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)

happy birthday, mister rogers

As a child, my Nana would ONLY let me watch PBS. This meant I spent a ton of time with Mister Rogers while my parents were at work. He was my absolute favorite.

When I heard of his passing in 2003, I was, like I'm sure a ton of kids from my generation were, really, really sad.

A few weeks ago the sweet doc "Mister Rogers and Me" caught my eye on PBS and it was wonderfully refreshing to learn more about the man behind the show. Fred was an unbelievably swell guy in real life as well. He spent his summers with family in a Nantucket cottage called "The Crooked House." He was also a vegetarian because he didn't want to "eat anything that had a mother."

jerry and tina

It's a yucky wintry week all over the country it seems. Let's take a break and enjoy a good laugh with Jerry and Tina shall we?

Last week's episode of Seinfeld's web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" featured a rad, red 1967 Volvo. The guest? Tina Fey. They got coffee. They had Cronuts. They said funny things! Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

most popular names for girls

I'm fascinated by this state-by-state guide of the most popular names for U.S. girls over the past 60 years. Isn't it intriguing?

Apparently, Sophia was crazy pop in 2012. Who knew?

(gif spotted on swiss miss, originally from jezebel)

good advice

Oh, my. Does Tina ever get it wrong?

I feel like the above quote sums up our little family's approach to life over the past two years. It hasn't always been easy (or relaxing), but it certainly hasn't been boring!

Here's to staying inspired as we wind down the week. Happy Friday!

we think alone

Have you guys heard about the We Think Alone project by artist/writer Miranda July? It's a pretty cool concept.

By visiting this site and entering your email, you sign up for a weekly batch of personal emails from notable people. Each Monday's collection is organized by theme. So far, I've received "An email about fear" and "An Angry Email." Participants include Kirsten Dunst, Lena Dunham, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the designers behind Rodarte and many more.

The project came out of the author's interest in reading other people's personal message. Even without complete context, it's an interesting exercise so far.

monday morning pep talk

After a great weekend, I got smacked *hard* by the Sunday blues last night. Mondays are tough, people. From the moment the feet hit the floor on Monday morning, the week kicks off with work, appointments and adult responsibilities. Gross, right?

Well, let's use this Monday as spring board for positive thoughts.

friday fun

Today is one of those beautiful September days that makes me long for fall to arrive all summer long. Fall is hands down the best season. When else can you justify the purchase of 3 mini pumpkins at the market I ask you? When?

It's been a bustling week and I can hardly wait for the clock to hit 5. In the meantime, here is a little bit of randomness making this Friday my favorite.

batch nashville

Have you guys heard of Batch Nashville?

I recently stumbled across their website and let's just say I'm picking up what they're laying down.

The concept? Each month Batch will deliver a box of local goodies right to your door. Ingredients, confections and other artisan products from local purveyors are pulled together for the company's themed monthly deliveries.

September's batch featured a "Rise and Shine" theme and included purveyors such as Haulin' Oats, our friend Rob at Garage Coffee Company, pancake mix from My Friend Who Loves to Cook, Dozen Bakery, TrueBee Honey, etc. Here's a peek at their cute packaging:

I'm bummed to have missed September's batch and October's is already sold out. Getting my order in for November now. Wouldn't these boxes make a thoughtful gift?

Check out Batch's website here.

(images via batch and style blueprint)

celebrity makeunders

It's Monday and that's hard enough. For this reason, I suggest we take a moment to enjoy the silliness that is the phenomenon of "celebrity makeunders."

What's that you say?

These photoshopped images of what some of the world's most well known celebs might look like as regular folk have me laughing. These images were created by New York City artist Danny Evans.

Let's explore shall we?

"it's no biggie"

 

Have you guys seen the adorable blog it's no biggie?

The site features charmingly illustrated gifs. The illustration style reminds me of the movie The Snowman.

These are a few of my favorites.

"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...

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.

etsy finds: ArcOfaDiver

Digging ArcOfaDiver's interesting bag collection after coming across their Etsy shop.

I've got my eye set on the Tico striped school satchel (bottom right above) from their Coastal Collection. This looks like an ideal option for a new work bag. I just got a brand new company MacBook that I'm terrified of accidentally destroying.

I also wouldn't turn the cross body Seafarer Bag (in solid or stripe)....

or these gold accented Wallet/Clutch designs.

a bird ballet

I'm hesitant to post anything else bird related for fear that they are becoming an unintentional blog theme as of late, but I couldn't resist sharing the above video I spotted on Black Eiffel.

"A Bird Ballet"  shows what I've only recently learned is called a murmuration of birds dancing across a pink sky. The chill soundtrack couldn't be more fitting.

Let's just call this our Friday afternoon moment of zen. Something tells me we could all use such a moment after this week...

Cheers and happy (almost) weekend!

(video by Neels CASTILLON; spotted on Black Eiffel)

spring is in the air

This excerpt from e.e. cummings's poem "i love you much (most beautiful darling) might make the ultimate love note.

These lines would be wonderful to incorporate into wedding festivities. The phrase: "i like you better than everything in the sky" seems like a lovely sentiment to engrave on the inside of a wedding band, no?


(images via modern hepburn)

a friendly sweatshirt

Why, hello yourself! This friendly sweatshirt from Hello Merch makes me smile.

Even though S constantly teases me about loving "sweats" (for the record an American Apparel oversized sweatshirt and yoga pants are totally different from a random sweatsuit, ok?), I'm thinking of snagging one of the above shirts in blue or green.

abstract landscapes

 

Well, hello there 2013! It's great to see you!

It turns out the Mayans had it wrong and after a joyous bout of holiday celebration, here we are. Back to it... Time to put down the champagne and kick start those resolutions. Isn't that sentiment easier said than done on this chilly, grey January morning?

I'd much rather daydream of adventures in bright, vivid places that aren't my desk at work.

Artist Katherine Sandoza's abstract landscapes can take me there...to the mountains, the desert, the tundra! Where do hope 2013 will take you?

(images via wit & delight)

everything is wonderful

What a positive little tote bag you are! Everything is wonderful... Isn't it though?

Sure I may be double-fisting caffeine to see me through the completion of a last big work project of the year, but it's nearly time to fly away to New York for a festive family holiday. I can hardly wait!

pretty birds

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