{photo credit 1 & 2}

If unleashed and unchecked, I fear my Inner Pattern Hoarder might go hog wild on chevroned rugs, upholstery, pillows, and knick-knacks…

{photo credits 1, 2, & 3}

… However, I do think some large-scale DIY canvases over our new sectional might wet my chevron whistle without going overboard — or over budget!

{photo ...]]> In the midst of figuring out how in tarnation to deck out and cozy up our new living room, I find myself having a Major Chevron Moment.

{photo credit 1 & 2}

If unleashed and unchecked, I fear my Inner Pattern Hoarder might go hog wild on chevroned rugs, upholstery, pillows, and knick-knacks…

{photo credits 1, 2, & 3}

… However, I do think some large-scale DIY canvases over our new sectional might wet my chevron whistle without going overboard — or over budget!

{photo credits 1, 2, & 3}

But back in Dream Land, there’s always the rest of Casa Nueva about which to fantasize…  I mean, surely my kitchen backsplash, staircase, and bathroom tile deserve a makeover too!

{photo credits 1, 2, & 3}

And while we’re at it, my closet could always use a little pick-me-up…

{photo credits 1 & 2}

What about you?  Are you crazy for chevron?  Infatuated with ikat?  Smitten with quarterfoils? Do you think these bold geometric trends will stand the test of time?  Or are you already craving new home decor eye-candy?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 1 comment · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Crafts, Decor, Inspiration

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{image courtesy of author’s personal collection}

Well, actually… Ciao from my living room where I’m wishing I was back in Italia, wandering the streets of Firenze with a double scoop of gelato {1 scoop Nutella, 1 scoop rum, please} or sipping prosecco on a piazza in Roma.  You see, the Evs and I just returned from a 9 day jaunt through Tuscany and Rome… from the trails of Cinque Terre to the Ponte Vecchio, and through the hills ...]]> Ciao from Italia!

{image courtesy of author’s personal collection}

Well, actually… Ciao from my living room where I’m wishing I was back in Italia, wandering the streets of Firenze with a double scoop of gelato {1 scoop Nutella, 1 scoop rum, please} or sipping prosecco on a piazza in Roma.  You see, the Evs and I just returned from a 9 day jaunt through Tuscany and Rome… from the trails of Cinque Terre to the Ponte Vecchio, and through the hills of Chianti country to Saint Peter’s Square, we packed in a ton of adventures {and wine} {and mozzarella di bufala}.  You can follow along as I recap our journey over on EA, but I thought I’d share 10 of my must-haves when traveling overseas right here on EAD Living.

{images credited in text below}

(1). Cotton Tanks.  Lugging a 70 lb. rollie-bag on and off Grecian ferry boats 4 years ago officially cured me of my over-packing addiction.  Since then, I’ve practiced keeping clothing to a minimum when traveling internationally… which usually means I end up re-wearing a few tops as well as jeans and dresses.  Packing a cotton tank {or four} to layer under your sweaters, tees, and tunics will ensure that your top layer stays fresh {and re-wearable!} as you bustle through your itinerary.   In years past, I’ve tried all the usual suspects for cotton tanks {J.Crew, Old Navy, Lands’ End Canvas, etc} and the newly revamped ribbed tanks from GAP blow the competition out of the water.  The material is nice and thick, the length is long, and the tank maintains its shape and hue after multiple wears and washes.

(2) Plastic Baggies. Ziplocs… Not just for TSA anymore.  Of course you’ll have your quart-size baggie to get your liquids through security {don’t forget your night-time routine essentials if you’re flying overnight!}, but I use a zippered sandwich bag to keep my credit cards, id, and cash together while abroad.   This way, I can see exactly what I need and access it quickly – for safety purposes, you don’t want to be fumbling through an over-stuffed wallet every time you stop to buy  a bottle of water!   I also pack a few plastic grocery sacks in my luggage.  Shoes all dusty from hiking?  Outfit wet courtesy of surprise rain shower  with no time to dry?  Pop it in the Kroger sack and you’ll save your other items from “pollution!”

(3) Cross-Body Bag. Way safer than your everyday purse and way cuter than that weird money belt your Nana keeps putting in your stocking at Christmas, a cross-body bag will allow you to wander hands-free and dissuade potential bag-snatchers.  Make sure you pick one with a zipper or tight clasp.  This one from Banana Republic is the perfect blend of style and security.

