adventures in homeownership

over the past few days our little state has literally been flooded with rain.

record-breaking, highway-closing rain.

i thought it was so fun that my husband had yesterday off due to flooding...

until i went down in my basement.

yeeeah.

so, three home depots later, lines out the door and people fighting over pumps

i am home with my very own wet-vac.

...

came up from the basement for a quick break

and this very springy

corner of my desk

made me smile.

scene from a rainy spring evening

our basement is flooded.

still pouring.

...

glass of wine

fire glowing

pup snoring

cuddling on the couch.

...

ahhhhh

all better

please excuse my absence...

last week in providence was just gorgeous.

sunny and unseasonably warm.

i threw the windows open and propped the doors.

penelope and i spent our days doing yard work, painting and refinishing yard-sale finds.

it was glorious.

and oh-so productive.

as a little treat

i hopped on the ferry

and spent friday on martha's vinyard with my parents.

i scouted for the job i'm doing on the cape

and we enjoyed the very uncrowded streets.

...and it was all followed by a just-as-perfect and productive weekend

(smile)

Happy Monday!

welcome spring!

a little yoga

followed by

a nap in the sun.

my "cheat sheet"

My Plucky Pioneer "Cheat Sheet" is up over at the Neo-Traditionalist!

Thank you, Jane Lilly Warren for putting it all together!

love, love, love

And, again, Katie, Thank YOU for including me!

xoxo

classics redefined: l.l.bean

new england roots run deep.

l.l.bean goods are most likely part of our DNA.

i honestly don't think i know a baby born without a monogrammed boat + tote.

but as good (oh, and they are good) as the "l.l.bean boots" are,

the woman's jeans,

are that sad.

seriously.

the clothing fashion... lacking.

until now.

introducing: l.l.bean signature.

(can you hear the angels singing?!?)

the classics. re-worked. new styling. new fit.

uuummmmmmm.

YES.

and, you?

hello.

of COURSE i will come on your boat.

but it is because i love your sweater.

and, as any cape codder knows,

l.l.bean is always better misted in a sea-salt spray.

i'm a "plucky pioneer!"

the neo-traditionalist's lovely and adorable katie has a great series going with interviews and favorites from women entrepreneurs... it has been wonderfully inspiring and fun to get the back-story behind some of my favorite women in business like catherine from rikshaw design, anna bond from rifle paper co. and bella foster.

i was completely honored to be asked to take part and be this week's plucky pioneer!

check out my interview and "cheat sheet" (which should be up later today) over on katie's blog.

thank you, thank you katie! i had so much fun!

and a warm welcome to all the neo- readers... i have been so excited to begin reading your blogs!

little designers

the girls in my sewing class have finished another project...

floor poufs!

the project was quick, pretty easy, and super fun

(though i never thought i'd see so much POLYESTER in my studio! ha!)

their choices in fabrics perfectly matched their personalities and all they talked about the whole time was where they were going to put them/ what they would use them for in their bedrooms.

one girl is even getting her own room for the first time and was thrilled to have her first addition.

not only are they learning to sew, but developing their own little interior design perspectives.

i love it!

girl time

my sister is coming into town for a visit (with my niece!), so i'm cleaning like mad... trying to get this place somewhat childproof.

i'm praying for sun

and

planning on plenty of wining and dining

good girly chats

and maybe even a little creating.

dream (doll) house

while i love the ultra-modern aesthetic, i can't say i'd want to live in a glass house...

but i could certainly play in one!

the "listing" reads:

Newly listed, the Emerson House is the perfect home for the modern family. The home has six rooms including a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child's bedroom. With its large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, the Emerson House enjoys year-round sunlight. The modern house features many extras including mitered-glass corners, two fireplaces, sliding glass doors, solar panels, and recessed LED lights. Finally, the house is easy on the environment with only non-toxic and lead-free wood stains and paints.

so cool, i'm sure the jolie-pitts already have one.

via

oscar love.

i've always loved demi moore.

and she keeps getting better and better (i know, she has the help of a great plastic surgeon, but still....)

hands down, best dressed.

age appropriate and uber-chic.

love love love.

and meryl.

ok, so she can do no wrong.

but she could have been boring. and she wasn't. elegant and so her.

a lesson in how to dress curves:

embrace them ladies!

that diagonal sweep of beading is perfection. the color too.

stunning.

oh, sandra.

i adore her.

i am THRILLED she won. her speech was perfect.

but the dress?

missed it.

it was a beautiful dress (i love the cap sleeve)

but she wasn't comfortable.

the hair too... too "perfect" for her.

but still, see the movie. fabulous.

biggest disappointment?

cameron.

80's hair and pretty, but safe dress.

but then,

she goes and NAILS. IT. at the after party.

forgiven.

all images

spring surprises

i arrived back home (from taking care of my grama for a week on the cape) to an unexpected package.

my sweet sister made me new pjs!

both pairs are made from vintage sheets, making them literally, the softest things on the planet.

one pair is a little granny chic (love), and the other is just the most perfect colorway of punchy little blooms.

i've been living in paint + plaster coated jeans lately, and feeling quite icky about it, so they couldn't have come at a better time.

honestly, the most wonderful surprise.

made even better by a card created by my niece anya.

i love you girls!

it's time i get on that new year's resolution of sending my own snail-mail surprises!

xoxo

catty moment

couldn't resist...

ok, i know i am being catty, but, ummmm....

the mock turtleneck?

yeeeeeah.

for once, i can relate with Vienna... from the look on her face, she has clearly figured out just why Jake was never able to get a date in high school.

i am hopelessly addicted to the Bachelor, and this season was terribly awkward and, in the end, disappointing.

but, i have a glimmer of hope, as it's been announced that Ali will be the next Bachelorette.

i believe

kate, over at the neo-traditionalist, posted her manifesto yesterday.

i got goosebumps.

i believe in them all.

love love love.

i am inspired to write my own, but, i'm afraid, none could be better said than what she's already stated.

amazing.

literally, can't stop saying it- i adore!

(and, i am sad to say, at this point... my handwritten thank you notes are disturbingly late, but i'm on it!)

image source unknown

sewing class update

my girls have finished another project...

this time, adorable tiered skirts in thin-wale corduroy.

they chose their color combos/order and set to work reading the patterns...

this project was definitely the most challenging for my little ladies... (learning to gather is a bit much after a long school day!) but they were OVERJOYED with their results this week when they finished, pulled them on and started twirling!

i was just as excited, and so wanted to be that age again, with a color-block skirt and some polka-dot tights.

next up: floor poufs!

welcome march!

boy, even though february is the shortest month, it sure does feel like it has taken forever to get here!

we've been light on snow here in providence this winter, replaced with gloomy grey.

i, for one, am certainly ready for spring.

what a wonderful way to welcome in a new month than with flowers...

and, of course, you can't beat the trader joe's price... just means you can get more to spread around the house!

and cake.

happy birthday to janet (my mother in law)!

we celebrated tonight with dijon scallops over risotto

and

(whole wheat) vanilla cake with strawberry icing.

yum-o!

and now, i am crawling into a bed made with fresh, clean, tucked-tight sheets.

ahhhhhh....

good night!