2 the tulips are blooming!

Tulips are, hands down, my favorite spring flower. When we moved into our house we planted about 200 bulbs. Back then, when we were garden amateurs, we HAND DUG each 6" deep hole. Yes. 200 of them. I believe it took and entire Sunday afternoon - we didn't even stop for football. A few weekends later we were introduced to a "bulb digger". It was one (of many to come) of those moments when we realized how much we had to learn. Either way, the hard work paid off and every spring the tulips bloom the second week of April. Every year but this year! We haven't even hit April and they are in full bloom, looking gorgeous. Tim and I literally take morning walks around the yard to see their beauty. We pick out our favorite flower and watch it grow (as I write this, I realize how super dorky this sounds, but it's totally true) My favorite? I like the ones that have turned from red to pale peach. What is your favorite spring flower?

Hope you have a great weekend! We have quite an adventurous one coming up. I'll share pictures Monday!

2 evening delight

Love. This. Weather. and what better way to enjoy it than barbeque and bubbly on the patio?

3 AWOLNATION

In our circle of friends, Tim is the music king. It's an expectation that he has a playlist ready for any event or get-together. Trust me, it's not always great music, but it's always fitting for the occasion. A "sun" mix for those lazy days outside, a "90's The good, Bad, and Ugly" mix for Friday afternoons, and even a playlist for "us" when we're in the romantic mood. Just recently he found this song by AWOLNATION - and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Seriously love this song. Listening to it only makes me think of how stinkin' lucky we are just to have each other. Because in the end..that's all we need. 

4 Negative

I love this door. Always have. I imagine it opening to some wonderful faraway place that has rainbows and butterflies and fields upon fields to run through.

I know this is a bit dramatic...and trust me, I wish it wasn't exactly how I feel, but as I was driving to work today I felt like the world had stopped. As though I was in a bubble floating down the highway, unaware of everything around me. Yet, the world hadn't stopped at all. Everything was still moving, the sun was coming up and life was continuing. It's a weird feeling...but almost a comforting one. When I feel like everything around me is crashing down - and when my own bubble is exploding with sadness - I am reminded that life still goes on. Instead of being stretched out in bed with tears running down my face, I'm driving to a 7:30 meeting. The sadness gets tucked away, and a smile gets plastered to my face. Life goes on.

3 why it's impossible to get anything done on the weekends...

Saturday morning = pajama party in the park! 

It's Monday already! And only one more day til we find out if this last IUI worked. Although...I have kind of sworn to myself that I'm not even going to take a pregnancy test. I want the "what if" euphoria to last as long as it can...it's a good state of mind...even if it's just disregarding the inevitable period.

Anyways, what a weekend! We made any excuse possible to be outside - and it worked! Well...we ended up doing most of the working, but you should see our flower beds! (Warning...when two outdoor-loving people don't have any babies to take care of...they spend their entire weekend working in the yard. And they become obsessed with the even littlest hint of growth out there. Be ready for a season of garden pictures. I have ever-so-nicely saved them for another day.) 

Thank you, 80º of loveliness!

3 let them be lazy...

"What's the plan for tonight?"

"I don't know...but I wanted to get a little work done."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

"Or we could be lazy, cuddle up on the couch, watch a movie, kiss a little...and get Absolutely. Nothing. Done!"

Insert a huge HIGH FIVE. And that, my friends, becomes the third night in a row that we have ended the exact same conversation in the exact same way.


Have a great weekend!

3 paper of the wall variety

For as long as I can remember, I have been against wallpaper. So against it, in fact, that I offered to hand-stencil an entire entryway in damask just so a friend of mine wouldn't have to go through the disaster of wall-papering the space. I think it started when my mom asked me to help her do her bedroom when I was about 10. And then a while after that - when she realized it looked like 1992 in there - I helped her take it down, which is even worse than putting it up! Surprisingly, though, I have seen so many gorgeous wallpapered spaces that are starting to shift my attitude. Here are a few of the outstanding culprits...

Source: houseofmovi.blogspot.ca via the stroller coaster on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via the stroller coaster on Pinterest

Source: nurserynotations.com via the stroller coaster on Pinterest

Source: norskeinteriorblogger.blogspot.com via the stroller coaster on Pinterest

Source: bellemaison23.com via the stroller coaster on Pinterest

Source: laylagrayce.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: designismine.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: thepaintedhive.blogspot.com via Paige on Pinterest

Did you see that? Wallpaper on the ceiling! Ahh...it makes me melt. I love it! What do you think? Would it be worth the hassle? 

8 the perfect escape

During the last (yikes! almost..) 2 years we've been struggling with infertility I have been equally struggling with the roller coaster of emotions that it brings. Since our first failed IUI, I have really made a point to do things that keep my mind off of the obvious, and onto, really, anything else. Some days it's champagne that does the trick. Some days it's a ridiculous amount of gym time. Some days it's going out and buying an even more ridiculous amount of bright colored pants. But, more often than not, it's just me - curled up with a book in my hands - escaping to another place.

0 Yep. Weirdo.

My "weirdo" status was solidified over the weekend. Here's how it went down...

Our neighbors, who we have had maybe three real conversations with in the last 2 years they've lived in our hood, came over this weekend. We were all having a fine and dandy time until it was pretty obvious that they were talking to a psychopath. They were telling us about their wedding, when I gladly interrupted with every single detail about it. The date (9.10.11), the flowers, the fact they didn't go on a honeymoon. Mind you, we weren't even invited to their wedding...I just have crazy-mad ob skills. Okay, truthfully, I didn't mean to spy. I just take notice when a giant shipment of sunflowers lands on my neighbors front door. And how can I forget that it happened two days before 9.10.11? And when someone doesn't leave town after their suspected "wedding", it means they didn't go on a honeymoon! Yep. Weirdo. I'm pretty sure that's the last time they voluntarily come over.

