Night driving / still sleeping

Peeps. Since I didn't get in until 3am last night (no, I wasn't partying it up; I was doing this) and didn't get to bed until even later, I am currently trying to catch up on some much-needed sleep before I have to run off to work. I will hopefully be able to post something later this evening, but for now, I am either napping or working. So tired. (It was worth it though.)

I will leave you with this in the meantime:

Last night, driving home at 3am on my scooter, I was actually able to notice all the smells throughout town. During the day I never get this sensation, and I certainly don't get to breathe it in that way when driving in the car (even if the windows are down).

Luckily, this ain't no NYC, so the smells weren't too bad - it was really more the smell of the bay breeze, a neighbor's plants and flowers, or trees in different parts of town. It was so nice to absorb the slightly chilly air as I zipped home, alone on the road and with no headlights in sight.

However, I did smell one particularly heinous tree - I believe some call it, ahem, a "semen tree"? My friend Jess thinks it's a ginkgo tree. Whatever it is, it's nasty. Luckily, not much farther downtown, the smell of azaleas, magnolias and even roses wafted up as I zoomed by. I love the oncoming spring/summer.

Photo 1 via coco + kelley; photo 2 by Kentaroo Tryman for Johner Images.

Be back soon! xoxo, sleepy girl.

Bringing the outside in: wrap-up

With spring in full swing, I keep noticing all the beautiful greenery that seems to be popping out all over the place. (Thank goodness I don't have allergies!) Today I came across another gorgeous "plant table" on sfgirlbybay and was about to share it. It's not outdoor greenery, but it is indoor greenery at its best.

Funnily enough, sfg's plant table was inspired by one from Lonny mag, which I featured here back in October of last year. Since I was already sharing another indoor plant set-up, I thought I'd do one final round-up of all the gorgeous indoor garden scenarios I've come across and love. So, without further ado, enjoy this collection of verdant indoor pics (and then get outside and enjoy it in real life!):

I love that this (photo above) was inspired by this (photo below):

Via.


Via.


Via.

Aren't they all so pretty? They make me want to run out and buy a plant table or supplies for a greenhouse window post-haste. Oh wait, we've already got a ton of plants in our guest room window. Well then, I guess I can just breathe deep and enjoy the purified-by-plants air I'm breathing. Happy Spring, y'all!

Lemon leaf garland of goodness

Buckle your desk seats, folks; this one almost knocked me out of my chair. I want Jordan Ferney's brain. This chick is brills. Look what she's done now:

What you see running down the middle of that gorgeous table is a handmade lemon leaf garland with oranges and lemons. Who needs crummy carnations that will probably die shortly after you buy them from the grocery when you can have this gorgeous garland? It's colorful, seasonal, and can you imagine how good it must smell? Probably so fresh and bright.

No need for cut flowers when you can use these easily attainable "ingredients":

Oh and did I mention that Jordan's instructions make a 14 foot garland for only $16? Yep, told you she was brilliant.

Here's the post about it on Jordan's site (Oh Happy Day!) and full instructions are here.

Now, GO. Get the instructions for thyself. I want to throw a party post-haste and do this, like, yesterday.

Bringing the outside in, part deux

I featured a lovely round plant table here and a garden window (a greenhouse window/shelving set-up type thing) here. So - for posterity's sake, and perhaps for some inspiration if you're looking to bring the green in when you don't have your own garden (like us!) - here's another bringing-the-garden-in way to go:

This look is a bit more organic and unstructured than the plant table or garden window (see links above for photos), but I like the layered look it creates. It's much more wild garden and a little less English garden, but it's cool nonetheless. Would you do this in your home?

Photo of Nina Shen (of Dwell Studio)'s apartment, as spotted on Design*Sponge.

Tour the White House gardens

I was so excited to read that the White House will be opening its gardens and grounds to visitors this weekend. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and the South Lawn of the White House will be open on Saturday, April 17th (10am-4pm) and Sunday, April 18th (10am-3pm). Even cooler? Michelle's Kitchen Garden will be viewable from the tour route - I'd love to see it.

All tours are open to the public, though it will be a ticketed event (tickets are free, but they're only one ticket per person and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis). Get your ticket at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (15th and E Streets) on Sat/Sun beginning at 8:00am or go here for more info. Will you be going this weekend?

Rainbow trees

I've recently developed the most intense desire to visit Hawaii. I think it would be the best honeymoon locale ever. Watching LOST every week doesn't help squelch this desire either.

I just saw pictures of these incredible rainbow eucalyptus trees from Maui over on Benign Objects and had to share. Aren't they amazing?

I didn't even know trees like this existed. They're absolutely beautiful.

