Update on the little guy & FOOOOOOOOD

I wanted to thank everyone so much from the bottom of my heart for all the kind comments, well-wishes & encouraging stories. Christian is doing really well & really doesn't even seem to mind his "big owie nose." He still seems to love dogs and has seen a few since the accident and he smiles & waves, so I guess he's not scarred emotionally, haha. (I think he'd have to get unscarred pretty quickly once we got home anyway... we have a dog, Ashby. He seems to miss her and has asked about "Happy" (how he says 'ashby") the "nice doggy." hahaha)

We takes walks by the lake everyday and he wears this adorable visor to shield his nose from the sun. (As soon as I can fix my computer I'll upload some pics) He hasn't gone in any water yet but is having fun playing in the sand.

Things are better between my dad & Dave... It's been rough for everyone but I'm hoping it's settling down... So, anyway, I wanted to tell you about one of my FAVORITE restaurants ever because we're going soon!!! It's Port Edward Restuarant in Algonquin, IL.

It's super-themey and even has a boat and a pond inside & I absolutely love it. It was opened in 1952. They have an amazing wine lounge and I can't even begin to talk about how awesome the food is. There are cool little secret rooms & lofts & as a kid I used to love walking around with my stepbrother & stepsister exploring. Christian is going to love it!!

Anyway, they have the best Sunday champagne brunch and every year we come we take the boat out in the morning and take the 3 hour boat ride to Port Edward and FEAST!!! You have to stay for hours and just take your time... So yummy!!! I love it because the long boatride in the morning feels like such an adventure... and I love the ANTICIPATION of all the great food!!! When we finally get there we're so hungry and it just hits the spot perfectly.

We're headed there soon & as soon as I can upload pics I'll show you what we've been up to.

xoxo,

lauren

Update on the little guy & FOOOOOOOOD

I wanted to thank everyone so much from the bottom of my heart for all the kind comments, well-wishes & encouraging stories. Christian is doing really well & really doesn't even seem to mind his "big owie nose." He still seems to love dogs and has seen a few since the accident and he smiles & waves, so I guess he's not scarred emotionally, haha. (I think he'd have to get unscarred pretty quickly once we got home anyway... we have a dog, Ashby. He seems to miss her and has asked about "Happy" (how he says 'ashby") the "nice doggy." hahaha)

We takes walks by the lake everyday and he wears this adorable visor to shield his nose from the sun. (As soon as I can fix my computer I'll upload some pics) He hasn't gone in any water yet but is having fun playing in the sand.

Things are better between my dad & Dave... It's been rough for everyone but I'm hoping it's settling down... So, anyway, I wanted to tell you about one of my FAVORITE restaurants ever because we're going soon!!! It's Port Edward Restuarant in Algonquin, IL.

It's super-themey and even has a boat and a pond inside & I absolutely love it. It was opened in 1952. They have an amazing wine lounge and I can't even begin to talk about how awesome the food is. There are cool little secret rooms & lofts & as a kid I used to love walking around with my stepbrother & stepsister exploring. Christian is going to love it!!

Anyway, they have the best Sunday champagne brunch and every year we come we take the boat out in the morning and take the 3 hour boat ride to Port Edward and FEAST!!! You have to stay for hours and just take your time... So yummy!!! I love it because the long boatride in the morning feels like such an adventure... and I love the ANTICIPATION of all the great food!!! When we finally get there we're so hungry and it just hits the spot perfectly.

We're headed there soon & as soon as I can upload pics I'll show you what we've been up to.

xoxo,

lauren

Really Tough Day

Well, we made it to the lakehouse safe & sound - After driving all day Sunday- 13 hours later. Early yesterday morning around 6:00 (mon) my dad's dog bit Christian in the face. Christian was about a foot away from her and stuck his tongue out and she just launched at him from on the couch. Thank God Dave was right there and pulled her off. (I had noticed the dog acting a bit skittish around him the night before & we'd decided we would keep them separate but in the AM, so early, it didn't really register that she was on the couch & we should put her in another room... we were there for 2 seconds before it happened.)

We rushed to the emergency room in our pjs (and we're out in the country so it was like 45 mins away in Wisconsin) and his nose just looked like raw hamburger meat. He handled it so well. He stopped crying within a couple of minutes and just kept saying "doggie owie." It was the worst feeling trying to get there because we were following the GPS and roads were closed off and my little baby's nose was just covered in blood. We prayed & realized how much worse it really could have been- eye, throat, etc.

