2 for 1 post

So remember this post.  I'm sure you were all wondering when I was ever going to get that mess cleaned up.  Well TaDa here it is along with an arrangement I did for a church last Sunday.  The floral arrangement was extra special to me because it was placed in memory of my best friends dad who passed away February 14th, 2004. He was a great guy and I have many memories of Mr. G joking around with us, he will always be with us in spirit.  

The cabinet was a huge splurge, (jk) It's from my favorite store that I love to hate.  The bottom drawer pulls out as a filling cabinet and the top is open to whatever I want to put in it.  I'm loving it, except for the legs. Maybe I'll replace them one day with something not so commercial looking. 

Is it spring yet??

Surprisingly I have been very busy these past couple of days.  I have lots to share but for now I only have time to post my desk arrangement that is getting me in the mood for spring.  I went on a very long walk last week and discovered a Forsinthia Bush, prepared with my shears of course I cut a few stems and they are now in full bloom. I like the contrast of the two different arrangements together. 

Yum!

Ok, so maybe I was being a little unrealistic in the last 2 posts, hey shoot for the moon and you'll get the stars or something like that..... Last year Chris sent me these and although they are gorgeous I thought they tasted awful. This year I would much rather have some Sweetheart Berries from Sherri's Berries. My sister recieved them from her BF and they were delicious!

Who doesn't love Paris

Paris is the city of love and who wouldn't love to spend a long weekend indulging in pure luxury at the Hotel Plaza Athenee.  I found this hotel to be the most romantic I could find only later did I realize it looked very familiar.  

Below is a photo of when I was in Paris with my mother.  We stayed in a very cute boutique hotel that as you can see had a view of the Eiffel Tower.  Chris sent me those flowers, I think that was one of the most romantic things he has ever done.  

Valentine's Day Gift Count Down

First choice for every girl is jewelry. And since I'm pretty sure I won't be receiving any this year I think it's safe to say I would love this Grape Tourmaline Ring with Diamonds in White Gold. Hey a girl can dream..... it is only $7, 680.

First day at the florist shop

I just got home from working my first day at a real florist shop.  The owner has so kindly taken me on even during these rough times.  I am so excited to be helping them out for the big Valentines' Day week, bring on the red roses baby!!!! But for now I'm enjoying these beautiful orange roses that we all got to take home because they are way too open to be sold.  

Happy Birthday to ME!

I turn 28 today and yes I feel old but that didn't stop me from having a great b-day party at the roller rink last weekend. Check out the pics here.

For my cupcake I picked these because I think they are unique and beautiful.

Buckets

In a search for floral buckets I found these beautiful vintage buckets.  I love the kelly green color. 

Treat

I'm pretty conservative on what I spend my money on and that applies to flowers too.  I can spend a good 20 minutes in the flower section at the grocery store before I actually start my food shopping but rarely will I walk away with flowers in hand.  Yesterday I just couldn't walk away from these tulips, 20 stems for $12,  that price can't be beat.  I couldn't wait to get home and put them in this cute little vase I picked up at an estate sale in Georgetown.  Unfortunately the vase leaks but I guess that is what you get for $3.   

Say Cheese

Chris and I love cheese and are often scouting out great new kinds at our local grocery store. This weekend at Safeway we found Beecher's handmade cheese from Seattle. We were thrilled to see this cheese because it brought back memories from our trip to Seattle last spring.

   

We are not that big of foodies but decided to go on the Savor Seattle tour to experience some of Seattle's best (We highly recommend it).  After the tour we only went back to 2 places, Beecher's for their mac and cheese and Piroshki Piroshki.  I heart Piroshki's and if you know of a place in DC that sells them, there will be a big reward!  

All of their cheese is hand made and the process can be seen throughout the day in their store.  

What will Michelle be wearing?

Here are what a few other first ladies wore on their big debut...... 

Ah memories

To keep me busy I've been substitute teaching and last week I taught high school for the first time.  It's been more than 10 years since I was in high school but one thing that hasn't changed are the kids binders, they are still covering them with fun collages.  This was something I spent hours as a teen doing, I would cut out my favorite celebrities, cool photos and fun fashion and then decoupage them to the binder.  So when I stumbled onto this site tonight I couldn't resist making my own collage.  This time with no messy glue or time spent flipping through magazine.

