Patio-rific!

Happy summer!! Yay! There's nothing I love more than summer- and summer requires a good patio, right? Right. So, when we moved into our little bungalow here, I wanted the backyard to be a fun place to hang out. Enter some new patio furniture and some plants i'm going to try really hard not to kill... and wah-lah! So please enjoy some pics of our little outdoor abode.

(More house pics to come soon)

Calvin LOVES the new retro red chairs!

Yummy basil

Ok, they sell these ceramic garden stools at Pottery Barn for $159!!! What?!! So I almost fell over when I saw these at Garden Ridge for $12! (That's right- I said $12). Yes, they were a hideous ghetto gold, but that's nothing a little spray paint can't fix. I LOVE them!

Fun Moroccan star- I want some more of these for our trees.

Aren't these little furry flowers so cute?

Another ceramic garden stool- Love the bright red!

Roses and peonies-pretty.

Summer-y

So, I have the strangest desire to go buy a bike and ride it to the grocery store for yummy fresh produce. 

How cute are these?!

Ole!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! I love celebrating this holiday! Yummy Mexican food and margaritas? Sign me up! In honor of today, I decided to make Rachael Ray's take on Chile Rellenos with cilantro rice for dinner! YAY! Its soooo yummy. Find the recipe here. Enjoy!

And, to look pretty while you are making dinner, channel a little Frida Kahlo and check out Shrunken Cats Heads' Jewelry on Etsy. 

(Crazy name, seriously cute creations.)

I am in love with the shrunken tiles she uses for rings, 

bracelets and necklaces.

Ruby Slipper (Chair)

The more I search for fab finds for our new home, the more I seem to run across beautiful design that really is accessible to all. I truly believe that everyone, no matter what their budget, deserves great design! Case in point is Target, one of my all time faves. Check out these lovely slipper chairs in loads of great prints. These are high design, at economy friendly prices (all under $300.)

Now, which one do I need for my living room? I'm thinking red...

All chairs available at Target.com

Puppies, Pillows, & Stuff to Stitch

I have finally settled into my little role as "housewife" here in my new home. Its been a little odd not getting up to go to a "real" job everyday, but I am learning to relax and enjoy! I have time now (and a willing taste tester- thanks Geoff) to try all the Rachael Ray recipes I've had marked in her cookbook forever... so far, she has yet to steer us wrong! And I love having time to clean and decorate! And there really is something so satisfyingly simple about spending a Sunday outside with your honey working in the yard. So, in the interest of embracing homey-goodness, here are a few projects and books I want to delve into. I will, of course, share pics when I've completed something. Happy Sunday!

Puppy Pillows from Aaron Stewart at Pillow Pillow Pillow Shop: 

Shut up! How cute are these? I've decided to make a Calvin version...we'll see how it turns out!

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross (available here.)

I've decided to finally tackle all those fun sewing projects I've been dying to try.

Chic & Simple Sewing by Christine Haynes (available here.)