happy weekend

(image via Geronimo Balloons)

It feels like a long weekend to me because Matt took the day off to spend some time with me and Ezra.  We're looking forward to a drive to Rhodemont Farm in Coventry and then visiting a farmers market right down the street from us at the Pastore Complex in Cranston.  Dinner is going to be grilled pizza (I'm thinking one pesto with grilled vegetables and one Hawaiian style) followed by homemade chocolate crackle ice cream.  Then on Saturday Ezra and I are going to my friend Jaclyn's shower and I absolutely cannot wait - for presents (both given and to be received) and lunch (catered by Pranzi), but most importantly to celebrate the wonderful gift that Mykenzie will be and is already.  She is such a blessing.  
Now brace yourselves... I think I went overboard this week.
- just found out about the Amy Butler collection for Bed, Bath & Beyond... is this news to anyone but me?
- if you're in RI this weekend check out the Newport Folk Festival
- here's this week's healthy change
- can you imagine celebrating your 102nd birthday? (and doing it with amazing style, I might add...)
- the most perfect (and free!) picnic invitations for hosting your own outdoor soiree
- I'm loving this color explosion of a nursery
- these two Rhode Island prints (here and here) are sweet
- we bought a breadmaker!  any recipe suggestions?
Is it me or is this longer than most?  Sorry for clogging up your feed, but I couldn't help but share!  Next week I'll be posting about the meals I've made for our vegetarian week which we're wrapping up tonight.  Same bat time.  Same bat channel.  Have a great weekend! 

happy weekend

(image via etsy seller bomobob)

Today Ezra and I are holing up in his room, the only air-conditioned spot in our house.  We had plans to meet some adult and baby friends for a picnic lunch at Goddard Park, but with temperatures expected to rise to over 100 we decided to reschedule.  Tomorrow we're going to Buttonwood Farm for a church fellowship where we'll see four acres of sunflowers (planted as part of a fundraiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation), bring Ezra on his first hayride, and indulge in a cone of the farm's homemade ice cream.  As usual, we'll be at church on Sunday morning, and after services Matt is doing a couple of shoots.  Finally, we'll end the afternoon at our friend's birthday celebration.  What are your plans this weekend?
I'm going to brew up a big pitcher of my favorite iced tea.  While it's steeping, here are my favorite finds from the week...
- just found out about Denyse Schmidt discounted baby bedding
- the most awesome free printable party invitations ever
- an unexpected way to use balloons
- here's healthy change no. 29
- hanging balloons overhead is a spectacular way to celebrate a birthday
- not sure what I would do with these fruit labels, but they sure are cute
- this quirky ostrich fabric is on my wish list
- check out this RI wedding held at Whispering Pines - loads of fun details!
Stay cool!  I'll see you back here on Monday...

under the sea and dreaming

Finally, my mendocino quilt can be laid to rest.  I started it over a year ago and made some mistakes while piecing the back so I put the whole project on hold indefinitely.  It's much more fun to make progress moving forward rather than backwards, which is another type of progress in quilting, I suppose.

This quilt was made with no one in mind and I don't think I'll be able to part with it because I love Heather Ross's funny mermaids and octopuses too much.  

I'll save it in case we ever add a baby girl to our family, and if not then I'm sure I'll be able to find a good home for this bright blanket some day.

Part of me wishes I saved the squares that I used on the back for another project so I could spread the mermaid love around, but it's too late so I guess I'll just have to enjoy them where they are.  They definitely add some interest to what would otherwise be a rather plain pink backing.

The binding is my least favorite part of this quilt because I decided to use my least favorite fabric for it - orange seahorses floating among tan seaweed in a brown sea.  

