Cherry Blossoms are here!

Today is the official start of the Cherry Blossom Festival, it runs from March 29th to April 13th. Yesterday I was very fortunate to be able to run down there and see them ( I wanted to see them before the rain came today, which never came). Here are a few shots to get you inspired to go see them. I think this is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Washington, if you don't live here I encourage you to come visit when they are in bloom, it truly is magical.

String Ball

As promised, here is my version of the string ball. I had forgotten that I made mine really dense, I think it would be fun to go back and do this again and actually make a light out of it.

When I saw these lights on HouseMartin's blog today memories from architecture school came rushing back. I actually made one of these in architecture school. It took weeks to master the skill but basically I took a large plastic children's ball, wrapped it with white sewing string and then sprayed it with starch. I then cut a small hole in the top, and pulled small pieces of the ball out. My mother thought it was the most ridiculous thing she ever saw, I think they are beautiful. When I get home tonight I will post a picture of the verson I made.

Yellow Umbrellas

Today is a rainy day in DC. Wouldn't it be beautiful if we all used Yellow Umbrellas.

Japanese School Children

My little sunshines

This week has been crazy for me, on Saturday I worked a full day and the only thing that kept me going was the thought of driving by my old house to see the beautiful magnolia tree in bloom and my little sunshines (daffodils) that I planted 2 years ago. The planter looked a little rough but it brought me such joy knowing that there was still a little part me left in the city.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter. Last night Chris and I got to enjoy these homemade cookies that my sister and her boyfriend made. My favorite is the blue one with the dots. Steve you also did a great Jackson Pollack one.

Limoncello

Cheers! I love these super modern Champagne flutes. 

Tonight Chris and I enjoyed a great dinner with an old college friend who is in town for Easter. As I mentioned before he brought his girlfriend who brought some amazing homemade limoncello, in a very cute little bottle. This is so Martha! I'm already in love with the girl.  Thank You Mary for also a great dessert.  

Dinner Party Tonight!

Tonight Chris and I are having a small dinner party with our friend from Boston and his girlfriend who we have never met. I have been told she is my rival when it comes to throwing dinner parties so I hope I can pull this off. I have been working really long hours lately and haven't had much time to really plan this one. If I had more time I would love for my table to look like this table by Rebecca Thuss. I think it's so fresh and perfect for the beginning of spring.

Travel Clothes

This cute outfit came from my April subscription of Travel + Leisure. I think it is so adorable that I would actually wear it myself, minus the scarf.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This is my failed attempt at making shamrock sugar cookies. Martha would NOT be proud. I made the dough on Saturday and was all excited, I then went to go see if I had a Shamrock cookie cutter in my kit of 101 cookie cutters, NOPE they didn't include one. The hunt was on for a Shamrock cookie cutter, I looked high and low but had no luck. It was 10 pm when I got home last night from my inlaws and I was dertermined to finish this project. I hand cut each shamrock, I stayed up to midnight until they were all finished being baked. This was a big mistake! (they come out looking like poop) Then this morning before work I made the royal icing, I was determined to get this project done so my husband couldn't again say that I didn't finish the project. Anyway.......I got the project done but I am certaintly not proud of them. Chris I know you don't want to hear this but I'm going to make another attempt with Easter cut outs.

The Old Brogue

"The Brogue" as we refer to it at my house has been a part of my childhood for as long as I can remember.  It opened in 1981 and we moved to Great Falls in '83.  Since returning home from College I have been attending their St. Patrick Day celebration.  Of course Chris and I will be there on Monday, if anyone is interested in joining us please let me know. They will have great Irish food and Entertainment direct from Ireland.  Don't forget to wear your green or I will have to pinch you!

I found the perfect shirt for me!  

Chou/Suss Wedding

"The Cool Tags"

This is the test bunch.

This is a follow up from a very early post back in January when I told you all about how Grace is allowing me to do her flowers for her wedding.  The wedding is in September in Minneapolis and Grace has decided to go with a fall theme.  This weekend she was in town so I decided to order a test bunch of roses and calla lilies from the grower we will be ordering the the flowers from.  Over all I was very impressed with the quality of the flowers and how they tagged each rose with it's respective name.  Since Grace is going with the orange/Fall theme we have decided to use the Leonidas rose.  They are beautiful and I can't wait to pair it with orange calla lilies and hypericum Berries. For her own bouquet she has decided to go with all white calla lilies and a few stephanotis.  For all you none flower junkies like myself, just enjoy the pretty pictures I took.   

1024 Photos

I have been in denial for awhile now that I still had a few more wedding things to attend to.  I felt so overwhelmed with the entire wedding process that when it was all over I never wanted to think about another wedding task ever again.  But this weekend I decided it was time to Bride up and finish my wedding duties.  First I took my dress to the cleaners and was in SHOCK with how much it was going to cost,  apparently I had partied a little harder than other girls and it was going to take some extra attention.  Next I moved onto the wedding album, our photographer took some amazing photos but how on earth am I suppose to pick my favorite 60 out of 1024.  I have spent most of the day sorting the good and the bad and I am not even half way done but for sure this photo will make it into the album.  

$4 flowers

I made this arrangement last night and I was so proud of myself because it only cost me $4, that's right you heard me right.  I bought the roses at the Metro on the way home and re-used the purple flowers and foliage from my valentines day arrangement.  I believe every home should always have fresh flowers.  

Project Runway

This was by far my favorite dress in the entire Project Runway Finale. I think I love it because it looks so good next to the models pale skin (which is very similar to my skin tone) Great job Rami.

Happy Birthday Chris!

super mario cupcakes 2
Originally uploaded by hello naomi

Today is my husbands birthday, he's turning 27! All though Dr. Mario is our favorite Nintindo game to play we also enjoy Mario Brothers so I guess these will have will do. Have a great day Chris! I love you.

The perfect Trench.

Spring is rolling in and I can't wait for my bulbs to start blooming. But you know what they say about spring, April Showers bring May flowers.... Ok I know it's only March but we are expecting a pretty big rain storm today so I thought I would post about the perfect Trench. Today was the first day I wore my trench since last year. I have a red one from Ann Taylor Loft that I bought 2 years ago and now I want to buy this really cute green one from the same place. I believe every woman should own a trench.

J.Crew goes to the Kaufmann House

I love being an architect, but the second you mention to someone that your profession is architecture this is what they say: "Do you love Frank Llyod Wright?"  Yes, I think Wright was a brilliant architect but there were also many other amazing modern architects during his time. Richard Neutra (1892-1970)  was one of those Architects, he moved to the U.S. from Vienna in 1923 and for a very short time worked for F.L. Wright.  He then went on to build houses in the hills of Southern California.  One of his most famous houses was the Kaufmann House in Palm Springs which was designed for Edgar J. Kaufmann, the same man who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to build Fallingwater. It was a masterpiece of  glass, steel and stone.  What inspired me to post about this house was the j.crew site.  I went to go check out some of their new spring stuff and noticed that they had done their spring photo shoot at the house, I can't wait to get my catalogue! 

This is the house in it's current condition, in 1992 the now current owners Brent and Beth Harris bought the house for 1.5 million and restored it to it's original glory.  They are now getting a divorce and the house is up for auction, the pre-sale estimates are between $15-25 million.  

 These pictures are from 1970, the owner of the home is pictured in all yellow.