Barefoot in the Park | A blog by Kate Nisbet Designs

Vintage is the new black.

2012-01-30T08:26:00.001-05:00

I have a confession to make. There are some Saturdays when I pop out of bed before the sun rises. Blasphemy, I know that's what your thinking (particularly if you are my husband who has the chore of getting me up in the morning.) Several years ago I was bitten by the estate sale bug and it's worth a few hours of sleep for the thrill of the hunt. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you loose ... but you always have a good story!

Has the picking bug bitten you? Would you be interested in purchasing any of my recent finds? Have a burning question? Leave a comment or send me an email! hello {at} katenisbetdesigns {dot} com

I've been on the hunt for aqua ball mason jars for years. I recent came across 4 that date from 1900 to 1911. One makes the perfect casual accent vase or pencil cup on your desk!

Source: weddingwindow.com via Kate on Pinterest

...or could you imagine taking a grouping and creating a one-of-a-kind chandelier?

Source: twighome.com via Kate on Pinterest

...or add a little wire and a votive candle for a fabulous glowing lantern.

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Hankies are just for sniffles anymore. Why not take a collection and frame them for unique artwork.

Source: annesage.com via Kate on Pinterest


A fellow early bird apparently had their eye on this and I got it first. Vintage Billy Baldwin book. Fabulosity, squared.

Source: google.com via Kate on Pinterest


	I spotted one and pondered it. I even walked away at first. It stayed on my mind and was still there so it came home. Vintage demijohn's & carboys make fabulous large statement accent pieces. Could you picture it as a chandelier as above? Simply stunning!

Source: google.com via Kate on Pinterest

Classic with a Twist.

2012-01-27T08:49:00.000-05:00

Source: nineandsixteen.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

What do you get when you take a classic pattern seen throughout history and explode it's size? A fantastic twist. I love the re-emergence of blown-up-gingham and buffalo check. It's fresh and fun and could be worked seamlessly into any style interior. Bold and bright or soft and serene I have a crush on this pattern!

Source: smittendesign.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: everythingfab.com via Kate on Pinterest

Have you been itching for some La Fiorentina in your life?

2012-01-24T08:27:00.001-05:00

It could make the perfect bedskirt!

Source: loftandcottage.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

I'm going to try something a little new on the blog today and see how it goes!

I have 2 yards of the iconic Groundworks Fabrics pattern "La Fiorentina," green on creme for sale.

This fabric retails for $118/yard.

I'll sell it for $59/yard.

Any takers? Email me at hello@katenisbetdesigns.com

Or pair of pillows!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

I love the idea of using it for a skirted table.

Source: high-heelfootinthedoor.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

If this was yours how would you use it?

a tropical getaway on your tabletop.

2012-01-23T07:10:00.000-05:00

Me: "It's so cold and misty today!"

Husband: "It's January."

Me: "Oh, right."

We've had a unseasonably mild winter thus far in NC with many a day where my coat can be left in the closet. We'll have a day or two of a cold snap, then the temperature will quickly rebound and hit the highs of the weather roller coaster. Despite the lack of winter bundling and frozen stuff, it's still easy to get caught up with wintertime blues. Little "happy projects" help keep my spirits up. The act of creating something out of a random assortment of supplies really leads to a sense of accomplishment, and can add a little pep in your step! My latest creation? A terrarium. A tiny tropical rain forest to sit atop a table.

Here's what you'll need:

A glass container of any size. I used an apothecary jar I've had sitting around the house.

Rocks, pebbles, etc. This aids in drainage. You can hunt them out if you have a rocky driveway or purchase a bag at Lowes for about $4
Charcoal. You can find this at a garden center or pet store. We happened to have some "competition" charcoal sans all the chemicals of your grocery store version so I crushed and used that.
Plants. I picked up one house plant at an estate sale this weekend and bought one at Lowes. Be sure you choose a plant that works with the placement of your terrarium in terms of lighting. I went for low light versions.
Moss. You can forage this if you live in a mossy climate, or can always turn to the great interwebs.
Spoon or other digging device & a spray bottle for watering

1. Place a layer of rocks in the bottom of your container.

2. Sprinkle a layer of charcoal on top of your rocks. This is messy. You don't need a lot, just cover about 1/2". This helps prevent stagnation and filters the water.

3. Add 2" - 3" of potting soil.

4. Now the fun part, add the plants!

5. After the plants went in I decided I really wanted some moss. Pete and I went foraging and found a nice little patch to scoop up. Pat the moss into the soil, then water all of your new plantings.

The finished product! I added a little critter I had around the house. I think I'll keep an eye out for a tiny gnome to add to the party. Keep an eye on it and make sure it stays damp, water a couple times a week or so. Then you are all set to enjoy a tropical oasis on your tabletop!

A message from Pete.

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it ... here's a teaser for VW's super bowl commercial. Pete approves with 2 paws up.

A day in the life.

2012-01-20T08:45:00.000-05:00

If there is one quality in an interior designer that I think is most important, beside being super creative & able to stay in a budget, is the ability to multi-task. This job takes me to all sorts of places and spaces in any given day and I love it. Click on the collage above for a little snippet of my day! I've been to stone yards to search for the perfect Soapstone, Marble, & Granites ... I've installed a tailored and elegant silk drapery panels in a dining room...I'm researching this classic sofa for a friend, and have been spending time in the trade showrooms finding the perfect soft goods to cozy up a clients family room ... I've even hit some of my favorite shops to pull together a welcoming vignette in an office.

I wonder where today will take me?

White Space.

2012-01-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

In my honest opinion, the perfect white is the most difficult paint color to achieve. You want a color that is a subtle and crisp accent ... a springboard for color and artwork in the room. White is never just white. You have to look into the soft undertones to find cream, beige, grey, green, or blue. Something that is not too cream, or not grey, not too this this, not too that. It may take a few trial-and-error-session but you'll find it, and you'll have your go to. I think the latest (and most fabulous) white I've found thus far comes in the form of Benjamin Moore's "Winter White."

{Benjamin Moore | Winter White | OC 21}

I was excited to see it on a test wall with the trim painted in a clients home. This sophisticated and versatile color has just the perfect tinge of dove grey while remaining bright, airy, and not too cold. I can say confidently that it is "the one!"


{Kate Nisbet Designs}

Wall Color: Benjamin Moore "Winter White", OC-21

Trim Color: Benjamin Moore "Super White"

Pretty in Pink Honeysuckle.

2012-01-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

I love breathing new life into a piece of furniture with history. This particular classically feminine chair happened to belong to a client's favorite grandmother. I selected a punchy Tapestria fabric to update and refresh the piece. Upon seeing is yesterday I said, "When I pick a fabric for a piece, I know it's going to look great in my head, but it is SO MUCH BETTER in real life!"

Are you aching to refresh a piece with history? I'm happy to e-consult with fabric options!

Happy Friday! Any big plans or projects for the weekend?

{paperlove} Prints

2012-01-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

Etsy has taken global creativity and made it accessible to all. Picking up unique prints or cards and putting them in an in-expensive frame is an easy way to freshen up your space without spending a bundle. Frame a favorite quote and put it on your desk as a daily reminder. Create a gallery wall in your child's nursery. Frame a little ditty in your kitchen that makes you smile. The possibility & sizes are endless! Here are a few of my current favorites!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Words of wisdom from the great Julia Child!

{ "Joy" Print by The Wheat Field | "Tulip Tree" by dutchdoor }

Happy joyful prints.

{ "Muppet Alphabet" by Mike Boon | "Letterpress Alphabet" by 1canoe2 }

Learn + Love.

{ "Perched Cardinal" by Poshta Design | "Home Sweet NC" by thispapership }

Celebrate your state!

{ "Sweet Pig" by thewheatfield | "B is for Bacon" by thepaperpeony }

...or your favorite animal. Or husbands in this case!

{ "Smile" + "Live" by HeartfishPress }

I have "Live What You Love" framed above my desk and it makes me happy every single day.

{ColorLove} | Tango Tangerine

2012-01-10T09:55:00.000-05:00

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Don't want to commit to the color? How about introducing it in art? I love the muted color palette in the above room that is offset by a large bold painting!

Source: cococozy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Just a punch of color, that's all you need!

Source: flickr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Want to make a statement? Why not paint your front door! A bold color makes a big impact with minimal investment, and is very inviting. Wouldn't you like to visit this house?

Tango Tangerine: It's the "it" color for 2012. It's bold, cheerful, and reminds me of sunset. I must admit, I've been a fan for years. You can find the color accented through my home on a chair, in artwork, or even the inside of my flip-front desk. Pantone describes the color as, "a spirited reddish-orange that continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward." I couldn't agree more. Are you a fan of the color of the year?

{I apologize for the funky alignment, blogger is giving me fits!}

1st Photo Above:
1. "Maggie" Wallpaper from Madison + Grow
2. Hermes orange buffet spotted at an antique shop. I hope to find this a home with a client. It. Is. FAB.
3. A peek of orange on the shelf above my desk.
4. Tango Tangerine hints pop through on a scheme I'm working on for my house. If you look closely, you'll even see the it-color popping through on my desk!

What's Cooking: Curried Mussel Pan Roast

2012-01-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

I'd say were pretty adventurous in the kitchen. I keep a notebook full of ripped out pages from various sources and put them on the weekly meal plan to try. There are always hits or misses. This was a hit from last week!

Curried Mussel Pan Roast adapted from Cooking Light

1 lb Sweet Potatoes, cut into bite sized but still substantial pieces

2 T olive oil

1/2 t salt

1/2 t black pepper

1 package sungold (my favorite) or cherry tomatoes

1/2 c light coconut milk

1 T curry powder, we like spicy so we used a Tablespoon instead of a teaspoon of Madras Curry Powder

4 ears of corn shucked and cut into 2 pieces

1 small sweet onion, chopped

1 pound of muscles, scrubbed

1/2 cup chopped green onions

3 T chopped fresh mint

Lime Wedges

We added snow peas this time, but feel free to add any other veggies you like. I think eggplant or carrots would be an excellent addition!

Preheat Oven to 400. Combine potatoes, onions, oil, salt, and pepper in a large roasting pan. Toss well to coat. Arrange in a single layer and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Stir once halfway through. Stir in coconut milk, curry powder, and corn. Roast for about 10 minutes. Nestle mussels into veggies and roast until mussels open, about 5-10 minutes.

Serve with crusty french bread and lime wedges.

The first time we tried this, we followed the recipe exactly and it was lovely. This time we added our own flair with the additions mentioned above!

{pInspiration}

2012-01-06T09:01:00.000-05:00

Do you Pinterest?

I'll admit it, it's addicting. A place full of ideas of every way, shape, & form, I've enjoyed curating a collection of boards. If you haven't followed me yet, be sure you do by clicking the link above!

Here are a few things on my radar this First Friday of 2012!

Source: oncewed.com via Kate on Pinterest

Color: It's back and bolder than ever. I am THRILLED to be onto brighter and cheerier times, I think everyone is. A palate of color inspiration can come from many places. I love this simple yet elegant tablescape with a crisp, clean linen backdrop and bold pops of color.

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Check Mate: I'm starting to see lots of gingham, buffalo, & campy checks everywhere from laundry sacks to luxurious Belgian linen. As a recent iPhone convert, I've been on the hunt for the perfect case. ~~The husband says the case I picked up from Target looks like a tween girls. But that is neither here nor there...~~

The perfect one might just be this big buffalo check. Now the question is .... what color?

Source: smittenkitchen.com via Kate on Pinterest

I haven't shared too much recently but if you know me IRL, you know I love to be in the kitchen. Trying new recipes is my jam. For NYE we fixed this potato "slinky" and it was fabulous. I highly recommend it!

Source: google.com.au via Kate on Pinterest

Organization. My inner OCD loves this photo. Everything in it's place, out of sight.