First wish: an engagement. Second wish: two tickets to Maui to see these (and all the other amazing stuff Hawaii has to offer), please!

A proud moment.

My lovely boyfriend B ordered this print on his own:

Who knew I had such a little house decorator on my hands? Isn't it a cute little bit of illustration?

Okay, really, I think he bought it because 15% of the gross sale of the print goes to American Forests (and B is a big ol' treehuggin' man), but I think it's adorable and love having it in our home - especially since B picked it out himself.

Good job on this print, Amy Ruppel! The print, entitled "This Land Is Your Land," is available for $45 here or you can read more about Amy's process and art here.

A tree in the house is better than two in the yard...

...is that not how the saying goes?

I know I've talked about greenery here on sea*life*style before - about how my boyfriend can grow peppers in a third-story apt., how much I love this crafty plant table, and I talked about my lust for an indoor citrus tree, even posting this gorgeous inspiration photo:


But with the chills of winter, I had all but forgotten about the possibility of lush greenery. Today I saw this photo on Pretty Pieces and was right back into my verdant obsession:

This giant Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, or Ficus Lyrata, is so pretty! After seeing this, I'm dying to add some true trees to our little house - not only for their beauty, but also for the air-purifying qualities. We're already doing a decent job of it with B's plants scattered about the guest room, but I think a big ol' tree would really seal the deal of green air in our home.

I've narrowed down my wont to either a fig tree or a citrus tree, and I've dug up a bunch of photos to illustrate my point of how amazing a tree in the house can be. Check it out:







So what do you think? Do you like the idea of a tree (or trees) in the house? Have you ever seen a Fiddle Leaf Fig indoors (I hadn't, either indoors or out!)? Do you like citrus plants inside?

Here's to spring's greenery - inside and out!

Photo credits: pic 1- here; 2- Grant K. Gibson's home; 3- House Beautiful, via Little Green Notebook; 4- Domino, via Dress, Design & Decor; 5- Grant K. Gibson's home; 6- House Beautiful, via Little Green Notebook; 7- SHELTER; 8- Abbey Goes Design Scouting; 9- Domino, via Dress, Design & Decor.

DIY mini-greenhouse

Terrariums are so hot right now, and this craft project from the April 2010 issue of Country Living fits right in. Their mini-greenhouse/terrarium is DIY and so stinking cute. Best part: the only materials you need are pre-fab wood picture frames.

Admittedly, it'll take a bit of work on your part (some how-to photos below), but the finished product (above - so pretty) more than makes up for the time and elbow grease.

Isn't that an awesome craft? I'm thinking this is right up B's alley... Full instructions and step-by-step instructions here.

Spotted on Love Obsess Inspire.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Good morning! I hope you're having a lovely St. Patty's day so far. I wanted to wish you good health (sláinte!) and good luck on this holiday; here's a four-leaf clover to bring you luck through the day...

Photo via Snippet & Ink

And in case you want something sweet, here's another way to spread some cheer:

Isn't this cupcake topper from The TomKat Studio (above) the cutest? Kim from TS created a whole sheet of St. Patrick's Day designs for you to download for FREE, and you can use them for anything - cuppies, gift tags, a computer background for today, or whatever. I'm tempted to run out and buy some green sprinkles to make some cupcakes of my own. Mmm...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all! Erin go bragh! And remember: it's good luck to give someone a pinch, but it's never a good idea to drink the green beer! :)

Green thumb

I'm so proud of lovely B. High up here in our third floor apartment, on ledges under the guest bedroom windows, he's grown a red pepper. A real vegetable in our house:


Thank goodness someone around here has a green thumb (I certainly don't).

Here's B's lineup of aloe plants, amaryllis, a money tree (which I think needs to try a bit harder), the aforementioned pepper plant, basil and mint.

(p.s. Sorry for the crap photo quality - in all the excitement, I just used my iPhone and, well, you get what you get...)

Since we don't have a proper garden yet (okay, any land at all), I think he's done quite well for himself. I also just came across this Martha Stewart garden window - maybe we should switch out the shelves under the windows for glass ones in the windows - what do you think?

Gone to the City of Brotherly Love...

Photo via The English Muse

Ms. M and I are headed to Philadelphia today to check out the Philly Flower Show, to have lunch with this amazing woman, and to do a site visit to an event venue in Baltimore on the way home, among other things. I might have a little something still yet to come today (holla atcha girl!), plus I'll be back here tomorrow as per normal.

Have a good one (and wish me luck on not getting stuck in excruciating I-95 traffic)!

Say it with me: uh-nem-oh-nee (pretty anome flowers)

I didn't even know what anemones were (the flower, not the sea creature) until I saw this arrangement by florist Vale of Enna:


Aren't they beautiful? They remind me of poppies but wavier and more whimsical. I love how they're kind of spindly and wave their way up out of the moss. They're fanciful but still fun, and casual yet elegant enough for a wedding - a perfect combo in a flower.

