Sunshine Day

Whew, what a weekend! We worked pretty much nonstop on our kitchen renovation. I'm loving how the room is turning out, but DIY projects sure are a lot of work! I've learned that prep work is tedious, renovations aren't as breezily montage-like in real life as they are on television and power tools are a lot of fun. We'll still have to add more coats of paint to the cabinet doors and drawers this week, and then order our new countertops, but I hope to have some before and after photos to share soon.

I did take a break yesterday from all the manual labor. It was an absolutely gorgeous day: temps in the high eighties, full sunshine, a nice breeze. So I lounged on the deck, and then my husband and I ate dinner outside in the evening. It was a perfect end to a very full weekend.

Photos by me. 

Fresh Start

While today kicks off a long holiday weekend, I won't be doing much relaxing the next few days. Instead, my husband and I are going to start a kitchen renovation project. We're finally going to paint the dark walls and old cabinets, and then order new countertops and a nice faucet. My parents, sister and brother-in-law are all coming over to help, and I'm hoping it's a fun project with some pizza and beer breaks thrown in. I can't wait to lighten and freshen up the kitchen. If our new space can look even a bit like these inspirational images, I'll be very happy. 

Happy weekend!

Photos from here, here, here and here. 

Sail Away

I'm pretty sure I need a yacht. And a long weekend, a bunch of friends, a faraway destination and these incredible clothes from Chanel's resort 2012 collection. All aboard?

Photos from here. 

Flower Power

It's a dark, cold, rainy morning, and curling back up in bed is majorly tempting. Let's perk up with some pretty flowers, shall we?

Photos from here.

Sad

I'm sad to share that I've had a miscarriage. My husband and I suspected something was wrong, and a trip to the hospital confirmed that we lost the baby. We're really sad about it, but we're also grateful that if something bad had to happen that it happened now instead of further along the way. I do trust that everything is happening the way it's supposed to, and that this is just a sincerely, thoroughly sad point.

Photo from here. 

Little Apple

This weekend, my husband and I visited my cousin and his wife in Appleton, Wisconsin. We had a great time! The city is small but has an impressive amount of restaurants, museums and natural beauty. We had lunch and played Scrabble at a cute cafe while a guitarist performed, then explored an art museum whose walls were taken over by thousands of tiles decorated with the theme of compassion. We napped and slept in at a great hotel and went on a dinner hop, visiting different restaurants for appetizers, pizza and drinks. And before heading home, we spent time in a lovely park by a lake, soaking up the sun. Here are a few glimpses:

Photos by me.

Puppy Love

As I look back on this week, I'm particularly grateful for my little pup. I swear dogs can tell when their humans are sick or stressed or in need somehow, and I think mine can sense I'm pregnant. She's been extra cuddly lately and curls up by my stomach at night. Even though she's only eight pounds, she's protecting me pretty nicely.

Happy weekend!

Locks Lust

When it comes to my hair, I always want what I don't have. A few months back, when my hair was about chin-length, I started eyeing cute pixie cuts and eventually chopped it. And now I'm longing for long hair. I keep seeing BCBG Max Azria ads in magazines and stop to admire not only the gorgeous clothes but also the model's pretty brown locks. That's how I'd love my hair to look -- now I just have to see if I have the patience to get there!

Jane Addiction

Do you like Jane Austen books? I love them! Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice -- I turn to these stories over and over and never tire of them. So I let out a little squeal of delight when I noticed these prints on Etsy. Aren't they great?

Photos from here. 

Kitchen Prep

When my husband and I bought our house, we considered the kitchen a space we'd live with for awhile but eventually spruce up. We like the layout but the cabinets, countertops and appliances are a bit dated, and the lighting is pretty terrible. We're hoping to repaint the walls, paint the cabinets and get new countertops this spring. In addition to researching how to tackle some of these projects, I'm also scouring the web and magazines for visual inspiration. I like these kitchens by Candice Olson, featured on hgtv.com. I like how they're a mix of modern and glamorous. I could definitely spend some time in these spaces!

Photos from here. 

Anything but Calm

What a wonderful weekend this was! I got to spend it with three lovely girls I've been friends with since we were nine years old. We had a blast! We went out for pizza and brunch, strolled the farmers' market, had a cookout and stayed up late into the night laughing and sharing stories at a sleepover, just like we did for years and years growing up. My pup joined in on the girls-night fun, too. Regardless of how much time passes between seeing one another, I love how we always pick up right right where we left off. It was fabulous sharing a long weekend with these amazing friends!

Photos from here.

Stark Contrast

There's something about these paintings, part of the Keystone Series by artist Katherine Sandoz, that I find mesmerizing. I love the distinction between the pristine white and thick black, and the way the abstracted forms seem to depict very specific places in nature. I find myself getting lost in these scenes.

Photos from here. 

Warming Up

It was a lovely weekend. The weather was gorgeous and we took lots of walks outside. I love this time of year, and all I want to wear are dresses, dresses, dresses. I like combining them with light cardigans and pretty sandals now and ditching the extra layer when the weather gets even warmer. Any of these dresses from Blanco would make quite a nice addition to my collection -- and help me look forward to the sunny weeks ahead.

Photos from here. 

Simple Plans

Ahhh, it's Friday and the weekend is almost here. I'm looking forward to a family dinner,  gallery hopping with my husband, lots of relaxation and some walks with the pup now that spring has arrived. Happy weekend to all!

Photo from here. 

Chill

Yesterday I had a meltdown. I've been fortunate so far in my pregnancy not to feel very sick, but being tired and emotional and seeing my body change has been a bit tough. I was feeling fat and icky and crabby and decided to go for a run yesterday morning. Just as I was about to leave, my husband gave me a compliment. I realize now that I should have smiled and thanked him for the nice words. Did I do that? No. I blew up at him and told him my body is no longer an acceptable topic of conversation, then bolted off on my run. Nice, huh? I later apologized and he was very sweet and understanding, but sheesh, I need to get a handle on this!

I should try to calm down -- relax, take a breath, appreciate all the wonderful things around me. Maybe I'll browse through this gorgeous, cozy, serene New York country home, featured on House to Home, and pretend I'm lounging there today! 

Photos from here. 

Happy May!

This month I'm looking forward to soft watercolor hues, pretty dresses, fresh air, open windows and flowers, flowers, flowers!

* Peony photograph

* Pillow

* Dress

* Earrings

* Sandal

* Room