Was your resolution to become more organized?

Source: gallery.apartmenttherapy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Hey there chevron! I am all about loving the little things & small spaces. Wouldn't this be a great way to create a bold focal wall in your entryway? Better yet, this would be a great weekend warrior DIY project!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! We'll be working The Run for Young tomorrow morning ... if you're in the Raleigh area and looking for a morning exercise activity that is for a good cause, please join us! Details can be found here: Run for Young.

You want to take subway tile and run it how? | A Herringbone Backsplash Story

2012-01-05T11:10:00.006-05:00

I know my husband loves me when he didn't even hesitate when I popped up with a weekend warrior DIY project that involved taking perfectly simple rectangular subway tile and making it zig & zag. The project took a little longer than I expected, but was well worth it in the end! After a trip or 2 to Lowes & our favorite local hardware stores, here's the supply list I compiled for the Herringbone Subway Tile Back Splash:

3x6 subway tile + applicable rounded edge bullnose
Brown craft paper + masking tape
A Sharpie, pencil, + "grease monkey" aka grease pencil
Mastic or thinset to stick the tile to the wall
Saw with a diamond blade
Straight Edge + metal square
Tile spacers
Grout + Caulk | I liked the pre-mixed stuff that was already sealed and came in a bucket from Lowes. No mixing required. Think Betty Crocker's frosting in a can.
Float, Pallet, Spreader | To spread the grout. My inner baker kept calling it a spatula.
A bundle of patience + a bottle of good wine, for when you are done and super exhausted
Big sponge, lots of "junk" towels

Step 1: Procure above list.
Pete enjoys visiting our local hardware store. I enjoyed ~~browsing the fabulous color selection of duct tape~~ researching the best diamond edge saw blade for our job. Speaking of saws, my interwebs research found a place that said you could make easy cuts with a dremel tool attachment that cuts tile. Don't trust them. The dremel is GREAT for making small cuts around outlets + switches, but nosomuch for making straight cuts everywhere else.

Step 2: MAKE A TEMPLATE.
I cannot stress how important this is. We did really well on the whole template thing on wall one. Then I mistakenly thought we were old pros and by wall 2 things got a little wanky.

Step 3: Make your cuts
After consulting with the lad at the hardware store we decided since we were using the very thin cheapy subway tile that we didn't need to rent a wet saw. Please know that most tile installation projects do require this for clean cuts & keeping the blade happy.

Supervisor Pete reminds you to always wear safety goggles when working with a saw.

Thomas made cuts from the lines on the tile. We placed the cut tile back on the template (photo above) just to make sure it fit before "frosting" the wall and adhering the tile. Be sure to use your tile spacers to ensure you have even grout lines, particularly if you are using a grout with high contrast to your tile like we did. Repeat the layout-cut-adhere process as many times as necessary. Thomas cut and I pasted, pretty much all day Saturday until we decided that the saw might be annoying the neighbors and we needed a break. Most mastics require an overnight cure time, so be sure to read the back of your container.

I'm sorry I didn't snap any photos of the grouting process ... it was incredibly messy! Once the tile is on the wall and properly cured the grouting begins. You can remove the little plastic spacers at this time. It is important to push and pull the grout over every surface to fill in all the spaces. Wipe excess off with the sponge that is not too wet, this takes a while. Caulk edges if necessary. The instructions on the back of the bucket were quite helpful as were some youtube videos.

The final step is pouring yourself a good glass of wine and reveling in your DIY accomplishment.

White subway tile is a great inexpensive option to add a big style punch to your kitchen. It's a classic yet fresh option, and a great first tile project to get your feet wet with.

Seeing Spots.

2012-01-04T09:41:00.004-05:00

I fancy spots of all kinds, particularly black + white ones that cuddle with you when winter's breath has finally left a permanent chill in the air.

While on the hunt for the perfect runner for a client I was excited to see the new Linus pattern from Stanton Carpet. I knew it was just the thing to add a subtle yet classic-with-a-twist pattern for a big impact on the stairs.

{photo credit Kate Nisbet Designs}

I love the movement, texture, and subtle stripe the pattern creates!

{photo credit Kate Nisbet Designs}

Hello there 2012!

2012-01-03T08:31:00.004-05:00

Why hello there 2012, I have faith you are going to be a great year! We rang in the new year with a little dinner soiree at our house. I snapped a quick picture of the table scape before we sat down to eat to share with you!

I'm welcoming the New Year with a renewed optimism and excitement. Did you enjoy a break?
Cheers to the year of "Tango Tangerine!"

What's that sound ringing through the air?

2011-12-12T09:40:00.002-05:00

[our pot rack wall got a fresh coat of chalkboard paint + new white trim]

Could it be the sound of jingle bells? Nope, it's the sound of a table saw! This weekend my husband and I decked the halls with a few DIY projects. I'll post the how to once the grout dries, but for now, here's a sneak peek! What do you think?

[the backsplash went a little ziggy + zaggy. we laid ice white subway tile in a herringbone pattern]

Evolution

2011-12-09T14:48:00.001-05:00

When I sat down at my computer in January 2008, named and created this blog, and started to type my first post semi-anonymously I had no idea I'd be where I am now, or that I'd even still be interested in my little place in the interweb. Now, nearly 4 years later, I look back at the evolution of this outlet and realize what a journey it has been. This blog has been there through the early stages of my relationship with my now husband. It was there for the adoption of my furry companion. It's been there for 2 lay offs, a stint of nannying, and 3 jobs. It's been there for my engagement, wedding planning, and 1st year as a newlywed. It's been there for our travels and little sidebar adventures. It's been there for the ups and downs, the good & bad.

I've gained some wonderful friends along the way from around the world that I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. I've learned all about fabulous spaces and places I'd never have known about if it weren't for the blogging community. (I even picked the cottages we stayed in on our honeymoon on a blogger recommendation!) I am thankful for this little place to express myself through written word and thought. I've enjoyed sharing my life with you & gaining a little insight into how others live theirs. I've gained quite a few readers along the way and I am thankful for you each and every day. I smile each and every time I see a comment come through. I'm not sure I would still be here if it weren't for you.

I've decided to evolve Barefoot in the Park once again and incorporate it into my new interior design business, Kate Nisbet Designs. With a fresh new design thanks to the very talented Jenna at QA Designs I cannot wait to start 2012 off with a bang. For my longtime readers, you'll still see the same content with snippets from my daily life, but will see a heavy dose of interior design tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration thrown in. To my new readers, welcome! I'm glad you're here. I'd love it if you'd click my fancy new buttons at the top and follow me on twitter, pinterest, facebook, and even on this blog. {If you're reading in google reader, be sure to click and take a look at the new design!} I'm always available for questions or comments, I'm just an email away.

Thank you for all your love, support, cheer-leading, and encouragement!

Paper Love.

2011-11-17T19:09:00.003-05:00

It's no secret I am a huge fan of paper products in every way shape and form. I loved picking out my wedding invitations last year and look forward to picking the perfect Christmas card to share with our friends and family every year! Our first photo card as a married couple came last year from Shutterfly and my inner-paper-snob delighted in the thick weight of their printed holiday cards. I love the preview feature on their website that allows you to see the finished product before you buy. It's a snap to upload your favorite shot, make a few clicks, & order!

I was thrilled to see Shutterfly partner with some of my paper favorites like Erin Condren & Dabney Lee this year. While we'll have to keep the actual winner a secret, here are a few of my favorites for 2011!

Will it be...

"Cheers to the Christmas Season!"...or...
"holly jolly holiday elfs"

...or...

"Cheers to you & yours!"

Do you enjoy picking out holiday cards as much as I do? The first 3 readers who email me will receive a coupon code to Shutterfly for 25 cards of their very own!

Hittin' the road, headed out West. {45 minutes west that is}

2011-11-14T14:46:00.002-05:00

Do you ever have those days where you feel like you need a change of scenery to clear your head and get your thoughts in order? Yesterday we hit the road and headed west to do a little exploring. We had only one destination & mission in mind and an afternoon free to discover whatever crossed our path. We started our adventure with a slice of pizza from the best hole in the wall college pizza joint there is. They get extra bonus points in my book for 2 reasons: extra cheese and fountain cokes with pellet ice. Our little family of 2 humans & 1 furry wanna-be human had a little picnic (in the car, dang wind) and took in the beautiful colors in tarheel town. The next stop lead us to foodie heaven, aka A Southern Season. We were after a few kitchen essentials for our up-coming Thanksgiving feast. Mission accomplished.

My husband has wanted to visit a local dairy creamery for a while and we decided to continue our drive west on a quest for ice cream. The scenery was pastoral. Farm after farm, cow after cow, rolling hills full of fall foliage. Just what I needed for a fresh perspective. After a cup of cookie dough (me) and pumpkin pie (him) and a little romp on the hillside (pete) we decided to hit the road for home where there was weekly grocery shopping that needed to happen and a mountain of laundry that needed folding. Real life awaited. Those few hours in the car without an agenda helped clear my head and allowed us to have that nu-interrupted "us" time that is so very important. I feel renewed and ready to tackle my to do list.

First up, belatedly announce the winner of my Shabby Apple dress giveaway!

Congratulations are in order for Desperately Seeking Seersucker! Please email me with your choice of dress, size, and address, & I will alert Shabby Apple of the winner! barefootbird {at} gmail {dot} com

Dog or Deer?

2011-11-03T06:45:00.000-04:00

On the way to the farmer's market last weekend we decided to detour to the field that houses the police dog training course. The badger has been curious if Pete would/could complete the agility course. We got our answer! I swear Pete may be part deer!

The toughest obstacle? The ladder slide combo. After a few tries, the ladder wasn't nearly as scary.

He definitely enjoyed the leaping the most. Air Pete!

Let's play dress up {A Giveaway}

2011-11-02T07:30:00.001-04:00

I love dresses, I think I always have. In fact, especially when it's hot outside, I'd rather be in a dress than just about any kind of wardrobe essential there is. I was thrilled when Shabby Apple, an online boutique, contacted me to offer a fabulous dress of your choosing to my wonderful readers!

Perusing the site I found many that were right up my dress loving alley, but 2 jumped out in particular that I think would be fabulous frocks to wear during my 2 favorite seasons:

Spring

The Gondola Dress.
Kelly Green + Stripes = Love

&

Fall:
The Puca Pucara Dress

Love the pattern. Love the colors. Love the dress.

Want to win a frock of your own? Follow the Shabby Apple blog, leave me a comment with the dress you'd choose from Shabby Apple & where you would wear it! Want to double your chances? Tweet about my giveaway and include me in your tweet (@barefootbird). I always celebrate my followers with an extra entry! Easy peasy!

The winner will be selected Wednesday November 9th at noon. The winner can select a style of dress in the size the desire from any of the Vintage Inspired collections {excludes Green Leaf collection.}

Butternut Squash Soup

2011-11-01T06:30:00.000-04:00

It got cold this past weekend. Unseasonably cold. No, we did not get snow like a good number of you did but breaking out the down jacket & wellie socks in October is very out of the ordinary around here!

When it's chilly outside I always get a hankering to cook and bake and just be in the kitchen in general. This coming week is going to be crazy with our Junior League "holiday market." I'll be tied up through next weekend so I decided to stock up on a few things in the fridge for the badger & myself to "grab-and-go" this week. First up, butternut squash soup!

Here's what you'll need:

4 Leeks (white & light green parts only), chopped
3 Lbs of butternut squash, peeled & cut into 1" pieces
1 bay leaf
5 Cups low-sodium veggie broth (you can use chicken too!)
kosher salt & black pepper
1 tsp. "sweet and spicy" Tabasco sauce

Here's how you'll do it:

1. Place leeks, squash, bay leaf, broth, & pepper in a dutch oven. (If you don't have one, a large sauce pan will do!) and bring to a boil
2. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until the squash is tender, about 10 or so minutes.
3. Remove bay leaf.
4. I don't have a large food processor or a stick blender (which you could absolutely use) so I pureed the mixture in batches in my blender.
5. Stir in salt & Tabasco sauce to taste.

