like family to us and will be greatly missed. However, I'm looking forward to visiting them in Tokyo next spring (to meet their little one)!

Juliska Annual Warehouse Sale!

2010-09-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

Don't miss Juliska's warehouse sale starting tomorrow at their flagship store here in Stamford, Connecticut.
Any local bloggers interested in meeting me there for a latte and shopping? Drop me an e-mail!

Living The High Life - Trump Parc Stamford

2010-09-07T12:48:00.003-04:00

I had the opportunity to tour the Trump Parc Stamford the other day and I must say I was completely smitten! Being the tallest building in Stamford (I believe), the views were incredible! I mean, I've lived in NYC before and have seen some great views, but there is something to be said about being in a high-rise in a small-ish city where there are very few tall buildings to block your view. I took some really quick photos with my Iphone which really don't do the property justice.

My Iphone photo of the living/dining room in the two bedroom (end unit) which was my favorite floorplan of all. The open layout of this unit was really amazing and spacious. Also, what you can't see from my photos is the view of Long Island Sound from all windows in this particular unit!

Here is a better view of the living/dining space (via their website). There is an optional wall which would create a small den/office space.

My Iphone photo (which apparantly had a dirty lense to boot). Here you can see their model unit without the wall creating the den/office space.

The website's photo fo the den.

My photo of the same space (different furniture and no wall separating it from the main living space).

My photo of the living space with built-in media and storage. That wood was really beautiful in person.

Their photo of the upgraded kitchen with Viking appliances and what looks to be white carrara or statuary marble countertops and backsplash.

My crappy photo of the a different model kitchen (in a three bedroom unit). The only thing I would have to change in this space would be the lighting (just a little too modern for my taste). Otherwise, it was perfection for this type of condo.

Their photo of the master bedroom (with a king bed).

My photo of the same space (different furniture). Loved the gray paint color in this room!

The view from the bed

Here is the living space in the three bedroom unit. It's not quite as open as the two bedroom (above). It offers approximately 200 square feet more space than the two bedroom overall though. Perfect for a small family perhaps? I could see myself being very comfortable here. It has more square footage (approx. 1900 sq. ft.) than our current home!

Another view of the main living/dining space in the three bedroom unit (which also has gorgeous Long Island Sound views). The grass cloth wallpaper in this space was stunning.

Overall, it was a beautiful building and now I'm obsessed with the idea of living in a high-rise again after leaving our NYC digs over two years ago. I love the sense of freedom that high-rise living conveys...the commanding views, the amenities (heck, I might even work out on a daily basis again if I had a gym in my building) the doormen, no maintenance, the list goes on and on. Can you tell I've been thinking about this way too much?

Here are some of my favorite high-rise decor images just for fun (all via Elle Decor)...

Shady In My Kitchen

2010-09-02T21:23:00.005-04:00

Just thought I'd share a few little updates to our kitchen lately (because I can't leave well enough alone). To see previous updates click -here - and - here

We installed some (really inexpensive) natural woven roman shades on the windows. I was so happy to see the white metal mini-blinds go (which I never actually used because they were just so blah). I also added some blue and white plates in the dead space above the cabinets.

I'm pretty happy with the Bixler pendants from Pottery Barn (which seem to be permanently on sale, btw). The french inspired bistro table with carrara marble top was purchased at Juliska flagship store here in Stamford, CT. They use them in their cafe and sell them as well. I can't tell you how much I love this table for it's size and durablity.

I found these sweet topiaries in Maine at Snug Harbor Farm which is a dreeeeeeaaaaaaamy nursery in Kennebunkport. They have their own terra cotta pots with the nursery name on them (clip the photo to a close up). They are so pretty and I love the moss that grows naturally on them over time.

Sorry, this is all I can muster today. I will be back with some more interesting posts soon. I promise! I have so much on my mind and would love to share with you all, if only I had the time and energy to get it out. It's just been one of those weeks!

Time Out

2010-08-31T16:26:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the dead air here. I'm just trying to spend some quality time with my boys and family during these last few days of Summer.

{a classic "self portrait" via the Iphone}

I'm taking a break from DIY projects and all things home decor (on my house anyways - I do have some great client projects in the works!) for a little while to just focus on my little fam. My husband and I soaked up a beautiful sunset over the weekend during a (pretty romantic) surprise birthday picnic I planned for him.

{bad quality Iphone sunset}

It was a beautiful night and it reminded us how important it is to have alone time (as much as we love spending every minute with our little boy) we need time to actually TALK to one another. It was lovely and we promised each other it wouldn't be our last sunset picnic of the year!

I've also been lucky enough to snag some time with my new little nephew Asher and his mommy. Isn't he a doll? It's amazing how quickly these little babies grow.

Savoring every moment.

Martha's Vineyard {Through My Eyes}

2010-08-25T16:30:00.000-04:00

This And That

2010-08-24T16:20:00.004-04:00

It's been a busy week at Casa Stamford. I'm (co)planning another baby shower for a dear friend of mine. It's bittersweat for me because she and her husband are moving back to her home county of Japan to be closer to her family when their little one arrives. I'm beyond excited for them, but the selfish me is bummed that my sweet buddy is going to be so very far away. Oh well, I've always wanted to go to Japan and now it's so going to happen!

Also in the works is a small trip to Miami for another dear (old-partner-in-crime) girlfriend's wedding at the The Tides.

Our room is booked and I'm so excited to spend some quality (child-free) time with friends and the hubby! I have a feeling that this trip to South Beach will be very different than my last (a drunk-fest bachellorette party in my single 20's).

I'm much more interested in soaking up all of the amazing Kelly Wearstler fabulous-ness, relaxing by the pool and indulging in a few spa treatments rather than shaking it at the clubs.

: )

Now, back to work...

Nothin' Better - Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

2010-08-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

It's no secret in my house that Mom loves her pancakes. I've actually been known to serve them for dinner on occassion. I've tried numerous recipes and mixes and thought I'd share my tried and tested no fail whole wheat blueberry pancake recipe with you.

I use this recipe via here with some additions...

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
6 tablespoons dried powdered buttermilk (cultured buttermilk blend)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil plus additional for brushing griddle

zest of half a lemon (finely zested)

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (or more if you like them extra berry-licious)

Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl, then add water, eggs, and oil and whisk until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes (batter will thicken). If batter is too thick to pour easily (whole-wheat flours vary in how much liquid they absorb), thin with additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Brush a griddle or 12-inch skillet with oil and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Reduce heat to moderate. Working in batches of 4, spoon 2 tablespoons batter per pancake (a heaping large serving spoon works well) onto hot griddle to form 3- to 3 1/2-inch rounds. Cook until bubbles appear on surface and pop, edges are set, and undersides are golden, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Flip pancakes with a metal spatula and cook until undersides are golden and pancakes are cooked through, 45 seconds to 1 minute more. (Lower heat if pancakes brown too much before insides are cooked through.) Transfer pancakes to plates and brush griddle with oil between batches. Serve with warm syrup.

This recipe makes enough for me, my husband and hungry toddler for two breakfasts. I make them Saturday morning and we eat the leftovers on Sunday! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. Happy Sunday!

Feeding The Wee Ones - Weelicious

2010-08-21T15:07:00.002-04:00

My little guy Grayson is just about 18 months now and has become quite the little eater. It happened so quickly for me. I feel like we went from basic purees to him wanting to eat everything my husband and I eat (I'm not complaining, he's not a picky eater - yaaay Gray!). I just didn't feel prepared to come up with age appropriate (aka: fun) and healthy foods for my toddler.

I just stumbled upon the website Weelicious (maybe I've been living under a rock, I don't know?) and it's been such a great resource to help me come up with new and interesting foods to give Grayson. They post healthy recipes, there is a message board for parents to compare notes, and they have great photos to give us parents a little inspiration to make meals a little more enticing to the wee ones.

Just thought I'd share this handy website! Have a great weekend!

THAT Room

2010-08-20T12:30:00.000-04:00

You know, the room that you're never quite happy with? It has issues and you just want to keep the door closed and not let anyone see it? Well, THAT room in my house is the powder room.

