setting a table

As a real, live adult (with a son due in a matter of days!?), I've been worried about knowing how to do, well, stuff.

As a soon-to-be parent, I want to be able to share sage life advice on everything from how address an envelope to how not to interrupt people in conversation. Perhaps that's why I've been enjoying sites like 1,001 Rules for Unborn Son and Advice for Boys (check out my handsome husband featured here). Can we just say THANK YOU to the internet for existing?

It is in this sentiment that I stumbled across the most handy cheat sheet for setting a table on Pinterest. Pulled originally from the blog Waiting on Martha, these handy (and pretty!) pics are sure to make dinner prep for a casual family meal or a fancy dinner party a breeze.

Bookmarked.

(images via Pinterest, originally from Waiting on Martha)

office nook

One of the most perplexing sections of our little cottage is the back room. It's part mudroom, part laundry area, part reading nook...it's got a lot of names...and a ton of potential! One thing S and I agree on is that we could totally use this space in a better way. We could also totally use a home office. Decision? Made (Amy Poehler voice).

After living in a cramped one bedroom apartment in NYC for years, we are pretty proud of our ability to make the most of a small space. With that in mind, here are a few of the prettiest little office nooks I've come across on Pinterest.  Filing these away for inspiration!

black and white sheets

Sleep has become more important than ever before. Being pregnant has made me ready for a nap pretty much all day, everyday. Combined with a long, gray February and jam packed schedules, S and I have been taking our sleep quarters very seriously. After all, it won't be long before our little one is keeping us up all hours, right?

One of our favorite new bedroom additions are the gorgeous black and white sheets above. Gifted to us by my thoughtful mother, they came from West Elm (purchase link here). They are soft, fun and put me in a good mood every morning when I wake up in them.

The top images are from the blog House Tweaking. Dana Miller has major style. Check it out for serious home inspiration. 

flowers make you happier...and healthier?

Between the new house and the pregnancy, I've been non-stop nesting. When my energy level doesn't let me "keep on going," I give in to my current obsession: Pinterest. Virtual nesting is my my newest jam.

While pinning away last week, I came across this article from Apartment Therapy. It speaks not only to the emotional upside of keeping fresh flowers in the home, but also to the health benefits.

According to the article, researchers found that hospital patients who stayed in rooms with fresh plants and flowers had lower blood pressure, felt less anxious and less tired. The article also points out that flowers in the workspace increase efficiency. Very interesting indeed...

rustic wood details

Perhaps it's my overwhelming need to nest lately or a weekend spent in a cabin in the Mississippi countryside, but I'm finding really drawn to rustic wood details for the home.

Our Victorian cottage here in Nashville is hardly "rustic," but I love the cozy feeling that these rough around the edges details can inspire.

Here are a few favorite inspiration pics from Pinterest (beginning with that gorgeous, statement-making headboard above)...

This rough wooden table with the prettiest sloping legs paired with modern chairs looks like a gorgeous spot for intimate dinner conversation.

always steamed (never fried)

Isn't this ceramic Japanese Steamer Set from Anthro lovely? I wish it would come live in my kitchen.

As my dear ones know, my love for dumplings knows no bounds. While some of you weirdos may prefer your dumplings fried, I will always and forever prefer steamed.

Back in NYC, our proximity to Chinatown and the amazing dim sum options offered there kept my dumpling habit fueled. Since moving to Nashville, however, I have yet to find the perfect dumpling spot to get my fix.

Luckily, the always awesome food blog spoon fork bacon features a delectable recipe for Shrimp Shumai with Ponzu Sauce that I'm desperate to try!

oversized photography

What say you guys to decorating with large scale photos?

Our new house has incredibly high ceilings which makes for some amazing wall space. While our aesthetic usually gravitates toward painting and sketch works, the crisp, modern feel of these oversized images has me interested.

Here are a few other cool examples:

vintage globe lights

Aren't these vintage globe lights amazing? 

Our little family has been up to our eyeballs opening a restaurant over the past months and one of the fun tasks on our lists was combing Etsy and other vintage sites for colorful globe lighting to complete the interior.

Through this process, I've found myself yearning for a toned down version of these lights for our new house.

Pinterest has a limited offering of the look above so let's just drool over a few more images of this rad kitchen shall we?

{me}longings studio pillows

Setting up house can be feel like a daunting experience. Deciding where to hang a favorite mirror takes back seat to locating those day to day necessities like shampoo and work clothes.

