hello weekend

It's the weekend but it feels like an extra long one to me... the reason? Like I mentioned the other day, I'm taking the entire month of August off so I can fully dive into planning our upcoming trip to Paris, and I'm starting my little blog vacation now. Things will be quiet around here for about a month, but I promise that once we get back I'll have lots of fun things to share. So right now, while I reserve a car to transport us from CDG to our apartment, make lists of outfits to wear, and bookmark my eleven guidebooks, here are some links to love... 

- I love everything about this house tour
- thoughts on one year of marriage, and celebrating ten!
- love these shots of our friends by Matt
- this tour of Rachel Castles studio is amazing
- one of the best ebay knockoffs around
- definitely wish these came in my size

Have a great weekend! And month! Wish me luck as we head to the city of macarons and striped tee shirts!

image by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

lazy days | why I won't be posting much this week

With all the planning I've been doing for our upcoming trip to Paris I'm running short on time for posting lately, so I owe you all an apology! Posting will be light this week, and I actually intend to take the whole month of August off so I can finish preparing and relax a little before we leave. I have a bunch of ideas up my sleeve for when we return and I'm sure I'll have loads of Paris photos to share, too, but for now here's my new favorite photo - 

Completely unrelated to blogging or Paris, but I love it. Me and Ezra with our new haircuts. It's from our family photo shoot from the weekend... to see more images (and to tide you over until I have something more substantial up!) check out Steph's blog post about the shoot.

Hope your week is off to a good start! 

hello weekend + Ezra's first haircut

So we finally went through with it! Ezra got his hair cut last night by our friend Jill (she cut my hair, too, but I don't have any pictures of the 'do yet) and I couldn't be happier with his new style. He sat on my lap throughout the cut and didn't fuss at all, except when Jill tried to put a cape on him so we decided to forgo it. I'm wearing one in the photos though... please don't think I'm wearing a zebra cape as my outfit. Anyway, Ezra loves his new haircut and so do we. Thanks, Jill! To celebrate we're going out to eat tonight (not really, we were going anyway but I like celebrations so why not pretend?) and maybe to the Children's Museum if we have time (did you know it's free on Friday nights throughout the summer?) after dinner. Tomorrow we're having our own family photo shoot by the lovely Steph Mills (Matt's doing their photos, too!) and then we have a birthday party for one of Ezra's little two year old friends. We probably won't make it there, but I have to mention the Cirque du Square going on this weekend on Wayland Ave... someone check it out and let me know how it is, especially the ice cream throwdown! And here's some weekend reading...

- an ice cream picnic tote might be the only picnic gear someone like me needs, via Poppytalk

- free invitations for that popsicle party I've been obsessing over (and lots more free printables right here!)

- the best ice cream shops on the East coast... road trip, anyone?

- this gigantic party bow for your hair is to die for

- some new rubber stamps to add to my growing collection

- this funny makeup kit would make mornings so much easier

- this post makes me want to revamp our fireplace

- this made me smile

- never say 'no' to chocolate and peanut butter

- some thoughts on going gray 

- made the most amazing chocolate chip cookies yesterday!

- I'm loving these things, too

Have a great weekend! 

hello weekend

Welcome to my blissful weekend of absolutely no plans whatsoever. Okay, we don't have a completely clear calendar, but dinner with friends and some morning yard work is nothing compared to the cookout/wedding/camping circuit we've had lately. What's on your to do list this weekend? Hopefully something that involves a tall glass of lemonade...

- if you're in RI this summer, take your kids to play at the park or to storytime at the park 

- another popsicle party! It must be a sign...

- love the idea of a sweet and simple birthday breakfast

- tips for styling fine hair

- make yourself some simple sparkle top pencils

- there are so many resources for modern quilting these days!