These ones were flown in from Italy (not sure why the overseas trip?) and used for wedding centerpieces (note the bored looking waiters in the background of the second photo - ha). Has anyone seen them in their local flower shop or grocery store? I'll have to keep my eyes peeled once spring rolls around...

Arrangements by Vale of Enna, as seen on Truly Smitten.

Champion factor: wheatgrass and trophies

Remember Jaimee Rose, "girl reporter" for The Arizona Republic (not a condescending moniker, but an homage to Lois Lane) and all-around styling gal-about-town (though a very far, far away town from here)? I posted about the beautifully blue bridal shower she put on a while back, and included some of the adorable pumpkins she carved for Halloween back in the fall. Well, Ms. Rose has put together yet another lovely project and this time it's cheap, cheap, cheap and easy as can be.

Jaimee took a $1 hunk of wheatgrass, bought from her local farmers market, comme ça:


And inserted the greenery into vintage trophies. Et voilà:

Brilliant, no?

This makes me want to run out and buy vintage trophies to use throughout my house immediately. Love it!

Also, if you can find cool vintage trophies for cheap enough, this would be a great hostess gift - especially if you could find a trophy for something pertaining to the person's interests. Croquet match winner from 1946? I'll take it! This wheatgrass and trophy idea is such a winning combination! [And yes, I meant to use that hideous pun.] :)

Both photos by Jaimee Rose. You can read her full, original post here. Thanks for the great idea and continued inspiration, JR!

Seasonal citrus and flower bouquets

The girls at Studio Choo do such beautiful work. Remember the gorgeous picnic bouquet they did this summer, shown here? Well, they're back on Design*Sponge with another perfect menagerie of arrangements, this time using more winter-y materials (well, winter-y by California standards at least).

Here are a few ways they used seasonal, locally grown flowers and produce:

I love how these pretty little kumquats (which are in season right now) are tucked into "nest" of rosemary - can you imagine how fragrant this must be? It would be lovely as a centerpiece for a dinner party, or even just in your kitchen to liven things up and bring in some amazing scents.


This arrangement, as well as the one pictured at the top, are my favorites. A combination of
ranunculus and rosemary, along with the fresh pop of orange from the kumquats, make this bud-vase bouquet colorful, fresh, beautiful and not too stuffy.

As soon as the Studio Choo shop opens in San Francisco, I'm sending my friend Lauren (who lives in SF) over there to investigate and take pictures so I can see it vicariously through her!

Living Christmas tree rental (alternately titled "hug a tree, don't cut it down!")

Photo by Michael Czerwonka for the NYT

Since I celebrate Hanukkah and B is a tree-hugger, we don't have a real Christmas tree come the holiday season. Trust me, I'd be all for it - a reason to buy things and decorate with them! - but we don't feel it necessary to cut down a tree just for our short-term merriment. I'd rather have fresh, clean air than a shedding tree, no? Instead, we string white lights onto our kayak (yes, we have it in our house - it's a long story) and put a sparkly bird on top. It's festive but subtle and twinkles nicely next to our fireplace.

But, if I lived in California (which I gladly would), I would seriously consider renting a tree from livingchristmas.com. Scott Martin, a landscape architect and the guy behind the awesome concept, rents out living trees - which are potted in soil, don't shed and remain alive while giving off that amazing Christmas tree smell - to families for the holidays. You can even get the same tree year after year. Some of the families who do this have even named their trees.

Even better than the brilliant concept is that the company is green in more ways than reusing trees. The trees are cared for throughout the year by adults with disabilities, the delivery trucks run on biodiesel, and the drivers are willing to take your used wrapping paper for recycling.

The article in the New York Times is really interesting; check it out here. Think B and I should start a similar service in Annapolis? Somehow it seems like it would be more fun in year-round sunny California...

Found via beachbungalow8 on twitter.

DIY holiday decor: terrarium ornament

I love the idea of using natural elements on a Christmas tree - from shells to fruit (real or fake) - I think they add a nice feel to the tree (real or fake). So when I saw these miniature (fake) terrarium ornaments, I was in love. Since they're DIY, you can add any natural element you want from a fake butterfly to a bug to a shell, pine cone, mushroom and so on. I think they'd be lovely on a tree, but they could also be placed together in a hurricane glass, or placed here and there on a mantel. How pretty would they be peppered throughout your holiday decor?

Design*Sponge has the full instructions here so that you can make these yourself. A great way to add some nature to your own tree, or a fabulous gift to give to others (no watering required!).