Rio

"I am travelin' on"

I love this song and couldn't pass up posting the acoustic version of Hey Marseilles' Rio. (But check out the peppier original too).

The barefoot performing reminds me of summer. When is it July?

White (Sand) Christmas

I was super lucky to go to Barbados over Christmas with my family, aunt and husband. We had a great time relaxing on the white sandy beaches, diving, eating, golfing, swimming, drinking, boating, playing volleyball and the other usual vacation activities.

Here are some shots of the trip:

super tiny boat. delicious

family portrait!

even the flowers were darling

tough life

well, we are related, huh?

beautiful scenery

rainbow

SUBMARINE

Best Ever Present

I came home from Barbados to find that some Christmas elves had left me quite a serious surprise. This project was a super-top secret labor of love and it's easily the most thoughtful gift I've ever received.

Before and after's on this bad boy when I get my hands on them. 

But doesn't it look familiar? It's based on a dresser that makes me swoon that I posted here.

Couples 1st Christmas

Not a great picture, but a heartwarming weekend.

OMG!!

This is Kate Spade's creative Deb Lloyd's Brooklyn home. And I would DIE to have this living room.

Oops..

When I look through the rooms I find inspirational or dream about living it, one thing is clear: I prefer spaces designed for a woman. Besides rustic, hearty furniture, the spaces I conjure for my future are absolutely feminine. 

I blame the women in my life. My Aunt Barb lived for many years in a perfect, girly apartment, complete with a dressing room in Chicago! It was tres Sex & the City. And my Mom got away with murder. Ask her about the first bedroom wallpaper in our house--it was large baskets of flowers on a light gray background. My Dad finally put his foot down (actually, I have no idea how it happened, but I imagine he came one day and said he could simply no longer sleep in a room full of flowers) and now, they have a soothing, magical dark green wallpaper which completely transformed the ambiance.

Anyways, he who lives with me will either have his work cut or he'll enjoy some pretty nooks. Poor guy. 

A lovely desk to call home

Hellooooo, mirror!

Ugh! The purple dresser!

 *Images courtesy of Rue, Pink Wallpaper, A Life more Fabulous, Lonny

1 trick pony

In case you thought I was just a one trick pony with the horse photos (HA!), here's a picture of baby Allegra with a baby Clydesdale supplied by my fabulous Aunt Barb of Chicago. 

See, the equestrianism runs in the family!

Picture(s) of the week

These images captured my heart this week. One, a photo from our annual Thanksgiving potluck dinner by my friend Ally of A Seaman's Catch of yours truly and my man-friend. The 2nd, a picture of our namesake from the new, breathtaking Art of the America's wing at the MFA. The final is a horse I met in New Hampshire. He was really, really big.

Happy Tuesday kiddos.