Seriously. I've got to get rid of my super-observant spy skill or more people than just Tim (and the majority of my friends) are going to think I am really weird.

2 To the sun -

You light me up - thank you! You really topped yourself last week. There is no possible way to be anything but happy when you are out. Whether it's waking me through our bedroom window, warming us up during breakfast on the patio, or kissing my otherwise pale skin while reading under your beauty, you really rock my world. You even made EVERY. SINGLE. PLANT. in our garden come alive! And now? Thank you for hiding yourself behind a week's worth of clouds. You are making is so much easier to go back to work today.

1 Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hand lettering by Samantha Sullentrup. Screen printed by Tim Sullentrup

Drink up!

0 that boy + the sun

Sure, being on the sandy beach in our swimming suits, climbing up the Rocky Mountains, or spa-ing it in the Blue Ridge Hills of Virgina are all ideal vacations - but there is something so peaceful about waking up in your own bed with no where to go and nothing to do except enjoy each other. Something so serene about drinking coffee on your own patio letting the spring air blow through your hair. Something wonderful about watching the plants in your garden making their way through the wet dirt. Something simply magical about the adventure of your own neighborhood.

This, by far, has been the best vacation I have ever been on.

(Hence, the lack of posts. Sorry for the slow week - I just can't keep myself away from that boy and the beautiful sun!)

0 grey + white

It's 70º and our patio is calling my name. The lime green grass has begun sprouting and crisp white yearns to be worn. I love this time of year. It makes me want to spend the entire day just soaking up the perfection of nature. And that is what I intend to do...

0 happy friday!

Summer 2011, Table Rock Lake.
Photo by Carlos Lozano

At 3:30 today, I will officially be on spring break! And the best part? The husband is ALSO taking a 9 day spring break with me!! Words do not express how ridiculously excited I am! Baaaah!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

2 styleboard 9

I have the challenge of decorating a small space every single day. My husband and I (and our great dane) live in an 875sq. ft. house. That might not be small for the middle of NYC, but here in the Midwest, it's miniscule.  I am constantly looking for ways to maximize space. So, I decided to use that as inspiration for this week's styleboard.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

There are so many things in this board that I love...where should I begin? First, I have a little obsession with hanging bassinets. I think they would be the perfect solution for a small room - or if there is no space for an entire room to be dedicated to baby - you could hang it in the master bedroom. Its clean, it's stylish, it's perfect. Second, I found the wardrobe at IKEA. A tall, thin wardrobe uses wall space that might otherwise be cluttered with unnecessary things. The glass doors keep it from feeling closed off and create a more open environment. Moving on to the color pallet...it's okay to be bold with color - even in a small space. I love the rug and imagine it on old rough wood floors - and the art brings some of the greens and blues up to the wall. By using a hanging light fixture, the valuable floor space is being left for a little play time. Overall, I love this space. How about you? Do you have any ideas for a small nursery?

ETSY - hanging lamp. $32

ETSY - A is for Antlers. $25

Addison Hanging Crib - $449

0 ombre?

It's probably the most subtle ombre anyone has seen...but I am so proud of myself for not doing a horrible botch job. I think it looks pretty natural - and when summertime comes, I am going to go a little blonder. 

6 to tell or not to tell?

I am getting really excited about our second IUI. Tim started shooting me with Follistim on Sunday and I've already noticed those pesky side effects (bloating, headaches) - but I'm not complaining. What is bothering me a little is whether or not to share with our friends and family that we are doing another round of IUI. I am more hesitant this time. During the first IUI, my naive self, told many close friends and our parents. When it came time and we weren't successful, I was devastated. Really devastated. What I needed was time to myself - or on the couch with Tim. I didn't want my friends. I didn't want any "I'm so sorry, it will work when it's meant to!" And that's what I kept getting. Over and over. They are the most supportive bunch of people I know - and that's why I cherish them so much. But I was cynical and depressed and needed space. The uncomfortable conversations that I hated having, the sympathy bottles of wine that friends would bring over, the sad looks from our parents - it drove me even more insane and I don't want to go through that again. I fear all of those emotions resurfacing. Which is why I have decided not to share this IUI with our friends/family. This might be a mistake, but it's one I'm worth taking.

So, to my many beautiful and cherished friends...if you find yourself reading this, please understand how much I love you and know that as soon as I'm ready - you will be the first people I run to.

0 rebels

We got a little crazy Friday night. We went to see art! Tim turned into wax. And then we went to see a bluegrass band playing in po-dunk Kansas. We even stayed up 'til 12:30. Rebels, I tell ya.

• My appointment yesterday. You wouldn't believe it...I left with no, I repeat, NO tears in my eyes. Woo hoo! Call the newspaper - because that is BIG!!
• Starting our second round of IUI this month. 
• The fact that it was 74° yesterday! YES, I was in heaven.
• Writing this and seeing it is snowing outside. Beautiful. Huge. Flakes. Welcome to the Midwest. Grabbing drinks on a patio...in winter?!
• Getting all of the supplies to color my hair. We'll see how this one turns out. I'm a little nervous. Hearing on the news that spring is going to come 2-4 weeks early and the fact I can already tell because my tulips are growing like weeds! 
• Drinking Champagne. With grapefruit juice. With OJ. With fresh fruit. Whatever. Because beautiful weather is cause for celebration. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy a little champagne for yourself!

6 baby shower invitations

I have been working on these invites for my sister over the last week. They are finally done and ready to be mailed. Katie (sister) isn't a girlie girl, so it was a fun challenge to create something that wasn't too feminine, but definitely felt appropriate for a little girl's baby shower. I really love how they turned out. To purchase these custom invitations, visit my shop!

I really love how the hand lettering turned out!