Here it is in it's current state (to see the "before" pics click here). We don't want to remodel it because this isn't our forever home and it's perfectly functional. So, any changes that can be made have to be purely cosmetic (and not expensive!).

It's painted BM Palladium blue (which I actually really love) and has a mishmash of every metal finish under the sun.

There is a small shower which you can's see that has a brass/frosted glass door that I'm trying to work around. I'm contemplating whether or not I should paint this existing light fixture gold or just scrap it and buy a different one. Call me crazy, but think it looks like the mirror has "antlers" with this light fixture above it, so it's bothering me.

I painted this tiered shelf (which is where I store towels and other things for guests) an antique gold to try to tie in the brass details.

I found some adorable hooks from Anthropologie to add some whimsy to the room. We often end up hanging wet swimsuits and beach towels in this bathroom, so these hooks come in handy.

I also dressed up an inexpensive plain white roman shade with some fuschia greek key trim. It didn't take more than an hour of time and some Fabri-Tac. But, with all of these small details, I'm still missing that much needed "pop" in this room. Something that pulls everything together.

I can't stop obsessing about this sweet bathroom (source unknown - if you know, please let me know). Is wallpaper the answer - I don't know? What do you think? Do you have a room like this that just has you stumped??

Edit: the photo above is via here and the wallpaper is Waverly shown below. Gorgeous! I smell a new project in my future.

Your Questions Answered - Teal Drapes

2010-08-20T11:11:00.003-04:00

Many people have inquired about where I got the teal drapes in my bedroom. I bought them from Pottery Barn over two years ago and the color has since been discontinued (unfortunately I don't remember the name of the color either). However, I found these at Overstock and they look to be a very close match. Although they aren't silk, they seem to get rave reviews.

A Nautically Inspired "Big Boy" Room

2010-08-18T16:15:00.007-04:00

I just thought I'd share a "Big Boy" inspiration board that I'm working on for my youngest client. Kids rooms are so much fun, aren't they?

A Bathroom That Makes Me Want To Get Dirty

2010-08-18T08:05:00.001-04:00

{I've had this photo in my "dream house" file for a while, before I knew to site appropriately. If you recognize it, please let me know so I can give it proper credit.}

LOVE!!!

Your Questions Answered - "Bienvenue" Doormat

2010-08-17T15:37:00.003-04:00

I received a few inquiries as to where I found this doormat. If you're local, you can find it in Darien, CT at Couleur Provence. After a quick Google search, I found an online retailer who sells it as well - here (although, theirs appears to be more green - mine is a true charteuse).

Home Again

2010-08-17T14:29:00.003-04:00

A beautiful Martha's Vineyard beach house!

{Image: Hutker Architects, Photography: Brian Vanden Brink}

I'm back home from Martha's Vineyard. We had a lovely time with our family on the boat, but I'm happy to be back home (on land). I'll catch up with you all once all of the bags are unpacked and some normalcy has returned to my household.

Kennepunkport {Through My Eyes}

2010-08-16T09:05:00.002-04:00

Since I'm still out of town, I figured I'd share photos from one of our recent little trips to Kennebunkport Maine.

Many of these photos were taken all real-estalker-paparazzi-like with my husband keeping at least 20 paces ahead of me in embarassment.

Am I the only one that really just takes photos of houses when on vacation?

I say, if you have a beautiful home, you're asking for people to stop and gawk at it, right?

Our Sideyard Makeover

2010-08-13T09:05:00.001-04:00

{After}

{Before}

Our sad little sideyard was just a mishmash of random plants. It's a tricky space because it's narrow and gets sun only in the morning.

{After}

I know it doesn't look like a huge change because all of the new plantings are still really young and small. Oh goodness, it really looks sad still, but I assure you, it's SO much better than it used to be!

What you can't really see are the hydrangea shrubs planted on the right that will grow to about 4 feet. The rhododendrons on the left are located between each of the windows (from our living room) and will also grow to about 4 feet. I can't wait to see how everything looks next year.

There are also two rose bushes planted on either side of the entrance to the gravel path. It's far for complete, but it's a start. I'd love to add an arched trellis covered in clematis (which I already have growing on the fence) at the end of the path where the sideyard narrows towards the backyard. I'm also not too crazy about the black metal edging we have, but this year's landscape budget it tapped, so maybe next year.

I love this look from Restoration Hardware (minus the lights) as an edging idea.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

My Home - Exterior

2010-08-12T08:05:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share a few shots of the exterior of my home while I'm away. It's not a palace by any means, but we love our little home. Can you believe the door and the shutters used to be Smurf blue when we bought the place? I'm talking bright blue.

It's funny, I've actually been in touch with the previous owners of the home (my neighbor is still very close with them). They had always wanted to paint the door/shutters black but just never got around to it.

I think she was very happy to see her previous home so well loved and taken care of by us the last time she visited.

I know that she and her husband adored the house and I could tell the moment I walked through the front door for the first time. It just had "good energy", you know? It's a happy home and we love it.

Heading To Martha's Vineyard

2010-08-11T07:05:00.000-04:00

{Emily Post's cottage garden in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard - photo via here}

Once again, I am packing our bags feverishly for a whirlwind trip to Martha's Vineyard (and possibly Nantucket). My in-laws sail their boat up the New England coast every summer.

{photo via here}

We try to join them (invite ourselves, really) if we can sneak away for a few days. Last year it was a Block Island adventure with a then 6 month old Grayson.

We didn't sail last year (we stayed in the marina) because we felt Grayson was too young. This summer we're going to see if he can do a 6 (approx.) jaunt to Nantucket which would be his longest sail to date. I mean, It's more like if I can handle it really.

Sailing with a 1.5 year old is anything but relaxing. Wish us luck! Here's hoping we make it all the way to Nantucket and I don't chicken out beforehand.

{photos via here}

So, can you offer any suggestions for Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket? Do you have any favorite haunts?

Love This

2010-08-10T11:43:00.004-04:00

{Interior design: Bierly Drake Design, Photography: Michael Partenio via here.}

A Sag Harbor Cottage

2010-08-06T08:05:00.001-04:00

{Interior design: Gary Cruz, photography: Keith Scott Morton}

Some of my favorite shelter magazines are courtesy of Cottages and Gardens which produces Connecticut Cottages and Gardens and Hamptons Cottages and Gardens (as well as Palm Beach and Westchester issues). While in East Hampton last weekend I picked up their special issue and found this adorable Sag Harbor cottage featured.

To me, this is the ideal beach cottage nestled in what I think is the most charming of Eastern Long Island towns.

It's not massive, at 2,200 square feet (still 500 square feet larger than my current home!) it retains all of it's 1840's charm yet updated with modern conveniences.

I particularly love the way it doesn't look overdecorated. All of the items have that found quality that I think is essential when furnishing a beach cottage...as if the furniture pieces were cast offs from the owners primary home, or hand-me-downs, or prized treasures from local antique shops.

I'm have a special place in my heart for glossy black front doors!

Are you heading to a beach cottage this weekend - do tell! I wish I were. I'll settle for going to the beach minus the cottage.

Bulbs On My Brain

2010-08-04T11:15:00.002-04:00

Is it too early to think of next Spring? Probably. However, Fall is right around the corner which is the perfect time to plant bulbs for the following year. So, I've been trying to devise a plan to incorporate some of my favorite spring blooms into our little garden.

Allium is by far one of favorite flowers. It's so unique in it's statuesque shape and the color is just so me.

After stumbling upon Elizabeth's fabulous blog, I fell head of heals in love with her pink tulips (pictured above). Aren't they wonderful? Go check out her blog, her house is stunning!

Hyacinths have the most intoxicating scent. They instantly conjure up memories of Easter dresses and Easter egg hunts in the crisp Spring air.

Isn't this mix of pink tulips and hyacinths just beautiful? I love the combination in textures.

Some of the earliest of bloomers are Crocus. I love to see mounds of them growing through patches of snow (which happened quite often where I grew up in Minnesota).

