we are lucky to have a good sized backyard and a couple of really big trees that fill out and give us lots of shade in the summertime. one of these trees has been asking for a swing, and recently, my parents gave one to beckett. i hung it today, and we had to take it for a spin when daddy-o got home tonight.
{uh, guys – i’m not so sure about this}
{well, if miller thinks it’s ok…}
{you’re right – this is fun!}
specifically, roman…shades. a while back, i saw this tutorial on how to make roman shades out of mini blinds. i’d been wanting to get new window treatments for our bedroom, but i was stuck. the room doesn’t really accommodate drapes – we have one window in a dormer, and the other is off center on the wall, so it just wouldn’t look great. i actually had 4 roman shades in our house that were plain old white, so i thought i’d do my own spin on the tutorial that jenny did. custom roman shades cost a fortune. i had only invested about $40 in fabric, so i thought it was worth a shot.
{before – bo-ring}
first, i used a seam ripper and took off the top layer of the shade. this was really easy, but a little time consuming since there were five or six seams on each shade. this left a ‘base layer’ of the shade, to which i could attach my new fabric.
next, i cut my new fabric to size, leaving about an inch and a half on each side to make sure i could secure it to the base shade. you could sew this, but i just used fabric glue, and i’m happy with the result. i pinned along the way to make sure the fabric wouldn’t pull up after the glue was down. if you’re looking for perfection, you could fold over your fabric twice so you have a clean edge on the back, but i was too darn impatient…and who’s looking at your windows that closely? if they are, they shouldn’t be.
once i was done, i let the fabric glue dry for a few hours and then i rehung the shade. i did two in our bedroom, and one for our bathroom – all from the same black and white fabric. it gives our bedroom some much-needed pattern and still allows a good amount of light to come in. 
a close-up of the finished product. 
i made one for the short guy’s room too. 
…of the beach. i have always loved the sea, and all the good weather we’ve been having has me thinking about salt water and sand. when i ran across a photo by massimo vitali, i had to see more of his work. i love the colors, the expanse of water, and the mood that these images provoke. makes me want to pack my bags and head somewhere sandy immediately.
we had a great weekend around here. the weather was beyond perfect, the windows have been open constantly, we were pleasantly busy, and spent lots of time as a family. i had a fabulous first mother’s day, complete with a long stay at the park, frozen yogurt (with sprinkles!), a steak dinner prepared by my dear husband, and a lovely new ring. thanks j and b-man!
my dad is said treasure. he is the most nurturing, supportive, loving father two kids could possibly wish for. the ultimate dad really – pancakes on saturday mornings, at every event cheering us on, a jokester, and in our adult life, someone we can talk to about anything. he has always encouraged us to pursue what we’re passionate about, and to enjoy the journey of life.
he and i share a special bond, and he has always been able to put things in perspective for me – when i’m confused, he can help me make sense; when i’m down, he can cheer me up – simply said, he gets me. just like i’m turning into my mother, i find myself turning into my father too. honestly, i couldn’t be happier about that – they’re pretty great.
dad, you are the ultimate father, and now grandfather, and i am your biggest fan.
happy birthday. love you daddy-o.
well, i guess she’s a duchess, but whatever. it’s been almost a week since the big to-do, and i’m still thinking about catherine’s gorgeous dresses from her wedding day. they were both a pretty streamlined silhouette, but each had a definite personality, and the detail was extraordinary.
loved the folding on the back of the wedding dress at the waistline – i thought it gave it a little more presence. and the sparkly tiara wasn’t too shabby.
i think the reception dress is actually my favorite. maybe it’s the fact that she looks so darn relaxed in this picture. you have to think she was breathing a little easier by then. and that bejeweled waistline! yes, please!
{wowza}
on another note, big congratulations to my sweet friends danelle and mike, who welcomed baby brock yesterday!
i find that, as everything is turning green (finally!), i want to bring outside in…so, i did. sometimes, you need something high-impact, and i think this fits the bill. i just lobbed off a branch of a shrub we have in the backyard – instant centerpiece, and a sure sign that spring is here!
and just for fun…despite the mess, i think last night’s dinner was a hit.
i’m in the mood to change up the built-ins in our family room, so i’ve got bookshelves on the brain. here are a few photos that are tripping my trigger at the moment. it appears i’m into a ‘stuffed’ look right now.
{i grabbed all of these from i suwannee}
{do you spot the wee one?}
happy weekend to you!
…for a game of fetch. we swore it wouldn’t happen – that when beckett arrived we would let miller ever be ignored. sadly, it’s kind of inevitable sometimes, and he has adapted to our new situation like a champ. when you have kids, the attention certainly shifts – from the dog, from your social life, even from yourself. and i think that’s ok (to a certain extent) – it’s what you’re supposed to do. but, you should definitely make time for your important relationships if you want to keep them – your family, your buddies from college, old co-workers, friends new and old, and yes, even your dog. since i can’t handle both the jogging stroller and miller on walks, i try to get outside with him while the short guy is napping. glad the the weather is warming up again, so this can become a much more regular occurrence.
{good dog}
did you think peanut butter banana ice cream and not guilty could be in the same sentence? neither did i – until i tried this recipe. oh. my. goodness. it is pretty heavenly, and as is usually the case with the recipes i post about, super easy. i made this in under 5 minutes and we had a nice little treat. i’m sure this will be a staple around here this summer!
the best news is that you probably have all three of these ingredients in your home right now – start freezing those bananas!
{three ingredients!}
{finished product}
it’s been a while now since sex and the city 2 came out in theaters, but i still remember loving carrie and big’s apartment. i searched for some pictures of their place, and i would still move in in a heartbeat. lots of straight lines, but it still has a warm feeling that makes you want to curl up and have a long chat with a friend. check out all the books and the lighting in that back room – i’d like to get in there too.
the chandelier! the bookshelves! the chairs – ok i could actually live without the chairs – but again, i love the overall feeling of the dining room. and we get a little peek of the kitchen too. that tile looks pretty interesting.
i think i could just set up shop in here. holy cow. do you hear the angels singing or is it just me?
chasingshinyobjects.com 