Enjoy!

I enjoyed this immensely, but I am a squash lover. The badger, he said he'd like me to try and roast the squash in the oven next time so it will be more caramelized. Are you a squashy person? How do you like your butternut soup?

Happy Haloween!

2011-10-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

Wishing you the spookiest of days!

XOXO,
Mr. & Mrs. Gnome

Mannnnnnnny, Diiiiiiiiiner.

2011-10-20T07:08:00.004-04:00

Imagine I said that in my bery best Gloria (from Modern Family) voice, mmmmkay?
My latin accent is just about as horrible as my salsa dance moves as illustrated in my zumba class this week. (That is a whole different post.)

We celebrate MF and it's hilarity on Wednesday evenings in our household so I channeled my inner Gloria and made sweet corn & bacon empanadas. And they were delish. Want to try them yourself?

Sweet Corn & Bacon Empanadas
{Her photos are way better than mine}

Since Gloria is my 2nd favorite character on tv next to Ron Swanson of Parks and Rec, what should tonight's dinner be in his honor..breakfast buffet?

Love people. Cook them good food.

2011-10-19T08:32:00.002-04:00

On our way home from a Savannah wedding we stopped at the Le Cruset distribution outlet. While I loved oogling at all of the beautiful enamel colors, a large pot was not in our budget at the present moment. There was a tiny pot that was, and I have a feeling it will make me happy every morning for a very long time. A cheery little yellow honey pot sits below our hanging mugs awaiting a twirl of the honey comb in my morning tea!

I'm a big believer in the little things, the little details, that make all the difference. I spotted this bumper sticker on the front door upon visiting a spice store on the hunt for star anise to brine pork chops with and I loved it and decided it shall live on my fridge. "Love people. Cook them tasty food." Love it.

Love the store from which it came: Penzy's Spices. If you have one near you, it's worth a visit. Star anise at my local grocery store was almost $10 for a bottle but at the spice store it was a little over $2 for a packet. I've found this to be true with lots of spices, especially the pricier ones like Saffron & real vanilla extract. Love to cook? It's worth a trip!

Conspiracy Theory.

2011-10-12T15:27:00.001-04:00

Our home internet has been on the fritz since Saturday. It went out. We scheduled an appointment to repair. It magically came back on. Appointment canceled. It went out again and still wasn't fixed after switching out the modem. Here's hoping the repairman will actually show up this evening and fix it OR we might be parking ourselves at our favorite local coffee shop for so re-connection this evening. Bonus discovery? They have the best pumpkin spice lattes around (better and less expensive than the Sbux because they home-make their pumpkin syrup!) Even better discovery? They have Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale on draft and some delish looking whoopie pies in their case. Despite feeling a bit disconnected & unable to do some design work & blogging it hasn't been that much of a pain to be disconnected for a few days. I mean there was always my blackberry.

And then the epic fail occurred: blackberry service is on the fritz worldwide. Until I read this story, I swore up and down that there was an internet conspiracy against us. Conspiracy I say.

Those Spots.

2011-10-05T09:49:00.001-04:00

I love spots. There are orange spots on my favorite sweater. There are tan spots on my favorite shoes. The spots on Pete are amongst some of my favorite. The spots from the sun on my skin...nosomuch. I embraced the paleness that is my skin several years ago and practically hide from the summer sun now. Despite my sun-protection regimen, I know melanoma is in my family history and I need to be proactive about my spots, I always made excuses to not make and appointment and go see the dermatologist. I'd say I have a mild case of white coat syndrome and just plain don't like going to see any doctor. period.

During our first Junior League meeting of the year, we welcomed acclaimed author Dorthea Benton Frank as our guest speaker. She was insightful, funny, witty, and frank, just as her last name states. She described her journey to becoming an author & there seemed to be one catalyst for why she sat down and put fingers to keyboard and wrote. Her mother was diagnosed with melanoma & subsequently passed away a few short months later. After the initial shock wore off and the grief set in, she had a fire lit in her to save her mother's low country beach cottage. She started to write stories set in the picturesque landscape of her childhood, and never looked back. The NYT bestselling author started & ended her talk with "GO TO THE DERMATOLOGIST AND GET CHECKED!" She encouraged us to stop being selfless employees, wives, children, mothers and to take a few minutes, stop making excuses, and just do it. Thanks to Dottie, I stopped making excuses and made an appointment for myself and the badger.

We went yesterday and everything went smoothly and we had nothing to worry about! I enjoyed the doctor's bedside manner and enjoyed having my husband there. I told him it was probably the most calm I've ever been in a doctors office! The Dr. thought it was a wonderful idea that we came together and will make it a yearly trip. It allowed him to point out a few spots to keep an eye on for each other in those hard to reach places. It was silly of me to put it off and wasn't a big deal at all. I'm glad I had that extra little push that made me get up and go. I feel better knowing that we're in the clear and can continue on with embracing the pale! If this has been on your back burner...check it off your list! You'll be glad you did, I promise!

A 1st on the 2nd.

2011-10-02T20:04:00.005-04:00

You always hear the cliche that time flies when you're having fun ... but there is truth in the phrase. I cannot believe that we celebrated our 1st anniversary today (and really the whole weekend!)

I was most excited to see how the cake fared for a year in the freezer! It couldn't have been more perfect on our wedding day...

... and was pretty darn good a year later!
{The Badger's favorite red-velvet was the topper!}

We enjoyed breaking out the wedding china, crystal, & sliver ...

... and event lit some candles.

Cheers to the first year, and all of our wonderful wedding memories!

{We danced the autumn night away to the always fabulous Part Time Party Time Band}

{I'm still IN LOVE with the flowers. I wish I could have them to brighten up my house every day. I am still beyond amazed at how beautifully they turned out!}

Cheers

+

Sparkles to Many More!!

{My happy family sending us off with sparkles on our wedding day!}

The 2 Bowl Challenge

2011-09-28T19:28:00.004-04:00

Pete rarely gets excited about emails (he prefers peemails, but thats a whole different post.) When I clicked accept to a kind invitation from the folks at BzzAgent & BilJac I knew he would gladly accept the mission at hand: a 2 bowl challenge. Pete loves meal time so the thought of 2 bowls excited him to no end.

Before opening the bag, I asked Pete to conjure up all his will power so I could snap a photo. He begrudgingly obliged. Out went 2 bowls: one with his old food Purina One, and the other with Bil Jac.

He stared intently and couldn't wait for me to give the go ahead. He ran for his old food first and took one bite. Then, to my amazement, to abandoned his old food and went straight for the Bil Jac.

Nom Nom Nom. He loved it. But as suspected, he polished off his old food as soon as the new bowl was empty. There were no typical "dog food switcheroo" issues to mention to boot.

Pete gives it a two paws up. He seemed to like the high quality all natural chicken & whole grain formula of Bill Jac. Does your dog want to take Pete's recommendation? I have a few coupons for $10 off a bag of Bil Jac to try for your pooch, let me know if you'd like one!

________________________________________________
This is a sponsored post. I'm a BzzAgent, & was contacted by the folks at BzzAgent & Bil Jac to try out their product. Pete was given a bag of Bil Jac in order to participate in the 2 bag challenge. The opinions expressed in this post are mine & Pete's of course!

Soapbox {I might have a coupon for that}

2011-09-15T09:17:00.001-04:00

A few years ago I started to use coupons at the grocery. I even went to a class learning the ins & outs of the coupon game. Now, let me say, this is not a post about how I spent $15 and got $400 worth of groceries. I'm not one of those crazy coupon queens as featured on reality tv. My husband, dog, & I live in a small condo and I refuse to stockpile Cheerios under my bed (it messes up my feng shui you know.) I also refuse to eat some overly processed crap just because it was free. I have fun with it. I enjoy seeing the tally of what I've saved at the bottom of my receipt. I am not particularly brand loyal (except for OJ, a girls got to have some deliciously high pulpy grove stand standards in the morning). I am an advertiser's dream customer. In fact, due to a sale & a coupon, I have a colorful jar of those new pretzel M&M's sitting on my desk (chocolate has powers over people in home renovating crisis. Take note.)

While I understand where the coupon crazies come from, stockpiling & saving their precious pieces of paper for that perfect bargain...I frankly get a little annoyed with them. Case in point: yesterday began what my local grocery calls "triple coupons." Any coupon valued at less than a buck will be multiplied 3 times. So if you have a measly $0.25 coupon for coffee creamer, it becomes $0.75. If that coffee creamer happens to be already on sale, use your coupon, and get a deal! This theory only works when the hoarders have not come and cleared out the shelves of every product that was on weekly sale and had a coupon to combine it with. I get the "early bird gets the worm" mentality but really, I just wanted 1 jar of mustard for $0.25...not 50! The hoarders ruin it for us casual couponers. I know stores give out rain checks for items that are out of stock, but that takes the fun out of it now doesn't it? I filled my cart with my finds and headed to the check out counter with my organized coupons in hand as to not annoy the other shoppers with taking too long. And then I saw the greatest disappointment of my grocery cart jockeying experience: 4 carts piled high with tons of those empty shelf products just sitting by customer service. Some hoarder didn't have their stash properly organized or perhaps their hubby broke the crazy couponer rule #1 of using their in-store savings card earlier that day making their trip's savings void. So what does the CC do? They abandon the trip all together, leaving the continence of cleared shelves piled high at the front of the store to be restocked. Grr.

The trip was a success in my mind, I saved about 50% on my bill while still buying the healthy food that I usually buy that never has a coupon (organic milk, quinnoa, greek yogurt, etc.). I also bought some non-perishables for next to nothing to donate to my junior league's back pack buddies program. Just remember fellow grocery shoppers...not everyone you see with a notebook is a coupon crazy. Some of us are just trying to play a little game to get some of those every day essentials for pennies (toothbrush, TP, & toothpaste for me yesterday!) and spend it on something more enjoyable or procuring the deals for a great cause.

under that harvest moon

2011-09-14T06:57:00.004-04:00

a break in our indian summer is on the 7 day forecast. the harvest moon shone brightly in the sky last night. with temperatures projected to top out in the 60s over the weekend, this girl is jazz-hands excited for fall (and appropriate temps for a pumpkin spice latte)! a few of my fall favorites? Picking the perfect pumpkin at the farmers market, enjoying the best pumpkin beer on the planet (we served it at our wedding last fall), baking pumpkin bread (and attempting pumpkin whoopie pies this year!)! Hip hip hooray for fall! What are some of your seasonal favorites?

Beer in the Park

2011-08-31T19:07:00.000-04:00

After a long day at work there is nothing better than kicking back in the park with my spotted pal to enjoy this beautiful fall like weather!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Mad about Plaid Pattern

2011-08-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

How do we feel about a room containing the following patterns?

{photo credit to once known & now lost Etsy seller}

Duralee Loop de Loop in Navy

{photo credit West Elm}

The yet-to-have-left-my-radar-after-seeing-alot ikat ogee curtains in straw.

Yay or Nay?

Dog Tired

2011-08-22T21:24:00.000-04:00

After an evening of down-dog and up-dog, I'm dog tired! Cheers to a great week!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Ireland, England, Denmark...

2011-08-16T20:19:00.004-04:00

My family tree traces to Ireland, England & Denmark NOT Brazil, India, Cuba, anywhere in South America or Spain. I am 5'8 and so pale I'm nearly translucent.
Exhibit A:

This photo was taken last weekend. Yes, it is the end of summer and I still appear as pale as I was in January and I'm proud of it. (Just wait 30 years, I'll have less wrinkles than my tan friends! Alas, this is beside the point of this post.)

