Monday, December 13, 2010
Calling on all of you France lovers out there...and home builders
Now for that advice...
I have good news and bad news.
Good news first: my family and I are going to Germany and France for Christmas! We are spending a week with his sister's family in Orscholz, Germany, which is a small town in Germany, on the border of Luxembourg and France. We are then going to take almost a week for ourselves to visit the Alsace Lorraine region for ourselves.
We are looking for recommendations for the Alsace Lorraine area. Have any of you been? Any good recommendations for hotels? restaurants? things to do or see? We have the Michelin Guide, but I always prefer your advice truthfully. I promise to take pictures!
Bad news second: Update on the house: we were not on the same page as our architect, and so we decided to part ways amicably. In the meantime, we've decided to get approvals for the land and determine without an architect exactly where we want to build on the ten acres. Once we determine that, I think we are going to see if we can find a stock plan that we can tweak to our desires. If not, we will start the search again for an architect. Ugh. Any words of wisdom for those of you who have been through it would be much appreciated.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Getting to Know Me
The still of night - I have the entire house to myself to clean without it immediately getting messy again, I can read without being interrupted, and of course, I can blog without feeling like I should be attending something or someone else, except my sleep. It's all on the table at 1:00 a.m.....as long as I can wake up in the morning with my son and go to work, which is not always easy, but when I indulge, it's worth it.
2. When and where did you meet the love of your life?
Met: Arlington, VA, Spring, 2001, intramural soccer league, work team: This tall, dark and handsome stranger ran onto the soccer field in a hurry - he was late. In the brisk night, under the lights, I laced up my cleats next to my then boyfriend, feeling guilty and not knowing why. The new guy was filling in for our goalie. Since I was on defense and had no idea what I was doing (I'm more of a hockey/lacrosse kind of a girl), the new goalie yelled at me the whole time. Since that was his job as goalie and he turned out to be a really sweet guy, I forgave him.
Fell in love: Arlington, VA/Washington, D.C., Late Summer, 2002: I was planning on moving back to my hometown in a few weeks. He offered his band to play for my going-away party. I said sure, and sparks flew. The next few weeks were head-over-heels, falling in love. The next few years were long-distance romance with long telephone calls and weekend drives back and forth to see each other. In 2005, he moved to the area, and the rest is history.
3. What three words would your friends outside of the blogging world use to describe you?
I don't have any. Just kidding. Straight from the horses' mouths (no offense ladies - you know I love you!):
Responder #1: Free spirited, adventurous, loyal
Responder #2: WOW - Only selecting 3 is hard. Genuine: There is nothing fake or pretentious about you. You call it how you see without judging or being harsh. Outgoing: You have always taken risks; studying abroad, moving to DC after school, got married and had a baby (haha); those are no small feats. I don't know the word for it but I call it "The Ferris Bueller Factor" - You always come out on top with a smile. You are one the smartest people I know but I have to laugh at your time management skills and the cute clumsiness about you!! I think you're fabulous.
Responder #3:genuine (i.e. real, honest....you know what I mean ; ), caring, patient ....ha ha Ok seriously not patient, but loyal
Responder #4: generous, spirited, compassionate
I would love to move to the middle east for a year or two. I love the exotic nature of arabian music, belly dancers, hookahs, horse races across the desert and veiled women. Perhaps Turkey as a home base so that I could still live and dress as I do currently and could take smaller trips to other countries like Syria, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, UAE and just keep on going. I'm not sure if I am brave enough to go to Iraq yet but would love to some day. I love the food, architecture and history of the general region. I dig Istanbul because of the East meets West sophisticated cosmopolitan (which is completely opposite of my life now!) vibe.
5. What is your favorite dish to cook?
I love cooking. It's my creative outlet. My new favorite thing to make is a chard tart. It's like a vegetable pie, which sounds unappetizing but is actually delicious. This summer, I made it a personal challenge to learn how to make crusts. This led to learning to make dishes that involve crusts. Of these, I think the chard tart is my favorite, which leads to the next question...
6. Salt or sugar?
That's easy. Salt! Salt, salt, salt...I would choose homefries and bacon over pastry, cheese over cake, french fries over ice cream, chard tart over raspberry tart and popcorn over cookies all day long.