(4). SPF. A a big, ‘ol “duh!”  in the summertime, but don’t leave your skin all naked-like during the rest of the year either! We’re constantly outside whilst on vacation, so I’m never without a tube of  Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer.  It makes protecting my face a no-brainer since it’s part of my make-up routine.

{images credited in text below}

(5). Pashminas / Scarves. An easy way to add a little personality to those interchangeable travel basics, a big scarf is also an easy layering piece in case of temperature change – a godsend if you’re bopping about from sunny plazas to air-conditioned museums or away from your hotel from dawn until dusk.  Bonus Points: Much softer and prettier than those smelly airplane blankets.  Extra Awesome Bonus Points: Your bare shoulders won’t preclude you from visiting holy sites if you’ve got one of these suckers tucked into your bag.  {photo credit}

(6). Tide Pen or Shout Wipes. Remember that highly edited travel wardrobe you packed so carefully?  T’would be a shame if you dripped pesto down the leg of your favorite pair of jeans on your second night in Italy {hypothetically}… unless you remembered your trusty Tide Pen, of course!

(7). Mini Kleenex Packs. Great for the sniffles, yes, but even better for restrooms {or holes in the ground… I’m looking at you, Chiang Mai} without toilet paper or extra drippy gelato.

(8). Zippered Nylon Tote Bag. For day trips or outings that might require a little more personal storage, a zippered nylon tote is your best bet!  The material is easily cleanable {just wipe it down with a wet cloth}, the zipper will keep the pickpockets at bay, and it can double as your carry-on.  I’ve used both Herve Chapelier {pictured} and Longchamp bags with great success, but there are tons of options available!

(9). Light, Weatherproof Jacket. While a pashmina can combat a bit of a chill, having an actual jacket at your disposal during the milder months is always a good idea.  While not a full-on rain jacket, this Runched Waist Anorak from Ann Taylor Loft provides a good barrier from mist and drizzle and is the perfect weight.  I also loved the nipped in waistline!

{image courtesy of author’s personal collection}

(10). Sparkle TOMS. When I lived in Spain, I was all about the Pumas.  My early-twenties-feetsies were clad in Mary Jane-like Merrells when gallivanting in far-off locales.   But, at 28, my traveling toes belong only to TOMS.  Gold Sparkle TOMS to be exact.  Not only are they cute, but they are comfy as all get-out!  My goldies scaled the Duomo, the Florentine clock tower, and the Castello di Angelo, not to mention tread miles upon miles of cobblestoned streets with ‘nary a blister or hot-spot.  And of course, for every pair purchased, TOMS donates a companion pair to a child in need.  You can’t beat that with a stick {of salami} {covered in slices of pecorino} {and shaved onto crusty bread}!

So, now that you have my list, tell me… what are some of your can’t-live-without-’em travel essentials?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 5 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Travel

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My favorite color is red.

My favorite food is Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli.

I am good at drawing.

Santa Claus is most definitely real.

I want a pony at ...]]>

You know what I love best about small children?  How well they know themselves. They are completely uncensored… the expectations and the thought of potential judgment from others doesn’t tether them down or give them pause.  When you’re six, you know exactly what you like… what you don’t… what you want… who you are.

My favorite color is red.

My favorite food is Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli.

I am good at drawing.

Santa Claus is most definitely real.

I want a pony at my birthday party.

I miss that – that “uninhibition” {I’m making that a word, bee-tee-dubs} – that sureness.

We’re so mired down as adults – in all of the “Should I put that out there? Should I even think it? Is it popular?  Is it too popular?   Is wanting this wrong?   Does it make me too much of this… or too much of that?  Do I even like that / want that / think that anymore? Or am I just holding on because it’s comfortable?  What does this say about me?”

I am not thin. I am 5’9” and it is unlikely that I will ever wear a size 4 or 6 again.  {We can officially add “skinny” to the list of “things at which I’ve tried to excel but do not come naturally.”}  I’ve given up the numbers both on the scale and on my tags in favor of how I feel, how I move, and how my tried-and-true “fit” clothes look.  Right now?  I’m working on doing better in all those departments.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 9 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Life, Newlywed Life

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These little fellows started as a twinkle in my eye after dog-earring this recipe from Cooking Light.  But, wouldn’t you know, after trips to two grocery stores, I was left feeling very Goldielocks about my peasant roll situation… they were just either too big or too small.  Besides, what’s a pot-pie without a nice crisped crust, anyway?