Added to the facts above, I am a dance drop out. I started kiddo ballet from age 3. I switched to tap & jazz in late elementary school when bangs were a bad idea & purple rimmed glasses were oh-so-hot (or not) and my arms and legs started to flail away from the elegant & poised positions of ballet. While I appreciate the art of dance, I lack the key element of rhythm. Sometimes you must simply embrace the quote, "dance like no ones watching." So I grabbed a friend and did.

I went to my first Zumba class with a feisty teacher who kept reminding us to pop a sexy hip, get low, & gangsta walk, all things that don't come naturally to me (see above heritage description). I'll admit, I spent half the hour long class laughing at myself and my ridiculous faces, but it was fun and was a good workout. It brought a smile to my face. There were all kinds of women bouncing there way around the classroom and I only felt a little silly. It didn't matter that the only step I was absolutely in tune with was "the charleston." (insert irony here.) It was fun, and now that my schedule will allow it, I'll go again.

Have you done anything new recently that surprised you?

Last Day.

2011-08-12T10:45:00.000-04:00

The way I see it, I could have driven to and from California wine country 4.5 times with the amount of miles I've put on my car during my time working in the retail side of design. As my odometer climbed higher and higher, I became more and more unhappy with my work life. I made the best of the situation I was in and rode the roller coaster. I was bringing home my frustrations & un-happiness and a few months ago realized I needed a change before I was changed. I didn't want to blog negativity, so I just stopped blogging all together and hated it. After a tremendous amount of thought & prayer, I am ecstatic to announce that I've accepted a new position much closer to home with a new side of design I've yet to explore. One that will allow me to stop living the double life of a commuter with 7-day-a-week-retail-hours and once again do the things I've been missing at home. Today I say goodbye to traffic jams, lost side mirrors, trolls that hit you car in the parking lot and leave no note ... hello to volunteering, classes at the gym, bible study, and time to cook dinner again!

It's nice to be back and be "me" again. Thanks for sticking with me!

Mark All As Read.

2011-08-08T11:51:00.002-04:00

"Don't you want me to take a picture of this for your blog?"

Even my husband is ready for me to be back to blogging.

I pressed the magic restart button and am starting fresh. We've had a whirlwind of a summer on so many fronts and I am more than excited to honestly say, "I'm back!"

I've missed sharing our highs and lows of the home selling process (or lack-there-of), our month long stint as vegetarians, and everything inbetween. I've missed reading about all of your exciting adventures too!

Oh why hello there.

2011-06-04T13:25:00.004-04:00

Oh my how time flies these days. After vacationing along the beautiful Carolina coast & then in the high country {and getting a nasty more-than-week-long summer cold along the way} I'm more than ready to be back. I'm ready to welcome summer with open arms: heat, humidity, & home-grown tomatoes. What's been keeping you busy these days?

Did I tell you my parents adopted a new furry friend named Fairbanks? He's a pretty cute goldendoodle puppy. Pete likes him. He likes Pete. They snuggle well in the car on the way back from the beach.

Despite my dayquil/nyquil regimen & internal funk I was ecstatic to see that Peonies were still blooming in the mountains. Pete was jazzed about rock-climbing. For fabulous pics of this adventure, please visit Laura's blog. They put my grainy cell phone photos to shame.

There is absolutely nothing better than the back deck in the high country on an early summer's evening.

A la plage.

2011-05-19T22:06:00.001-04:00

First beach trip of the year. Wish this was in my bag. Alas...

Happy Weekend!

If you love risotto....

2011-05-16T08:24:00.002-04:00

Raise your hands...

I love this dish that takes a lot of love & stirring to make! Over the weekend we celebrated my Dad's birthday and I fixed fresh grilled cobia that I served with Spring Risotto. It was A+, you should definitely put it on your must try list (especially with spring peas & asparagus in season!)

Cinco de Pete. {4th edition}

2011-05-05T09:30:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe it's been 4 fabulous years since adopting Pete the wonder pup. Happy adoption day Pete! {to read more, please visit {and follow!} my latest project!}

{Cinco de Peter, 3rd Edition}

Tasty Trial: Brioche Buns!

2011-05-02T21:28:00.004-04:00

We decided to have an impromptu cookout after a morning of estate-saleing (me) & turkey hunting (the badger) with some fabulous friends. With burgers on the menu I decided to try my hand at home-made brioche hamburger buns from a recipe I found over at the Cheeky Kitchen.

I mixed and...
...then kneaded....then let it rest & rise...

Voila!

These giant sized whole-wheat buns were the perfect accompaniment to our burger night!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

{I've been working on a new exciting venture, please click to read all about it (and be sure to follow me over there too!)}

Perfect Peony,

2011-04-27T11:51:00.001-04:00

Shh...I swiped a beautiful pink peony from the park this morning under the veil of my raincoat. It looks perfect in my aram vase on my desk, don't you think?

Welcome Home.

2011-04-26T19:21:00.004-04:00

Looking for a new place to reside {in Raleigh, NC}? I've got an extra special 1 bedroom townhouse with your name on it. It's in a location that can't be beat.

Pete think's you should come take a look.

It has an open floor plan with beautiful original hardwood floors & lots of natural light.

And an adequate kitchen for whipping up any of Julia's masterpieces.

The bathroom now wears a lovely soft shade of greyed-blue.

A nice sized bedroom can easily fit a bed, nightstands, and a dresser...with a little nook for a desk as well!

The back deck has an A+ view of a baseball/football field & the downtown skyline.

If you want to move in soon, you'll even get to glimpse my favorite part: the beautiful peony bush out front!

If you are interested, or might know of anyone who is interested, please email me. I'll be happy to send you the reator & MLS information!

?

2011-04-26T18:50:00.005-04:00

Can we still be friends? I'm sorry I've been so quiet. Lots of things going on I haven't really felt like blogging about.

Here's my peace offering to you:

Cupcakes from Crumbs...
... & sangria from Sarahbeths.

Will you have me back?

Urban Gardner

2011-04-08T08:51:00.003-04:00

Several weeks ago when spring was just beginning to peek its head my mom surprised me with a instant fresh makeover of my ehh-looking hanging basket...lettuce! After a few weeks of cool rain alternating with sunny days my lettuce thrived and voila, a home grown salad today for lunch!

I'm re-inspired to get my hands in some pots this weekend and try my hand at more urban gardening. What are you up to this weekend?

6 months + 5 days

2011-04-07T11:45:00.005-04:00

Where does the time go? It seems to speed up with each year. I can hardly believe it's been 6 months (+5 days) since we said, "I do!"

6 months ago there were beautiful flowers on an incredible fall day ....

...and there were amazing cakes....

... and lots of smiles, dancing, toasts, and general fabulous revelry.

Happy 6th months. Here's to a million more.

Too Quiet.

2011-03-29T13:14:00.005-04:00

My inspiration level for blogging as of recent has been in the toilet. Blame it on stress (on several levels). Or pollen. Or a traveling husband. Or the fact that our beautiful 80 degree days have turned to sleet. On the other hand I have been composing many a post in my head (& on my camera!), and doing fun and exciting things, I just haven't sat down with fingers to keyboard. In hoping to kick-start actual words to blog you get a brain dump! 1. In the ever-quest to remove preservatives from our lives, I've been working on perfecting homemade bread. It's been a challenge, but one that I whole heartedly accept. For the hubby's sandwiches this week, I present 2 loaves. 2. In the quest for color against a dreary downtown day, I spied... 3. I went to an authors talk about her experiences melding her north carolina life with her new york life. It's hysterical. You should check it out. 4. Speaking of the big city, I'm heading that way for a much-needed girls weekend with my college roommates. Any "must-see/eat/do" spots? 5. I organized an engagement party over the weekend for some friends. Didn't my mom do an awesome job with the flowers? (Thanks mom!)

{lack of rotation...blek!}

Public Service Announcement.

2011-03-18T19:23:00.002-04:00

If you microwave a tortilla with cheese it will not be the delightful crispy quesidilla you desire. Eating plain greek yogurt is not a substitute for sour cream. When a rock hits your windshield saying, "please don't ding my windshield" will not prevent a ginormous crack. Consider yourself warned.

Secret Single Behavior.

2011-03-16T19:54:00.010-04:00

Do you have a "secret single behavior?" While I love to cook, I can't say I love cooking for one. When the hubby is not home for dinner I usually am a pantry raider, eating soup, grilled cheese, quesadilla, oatmeal, or cereal. Tonight during my raid I came across a blue box of the "gourmet" kraft mac-n-cheese. Add a little fresh wilted spinach, class of "naked" chardonnay, 2 shiny new foodie magazines, & a DVR'ed new Glee...Perfect solo night for me!

Today I'm:
+loving the April issue of Cooking Light's feature on noodles & spring veggies. I heart noodles.
+Contemplating using my bunco winnings on a first of spring pedicure

+Still looking for the perfect table lamps to sit atop my bookcase

+Really not wanting to fold & iron the 2 baskets of laundry waiting attention

{ETA: When in California I realized that I do not loathe Chardonnay as much as I thought I did, I just am not a fan of "American style" with big oak & buttery flavors. Solution? "naked" chardonnay, fermented in stainless steel tanks or neutral french oak barrels.}

A Few Things I've learned this week...

2011-03-14T10:41:00.006-04:00

1. 30th birthdays are fabulously fun. I may or may not have sung a duet with my husband of "we built this city" at chineese restaurant karaoke. I may or may not be tone deaf. {There may or may not be evidence on FB if you're a friend.}

2. Faith is a funny thing & you just have to trust the path that is laid out for you. While it might not be exactly what you want at this time it is what He wants, you just have to keep your chin up and believe. I've been doing quite a bit of prayer & reflection during this first (almost) full week of Lent, and am feeling a great deal better.

3. The Pioneer Woman really is genius in the kitchen. I added spinach & chopped onion to her Mac & Cheese & it was amazingly comforting, even made with whole wheat pasta & skim milk.

4. Homemade Marshmallows are potentially my favorite treat.

5. They're even better when sandwiched in a whoopie pie.

6. I am on a hunt for the perfect small lamp to sit atop my bookcase and I can't seem to find the one. Saw this one at PB, what do you think?
7. If allergies are making you sneezy like me & you need a little heat try this: Gingered Stir-Fry with Shrimp & Snow Peas. Next time I'm going to stir in a Tablespoon of honey.

8. This guy is jazzed about Daylight Savings Time.

Epic Fail. Epic Win.

2011-03-02T06:45:00.000-05:00

Last week there was no menu Sunday. We pretty much were creative & grazed most of the week. No time for cooking, no time for shopping, and I hated it. To top it off the one thing I did make was an epic fail. The past October issue of Food & Wine featured a few recipes from Batalli's Eataly. I've heard rave reviews from friends about this establishment so I thought why not give it a shot! I tackled Mixed Vegetable & Farro Soup. The picture looked yummy. Mine in the bowl straight from the pot looked yummy. The taste, blah and flavorless, a real shock! Have you tried this recipe? Any suggestions to jazz it up? I love the idea, just not the outcome.

With the extra farro from my epic fail I decided to try Cooking Light's version of Farroto with Greens & Parmesan and served it with Spicy Lemon Trout. I halfed the recipe but doubled the spinach & Parmesan cheese. Healthy and delish: epic win! If you're a risotto fan, I suggest you add it to your must-try list!

Black is the new White. {rice edition}

2011-03-01T07:10:00.000-05:00

{image credit}

After visiting with some friends in downtown Charleston a few weekends ago, the husband and I decided to grab a little dinner at a new spot, Rice Market. With still a few kinks to work out in their concept, there was one shining star of our dinner: my black risotto. Call me crazy, but I'm a sucker for risotto of pretty much any kind. I'd never heard of black risotto before and funny enough, while listening to NPR on the way home they did a story all about the new "superfood" that is black rice. Intrigued, I did a little research and sure enough, foodies everywhere are incorporating black rice into their menus for its vast health benefits. A starch that can prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, & heart attacks? Sign me up!

