Thankful Thursday

I have been feeling such gratitude lately for one very exciting reason: My sister is expecting!

My sister and her husband are over the moon, of course, but I know she's also quite overwhelmed. Even though this is a new experience for her, as well as for our family, I wish she weren't so worried. She is absolutely amazing, the most caring person with a gigantic heart, and I know she is going to be a wonderful mother.

I found this photo of Gisele Bundchen and her baby, featured in Vogue, to be so tender. I will have to share it with my sister so she can think about the beautiful moments she has to look forward to.

Photo from here.

Pure and Simple

When you think of a vacation home, what do you see? Open spaces for letting your mind wander, cozy spots to curl up with a book, big tables where all your friends and family can congregate?

Well, this lake home, featured in Chicago Home & Garden, has all that plus a terrific crisp, clean aesthetic. Take a peek:

Photos from here.

Glass Half Full

Today at work I realized my coffee cup was missing. The cup that has sat on my desk for the past two years somehow wasn't there anymore. Did someone take it? Did I leave it somewhere? Who knows. After some fruitless yet intense searching, I popped over to Target for a replacement. And I found this little guy ... for under $1. Score!

You have to appreciate the little joys in life, no?

Photo by me.

Step it Up

The work day is over, it's blazing hot out and I'm going out to dinner with my man in a few hours. Whew!

I wish I had these sexy, summery sandals to step out in tonight, but even without them I think I'm going to have a good time.

Photo from here.

Decked Out

When it comes to decorating our home, my husband and I have always been quite thrifty. We had to be with our first apartment when we were both in grad school, and it felt natural to take the same approach when we bought our first house nearly three years ago. Over the years, we've come to pride ourselves in finding creative, inexpensive ways to furnish and decorate.

I really like the idea of giving new life to an old piece of furniture. And that's what we did with our deck table and chairs. My parents had given us a Homecrest patio set they got back when I was in middle school. The chairs were in pretty rough shape and they reflected my mom and dad's love of earth tones and neutrals. So we ordered new "slings" for the chairs, and the update has made all the difference. Now the chairs look crisp and contemporary and invite us to enjoy dinner and drinks on the deck.

Before:

After:

Photos by me.

Perfection

I am in love with this kitchen. While I'm a sucker for pretty much any makeover or before-and-after photo series, this kitchen remodel on House Beautiful is incredible. The materials, the lines, the colors -- everything is so bright and clean and, well, just perfect.

Here, have a look. And don't miss the "before" photos on the online slideshow.

This kitchen may be just the inspiration I need to get a jump on some of our own home-improvement projects over the weekend!

Photos from here.

Water Worlds

Growing up, summers meant one thing: Pool time! My parents installed a pool in our backyard when my sister and I were young, and year after year this is the place where we'd congregate with friends and family. We learned to dive and do underwater flips, held races and lounged on tubes. It was such fun.

These mixed-media works by Luciana Abait capture the compelling nature of water. Don't you want to dive right in?

Photos from here.