inspired: pancake breakfast

seen: "a pancake breakfast" by Dolci Odille

I think breakfast food is the perfect kind of celebration.  So much so that we have a breakfast dinner weekly-- so I can try my hand at new muffins, coffee cakes, waffles and pancakes.  I think it's what I do best.  The details of this pancake breakfast (see more here) are charming.

desk re-do

seen: my new old desk

Just a couple of weeks ago, this was an all black desk.  One that was bought on a student budget many years (and moves) ago.  It was desperate for a makeover so I spent a week with an electric sander (surprise! pretty natural wood under the old, black paint), mirage white paint/primer in one and the darkest (non-black) stain I could find.  This tutorial gave me some guts and then I went at it.  Although I still dream about this desk, it's a happy improvement.

Now I'm onto painting our bookshelf with a gray lacquer (trying paint #2- gray is tricky) and searching for the perfect white chair:

Alas.

inspired: summer palatte in pillows

seen: skinny laminx

Green, aqua, grey, yellow/orange.  I'm in love with this combination.  

garden genius

seen: insitu wall planters

vera wang wedgood

seen: vera wang wedgwood dinnerware, ikat collection

Do you own china?  After seeing this, I'm ready to...

inspired by: motherhood

seen: photo + article: "when is a mother not a mother?"

I've loved thinking (and thinking) about this article and my own feelings.  I think that we can be the best mother by (the process of) being our happiest and best as an individual.  Sometimes that understanding needs to come before or during motherhood and sometimes it comes because of motherhood.  And we each have to learn how and when it will happen for us.  

So, when is a mother not a mother?  I think when she neglects (like really neglects) herself and that inherent wish to be the best for her children.  What do you say?

you're invited: 30 strangers

seen: portraits of mothers and daughters by Justin Hackworth

“Over 30 days, I shot portraits of 30 people I didn’t know,” Hackworth says. “That experience was fascinating, so I wanted to do it again. But it really became more meaningful when I focused on a theme that could give something back to the community.”  

Justin calls his project/fundraiser 30 Strangers (part III: portraits of mothers and daughters) and is sharing his exhibit on July 2 in Provo, UT.  Art and activism will come together as he continues to raise funds for the Center for Women & Children in Crisis.  

You're invited to the opening: 

July 2, 6-9pm.  

26 West Center Street, near the corner of University Avenue and Center Street in Provo, Utah. 

During the show opening, Justin is offering a donation in lieu of a sitting fee to raise additional funds for the shelter.

See portraits of past exhibits here. Justin's blog can be found here.

inspired: this outfit

seen on: emersonmade blog

build a terrarium

seen: our new terrarium

They're all the talk, and here's why:

1. It's great fun to pick out the perfect vessel:  I bought mine at Terrain.  This and this are other dreamy resources but I opted for less expensive.
tip: Go big.  To do it right (I followed this tutorial), I found that I needed more room than I had thought.  And an extra large terrarium would make an extra great statement.

2. Succulents are cheap:  we shopped at our local Home Depot last night and had rows and rows of $1, $2, or $3 tiny succulents to choose from-- in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.  Cole (4) helped me choose his favorites while Finn (1) pushed around the cart, squealing.

3. It's a quick project: after we put the kids in bed, I poured in the river rocks, scooped in the cactus soil, (skipped the charcoal), placed the plants and watered my new terrarium.  Terrarium built in less than 10 minutes.

4. It's green.  It's pretty.  It's creative.

Total project: about $50.

new at oeuf

seen: wild things crown by oeuf, $36

Suddenly I'm wishing it was closer to October.