One of my most favorite flowers of all is the delicate Anemone with it's paper-like petals and skinny stem.

And I can't forget the striking Ranunculus.

What are your favorite Spring time blooms? Can you offer any advice regarding planting bulbs? I'd love to hear it!

{all images via here}

Hamptons = Happiness

2010-08-03T15:30:00.000-04:00

{my favorite room - Mabley Handler Interior Design's "Pool Lounge". It was one of the smaller rooms in the house, but I was smitten with every item in the space. The Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and Oomph tables were so cheerful}

I'm back and well rested (well, sorta). We visited our friends in East Hampton over the weekend and had a wonderful time at the beach, in the pool, BBQ-ing, shopping, etc. I also squeezed in a quick tour of the Hamptons Designer Showhouse which was just beautiful. Here are my top five favorite spaces from the 10,000 square feet of gorgeousness via Mabley Handler Interior Design's blog. Check out there blog for their full post from this year's home
here.

{Lucas Studio Inc.'s "artist's studio"}

{The walls were covered in this wallpaper which was stunning in person! The ceiling was a gray/lilac color - so beautiful}

{Of course I was a huge fan of Healing Barsanti Home's crisp, navy and yellow Foyer and Living Room. The navy and white drapes and velvet pillows in this room were the perfect contrast to all of the white upholstery.}

{Another blue and yellow room - this time in a turquoise- was "Bedroom III" by Arden Interior Architecture & Design. This room screamed "luxury beach house" all the way}

{The master bathroom was truly a magical space designed by Susanne Kelley of Bakes and Company}

{And in this master bath, I met my dream faucet by THG Paris. I'm a sucker for anything with "chaud" and "froid" written on it. Oh, and doesn't the font look so much like Chanel's font? LOVE I tell you!}

Just a few random photos from the weekend...

A view from Sag Harbor's Beacon restaurant

Our friend's oozing with charm 1930's coastal colonial complete with original clawfoot tubs, crystal doorknobs and wide plank hardwood floors - SWOON!

The beautiful tree-lined street that they live on.

Lots of pool time!

Historic home in town (East Hampton)

Mulford Farmstead Museum

And more historical (dreamy) homes.

Grayson and his new girlfriend Julia.

Grayson hated the cool water, hated the sand, but loved the piggy back rides.

Bottoms up!

I Dream Of Jeannie Moment

2010-07-29T20:46:00.004-04:00

Do you ever have those moments when you are so overwhelmed by your to-do-list that you just wish you could cross your arms, do a quick nod, and POOF your house would magically be clean, your bags would be packed and all other non-glamorous chores would be completed?

Yep, this is exactly where I'm at right now. Grayson and I both have head colds, which has just left me wiped out. The house is a disaster.

We're supposed to leave for the Hamptons at the crack of dawn and I just don't think I can do it. Where the heck are my "Jeannie" powers? Thank goodness I have this little munchkin to make me laugh out loud with his silliness. Moments like today when he decided my (a-hem, designer) sunglasses were way cooler without the lenses. I agreed, waaaaay cooler.

I also want to thank you for leaving such great feedback regarding this little old blog. I read each and every comment and e-mail and got so many great suggestions, so thank you for taking the time out of your lives to do that!

To the Hamptons or Bust! Have a great weekend Everyone!

Local Design Crush - Healing Barsanti Home {HB Home}

2010-07-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hands down my favorite local interior design studio is Healing Barsanti Home Design. Pat Healing did the interior design of my husband's childhood home during the early '80's and it was pretty fabulous in all of it's "seafoam" and "shell" pink glory. All of the furniture pieces Pat selected for the home were exquisite and timeless. We have since reupholstered all of them (after years of wear from a busy family of children and pets) and they now live happily in my in-laws new home.

Here are my favorite images from HB Home Design's portfolio.

If you're local, you can visit one of their gorgeous boutiques in Greenwich, Westport, New York, or East Hampton.

All A Flutter

2010-07-27T13:56:00.004-04:00

Look who landed at the top of our stairs.

Print purchased from these nice people in Denmark.

My original inspiration was found via the fabulous Elements Of Style blog.

I decided the "motel art" (as my sweet husband called it) that was sitting in my office had to go, so I spray painted the frame a glossy white and slapped the new butterfly print over the existing painting.

{"motel art" before}

{"motel art" after}

Where I Shop and a Request

2010-07-23T14:38:00.011-04:00

{Juliska Flagship Store }

465 Canal St. Stamford CT

Shop-a-holics Unite! I'm an a self-confessed shopper (be it, more of a window shopper), but I just love getting out there and soaking in all of the prettiness that little boutiques have to offer. So, I thought I'd start sharing some of my local haunts with you! I'm not benefitting in anyway (no kick-backs here) by doing this. I just hope that my fellow Fairfield County-ers can benefit by this! This is just a short list as I have MANY MORE shops that I'll share with you in the future.

{Pimlico Home in New Canaan }

I also have a request from anyone who reads this humble, little blog. I'd love to get some feedback from you all. Anything you'd like to see here? Anything you'd like to know about me, my home, my life, anything?

{SM Home in Greenwich}

I try to keep my posts original, mainly about my life and my home without posting too many photos that have been bounced around the blog-sphere to death.

{Dovecote in Westport}

So, as you can tell, I'm suffering from some Blog-posting-block and I need your help to fix it! So, leave me a comment, or drop me an e-mail. I'd love to hear from you (including all you lurkers too)!

Bringing the Outdoors In

2010-07-21T12:36:00.009-04:00

{"Limelight" hydrangeas and hosta leaves straight from my little garden}

Have you been watching the latest Design Star on HGTV? Do you have a favorite designer? Well, I do and her name is Emily Henderson. Did you know she has a a blog where she not only shares styling tips and design inspiration (and her quirky sense of humor), but she also gives us DS fans a glimpse of the behind the scenes drama - so much fun! After reading this post on her blog about fresh flowers, I was instantly inspired to get out in my tiny garden to bring some of the outdoors in!

To see my previous living room posts click - here and here and here -

I also did a little pillow switch-a-roo (of course).

{some "Guacamole" hostas and hydrangeas}

I recently removed a vintage print from the frame above to see if it could be professionally cleaned. I left the frame empty and it's kind of growing on me that way. However, new art IS on the way!

The chairs pillows are covered in a silk velvet in "lichen" from Kravet.

I also want to report that Fred the Fiddleleaf Ficus is alive and well. He's actually grown a bit!

My Newest Addition To The Family

2010-07-06T16:01:00.003-04:00

Just because I can't stand not having any design related updates....

Just a couple recent changes in the living room for your viewing pleasure. The little chair (above) got a seat cushion make over with some left over fabric from this project. I've recovered these chairs oh, maybe 6-7 times (seriously). It's just too easy.

And let me introduce you to Fred the Fiddleleaf Ficus. Yes, I name my house plants. What? You don't? I'm yet to find the perfect container for him, but I think he looks handsome even without one. Now, let's hope I can keep him alive!

And just some random pretties sitting on my table...

Catching Up

2010-07-06T12:09:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. I can't believe it's already July!? We're in the middle of a heat wave here in Connecticut. Seriously, it's supposed to be over 100 degrees today? What the...??

We hung out on the (parent's) boat this weekend and tried to find relief from the heat (which didn't really happen). Sitting on a sailboat when there is NO wind on a hot day isn't exactly paradise. Although, the good company (and ice cold beer) were enough to make me happy.

On a somber note, my husband's grandfather (and my adopted grandfather) passed away a couple weeks ago (hence the dead air here on my blog). He lived a long, great life and touched so many peoples' hearts. We loved him dearly.

This post is all over the place, I know. It's a true representation of how my brain is these days!

I've done a lot of planting recently in our little "city garden" (as I call it). I felt the need to document it here since I have no idea if these new little plants are going to make it through this heat wave. Hang on little plants, hang on!

Yesterday's Walk and My New Ride

2010-06-16T12:55:00.005-04:00

Here she is! I found her here. Isn't she pretty?