And so, I set about to make a more traditional pie, individually potted for portion control (and, uh, adorableness), ...]]> Oh Pot-Pie!
How comforting…
How satisfying…
How delightful in minified-form you are!

These little fellows started as a twinkle in my eye after dog-earring this recipe from Cooking Light.  But, wouldn’t you know, after trips to two grocery stores, I was left feeling very Goldielocks about my peasant roll situation… they were just either too big or too small.  Besides, what’s a pot-pie without a nice crisped crust, anyway?

And so, I set about to make a more traditional pie, individually potted for portion control (and, uh, adorableness), and topped with herbed/asiago-ed pizza crust.

A few notes:

I used disposable pot-pie tins because I knew we’d be taking the leftovers to work for lunch and these suckers have handy-dandy plastic lids.  If I were making these for guests, I would have used my large ramekins – both options hold about 9-10 oz.  This recipe made 6 of those.  Or, you could definitely go casserole-style with this dish.  Either way, when cutting your crust, trim slightly larger than your cooking vessel so you can “tuck” the crust in!

{Use store-bought pizza crust if you wish, but, I implore you, do not bust out with frozen veggies. They get all mushy and have no flavor and just… no. The peas are negotiable if it’s Wintertime. But go fresh for the rest. And don’t feel confined to the produce I used – go hog wild in that produce section!}

Tarragon Chicken Pot-Pie with Herbed Asiago Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza crust, rolled thin (I used half a recipe of Pioneer Woman’s)
• dried tarragon, rosemary, shredded Asiago cheese
• 3 T. all-purpose flour
• 1.5 c. milk (I used 1%)
• 3/4 c. fat-free less-sodium chicken broth
• 3/4 c. dry white wine
• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, finely diced
• 2 bunches green onions, chopped (green parts only)
• 2 yellow squashes, sliced to 1/3 in., then quartered
• 5 large carrots, sliced to 1/3 in.
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 bunch of broccoli, stems trimmed, broken into small florets
• 1 lb chicken breast cutlets, cut into small pieces
• 1 t. dried tarragon
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. pepper

Directions:

1. After rolling pizza dough very thin and placing atop a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, mist with olive oil and sprinkle with dried herbs and cheese.  Lightly pat herbs and cheese into dough.  Pop into the fridge to chill.
2. Place flour in a small bowl.  Slowly add milk whilst whisking to combine.  When flour is completely incorporated into the milk, add wine and broth.  Set aside.
3. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in your largest skillet.  Add onions and chicken. Saute until onions soften and chicken is nearly cooked through.  Add vegetables and saute – 4 minutes.  Stir milk slurry into chicken and veggie mixure.  Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer, stirring often, for 10-15 minutes to allow mixture to thicken.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375.  Remove pizza dough from fridge.  Cut circles into the dough to form the crusts, using your cooking vessels as a rough guide.
5. Spoon the chicken and veggie mixture into your baking dish of choice.  {I had a bit of the milk slurry mixture left over and discarded that so as not to overfill the tins.}  Place dough over mixture and tuck around the filling.  I tried to get fancy with my excess dough and make a design.  This failed miserably.  But rock out with braided crust or smiley faces or whatnot if you’re an all-star.  Cut small slits for venting in the crust.
6. Place pies on a cookie sheet topped with parchment paper.  Bake 20-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your crust.  Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.  Goes great with a fresh green salad!

{images courtesy of author’s personal collection}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food, Recipes

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{image via Cooking with My Kid}

Croque Madame in a Hole, for 2

Ingredients:

Whimsy & Spice

… dessert arrives on something fluted, pedestaled, and minified promptly after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Jeanette Zeis Ceramics

… bath time is celebrated with aplomb aplum acherry.

Fairy Bubbles

… lunch is picnic-ed in springtime Central Park, 365 days a year.

Art Shark Designs

…wine bottles never catch ...]]> … snow in the North, South, East & West always means a day off work and unnecessarily wonderfully, gloriously large marshmallows bobbing in cocoa.

Art Shark Designs

…wine bottles never catch a cold.

Art by Ana

… and peace travels with us everywhere.