When we got to the hospital, they had to strap him down in one of those papoose things and he was amazing. "I'm tough" he said, haha. He had 4-5 bites and the one that worried me the most was this huge flap of skin on the top. It was so rough watching them stick the anisthetic needle in all of his wounds because he definitely screamed when they kept poking it in. Then they stitched him up for about 15 minutes and he kept saying "all done." I had to help hold him down on his tummy and it was just so hard to look into his little eyes and see how scared/ hurt he was. Just before the end of the stitches I got really dizzy & almost passed out so I had to sit down. It was almost like this weird relief that he was going to be okay and then just I couldn't stand anymore... or like all the adrenaline left and there was no more juice. They finished up and he played with some toys while they briefed us on the situation.

From there we got him some "eggs" (his big request) and went to a reconstructive surgeon who had helped my dad and she took a look at his "owie." She said it wasn't pulled as closely together as it should have been but the only other option was to put him under and have her redo the stictches. Not worth it. We're going back to see her in a week to check on everything.

Once it was all over and Christian was asleep in the car, the crying started. (haha from me) All we could do was thank God that he was okay. At the restaurant we stopped at when he woke up, everyone stared. It's kind of funny to watch the people who pretend they're looking somewhere past you as they slowly swing their heads around & take a good look and then another good look at nothing to your left. haha I really don't blame them-- it's not pretty and was seriously bloody. We have to keep the wounds uncovered but he can't go in the sun so he has a little visor to wear. No lake for a while so we're hoping it heals quickly so we can get this little guy some fun. He's doing great & is loving his new indoor basketball hoop Dave picked up at the drugstore.

Anyway, we're all in a strange spot right now--- insane relief tinged with some serious regret/ guilt/ anger/ sadness. My dad feels horrible--- both of his dogs are at a kennel right now and Quais (the one who bit Christian) is in quarantine. From now on whenever we come here, they'll be kenneled. I know Dave is upset that my dad's not going to put Quais down... I know it's just not in my dad to do it... So there's just a lot of tension right now. (pic below before)

Anyway, I usually only write posts when I have a strong feeling about something- be it happy or excited or something like this that I feel I need to get off my chest... So I'm not sure how much I'll be on for a bit... sometimes it's therapeutic so we'll see. Just check back & hopefully we get to some of the wonderful places I can't wait to show you. Oh, and also, my dad keeps doing stuff to his house. (haha I know, the audacity- HIS HOUSE! haha) But, really bad design choices and it's driving me crazy. It's a simple (beautiful) farmhouse frame with a wraparound porch and he's covering the outside of it in Victorian details- wagon wheels in the corners, ornate spindles with 2 paint colors, an Italiante fountain in the front yard... And I can't even get into the issues on the inside... So not sure if I'll have anything to show you in here. hahaha

ok, talk soon.

xoxo,

lauren

Really Tough Day

Well, we made it to the lakehouse safe & sound - After driving all day Sunday- 13 hours later. Early yesterday morning around 6:00 (mon) my dad's dog bit Christian in the face. Christian was about a foot away from her and stuck his tongue out and she just launched at him from on the couch. Thank God Dave was right there and pulled her off. (I had noticed the dog acting a bit skittish around him the night before & we'd decided we would keep them separate but in the AM, so early, it didn't really register that she was on the couch & we should put her in another room... we were there for 2 seconds before it happened.)

We rushed to the emergency room in our pjs (and we're out in the country so it was like 45 mins away in Wisconsin) and his nose just looked like raw hamburger meat. He handled it so well. He stopped crying within a couple of minutes and just kept saying "doggie owie." It was the worst feeling trying to get there because we were following the GPS and roads were closed off and my little baby's nose was just covered in blood. We prayed & realized how much worse it really could have been- eye, throat, etc.

When we got to the hospital, they had to strap him down in one of those papoose things and he was amazing. "I'm tough" he said, haha. He had 4-5 bites and the one that worried me the most was this huge flap of skin on the top. It was so rough watching them stick the anisthetic needle in all of his wounds because he definitely screamed when they kept poking it in. Then they stitched him up for about 15 minutes and he kept saying "all done." I had to help hold him down on his tummy and it was just so hard to look into his little eyes and see how scared/ hurt he was. Just before the end of the stitches I got really dizzy & almost passed out so I had to sit down. It was almost like this weird relief that he was going to be okay and then just I couldn't stand anymore... or like all the adrenaline left and there was no more juice. They finished up and he played with some toys while they briefed us on the situation.

From there we got him some "eggs" (his big request) and went to a reconstructive surgeon who had helped my dad and she took a look at his "owie." She said it wasn't pulled as closely together as it should have been but the only other option was to put him under and have her redo the stictches. Not worth it. We're going back to see her in a week to check on everything.