I have yet to try and locate some to cook at home but I'm guessing a trip to whole foods is in my future. Have you ever cooked with black rice? I can't wait to try black rice risotto & black rice & soy salad in my kitchen soon!

Brilliant (and probably so last year. or the year before. i'm so behind.)

2011-02-28T20:06:00.003-05:00

With over a 60 mile a day mainly interstate commute, I've fallen in love with books on tape. I've been using my local library's handy online reservation system for over a year now & it's been great. Add the books I want to ~~read~~ listen to my list & they email me when available for pick up. Fabulous. Just like netflix for books. (but free!)

This weekend while updating my cue I noticed several of the titles I wanted were only available in e-format. I did a little clicking and BAM, I can download them instantly to my ipod. For all those commuters out there you should definitely check into downloadable books on tape from your local library, it certainly helps me pass the time!

I'm listening to a little Julia now, & have Water for Elephants next!

Rain hike Walk (part 2)

2011-02-25T14:03:00.002-05:00

... and since technology isn't on my side with photos & rotation today, part 2 photos!

{my favorite early spring time blooms, thanks to the tulip tree!}

{a little wet doesn't get pete down}

{sieze the rainy day, then curl up for a nap. best of both worlds on this rainy day!}

April February Showers bring May March Flowers (part 1)

2011-02-25T14:01:00.002-05:00

Rainy days don't get me down, especially when it's not a cold and rainy day (there's nothing worse, right?). Sure it's not as fun a drive as it is with the sunroof open on a sunny day, but there are things that nothing but the rain brings like knocking down of early pollen (my sinuses thank you rain clouds!) & the first peek of spring flowers.

When I was a child, I went to a pretty neat summer camp in the beautiful mountains of NC. Afternoon summer showers were an every other day occurrence and the counselors did a little "lemons into lemonade" action to ~~tire out their bouncing off the screened in cabin walls campers~~ make a rainy afternoon special. At the end of rest period an announcement was made that a "rain hike" would be forming instead of afternoon activities. You'd grab a raincoat & throw on your grubbiest of tennis-shoes and off you'd go into the rainy woods. For some reason I always seemed to notice things in a little more detail on a rainy day as opposed to a sunny one and ever since then, rainy days seem a little more special.

Digitally Glossy.

2011-02-23T14:05:00.002-05:00

While I have yet to take the leap into an e-reader, (am I the only one that thinks there's just something soothing about turning the page of a library book?) I do have a few new favorite digital magazines I think would be pretty neat to read away from my computer screen. What are some of your favorite digital glossies?

Small Steps.

2011-02-21T15:23:00.001-05:00

Life has been a little hectic & trying over the past week & a half in particular, hence the quietness on the blog-front. In addition to a terrible cold, work stressors & crazy schedule we had to head to Charleston for a weekend funeral of a pretty neat grandmother of my best friend since age 10. I haven't had the happy things I generally like to share, it's been one of those one-foot-in-front-of-another kind of times all while trying to be as supportive as possible for her family.

I've got to put our life back in order after a whirlwind few weeks. I have faith that happier times are just around the corner, you just have to keep on taking baby steps.

best brownie ever.

2011-02-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

i'll let you in on a little secret. while i'm a proponent to scratch made, i'm a big fan of the good ole dunkin hines brownie mixes. quick, easy, & never fail they're a sure fire way to cheer me up. when i received our February glossy edition of bon apetit magazine in my mailbox i was greeted with a cover that touts "best-ever brownies. warning you will eat the entire tray." wouldn't that peek any brownie lovers interest?

challenge accepted, bon appetit, challenge accepted. i whipped up a batch of
Coco Brownies with Brown Butter and ~~Walnuts~~ .

What you'll need to gather:

1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs, chilled
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup walnut pieces (if you want, i left these out)

Now go here and print your recipe and whisk away.

In the end you'll get this:

& you'll be happy, & have a happy husband, & have an empty pan (as promised.)

Bon Appetit - 1
Bird - 0

you win this time, foodie magazine. this time.

My dog ate my donation.

2011-02-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

The badger & I went shopping for a new homeless ministry at our church. We signed up to supply the drinks for the week. The milk, oj, & apple juice were in the fridge....the flats of water in the trunk....the juice boxes in a grocery bag by the door ready to go. What did pete do while we were at work? {Guilty}

What did pete do while we were at work? Unwrap a bunch of juice boxes & pull off the straws. Apparently he thinks he is a toddler in need of a juicy juice fix.

gooey delight.

2011-02-14T20:14:00.001-05:00

sending you warm cinnamon rolls from my kitchen to yours this valentine's day!

Fact: Winner #5

2011-02-09T08:33:00.003-05:00

Fact: I left work before the sun completely set for the first time yesterday in about 3 weeks.

Fact: I'm sorry I didn't feel like posting a winner last night, as promised.

Fact: Many state drinks are milk.

Fact: The term ice cream sundae is from Illinois.

Fact: The SC state snack is a boiled p-nut. (yum)

Fact: I loved learning all about your state facts.

Fact: The winner's state was voted the happiest financial state in the nation & they invented kool-aid. (happier because of kool-aid? perhaps yes.)

Fact: The winner of the QA Designs state print is Piper Jacquelyn from Nebraska!

Congrats! Email me your info barefootbird {at} gmail.com.

Note: Winner has 1 week to contact me before another winner is drawn!

P.S. Back to normal posting tomorrow. Things to look forward to? "my dog ate my donation" & the best brownies ever. you're intrigued aren't you? Now I must go take off my leggings (boo, double boo) and go to work.

dun, dun, dun....{winners #3 & #4}

2011-02-07T22:04:00.005-05:00

...better a late announcement than no announcement at all right? The winner of The Preppy Princess lunch sack or tote is:

Hooray Suburban Prep! Your tuna sandwich on rye from the local deli will be carried in an adorable new sailorbag lunch tote or sack!

______________________

And who will have a swanked up desk this February thanks to Nico & Lala's fabulous new calendar?

Miss. Sweet Tea!

Congrats to the winners! Please email me with your info and I will pass it along so that your prizes will be on the way! barefootbird {at} gmail.com

{Winners must contact me within one week of announcement or a new winner will be drawn!}

And We Have Winners {giveaways #1 & #2}

2011-02-05T16:18:00.006-05:00

You know those friends who brighten up a dreary ~~week~~ day? Who can come over with their dog in ~~chili pepper pj's~~ comfy clothes with a perfectly chilled adult beverage of choice, break & bake cookies, and their furry child just to hang for a little bit and have some laughs? Those are the best kind of friends in my mind. Those are the friends that you can just be around. Those friends to us are Phillip & Laura. You know what else those kind of friends will do? Help you pick a winner of some pretty killer blog giveaways (that both wives desperately wanted for themselves.) Don't worry, as promised, we randomly drew a winner!

So without further ramblings...

The winner of the Elizabeth McKay giveaway is:Princess Freckles from Her Highness of Cute!

Laura & I decided that we'd get creative with the next drawing for the EmersonMade clutch and see if the dogs could pick just one out of the red hat.

In went Pete's nose

... out came a HUGE PILE of entries.

Back into the hat they went...

...and out came:

Bella Broccoli from Make it Meaningful!

{Drawing results & certified by Harvey & Pete.}

Congratulations winners! Please email me with your contact information & I will send it to the wonderful companies! barefootbird {at} blogspot.com

Note: Winners must contact me within 5 days of announcement. If you don't, another winner will be selected!

i heart QA Designs {giveaway #5}

2011-02-04T08:20:00.004-05:00

Happy Friday! This morning, in the great state of North Carolina, it is 34 degrees & pouring rain. Bleck. How is the weather where you are?

On the last day of my birthday week of giveaways of things I love, I'd like to introduce you to Q.A. Designs. Jenna creates fabulous blog designs, logos, prints, & custom invitations, all available through her Etsy Shop. She is a talented graphic designer who is a true pleasure to work with. (I've been working with her on a side project for a little bit now, which I cannot wait to debut when the timing is right!)

So on this rainy Friday, one lucky winner will get to choose an 8 x 10 state or country print of their very own!
{Here's my NC print, hanging in my bathroom!}

How to Enter:

1. leave me a comment with the weather where you are {1 entry}
2. bonus entry, leave me a fun fact about your state. {1 entry}

Winner will be drawn at random Tuesday!

Good Luck!

Fact: NC's state drink is Milk.
Fact: Our motto is "Esse Quam Viedri" {To be, rather than to seem.}
Fact: My husband and I ~~are nerds~~ swapped facts about NC on one of our first dates.
Fact: I won.

I heart Nico & Lala. {giveaway #4}

2011-02-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

2 giveaways in one day? what has gotten into me? oh yes, it's my day off, that's what! I've got a super swanky desk calendar from my favorite swanky, southern, & sophisticated gals, Nico & Lala to give to you this afternoon! The girls helped me create adorable luggage tags last fall for each of my bridesmaids that I used as gift tags! You should check out their fun new products just debuted at market on the Nico & Lala website and Blog!

The Details:

Leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win. Easy peasy, after all, it is my day off!

Winner will be drawn randomly on Monday!

i heart the preppy princess. {giveaway #3}

2011-02-03T06:15:00.003-05:00

Today I wish I was on a boat. (Seeing as I'm not a sailor nor have ever been a sailor it would most likely be a motor-boat, but that's neither here nor there.) You see, I know quite a few of you are buried under a layer of sleet, snow, or ice. (new word: snice. go me.) Myself? Yesterday it was around 70 here (no coat on my morning Pete walk, sweet!) but friends, today, it's freezing again. Being on a boat takes me back to summer time when the weather is warm, my hair is blonder (thank you UV rays!), the seafood is fresh, & the beers are cold (am I the only person who thinks a beer tastes better on a boat? anyone?).

I think The Preppy Princess's new addition of Sailor Bags to their ever expanding preppy offerings in the prepotorium would take you back to those happy times at the coast any day of the week. Rough day at work? Pull out your sailor bag lunch sack and imagine the ocean breeze blowing through your hair while you eat your ham sandwich and drink a orange lavaburst Hi-C. Really difficult to deal with client/customer/patient/(insert your own gripe here) nagging you? Grab your insulated lunch bag from your bottom desk drawer and pull out a ~~corona~~ last night's leftovers. It will be paradise all up in your cube.

My excellent descriptions have made you want a sailor bag of your very own, yes? We'll great news! The Preppy Princess, The Consort, & Tilly (Pete's favorite bulldog) have offered up to you, loverly readers of Barefoot in the Park, a choice of either a sailor bag lunch sack or bag!

Will you choose a lunch sack?

or lunch bag?

The details:

1. leave me a comment about what your favorite lunch (that could be carried in the lunch bag) would be {1 entry}

2. followers of TPP's blog or twitter get an extra {1 entry for each}

3. as always, followers of my blog get a bonus entry! {1 entry}

4. and since i'm feeling super generous (it's my day off) if you blog about me & my week of giveaways, i'll give you an extra entry in each giveaway you entered! {1 extra entry on each}

Winner will be drawn at random, Monday February 7th!

i heart Emerson Made. {giveaway #2}

2011-02-02T06:15:00.000-05:00

I first fell in love with their flower pins.

Then I fell for their clutches.

Now I really think I'd love to sport a tee.

{perfect attire for a valentines date in, yes?}

What's not to love about a company that "celebrates the uniqueness of the individual, the joy of being alive, and the small that makes up the Big Beautiful" ?

On this, the second day of February, in honor of mr. groundhog (and in hopes that he doesn't see his shadow and that spring is just around the corner), I've teamed up with the lovely folks over at Emersonmade to offer up a goldie clutch to one of my readers! It's a little ray of sunshine that beacons spring to go ahead and spring!

