Beach Baby!

We just spent a wonderful week at the beach- North Topsail Island, here in NC to be specific.

Sadie seemed to like feeling the sand between her toes and splashing in the water. It was so fun because we got to go with a bunch of family- my parents, my brother's family, and my dad's brother's family... I can't really even pin point the last time my brother and I got to stay in the same house. I think its been nearly 10 years, which is totally unbelievable. When we go home to Kentucky to visit, we just get lunches and dinners with family, so it was fun to have lots of concentrated time together. We sorely missed my cousin Katy and her husband, Brian. They were planning to come, but a last minute job offer kept them in Connecticut- Congrats on your great new job, Katy!

Here's a picture of the whole gang:
And I loved this picture of my parents with all of their grandkids...
The humidity wreaked havoc on Sadie's hair :)
If anyone is looking for a nice, quiet family beach, you should give Topsail a whirl. Our house was awesome for a big group (table easily sat 12+). Contact me if you want the address and info. We stayed in nearly every night and cooked dinner. It was very low key, which everybody needed. We spent most of the time on this GREAT deck...
There was also a little of this (I'm already out there in the blue kayak):
Too bad we didn't take a video of Stephen and I trying to come in for the first time. Hysterical wipe outs, and we contributed to the sunglasses graveyard that is the Atlantic Ocean.

Hooray for family! Hooray for the beach!

Today's Obsession

I know. I've been under a rock. Have you seen Sarah's House? It comes on weird times here, (8:30 Saturday night- and I'm so popular that I'm never home- just kidding) but I just started DVR-ing it. I'm obsessed/weirded out. I've watched two episodes, and I think we might share a design brain. I don't throw that around. This is serious business. Below are two pictures, each from the episodes that I've seen. The first one was this bedroom:

I know everyone loves the Celerie Kemble for Schumacher fabrics. But does everyone want to pair Hot House flowers with that Schumacher ikat? I want to. I have them together in my special "when I can really decorate our house" drawer. By the way, I'm talking about the floral pillows on the bed mixed with the multi-colored diamond patterned fabric that is the banding on the window treatments.

Next, wouldn't change a thing about this bathroom:
Even Stephen said he'd seen me bring that yellow and graphite floral fabric home. Bizarre, and yet fabulous. I'm glad my house dreams are unfolding for someone :)

Let's also talk about her logo. The name of my company is Foster House Interior Design. My logo idea has always been to incorporate a simple outline of a house. (I know. I don't have a logo yet. One day soon I hope.) Really because this is hers. I can't find a picture of it online that I can paste in here, but if you're curious about her logo or projects, you can go to HGTV.com. I know. I also try to avoid HGTV as a serious source, but this is an exception.

Can I also add something to my post about 9 by Design? Watch Sarah's House and then watch that show. Can you tell who's the professional? Like the real deal professional? Please say yes.

Happy Monday!

The Joys of Motherhood

Motherhood, for me, has lead to the disappearance of purses. I admit, I am kind of okay with that. However, there are days when I just don't feel cool, and I want to have a bag that remotely coordinates with my outfit. All this leads me to point out that my life is filled with dirty diapers. In my purse/bag. In my trunk. In the backseat. It's pretty gross that I'm so used to diapers that I am willing to just throw them into my bag and carry them around until I get home. I mean I WANT to have to push pass them to find my wallet when I'm paying for my lunch. Wouldn't you?

Stephen thinks this is disgusting, especially when I forget that I've stashed them somewhere. He can't believe that this neat-freak has resorted to toting around dirty diapers. He says (in a loving, teasing tone), "I just never thought you'd be that kind of person." Neither did I, but I am. Parenthood is filled with moments where I prove myself wrong. I'm quickly learning to never say never.

Well, need to run and clean out my bag and my car while Sadie's taking her nap. Happy Friday!

Aaahhh...That's Better

We've lived in this house for two years, and every time I pull into the driveway, I feel like somebody else must live here due to those '80's barn red shutters and doors.