My inner child is beyond excited about my brand new wheels!

We are lucky to live just steps from the water, so whenever the weather is nice, Grayson and I (along with our lovely neighbor Maria) go for a stroll by the water. We sit and watch the boats pass by and Grayson loves to wave at the boats returning from a day on the water. Sometimes he even gets a wave back!

{Trying to catch a "smiling" photo from a 1 year old is practically impossible for me}

Life is good.

Glossy Paint and Other Updates

2010-06-15T14:35:00.001-04:00

I Just thought I'd share a few little projects from my home lately. I wish I had more time to give more detail, but for now this is a "drive-by-blog-post". Our weather beaten front door got a nice fresh coat of high gloss black paint a couple days ago and I can't stop staring at it. Is it weird that I totally open and close my door for no reason other than to look at the paint? Oh, and I also do the same to freshly organized closets...I stop and oogle at the organization-porn. Weird, I know.

The dining room got a new paint color as well ("Olive" by Farrow and Ball) and I'm 80% happy with it. I wish it was a little more punchy green as opposed to a muted gray green, but oh well. Maybe next year I will paint again. I kid you not, this is the THIRD paint color in the past two years that these walls have seen (again, weird. I know). I just can't seem to nail it. However, it's been getting rave reviews from visitors. It honestly does look better in person. I also added a blue and white plate collection as well as an old mirror (painted BM China White).

The window seat (aka: the glorified cat bed) got a crisp white cushion as well as some of my random throw pillows from around the house.

The dining room chairs also got a nice new ikat on their seats. This fabric makes me happy.

The hydrangea are in full bloom here. Oh, how I LOVE me some hydrangea blooms!

We also got rid of the dated track lighting that used to be in our kitchen.

We replaced them with these pendants from Pottery Barn. I just realized I have the wrong size bulbs in them. Oh well, add that to my to-do-list!

Grayson has been my little helper in the garden recently. He loves to "plant" flowers in his very own pot (aka: make a huge mess in the dirt).

More details later...

I Need Your Help With Something

2010-06-10T14:25:00.009-04:00

This is our master bedroom

This is a duvet cover that I'm head-over-heels crazy about.

Here it is again in a different color way.

Do you think either of these duvets would look nice in the space?

The other elements in the room to consider are this chair...

The dresser and lamps...

...and the headboard has a deep gray velvet underneath it's white summer cover-up.

I'd love to hear what you all think. Is the duvet too much? Or, is it that much needed pop that the room is lacking?

(I) Love Pillows

2010-06-03T09:05:00.000-04:00

I'm crazy in LOVE with these pillows by LuLu DK Matouk.

So I had to take a little love (pillow) home with me when I saw them the other day at the Juliska flagship store here in Stamford, CT. Oh, how I love that store! Seriously, check it out if you're local. You won't be sorry. They even have a little coffee shop so you can shop whilst sipping a nice cappuccino.

Here are some other gorgeous pillows by LuLu DK Matouk. These are dangerous for a girl with a serious addiction to throw pillows.

So fresh and summery!

Obsessed

2010-06-02T10:49:00.004-04:00

{Photo by Mary Ruffle via La Dolce Vita }

This adorable photo inspired my latest obsession with vintage (looking) bicycles. A beauty very similar to this bicycle is on it's way to me and I can't wait to take her for a spin!

My No Sew Faux

2010-05-25T14:40:00.004-04:00

{I swear my little faux shade isn't crooked in person. It does look a little off in the photo though}

Here is my latest addition to my master bathroom. I'm all about instant gratification so I just couldn't deal with ordering a custom roman shade for this room. With just one yard of fabric, a staple gun, a leftover piece of crown moulding and some pins, I made this little faux roman shade.

I had pondered getting rid of the oh-so-ugly-yet-functional mini blinds, but I actually really liked having mini blinds in this room. When the blinds are pulled up (which is most of the day) they tuck nicely behind my no sew faux! It still needs some tweeking, but I'd say it's not too shabby for about a half hour's worth of time.

Don't you love this time of year? My neighbor has the most gorgeous peonies blooming right now (and shares them with me!). I wish they would last all summer long.

A Birthday Trip and Dining Room Sneak Peak

2010-05-24T17:00:00.005-04:00

{Still a work-in-progress, but you can see some updates to our dining room - new paint color, new drapes, new carpet and the list goes on}

33, yep I turned 30-effing-3 last week. How did that happen so quickly? My sweet husband planned a quick three day weekend trip to Kennebunkport, Maine so we could celebrate. We had a wonderful time with a couple of our besties and our little munckin. We stayed at an adorable B&B and ate like total pigs. I have lobster coming out of my ears. I was in heaven, HEAVEN I tell you.

{My two favorite guys on the beach}

It was a blast, but now back to work. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Lots of Inspiration So Little Time

2010-05-18T13:29:00.005-04:00

Greetings from the overwhelmed. Lauren of Pure Style Home recently wrote this post on her blog as if she could read my mind. I swear we are living parallel lives. Although, Lauren has TWO little ones, a budding interior design business, a super successful blog and an amazing home filled with creativity and incredible DIY projects. Enough with the blogger worship, right? Well, I have to say it was so incredibly refreshing to read her post today, as I myself am trying to figure out this juggling act I call being a working mom. I do not have it down, nor do I think I will have it figured out anytime soon. Emails have gone read, but not responded to. Phone calls get returned during naptime (usually the following day) if I'm lucky. My brain is full of ideas, I have some incredible (and patient) clients, but I just need more hours in the day! So please let me apologize to those who may be waiting for me to respond to an email. I haven't forgotten about you or the people who read my humble, little blog.

Just to keep you all interested in what I'm up too, I thought I'd share some design boards from some projects I'm hoping to wrap up soon.

{Feminine glam living room in Westchester, NY}

{Coastal chic and family-friendly living room in Greenwich, CT}

{Traditional boy's nursery in NYC}

Still to come:

My dining room re-vamp

A sailboat remodel (I'm so excited to share this with you!)

My powder room make over

Unveiling of my new official website (eeek!)

(Oh, and I still managed to maintain a 3.9 GPA at school! However, I'm taking the summer off)

Love This

2010-05-11T13:03:00.003-04:00

Everything about his space is so my taste (at the moment). The bold, yet classic black and white flooring, the high gloss black door with the brass lion door knocker, the amazing light fixture, and can I just say, I want to kiss that handpainted wallpaper in the dining room. Designed by Elizabeth Dinkel, my current design crush.

This Wallpaper...

2010-05-09T13:45:00.004-04:00

Can anyone tell me who makes this wallpaper? I've found similar ones from Thibaut, but can't seem to find this exact wallpaper. This image is from one of my favorite Greenwich go-to boutiques for accessories and artwork, Sandra Morgan Interiors. Not only is the shop absolutely gorgeous and filled to the brim with amazing furniture, accessories and lamps, they offer full service interior design. The last time I was in the shop, I Ooooo-ed and aaaaah-ed over this wallpaper and asked who made it, but low and behold, I forgot the company's name.

And here it is again in green via Simply Seleta. Gorgeous bathroom!

***UPDATE***

After much searching, I discovered the gorgeous paper is by Cowtan and Tout ("Bamboo"). Wooooooo!

A little update...finals are over and I think I did pretty well...we'll see once my grades are posted in a couple weeks. I'm enjoying a very laid back Mother's Day here at home with my little family and I couldn't be happier. Here's wishing all the moms out there a very happy Mother's Day!

Finals - I Promise To Return Soon

2010-05-04T15:20:00.004-04:00

I have finals this week. Major UGGGGGHHHHH. Back soon with...

My dining room revamp

A glimpse of some design jobs I'm currently working on

A sailboat design job

New Orleans {Through My Eyes}

2010-04-22T21:26:00.014-04:00

{a home in the Garden District}

Ready for my quick tour of New Orleans? We were there for a weekend for a wedding and I fell in love with the city! Here is just some of what we saw...