Luxely

Do you have any new favorite Etsy finds?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 1 comment · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Beautiful Things, Gift Guides

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The first time my parents visited us after we got married, my dad presented me with a package, announcing it was “one last wedding gift.” ...]]> “Look into the skillet… Lean over it and look down.  If this is your mother’s skillet…it would hold among its molecules the vibrations of all the conversations every held in its presence.  All the exchanges, the petty irritations, the deadly revelations, the flat announcements of disaster, the grunts and poetry of love.” – Thomas Harris, Hannibal

The first time my parents visited us after we got married, my dad presented me with a package, announcing it was “one last wedding gift.”  I started to protest, and then I saw what lay inside, bundled in plastic wrap, and topped with a surgical-glove-bow.

Delightful! Padre spied the 15 inch Lodge amongst my bridal shower booty a few months prior and decided it was high time I learn how to properly care for such a kitchen essential!  After all, you can’t bake true Southern cornbread, fry up sublimely crispy bacon, or pan-sear a filet to perfection without well-maintained skillet. {Well, you can… but there’s just something about the heft of cast iron, isn’t there?} Here’s how to keep your cast iron cooking for generations to come…

You’ll need:

• Lard
• Aluminum Foil
• Surgical Latex gloves (or rubber dishwashing gloves) to keep your mitts grease-free
• An oven
• 2.5 hours to kill

Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom of your oven, and preheat to 350.  Wash your skillet with warm, soapy water.  Rinse and pat dry.  After snapping on your gloves, rub lard into the bottom of the skillet and along the sides, thoroughly coating the cooking surface.  Bake the skillet in the oven for 15 minutes.  Remove {don’t forget your pot-holder!} and drain of excess lard liquid {yum!}.

Replace the skillet in the oven, upside-down, over the aluminum foil.  Bake for another 2 hours. When your timer dings, turn the oven off, leaving the skillet in the oven until both completely cool.  Your skillet should have a slight sheen to it when the process is complete.  It may also be a little cloudy in color; this will dissipate with use.

Repeating this process is recommended to really seal the cast iron.  {I know, I know – who has 5 hours to watch lard sizzle?! I usually pick a slow weekend and execute a little Saturday-Sunday tag-team.}  Seasoning recreates the nonstick quality as the lard smooths the naturally pitted quality of cast iron, and seals out water that can cause rusting.  With new cast iron, you’ll want to season after every use in order to build up the protective coating.  Additionally, re-season after cooking acidic foods (tomatoes, beans, etc).

Other Tips & Tricks for Cast Iron:

• Wash cast iron immediately after use, while it is still hot, using hot water and a scrub brush.  Do not use soap (unless you are about to season).  Do not soak.
• Never place cast iron in the dishwasher.
• After cleaning, brush or spritz a very light layer of vegetable oil over all surfaces.
• Never store cast iron skillets or Dutch ovens with the lids on.  Cast iron needs circulation!
• Never pour cold water into hot cast iron – it could crack!
• Do not use cast iron to store food.

Happy Cast-Iron Cooking!

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food, Good Things

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Yes, it looks like it’s officially time to engage in the December Mall Parking Wars (or, if you prefer, the Will-It-Or-Will-It-Not-Be-Shipped-In-Time-For-Christmas Quiz Show).   To help keep your holiday merry and stress-free, here are a few of my favorite ...]]> If you’re anything like me, December did a pretty good job of sneaking up on you… I still have a perfectly good pumpkin display on my porch, and yet, there are holiday cards popping up in my mailbox on a daily basis!

Yes, it looks like it’s officially time to engage in the December Mall Parking Wars (or, if you prefer, the Will-It-Or-Will-It-Not-Be-Shipped-In-Time-For-Christmas Quiz Show).   To help keep your holiday merry and stress-free, here are a few of my favorite gift ideas for that friend or family member who seems to have it all.  The best news?  All of these picks are easy on the pocketbook – ringing in for less than a few cocktails on Girls’ Night!

Wine Wars from West Elm; $19.95.  Tired of Trivial Pursuit?  Bored with Boggle?  Spice up Game Night with a coffee table competition to be enjoyed by “wine geeks and wannabes” alike!

