Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Lemmie OUT!

While we were grilling last night I turned around on the deck and looked back into the living room to find...
Pips, our little girl trying to escape and Fawkes, her brother standing by for backup.
Think she was interested in our pineapple and pork kebabs??
I mean they were delicious.
Happy Tuesday!
*Amy

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Weekend

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a safe, happy Easter.  My parents live about 9 miles from us, so we trekked on over there on Sunday to celebrate with them and a big group of friends (12 of us total!)  The menu was amazing as usual:

Honeybaked Ham, Turkey, Pineapple Casserole, Asparagus, Paska Bread, Potato Casserole, Corn Souffle, all of which were delicious and of course I was bad and didn't take any photos...

I did however remember to take a photo of the flowers I did for the kitchen table, aka-the dessert buffet!
Yellow Tulips, Orange & Yellow Parrott Tulips, White Dogwood & Purple Wisteria
Here's my carrott cake in the background, it was a BIG hit again this year.  YUM! 

Friday my mom, sis and I had a baking day and then frosted these cuties.  Bunnies, carrotts and flowers. 
It was our first foray into color-flow frosting. WOW, what a lot of work! But dang if they didn't look adorable! And tasted pretty good too!
Have you attempted color flow?  Any amazing secrets?
How was your weekend?

*Amy

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Plant of the week

This week's feature plant is Pulmonaria, also called Lungwort.  This spring bloomer is a great shade garden addition.  It likes moist soil and can actually take it quite wet.  I'm posting two of my favorite cultivars, but there are others, I've just found these to be tough performers over time (which gets a gold star in my book!)
Lungwort 'Trevi Fountain'
Size: Clumping foliage 1' tall, 2' wide; flowers 1" above the foliage
I love it's gorgeous mottled leaves and ruffled bright blue-purple flowers
Lungwort 'Silver Bouquet'
Size: Clumping foliage 7" tall, 20" wide; flowers 10" above the foliage
I love it's silvery mottled leaves and ruffled combo of pink and purple flowers
Like them, have them, would add them??  Let me know!
*Amy

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Eventbrite

Perhaps I'm in the dark ages as this website started in 2006-whoops I am late to the party!  But I stumbled upon this website today and was AMAZED.  Perhaps it's just the simple things that are really getting me going lately?  But seriously, I'd heard of other meetup organizations and webpages, so I'm not totally in the past, right?? but, wow oh wow, the internet really is an amazing place!

So go check out Eventbrite, it's a website that lets you know of events going on in many cities across our good ole' USofA.  You can search by event, date, place, price, the list goes on and on.  I'm sure you can find something new and fun to do, if so please let me know!

*Amy

Monday, April 18, 2011

Architecture

They just don't build 'em like they used to.  Well, I guess they do, but it's crazy expensive to do and most firms aren't interested in this type of detail work.

While I was sitting in traffic on my way to a job in DC last week I managed to snag a few photos of some buildings I thought were worth showing off (taken from the sunroof or windows of my car-super safe I know).
Here's a full shot of the building
Closeup of the front door and gorgeous bump out. LOVE that copper patina!! Even the brick detail above the windows is beautiful, and the copper gutters, mmmmm
The wavy roofline-SO beautiful! That little window peeking out of the roof is just the right touch, I imagine it to be a cool space inside as well.
I love the limestone and copper trim that has aged, and those urns, ughh, so beautiful! Even the overhang details were well thought out.
I love the three types of windows, columns and balustrades on this traditional brick building.
These next two reminded me of a Dovecote or Pigeonnier (the last photo has been turned into a house-SO awesome, I'd love to have this as my weekend getaway.)
Are there any buildings in your town that inspire you?  Are you drawn to great architecture?
Happy Monday!  I'll be updating you guys this week with a fun weekend DIY project, so come on back!

*Amy

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Alphabet Soup and my Announcement** if you can find it!

This has been floating around on some blogs I’ve been reading and thought it would be a good way for you all to learn a little more about me and for me to learn a little more about you! So please link up and share your Alphabet!

A – Age: 31, as of January 13th, what a good way to start the year, it’s gonna be a good one, I just know it!

B – Bed size: King, thank heaven!! I’m 5'9" and Hubs is 6'3", so it really was the best investment we made, totally worth the wait and space! Plus, we can snuggle with the kittens and still have room!

C – Chore you hate: Sad to say I kinda like chores, I think it’s the OCD neat-freak in me. Although I do usually have a pile of clean laundry that needs folding, so that’s probably my worst offense.

D – Dogs: No dogs until we have enough land they can run around on, we’re currently in a townhouse, but we do have two adorable kittens, Pips and Fakes and one awesome “dogson” Xander.

E – Essential Start your Day Item: Kiss from husband! Don’t go a morning without it.

F – Favorite Color: Blue, ocean, and sky-Bam! Say no more.

G – Gold or Silver: Depends on what I’m wearing…Now diamonds, that's an everday item!

H – Height, whoops already answered that, I love being tall!

