Good Dirt

This is the third year for our garden on Swiss Hill (cannot call it our new house anymore). And we finally have some "good dirt" as Barefoot Dad declared yesterday. He has been adding stuff (peat, poop, and I honestly don't know what else) to it and tilling it for 3 years. Here he is with his crew yesterday.

Wednesday White Kitchen

Better late than never...I guess? (We have had computer problems...sorry for the long absence)

Here is another simple white kitchen that I love. It is the kitchen of interior designer Katrin Cargill. I just discovered her and love her work. For more beautiful spaces designed by Katrin check out her website. Also, she has 15 design and how-to books that look really interesting.

I thought I would post both of the pictures above because they are of the same kitchen, but one pic styled for a magazine shoot and one is an everyday pic. It is cool to see the differences between the two. Anyway, besides this kitchen being white and simple, I love the rolled fabric shade, the sweet plate rack, and my absolute favorite part is the blue pendant light over the island. Very similar to last weeks kitchens, I know.

Simple White Kitchens...

I love simple white kitchens. Add pops of color, open shelving, and an island and I am sold. Oh and great natural lighting and cool pendants too! Cannot forget those elements. All images from House Beautiful.

Top kitchen by Ruthie Sommers and bottom by Johnathan Adler, two of my favorite designers.

I think I am going to start a new design series...Wednesday will be kitchen day...how about that?

Impromptu NYC...

A last minute overnight to the city...Sort of an effort to defy the April Fools snow and because we like to keep things unplanned and interesting. These 3 make our lives so chaotic but so full of love and fun! Searching for the Statue of Liberty out in the dark harbor. Posing (freezing) with the Bull on the way grab a real NY bagel. Yummy!

Gearing up for the Museum of Natural History. It wound up being the best visit we have had thus far... BP found out they have sleepover nights at the museum, and she is all excited about this idea.

Brown Bear

Baby C is OBSESSED with books. She would sit on one of our laps all day and listen to story after story. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" is definitely one of her favorites. She actually asks for it. In an effort to get some housework done the other day I suckered BB into reading to her for me and it worked.

On a sidenote: BB wants to be a boy (not sure if I have mentioned this previously), hence the baggy soccer outfit. More on this later...this requires a seperate post. Haha!

And two makes a pair...

Remember the granny chair? I found its mate. Yup, I found the Mr. to the Mrs. It is not a direct match, but both feature the lovely "harvest gold" color that was very popular a few decades ago.

I feel they just don't make furniture like they used to, and I have been trying to find another old chair for our living room. I did not want a direct match, just something similar in scale. I plan to reupholster both someday, which is why you see fabric swatches draped over the chairs in both pictures. I am going to use outdoor fabric because the durability is unmatched and it repells water and stains. Very, very key in this house. Plus, it is inexpensive and there are great patterns available. Someday I dream of starting my own reclaimed furniture line using these outdoor fabrics for people that have kids and pets, but don't want to sacrifice style and chicness. Ahh the old someday.... But anyway, I am leaning toward the coral Waverly pattern pictured at bottom. It is busy and bold and a really warm color. For now, the girls love curling up in both of these chairs just as they are. Oh, and I am still looking for other antique chairs so please give me a heads up if you spot any.

I guess Bentwood is in right now. I was surprised to open the new Williams Sonoma catalog the other day and see this. I love the French stripe bench combined with the Bentwood chairs and the reclaimed pine table. Simple and chic country.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Doesn't this Guiness Ice Cream float look amazing? I just may whip up a batch of these tomorrow night for my favorite holiday. The recipe can be found on marthstewart.com

Forgot one...

Forgot this Bentwood inspiration picture the other night. (From Martha)

Simplicity...

Ever have one of those days where you just want to simplify? I have had a bunch lately. And I have a confession...when I have one of those days I want to buy this place. I know it looks like a piece, but it has great bones. It could be such a great nature inspired cottage after some renovations. I pass it on the way to and from the girls' school, and some days it is really tempting. So here is the direction I would take with the renovations and design...(pics from marthastewart.com / jonh derian's home tour)

Knock-off

The IKEA Docksta table is a knock-off of the more costly Mid-Century Mod Saarinen table at a fraction of the price. "Fraction of the price" is key in this house. It needs to be able to stand up to markers, crayons, play-doh, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Paying thousands for a table is not in the cards for us nor would it be very practical for us.