7. Must have beauty or make-up?
I am still just learning how to put on make-up. My daily beauty regime is to wash my face every day, throw my hair in a ponytail and go. But if I'm a) feeling down on myself or b) need to get fancied up, then...
Age-Defying Oil of Olay face wash every morning and night.
Age-Defying Oil of Olay moisturizer with SPF every morning and night.
The NARS Multiple can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips.
Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara.
Do love my curler...
Eau de Toilette - BVLGARI Jasmine Noir.
8. What are you favorite flowers?
While I am delighted by flowers of all kinds, my absolute favorite are the Jennie Dahlias.
9. What are your worst vices?
It depends on what you consider a vice. Me? I don't considering my love of red wine or rich food a vice. I consider it fully appreciating the bounty that the Good Lord has given us. But, if you do consider that a vice and you're right, then I'm going to hell.
Now, this blog? Yeah, that's probably one of my biggest vices right now. And if you're talking about the real stuff, the big stuff...then....I am guilty of not using the gifts that I have been given to improve the communities that I belong to - my town, my church, my region, my state, my country, the world - more than I have.
10. What was the happiest time of your life?
I think elementary school age - what a fun time! Working is learning. Working is playing. Make-believe comes easily. The woods beyond the field represent the ultimate adventure. Being silly is not yet uncool. There are no difficult decisions or compromises to make, and your biggest responsibility is to feed the dog. Yup. That has to be it - definitely elementary school age.
The thought that the happiest time of my life was over twenty years ago would probably depress me if life after wasn't also good in its own way. Now, I am excited to join with my husband to help my child(ren?) create the same kinds of memories.
....OK...so how was that? xoxo Anne
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Friday Flower to Natasha at 5 Minutes Just For Me
She hosts two features on 5 Minutes Just For Me that I just love: 5 Minutes with... This is an interview with a blogger she likes and follows, who all just happen to be amazingly sweet and talented. It's a great way to get to know a community of very sweet, talented and inspirational bloggers. On Sunday Songs, she posts about a song every Sunday and asks others to link up their posts about a song. This is such a lovely way to get to know other bloggers and new music.
She recently offered a giveaway in honor of her blogaversary. How generous and sweet! I am so excited for the goodies to come in the mail.
Thank you Natasha and Happy Blogaversary!
As usual, linking up with Laura at A Place for Tea for Flower Fridays.
Have a great weekend!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Can a big breakfast nook replace a dining room? Should it?
How do you do it? Do you use your dining room? Do you double up?
This one below would also be a great place to serve the breakfast rush. I can just imagine feeding the kiddies oatmeal here, having coffee with friends, having friends hang out while I cook.
We have a big local family with big family parties...I'm thinking a breakfast nook like this could accomodate everyone, and maybe we just eliminate a dining room? What do you think?
I started collecting these photos way before I started blogging, so if you know where they are from, please let me know, so I can cite the source.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Dream Kitchens
This is my absolute favorite kitchen, designed by Eleanor Cummings, of Houston, and featured in House Beautiful. I love almost everything about this kitchen, especially the iron stove hood, the big window with dark panes and a big arch, the limestone countertop, the shiny drawer pulls. Every room needs a little bit of shine! How cute yet subtle are the iron cow and pig?
This (below) is from Southern Living. To me, this looks like a good working kitchen. It looks easy to move around in and accomplish things. This is important to me, because cooking is my creative release. I also like it because you can serve breakfast, still be working and talk to those sitting in the banquette. I think there is a window into the other side (which I think is a dining room). So you can open it if you want to socialize with guests, since everyone always wants to be in the kitchen at a party -or- close it if you just want to put your head down and get the cooking done without guests nosing around your dirty dishes.
and this one. The interior design below was done by Betty Burgess and featured in Veranda.
What could you not live without?
What do you hate?
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Luxury of Baths and Closets
What is your inspiration for a master bathroom and walk-in closet?
What is your favorite bathroom?
Your favorite closet?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Bittersweet Flower Friday
Today, my flower goes to Shauna Niequest, the author of the book, Bittersweet, in honor of my winning her new book in the giveaway by Abby and Her Boys. Notice the photo effects? Courtesy of picnik, and the tutorial posted by Andrea at Faded Plains.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Bedroom Inspiration
As you walk a little further, you might find something like this: