Oh, what do you do in the summertime?

Yesterday Annie posted a picture on instagram of her son painting an apple -- like a still life. And he was doing a pretty bang-up job. Meanwhile, my son had been watching Netflix for something like 27 hours straight, and so I felt like maybe . . . I  . . . should . . . turn . . . off . . . the  . . . television.

Does anyone else think it's harder to conjure up your fun-summer mojo by child number four? When I had four kids at home, I think I scheduled more productive days primarily out of self-preservation. So the kids would stop swinging from the chandeliers and randomly distributing cracker crumbs in messy piles around the house. But now, when Becca is at her SAT prep class, it's easy to just let Parker watch some Netflix while I work.

Except Annie went and posted that apple and ruined it for me.

Not really  (sorry Annie!). Mostly, my mommy guilt is ruining it for me. 

Here's a fun idea! Not much effort. Not many supplies. Listen to some music and start zentange-ing. See the instructions here. 

via tinyrottenpeanuts.com

Getting stringy

I know over the last few days we've talked about raising good teenagers and touched ever so slightly on the DATING scene. But now I've got something really important to talk to you about: MACRAME. It's a thing! A trend! Everyone is doing it!

I've heard that if you are old enough to remember a trend the first go round, then you are too old to engage when the fashion gods bring it round a second time (like, with parachute pants, for example). I'm happy to say that my only experience with macrame has been in dusty bins at garage sales and thrift stores. I'm completely new and fresh to macrame. Also? Who made up that stupid trend rule in the first place?

Hold on a sec while I put on my parachute pants.

At first glance I was unsure about my place in the macrame world. But the more I see it, the more I like it!

via vintagerevivals

Of course, Mandi of VintageRevivals is already heavy into macrame. See her Orchid Dyed Planter here. She also did a macrame headboard. Her website says that a tutorial is in the works. 

via vintagerevivials

Ashley Ann of Under the Sycamore is also macrame-ing (can macrame be a verb?). She's gathered a list of tutorials here.

via greenweddingshoes

This tutorial from Green Wedding Shoes seems like it might be a good place to start.

via oleanderandpalm

Maybe this isn't technically macrame, since it doesn't involve knots, but I really like the color and texture of this yarn art.

Shall this be the Summer of Macrame? I do like the sound of that.

A few good gems

Happy Friday everyone! I'm a little late today because I'm suffering from a serious case of end-of-year-itis. I need a little break from the routine -- after which I'll be whining that I need MORE routine. I can't be pleased (unless I'm on vacation, in which case I'm entirely pleased). I'm also excited for a three day weekend. Three whole days! Let the sleeping in commence!

Oh, also . . . the gems:

image via LikesofUs

Alecia from Likes of Us built this hip, colorful bench from the Ikea Sigurd bench. I love it -- seems like a perfect Memorial Day project.

Have you guys seen 12HRS? It's a website that features 12 hour itineraries for some of the world's most famous cities -- all carefully curated to interest the foodie, the designer, and those seeking the road less traveled. 

Flynn McGarry. He's incredibly cool, and at only 15 he is already a celebrated American chef. He has his own dinner club that he hosts at his parents' house (at $160 a head!). Check out this NYT article and watch the video. He's pretty darn charming.

I'm thinking of some modern stenciling to jazz up some of my new white walls. Any advice? I like this one, and this, and possibly this.

via iheartorganizing

My computer desktop is a wreck. This desktop looks beautiful. And soothing. I might devote a smidgeon of my Memorial Day to this tutorial.

image via sugarandcloth

Also, THIS summer throw. I'm making it!

That's it guys. Looks like I'll be doing some creating this weekend. Hope yours is filled with popsicles and watermelon and late, late mornings. 

Projecting

I think I need a new hobby. Lately my hands have been itching for some creative makery, the kind of thing I can do while we watch a show or while we hang out together on the sofas. Before I take on the commitment of a full-blown, get-the-gear-and-buy-the-books hobby, I think I'll date a few projects first. These three ideas, ranging from super easy to pretty elaborate, are topping my list right now. I think they might even work as family activities with everyone pitching in (at least the first two, anyway):

1. I love a good garland and this is a fantastically easy sticker one. Got string? Some circle stickers? Go to town:

Photo via O-k-e-r

2.  Paint and frame some colorful rectangles. Classy, modern, and simple. 

photo via Lonny

3. Embroider some red cloth in Swedish designs. Okay, this is admittedly on the complicated side of the spectrum and probably more commitment than just dating a project, but isn't it gorgeous? I'm obsessed!:

photo via Glad You Could Make It

What projects are you up to? 

A few good gems

Happy Friday! I'm definitely getting to that point in the school year where I'm just hobbling from weekend to weekend. It's enough already with the early mornings and packed lunches and school projects. Momma needs a good long rest. And . . . my college girl comes home in just two weeks! There are lots of good things to look forward to, and in the spirit of that goodness, here are a few good gems to get your weekend inspiration humming.

via MarthaStewart.com

We usually have eggs benedict on Easter morning, but I have to say I'm rather intrigued by this Martha Stewart recipe of Sesame Toast with Poached Eggs and Avocado. 

I originally came upon this article courtesy of Cup of Jo, and while I don't like to recycle links -- this article bears repeating. Published as an opinion essay in The New York Times, the author, Akhil Sharma, writes about his own fruitful experiences with looking outside of himself. This is a must read.

How to make a bow. I had a clearanced wreath from Target and a front door in dire need of some Springifying. In the past I've always had my mother or one of my talented friends make bows for me. But those folks weren't around, so I turned to my BFF the Internet. Girlfriend always delivers.