- tie dyed bed sheets... seriously?!
- these polka dot square business cards are pretty much perfect

P.S. I'm still thinking about these houseboats!

image via september wren

sail away or just stay | vacationing on a houseboat

Let's talk houseboats. Have you ever even given them a second thought? I know I haven't, but last night while looking for a retreat location I came across a really cool option... there are a couple of houseboats docked at the Fox Point Marina in Providence! Unfortunately, they don't provide enough space for our retreat, but how awesome would it be to vacation on a houseboat? Now I can't get them out of my mind. Even a one night stay would be super fun... talk about a cool date night! Check out this one or this one if you're in the area.

images via Thrift Candy from Houseboat

whites and brights | how to host a tie dye party

A couple weeks ago I helped organize a sleepover for the girls in junior high at our church. We needed some sort of activity (other than eating Double Stuf Oreos and watching movies, that is) so I thought for a bit and decided that tie dyeing would be an easy and inexpensive crafty type thing that all the girls could participate in. We ended up spending hours in the garage soaking tee shirts in buckets filled with brightly colored water, and now I want to tie dye everything in sight. Here's what you need to throw your own tie dye party... 

plain white tees / Rit dye powder / salt / liquid laundry detergent

rubber gloves / five gallon bucket / hot water / rubber bands

Once you have all your supplies just follow the instructions on the inside of the Rit box. We (obviously) used the bucket method which is simple and involves no risk of dyeing the kitchen floor. As long as you don't bring the bucket in the kitchen. In case you were wondering, the colors we used were sunshine orange, lemon yellow, fuchsia, teal, and purple. Have you ever tried tie dyeing anything? It's one of my favorite things. 

image via my friend Missy's Instagram

peek... | favorite little clothes

Ezra wears this Dewey Decimal System shirt at least once a week because it's my absolute favorite... the rule is basically this: as long as it's clean he's wearing it. I just can't get enough of it, and it seems others agree. Everywhere we go, from the playground to the mall, Ezra is complimented on his hip tee. It recently occurred to me to check the tag so we can buy more clothes like it. The tee is by peek..., which is available at Nordstrom. Let the online shopping begin.

images via Nordstrom

camping 2012 | a recap in words and pictures

It's the Monday after our camping trip and although we've been home for a little more than twenty-four hours I still feel like I'm in recovery mode. Camping creates so much laundry! How was your weekend? Filled with fun things, I hope. Even though it's a lot of work to prepare for a camping trip - making the reservations, shopping, planning meals, packing, etc. - I'm always glad we go because it really is a lot of fun. Here are some highlights from our weekend...

no shoes inside the tent! 

 venison stew for dinner (thanks, Tom!)

 enough wood for nonstop fire burning

 long afternoon naps 

 the annual bocce ball tournament

(My friend John and I won! We unseated the two-time champions, Matt and Matt :)

 dinner prepared al fresco (and babies in diapers) 

 a visit to the playground

I didn't take as many pictures as I should have so there is a lot missing - volleyball, home run derby, ultimate frisbee, wiffleball, and lots of lounging around the fire. It's hard to believe but I'm already looking forward to next year's trip!

hello long weekend

As I mentioned earlier this week, it's time for our fourth annual camping trip to Burlingame State Park. I'm busy rolling up our sleeping bags and packing the cooler, but I still wanted to share my favorite finds from the internets this week. Enjoy! 

- the perfect movie + gelato date night

- such a cute second birthday party celebration at the zoo

- sparkly dress

- new planners one of the good things in life

- PSA: free picnic partyinvitations available for download!

- whole wheat flatbread and other good ideas in the kitchen

- love this rustic room for two

- have you ever considered online grocery shopping?

- this mod chevron baby quilt is next on my sewing list

- on being crazy busy

Have a great weekend!

image via Oh, Pioneer!

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July! It's raining right now so I don't know what the fireworks will look like around here tonight. Hopefully the weather clears up soon! We haven't seen fireworks on the Fourth in three years because we've gone camping over the holiday weekend since 2009, so I'm excited to find a good display somewhere. It will be Ezra's first time... fingers crossed that he doesn't mind the noise! Go here to find a list of places in Rhode Island where you can watch the annual patriotic pyrotechnics. 

image by blueflash via facebook

sweet treats by the fireside | desserts to make while camping

One of my favorite parts of camping is making dessert over the fire. Of course there's the classic s'more, and I've probably had more than my fair share over the years. This time I want to broaden my campfire baking skills. Here are a few sweets that might be roasting over the fire this weekend...

campfire cones / Dutch oven peach cobbler / chocolate stuffed bananas / baked apples / campfire cakes

What's your favorite campfire food?

P.S. More posts on camping right here.

image via etsy