Not anymore! Ta da!
This makes me so happy! I feel like this is starting to look like our house. Please excuse our landscaping- we're having an issue. We planted a ton of new things last year, and nearly a third of them have died. I have several more projects in mind for outside (new lights, railings, etc.), so I will keep you in the loop. I know you're all waiting to see how my house looks :)

A special thanks to my friends at Can Decorative Paint for accomplishing this for us! They are very talented decorative painters (think polished plaster and sophisticated architectural finishes). They could have painted our shutters and doors in their sleep with one arm tied behind their back, but they graciously came over and knocked it out in one day. Thank you Michelle, Davide, and Miguel!

Lately...

I know you'll be so glad to check this blog and not see 9 by Design. Can't believe 20+ days have passed. Opps.

Well, here's what we've been doing.

These folks came for a visit:

We had a great time- golf, shopping, eating, drinking...what else can you ask for? Can't wait to see them (and the WHOLE Hedgspeth fam) in two weeks at the lovely beaches of NC!

The day Mom and Dad headed out, we hosted a party to celebrate our friends Dan and Jayme's time here in NC. We love where we live, but being the in middle of Duke and Carolina makes May difficult. Every year we lose friends to graduation and new jobs out of town. Dan and Jayme moved back home to Michigan and our other great friends, the Smith's, headed to Indy. Both are dearly loved and dearly missed already.

Back to the party, with lots of friends and lots of kiddos!
Brad and Julie (below) get a gold star because they came all the way from Nashville to surprise everyone.
Here is our shepherding group, mixed past and present:
We love these people, and they bless us daily!

We also had Lillie over for a mini slumber party. Date night swap is the best idea ever. Thanks McGinity's!
I know you love my child's drool covered chin and dirty bib. Gross.

Here's a cute one, just so she can redeem herself (and to prove that we have been spending time at the pool) This hair has a mind of its own...
I will be back with more soon, I promise. Including a great before and after...

Today's Obsession

I'm kind of obsessing over this new Bravo show, 9 By Design. Synopsis: Husband and wife design team build incredible homes filled with stellar modern art in order to flip them. They also have a design firm Sixx Design. Oh, and they have 7 (very stylish) children.

I am also thinking a lot about designers with and without educations in the field and about design bloggers. I probably need to think about it more before I blog to the public about it. I don't want to offend anyone (while I do love design and love people that love design- bottom line). I used to be a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)--mainly because my old boss made me :) ASID, amongst other organizations, pushes hard for the interior design title act. I don't like that. I'm not a member anymore. I do like having an accredited design degree. The designers from Sixx Design are self taught. Most of the most popular designer bloggers don't have degrees (at least that is my understanding). You'd think that education leads to success. I'm sure that it does sometimes. I've been perceiving lately that the design spotlight is on people that simply have good style (which is VERY important). Does anybody have any thoughts on this? I'm going to just bluntly say that I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is negative of me to think that all you have to do these days to be a design guru is have the time to read every magazine and talk about what other people did? Am I just having issues with my own lack of magazine time? :)

Surely this happens in other fields, but what does it look like? Like are Doctors upset that I can now go to clinic in Walgreens or CVS?

Is it wrong that I think the people that do design without an education have more fun?

Like I said, I probably should have maintained an internal monologue about this. I really am just happy for design to flourish- I don't care who's in the spotlight, really. I just have noticed the shift. On the other hand, Thom Filicia is everywhere right now and Albert Hadley was in Elle Decor last month. The experienced and the educated have not gotten off the bus. In the meantime, I will do my best at my job and will continue to read the blogs I love and watch 9 By Design (and try not to covet their latest house).

Why?

While watching a game last night, it occurred to me that baseball is the only sport where the coaches wear the uniform. Why would they do that? Do they really need to be in sliding pants, just in case? What if Roy started wearing a Carolina basketball uniform? Inappropriate.

Why does stuff like this only happen when Stephen is working on a Saturday?
And why do I feel guilty when I do this during Sadie's afternoon nap?
Maybe I won't feel so guilty this week since I had to deal with that tree this weekend :)

And yes, 11 years later, I'm reading Harry Potter, and I'm kind of obsessed (to my complete surprise).

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day! Stephen was very sweet and cooked me pancakes. I had a great first Mother's Day- thank you, Stephen!