How to enter:

1. leave a comment here with your favorite thing about spring {1 entry}

2. become a Fan of EmersonMade on Facebook (and let me know you did) {1 entry}

3. tweet about this giveaway & follow @EmersonMade {1 entry}

4. BitP followers get a bonus entry!

+winner will be selected at random on Friday February 4th+

Good Luck!

I heart Elizabeth McKay {giveaway #1}

2011-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

We all have that go-to dress in our closet for every season. The one that you can dress up or dress down. The one that is appropriate for almost every occasion. My go to dress for spring, summer, & fall?

The Elizabeth McKay B-to-B dress.

{pardon the grainy cell phone image. this was taken circa may, pre-birthday, which meant new camera!}

After finding my perfect "go-to" dress, naturally I wanted to see what else the line had to offer. Upon first click I knew this line was for me. The updated style on classic pieces: perfection. I was super excited to find that I was listed & linked as one of Elizabeth McKay's "Blogs We Love."

In honor of Barefoot in the Park's 3rd birthday the kind team over at Elizabeth McKay has graciously offered to my wonderful readers a giveaway of a signature piece in the line, The Elizabeth Shirt in Elephant Print, Elizabeth's favorite animal!

How to enter:

1. Go to Elizabeth McKay's website, and leave a comment here with your favorite piece OR favorite thing about the line.

2. If you're a follower of BitP, you get an extra entry just for being you (just let me know!)

3. Winner will be selected at random (most likely drawn out of the big red hat pictured above by my lovely husband) on FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4th!

5. Good Luck!

After you fall in love with the line (I know you will) be sure to check back when they launch their new site on

2/15/11!:

today i am 3.

2011-01-31T06:45:00.001-05:00

{image credit}

Today marks a big day in the world of BitP:

My little corner of the interwebs turns three! I when I first clicked publish post, I never knew my blog would turn into what it is today. With over 500 posts, 300 followers & even more daily readers, BitP has grown far beyond what I ever thought it would. I want to thank each and every reader & commenter for their input, kind words, support! I wanted to show my appreciation for all my readers new & old this week with a e-birthday party!

I'm super excited to announce that I've lined up a week of fabulous giveaways of some of my favorite things to celebrate! {Go ahead and click on over if you're reading in reader, take a look around my newly freshened up blog design, & click the follow button if you already haven't, I promise you'll want to *hint hint*!}

menu for the week

2011-01-30T16:34:00.004-05:00

{veggies for the week from the farmer's market}

Monday:
Crock Pot Roast Chicken w/ roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash, onions, & brussels sprouts

Tuesday:
Chicken Pot Pie with the leftover chicken from above
{are these not the most adorable pot pies you've ever seen?}

Wednesday:
Spaghetti + a green salad

Thursday:
Philly Cheese Steaks on homemade bread w/ brown sugar chipotle butternut squash

Friday:
Sausage +Tomato Risotto
{talked about this little delight here}

Saturday:
Ribs & Slaw

___________
Last week, I got stuck at work late a few nights so the planned menu was pushed back a bit! The highlights & lowlights of the week were:

Monday: Cider Glazed Chicken (that everyone is blogging about.)
I think we did something wrong so will certainly try again! The chicken breasts we used I think were too big thus making the dish very dry. I LOVED the rice ... the badger, not so much. I'll put it on the rotation again using the proper cut of chicken and see if it's any better!

Tuesday & Wednesday we fell off the bandwagon and foraged for our suppers.

Thursday: My first foray into the Pioneer Woman cookbook my sister gave me for Christmas. 1 word on Penne alla Betsy: FANTASTIC! The girls I had over for dinner loved it! I made homemade bread & my friend J brought a yummy salad. It was perfect!{perfecting my bread recipe}

{thanks for the yummy salad (and taking of the photos) J!}

{penne alla betsy ... nom nom nom}

Friday: The pushed back marinated flat iron steak was great and the roasted veggies are a new winter favorite in our house! Highly recommend roasting sweet potatoes (we used white ones) and butternut squash.

sunroof kind of day

2011-01-28T17:44:00.003-05:00

for the first time in a long while pete enjoyed the opening of his favorite car accessory: the sunroof. heres to sunroofs open, warmer weather, and a happy weekend!

----------
Sent from the Verizon network using Mobile Email

Please Excuse my Mess!

2011-01-26T10:35:00.002-05:00

BitP is under renovations just prior to celebrating it's 3rd birthday!

Tiny Towel.

2011-01-25T11:19:00.004-05:00

I have the luxury of being a member of a gym that is very close to my house. What does this mean in an addition to my tiny commute? Not having to tote my necessities to shower in the locker room (not that the locker room is bad. it's actually pretty nice.) I had a early meeting downtown this morning so I decided to give it a whirl. I packed up one of my new monogrammed boat & totes (got 5 for our wedding, lots pretty colors to choose from!) with my gear and off I went. Post work out I started to disrobe & cover myself with the gym-issued white towel. (Now here's some background. I'm 5'8" tall & wear a size 6 or 8. I'm pretty average sized in my opinion.) You would have thought I was the size of Sky from American Gladiators with the size of this TINY TOWEL. (Malibu was totally my favorite. Shameless admittal.)

{image credit}

Perhaps I've been spoiled by my fabulous new wedding towels.

{image credit}

Perhaps I'm a towel snob. Is it so much to ask that a girl's able to make it to the shower without getting a little cheeky gym ownership? Methinksnot.

Writers Note to Self: Bring towel nextime.

menu for the week

2011-01-23T17:49:00.003-05:00

Week 2, ready set go!

Monday: Cider Glazed Chicken w/ Brown Butter Rice + Peas
{had too many leftovers and didn't end up making this last week!}

Tuesday: Marinated Flat Iron Steak w/ Roast Potatoes & Butternut Squash (adapting)
{again, didn't end up making this last week!}

Wednesday: Crock Pot Roast Chicken w/ Acorn Squash & Spinach Orzo

Thursday: Girls Night! I'm busting out my shiny new un-cooked with Pioneer Woman cookbook & making Penne alla Betsy (looks like pure decadence) to be served with a big green salad

Friday: Chicken Enchiladas + a green salad (made with the leftover roast chicken)

________
Nom, Nom, Noms from last week:

+ cooking light's chicken & dumplings. very yummy! took A LONG TIME to make, very glad I did it on sunday. badger said "double the dumplings!"

{i almost forgot to photograph so please excuse the leftover at work shot. lots of veggies. very yum!}

+tomato & sausage risotto ... again, thumbs up! even though it was sticky risotto the next day, I enjoyed it for lunch!

{working on the food photography ... getting better!}

+pan sauteed trout with capers, orzo, & brussle sprouts very yummy, quick, & light{i think i need better lighting}

+paella for our parents. thumbs up from all six of us from around my tiny table. i even made homemade bread to go along!

a cottage & a segway.

2011-01-20T18:28:00.002-05:00

I have you intrigued, yes? After a few wonderful nights at Beltane, & one strange night in the gay capital of the Russian River Valley (seeking tasty California sparkling wine at Korbel but alas, they were closed on new years. what champagne maker is closed on new years? honestly?) we ventured to the motherland of cabs: The Napa Valley.

Not only was I jazzed about the jam packed valley of yummy wine & food, but I couldn't wait for our accommodations at Cottages of Napa Valley. The cottages did not dissappoint. A perfectly appointed cottage for two complete with a pretty amazing selection of relaxing CDs, a yummy bottle of Domanie Chandon, a heated bathroom floor (wish list for one day honey!), a big comfy bed, & the piece de resistance....a basket of Bouchon Bakery goodies delivered every morning outside your door with a copy of The New York Times (none of that west coast nonsense.) If you're thinking of planning a trip to wine-country I would highly suggest checking into the cottages. {Cottage #5...until we meet again!}

_________________________

Whilst in the Napa Valley we decided to brave a semi-misty day for a special treat. (You're thinking couples massage aren't you?) You're wrong. SEGWAYS!

The hubs and I did Segway Napa's tour of Yountville. We wore hideous vests & helmets. We cruised some vineyards. We saw some happy California ~~cows~~ longhorns. My 6'8" husband crashed. We drank some wine & ~~were extremely cheesy~~ ate some cheese. It was awesome.

{happy California longhorns. they should use these guys in their commercials}

My only wish was that the Calistoga tour had been available when we were there. Why? We could have segwayed to see this:

California's Old Faithful Gyser. Lamesauce by foot. (could have been) Awesome by segway.

Swing me to the moon...

2011-01-18T16:41:00.003-05:00

The winter funk has descended upon us. It has been colder & wetter on the east coast this year than normal which has us longing for springtime. I'm dreaming of crisp spring days where I might enjoy a lovely afternoon walk swinging on one of the park swingsets.

What else is combating those winter blues these days? The re-start of some of my favorite shows (royal pains not in the summer? heck yes!), evenings with a great glass of pinot noir & therapeutic cooking (this risotto was killer!), my new every-other flex friday schedule (i get to visit with my sister this friday!), and my super cuddly not-so-puppy-anymore furbaby Pete!{it's football playoffs season friends}

{another winter sparkle? the upcoming review CSN Stores is sponsoring me to do!}

menu for the week

2011-01-16T21:36:00.002-05:00

I've seen other bloggers do it and I love their ideas so I've jumped on the meal planning post bandwagon. I did it without blogging about it this fall and loved it. Clip coupons, plan the menu & shop on Sunday and there is no guessing during the week ... pure genius. (Makes life easy especially now that I wont be getting home before 7:40 most every night, ugh.) We veered off the bandwagon over the holidays but back we go! I'm going to try and post what I'm cooking for the week every Sunday (to keep me accountable) & hopefully we'll get a nice little dinner-dialogue going! The following week I'll give you a recap of the recipies ... either a nom, nom, nom or vom, vom, vom. Ready, set, go!

Sunday:
Chicken & Dumplings via Cooking Light

Monday:
Cider Glazed Chicken w/ Brown Butter Pecan Rice
& green beans

Tuesday:
Tomato & Sausage Risotto from Smitten Kitchen
& a salad

Wednesday:
Pan Sauteed Trout w/ Capers via Cooking Light (sorry can't find the recipe on the interwebs!)

Thursday:
girls night out for me!

Friday:
Grilled Flank Steak w/ Roasted Potatoes & Butternut squash

Saturday:
We're having our parents over for a dinner to share some of our yummy honeymoon wine finds and are thinking about Paella. any great recipe ideas?

Cheers to a great week!

Vino, Vino, Vino!

2011-01-14T09:31:00.005-05:00

{the view from atop Jericho Canyon's vineyard}

The real reason you travel to Northern California? The wine! Having 7 nights in Sonoma & Napa allowed us to pace ourselves & taste some really excellent wine. Please dis-regard the order of my photos, the loader was not cooperating with me this morning! Here's where we visited:

Sonoma Proper, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast, & Russian River Valley:

+ Mayo Family Vineyards+

+Sonoma Coutrer+

Fabulous Chardonnay (from a girl who doesn't really like Chardonnay) & Pinot Noir. All around fabulous experience. Call ahead and schedule a tour, it really is worth it!

+Selby+

+Ferrari Carino+

+David Coffaro+

A small little off the beaten path laid back winery in the dry creek region north of Healdsburg with fabulous wine. Don't let the "ambiance" throw you off, the tasting room is a garage filled with barrels! Excellent Zins.

+Hawke+

Enjoyed this tasting room right in Sonoma proper. Great Cabs!

+Rossler+

Another good one right in Sonoma. Very nice Pinot Noir.

+Schug+

Napa Valley:

+Chateau Montelena+

I hadn't heard of the movie "Bottle Shock" before visiting here, but if you like wine you should definitely check it out! Beautiful winery & surrounding gardens, even in the winter!

+Jessup Vineyards+

Tasting room & art gallery right in Yountville was a favorite of mine. I loved every wine they poured which is rare! (another plus, we went here via segway!)