One-Line-a-Day: A Five-Year Memory Book at Borders; $13.56. Daily entries appear five times on each page so that you may revisit the everyday ups, downs, ordinary, and extraordinary over the course of five years.  Perfect for the busy sentimentalist!  Also available for moms.

Perennial Mini Colander from Anthropologie; $12.00. One of my kitchen essentials!  This pint-sized colander is perfect for rinsing berries, canned beans, and individual servings of veggies.  Plus, it’s pretty enough to keep out on the counter – more often than not, there’s a bunch of cherry tomatoes in mine!

Ruffled Echo Touch Gloves from Echo; $35.00. Does multitasking leave your digits out in the cold?  Now you can type on your smartphone, flip through your electronic reader, and even make an ATM deposit without exposing your hands to the elements!  eLink fabric on each pair of Echo Touch Gloves interacts with touch screen technology, making keeping in contact on the go a snap!

Dogs in Vogue: A Century of Canine Chic available on Amazon; $31.50. My very favorite coffee table accessory!  Mugs of mutts – vintage, cartoon, and famous alike – pop off pages spanning the lifetime of Vogue.

White Ceramic Alarm Clock at West Elm; Small for $34.00. Classic, kitschy design with a sleek, modern twist – a fresh pop for your mantel, bedside table or bookshelf!

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 4 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Beautiful Things, Gift Guides, Holidays

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While I’m a major Christmas Freak, Fall is by far my favorite season.  Unfortunately, we get so little of it down here in Texas that I tend to get all wrapped up in tinsel and holly and eggnog before I’ve truly taken the opportunity to stop and smell the cinnamon sticks and crunchy fallen leaves.

Happily, I think I might have just created the optimal “Get the Most Out of Fall” itinerary!  Here’s the skinny on how ...]]> {Food, Beverage, & Entertainment Edition}

While I’m a major Christmas Freak, Fall is by far my favorite season.  Unfortunately, we get so little of it down here in Texas that I tend to get all wrapped up in tinsel and holly and eggnog before I’ve truly taken the opportunity to stop and smell the cinnamon sticks and crunchy fallen leaves.

Happily, I think I might have just created the optimal “Get the Most Out of Fall” itinerary!  Here’s the skinny on how I’d fill a totally-unencumbered, totally-lazy, totally-Fall day…

Voluntarily extricating myself from underneath our cuddly pick-stitch quilts is somewhat easier when there’s pumpkin cream cheese in my future!  It’s a slightly odd combination, but lately I’ve been cheering for a toasted mini-”everything” bagel (yep, the kind with the onion and the garlic) topped with the pumpkin-y sweet stuff.  Einstein Brothers makes my mornings simple with their take-away Pumpkin Shmear, but you can always go all fancy-pants with the homemade variety!   Add a few slices of a Honeycrisp apple and I’m one happy gal!

After a jog (note: “jog” is a relative term when it comes to my athletic capabilities) around White Rock Lake (insert favorite neighborhood route here!), I’m ready to kick off my tennies and curl up with my new go-to, get-ready-for-the-holidays read, Wishin’ and Hopin’.  I’ve always loved Wally Lamb for his brutally honest, sometimes uncomfortable, yet unbelievably relateable novels (think: She’s Come Undone; I Know This Much Is True), but this little gem is something different entirely… a light-hearted and poignant tale that I’ll surely be sneaking into my dad’s stocking (a kindred feisty ex-parochial schoolboy spirit if there ever was one!).  My Main Man Van plays softly in the background… Bonus Points if you know all the words to some of my personal (lesser known) favorites: Coney Island, Queen of the Slipstream, Tore Down a la Rimbaud, the Comfortably Numb collaboration, and Whenever God Shines His Light.

We’ll pretend I was so engrossed in my reading that I somehow forgot about lunch (in reality, this would never happen… I’d be quickly boiling whole wheat pasta shells, steaming broccoli, tossing both together with white truffle oil, and shredding Tillamook extra sharp cheddar over the whole shebang for a comforting, quick “broc-mac-and-cheese”).  I’ll rest my eyes a bit with a cuddle on the couch and Good Will Hunting on my television.  I was recently reminded of how much I love this film after Evs admitted he’d never seen it!  I tracked it down on one of our many movie channels and it’s now permanently saved on the DVR for posterity (I actually own it on VHS… sigh… technology marches onward without me).  While not a “seasonal” movie by any stretch of the imagination, there’s something about this flick that just feels like Fall to me.

