Spring has sprung… in my head, at least! We had legitimate warm-ish sun last week, so it must really be here soon, right? I hope so, because I’m itching to get my spring on. It started with these gorgeous yellow ranunculus, which just scream spring to me:

Then sun turned to springlike showers, so I succumbed to the siren song of this trench.

Perfect for early spring, wouldn’t you say? So with allergy meds in hand and a true “spring” in my …

We’re lucky enough to have a large patio in our new apartment. While I love grilling and lounging in the sun with a good book as much as the next person, I must confess the biggest reason our patio excites me: GARDENING! The patio of our last apartment was always too windy for anything to prosper, but I’m hopeful that the interesting angles of our new patio will provide protection from the wind and offer both sun and shade.

I’ve so …

Is it just me or does it seem like this year is flying by at record speed? How can it be November already? And more importantly, how can it be pitch black by 5:30 pm these days?

I’ve always been a Mid-western girl and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Although you might hear me gripe and complain from approximately November through April (because that is truly how long a bitter Wisconsin winter lasts up here), I would never trade …

…(whilst still remaining in London)…

This afternoon there were lots of things I should have been doing: applying for jobs, de-cluttering the flat, making the cinnamon whirls I have had the recipe for on the kitchen counter for over a week. In fact, the list is endless. But the autumnal light was too much, was too orange, too hard to resist and so I decided to take the afternoon off. To go for a walk & to find some peace and …

When I packed up for college – headed to North Carolina from Austin, Texas – I was looking forward to lots of things.  One of them (lame enough) was seasons!  Changing leaves and snowfall were foreign concepts to me, and I was thrilled to sport my meager winter wardrobe for months at a time, as opposed to three days out of the year.  Actually, “Boys in Sweaters” ranked pretty high up on the “Pros Column” when selecting Wake Forest University …

I feel most privileged and honored to have been let in on the best-kept camping secret ever by a new friend of ours, and I’m so excited to share it with you now. Allow me to introduce…hobo eclairs!

So you take a broomstick (clean and unpainted, of course) and rub the end of it generously with a stick of butter. Then take a square of Pillsbury crescent dough (2 perforated triangles together) and wrap it around the end of the broomstick, …

My favourite six months of the year start in June and end up round about my birthday at the start of January. I love early summer and the excitement of the end of term, even though I don’t work in terms any more. I love summer drinks parties & balls & weddings. I love how it is usually hot in June and this year was no exception: a heat wave started on the day of our wedding and lasted for …

My neighbor Leigh built this amazing potted herb garden in her backyard and I asked her to share! She found a similar project at Ikea, but decided to DIY her own version. She’s pretty handy around the house, and if I ever needed a repair done she’s the first person I would call for help.

Materials:
2 landscaping timbers, cut to 6 feet each
1 6×2×12 board, cut into two  6 foot pieces
8 3 inch wood screws
10-20 screws (depending on type of pot …

This post goes out to those of you who have always wanted to grow your own food, but haven’t gotten around to it or don’t know how.  I’m here to tell you that if I can do it, you can too (I’m the klutziest, and some might say laziest, girl around).  It’s healthy, gratifying, and fun, with a high return on your investment. That’s my kind of hobby.

(Source)

Shopping list:

Pots (optional, see below)
Potting soil
Seedlings
Fertilizer and/or compost
Stakes or cages (optional)
Gloves (optional)
Trowel or …

This Memorial Day, perhaps I’ll lounge in a modern cabana.

Float in a Gianyar pool.

Get a fabulous massage.

Or just finish a great book.

What are your plans for Memorial Day?