Anniversary Photos

On my Agenda: Brainstorm a plan for anniversary photos

Plan So Far: Photo shoot with Sabine on Saturday May 24th

Planning Points: Love photographs. Love them. But don't really like photos of me. Strongly dislike them. But I did love the outdoor wedding shots Sabine captured oh, some five years ago!Need to think about location, attire and activities/props.

Results of initial brainstorm:

**location**
In line/buying/eating cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery
Running in sprinklers at West Side Park
Having a cocktail outdoors at a cafe on Irving Place
In patio area of MOMA
Outdoor part of Park Cafe on 10th Street
Twirling/Jumping/Laughing/Kissing
Balloons
Colorful doors in Greenwich Village

**attire**
girl
- slightly cropped boyfriend jeans + colorful crazy wedges + white jacket
- blue/white dress spanish print dress + black cardigan + black heels (or peach heels)
- lots of bracelets from london/paris trips
- lime green heels
- parrot pin from london
boy
- green north face track jacket + jeans + navy camper shoes
- black or gray blazer + jeans + caramel colored cole haan shoes + blue charles tyrwhitt shirt
- dragon cufflinks from london trip

Project Kitchen

This Week's Agenda: For me, decorating the apartment is a process. I get excited about a new project and loved that our apartment was one that you could continuously update without spending a ton of money (or by spending a ton of money...i.e., see my dream to have a built in white leather banquette + open shelving above + French antique wire baskets to hold linens and bottles of fizzy water + Saarineen table)

For now, I have two projects for this weekend:

one. Project Kitchen = Update Backsplash + Install Wall Shelving
two. Project Bedroom = Update full-length mirror + window treatments

Plan So Far for Project Kitchen: In the Kitchen I installed the Grundtal line of wall shelving awhile back. I like it but it still seems a bit cluttered. I want to streamline the oils, salts, peppers, utensils to what I really use.

I really just use the following:

olive oil
walnut oil (Thanks to Brittany for introducing me to this!)
agave nectar
honey
balsamic vinegar
various salts and peppers (via Salt + Pepper Bar in the Austin Whole Foods)
mortar + pestel
whisk
spatula
wooden spoons
tongs (THE best for cooking + serving)

As much as I would like to think I need 6 whisks, I don't. I really don't.

For now, the plan is:

one. paint backsplash with alternating vertical stripes of semi-gloss benjamin moore black pepper (darker gray) + iced slate (lighter gray)


two. install red lack Ikea shelf (43") over counter and sink

three. purchase small ceramic dishes to put salts and peppers from whole foods in. then just have French terrine jars + bamboo knife holder on counter.


four. replace gray leather shag rugs with FLOR tiles in dark gray + chartreuse to give uniform look and custom measurements will provide coverage from dishwasher to fridge



Planning Points: Need. Inspiration.

one. Finch - Downtown Austin
two. Colors + styles of these spoons



*Bonus. To have a spot to put all of my colorful paper napkins on this shelf

Get Out the Spring Wardrobe

Today's Agenda: Get into mindset of switching out Winter clothes for Spring/Summer clothes

Plan So Far: I enjoy packing, organizing, etc. I look forward to it. Maybe even in a slightly unhealthy way. BUT switching out each season's clothes is {for whatever reason} not on my list of top 10 things to do. So my Mom is coming up to visit and we'll make a weekend out of it -- mix in some wine and some shopping in a weekend and I can pretty much do anything.

Planning Points: Here are some items I'd like to spruce up the Spring attire. (This time of year I become slightly obsessed with striped shirts and navy -- there is something about the nautical look I love but you can only really pull it off for a few weeks in the year. Or if you live on a yacht. Which, I don't.)

Some stores I'd like to hit this weekend - here, here and here. I think we'll venture into DC, hit up these stores, grab lunch (delicious salmon and ginger iced tea) at Teaism and can pop into a museum to get some cultural time. Or not...

And check out this Design Event. I love things like this and all house tours. Here is one in Georgetown that is coming up.

*Bonus: I tried a sparkling Shiraz from Best Cellars last weekend and it was pretty interesting. Perfect welcome for Spring...or enticement for it to hopefully stick around.

Prepare for My Favorite Holiday - Easter

Today's Agenda: Narrow down Easter Brunch menu, put up decorations and get a head start on planning weekend activities.

Plan So Far: At the top of my list is to make Easter Cookies -- ones covered with delicious icing, in beautiful Easter colors and festive shapes (bunnies, lambs, eggs, flowers). Maybe even with each family member's name on one for their basket? Must find some super soft PJs to include in each basket - new PJs were always in our baskets growing up and I love continuing that tradition.

For decorations, I am essentially converting my Christmas decorations to Easter minus the snow. Supplies = bird ornaments, manzanita tree branch, vase, painted wooden easter eggs (from the Roundtop antique fair!)

Other necessities = Robin's eggs, Peeps (this is funny, although a little mean), edible grass, decorate eggs with the classic PAAS kit). And we can't forget the bunnies in the picture below - yes, they make noise and not only have we had them for several years now but we now have three of them.


The Brunch Menu is still a work in progress. Depending on how the week goes though, we could always hit up one of the many local establishments serving Easter brunch. I would be particularly excited to go here and here. (Note: Open Table has a nice list of all establishments serving Easter Brunch.)

Bonus: It's my Dad's birthday on Saturday. Thinking about something fun to do. Maybe drinks, dinner in a chimney stack and some classic jazz?