on the grill

We are going grilling tonight! Our friend are hosting a BBQ in their backyard. Here is what I am taking:

via Martha Stewart
Grilled Salmon Steaks with Mustard Sauce
I am going to use the Mustard Sauce to baste both Salmon and Chicken

photo via chaos in the kitchen
A salad comprising of:
Brianna's poppy seed dressing
avocado
red onion
salad greens
feta cheese
turkey bacon

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
This recipe looks pretty simple. I have never tried cooking sweet potato fries before and I have only eaten them twice so I am not sure if they should be more sweet or savory. This recipe has a hint of sweet.
Any suggestions for fry dips?

P.S. don't forget to sign up for the giveaway!

house styles: colonial

A while ago I wrote a couple of posts on different housing styles. Not knowing much about various architectural styles I found it to be difficult and placed it on a back burner. This past semester I took a class on American architectural styles so I decided to pick the series back up.

A true colonial is much more bare bones than most people think. The key to a colonial home is symmetry and a door in the center of the home; wood and brick are what you will commonly see in these homes. The placing of the fireplace was often determined by the locality. Southern colonials often put their fireplaces on the outside of the home to keep the heat out of the center while New England colonials would place them in the center to help heat the house in the winter.

Today most homes that are considered colonial are really a colonial revival, which will often include neoclassical elements (porch and ornamentation around the doors and windows). They often still use brick or siding that looks like wood slats. Colonial revivals often observe the traditional center entrance and the symmetrical windows and rooms.

Next week: Georgian Homes

giveaway

These are two of my favorite cribs from their site. I have found that with cribs I tend to prefer simpler styles. There is something classic about them.


Today I have a giveaway courtesy of Baby Cribs Plus. To enter leave a comment on this post before Monday, May 3. The winner gets these crib sheets. For multiple entries link to this post via facebook or a blog post (each is worth one extra entry) and include the link in the comment section. Good Luck!

kitchen love

via brooklyn limestone
While we're on the topic of kitchens here is a kitchen I love. The flooring, the stools, the cabinets. What's not to love?

kitchen floors

Welcome to my kitchen. Currently I am trying to pick out new flooring for my kitchen, dining area and hallway. I am trying to figure out what will go with my cabinets, the other areas are so neutral that I think anything will work. But these cabinets are not so easy. Here are some inspiration ideas. What do you think, tile (we live in a colder climate, would tile be too cold?) or wood. Light or dark? What is your vote? Advice?

via kitchen design ideas

via anthony edwards

via my italian interiors

via Nate Thompson

via small kitchen design

new bookshelves?

I was reorganizing my bookcases last night desperately searching for more room for my new books. I saw this on Ikea's site and the thought came to me that I should try to sell my non-matching book cases and my tv stand for this beauty. I think it would be amazing.

teepee

via Black Eiffel
Did you ever play with a fabric teepee (formerly know as a tipi) when you were a child? I loved them. How hard can it really be to make?

kelly green

Image via project nursery
I love these kelly green cribs. The cribs were found via the free Craigslist section. Brilliant.

a complaint

One of my primary complaints for new/recent builds- when did the garage become the focal point of a home?

bag with a purpose

I read about Lauren Bush (niece of George W., granddaughter of George I) today and how she designs and sells these FEED bags.

They are pretty awesome, you can use them as a book bag, grocery bag etc. Included in the cost of the bag is a donation to help feed and educate poor children around the world.

chandelier

I have been cruising sites looking for house numbers for a potential project of my sisters, I ran across this beauty at PB. Amazing, I love it!

doorbell

Isn't this the most beautiful doorbell?

grilled salmon

image found here
We took the plunge and bought some salmon fillets. Tonight we are going for a test run with salmon (cooking some chicken just in case). My sister told me her fail-safe recipe- teriyaki sauce and lemon pepper. With some grilled asparagus on the side it should be a healthy dinner if nothing else!

partial shade

My sister is planting her first garden that is all her own, I have garden envy. She is looking for flowers to fill up the partial shade portion of her garden, and specifically "not ugly bushes." Here are some not ugly bushes.