Have fun making your own!  

 

Happy Friday

For some amazing floral design check out Ken Martins portfolio. He really has some unique things going on.  I'm in love with this simple green and white arrangement.  

Getting This

Loving this magazine box, as you can see from the photo on the right, my version is just not working for me anymore. 

1 year for LODA

Wow, a year has passed since I did my "first post"  I wasn't sure where this blog was going to take me but over time it has developed it's own personality.  It's doesn't contain as much design as I had thought but rather reflects more of me and my life and where I've been and where I'm heading.  A lot happened for me in 2008 but I'm even more excited about what 2009 brings.  So let's raise a glass to new adventures and what's to come. 

 

Yes that's beer, I have a feeling 2009 will bring many more trips to micro breweries, Bells is currently on the list of places to go.   

Happy Birthday Kenny!

I've been saving this one for you all year!  I hope you have a wonderful day and I can't wait to help you celebrate tonight!  Have you ever explained your obsession with Curious George? Maybe that will come out tonight.  

Resolution #2

# 2 Cook healthier meals 

I love to cook and I think I do a pretty good job of cooking almost every night.  What I don't do well is cook healthy, most of my recipes come from French cook books or from my favorite cook, Bare Foot Contessa, we all know these recipes call for lots and lots of butter and cream. On Oprah this week she's been having a week long special called your Best Life. Her site has great healthy recipes that mostly link to the biggest loser family cook book.  I'm thinking I may need to pick this one up asap.  

New Years Resolutions

#1- Get Organized

Ever since college it seems like I have lived in smaller than normal places, when I moved in with Chris I was ecstatic that I was moving from 350 sf up to a whopping 900 sf.  But ask me today and I'll probably tell you that I can't take it anymore.  To live in tight quarters one needs to be organized, my good friend Architect Design has mastered this, me not so much.  

I've been wanting to organize this wall behind my desk. 

Go ahead and gasp, I know it's bad. (That lovely plant is my marriage plant, given to us at our wedding from Chris's parents, I'm happy it is growing so big but I really don't know what to do with it.) And look at all those papers, I need some sort of file cabinet and storage.  

I've had this lovely pottery barn magazine cut out behind me for almost 6 months, it's my inspiration, it's what I would LOVE.  However the ones from PB are too deep ( I won't be able to sit at my desk) 

Here are a few of my other options I'm been looking into. 

Loving the price of this one from Target 

 

Loving this one from Ikea because you can close the doors.

 

Not loving this system from Container Store but I'm thinking it may be an option.  

Christmas at the Beach

It's been a week now that we have been down here in Amelia Island and I know I've been bad about blogging... sorry the beach is very distracting.... We came here to celebrate Christmas with my family, we could not have more lucky with the weather, it's been unusually warm.  We are still unsure when we are heading back north, we just heard it's snowing... 

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  Cheers to blogging in 2009!   

We took a big family photo with everyone at the beach, after it was all over Chris tried to throw me in and my brother got this great shot.  

On a walk on the beach with my mom I discovered all these great branch like forms in the sand, it's amazing how nature can create it's own work of art.  

Here they are.... we made the cookies from my earlier post.  They were a FREAKING nightmare. They were impossible to cut out with the cutter, we got about 1 cookie for every 4 that we tried.  Once they were done we hung them on the tree....

They actually looked really cool with the lights behind them..... until 1 hour later you noticed that all the lifesaver inserts MELTED all over the tree.  Yes you heard me, we looked over and all the holes were empty, it was actually quite comical after all our efforts to make the darn things.  

Our florida tree... topped with an angel made out of a conch shell with feathers made by my mother last year also adorned with golf balls, sea shells, beer bottle caps and of course those darn cookies.  

Winter Wedding

I made these wedding bouquets for a wedding on Sunday. It was a very small event, they only needed a few flowers for just the wedding party.  The bride wanted all white but with a christmas theme.  I hope she had a wonderful wedding, I wish them all the best in their future.