SPARK

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Get Snappy!

Photo Hike 2015

We gathered for walking and talking and hiking and climbing.

And shooting and snapping and bending and crouching.

Plus sweating and slapping bugs.

Of course, laughing and talking and eating and drinking. 

A good time was had by all. Some even more so than others.

And then we stepped through the portal and found ourselves in Tuscany!

Wait, what? Oh, never mind. I thought I saw something.

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Words to Live (and Learn) By

Love this.

It's a disarmingly honest presentation of the ups and downs of design duo These are Things, given at the Weapons of Mass Creation conference last year. Watch a video of it or—better yet—read it here, where you can linger over the great illustrations.

Credits: These are Things. Thanks to DesignSponge for linking to it.

—Therese

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Ah for the days when having grease and cake where part of everyday staples! Found these beauties at the Maple Bluff Antique Mall on Stoughton Rd.

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Our Plant Hangers

Hey, lookit. Katy & Katie made macramé plant hangers just like the ones we successfully made at Emily's last year.

The video begins with the ladies bemoaning their attempts to complete Martha Stewart's braided doormat project, which was so rage-provoking that they couldn't even make an episode about it. That would be this craft:

In sum, we will not be attempting the doormat craft, at least not at my house.

—Therese

Video: Just the Tips / KatyandKatie.com

Photo: marthastewart.com

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chill.

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What do you think?

  I'm toying with the idea of a wallpaper on the wall behind the headboard in our bedroom. This Julia Rothman pattern from Hygge & West caught my eye. The white is available in traditional wallpaper or peel-and-stick wall tiles that can easily be moved/removed. The blue background is available in wallpaper only. What do you think of the design? How do you feel about the light background vs. the dark? Does anyone have experience with temporary wall covers?  

  I think the busy-ness of the pattern would be broken up by the horizontal window and by the bed. I would also have the light switches papered and move the art, which is hung too high. This, of course, would mean new wall color, new linens (which we definitely need) and new carpet (which we definitely, definitely need at the 10-year mark we're hitting this summer). If anyone wants to play designer and make suggestions, go for it!

—Therese

Wallpaper images: Hygge & West

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Lollipop Moments: A TED Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership We have all changed someone’s life — usually without even realizing it. In this funny talk, Drew Dudley calls on all of us to celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other’s lives. Copy From Ted Talks —Julie

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Happy Mardi Gras, y'all! I made 4 king cakes this weekend to celebrate.

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Happy Oscar Day!

This amazing graphic comes from London-based SEO agency MediaRun.

  From Mediarun, via Hairpin

—Therese

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Folk Alley

I have been using the free app from Folk Alley a lot lately. It streams music from NPR affiliate WKSU-FM at Kent State University, 24 hours a day. The music is a blend of singer/songwriter, Celtic, acoustic, Americana, traditional, and world sounds.

The app puts an icon on your iPad, iPhone, or Android phone that connects you instantly to your choice of about three different streams. (Or at folkalley.com you can stream the music from your desktop computer.) The main stream is Fresh Cuts, and there are usually a few specialty streams; right now there's Love/Alt Love, for Valentine's Day. There was a stream honoring Pete Seeger last week and a holiday stream at Christmas. 

On Fresh Cuts I hear people like Pieta Brown, Pokey LaFarge, and songs that, for some reason, I find are especially good mood music when I'm in the kitchen. Kristi, I can confidently say they don't play all music that makes you want to cry, which we've discussed that WPR's Sunday-night Simply Folk show used to do. 

There are a ton of music streaming options out there. This will either float your boat or not, depending on your musical tastes. I like that it's simple and in one click takes me to the music. I don't have to decide between umpteen different stations or artists. It would be nice if they changed up the songs a little more often, but that may be more obvious to me because I've been trapped inside for so long this winter. it's handy to be one click away from music that relaxes me and puts me in a good mood. Especially this time of year!

—Therese

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Liam's valentines for his classmates . . .

—Jessica

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GREEN!

Aaaand, we finally had Liam's birthday party. The theme was green — the birthday boy's favorite color. He had a choice between a superhero party, Mickey Mouse party and a green party. I was happy with the decision!

The decorations were simple: ruffled crepe paper streamers, lots of tissue paper/paper fans and any other green thing I could find around the house.

I ruffled crepe paper streamers. It is so addictive. They're the new pom-pom for me. Who needs some ruffled streamers? Call me.

I made green M&M cookies (as well as brownies with green sprinkles which didn't get photographed). Here's an M&M tip: the Christmas ones go on clearance in January. I picked out the green ones for his birthday and am saving the red ones for Valentine's Day. (You could save green ones for St. Patty's Day, especially if you're baking them—who cares if they're old!)

The photo booth was made by taping "utility cloth" (that's how it was labeled when I found it at the back of JoAnn's) to the wall. Liam had his picture taken there with each of his guests.

Liam does not like cake. He will eat a cookie from time to time. What he really loves are fruit snacks. I filled a cupcake liner with fruit snacks and stuck a candle in them. He was beyond happy. And so was I.

Leading up to the big day I had Liam paint with green paint (and trucks!). We decorated the party room with his artwork. 

Guests went home with a bag full of green M&Ms. 

It was a fun, fun day!

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We've been busy baking sweet treats for Valentine's day! I'm going to miss smelling the fragrant sugary confections wafting through my house and C's sweet smile as she decorates each of her cookies with such pride and whimsy. Have a sweet day! —Julie

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In a World

We rented this the other day, and it was good! In a World is a comedy about a woman trying to make it in the male-dominated industry of movie voiceovers. The fact that she’s the daughter of the reigning king of voiceovers makes for added drama. Oh, and writer/director/star Lake Bell hates the "sexy baby" speaking voice some women have adopted--that makes for some great scenes.

PS: Bell won a screenwriting award from Sundance Film Festival for this.

PSS: She also actually wanted to be a voiceover artist when she first came to Hollywood.

PSSS: I suck at writing short posts. I enjoy research too much.

—Therese

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Brooklyn, 1978

In 1978, photographer Dinanda Nooney began photographing hundreds of Brooklyn residents in their homes. The blog messynessychic.com highlights the collection in a post titled the Great Brooklyn House Snooping of 1978. Fascinating. 

 —Therese

Photographs by Dinanda H. Nooney

Discover The Nooney Brooklyn Photographs.

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Featured (not really) Again!

Today's post on Apartment Therapy is "The Importance of Displaying Children's Artwork in the Home." I thought, "Hmm. I had lots of kids' art up when Therese conducted my AT home tour..." And sure enough, about mid-way down the list, is my wall of kid art. FUN!

Photo by Therese Maring

—Shelley

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Banishing (Some) Winter Blahs

I finally took down my Christmas greens and replaced them with some new beauties I picked up at Bruce Co.

This is a Maidenhair fern and she's a looker. She has delicate black-brown stems and lacy foliage. The cat likes to nibble on it, but its safe for that.

(My son REALLY wanted me to show off his bagel. So please look at it.)

In the dining room, I've got two petit English Baby Tears in rustic (but new) pots. I think I'll get more of these. You can leave them on the table and still see the people  across from you-even if they are little!

All photos Shelley Cornia.

—Shelley