After Will heads to Palo Alto to “see about a girl,” it’s supper time!  Cooking Light’s Cider Glazed Chicken makes my mouth water on command!  You are welcome to give the companion Brown Butter-Pecan Rice recipe a whirl, but I much prefer pairing the slightly sweet, rustic chicken with Roasted Asparagus Risotto…  Preheat your oven to 450.  Spread a bunch of asparagus over an olive-oil-spritzed cookie sheet.  Give the asparaus another good spritz with the olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake for 8-12 minutes.  Chop into small pieces.  Then, stir into a basic risotto (if you don’t know risotto by heart, here’s a great place to start!), toss with Parmesan, and devour!

I’m always game for a companion beverage, so I’m just going to shake a bit of vodka together with a glug from that spiced apple cider jug I had to purchase in order to make that magical chicken dish come to fruition.  Most likely, I’ll sip this concoction from a juice glass, but a cinnamon-sugar rimmed martini glass can transform any old evening into a festive affair (even if you’re sporting your dingiest sweat pants!).  Is wine-ing more your style?  Give your favorite dry white wine a dash of apple cider plus an apple slice floater, and you’re sipping a “Languid Winter Sangria” in no time flat!

Now that my tummy is full and there’s a drink in my hand, my lazy fall day is primed for the perfect ending, double feature style!  Out with the Matt Damon and in with the Diane Keaton… it’s all about The Family Stone!  I’m not sure why this wasn’t a bigger hit back in 2005, but this ensemble cast makes me belly-laugh and ugly-cry every damn time.  While it’s probably impossible for me to nudge White Christmas and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation too far down on the ladder, The Family Stone is definitely my favorite holiday movie of the past 20 years.

Ending the day with the cuddliest of flannel pajama pants (mine feature pink coffee cups!), I snuggle back under the covers, novel in hand, eyelids heavy from the relative inactivity enjoyment of the day.

One delicious Fall day… it’s enough to make you consider logging a “mental health day,” yes?

What does your perfect November day off include?

Photo Credits: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bagel; Apple Harvest; Van Morrison; Wishin’ and Hopin’; Cider Glazed Chicken; Asparagus Risotto; Good Will Hunting; Apple Cider Martini; The Family Stone.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · Comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Books and Reading, Good Things, Holidays, Just for Fun, Recipes

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And then the snags got snaggier.

So I started to get superstitious and zipped the ol’ lips in case some sort of ironic cyberspace goblin was intent on wrecking havoc in our little world.

Fast forward 2.5 months later:  Our grueling renegotiations were a success and our mortgage loan ...]]> I’ve been a bit closed-mouthed about our recent real estate endeavors.  You see, I was all gung-ho to share this little journey with the interwebs, and then… well, then we hit a few snags.

And then the snags got snaggier.

So I started to get superstitious and zipped the ol’ lips in case some sort of ironic cyberspace goblin was intent on wrecking havoc in our little world.

Fast forward 2.5 months later:  Our grueling renegotiations were a success and our mortgage loan has been approved, but we’re still technically homeless. The cottage will officially have new tenants in 2 weeks.  We’ve been told we’re closing this week, but we were also told we were closing last Monday… and then last Thursday… and then last Friday.  I’m trying to stay positive without holding my breath while simultaneously shuffling the movers and painters and the utility-hooker-uppers forward on the calendar (“I promise this is the last time” are becoming the most oft spoken words in my vocabulary).

Meanwhile, I’m getting a little wistful about our first home together.  Sure, I can’t wait to be rid of the poor weather-proofing that beckons dust and creepy-crawlies at every door jam and windowsill.  And, yes, I am thrilled about the size of my new bathroom and the vibe of the new neighborhood.  But there are lots of things I’ll miss about our cozy, baby blue brick abode.

Like my very favorite nook… the window box in our kitchen.  I love having my very favorite items – cheery latte bowls, thumbed-through cookbooks, a vintage milk bottled from my dad, a punchy piglet cutting board – right at my fingertips and brightening the space.  The ultimate in form and function!

I’m sure all of my treasured culinary knick-knacks will find their proper spots in my new kitchen, but I’ll be sad to say good-bye to my nook.

Do you have a favorite corner in your home?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2010 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Around the House, Decor

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