olioboard. oh my.

I've stumbled upon a new website. I can't stop thinking about it. I think of it at work, I think of it while I eat, there's no doubt that I'll dream of it tonight. It's olioboard.com what another great way to waste time looking at pretty things :)

I'm feeling more in touch with my inner interior consultant each day.

This was my first board. Now, I had to try and find things on olioboard that looked like pieces we already own and love. Things I added:

new sheet option

new curtains

a tall standing mirror

a rug

our new hardwoods in our new home

and maybe some new hardware for the dresser.

I'll try and perfect the spacing on the next board. I cannot wait to get out on paper what goes on in my head!

next up. My mom's redesigned cheery yet homey Living Room!

mullin, dublin, and dakota

Reunited. With the thought of spending 2 and a half weeks Dakota-less really weighing us down with sadness, Blake and I embarked on a 3 hour arduous journey to Mullin to pick her up from my parents and spend a weekend with some Bakers and a Cooper.

The country air welcomed us in along with the perfectly placed stars.

Blake and Kota cuddled all night until the morning. She was happy to see her daddy.

Then we dabbled in a little homemade ice-cream making adventure. Apricot and Vanilla. I sat on the maker while Brandon and Blake took turns cranking it.

me supervising.

Dakota supervising.

20 minutes later. homemade icecream. what a delightful afternoon on the front porch in Mullin.

Sunday rolls around and we pack up the car and head back to Dallas. We made a stop in Dublin, Texas. Being a true Texan at heart, I was feeling a tad convicted that I hadn't been here before.

The Dr. Pepper bottling plant and Old Doc's Soda Shop. A Texas staple.

very cool ceiling tiles. getting inspiration for what to do with mine.

Blake likes his Dr. Pepper frosty.

Back home to Dallas. home sweet home, or shall I say apartment sweet apartment. I can only say that for 2 more weeks! yippee!

frio river

I have felt like a serious drifter the past couple of weeks, and with the move (job and home) coming up, I think this feeling will be with me for a couple more weeks. Stability is great. But, sometimes too, you've got to praise God for some change.

First off, a little river vacation with Blake's family. We had one great addition this year... my mom and her friends came down and rented a house nearby too! It was such a relaxing week. Life consisted of sleeping in, delicious fried meals, naps, miller lite, family, laughs, 42 tournaments, a touch of sun, one morning run and some rock painting.

(because you know how often Blake and I sit on tree swings together)

how about the story of Frio River 2011 through some random pictures found on my phone? I really need my SLR.

at Neil's - I suggest the pancakes, and for some reason - the toast - best I've ever had.. I can smell them now as I lay in bed and type.

the Frio river - just a tad too dry to float, with or without water - nothing could've stopped us from having an amazing week

a bottle of red from Aunt Martha and Uncle John's vineyard in Georgia. Love it when I'm sent home with a bottle of wine!

some sweet Texas Hill-Country Peaches brought in all the way from Fredericksburg, just an added treat.

and to top of the trip and make the 6-7 hour car ride home do-able. A stop at the, well, czech stop. West, Texas' finest. A quick fix for dessert, and breakfast for Blake and I for the rest of the week. mmm.. apricot and cream cheese.

I hope that we are able to make it to the Frio for many years to come. Such a fun time to have and get to pack it with memories year after year.

frio or bust

We're headed to the Frio tonight with a 2 night stay in Houston first.

Hello vacation! Water or no water in the river - this will be a nice little break...

(last year)

(our rock - 2010. Just a little art project/tradition that I absolutely love)
Happy vacationing everyone and Happy Summer!

copied art and a problem solved.

well, this should be short and sweet. I found a project off of one of my favorite DIY blogs. Here's the original picture from Pinterest.

and then when I saw just how do-able it actually was over here I decided to give it a go!

Here's what I came up with.

close up.

This is where the problem solving comes in.

Problem.

Solved.

now a little delight before heading to the bathroom - instead of the industrial fuse-box look which I hear may be making a comeback.

memorial day weekend.

Galveston. 42. jet skis. fish fry. friends. Houston. manicures. pedicures. family. Benihanas. Dallas. Mavs. beer pong. Dakota.

eating delicious and healthy?

Lately I've been hearing quite the compliment from my boo on my cooking talents. And, when I write compliment read complaints. Our skinny Blakey has been throwing around a few complaints about these new pounds he's gained since our holy matrimony in December. All a testament to my self-proclaimed wonderful cooking skills! (I'm really not that great of a cook - I like to pretend, but I am trying to learn!)

I was pleasantly surprised last night with my "following recipe" abilities. It actually turned out pretty delicious. And, it was healthy - for this new health food kick we're on - in attempts to get Blake back to his hot 6-pack bod! ow ow! (and, for me too, of course - steak, potatoes and texas toast cannot be every single meal. though I dream...)

Here she is:

Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans

FIXINS: 2 cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, 1 can cannellini beans - drained and rinsed, 10 ounces fresh spinach - washed and chopped, 8 ounces penne pasta, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese.

(I halved the tomatoes and beans - and actually, now that I think about it, didn't measure any of those - just did what I felt it should look like and it was fine)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook pasta in boiling salted (kosher, thanks to some Lauren Kimmel persuasion) water.

2. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and beans in skillet, bring to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.

3. Add spinach to sauce; cook until spinach wilts, stirring constantly.

4. Serve sauce over pasta, sprinkle (or douse - in my case, LOVE feta!) with feta.

(I added a touch of Olive Oil to my penne to make the whole thing a little more warm and cohesive)

So EASY, and so yummy. Warning - just to be fair - I definitely liked this more than Blake did. Not really a man meal. This chick meal would be great for girl's dinner or some sort of brunch Bridal or Baby shower! (in a smaller portion obvi)

Also, for the record. I do NOT like tomatoes - on anything I ask that they be removed. But, in this dish I loved them. Maybe I've loved them all along? The flavors were perfect together! Genius - you Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans recipe maker you!

wanted: etsy prints

I have been quite in the artsy mood lately. Right now, I'm working on my own version of THIS found on Pinterest. What a crazy waste of time this Pinterest, like every social networking site, it can and will completely suck you in. So many fun gift, craft, and design ideas though. My boards are filling up!

I also have acquired quite the cart-full on Etsy. Here's the wanted list.

(^this is terrible isn't it? I'm ashamedly proud that I like this)

I can't wait to construct a collage of sorts in the new home. Maybe above the couch when you first walk in the front door? Maybe between the built-ins in the dining room? I vowed to myself to think through the decorating in the new house. I seem to get very excited with blank walls and end up putting everything up at once. I'm going to try this decorating in layers idea that I've been reading about. Take my time. Design one wall, one room, one nook at a time.

After the Pinterest-inspired painting is complete, there are plans in the works for a wax-drip painting. After some inspiration from the beach house this weekend and Blake's cousin, I'm tackling it! The whole process looks therapeutic - I'm very excited.