Home Renovation- Week 1

Happy Weekend:)

This past week was the first of our home renovation, which will consist of splitting the large upstairs guestroom into two smaller rooms (nursery & guest), the addition of a large dormer, two smaller dormers, the conversion of a laundry room into a mini office and finally, we're adding on a master bedroom closet. Phew.

We've had these renovation plans for a long time now, but with the baby on the way, we've decided to jump in full speed. So, hopefully, all of these renovations will be done just in plenty of time for us to settle in with the new little man (fingers crossed).

We live in a custom-built cape (b. 1996). It's quite charming, but it's bothered us that we were never able to see out the front of the house from the second floor. Plus, the original second floor plan consisted of two very large bedrooms, and was a bit dreary. The first floor has a beautiful open floor plan, with a lot of light, while the second floor was just kind of drab with two cavernous rooms on either end of the dark hallway. By splitting them up, we should be able to add some character (and more space for guests to stay, which we love). The dormers will add more light, though we still hope to maintain the cottage-y & cozy feel that we fell in love with when we purchased the home. More photos to come as the changes progress....

On another note, we've had a very special visitor recently. He's been spotted on three separate occasions (only evenings), literally hanging around outside our family room. He's either drawn to the light or the conversation;). Funny little guy, eh?

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

xoxo

nursery ideas from etsy

We're renovating our second floor starting next week to make room for the little one on the way (a yet-to-be-named baby boy:)). For the nursery, I'd like to keep the style simple & clean (something he can grow with), with some vintage accents. I couldn't think of a better place to hunt for this style than etsy. So, perusing I did, and here are some of the items I adore (clockwise from upper left):

** farm animal baby blanket from BubblesandSqueaks; * french market basket from sadieolive; * vintage wooden blocks from sadieolive; * bird clay tag from marleyandlockyer; * grain sack pillow from jillbent; * vintage floral banner from jillbent **

Aren't they adorable?? :)

My plan is for an all white/ beige nursery with the occasional red accent. My mom found a sweet little rocking chair on the side of the road, which we snatched up and I will be painting a fresh coat of red. Once the renovations (on room and furniture) begin, I'll post some photos.

Happy Wednesday:).

xoxo

Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today, Mother Nature doesn't know if she wants rain or shine in Massachusetts, so we've seen a little of both. I wrote this post last night, but didn't upload the photos until today. Since I wrote this, I've eaten 3 cupcakes. Yikes:).

There's been a lot of talk of Autumn floating around this blogworld lately. While I really love the summer, I can't help but get excited for fall, as it's been my favorite season since I was a little girl jumping in gigantic piles of leaves and carving pumpkins. Maybe it's because Autumn always brings my birthday, or maybe it's because of the smell of pumpkin pie, freshly plucked apples, anything-spice. Perhaps it's because the clothes are oh-so-cute-and-snuggly. I don't know, but whatever it is, it's on my mind right now:).

And when I think of fall, I get a hankering to bake.

 

Tonight I baked one of Matt's favorites- carrot cake. But instead of a cake, I found a sweet (and delicious) carrot cake muffin recipe online here.

 

Absolutely scrumptious:)

 

With the pumpkin spice candle lit and a tall glass of milk, we're going to sit and enjoy the taste of fall on this rainy summer evening.

Happy weekend!!

xoxo

baby and chipmunk

Yes, something is most definitely growing in there. Something that has a sweet tooth, I may add. Or maybe that's just my excuse:).

On the garden front, this evening I spied a little chipmunk in the garden. I'm not 100% sure if he is THE tomato thief, as I didn't catch him in the act. But I'm a little suspicious....

I hope you're all gearing up for a lovely weekend;). It's almost here!

xoxo

morning still (and the tomato thief mystery)

I've been awake since 4am thinking of all of the things I could should be doing. Checking e-mail, writing work reports, folding that ever-growing pile of laundry that has taken over a fourth of my bedroom. You know those sleepless nights?

My husband looks so cute in his sleep, it takes all of the strength I can muster not to smoosh his face or wake him with my eyes. That would be mean:(. So, instead, I've gotten up to do the want-to-do's, which include stepping out with the camera for some fresh morning, summer air (I actually love this time of morning, when everything is so still, so dewy), browsing my favorite websites, choosing paint colors for our upcoming renovation.

The need-to-do's can wait.

After all, it's Wednesday, the ever-so-cleverly named 'hump day', which means only two-point-five more days until the weekend. This week has been just one of those weeks that crawls.... along..... at a snail's.... pace.

 

I'm looking forward to a very lazy home weekend with my husband and dog; something that we haven't really had in a while.

On another note, there has been a smart (and admittedly, slightly obnoxious) little guy who goes into my garden and takes annoying little bites out of my tomatoes. He seems to really enjoy the Early Girls (one per day) and the sweetie baby girls (of which he prefers two per day).

At least eat the whole thing, so I don't have to know you even exist! But no, he takes a snippy little bite and leaves the rest for me. It's the game of twenty questions: What kind of little creature can get through chicken wire? What kind of creature likes to eat tomatoes? A creature that, maybe, only comes out at night? Can any of you dear readers help me solve this riddle??

Happy hump day to you all.

xoxo

My parents live near a sweet little farm in Connecticut. A few weeks ago, Matt and I stopped by with Miss Luna. And I don't know about you, but every four-legged creature that I see, in some shape or form, ends up reminding me of my dog. Is that just how it is when you love something so? You see a little bit of it in everything?

Luna and the goats had a mutual ambivalence/ curiosity towards one another.

Ambivalence...

Curiosity......

And so it went.

I especially like this little guy on the far right in the upper photo. It looks like he's posing for the camera. What a little ham:).

Happy almost Friday. I hope this weekend finds you doing something you love. We'll be at the beach in Newport, RI on Saturday and the evening will follow with some lobsters on the back deck (my favorite meal in the world:)).

Have a good weekend!

xoxo

more from france

It's been a very hot July in Massachusetts. I have daily thoughts of turning the back sprinklers on and running through in my bathing suit, much like my childhood summers. Maybe this weekend we'll see some sprinkler action:).

Here are some more photos from our France trip, specifically Saint-Malo. Yes, there were activities that occurred outside of taste-testing fabulous french desserts;).

This was the view from our hotel balcony... just breathtaking. We slept with the door open to allow ample flow of salty sea air:).

And here are some perspectives of the old walled city of Saint-Malo, La Ville Intra-Muros.

A sweet little creperie overlooking the English channel (delicious banana chocolate crepes served here, with a stunning view:))

And tucked away inside the walled city are rows of fabulous little cafes, shops, vendors.

And a little sneak peek at the baby bump visiting France:)

I hope you're all having an enjoyable July. I'll post some photos from Paris soon. Until then, stay cool, wherever you may be:).

xoxo