Once it was all over and Christian was asleep in the car, the crying started. (haha from me) All we could do was thank God that he was okay. At the restaurant we stopped at when he woke up, everyone stared. It's kind of funny to watch the people who pretend they're looking somewhere past you as they slowly swing their heads around & take a good look and then another good look at nothing to your left. haha I really don't blame them-- it's not pretty and was seriously bloody. We have to keep the wounds uncovered but he can't go in the sun so he has a little visor to wear. No lake for a while so we're hoping it heals quickly so we can get this little guy some fun. He's doing great & is loving his new indoor basketball hoop Dave picked up at the drugstore.

Anyway, we're all in a strange spot right now--- insane relief tinged with some serious regret/ guilt/ anger/ sadness. My dad feels horrible--- both of his dogs are at a kennel right now and Quais (the one who bit Christian) is in quarantine. From now on whenever we come here, they'll be kenneled. I know Dave is upset that my dad's not going to put Quais down... I know it's just not in my dad to do it... So there's just a lot of tension right now. (pic below before)

Anyway, I usually only write posts when I have a strong feeling about something- be it happy or excited or something like this that I feel I need to get off my chest... So I'm not sure how much I'll be on for a bit... sometimes it's therapeutic so we'll see. Just check back & hopefully we get to some of the wonderful places I can't wait to show you. Oh, and also, my dad keeps doing stuff to his house. (haha I know, the audacity- HIS HOUSE! haha) But, really bad design choices and it's driving me crazy. It's a simple (beautiful) farmhouse frame with a wraparound porch and he's covering the outside of it in Victorian details- wagon wheels in the corners, ornate spindles with 2 paint colors, an Italiante fountain in the front yard... And I can't even get into the issues on the inside... So not sure if I'll have anything to show you in here. hahaha

ok, talk soon.

xoxo,

lauren

Take a Bow Tuesday

Hopefully, there is no need for an intro this time around. I'm on time, on the mark, and ready to share more of my favourite posts from some of the blogs I visit.

Will the following ladies Take a Bow:

Sweet Tanya, of Sunday Baker is my go-to-gal for great recipes, cooking tips and just to start my day on a positive note. I loved her recent post about her best kitchen tips and some of those of her readers. Tanya is a fabulous cook and (obviously) baker, and has her own little bun in the oven at the moment! Just over a week until she finds out if it will be pink icing or blue!!

I'm guessing pink...!

Terri from Windlost wrote a great post about using beautiful mirrors in one's home to add beautiful style and open up the space. Terri's whole approach to style is one I admire, because she roots out quality and truly waits until she finds it either on sale or saves carefully to buy it. So not like me : I see, I pounce, and if I can't afford it, I try to make it, recreate it, or even settle for something poorly made!!

That which makes us different makes us special, no?! Terri makes me want to strive to be more patient and purposeful.

It hasn't sunk in yet, though!

One of my favourite bloggers, Vee of A Haven for Vee, shared some great links to making your photos better and creating fun things like photo mosaics. My favourite, found at Little Red House (another beautiful blog) offers up a step-by-step tutorial for making said photo mosaics. I have vowed not to even try making one until this week is over. I need to focus...!

Lanette, of Cottage Elements, did a post recently on all of the great black and white elements in her home. Well, as great as they are, just getting another tour around her gorgeous home with all its "glorified junk" is a feast for the eyes. Check her out!!

For the rare few of you who don't know Cindy of Romantic Home, she is the quintessential shabby chic expert. She did a great little project recently which offers up a fun way to showcase some favourite vintage linens. And true to Cindy's ethic, it was done on a dime!

Enjoy!!

New Chair, or New Slipcover?!

Remember my latest quest for a new slipcover to transform this tired, late 90's-but otherwise-perfectly-fine-chair?

Well, the same seamstress friend who was the mastermind behind my camper's new seat covers and Sophie's bench seat cushion created this latest, beautiful slipcover.

Although I couldn't find the pale, pale blue fabric I was hoping for, a quick grab-and-go from my linen closet yielded some fun trims and details from a floral Pier One table runner and some left-over pom pom fringe. I love the whimsy both little extras add, and with Tabitha's superior talent and workmanship, I think it looks more like a great re-upholstery job than a slipcover.

Isn't that the true test of a great slipcover artist?

The runner came in handy for the arms and cushion accents:

See the pom poms peeking out from the bottom?

As for our latest bundle of joy: here he is, nestled in Sophie's little doll sling - another Tabitha Coleman creation!!

Our Living Room: Going Green!!!

Well, I took the plunge. We decided on a bright mossy velvet for our sofa reupholstery. I can't find an image that looks like it exactly... It's a bit less limey/ more green than the pic above (house beauitful) and the cotton velvet is super-rich with lots of tonal variation.