Also on the DIY front, I experimented with removing oil stains from t-shirts. Indeed, it has been an exciting week. You know those mysterious oil stains that show up on the cool t-shirt you JUST bought on your ski trip and only wore ONE time? Yeah, I'm doing something about those. I tried this tutorial. I had three dime-size oil spots on the bottom of the shirt. I did the WD-40, the baking soda (twice), and the Dawn. Then I washed. Afterwards, the dime-size oil spots were gone, BUT the area around them was stained. I think I made a mistake by only scrubbing the Dawn into the stains themselves. So, I did the whole thing again, brushed the Dawn thoroughly over the entire area, and VOILA! Oil stains no more. I'm serious. This may have changed my life.

I made Fried Quinoa with Spicy Honey Chicken for dinner this week. This recipe is a keeper.

Have you seen this video about the waitress who gets three life-changing "tips"? What if it was your job to go around and make people's dreams come true? I wonder if you'd have to write a dissertation to qualify for that. 

Root Beer Float Cookies? I'm in.

I'm going to try these smoothies next week for an after-workout treat. (But let's be real -- you should really get chocolate or an entire loaf of bread as a reward for working out.)

There's a compelling article in The Atlantic about a playground designed to get around overprotective, middle-class, suburban parenting. And it may or may not involved fires. Interesting read.

And that's it folks! We posted every day this week . . . so can we have the chocolate and bread NOW????

White paint for the win

via VintageRevivals

As Annie introduced on Monday, our new editorial calendar includes Tuesday and Thursday posts with a focus on food, design, books, movies, research, and gatherings. Essentially, these are items of interest to us as they weave in and out of this current stage of our lives. And --  sometimes we just want to show you some cool STUFF.

Man, being your own boss is great. {Can you call yourself a boss if you don't get paid?} 

Anyway, I've got house design on the brain because I'm itching to repaint my downstairs. Right now it's a tannish/greenish sort of color with some accent walls. Also, the accent walls in the dining room (which are orangish) make it look like a Mexican restaurant. But THAT'S another story for another day. Ole!

I've been scouring ye olde Internet for paint colors. And what do you think I've found?

WHITE.

Yep, and I'm all over it.

Here's some of my favorite design blogs and their white paint choices:

• Vintage Revivals. I love everything this girl does. She has a hip mid century vibe with a kind of boho chic element thrown in for good measure. I've been studying her rooms very carefully because I fear I am way too uptight to naturally invoke boho chic. Her newest room reveal is here, and in this post she shares her favorite paint color: Sherwin Williams Ultra White Base with 4 oz of pigment added. You should also check out this room, and this room, and really, all of them. Also, I'm thinking of doing this pinwheel art (in different colors) for above my fireplace. What think ye?

via VintageRevivals

• Emily Henderson. Do you remember her from Design Star? Cuz she won!! Anyway, come to think of it . . . she's also got a mid century vibe with a healthy dose of boho chic weirdness. It totally works for me. You've probably seen this living room makeover. I've seen it on Pinterest no less than 11,000 times. And really, it is that good. She's currently renovating her own Californian home and painting the whole thing Benjamin Moore Super White. You can see updates on her reno here.
• Design Mom. She's painting her new Oakland home Sherwin Williams Origami White. Readers are still waiting on room reveals, but you can see her entry here. And the story of their neat-o treehouse here.

And, as a design-y side note, check out these mid-century chairs I got off of Craigslist last week. I just need to find some fabric for new cushions. We're expecting Don Draper for drinks at eight.

I just tossed (not literally) those chairs in the back of the kitchen for now. But, as you can see, those green drapes are also going to have to go. I'm thinking white linen with a black band at the bottom. What are your favorite design blogs? Help a girl out. . .

Occupying small street

We said goodbye this morning to our French exchange student who stayed with us this week. It's an interesting experience having a stranger stay with your family around the clock and jump right into your routines with you. It made me look at our habits and our home in a completely different light. (Are our packed lunches up to par? Should we have more structured activities going on? Are we boring? Too busy?) Sure, we have guests and friends here quite often in short bursts but when someone stays with you for a week--and sees you in your pajamas, in your hurry-up impatient times, in your feeling-too-sleepy-to-get-up-and-make-breakfast times--that's another level of acquaintance and sudden closeness! As I told Sarah mid-week, it's tough to keep the shiny facade in tact for that long, haha! Margaux was terrific, though--smart, funny, easy-going--and a lovely guest who spoke English really well. Her visit was a great preview and example for Sam, who is excited to head to France on a school trip for the month of April, including two home stays--one in Lyon and one in Carcassonne. 

Over the weekend we went to Enlighten, where Canberra illuminates some of the public buildings and museums with artistic light shows.

Old Parliament House

Then we happened upon a really cool project in the Museum of Democracy in the Old Parliament House. They had collected hundreds of toy figurines and invited everyone to choose a figurine, make a mini protest sign out of broken toothpicks and small cardboard squares for the toy to hold (either something you believe in or something the toy might advocate for) and add it to the masses assembled in the "Occupy Small Street" there in the hall (sorry for the grainy phone photos!). 

Some were silly, some were funny, some were serious. Sam chose to speak out on a crucial issue facing the world today:

It was a fascinating exhibit. I thought I'd mention it here because I think it's an activity that would appeal to most big kids and teens, since identity development in the teen years includes a very typical fascination with advocacy for causes. They are developmentally right in the process of piecing together what they believe in, what to stand up for, what advocacy means. I think this could work as an art installation, classroom or school or even city-wide project. I can also imagine the appeal of using this as an activity at home--a sort of animated version of a suggestion jar!

Okay, so what would your protest/advocacy sign say?  Mine was a little playmobil guy holding a sign that said "Educate me!" but later I thought of several other slightly more witty things I wished I had said.
Story of my life!