{the AMAZING homes of the Garden District}

The owner of this house shares my sense of humor (above).

I believe this is Anne Rice's home (above).

{The French Quarter}

{Oak Alley and Laura Plantations - INCREDIBLE!}

Have a great weekend!

Take A Guess

2010-04-20T13:48:00.003-04:00

Can anyone guess where I was last weekend? This is a photo I snapped as I walked through a famous district in this US city. Anyone who can tell me wins a big, fat virtual gold star.

The "Man Room" Revamped

2010-04-19T16:44:00.006-04:00

Welcome to my husband's "Man Room". Doesn't every man need one of these? Leather chairs, big tv, a place to put your feet up and kick back with a beer in hand? Honestly, this is one of my favorite rooms in our house too.

I fell head over heels in love with these Trink Turk pillows after I saw them on one of my daily blog reads here (thank you Caitlin for your incredible blog and for sharing the link to your source). I just had to have them alone with the ever-so-popular zebra pillows from West Elm.

Since our little one is toddling around now getting into EVERYTHING (can you believe he's already 1?), I knew we had to address our lack of closed storage. Originally wanting to have a custom built in, I knew that would be way out of our budget. So, this Pottery Barn media cabinet was my Plan B option. I couldn't be happier with it.

We also got rid of the West Elm jute rug that was in here and replaced it with the chocolate brown rug that was previously in our dining room (another room that has gotten a little make over to be blogged about shortly!).

Thanks for touring our "Man Room"! To find more information and to see what this room used to look like click here.

My Master Bath Make-Over

2010-03-23T14:22:00.005-04:00

Happy Spring! Wondering what I've been up to lately? Besides celebrating our little one's first birthday, entertaining out-of-town guests (miss you already Mom), and juggling some design classes on top of all of that, we gave our master bathroom a much needed make-over.

Here she is in all of her shiny, new White Carrara glory! We re-used the existing vanity and replaced the solid surface top with marble. Installed new polished nickel wall sconces and faucet.

The old 6"x6" ceramic tiles were torn out and replaced with 2"x2" Carrera marble tiles.

Again, the same 6"x6" tiles in the shower were replaced with crisp white subway tile installed in a herringbone pattern.

The faucet is by Rohl.

The mirror is from Ballard, the sconces are from Circa Lighting and the drawer knobs are from Restoration Hardware. The walls are the same pale blue color that is on our bedroom ceiling, BM Seafoam.

I'm still waiting on a new roman shade to be installed on the window...

...in this lovely Allegra Hicks printed linen.

Here is a sad little reminder of what the space used to look like. Polished brass fixtures, no place to hang a towel (seriously there were no towel rods) and all of that basic white ceramic tile. Much better, no?

A Tour Of A Master Suite

2010-03-05T12:13:00.006-05:00

Here we are again at my in-laws place...this time I'm taking you for a tour of their master bedroom and bathroom which I designed. Did I ever mention that this entire home was completely taken down to the studs and built back up again? The original house was a mess. It's come a long way!

My mother-in-law loves pale green and pinks - very subtle and soft colors for the bedroom. The gorgeous four poster bed is a new piece and is perfect to bring the eye up to the cathedral ceiling in the space.

I love the hardware on this chest used as a nightstand.

The window treatments are linen embroidered in pale green. They filter the light perfectly.

Now on to the bathroom...

Another photo of the view of LI Sound. Oh, how I'd love to soak in this tub (maybe when I house sit the next time I'll get my chance!).

My Bedroom

2010-02-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

I put up some different artwork and I'm much happier with the outcome. You can see the work-in-process here. The art collage just wasn't cutting it. Just a little spruce up (among many that are currently underway in our little Connecticut home!)

Refreshing

2010-02-25T15:16:00.008-05:00

{photography: Terry Pommet}

These beautiful, summery interiors from the latest issue of Connecticut Cottages & Gardens have me dreaming of warm weather today (considering we're being hit with yet another "Nor'easter right now)

Designed by Lynn Morgan Design, a well known Connecticut based designer (and a definite design crush of mine), this Nantucket home exudes happiness with it's vibrant color scheme, but balances it with crisp white to maintain a sense of calm.

This back painted glass vanity top is to die for. Do I spy my favorite faucet? The Opus by Waterworks?

The Girls' room is one that I would've dreamed of when I was young. Heck, this 30-something would be happy to spend hours there now. I still love all things pink and those orange pom-pom blankets are adorable.

The master suite is right up my alley with it's touches of turquoise and gauzy white. Although, I would just have to hang some fantastic art above the beautiful headboard to take advantage of those high ceilings.

The In-Laws Living Room

2010-02-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

Wow, two posts in one day! I have a babysitter, can you tell? I've been dying to share some of the projects that have kept me busy these past, ooooooh 10 months.

This is my in-laws open living room facing the LI Sound. They were craving a serene, traditional space with a hint of coastal chic without the kitch. I specifically remember my mother-in-law saying "please, no lighthouses".

It's a mix of repurposed furniture from their previous home (the gray sofa used to be the ever-so-popular seafoam green from the 80's and the white armchairs matched). The walls are the perfect pale blue/gray named Oystershell from Benjamin Moore. The three sets of french doors open outward to let in the coastal breezes. It's quite lovely in the summer!

The velvet covered daybed and leather wingback chairs are from Baker. The octagonal ottoman is from Hickory Chair covered in a pale blue Beacon Hill fabric. It's a long narrow space, so the daybed creates a nice bridge between the two seating arrangements (it's also a great place to catch a nap)

The fireplace surround is a gray/blue slate.

I'm obsessed with these pretty (1930's Italian) wall lights courtesy of 1st Dibs.

This is a view from the dining room. The main foyer is to the right and the living room is to the left.

Still more to come!

A Suite Retreat: My In-Laws Guestroom (part 2)

2010-02-24T13:18:00.003-05:00

Here is the adjoining bathroom to the guestroom in my in-laws place. I just thought I'd share the details of this little bath with you.

We chose a beautiful slab of Calcutta Gold for the counter top and the shower 6"x12" shower tiles. The faucets are by Jado (Hatteras) in antique nickel.

I don't know why I don't have a photo of the floors, but the same hardwood that is throughout the house is carried into the bathroom.

Nothing crazy, but just a cozy, little bathroom. Simple and clean.

Local Design Crush - Alisberg Parker Architects

2010-02-14T18:19:00.007-05:00

Tired of seeing my family portraits yet? I'm so happy to put some fresh new images up here! So, this blog has been a major snooze lately and for that I apologize. For your viewing pleasure, let me introduce you to Alisberg Parker Architects, a fabulous, Greenwich firm with whom I'm smitten with.

Their kitchen and bath designs really take my breath away. I love the timeless quality of their work.

Family Portraits

2010-02-03T08:21:00.002-05:00

We were lucky enough to snag Jessica Claire, photographer extraordinaire, while she was in NYC over the holidays. She photographed our our wedding and gave us wedding photos that we absolutely treasure. I couldn't think of anyone else I would want to take our first family portrait!

Check out Jessica's Blogsite to see more of her work!

A Suite Retreat: My In-Laws Guestroom

2010-01-27T09:47:00.006-05:00

My mother-in-law wanted a cozy room for guests to relax in while staying at her home.

We reused the bedroom furniture that used to be in her master bedroom in their previous home.

The cozy English armchair was reupholstered in an embroidered silk.

New/vintage marble based lamps were found on Ebay.

A European inspired chandelier was installed. (I couldn't decide what throw pillows I liked best)

Printed linen roman shades were installed rather than drapes.

The view of Long Island Sound (and the neighbor's pool)

See the work-in-progress of this room here.

Sweet Distractions

2010-01-04T13:58:00.004-05:00

This is one of the many things we've been up to lately. Grayson just started getting his groove on one day and it's been one of his favorite activities ever since!

Alive and Well

2010-01-02T11:09:00.003-05:00

Hello and a very belated "Happy Holidays" to all of you! No, I didn't fall of the face of the earth, I just got caught up in the organized chaos that is my life these days. I want to thank all of you for sticking with me through my "dead air" moment as well as sending me your kind e-mails to just say "hello" and "are you OK?". I am more than OK, I'm doing fantastic and my little ol' family is happy and healthy.