Regardless of my feelings for the binding, I love the way this quilt came out and am glad that I get to keep it!

happy weekend

(image via Nancy Bates via counting graces)

Food is in our future this weekend and I can't complain.  Tonight we're checking out The Locals for dinner with friends and I'm excited to try their burger made with beef from Blackbird Farm, which is located in my hometown.  If we have time tomorrow morning we're going to visit the Pawtuxet Village farmers market, and then we're off to Fort Adams in Newport for a cookout.  We'll end up back home in time for dinner with more friends.  I'm bringing a big batch of Nutella peanut butter cup and I can't. wait. to eat it.  I'm going to get the ice cream maker crankin', and here are my favorite finds from this week.
- these giant polaroids are definitely a contender for wall art around here
- pretend you are confetti system and create your own fabric tassel garland (I know I am)
- the idea of a gender reveal party intrigues me
- my next home project may be a dining room chair redo
- love these paper bag stars for a casual looking party
- this outfit is perfect for the summer
- check out the healthy change of the week
- I want to copy this idea
- boy, has it been hard to keep this secret: Paper Source just debuted their new line of birth announcements and two photos of Ezra (taken by Matt, or course) were chosen for the collection!  (if you're obsessed with him like I am, see them all here, here, here, here, and here)
Happy weekend, friends!

eight months!

Ezra's eight month photos are a facsimile of a sham for many reasons.
1. He is not wearing a white onesie.  Actually, he's not wearing any onesie.
2. He does not have his eight month sticker on.
3. He was actually eight months and twelve days old at the time the photos were taken.
4. He is not posing like a good eight month old baby should.
5. His room is in a state of disarray.
6. Most of the photos are blurry and/or grainy.
7. Matt pointed out that Picasa is compressing all my photos so they look pixel-y (and have been looking this way for months).

I would like to blame Ezra, but really it is my fault.  And really, how could it be his fault?  He's only eight months (and twelve days) old!  The photo shoot was off to a bad start when July 1st came and went without it taking place.  We were preparing for camping and we left earlier than I anticipated so photography quickly fell to the bottom of my to do list in favor of packing the cooler with all our food for the weekend, ensuring that Ezra had enough clothes in case of inclement weather, and getting the beach towels out of the dryer so we could bring them.  I recovered from the tragedy that was the lack of documentation for the eight month anniversary of Ezra's entrance into the world and resolved to hold the photo shoot upon our return.  I am happy to report that it was successful.  I am unhappy to report that I deleted the imaged from my memory card before transferring them to my computer.  So I dragged my feet until I realized we were nearly halfway to nine months and I had better take the faux eight month photos before August 1st rolled around.  

As you can see, our hearts weren't in it but despite his lackluster eight month performance, it is my humble opinion that Ezra is still quite a fine looking specimen of a baby.

Exhibit A

and we're back!

Some of you may have realized that I promised to be back last week after camping if doing so with a baby didn't tire me out too badly.  Well it didn't, but we discovered upon our return that we were having internet difficulties so my planned posts went unwritten.  I'll be here every day this week (promise! unless the internet messes with me again) with some fresh ideas that have been popping up around our house lately.  

A few things about camping - I love having a tent larger than a two-person!  We bought an orange and gray Coleman 8-man that served us well.  I brought along a quilt that my mom made for us as bedding as well as fun polka dot sheets from Target, similar to these.  Ezra slumbered on after our first night at the campground, tuckered out from crawling around the expansive tent while we set up the rain fly.  And by we I mean Matt.  I already can't wait for next year.

happy weekend

(image by Peter Vanderwarker for Architectural Digest via nest egg)

This weekend is our annual camping trip to Burlingame State Campground.  I can't wait to cook over the campfire!  This year I'm going to attempt to make pizza over the fire and bake a devil's food cake in a cast iron pan.  Read about my menu for last year's trip here.  I'd love to hear about your favorite camping foods.  Although I'm currently surrounded by sleeping bags and mounds of diapers that need to be packed into an Explorer along with four adults and a baby and it's more than a little overwhelming, I still have some things to share...
- a crafty reminder to live in the moment  

- a list of 30 things for 30 years  (I might have to borrow and fine tune this)

- must order more knee socks

- I'm so jealous of Austin, Texas residents right now (they're getting a new and innovative grocery store)

- this printable and foldable calendar is perfect for our weekend

- here's healthy change 26, especially important for guys
- it never occurred to me that I could make my own gummi bears
- Gabby wonders if blogging has transformed motherhood, inspired by her own mother's post here
- bought some seersucker to make a quilt like this one
I'll be back on Tuesday unless camping with an eight month old totally kicks my butt, in which case I will be back on Wednesday.  Heck, it may even be Thursday.  Happy Fourth of July!