Hooray for May!

Home Design Decorating

I completed almost all of my April goals, including selling our rowing machine on Craigslist! My first Craigslist sale! Let me tell you, the high I got from getting cash for something (a large something) that’s just been collecting dust in our apartment was incredible. We get cash + we get rid of clutter + my new friend now has a rowing machine on the cheap = a win-win-win situation. I procrastinated on this one for 28 days, but am so glad I finally got it together to put up the listing!

On to May! This month I will:
— Clean my makeup brushes (tips here)
— Finish photographing our apartment (about 50% done!)
— Go camping (no. 34)
— Brainstorm, design, and print a master chore/household checklist
— Reread my thesis (no. 96) to remind myself I am a smart and creative cookie :)

You can see all of my 101 in 1001 goals here and my 2013 daily goals here. If you’d like to share your goals for May, I’d love for you to either list them in the comments or leave a link, and I promise I’ll check them out!

Friends! We are back from our honeymoon, well-rested, and missing island time just a little bit. To soften the transition back to the real world, I thought I’d cook up a Nevis-inspired wedding inspiration board. I’ll have much, more more to say about this pretty little island in the coming weeks, but today, just know I focused on its color palette: the azure blue of the ocean and sky, the bright butter yellow of the plantation houses and rum punches, and the dry grass green of the palm trees, with a little waft of British colonialism heritage thrown in for good measure.

Happy Monday, friends!

Sandals photo by Garance Dore, coconut couple photo by Wendy Laurel via Style Me Pretty, rum punch (the unofficial official drink of Nevis) photo by Meredith Perdue via Map & Menu, striped stationery via Design Work Life, soft blue and green bridesmaid dresses photo by Judy Pak via SMP, pineapple centerpiece photo by Justin & Mary, cucumber honeydew margarita popsicles from Endless Simmer, photo of Montpelier Plantation by Meredith Perdue via Map & Menu

It is a well known fact that John and I are more than a little enamored with our cats. (John is actually known as the “cat whisperer” amongst our family and friends.)

Cat whisperer from a young age

Our infatuation has led to a variety of nicknames for our kitties, some more embarrassing and some less. For example, Jacquelyn goes by Jack, Jackapoo, Jackie Baby, Little Baby (she’s very small), Jack Jack, Pants, Little Pants, and Pantsicles. Yes, these are all things we call her on a regular basis.

Oliver answers to Ollie, Ollers, Oller Man, Mister Man, Business Man, Dobo, and Fuzzy Trousers.

We can’t be the only ones with cuckoo names for our pets, so spill it: what’s the most embarrassing name you use for your furry friends? I would LOVE to hear :)

From the beginning of our house search, a good-sized, fairly private backyard was at the top of our wish list. As you all know, we have been on the hunt for quite some time, and it is looking less and less likely that we’ll be getting the yard of our dreams. I’m consoling myself with the reminder that little yards can be adorable and restorative, too, and that there’s almost no yard that’s too small for a pergola and lots of climbing plants – and a few vegetables in pots :) Here, a few of my favorite outdoor spaces on the smaller side:

From top to bottom: flagstone and pergola patio photo by Jen Huang via Green Wedding Shoes, gravel patio from Martha Stewart, deck with patio from BHG, small lawn, paver patio by Wendy Posard

Any other favorite small backyards you’d like to point me toward? Or who wants to cheer me up with some more benefits of smaller outdoor spaces? :)