Urban Grace and BHG

There's been a collision of my decorating worlds.  Better Homes and Gardens did an interview with Erika from a blog that I read called Urban Grace Interiors.
 

Here's a little advice I gathered from the whole experience:

1. Read her blog.  Including this post on favorite Etsy finds.

2. Read this month's issue of BHG-it's full of stylemakers and their advice.  Fun stuff.

3. Start incorporating more printed fabrics in la casa.  That was one of Erika's rules, and I quote: "Every room needs a printed fabric, either floral or graphic."  I think that's what I'm missing, so I'll start saving my dinero now to purchase those great fabrics when I see them.

ps...how great is that long pink skirt?  It's from Anthro-and we all love Anthro.

{pictures from here}

This Week's Menu

Here I am again to post my menu for this week.  Nothing too exciting, but I love doing this!  First, I always forget what I planned to make, and this is a great reminder.  Second, if I ever have a recipe from the internet the link is right here.  Third, I can look back at old menus to see what I want to repeat or what I want to not-make-again-for-the-3rd-time-this-month.  

Again, nothing exciting.  Just our food.

Broccoli Soup and Tomato/Cheddar Sandwiches
Grilled Burgers and Oven Mashed Potatoes

Cornmeal Catfish, Salad, Corn on the Cob

Tuna Salad Wraps, Chips and Salsa

Burl at the Beach, 2011

He was only 5 months old last year when we went to the beach, so I guess we can say that this was Burl's first experience with the beach?  Right?  As soon as we put the mini in park, John grabbed Burl and I grabbed my camera (with a lens that kept fogging up) and we introduced Burl to the beach.  

First up was the sand.  Watching him walk on sand was like watching him take his first steps.  Wobbly.  Unbalanced.  Completely new.  

Eventually, sitting and playing in it was the more enticing option.  

The next morning, we greased that baby up with Water Babies SPF 4,000 and hit the ocean.  The waves crashing on the beach were a huge hit.  More than the water, he loved the current that  pulled him straight into the ocean.  This is where things got a bit interesting.  The more he was tugged and the more he laughed, the whiter our knuckles got on our grasp around him.  He was a wild man in the waves.

For the most part, he liked sitting in the sand with us, under the umbrella-ella-ella, digging holes in the sand with John.  For the most part.

A few nights we went out for dinner.  I asked some locals, aka, the skim-boarders who hung out awkwardly close to us, where to eat.  He asked us what we were looking for, and I quote, "you lookin' for like a bar scene?"  Uh no, dude.  Not sure if people in my 6-month-gestation-stage are allowed in bars.   So we went with the rowdy restaurant instead.  He told us what to order-the pucker sandwich with fish-and we were rowdy, toddler style.



Two other nights we went to a restaurant floating in the bay during sunset.  Insert perfect beach scene.  Burl was mainly occupied by his new found love for small ice.  Whatever it takes to let me swallow my dinner whole.  Whatever it takes.

We went back to our condo for some pictures on the beach.  We forgot our matchy-matchy full blown khaki jumpers that I made for each of us, so we had to wing it.  The whale shirt was pretty fitting, I think.

Every time I squatted to take a level picture of Burl, he squatted with me.  Now that is just cute, but really, Burl, stand-up, I want that cool ocean-in-the-background shot.

The morning that we left, we took a little family stroll on the beach.  At first Burl wasn't into it, rubbing sand in his face.  

Then, John scooped him up and we went for a walk.  What did we find: a small sandbar stretching just enough into the ocean for Burl to have some fun.  Fun he did have.

We couldn't get enough of him.  Laughing and screaming.  Totally enjoying himself.  

Who cared if he was in full clothes, a regular diaper that absorbed 93 gallons of ocean water, Burl had fun.

And that was the perfect way to end our beach trip of 2,000 and 11.

Vacation Recovery

It was just one week ago that we were wrapping up our beach trip.  It was a wonderful trip...we went with friends this year, which made it better, the water was wonderful, and Burl was older and able to enjoy more of it.  One of the great things about this vacation was we came home to a week full of fun activities.  It's been a lot of fun.  Everyday has brought a new adventure. 

There was a shower for Jenny.  {Does the pink stripe bag give a clue to what kind of shower it was?}  The shower was small, which was nice.  We could all be included in the same, rowdy, funny conversation.  The setting was great as well.  It was on Jenny's apartment rooftop overlooking downtown Chattanooga.
  

The next day, we had family over for Sunday lunch.  John's parents, his brother and family, and his new found family from France.  The French family was here for 3 1/2 weeks-vacay European style-and it was so fun spending time with them, getting to know them, and getting to know a bit more about French culture.  Ooolala.  As we waved goodbye that afternoon, I got way more sad than I thought I would.  It seems that it's hard to let new family go.  Oh, how I wish I would have taken a French course to make more conversation with them!

In typical Monday-Funday style, I got together with some girls for a little fun-in-the-sun.  Here we are fresh out of the river.  For the record, my stomach is just as firm as their's when I'm not pregnant.  Like, wash laundry on my abs-firm.  Just take my word for it.  

A little change to dry clothes in the bathhouse and we drove home.  Laughing the whole way.  That's what 3 hours floating down a semi-calm river will do to you.  I plan to join the annual tube-the-Hiwassee trip.  Boobs and Tubes 2012, sign me up.  {Borrowed that name from my neighbor's girls tubing weekend-too funny not to!}

Now that school is back in session, so is our normal Tuesday lunch date.  We road, windows down, to meet my dad.  He cooks at a local private school that is cool enough to allow us to show up at the end of lunch and eat leftovers.  Since my dad is the chef, I know there is never any typical lunchroom food.  Foods from scratch-yes please!

My dad has sent out so many pictures of Burl to the entire faculty and student body that it's less of a lunch date and more of a public appearance for Burl.  Something's a little weird about walking through a cafeteria with a couple tables full of teenagers pointing at us, saying, "LOOK-IT'S BURL!!!"

Down the street from the school is a little park.  A friend lives pretty close as well, so I texted her for a last minute meeting of the minds at the bouncy horse.  

Wednesday was a work day for me-four hours at the Gap.  Four pretty fun hours.  People are getting braver in their assumption that I'm pregnant.  I play the "I'm-not-pregnant" card, but as one fun customer told me yesterday, "girl, you're way past playing that game!"  Too true.

And here we are at Thursday.  Today, I'm recovering from a wicked case of kickball.  I might have talked a little trash, played way too hard as a pitcher, and not sat down enough, but it's all worth it: my team won.  At kickball.  Church, youth group kickball.  North Shore youth, you made me proud last night!  Now, get mama an ice pack.  

Too match my post-game "injuries," Burl came down with a little fever.  We're both hurting today, but that's ok because we've got a plan.  It involves crackers, apple juice, movies, puppy, and a lot of snuggling!