here is a look at my next article for
tastebud. the theme for the issue was salad so i thought it would be fun to create a centerpiece out of planted salad ingredients. i used cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts mixed with non-edible plants such as verbena, coleus and dusty miller. other plants that would work: red and green leaf lettuce, arugala and edible flowers like nasturiums.
the little pots are an easy diy project. i spray painted them with chalk board paint from the hardware store and planted herbs in them. you can then label with the type of herb or use them for place settings and write your guest's name on them.
these great trays are from local designer kathi hardin with
traybella. she creates fun trays in various designs and colors. they work great for serving drinks on the patio, taking items out to the grill, containing the piles of mail and paper work that seem to land everywhere and as the base of centerpieces.
the final detail for this table are the outdoor dishes from
pryde's in old westport. the look so real that i passed them by until the sales lady told me they were for outdoors. they come in many fun colors and patterns from traditional to modern. i could spend a lot of time and money in this store!these great photographs are from
sara farrar. her pictures make even the most simple of ideas look so neat!
our peony bushes are blooming and i just had to cut some for the house. they smell so awesome, definitiely one of my favorite flowers. these are on the bedside table that i bought at mission antique mall. i love the color and curved legs of this table-it's really girly . fun vases from anthropologie and a cute store in downtown chico, ca ( i bought it when we went for a visit a few years ago), one of my favorite pictures there, too, of our family in the hospital after lucy was born. 
this is it...my favorite age. she is just the most precious thing. look at those legs and that ruffled bottom. trying to keep up with her big brothers, excited about everything, giving lots of hugs and kisses, starting to talk, backing up to sit on my lap to read her favorite books and oh, the drama! this is something new in this household. i mean the boys threw fits (and still do) but the hands covering the face and just crying when things aren't going her way, too much- I just have to scoop her up and let her know it's ok.
an invitation i made for a friends shower inspired by the ones anna-maria horner made. this cute fabric is from the heather ross collection. too cute!
our night time walks after bath is done. (they put these outfits together themselves, seriously, i could not stop laughing as i pushed lucy in the stroller and watched charlie's cute lightning mcqueen bootie and those socks scootering through the neighborhood)
lots of soccer playing.
royals games.
serious backyard playing. 
named after my grandma nadine who started this quilt top. i turned it into a large tote and lined it with heavy cotton fabric. it is listed in my etsy shop but if it doesn't sell it's going to be our summer park/pool bag!