+Hall+

+Del Dotto+

Over the top (decor wise) winery with caves, but they had great wine & were super friendly and allowed us a barrel tasting, which was very interesting!

+Cakebread+

I'm going to be honest, I was really excited to go here as I thought they were one of my favorites. Neither one of us was very impressed and thought we had much better wine elsewhere.

+Sinskey+

Enjoyed their organic wines with a very nice "pairing" tasting plate of cheese & other goodies!

+Judd's Hill+

Off the beaten path and one of our favorites. Very small operation but very nice wine!

+Saint Supery+

I bought a tour & tasting package off of Gilt City and was pleasantly surprised by their wine & the tour. Very informative with a wonderful tour guide!

+Frog's Leap+

By far one of our favorites. Loved the who operation from their Leed Certified tasting room/office to their re-purposed barn turned winery. You need an appointment but the tour & tasting are totally worth it! Plus, their grapes are organically grown!

+Jericho Canyon+

Way off the beaten path near Calistoga. Call & make an appointment, the view is worth it & the wine's were one of Thomas's favorites!

{frog's leap winery}

{i wish my office view was like this!}

{2010 sauvignon blanc chilling in the stainless tanks}

{even during the winter, it's beautiful!}

{del dotto}

{Jessup Cellars tasting ... action shot!}

{chateau montelena}

{"crazy good cabs" that we thought here so-so. beautiful winery though!}

{must break for beer every once in a while! new years day we headed to the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa for a little craft brew & football on a rainy day. Interesting beers, some of which had been fermented in old wine barrels!}

{sonoma cutrer. good wine = happy people}

{where the magic happens}

{award winning croquet courts at Sonoma Cutrer. So beautiful!}

We were pleasantly surprised by visiting wine country off season while the grapes are dormant. There were still plenty of people around but we got some VIP treatment that probably wouldn't have happened in the summer or during crush when people visit in droves. We had lots of private behind the scenes trips into the cellars and lots of hands on explanation of the process & what we were tasting. We learned alot & found off season to be the perfect time for us! (Plus, there were plenty of fireplaces that we got to cozy up next to!)

Up next:

the food & other fun!

we interrupt the wine for ....

2011-01-12T09:23:00.002-05:00

home-made marshmallows!

we had a mini-ice storm the past few days & i decided it was high time to try another recpie from Jam it, Pickle it, Cure it. The winner for a cold icy night: marshmallows!

{hot sugar, water, corn syrup, & a pinch of salt meet unflavored gelatin in the shiny red mixer}

{after about 8 minutes of whipping & a hour of rest you have a marshmallow fit for a giant. or buddy the elf perhaps.}

{cut them down to size, & toss with some more powdered sugar. voila.}

{the best dern hot coco i've had in a while!}

the ranch + my ultimate city slicker moment {sonoma}

2011-01-09T20:13:00.009-05:00

Wednesday after Christmas the Mr. & I jetted across the country to California for a 7 night honeymoon in the wine country! After a plane change in Houston, we arrived just in time for a late lunch in San Francisco!

Our rental pimpin' chariot (the lovely folks at Enterprise decided that since it was our honeymoon they would switch our assigned ~~grandma ride~~ Mercury Grand Marquis, for a rapper inspired Chrystler 300) awaited and took us into San Fran for a yummy & quick lunch at the Fog City Diner.

Over the Golden Gate Bridge and to Sonoma County we went!

Upon the suggestion of T&L magazine's "Best Kept Secret" we checked into The Beltane Ranch for 3 nights as our home while we scouted out all that Sonoma has to offer. As we checked in the proprietor had warm ginger cookies just coming our of the oven. I think I ate ~~the whole jar~~ a dozen myself!

The Beltane was exactly what we wanted. A cozy & quite beautiful spot to rest after a day of exploring with a fabulously amazing farm fresh breakfast (have you ever heard of brushing bacon with brown sugar? pure decadence) cooked for you each morning. If you're looking for modern spa like amenities, this is not the spot for you. If you're looking to get away from it all & see one amazing night sky, & don't mind old house quirks, it's your place!

{the beltane truck. alot cooler than our ride.}

{aforementioned perfect ginger cookies. i've got to find that recipe!}

{yep, Julia & Paul Child stayed there. good enough for me!}

{the fresh board: we had eggs, spinach, persimmons, & onions while we were there. i'd love to be there in the summer!}

{after years of selling their grapes to some of the big guys in Napa, 2009 ushered in the first vintage of Beltane vino! can't wait for our shipment to arrive.}

{so green & beautiful! a plus of hitting up winecounty not during growing season}

{might not have been season for grapes but it was olive season! olives, olives, everywhere!}

{the beautiful ranch house as seen from the pasture, just prior to my ultimate city slicker moment}

After breakfast on a chilly morning we decided to follow the path down to visit with the youngster Clydesdale's that live on the ranch. Now you see I am a horse lover and have been since I was about 6 years old. I like to think I know my way a barn & a pasture. I eagerly frolicked out towards the pasture off the paved path to greet the on-their-way-to-being-humongous-creatures with a morning pat and

squish.

You see, January is rainy season in wine country. The tall vibrantly green grass is deceiving and doesn't shout "hey there's sinking mud under here!" I quickly sank up to my ankles in cold squishy mud in my black patent Revas.

Dressed for a day of wine tasting? yes. For a day at the ranch? no.

Rescued with a piggy back ride back to our room from my lovely husband where my feet were heated up in the claw foot bath-tub & my flats rinsed of the sludge. Oh what a city slicker I felt like!

{post mud-sink. i'm barefoot in the pasture. sidenote: winter white jackets & adolescent giant horses are about as compatible as tb flats for ranch life, just so you know.}

After my poor showing I decided to try again the next morning. Wellies are much more suitable.

{think pete would like a big brother?}

And just because I can, a few more photos for your viewing pleasure.

Still to come, vino, vino, more adventures, & napa!

Hello, Hello, Hello!

2011-01-09T19:54:00.003-05:00

Why hello there, remember me? I hope you do! Please forgive me for a longer than expected blog break, but I'm happy to announce that I'm back! We had a busy and lovely holiday with families, then headed out to wine country for our honeymoon! Lots of fun to start the new year.

Cheers to 2011!

______

A little bit of business:

If anyone is interested in sponsoring a birthday giveaway or is interested in partnering with me please let me know! I'd like to have at least one giveaway to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Barefoot in the Park at the end of the month! {mailto:%7Bbarefootbird@gmail.com}

Merry (white?) Christmas!

2010-12-23T18:29:00.003-05:00

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas (and day after Christmas) (so that I don't have to go to work Sunday, but that is a whole different story.) In all reality, some of the weather-dudes are saying that parts of the south could see the first white Christmas in decades. I was lucky enough to have my one & only white Christmas in 1989, which just happens to be one of my favorite Christmases to date. Not only was it rockin' like Jem & the Holograms with the white fluffy stuff mounding up on Jesus's birthday but also Santa left this (not really this but the interwebs failed me in finding a photo of the 1989 model of purple "Miami Miss" scooter) on the roof.
Duh. Scooters are too big to fit down the chimney. (I will attempt to find actual photographic proof of the scooter on the roof in the snow whilst at home for Christmas.)

White Christmas 1989 ... what a magical year.

Will (the potential) White Christmas 2010 beat that?

Merry Merry Christmas from the Badger, Bird, & Peter-Dog!

hibernate.

2010-12-16T09:20:00.002-05:00

We're hibernating. Its been unusually cold & snowy in these parts so far this winter. Pete has decided to channel his non-long-bouts-of-play-time energy into un-wrapping christmas presents. What a mischevious little elf!

What's on your wish-list?

2010-12-01T17:17:00.003-05:00

Exactly when did it get to be the first of December? I sort of kind of feel like my favorite season of fall breezed by in a flash. In honor of the first of December (rabbit, rabbit!) here is my short list of gift-wishes! Gilded Herringbone Classic Toms.

I've been quite wishy washy about Toms. I love their mission. I love how comfy they are. I even had them on my birthday wish list and my now husband gave me a gift certificate for a pair (which ended up getting turned into work shoes instead.) I thought the white soles of the summer collection were ugly. Enter herringbone & glitter & neutral soles. Sparkly hearts.

Can't you see me frolicking amongst the (mostly dormant) grape-vines in Napa over New Years in these babys?

I have a blog-crush on the ever snarky and fabulous Pioneer Woman and her food.
Naturally the next stage is her cookbook.

I love to read. I love to read in bed. I think I drive my morning-person husband nuts with my light & page turning at night. The solution? A nook! I thought I was a kindle girl 'til I realized I can read blogs on the nook, & check out books from my local library on the nook, & read magazines on my nook. I want to be a nook girl. (I am also a big fan of my local library.) Perfection I do say.

Call me Mrs. Shiverpants, I am always cold. I think my co-workers might think I own stock in cardigans. I realize I live in the south & a down coat might seem a bit excessive but let's review: last winter was COLD & it snowed, like, 4 times. It is very cold & dark when Pete goes on morning walks that I must get out of my cozy warm bed to go on. (Have I mentioned that my husband is the morning person of the family that usually leaves Pete & myself in bed for at least an hour before we get up?)

I think this $99 landsend turquoise option is a winner. REI had some cute ones on black Friday specials (one of 4 stores I was able to get the badger into the day after Thanksgiving) but you can't beat old faithful lands end!

Happy December 1st!

In a month ...

2010-11-30T11:55:00.003-05:00

In about a month you will find us here:

Visitng lots of these:

We'll be generally enjoying life and our 3-month-delayed honeymoon.

Now here's your part:

Been to Northern California? Have a favorite restaurnt/dive/hotspot you recommend? Is there a favorite winery tour that should be on our "must taste" list?

Got any other great tips?

We are open to any and all suggestions, will be there a week, and will be splitting our time between Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, & the Russian River Valley.

All the bags are packed ...

2010-11-24T10:32:00.004-05:00

Being our first Thanksgiving as newlyweds & my first official holiday away from my family I'm having a bit of a hard time with the adjustment of not waking up on Thanksgiving morning, watching the parade on TV cuddled on the sofa with my mom & sister while dad reads the real paper, and we scour the ads getting facetiously excited about the doorbuster deals we will {not really} wake up at the crack-o-dawn for the next day. I'm sure everyone goes through this feeling at some point and while I'm excited the compromise allows Christmas Eve & morning to be spent with my family, it's still hard. I make myself stop and think about how lucky I am to have had the past 27 holidays with my family and that I now have a second family and a wonderful husband to be thankful for and celebrate with. I am truly blessed in every aspect of my life and it is nice to have one day of the year to stop and celebrate those blessings.

Now that the bags are packed, I'm off to the in-laws from work this afternoon for a few days then we are headed back home to celebrate with my family and enjoy a weekend of downtime! Safe travels and a happy Thanksgiving to all!

Pie oh My.

2010-11-22T21:18:00.003-05:00

Looking for the perfect thing to take along to your Thursday feast? I whole heatedly suggest The Pioneer Woman's Dreamy Apple Pie. It got 2 thumbs up from my family this past weekend!

the supporting cast

the stars

revel in the sparkly mixer's glory

first whirl with the mini food processor ... i think we will be fast friends.

The PW noted that you certainly shouldn't try any of these apples while cooking because it will most likely end up with an empty pie shell unless you practice a great deal of self control.
{go me}

a car ride later ... success!

mmm.

{author's note. i apologize for my ~~lack of~~ incredible sideways photography skillz. yes you get z. i'll figure it out, one day.}

Were-Pete

2010-11-19T09:09:00.003-05:00

Were-Pete (yes I've been listening to the Sookie Stackhouse series for the past month on my commute and my brain is full of supe-refrences...no judgments, right?) caught his first official squirrel (not just nipped the tail) this morning on our walk. Like a good little (big) setter/pointer/lab he proudly showed me his catch, then dropped it when i said (screamed) "Pete, release!" The squirrel then scurried up a nearby tree. I'm not so sure what I would have done had he not dropped it/it ran away unscathed.

