BLANKET Magazine (Its Free!!!!!)

I love art! I love things that are free! Blanket is an online PDF magazine that uncovers art+design+photography from talented people who create it. Blanket is run by Bec Brown and her talented team of Blanketeers who each issue inspire their readers with informative interviews, cheeky and humorous stories and, of course, beautiful art, design, and photography. 

Check it out! 

Original Modern Home Designs/Ideas

I thought I would share some photos of homes from the 1950's. Talk about inspiration. My house was built in 1956 and I love looking at old design books to get ideas.  The lines of my house are similar to the homes in the books which is a great jumping point for ideas. Here are some that are fueling my "lets redo this and that even though we have no money" urges! 

Modern Easter Center Piece

I love this simple yet modern centerpiece. You could easily change the color of eggs to match your decor, or add hard-boiled brown eggs to the mix. Who would have thought carnations could look so cool!  (eggs and carnations)

All Natural Easter Egg Dye Recipes

Use these all natural dye recipes made from household ingredients to create Easter eggs in beautifully subdued shades. Leave eggs soaking in the dye in the refrigerator overnight for the richest colors. 

PINK: 

1 cup pickeled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar

LAVENDER:

1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar 

BROWN:

1 cup strong coffee and 1 tablespoon vinegar

BLUE:

Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks. Add cabbage to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar. Let cool to room temperature. Remove cabbage with slotted spoon. 

BLUISH-GRAY:

Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water. Bring to room temperature. Remove blueberries. 

DARK PINK: 

Cut 1 medium beet into chunks. Add beet to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar. Let cool to room temperature. Remove beets. 

YELLOW: 

Remove peel from 1 orange. Add peel to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar. Let cool to room temperature. Remove orange peel.

(thanks BHG)

Rooms with a View

My son Ryder loves to take photos. Any chance he can he sneaks my camera and starts shooting away, usually unbeknownst to me.  It's usually not until I am uploading photos, photos I think are of things I just photographed and I get the most amazing insight into his little brain. Above are photos Ryder took on March 25. 2009.

1) view of floor from standing on kitchen bar stool

2) his foot on vintage slat bench 

3) self-portrait

4) a deep look into our trash can

5) barstool view into laundry room and part of kitchen

The sun is coming out.......

My sons and I started our new garden. We have planted one every year they have been alive, going on 7 years for Alex and 4 years for Ryder. Our last garden didn't do too well, we left on vacation during the hottest time of the summer for 2 and half weeks and forgot to re-set our sprinkler system-thus one sad, droopy looking garden! We were so sad, all of our hard work down the drain (so to speak)! But, we are back.....this year we planted....

1) Black Krim Tomatoes 

2) Cinnamon Basil

3) Strawberries

4) Carrots

5) Pumpkins

5) Cucumbers

6) Zucchini/Squash

7) Coriander Cilantro 

8) Italian Basil

9) Italian Parsley 

Check out our early beginning stage of our garden....more posts to come as our garden grows

The Succulent Succulent

Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and/or roots. The storage of water often gives the succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance, which I am completely drawn too. Probably because it reminds of me of me! There is something cheery about a succulent....I just can't get enough.

(photos by succulentia.com)