I – Instruments you Play: Piano (still) and Clarinet, although let’s be honest, H.S. was a LONG time ago, so you probably don’t want to ask me to play now, it could get ugly…

J – Job Title: Landscape Designer

K** – Kids: As of August that’ll be ONE!!  I'm 21 weeks pregnant with our first baby!

L – Live: Virginia, the only two things that would make it better would be less traffic and being closer to swimable water.
M – Mom’s name: Patty, Patricia, Tat, Mom

N – Nickname: Oh boy-to be honest or not to be honest…Okayyy, honest, Hollywood, Mooch, Stretch, Lovebug and Dreamboat (yeah yeah, I’m being honest here alright cut me a break!) Ames, Eme, Aimilee, Aimes, Seester, Blondie

O – Overnight Hospital Stays: None so far thankfully, I’m sure that’ll change in August when we have our little one!

P – Pet Peeve: Negativity, towards others and just in general, it only brings everyone down!  People that drive BELOW the speed limit in the far left lane, holy wow that makes me mad!

Q – Quote from a Movie: So many good ones are involved in my daily life!! I’ll try to limit myself:
Are you two brothers (sisters)? No…YEAH! (and they high five) – A Night at the Roxbury
She takes spinning classes like they’re M&M’s –Just go With It

R – Right or Left Handed: Righty

S – Siblings: 1, younger sister by 2 years 11 months and she is awesome!! Love my Chick!

T – Time you wake up: In busy season usually 5:45 so I can hit the gym before arriving at work at 7, In the winter between 8 and 9, yay for seasonal work!

U – Underwear: When working out usually none, who wants to pull a wedgie out when you’re running, daily cotton-BOring I know, weekends, well now, that’s private! ;)

V – Vegetable you Dislike: Lately butternut squash, I think it’s the preggers hormones…But normally Okra, and yes, I even went to school in Charleston, sorry I just don’t dig it!

W – What makes you Late: Northern Virginia Traffic-ugh

X – X-Rays: Practically my whole body, dang you sports!

Y – Yummy Food you Make: When I cook (it’s usually Greg, I’m so spoiled) I make a mean butternut squash and sage lasagna, chicken and broccoli casserole, spaghetti sauce. But baking-look out, I LOVE to bake!! Here are my homemade carrott cake cupcakes I took to a housewarming last weekend.  Which is why I love to workout!
Z – Zoo Animal Favorite: Ooh, probably Giraffe’s they are TOO cute with their long graceful necks and good lookin spots, mm, mm! Although Elephants are good luck and they are actually quite gentle creatures for being so big. And maybe Penguins too, because they waddle and who doesn’t love that? Guess I’m an equal opportunity animal lover…

Now how about you? Please do share!

*Amy

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Spring is springing!!

Okay, so my lack of posts is becoming very apparent, Spring has most certainly sprung here at work!  I've got jobs lined up every day until May 17th-yikes!!  Good for business, bad for blogging!  My goal is to get organized enough to have posts in advance ready to go for you guys!  But for today I thought I'd share these beauties from a recent trek through a local garden.
Camellia japonica 'Jerry Hill'
Daffodil 'Tete a tete' 
Chionodoxa also called Glory-of-the-snow

What's blooming in your garden?
*Amy

Monday, April 4, 2011

Tech-NO

There are some things we each do well, some things we don't...apparently this blog design thing is NOT "my jam" as my cool cousin Kate would say.  Sorry for the crazy changes in backgrounds over the past few days, this is totally out of my area of expertise and I can't seem to get it back to "normal."  Soo, if anyone has great advice, bring it on!  In the meantime I'm going to look into all avenues, trying to "reset" this blog, new blog designers who can come up with something amazing but in the meantime maybe I should look into blogs for dummies??
I'll be back tomorrow with a GOOD update!!
*Amy

Friday, April 1, 2011

DC Design House - Press Day

Today's post will be short and sweet, I'm off to the press day for the DC Design House!!

With so many talented designers I'm excited to see what they've all done!  I'll take photos (if they'll let me) and will post a recap if not this afternoon Monday for sure!  So please stay tuned!

In the meantime, please enjoy some eye candy from the many designers!  I'm sure you'll find something to make your Friday fly by!

Cindy McClure - http://www.grossmuellers.com/
Gary Lovejoy
Iantha Carley - http://www.ianthainteriors.com/
Patrick Sutton - http://www.patricksutton.com,%20www.patricksuttonhome.com/
Rill Architects - jrill@rillarchitects.com
Whitney Stewart - http://www.whitneystewartinteriordesign.com/
Samantha Friedman - http://www.samanthafriedmaninteriors.com/
Nancy Colbert - info@designpartnersllc.com
Liz Levin - http://www.lizlevininteriors.com/
Lauren Liess - http://www.thepurestyle.com/
Jason Hodges - jason@jhodgesandassociates.com
Erin Paige Pitts - http://www.erinpaigepittsinteriors.com/
David Mitchell
Denise Willard - http://www.decorbydenise.com/
Camille Saum - http://www.camillesaum.com/
Nadia Subaran - http://www.aidandesign.com/
Barbara Franceski - http://www.barbarafranceski.com/
Allie Mann - http://www.casedesign.com/

Happy almost weekend!
*Amy