Just The Girls

Each Spring a group of my girlfriends and I pick a place to have a girls weekend.  It's really been a great way to keep in touch now that we're a bit spread out over the country.  I was afraid we might stop doing it once we all started having kids, but I think we need it now more than ever! Here are a couple pics of us from previous years.

Sonoma 2008 (I'm the tall one)

Denver 2009

I don't seem to have a group shot from last year - Asheville, NC.  This year we are going to Sedona.  I'm super excited since I've never been there.  Actually, I've never been to Arizona!  If it looks anything like this, I'm sure I'll love it!

So, what am I packing for this trip?

This issue (May 2011) includes a feature of the home designed by Tracery Interiors that I blogged about here.

Ha!!  You can't fly on a plane without celebrity gossip, right?

Can you tell I'm excited about my magazine time?!  I do NOT get enough magazine time at home.  I went a little nuts at the grocery store at the thought of it.  I may have to take an extra bag!

I'll be back next week.  Hopefully with some fun stories and pictures!

xo,

Becky

Images via: visitsedona.com, housebeautiful.com, countryliving.com, ElleDecor.com, atlantahomesmag.com, people.com

How does your garden grow?

Let me start this post by explaining that I do not have a green thumb.  I always have big plans for a large producing garden, or pots and pots of gorgeous colorful flowers.  I plant them, and then....generally ignore them!!  So, I'm always thrilled and amazed when something actually GROWS!  Here's a little of what is going on in my yard.

My blackberry bushes are blooming!  I don't get tons of them, but I'm always looking out for good recipes.  Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine had some interesting ones here.

The strawberries are blooming too.  There is seriously nothing better than fresh strawberries - just picked!  These rarely get made into anything - they just don't last that long.  They need to be mulched and weeded, but they just keep growing!

Guess what else is growing!  WEEDS!  This is where my veggies are supposed to go.  We've had a wet Spring, and the weeds have completely taken over.  There is some asparagus over there on the left, but the rest of it is unwanted.  I have TONS of work to do here!  My farmer's market has great transplants ready so I better get busy.  I'm hoping to at least plant tomatoes, peppers and green beans.  Oh, and basil, always basil.  I can't get enough pesto!!

Peaches!!  Can't live in Georgia without these, right?  Last year they were amazing!!  

Here's the compost bin the hubs built - pretty handy, eh?

These were a nice little surprise.  I planted them last summer and they came back.

I would love to hear about your gardens!!

Summer Love

I'm loving these Espadrille Ballet Flats on JCrew.com!  I'm ordering them in this pumice stone color.

I really hope they come in time for my girls' weekend in Sedona.  SO EXCITED!!

Happy Easter!

A Happy Easter to you all!

Those Are Some Fancy Chickens!!

Happy Earth Day!  How will your celebrate?  I think we may plant some flowers.

Check out this hen house over on Design Sponge!  How cute is that!?  Sadly, having chickens around here is illegal.  Mmmmm....fresh eggs.....

The Fight Of Her Life

Back in 2007 a friend was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  She was 36 at the time, and was still breast feeding her 6 month old son.  After chemo, surgeries, and radiation, she thought she had it beat in 2008.  It came back with a vengeance in November of that same year. Since then she has endured a scary roller coaster ride of good news and bad news.  She's been documenting her emotional battle on her blog since the beginning.

On May 7th a fundraising 5K race will be held at Piedmont Park in Atlanta.  Later that evening a party will be held at 5 Seasons Brewery.  Come and join us if you're in Atlanta!!  All of the details for both events can be found on the Ray Of Life Race website.

If you aren't in Atlanta, or are unable to attend, information on how to donate towards Laura's medical bills can also be found on the Ray Of Life Race website.  Every little bit helps!!

A Nice Mix

I'm loving this dining room/living room combo by designer John Day in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featured by Elle Decor.  The hardwoods in my home are dark like those, and I have a tendency to prefer neutral colors.  Check out that ceiling!!

I'm also inspired by the fact that there are few area rugs.  I seem to have a hard time finding rugs I like, and feel that if I don't use them my home will feel cold instead of cozy.  I don't get 'cold' from this picture at all.  Beautiful!!

I Love My Farmer's Market!!

via LittleBrownPen on Etsy

I feel so lucky to have an organic farmer's market just down the street from me!!  The interesting thing about the market is that it is so much more than just produce.  Of course I love getting fresh veggies and fruit from local farmers, but it's great to be able to find locally made bread, jams, pastas, etc.

My finds today included:

• yogurt and mozzarella from Atlanta Fresh
• eggplant parm lasagna from M.E. Amore
• fresh salsa from Zocalo
• fresh spinach from Heirloom Gardens
• banana bread from H&F Bread Company 
• pasture raised pork chops from Heritage Farm

As we get closer to summer I'll be able to buy a lot more produce.  I also got there a bit late, so missed some of what was available.

One day I'll take pictures of my market and share them.  Those pictures above are of a lovely looking market in Paris.  Wish I could go to that one, too!!

An Eco Easter Egg

It just dawned on me this morning that Easter is this weekend.  We need to dye some eggs!  I really wish I had been on the ball and bought a kit like this one at West Elm or something similar.

They are on sale - maybe one for next year?

The Festival Season

There are about a million festivals around Atlanta this time of the year.  There were at least 5 or so this weekend that I wish we could have made it to.  On Sunday the hubs and I took the kids to a local one called Lemonade Days.  It's an annual affair, and has craft booths, rides, and the typical festival food.  My daughter loves going, and really looks forward to it every year.

Please forgive my pictures!!  I'm so not the photographer in the family!

Excited?

The hubs and his mini-me.

I don't think anyone got off this ride feeling right.

We didn't even make it to the craft booths this year.  It was all rides, all the time!  

What are your favorite local festivals?

A Return?

I've been gone.  Well, not really gone, but I have not been blogging.  Actually I haven't been doing anything related to the blogging world at all.  I've realized lately that I miss it.  I think I'm going to try to come back - although maybe a bit slowly at first.  I was feeling overwhelmed before, which is why I left.

So bear with me, and until next time I'll leave this to ponder:

via shopsaplingpress on Etsy