I hope you can bear with me a little longer during this extended blog hiatus. I have some exciting things to share with you in the future, but I just need some more time to get my act together. I do have a small favor to ask of anyone who is (still) reading and could offer some advice...

I'm in desperate need of a website developer, particularly one that can build a "slick" interior design website. Any leads out there? I'd love to hear them! Drop me an e-mail!

Thanks again to all of my blog buddies out there and a Happy New Year to all!

Teresa

Love This

2009-09-30T09:13:00.004-04:00

{Via Cote De Texas}

This is quite possibly the closet image I've found to date that best displays my image of a dream house. The amazing attention to architectural detail, the beautiful dark herringbone floors, those windows...it's just so breathtaking!

Take The Cake

2009-09-30T08:13:00.003-04:00

{Birthday cake- chocolate cake with vanilla frosting}

My husband is quite the chocolate cake connoisseur and this cake has become his all time favoritie. Give this recipe (from my girl Ina) a try if you too have a special place in your belly for something chocolatey! It's fantastic.

Moms, Go Get The Kleenex

2009-09-29T11:00:00.002-04:00

{Amazing photo by: Jessica Claire}

I usually don't like to take too many posts from other people's blogs, but I just had to share these lovely ones from one of my favorite mothers in all of Blogland, Design Mom.

lindsey johnsons thoughts on pregnancy

karen walronds childbirth memory

stephanie brubakers pregnancy memory

amy turn sharps pregnancy advice

Many congrats to her and her family (they are expecting a new addition)!

6 Months

2009-09-16T17:43:00.005-04:00

{Gray with his Nana Labor Day Weekend, Block Island RI}

Six months ago today my life changed forever. Words can't express how much I adore this munchkin.

The poor little guy is sick with the first cold of his little life and we've both been laying low. I'm slowly getting used to the idea of wiping boogers from his nose as well as off my shoulders, my hands and from pretty much every surface he comes into contact with right now. Who knew that babies don't know how to blow their noses? That's just one of the many things I never thought about before I had a little one.

My Mid-Century Modern Fantasy

2009-09-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

While perusing real estate listings in areas near mine, I stumbled upon this tiny, mid-century modern beauty in New Canaan, CT.

Designed by the famous Philip Johnson it is coined as his "livable Glass House". At only approximately 1800 square feet, many would question it's livablity during this day and age of the more square footage the better.

Check out these links to learn more about this home:

Real Estate Listing

Modern Homes Survey - Ball House

I couldn't help imagine what it would be like to live in such a distinctive little house.

The clean lines, the white walls, the connection to the outdoors, all look so chic and cool.

Here is a photo with the previous renters furnishings (I'm assuming).

This is the same room pictured above but seems to have been staged a bit better for the real estate listing.

I could definitely get used to a small bedroom like this!

This lounge area is quite sophisticated.

Love those windows and the way the stone flooring is continues to the patio.

A nice foyer vignette.

{not the same house, but another CT mid-century home courtesy of Metropolitan Home}

Now let's pretend I shelled out the 2.9 million dollars for this baby, I would probably add about 1,000 square feet to the original building (gasp!) in keeping with the original architecture (of course).

{Metropolitan Home}

These are a few images that I would use as decor inspiration...rooms that pay homage to mid-century modern design without being dated.

{Metropolitan Home - Trina Turk's Home}

{Brown Design Inc.}

{Brown Design Inc.}

{Brown Design Inc.}

Not exactly MCM, but a striking vignette suitable for such a house, in my opinion.

{Brown Design Inc.}

It's fun to fantasy house shop, isn't it?

Having A Kick Azz Summer

2009-08-24T14:53:00.004-04:00

Did any of you out there write "have a kick ass summer" in your high school year books? No? Well, this big nerd did thinking it was the cool thing to say to all of my buddies. Wow, well that's exactly what I've been having the past month or so. Seriously, this summer has kicked MY ass. It's been a hoot and a half, but has left me with absolutely no time to devote to my sad, little blog!

I've made some lifestyle changes...I've been working out with a personal trainer twice a week. I've broken up with cheese, red meat and ice cream in order to try to lose the baby weight I've been carrying for the past five months. I don't think I can get away with saying "well, I JUST had a baby" any longer. So, I'm shooting to lose 20 pounds. I've lost 3 so far. It's a (slow) start.

Ok, so I didn't completely break up with cheese. I'm still seeing Mozzarella on the side, but only until tomato season is over. Man, I love this time of year...the tomatoes, the corn, the berries...I'm in food heaven!

I'm also starting to take on some new design projects which I will definitely share with you all once they are completed. I'm so excited to get my design modjo back after the baby hiatus. It feels great to be creative again.

I hope you all are having a "kick ass summer" as well and thanks for reading my humble blog!

Catching Up Over Dinner

2009-07-28T11:20:00.005-04:00

I don't know why I've never made mussels before. I always order them when I see them on a menu, but the thought of making them at home always intimidated me. Little did I know that they are truly easy to make. I used one of Ina Garten's (I mean, who else would I go to?) recipes (found here) and they turned out fantastic. I'm definitely making them again and again. Oh, and talk about an inexpensive meal. I paired it with a nice green salad and some toasted baguette with garlic...the perfect meal, in my opinion.

This blog is really slooooooooooow lately, I'm aware and sorry. I just have my hands full with a now very energetic 4.5 month old who likes to be entertained CONSTANTLY. I know you moms of two-year-olds are thinking "ha, she hasn't seen nothin' yet". We're taking full advantage of the great weather and have been to the pool (which he surprisingly loves!) a lot. I've also started hitting the gym hardcore because I refuse to buy an entirely new wardrobe (I'm two sizes larger since having the baby). It's been 4 1/2 months and I still have 20 pounds to lose. Crap. I have some fun and hopefully useful new momma posts up my sleeve, but haven't been able to knock them out just yet. I hope to soon!

Teresa

Easy Sunday Brunch

2009-07-20T18:08:00.009-04:00

My husband and I hosted a little brunch on Sunday for my Mother-in-law's birthday. Since having Grayson, I haven't really had the desire to entertain/cook for a large crowd because I've just been too preoccupied with all things baby. However, since he has become more "independent" lately, I'm finding myself back in the kitchen again and lovin' it! Here is what I made. All recipes are courtesy of my go-to-gal for yumminess, Ina Garten. The jam was particularly fantastic and EASY! I don't think I'm going to buy jam again now that I know I can make my own in a little over a half an hour. Seriously, give these recipes a try. They are all winners in my book!

Challah French Toast
Slow-Cooked Scrambled Eggs With Green Herbs
Maple Roasted Bacon
Easy Strawberry Jam
Buttermilk Bicuits

(I made them without the cheddar)

Fresh Fruit Platter

Mini Desserts from Di Mare Pastry Shop

Drinks:

Mimosas

Peach Belinis

Bloody Marys

Love This

2009-07-17T10:50:00.003-04:00

Designed by Brooke Giannetti of Velvet and Linen Blog (one of my favorite design bloggers). This master bedroom just speaks to me. All that white with pops of blue and pale green are right up my alley! Ah, and that light fixture!

:::::::drooling:::::::

Here is the adjoining master bathroom. To die for!

Check out her full post here.

Dinner And Some Mommy Talk

2009-07-16T10:40:00.009-04:00

{lace cap hydrangea found everywhere in our neighborhood - they always remind me of fireworks}

I'm always amazed when I get an email from someone who follows this blog. Someone really reads this thing? When I started blogging, I never expected anyone to give a darn about what I had to say, not to mention putting up with my horrible grammar and spelling (sorry!).

{where our little family hung out on Sunday}

I'm so thankful for the sweet comments and advice that I receive from many of you. You have no idea how nice it is to know that I'm not alone in this adventure of motherhood.

