seashell summertime decor

I cannot believe how fast summer is flying by!  In about 3 weeks the Masterpiece children will be back to school.  What?!?!  Anyway I wanted to pause the season for a moment to share a favorite staple of mine in my summertime decor. I love seashells- all shapes and sizes, but since we do notContinue reading “seashell summertime decor”

summertime entertaining

Summertime entertaining relaxes the tempo with its air of casualness, which often includes outdoor spaces.  I love eating al fresco, while enjoying the beauty of nature all around.  It adds a layer of leisureliness and reduces stress factors which is much needed in this era of technology and immediate gratification. A few weeks ago weContinue reading “summertime entertaining”

dinner for 2 al fresco

I love eating al fresco.  It usually up in my mind a little bistro in Europe with amazing food, wonderful vistas and great ambiance. So here’s a nod to all those fantastic memories of those memorable meals right in the corner of our own patio. It immediately elevates whatever one is eating, drinking, talking about,Continue reading “dinner for 2 al fresco”

container gardening 2017

It’s no secret that I love container gardening. And although my love for container gardening stemmed from marketing traditional planters I love to use unusual containers as well. It adds another layer of interest to pretty flowers and foliage. IIt has been incredibly hot here this summer in northern california & while I was awayContinue reading “container gardening 2017”

end of the summer tablescape alfresco

I am trying to hold on to summer as long as I can over here. The kids are back at school and autumnal decor has descended on stores, catalogs, magazines, blogs, etc. all symbolizing fall is here. And I would be lying if I didn’t confess that I’m already thinking of fall for my homeContinue reading “end of the summer tablescape alfresco”

quick, upcycled decor update

We all love to decorate throughout the seasons, but many times I like to keep the basic bones the same and just change out the details. Remember when I shared this super easy & quick diy decor? You can read all the details here. I just wanted to show you how I updated it itContinue reading “quick, upcycled decor update”

gray container garden vignette

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of container gardening. I became a big fan back in my professional days when I ran marketing for a garden product distributor.  You can read more about that here. Container gardening is extremely versatile since you can fairly easily move the planters around. Also there are a varietyContinue reading “gray container garden vignette”

on the menu ~ beyond the caprese salad

I love caprese salads! From the rich fresh mozarella cheese to the juicy tomatoes to the fragrant basil. We eat caprese salads a bunch around here & my favorite is when we have fresh tomatoes & basil from our own veggie garden. You can read more about our home garden here and here and here.Continue reading “on the menu ~ beyond the caprese salad”

an old secretary desk & seashell decor

Summer is just whizzing by.  I can’t believe how quickly it’s passing. We’re in full summer mode around here, from schedules to activities to meals and decor. I thought I would show you some of my summer decor.  I shared the beginning of the summer details here. This year I displayed my sea motif (shells,Continue reading “an old secretary desk & seashell decor”

metals III ~ enamelware

The next metal in my series is enamelware which lends itself to summertime for me. I love enamelware, old, new, used, whatever.  I’m always drawn to it. Enamelware originated in germany in the 1700s in order to find a medium that would not alter the taste of food.  Cast iron vessels were lined inside withContinue reading “metals III ~ enamelware”