Slowly but surely we've begun to chip away at the seemingly endless task of getting settled. We ordered a new white sofa, but are still in the market for the perfect throw pillows. After all, aren't the details the best part?

{me}longings studio's "organic modern textiles" are printed by hand and oh so lovely.

Here are a few of our favorites of their designs (above and below) that are more than welcome to come and live at our house.

"put your records on..."

Everyone knows that my dear S if far more hip than me. He's had a record player for awhile now. He's matched it well with a wide (and sometimes bizarre...) variety of vinyl.

The tunes it spins have been a welcome addition to our condo and helped our rented place feel like home.

Now that we are in the process of moving into our new house here in Nashville, we can't stop picturing backyard soirees with old fashioned soundtracks.

After spotting this adorable (and portable!) record player on Amazon for a cool $80...

photographic duvets

I know that I'm far too mature for these (puh-lease), but tell me that these photographic duvets aren't just the ticket for a kid's bedroom?

By Dutch label Snurk (which translates to "snore"), image options include everything from an astronaut (pictured above) to sweet and cuddly sleeping animals such as Bob the dog or

 Ollie the cat.

friday

Happy Friday, friends! Flowers are blooming and my allergies are barking, but the weekend is nearly upon us so who can complain?

It's a dreary, rainy afternoon here in Nash so here are a few cheerful links to brighten the last few hours before the weekend officially begins.

"bird brain" print

Digging on this whimsical "bird brain" print from Meghan Ellie's Etsy shop. I find the combination of an old fashioned silhouette and photography bizarrely calming. It feels like a daydream.

If you like it too, it could be yours for $25. Head here to purchase.

(image via etsy)

peony candle

Anyone who has ever been to our place knows how obsessed I am with candles.

They instantly "cozy up" any space. From our tiny apartment back in NYC to our condo here in Nashville (and soon our first house), candles make any space feel special and intimate.

My current favorite flavor is Hothouse Peony by Royal Apothic ($26). The scent is deliciously floral with a hint of sandalwood. It makes the whole place smell magical.

chalkboard walls

Would you ever turn a wall of your home into chalkboard? How about the inside of a pantry door? A playroom?

With my penchant for list making and love of cooking, I'm kind of digging the idea of painting some part of our kitchen with chalkboard paint. It's apparently as easy as buying a can from your local Home Depot.

etsy finds for the home

As we navigate our first home buying experience, I've had nothing but nesting on the brain.

Here are three pretty offerings from Etsy that make excited about settling into our new space in the next few months.

These porcelain egg planters ($17; available here) would add a nice pop of springtime to the mantel.

This super feminine cafe apron makes me want to whip up a tasty brunch ($32, available here).

That industrial panel would make an interesting addition to a living room wall ($86, available here).

 
(images via revision design, prohect 129 and spacebarn's etsy shops)

pretty birds

Photographer Leila Jeffreys Wild Cockatoos images are stunning. I'd love to frame prints and hang them in a row.

decanter sets

These decanter sets from Shop Furbish are my new favorite things. According to S, I'm no longer allowed to purchase any dishes, glassware or tabletop accessories. Drag!

Having said that, don't you think these would make welcome additions to our bar cart (remember this post)?

After all, a real pirate drinks their hootch from a glass with a ship on it, right? If this approach fails I'm not above pulling at the heart strings. Example: "Just look at that little fox's sweet face!"

These will be mine. Oh yes. They will be mine.

(images via shop furbish)

"among the pines"

How pretty is this tree pillow by OK Electric (spotted in Fine Little Day's shop)? I can almost smell the pine! It would make a cozy addition to the sofa this time of year.

The imagery makes me this of a recent excursion to the Pacific Northwest....and Twin Peaks!

 I love Design*Sponge's "Living In..." series, and their post on the series from a few months back is one of my favorites.

Click here for all the details. Also, Agent Dale Cooper forever.

cheers to barcarts!

Loyal readers may recall this post from a few years ago about my hope of setting up a bar in our tiny NYC abode. Well, set up that little bar we did and it was fabulous!

Fast forward a few years later to our present digs here in Nashville and space concerns plague us no longer. For this very reason, I'm contemplating setting up a similar beverage station in our new home, but this time...bigger. The empty wall beside our desk is practically begging for a bar cart.

Is it me or are these inspirational clips from Pinterest making you feel a bit thirsty? Cheers!

(all images pulled from pinterest; top image originally via cup of jo; middle images cupcakes and cashmere; others unknown)