As if there’s not already enough to love about fall, my favorite Etsy group, Eco Etsy, put together the most adorable Fall Gift Guide to go along with all your favorites for the season!
Featuring genuinely handmade creations by earth conscious artisans, the collection includes one of my favorite minimalist Pierogi Picnic designs, the “Point Out the Way” tunic. Click on the image above to learn more about each item, as well as the creators behind them.
Car-Free Week starts this coming Sunday – are you ready to rock and roll on your bike?!
With the temperatures cooling down and a crisp breeze in the air, it’s the perfect time of year to ride your bike to work. I know I tend to defer to public transit on hotter days, by these beautiful fall mornings mean I have no excuse! So consider ditching your car from September 22nd-28th and opt for a fossil-fuel free commute! Continue reading
When it was announced that my baby brother was getting hitched – I could barely contain my excitement! Not only was I a mega-fan of the bride to-be, I also knew that this wedding would be different. Between the creativity imparted on Phil by our family, and the uber-crafty cunning of Katie, I had no doubt that this would be a DIY wedding to remember!
The Plan:
First things first, the bride made her own handy-dandy wedding planner in which she would list all the elements that would need to come together for this rustic, meets shabby chic, affair. Delegating out tasks across the familial pool, we each had an important part to play. The Krupinski side of the family was in charge of flowers, bridal party accessories, favors, and a portion of the food and centerpieces.
By inviting family and friends to take the lead in the preparations for their special day, Katie and Philip ensured that their wedding would hold sentiment for them, and all the guests who attended.
Wedding Favors: With a little elbow grease and some heavy duty diamond tip blades, my father made over eighty drinking glasses for the guests using old soda bottles. Talk about being green! Each one was then scripted with the event date and initials of the bride and groom making them an elegant and functional wedding favor.
Centerpiece Stands: My brother and dad also gathered used wooden candlesticks and wood from a recently fallen tree trunk, and assembled the most ingenious centerpiece bases (which I plan to steal for use in my own home – shhhhh). White washing each candlestick and gluing the top to a cross-cut of the tree trunk, these homemade cake stands were used for elevating the light and whimsical baby’s breath table bouquets.
I don’t know about your neck of the woods – but things have been quite steamy here in Chicago the past few days. We’ve been bouncing between thunder storms and high temps – making it not only sweltering, but stuffy as well!
So how do you keep cool without the help of an energy-sucking, heat producing air conditioner? Here are some ideas:
Bust out the ice. Seems simple enough – but keeping a tray of ice cubes at the ready is not just a good idea for a late-afternoon lemonade. Try filling a bowl with the oh-so-cool cubes and placing them in front of a fan. You’ll find yourself lounging in a cool breeze in no time!
Stay hydrated. It goes without saying that making sure you’re getting loads of water will help your body feel better overall. But especially in summer months when the temps are up and your body’s a perspiration machine – you’ll need extra H2O to make sure you have what you need to stay cool.
Freeze some fruit. A great mid-day snack, freezing some watermelon, strawberries or other in-season treat is a great and tasty way to cool things down.
Dress to impress. And do it in light-weight, airy natural fibers. I’m a big proponent of cotton, but anything that will allow a loose fit and sweat absorption will help you stay comfortable. And to help you sleep through a hot night – make sure all your bed gear is made of natural materials too! Continue reading
I’m smitten! Is it a new pet, pair of jeans, flavor of ice cream? Why no! It’s my new vintage bicycle!
Penny Lane, as she’s been dubbed, is my ticket to riding throughout the city this summer. With her curvacious frame, light weight and lemon meringue hue – she’ll be my constant companion to the season’s fairs, fests and lake-side lolly gagging.
Now that I have a new “steed” I’m apt to fancy it up with some accessories to make the ride that much sweeter. Here’s a smattering of some of my favorite handmade and earth friendly finds for jazzing up a bike for the summer! Continue reading
Needing a breath of fresh air and a temporary escape from city living – my hub and I embarked on a one week adventure to Appalachia.
Spending several days in the Pisgah National Forest in a beautifully renovated antique cabin at Brown Mountain Beach Resort, we enjoyed leisurely hikes, canoeing and fresh locally made foods. The couple who recently acquired the stretch of historical cabins imparted their enthusiasm for all things green and homegrown. Not only is this treasure of a resort striving for true sustainability, both financially and ecologically, they’re also pet-friendly. Talk about hitting up the right demographic! David and I will be sure to swing through again in the future with our mini goblins in tow.
After a few days of R&R in the park, we embarked on a visit to Asheville, the self-proclaimed “foodtopia” of the East. With a penchant for the arts and slow processes, both with foods and products, this tiny city nestled in the smoky mountains was refreshingly low key. With live folk music pouring from the bars, an abundance of local handmade crafts, direct-from-farmer restaurants and a thriving arts scene, this town of 50,000 was a pleasant surprise. We enjoyed gallery hopping in the River Arts District and leisurely strolls between the many boutiques. A true gem with much more to be discovered – I foresee us swinging through Asheville again in the near future – to do some more in depth exploring.
Is there a close vacation destination near your home that offers sustainable and local foods? If so – share your suggestions for regional trips in the comments! We’d love to know where you go to escape!
I love love love playing up each season in my home using knick knacks and materials that are already strewn about our place.
So when curating the look of my home for Easter and spring, I thought it would be fun to put a creative twist on the traditional symbols of the season.
Can you spot the themes?
For this fun and vivid display I collected all the bird-like objects that I had dispersed throughout our apartment and brought them together on a runner of bright green moss. Compiling items with a similar shape, theme, color, texture or size is a great way to make an “instant collection” with pieces you already own. Not a dime spent here!
I’ve been obsessed with brass vintage figurines this past year. Having found a set of bunny statues a couple years back – I have found myself moving them around the apartment at the shift of each season. But with it being spring – they are front and center on my side tables.
Feathers feathers feathers! They’re so easy to find and there are endless ways of using them! Whether collected in vases or strewn across the fireplace mantle with twine and washi tape – these natural (and trendy!) wonders add an airy texture to any space.
These pillows! I just couldn’t stop myself when they appeared in an email newsletter from fab.com. These unique animal plushies are created when artist Kristin Loffer Theiss draws out the image using thread. She then scans and prints the design onto the fabric and stuffs each with filling and love! The result is a collection of unbearably adorable pillows! Here I’ve collected several of the more spring-like animals together to sit upon my re-upholstered vintage chair. Continue reading
Shiny Happy*People 