Yellow Stokes Aster

Garden Phlox

Cardinal Flower

Lenton Rose Red Lady

Violets, Forget-Me-Nots, Foxglove, Black eyed Susan's, and Columbine's are all great partial shade flowers and possible Hydrangea's as well.

travel tuesday: chicago

We are contemplating a short trip to Chicago to celebrate the end of the semester (half way done!!!) I haven't ever been before so I want to see all the top sites!

perhaps take in some baseball...

Navy Pier

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)


Millennium Park

any suggestions?

colorful

via house beautiful

I love the pop of color behind these white cabinets.

pita pizzas

I saw a recipe for pita pizzas this week and I loved the simple twist to pizza. We tried making our own version today (alfredo, mozzarella, feta, onion and red pepper) and it was wonderful. I love how much easier and faster it is to make pizza with pita's.

P.S. There will be a giveaway later this week!

cardigans

I finally found a pastel dress, it's pink. I need a cardigan to go with it and I have been thinking of getting light gray. These are some of the front runners.


Boden

J. Crew

J. Crew

it's the political scientist in me

I realize that this is a different type of post than what you usually see here. What can I say, it's who I am. I have engaged in a facebook debate today, something I generally try to avoid as they can get ugly fast (this one hasn't, yet). It irks me when the feminist movement is belittled and women's rights are brushed aside as irrelevant.

I am proud of the feminist movement and proud to call myself a feminist. I believe that I should be eligible to the same pay scale as a man, I believe that I should have the right to vote, and yes I do believe that I should have the right to choose whether I want to work or stay at home with children. These are the building blocks that the feminist movement is built on and I am thankful for the women who pushed the social envelope to give me these rights, it couldn't have been easy.

pesto pizza

via Martha Stewart

Doesn't this look amazing? I need to get some buffalo mozzarella and make some pesto pizza!

outdoor dining

When my husband and I went to pick out patio furniture a few years back I learned something new. While I really wanted the cute bistro set my husband was right, we wanted something that is comfortable enough to make you want to sit outside for hours to eat and play games. I haven't once regretted choosing comfort over style.

Our set will likely last us a few more years but hopefully the next time around we will be able to pick something that meets both criteria, beautiful and comfortable. I like these options.


via pottery barn
I love this series from Pottery Barn. My only concern would be how well the wood would weather and what the upkeep would be.

via outdoor garden furniture
The great thing about metal furniture is that it won't start to sag or splinter. Put some awesome pillows on it and you are good to go.

via pottery barn
I went through two different lighting strands last year. The first one was solar powered, which admittedly was pretty cool. The problem was it didn't let off much light, so back it went. The second was a strand of bistro lights that I love. I might even see if I can find another strand this year. I love these lights from Pottery Barn, utilitarian and completely fun.


via Martha Stewart
For a little more ambiance I love this idea from Martha. With enough candles you should get enough light and it is gorgeous.

wall candy

I love these wallpapered walls, so lovely.


via House Beautiful

it's back!

via yublog

I am so excited for the return of Glee tonight!

chickens

It seems as though keeping your own chickens (as in building a chicken coop and raising chickens) is a growing trend. Off the top of my head I can think of at least five people who keep (or will soon be keeping) their own chickens: examples here and here. There is a whole "homesteader" movement that I have been completely oblivious to. I like the idea of growing my own vegetables, herbs and and possible even canning, but chickens? It may have something to do with being a bird hater- really, I hate them. I fell down a flight of concrete stairs once in an attempt to avoid a bird.

Here is my question for all of you, to coop or not to coop?

an epiphany

Silk ribbon embroidery

Silk flowers

I have been throwing an idea around in my head. What if I buy a cardigan from Old Navy or Target and add my own enhancements to it? I really like these silk options, the rosettes look my easier than the embroidery, but the embroidery is so gorgeous. I think I could do it if I went slow...