Flowers, butterflies and sun – oh my!
David and I had a chance to get a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Chicago Botanic Gardens this past Saturday via my friend and small group colleague Cindy Baker. And what an experience! This expanse of curated gardens and restored prairie sits upon 350+ acres of land in the far Northern reaches of the Chicago suburbs and is a plant lovers dream come true! Continue reading
Farmer’s Market season is in its full glory this time of year in Chicago – and I’m reaping the benefits! Supporting local farmers and food artisans is just the start. Market shoppers find the best quality produce while building relationships with the people who grow it. Forging this link between the food, the maker and the consumer creates a connection that’s been lost over the years with the advent of the one-stop shopping grocery store chains.
So if you’re looking for great food, people and a welcome atmosphere – find a farmer’s market near you. You’ll be glad you did!
I’m a bit off with my updates for our new nest – but wanted to share pictures of the baby steps we made mid-way through the month! The place is coming along bit by bit, and I hope to have even more photos to share of it’s current state later next week.
Suffice it to say that between the vintage accents, our restored furnishings, and the splashes of color found in handmade home accessories and art – the apartment is really evoking a modern living meets thrifting vibe. Here’ s a peek at what we did a couple weeks back.
If you’re looking for the first “before and after” post, click here.
It’s official – today is the day. Today is Earth day! But rather than focus on all the things we aren’t doing – what about keeping things positive and listing everything you are already doing to live consciously?
Share in the comments below the changes you’ve made in your lifestyle this past year.
And don’t just limit it to tactile things like changing thermostats and using fabric shopping bags. Include how you’re attitudes and viewpoints have evolved and how you’ve grown in your understanding of stewardship and responsible living.
I’m still knee deep in clutter in the new apartment as we attempt to decorate and organize all at once. That’s why when I saw this adorable entryway photo on Apartment Therapy I had to stop and share. What a great way to take a flat space and make it utilitarian, yet stylish. Setting it up in our place will be a great weekend project and rather than using typical chalkboard paint (toxicity anyone?) I’ll create my own with some zero VOC paint via this tutorial.
Have you done something fun with your mud room? Have any ideas for organizing purses, shoes and coats? Please share them below.
This past Saturday we moved into our new apartment. The move was super smooth thanks to the help of my amazing brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. David’s brawn and brain helped to coordinate things nicely too! My mom helped me paint most of the rooms last week with my favorite Yolo shades and we were able to install some organizers and curtains last night. Below are some before and afters of our current progress in unpacking and arranging. More updates to come later this week!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I have an infatuation with color but am also incredibly indecisive. So when planning out the hues for my new apartment walls I am faced with a dilemma: I have to find something that’s easy on the eyes and on my body for the long haul.
That’s why I love Yolo! Born out of a need for “healthier paint and better color,” the team behind these beautiful shades guarantee zero VOC emissions and palettes to swoon over. Our current apartment dons some impressive hues from the collection. From a pumpkin orange and saturated teal, to a soft grey and delicate blue, the paints dry quickly, are easy to clean and have a nice matte finish.
So when having to choose which brand to go with for the new place, the choice was easy. The hard part though, was finalizing our colors. Even with a list in hand, once we arrived at the Yolo vendor’s store David and I still haggled between each other on final decisions. With lots of hemming and hawing, we finally committed to several shades.
Here is our color palette (see the inspirations and corresponding shades above) for the new digs: Nourish 03, Nourish 02, Dream 04, and Thrive 05.
Shiny Happy*People 