Why thank you, CSN.

2010-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

With our new fun kitchen gadgets keeping us whipping up all sorts of concoctions in our tiny newlywed kitchen, I thought a new kitchen scatter rug would be the perfect product to review from the always fabulous CSN Stores! In combining our houses, I've introduced pops of red to add a little more masculine flair to my cafe-au-lait & turquoise a la Julia's famous kitchen color themed casa. I loved perusing CSN stores fabulous selection of Dash & Albert woven rugs. The perfect one for us this fall? The woven ranch stripe!

What ya got cookin' this Wednesday?

2010-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

With crazy schedules I find it a stress reliever to have menus planned for the week so there are no "what's for dinner" moments when you head in the door after a long day (after sitting in traffic for an hour & a half. ugh).

I was excited to try out a couple of recipes I found in a back issue of Cooking Light.

Garlic-Ginger Shrimp Stir-Fry
&
Pan-Fried Egg Rolls

Quadruple nom nom nom's here!
Best part, just like healthier take-out, there are leftovers for lunch!

Our variations on the recipe:
Stir-fry -- added snowpeas
Egg Rolls -- added shredded cabbage, skipped the shrimp, & halfed the cilantro

Lucky Duck.

2010-11-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

I was the lucky ducky winner of a fabulous giveaway hosted by Kiki's List over the summer. Since I had a few other things on my mind, I just got around to snapping this little beauty into a frame and hanging it on the bathroom wall!

{Please excuse my terribly lit photo}

I love Jenna's, of {q.a} designs fame, tribute to the 50 states (and now abroad!)

Friday. Saturday. Sunday.

2010-11-15T21:00:00.003-05:00

I think the stars must have aligned for a week of grumptasticness all around the board. (It seems like everyone I talked to had a long one last week!) After a long & traffic filled commute home, Friday night closed the no-good-very-bad-week thus kicking off a fabulous weekend.

{toasting the recent marriage of some friends whilst dancing to a fabulous band}

{gussied up girls}

{Saturday brought the great closet swap & addition of magic hangers. These slim lined beauties nearly doubled my hanging space from the plastic hangers i had before!}

{We celebrated our 1 year engagement anniversary with lamb chops & homemade sweet potato chips!}

{...and finished the weekend with some serious 1/3 our bill couponing savings, a homemade philly cheese steak, and a little football!}

will blog for Christmas cards.

2010-11-11T18:31:00.005-05:00

it's no secret that i love mail. i love sending mail, i love receiving mail (of the non bill variety). reason why i love mail? cards, stationary, and paper, oh my!

i think there is an art to selecting the perfect birthday card or writing just the right note. one of the things i enjoyed most about my wedding planning was designing the invitations. i've actually not complained once about writing hundreds of thank you notes from our wedding festivities!

things i dont love about mail: postage. almost a pack of pop-rocks to mail a letter? argh. having spent a pretty penny this year on postage already i thought about doing an e-Christmas card to save the dough. my lovely husband, knowing how much i enjoy selecting, addressing, and mailing the cards, made a thought provoking comment when i was lamenting the lack of holiday mail cheer coming from our mailbox to yours ... "why don't you just go win some Christmas cards in blog-o-log land?"

husband asks, we receive! as i'm sure you've seen, shutterfly is partnering with the blog-o-verse to pick out your favorites, post about them, then get $50 worth of cards for free! Let the card selecting begin!{will red revamped make the cut?}

{or perhaps partridge pear tree}{or maybe even get glowing?}

{tune in in december to see if mod merry magenta was the winner!}

reason #84,592 why i love blogland.

wanna know the best part, you can join in on the fun too!

Shopping Trip Fail.

2010-11-04T18:59:00.004-04:00

For the past year my office has been in a mall which means when I am not working I want to be nowhere near this American mecca of consumerism, which means I'm a fan of shopping online {i sparkly heart Lands End Canvas, but that's another post.} As you cannot tell by the wedding photos below since my husband is a giant {6'8"}, I am 5'8" tall which means big red flashing warning signs go off when it comes to finding properly fitting pants. This statement makes me a dress & skirt kind of girl typically. But when you are climbing on and off of ladders & unpacking boxes at work, a girl needs pants.

Since I was working the evening and had a little extra time between meetings and work this morning {and our "summer that wont let go" decided to let go with COLD & RAIN}, I decided to teeny bop over to the mall to see what I could see at Belk (a Southern department store).

I browse the Belk brand sections and pick up a few pairs, then head to Michael Kors, Lilly, Ralph, & Theory. With my armload of 20 or so pair of black, grey, & brown pants surely one would fit. Nada. Nein. Nope. Each and every one was too this, too that ... I felt like Goldilocks lacking the bleach blonde hair.

Frustrated, flustered, & ready to give up I decided to give one last futile attempt and fall into the Gap. You see, GAP emailed me a happy little 20% off coupon purchased this morning so I thought I'd peruse to see if their so called "perfect pants" would hold up.

Not only was I greeted by a wall of black pants in all shapes & sizes, but also with the magic little letter "T" and "XT" attached to the numerical sizes. AHA! A corporation gets it ... tall people want to not have to only special order clothes!

I grab a handful of pants to try and a perky Gap girl hands me this:

After a double take I realize she handed me a 40% off coupon for any full priced item for use on any Thursday during the month of November.

I try on the curvy, the straight, & the magic pants. Jackpot. The talls are too long for me for flats but perfect for heels! A smile starts. I decide to try the "true straight" variety first since they are machine washable and they ring up, with tax, for $30. Double Jackpot.

Moral of the story: don't give up on the old standbys ... they might just surprise you.

Added bonus: I have 3 more 40% Thursday coupons for the rest of November!

Wedding Wednesday Extravaganza!

2010-11-03T17:50:00.001-04:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

Wedding Wednesday Extravaganza!

2010-11-03T17:39:00.005-04:00

I have been struggling with exactly how to share our wonderful wedding day with my lovely readers without a bridal blowout shoving too many pictures your way ... and finally decided there was no better time to try out the shutterfly photo slideshow! (Bare with me if it doesn't work, I'm a newbie!)

The day was perfect, and we couldn't have dreamed for a more perfectly "us" way to celebrate the start of our married lives together. Words cannot express how blessed we feel to have been surrounded by so many wonderful friends and supportive family. We are lucky newlyweds!

Sit back, grab a glass of vino, and enjoy our day virtually! Many thanks to multitudes of photos sent to us from our friends!

Update: Slight technical difficulty, please see post above for photos!

Reason #1,084,642 why I heart fall...

2010-10-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

Pumpkining (It's my blog, I'll make up words if I want to.)

State Fair Going

On the last day of the fair we finally found the time to take a break and enjoy the fabulousness that is the NC State Fair. Now you see I am not a fan of crowds but for one day of each year: fair day. There is no better place to people watch whilst eating a deep fried candy bar (yes, I tried a milky-way) whilst mullet hunting (best venue ever. aggressive level was red alert) whilst listening to the sweet sounds of the demolition derby roaring above twangs of blue grass, whilst taking in a pumpkin so large that if you put it on rims, Cinderella would certainly ride in style, whilst ogling the baby pigs, goats, cows, chicks, ducks, etc.

Reason #1,084,643 why my husband hearts the State Fair: the other white meat.

Porkfest 2010

Pork #1: Country Ham Biscuit

Pork #2 & #3 aka "Look mom, 2 hands!"
BBQ Sandwich & Red Hotdog (gag)

Must take a break for our greens you know ...

(Not pictured: Pork #4 Liver Pudding sample)

Pork #5: Deep Fried Pork Chop (on a stick, naturally)

Now that we've officially blown our caloric & sodium intakes for the year, it's time for a ride on the Ferris wheel!

Records were broken, over 1,000,000 fair goers this year!

We even won a new "friend" for Pete ... a monster!

Let there be Lobster!

2010-10-25T18:56:00.002-04:00

Friday marked our church's 2nd annual Lobsterfest. I was deeply saddened I wouldn't be able to nosh with my fellow parishioners due to my crazy insane (i would use that fancy strike through setting here if I only knew how! anyone? anyone?) work schedule. Next best option, bring the party home take-out style for lobsters late night!

Our fabulous friends were troopers to wait for me to arrive for a meal fit for kings circa 10pm. I'd say it was worth the wait! We enjoyed the succulent critters with cornbread, slaw, and copious amounts of delish vino. We put our fabulous new All Clad cookwear to the test ... A+ all around!

Cheers to a fabulous fundraiser, fantastic friends, & a great week ahead!

Just keep swimming ...

2010-10-19T12:52:00.003-04:00

Well folks we are in the midst of furniture market season yet again and I've been burning the candle at both ends trying to keep up! It's fabulous to see all the wonderful new things from sofas and nesting tables to art for the outdoors!

I'll be a little quieter than usual this week while I'm tending to my day job, but can't wait to share all the goodies I find with you next week!

I'm also super jazzed about an upcoming product review I'm doing with the ever fabulous place to find it all, CSN stores!

Barefoot in the Park | A blog by Kate Nisbet Designs

Vintage is the new black.

Classic with a Twist.

Have you been itching for some La Fiorentina in your life?

a tropical getaway on your tabletop.

A message from Pete.

A day in the life.

White Space.

Pretty in Pink Honeysuckle.

{paperlove} Prints

{ColorLove} | Tango Tangerine

What's Cooking: Curried Mussel Pan Roast

{pInspiration}

You want to take subway tile and run it how? | A Herringbone Backsplash Story

Seeing Spots.

Hello there 2012!

What's that sound ringing through the air?

Evolution

Paper Love.

Hittin' the road, headed out West. {45 minutes west that is}

Dog or Deer?

Let's play dress up {A Giveaway}

Butternut Squash Soup

Happy Haloween!

Mannnnnnnny, Diiiiiiiiiner.

Love people. Cook them good food.

Conspiracy Theory.

Those Spots.

A 1st on the 2nd.

The 2 Bowl Challenge

Soapbox {I might have a coupon for that}

under that harvest moon

Beer in the Park

Mad about Plaid Pattern

Dog Tired

Ireland, England, Denmark...

Last Day.

Mark All As Read.

Oh why hello there.

A la plage.

If you love risotto....

Cinco de Pete. {4th edition}

Tasty Trial: Brioche Buns!

Perfect Peony,

Welcome Home.

?

Urban Gardner

6 months + 5 days

Too Quiet.

Public Service Announcement.

Secret Single Behavior.

A Few Things I've learned this week...

Epic Fail. Epic Win.

Black is the new White. {rice edition}

Brilliant (and probably so last year. or the year before. i'm so behind.)

Rain hike Walk (part 2)

April February Showers bring May March Flowers (part 1)

Digitally Glossy.

Small Steps.

best brownie ever.

My dog ate my donation.

gooey delight.

Fact: Winner #5

dun, dun, dun....{winners #3 & #4}

And We Have Winners {giveaways #1 & #2}

i *heart* QA Designs {giveaway #5}

I *heart* Nico & Lala. {giveaway #4}

i *heart* the preppy princess. {giveaway #3}

i *heart* Emerson Made. {giveaway #2}

I *heart* Elizabeth McKay {giveaway #1}

today i am 3.

menu for the week

sunroof kind of day

Please Excuse my Mess!

Tiny Towel.

menu for the week

a cottage & a segway.

Swing me to the moon...

menu for the week

Vino, Vino, Vino!

i heart QA Designs {giveaway #5}

I heart Nico & Lala. {giveaway #4}

i heart the preppy princess. {giveaway #3}

i heart Emerson Made. {giveaway #2}

I heart Elizabeth McKay {giveaway #1}