Recently, since I've been sharing my thoughts and feelings on being a first time mom, I've been receiving many emails asking for advice, or rather just a virtual shoulder to cry on.

{Dad and Gray (great-grandmother in the background) enjoying the nice weather on Sunday}

So, I thought it might be nice to share some new mom topics here and open it up to all of you to share your experiences and advice.

{great-grandmother's garden}

So, my first topic is regarding the "baby blues". A very sweet new baby momma of a two week old wrote in asking

"...how long did your "baby blues" last?"

{great-grandparent's view}

My response:

"...mine lasted for about 3-4 weeks. It was more of random bouts of emotion rather than a full fledged depression, in my case. Must've been those darn hormones! I would be giggly and happy one minute and crying the next. In fact, I still catch myself tearing up from time to time even after four months. I say, if you feel like crying then girl, cry. I thought it felt good to get the emotions out. I think women are just so sensitive, emotionally and physically, after child birth. Just try to take care of yourself. Don't be afraid to ask people for help when you need it. No one will think less of you as a mother if you need some assistance...we all do at one point or another! My only other advice would be to keep the lines of communication open with your husband. He should know what you are feeling and that it's completely normal for women to feel this way after child birth..."

I'm obviously no psychologist, not even close, just someone sharing MY experience. So, I'd love to open this up to your comments, suggestions and experiences with the "baby blues". If you feel more comfortable sharing anonymously, please do so. In this case, it's completely appropriate. Please chime in!

And now...DINNER

Halibut with Swiss Chard and Garbanzo Beans

(courtesy of Epicurious)

My beautiful and oh-so-healthy sister-in-law, Kristin introduced me to this recipe while staying with her in NYC. She made it strickly vegetarian, but being a meat lover I decided to add some fish to the dish and served it over brown rice. It's damn good and very healthy!

Garbanzo Beans:
2 15.5-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained (about 3 cups)
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 large shallots
3 small bay leaves, preferably fresh
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil (note: I used 3/4 cup)

(note: I added crumbled feta to the finished dish)

Chard:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
3 small bay leaves, preferably fresh
2 shallots, sliced
2 bunches Swiss chard, center stems cut out, leaves coarsely torn
2 cups low-salt chicken broth

Garbanzo beans:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first 5 ingredients in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour oil over; cover dish with foil. Roast until garlic is tender, about 45 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and chill.

Chard:

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic, bay leaves, and shallots. Cover; cook until shallots are tender, about 2 minutes. Uncover; add half of chard. Toss until chard wilts and volume is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add remaining chard. Toss until chard wilts, about 2 minutes. Add broth. Cover and cook until chard is tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Season chard with salt and pepper. Transfer chard mixture to large sieve set over bowl and drain. DO AHEAD: Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Drain garbanzos and reserve oil; discard bay leaves. Combine garbanzos and chard in large skillet. Add 2 tablespoons oil reserved from garbanzos. Toss over medium heat until warmed through, moistening with more oil by tablespoonfuls if needed, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

For the halibut (I didn't use a recipe):

Season with a generous amount of freshly chopped thyme, chives, lemon zest and salt and pepper. Dip the fish in flour and dust off excess. In an oven proof skillet, heat up some olive oil and pan sear the fish on both sides. Place in a 400 degree oven until fish is flaky. Easy peasy. Enjoy!

Reality

2009-07-10T13:09:00.005-04:00

{C'mon, you just have to chuckle, right?}

I LOVE being a mom. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars for this little chunky monkey. Even after he spits up on an outfit warm from the dryer.

{zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz}

Or after an hour of trying to get him to nap in his crib, he decides that his activity mat is MUCH more comfortable. Ah, the joys of being a mom to a four month old. And you know what? I look forward to it everyday!

Have a fantastic weekend!

A Manuel Canovas Summer

2009-07-10T08:35:00.000-04:00

This bedding by Manuel Canovas stopped me dead in my tracks in Gracious Home the other day. The colors and the print are so happy and summery. It would be the perfect bedding for my fantasy Hamptons beach cottage.

Here it is in a cool color pallette.

A few other summery favorites...

A Quick Trip to New York

2009-07-09T10:40:00.007-04:00

Makes you hungry, no? I was only in NYC overnight to hang out with my Sister-in-law who just moved to the Upper West Side from Boston and I had a very short list of things I HAD to do while visiting...

1. Go to Russ and Daughters for bagels and lox. People who are unfamiliar, Russ and Daughters is quite possibly the best place in all of New York City for smoked fish. Anthony Bourdain, my favorite television personality, names this deli as one of his 13 Places to Eat Before You Die. Best lox EVERRRRRRRRRRR.

2. Head to Zabars to buy some of their amazing coffee to bring home. I also got sidetracked at their fantastic cheese counter and had to sample a few, of course. I fell head over heals for a triple creme named Pierre Robert.

3. Hang out in Central Park. Central Park is probably my second most favorite place (first being the Met) in all of NYC. Gray is now old enough to actually notice his surroundings, so it's fun to bring him there.

What a Weekend

2009-07-06T21:37:00.006-04:00

Ah, what a great Forth of July weekend we had!

Friday night we had a handful of friends get together for a Tex Mex dinner - fajitas to be exact. That would be yours truly grilling up some major beef.

Following dinner we heading to Stamford Harbor for dessert and fireworks from my in-laws sailboat. Can you believe the baby slept through the entire fireworks display? Incredible!

Saturday our in-laws had their annual 4th of July BBQ. That would be yours truly enjoying my sangria a little too much. Don't I look like such a responsible mom in this photo?

And Sunday we got together with some dear friends in town from Philly. They have a 5 month old daughter who is absolutely gorgeous.

I think Gray was smitten!

And today, Gray had his first "swim". Bwahaha, he looks terrified, doesn't he? He actually ended up liking it and we "swam" in the baby pool for a half an hour. Isn't he becoming such a bruiser? He's just plumped up before our eyes!

Now I'm off to NYC for a couple days with the baby to hang out with some friends!

Last Night

2009-07-04T16:31:00.001-04:00

Feeling Yachty?

2009-07-03T09:30:00.001-04:00

Spending the weekend at the Montauk Yacht Club (pictured above) totally got me in the mood for all thing nautical. That and looking forward to spending some time on my in-laws sailboat this weekend -- and yes, Anonymous Commenter from a previous post (have I mentioned how I despise anonymous comments??) Gray will be sporting his infant life preserver -- has made me obsessed with all thing nautical.

{photo: Coastal Living}

Although some nautical interiors can be on the kitchy side, there is something about all of that crisp white paired with cool blue that makes me instantly calm.

{photo: Coastal Living}

Now, if I didn't still have 20 pounds of baby weight to lose, I'd be sporting one these nautical little numbers over the holiday weekend.

Courtesy of J Crew

These Vineyard Vines totes are the perfect bags for sailing, shopping or as an overnight bag. Love 'em!

Oh, and you can't forget your non-marking boat shoes courtesy of Sperry

{photo: Sperry}

Yes, and this is what we look like while we're sailing (in my dreams). Doesn't the "dad" in the photo look like a maniquin? Creepy, no?

{Greece, 2008)

This is the oh-so-glamorous reality. That would be me at the helm...what was I saying? "Arrrrrrgh, matey"??? Who knows.

These shorts would be perfect for the boat (also courtesy of J Crew).

These Lands End totes are the quintessential boat bag.

Loving the tangerine color of this beautiful beach towel from Lands End paired with the navy accessories.

And we can't forget about the bambinos...

All found at Janie and Jack - too cute.

Happy 4th Everyone!

Inspiration - According to Grey Likes Weddings Blog

2009-07-02T14:30:00.000-04:00

Check out her fab post on finding inspiration. Everytime I check out her blog I want to throw a party, be it a bridal shower, cocktail party, what have you. She posts such party planning eye candy!

My Favorites - Maternity Style

2009-07-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

I've recently been e-mailed by a dear friend of mine who is expecting her first little one this November (yaaaaay C, I'm so happy for you!) wondering where to find cute maternity clothes. So, I thought I'd share my personal favorites with everyone. It took a lot of shopping hit and misses to find these jems.

