Baby It's Cold Outside!!!

Finally - the day every student (and teacher!!) hopes for - we have a snow day today and classes are cancelled!  As soon as it's light outside I look forward to taking a walk in my neighborhood - I love the quiet that a blanket of snow creates. I won't be able to stay outside very long as I've been down hard for the past week with a flu.  However, since this has been our only snow this year, a short beautiful walk is in order. I just wish I had a warm coat like this sweet little cherub!

photo: crush cul de sac 

Long Weekend of Rest

I caught a nasty flu last Wednesday so this long weekend of three days was mostly spent in bed.  I did manage to rearrange my study with a dear friend of mine and I have to say, it looks fantastic!  It makes such a difference when you have someone to bounce ideas around with.  I should be back blogging tomorrow - sorry to have been away for long!

photo sarah kaye   

Words for the Wise - Pablo Picasso

I think these are such wise words.  Hard work is almost always behind success. I hope everyone is having a lovely day today!

photo: here 

Sweet Dreams

The bed in the first photo is almost identical to mine except for the fact that the one in the image is painted white.  Mine is wood.  It's French from the 1920's and I still love it.  Sometimes I have wondered whether I would like it better painted white - hum...another weekend project? The next two beds are magical and I can imagine curling up and reading a book in them.  In the last bedroom I'm smitten for the wall painted gray on the bottom and white on the top - it reminds me of walls in Mexico when I lived there.

photos: sarah kaye (1 & 2), automatism  (3), sacramento street (4)

Sweet Simplicity

I love buying my food at the farmer's market but at this time of year it just isn't possible.  I was thrilled to see that my local grocery store is now carrying fresh farm eggs with beautiful light green, blue and brown shells. So until my outdoor market opens - it's only a few blocks from my house - I'll relish the fact that I can at least get fresh eggs.

I can't wait to enjoy them for my breakfast tomorrow morning.  Hope you're having a lovely evening - talk to you more tomorrow.

photo: sarah kaye 

Living Room Options

I have always thought that  both Vicente Wolf and Darryl Carter did an outstanding job of placement of furniture in a room.  Each piece has it's purpose and there is a serenity about the space.  I think I can learn from them just by looking at their work.  I realize something new each time I look at the photographs.

photos 1 & 2 darryl carter & 3-5 vicente wolf blog 

Kitchen Beauties

Today seemed to be a day that my eye focused upon a variety of kitchens I liked.  Some are grand and others are petite but they all have great bones and I would embrace using any of them.  The last one would be what I would hope to have if I buy a small little abode in San Francisco.  Perfect for the weekend getaway!

Sea of Plates

Yesterday I saw this amazing collage on a blog of my dear friends at Stars Antique Mall here in Portland.  I've never seen anything like it - I can't figure out how they were able to hang them on the wall like that.  It looks like a work of art to me!

Pockets

I think this quote speaks for itself and is exactly how I feel right now - I need some bigger pockets!

photo: the english muse 

Home Sweet Home

I'm back from my camping trip with my students.  It went remarkably well and the girls I spent time with were phenomenal.  We had such long talks and I will never forget the time spent together.  I had originally not looked forward to it - thinking about how tired I would be.  But the experience was perfect and I'm so happy to be a teacher.  That being said - I'm also thrilled to be home in my sweet little abode.

photo: 1 & 2 , 3 

COLOR TRENDS - Camel

photos: 1-everything fabulous, 2-4-sacramento street 

I have a tendency to wear only neutrals - and I have to say that camel is a color I would love to add a bit more camel in my wardrobe!  Have a lovely rest of the week - I'll be back on Saturday night after my three days camping - think good thoughts for me!!!

Room with a View

If you had a choice, which view would you want to look out on? I love windows that look out onto something.  I would have a very hard time actually choosing one - I love them all!

photos: 1-4 , 5 

Refuge

As I think about 72 hours spent camping with over 100 seventeen year olds, I let my mind wander to a refuge to curl up and relax in afterwards.  Wish I could check into a hotel like this one in Scotland that I found on Hotel Chic .  It looks exactly like what I am dreaming of!

 photo: 15 Glasgow Sleep Boutique via Hotel Chic 

Illuminating Ideas

I love when I see a traditional item used in a fresh and modern way.  The chandeliers with their rope levers and the bare light bulbs.  They both really speak to me - as if they aren't taking themselves too seriously.

photos: 1-3 , 4&5 

Blog Crush: The Style Files

I remember the first time I came across The Style Files  - I was sure I had gone to heaven.  Every entry Danielle de Lange had was so breathtaking and in line with my aesthetic.  It's still one of the blogs I make sure to visit every day and it never disappoints.  Below are recent images Danielle had of a house in Australia.  It seems so authentic and yet there is an artful touch in how it's arranged.  I hope you enjoy The Style Files  as much as I do!

A Day to Pack

For three days this week I'll be going on a retreat with 100 seventeen year old girls.  The cold weather is back again so I need to bring lots of layers in order to keep warm.  We'll be staying in cabins and at this time of year it will be frigid.  I'm sure it will be wonderful but I always worry beforehand that it goes without a glitch.  I'm also thrilled when I'm back home in my own bed!  Hope you're having a lovely Sunday my friends!

photos: 1 & 2 , 3 

Design Focus: Thomas O'Brien

The latest book I've devoured and loved every single page is American Modern.   Each page has something new to learn from - and of course savor.  The past few months has been a treat with design books abounding.  I am drawn to those who use very little color yet always with a great deal of variety in texture and style.  Nothing boring about it!

photos: American Modern 

Cutie Pie

I had a fifteen hour day at work yesterday so my post will be rather short - I'll post this afternoon!  Have a wonderful weekend!

photo: patterson maker