do you have a friend (or many) who inspires you to be healthier? i mean, like when you’re lounging in bed at 7 am, dreaming of sidecar doughnuts while checking facebook and she’s already finished a marathon? right. that friend. my friend Robyn is that to me. she’s a smart, hard-charging, all-natural beauty, and is usually […]
a salute to the US Armed Forces
November 11 by
my husband and i had an experience of a lifetime over Mother’s Day weekend. it’s apropos that i post this on Veteran’s Day. we were invited as Distinguished Visitors for a weekend on the US Navy’s USS Vinson, one of 7 aircraft carriers that travel around the world to protect and provide assistance in times of need. i […]
a pretty Pinterest baby shower
September 22 by
hi, i’m meesh and i’m addicted to Pinterest. i pin away into the wee hours. and i’ve got a billion pins…on a billion boards…and nary a moment to make any of them. which sometimes makes me feel like a class A loser b/c why do i keep pinning? really, people. why? so when i arrived early to help […]
How to paint wood to look like weathered Restoration Hardware wood
September 6 by
hi friends! i’m back with another furniture painting tutorial on how to use chalk paint to get a weathered wood Restoration Hardware finish. here’s my inspiration. a wonderful wood pier that we visited on our summer road trip. the irony is that the piece i was painting, was in fact, a real Restoration Hardware dresser….from the early […]
DON’T shop at appliancesconnection.com
August 6 by
As a DIY enthusiast and blogger, I’m warning you that this post isn’t about chalk paint or how to decorate. It’s about NOT EVER SHOPPING at appliancesconnection.com I’ve had the unfortunate experience of buying a washer, dryer and refrigerator through them for a friend’s home in San Diego. They’re super when you’re ready to buy. They’re […]
Traditional + beachy Newport Beach home tour
June 1 by
looking for some fantastic traditional home decorating and interior design ideas? our friends recently remodeled this spectacular ocean view home in Newport Beach. bright whites are contrasted with touches of ocean blues, and they’ve also perfectly incorporated their love of east coast traditional decor. as you enter, you’re greeted with this grandiose entrance and sweeping […]
Restoration Hardware finish on a keg
March 26 by
i blog for fun..and mostly about painting furniture. so when one of my 3 readers asks for technique tips, i’m humbled and sort of freaked out. i’m by no means an expert. i just sneak moments after the kids are asleep to paint stuff i find on the side of the road. with kids, i’ve […]
neighbors and cookies
February 26 by
we’re blessed with wonderful neighbors. isn’t it awesome to come home from a busy day to this sitting at your door? yummy peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses on a cute white heart-shaped plate? and this is from a woman who has 6 kids. i mean, she found time to make these and bring […]
got sleep? 6 tips to getting more of it.
December 15 by
My friend Nancy Rothstein wrote a book called My Daddy Snores and is known as The Sleep Ambassador®. I’m pretty sure she wrote this book about me, though. Perhaps she wrote it about my entire brood. We all snore. Even this guy. It’s like a really bad rendition of dueling chainsaws. What to do, what to […]
Annie Sloan painted home
November 22 by
given that i’m pretty much done painting every piece of furniture in our house, i figured it was time for a house tour! these pix aren’t mine, but were taken by someone who specializes in HDR photography. figured i’d see what results it would produce. basically, the camera is set up on a tripod, and […]
chocolate chip pancake goodness
October 19 by
we’ve been in a pancake phase here at the house for about 4 years. 🙂 this momma hides all kinds of goodness in pancakes. pureed veggies, eggs, milk. start ’em young and they won’t know the difference! the problem is that when i think i’m doing a favor by adding chocolate chips, the kids […]
a gorgeous, romantic, Napa wedding
October 6 by
we just returned from the most gorgeous and romantic wedding….ever. the setting was idyllic with the changing leaves and warm breezes. i wanted to practice my photo skills, especially in low lighting. and there’s no better place to do that than in napa at the pristine Beaulieu Garden, which i believe is the private family […]
my hoarding issues
September 25 by
do you hoard? i’m actually pretty good about purging stuff. i don’t like clutter. but there are some things that get me. mason jars. wood scraps. and old architectural digest inspiration mags. i ran across some old mags with post-it notes tagging pages. i thought “good grief. these will be horrid.” and i was pleasantly […]
lululemon, the new diet
September 24 by
lululemon is like a drug here in Orange County. it’s the dress of choice whether you’re an active marathoner, have an aggro (aggressive, gnarly, hard-core) yoga practice, or are a busy mom who calls tag at the park her sport of choice. so i walk into the store, and am greeted with gorgeous pictures of […]