I love the look of this mod table paired with totally unexpected chairs. Right now I have French country chairs with it, but I also like the look of Bentwood chairs (painted or natural) pulled around it (see below). I bought 1 Bentwood chair on Craigslist, but am still hunting for 4 more. If you see any please let me know :)

On a sidenote: A round table brings a different feeling to a meal compared to a rectangular or oval shaped table. It really brings people closer makes it easier to communicate. What family doesn't need that?

We just returned from a very simple weekend in Lancaster County, PA. A place where people, not things, are what matters most. It was just what we needed. The girls had fun with friends and so did we. There were lots of laughs and memories from the weekend.

You can see them above with their buddies building a fire with corn stalks they plucked out of a corn field behind the Amish Country Motel. They were calling them "whackersmackers," and I laughed today when I saw 2 "whackersmackers" that were snuck into my car. The little motel we stay at every year for the last 10 (?can it be that long?) years is right at the edge of the corn field, and surrounded by Amish farms. You can watch and listen to buggies pass. This year a major bonus was the playground and playhouse right outside our room. I cannot believe we never found it before. Also above is a day after picture from the "Mud Sales," an Amish auction held every year at this time. You can see the farm equipment and buggies waiting for the highest bidders to come claim them.

I don't have too many pictures because a lot of our time was spent with an Amish friend and her family. Out of respect to them and their beliefs we stash the cameras and just absorb as much of the simple life as we can.

Being Baby #3

Here is Baby C at her 12 month well visit. She is a little obsessed with her tongue right now. 25lbs 2ozs and I cannot remember her height. I know she was 95% for both. I am not as up on her stats as I was with BP and BB. And realizing that I did not remember her stats really got me thinking...that is the cool thing about baby #3, we are more laid back, and so is she. I feel like with Baby C I am in the moment more. Most likely because I know she is the last. It is less worry and more fun. It shows with her personality. With BP we were a nervous wreck because she was our first and we treated her like a very delicate egg, and this definitely shows in her personality. Then BB came into our world a month early and surprised us with her "ready or not" attitude, which still holds strong to this very day. She is a firecracker in every sense of the word. Now with 3 we have become experts at managing chaos. And yes, everyday is just chaos, but I love it because it is our chaos!

Busy Bees

They love to be busy. Give them a project or a job and they are so happy, (and better behaved too).

Ikea finds under $5

My Favorite Ikea finds... All very inexpensive but qulity items that are extremely useful. In order as seen above:

Neglinge Tapered Candle holders / Tealight holders .49 Very heavy and toddler safe. So cool because they can be used 2 ways.

Signe Throw Rugs $3.99 Come in many color combinations. Washable and great for in front of the kitchen sink.

Reko Cups $1.49 I think the price is for a pack of 4. They are the cutest plastic cups and also great for letting the little ones set the table.

Kids Breakfast Set $4.99 My girls don't have this, but would love it!

Tekla Kitchen Towel .49 The ultimate kitchen towel. Washes well and the price cannot be beat.

Cool Catskills Wedding & New Client

The barn at the top belongs to a new client of ours. I have not seen the inside yet, but I have heard it is really cool. So are the pictures of their wedding which was featured on Martha Stewart's website. If you search "Catskills Wedding" you can find the complete feature on it. I really love the rings in the little nest, the honey favors, the heart shaped mowed field where they held the ceremony, and the fact that they held the reception in the barn where they are now living. These pictures make me really long for Spring! We live in such a pretty area 3 seasons of the year, but this Winter thing is getting rather old :)

I am in love with this dining room, designed by Tracery of Rosemary Beach, FL.

Up next week: New blog...new endeavors...lots going on here at casa de Goldstein, but we like it that way.

Happy Weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My favortie flower: Yellow Tulips

Long stem red roses are a complete waste of $ with me (lucky husband).

These were $3.99 for a dozen.

What is your favorite flower? Please share...

This picture is pretty self-explanatory. I guess she gave up on the bottle at her side.

Baby C turned 1 last week. I cannot believe it + I may be in denial :)

Here is her puppy cake. (She loves dogs)

I will post more pictures when I get them off Nana's camera. Unfortunately, my camera went MIA when we sang Happy Birthday.

Super Soccer

BB would love to be 5 so she could play "super soccer". Here she is practicing inside on a snowy Saturday.

ipad education????

Barefoot Dad found a bunch of Montessori ipad apps. Here is BP doing the Hundred Board, which is one of her favorite "works" to do at school. Scary thing is this is what our world will become. It will be like..."Welcome to Kindergarten Johnny, here is your ipad. Now get to work".

My babies with their "Bitty Babies"