ikea stockholm collection.

Todd and I have been trying to move away from super cheap, poor-quality furniture in our home — but we still love us some Ikea. Yes, you can find plenty of particleboard stuff there that won't last a year, but they have some really beautiful, well-made pieces as well. Have you seen their new Stockholm collection? It's lovely.

pillows and ipad sleeves, oh my!

Yesterday the internet was down city-wide (weird, right?), and I felt pathetically lost. So I did something I've been meaning to do for a really long time: I got out my sewing machine and the pile of pretty fabrics I've been hoarding, and I got crafty. I'll be adding pillows to my Etsy shop soon, and I'm experimenting with iPad/Kindle sleeves, too. Stay tuned for that.

I think I'd be a lot more productive if the internet would just go away every now and then.

 

pool party.

Everyone has a goal in life they'll always aspire to. For me, that goal is to have a house with an amazing pool. Aim high, right? Don't even try to tell me that the insurance will cost too much or the chemicals and cleaning will get annoying. I want a house with a pool and that's that.


I have to work on Memorial Day, but here's hoping that those of you who have the day off are lounging by a pool, or somewhere equally lovely.

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the office.

 

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While I'm busy trying to wrap my mind around the idea of living in a brand new city, I've barely even thought about the fact that I'm about to make a major career change. I've spent the last six years working 40 hours a week in an office, and as much as I loved the City Paper, there was always a part of me that was jealous of our freelancers and their, well, freedom.

So I'm giving it a try. I have a lot of projects I'll be working on, like Copy Cat, Whiskey Kittens on Etsy, helping Savage, and writing for publications in Charleston and Boston. Todd will work from home too, so we might be sharing an office (though the house we're hoping for has room for two offices). I'm determined to make it a workspace that will be welcoming and comfortable, that will get our creative juices flowing. Here are some spaces that are inspiring me.

the hooks. the chair. the parsons desk.

some space to stretch out.

plenty of storage. and more hooks!

a place to eat.

When Todd and I moved into our second house together, we bought a dining room table and chairs off of Craigslist. They were basic, sturdy, and utterly boring. So when I'd saved up a bit of money from my Etsy sales, I knew it was time to upgrade.

I thought I knew exactly what I wanted: a round table with vintage-inspired, curvy, comfy chairs. I took to Pinterest for inspiration, and that just made my decision even more difficult. 

via 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 *

Eventually, my budget won out and I settled on a set of white metal Tabouret stacking chairs from Overstock (amazing deal) and a round wooden thrift store table (even more amazing deal). I love them, but I still find myself window shopping on Pinterest every now and then. Which is your favorite?

stairmaster.

I live in a very small house, and most of the time I love it. It's easy to clean, cozy, and just the right size for my little family. But sometimes, I can't help but daydream about all the things I could have in a bigger house. Like stairs.

That's right — I have stair envy. And I'm not talking about your standard staircase whose main function is getting you from point A to point B. I mean the kind of stairs that are a major focal point in a building. Stairs that know how to have fun.

via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Which ones do you like best?