The BEST (although on the pricey or spendy side as I used to say growing up in Minnesota) maternity clothes out there have to be from Isabella Oliver. The jacket I'm wearing above is the same one that's on the model in the photo at the top. I received so many compliments on it and it was the perfect light weight jacket for Fall. I wore it well into the winter because I was always SO hot that I didn't want to wear a heavy coat. Here are some of my favorites from this designer...

I wore this dress to one of our showers and LOVED it! It's stretchy, but holds it's shape and I actually felt somewhat sexy even in my 8th month of pregnancy. Whata dress!

Yowsa!

I loved the tops and blouses from Olian Maternity

{Does anyone else find this model irritating or is it just me?}

I wore the Olian top pictured above to one of our showers. Their tops wash SO well and are really comfortable. I wore this top a lot after I had the baby because it didn't even look maternity paired with leggings. LOVED it!

Who wouldn't love this cute jacket, pregnant or not?

Jeans are tough to wear (IMO) when your pregnant. I found myself owning two sets of them, one for the first and second trimesters, and one for the third trimester. The jeans that fit perfectly during the early months became way too tight in the thighs and dug into my pelvis when my tummy got bigger during the last couple months.

My very favorite jeans were by Habitual (pictured above). Not only were they nice and stretchy, but the rise was much lower than others I had tried. They didn't dig into the tummy area at all. They also didn't have the fabric panel at the waist, but had adjustable pulls on the inside, so they didn't even look like maternity jeans...brilliant! I was actually sad when I had to pack these babies away.

Probably the best value out there for maternity clothing has to be from the Gap. Great sales and ultra comfortable cotton tees, tanks and dresses. The majority of my everyday maternity clothes came from the Gap and Destination Maternity.

And for the MOST comfortable pajamas EVER (drumroll please)...

Theses beauties (although they truly aren't that cute) from Destination Maternity. I have them in black and...ehem...I'm still wearing them to this day. Favorite pajamas I tell you! During my last few weeks of pregnancy, I found sleeping to be almost impossible because I was so uncomfortably huge. Looking cute for bed was the LAST thing on my mind.

And for underwear that makes you feel pretty even when you feel as big as a house...

Belabumbum

They have cute swimwear too!

So, hopefully you find these leads helpful in your search for maternity clothes, "C" and other mommas-to-be. Here's to a happy and healthy 40 weeks!

Smooches,

Teresa

The Nursery - Finished

2009-07-01T08:35:00.001-04:00

So here it is, the nursery is completed...FINALLY! It's not easy working on a room between baby naps!

I contemplated painting the ever-so-popular tree mural on this wall, but decided I wanted something a little different.

Since we live steps from the water and Gray comes from a long line of sailors (on his dad's side...haha, definitely not mine...I get seasick, ugh.)

I decided a simple nautical feel would be perfect for the room.

I painted the upper portion of the room BM Blue Bonnet while keeping the lower portion BM China Blue. I used poster board to create a template for the "waves" using a large bowl as the "half moon" shape.

I found a sailboat silhouette on the internet

and freehanded the image in a large scale on the wall with a pencil. I then painted it with a custom color that I mixed up myself.

Summer Whirlwind - Catching Up With Y'all (part two)

2009-06-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

And for Part Deux of my catch up...we were off to Montauk, NY (the most Eastern town on Long Island) for an incredible wedding weekend. It was our first trip away from home with the baby and I have to say, it went very well! He slept the entire car ride out there and had his first experience with a non-family babysitter with no complaints from her.

The bride and groom had reserved the Montauk Yacht Club for the weekend. It was recently renovated with a definite nautical feel to it. Everything was crisp, white and navy. Loved the decor. Note: not ALL of the rooms have been renovated yet and were kind of nasty...just our luck, we got a non-renovated room. Booooo.

Friday before the wedding we had a fab dinner at Harvest with some friends and it was just delish!

Introducing the gorgeous bride and groom! Her dress was divine, I tell you DEEE-VINE (I had to ask her who designed it...Valentino...swoon). My terrible photograhy doesn't do it justice.

Here are just a few shots from the reception. It rained hard that night, but the HUGE tent kept us nice and dry.

A jam-packed dancefloor...a sign of a fantastic party. The band was seriously the BEST wedding band EVER. I danced my butt off.

The two new mommas enjoying their champagne (a lot!).

Sunday was Father's Day, so we headed straight from Montauk to a lobster dinner in Stamford in honor of three generations of dads in our clan. (check out the size of those lobsters! Sheesh, we're piggies, huh?)

Last weekend we FINALLY had some good weather here. Good enough to take Gray for his very first sail on his grandparents sailboat. He loved it so much he refused to take a nap while under sail. Life is just so much more fun with Gray around. Just knowing that everything is so new to him is incredible.

Summer Whirlwind - Catching Up With Y'all (part one)

2009-06-29T18:33:00.007-04:00

Man, I wish I could do this right about now! This would be Gray, doing what he does best, napping during a lovely BBQ at our friend's lake home in CT.

I don't even know where to begin to try to catch up with what has been going on in our Stamford household lately. Unfortunately, this might get a bit boring for those non-family readers, but I'm going to give you a little glimpse of my life during the past couple weeks.

The gardens at the lakehouse were just gorgeous. I was being a total garden nerd walking around snapping photos of all of the beauty. I wish I was a better photographer. Ugh.

I can't wait to show off this photo to the boys when they are teenagers. I know Gray is going to hate those pants I put him in! Bwahaha. When else am I going to be able to dress my little boy in silly clothes like this but when he's three months old.

Our dear friends visited us for a few days from Chicago and brought their adorable 5 month old son, Owen. It was so much fun having two babies in the house. Not to mention, having another new mom to gab with. I think we sat in our living room, ooh-ing and aah-ing over our two little boys, for hours. Who else can you do that with than another new mom, right?

We did our fair share of siteseeing. I loved being a tourist in my own town! It forced me to finally discover all of the fantastic places that are right around the corner. Greenwich Point (aka: Tod's Point), pictured above, is just minutes from our home and I had never been there before. What a mistake! It's a beautiful park/nature preserve peninsula on the Sound with a fab beach and beautiful walking paths. We also made sure to visit NYC with a trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (with babies in tow!). I was too busy trying to navigate the ferries and a crying baby to snap any photos of that day. I don't know how NYC moms do it!?

Since I'm slightly ADHD, I'm going to have to split this post up into a "part two"...

And The Winners Are...

2009-06-23T15:20:00.003-04:00

First of all, I want to say that I LOVED reading all of your e-mails. I really had no clue so many people read my humble little blog. I was touched by many of your comments. And who knew there were so many baby mommas out there, wowsa! Thank you all for taking the time to send me a little note. Ok, now for the winners...

The winner of Numero Uno, the Janet Hill print, is Sarah Schmiechen

and

The winner of Numero Dos, the baby momma favs, is Katie Futrell

So Winners, send me your addresses and I'll ship your loot ASAP!

Life has been a whirlwind lately...we had houseguests visit for a few days last week and attended an incredible wedding in the Hamptons over the weekend. As if that hasn't tired me out enough (I'm still recovering from a perpetual hangover), tomorrow I'm heading to Boston with Baby Gray. I hope to give some recaps soon!

"Wuz Up Chicks?"

2009-06-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone! It's Gray. Mom is really busy right now cleaning my room for me (she's the best) and making the house look pretty because we're having house guests come stay with us. My buddy Owen, he's three months older than me, and his mommy and daddy are coming to our house for a sleepover tomorrow. I'm pumped 'cause they are staying for five days! We're going to chillax and stuff, oh and maybe go to NYC a few days next week. But, that means Mom is going a little crazy trying to make our house just perfect. She's weird like that. I'm sure none of you chicks are like that, huh? Well, that's about it for now. Check ya later. Gray.

{I know, I know, I'm a total cheese ball with this post! I couldn't resist...bwahaha! "Signing off" for a week or so. - teresa}