We're doing a pair of these tight-back arm chairs from Martha Stewart in the ferny fabric (above) on the reverse (again, color is off):

Here's the exact shape of the sofa (Atlanta Bartlett)... and you must've known I'd have to have a back-up plan... We're also getting a white washable slipcover made for the sofa (exactly like the one below) for warmer months, kids, and so we can bring in any color scheme we want. (Ok, so I can bring in any color scheme.. hhahaha a like my husband really gets to the urge to reaccessorieze! ;) --- We're waiting on having the slipcover made until I feel the urge.. because I'm definitely really exited about the green right now. And... just so you don't think I'm really crazy with money/ flippant I should explain: We got the sofa off of craiglist for really cheap & the current fabric is really dirty. I really wanted to do white slipcovers, but we would have had to reupholster the fabric anyway because it was dirty/ old/ and striped, showing through the slipcover... SO I decided to reupholster it in a fun color so I could have the option to take off the slipcover. Now we'll just wait a few months for the slipcover.



We went with green because we really feel that it's true to the house and its connection with the outdoors. Green greets us from every view and I really want the interiors to be all about the views. (It's also both my & my husband's favorite color ;)



There will still be tons of white because you know I need that:



We bought these glass lamps from Arteriors Home for next to the sofa:







The plan is to tear out the carpet & do hardwood floors. We'll probably start out with seagrass rugs and eventually I'd love to find the perfect worn, antique (or antique-looking, I'm really not picky) patterned rug to layer over the seagrass in the living room. I also want to layer my favorite green fabrics and/ or use them as a skirted table in the open dining room. I want to bring on some old-fashioned florals:



Below is a room with a green sofa from the Martha Stewart furniture line:




Our Living room will be a bit softer, more blended but just to give you an idea.. I love how you can mix virtually any color with green- blues, aquas, pinks, browns, etc... getting pumped!! Since I'm crazy about green rightnow I figured it was time to join the Hooked On Houses blog party. Check it out!! Anyway, we're off to visit my dad at his lakehouse for some (finally!!!) rest & relaxation!!!!

I cannot wait to sit on the dock and swim & go boating & tubing!!! (notice how i'm screaming in the pic below and my husband is just relaxing .. hahahah)

Will be posting from there & hope to get lots done at the lakehouse to show you!!!

xoxo,

lauren

Our Living Room: Going Green!!!

Well, I took the plunge. We decided on a bright mossy velvet for our sofa reupholstery. I can't find an image that looks like it exactly... It's a bit less limey/ more green than the pic above (house beauitful) and the cotton velvet is super-rich with lots of tonal variation.

We're doing a pair of these tight-back arm chairs from Martha Stewart in the ferny fabric (above) on the reverse (again, color is off):

Here's the exact shape of the sofa (Atlanta Bartlett)... and you must've known I'd have to have a back-up plan... We're also getting a white washable slipcover made for the sofa (exactly like the one below) for warmer months, kids, and so we can bring in any color scheme we want. (Ok, so I can bring in any color scheme.. hhahaha a like my husband really gets to the urge to reaccessorieze! ;) --- We're waiting on having the slipcover made until I feel the urge.. because I'm definitely really exited about the green right now. And... just so you don't think I'm really crazy with money/ flippant I should explain: We got the sofa off of craiglist for really cheap & the current fabric is really dirty. I really wanted to do white slipcovers, but we would have had to reupholster the fabric anyway because it was dirty/ old/ and striped, showing through the slipcover... SO I decided to reupholster it in a fun color so I could have the option to take off the slipcover. Now we'll just wait a few months for the slipcover.



We went with green because we really feel that it's true to the house and its connection with the outdoors. Green greets us from every view and I really want the interiors to be all about the views. (It's also both my & my husband's favorite color ;)



There will still be tons of white because you know I need that:



We bought these glass lamps from Arteriors Home for next to the sofa:







The plan is to tear out the carpet & do hardwood floors. We'll probably start out with seagrass rugs and eventually I'd love to find the perfect worn, antique (or antique-looking, I'm really not picky) patterned rug to layer over the seagrass in the living room. I also want to layer my favorite green fabrics and/ or use them as a skirted table in the open dining room. I want to bring on some old-fashioned florals:



Below is a room with a green sofa from the Martha Stewart furniture line:




Our Living room will be a bit softer, more blended but just to give you an idea.. I love how you can mix virtually any color with green- blues, aquas, pinks, browns, etc... getting pumped!! Since I'm crazy about green rightnow I figured it was time to join the Hooked On Houses blog party. Check it out!! Anyway, we're off to visit my dad at his lakehouse for some (finally!!!) rest & relaxation!!!!

I cannot wait to sit on the dock and swim & go boating & tubing!!! (notice how i'm screaming in the pic below and my husband is just relaxing .. hahahah)

Will be posting from there & hope to get lots done at the lakehouse to show you!!!

xoxo,

lauren

Pool Houses...

While I love my little changing area on my pool deck, I still can't resisit ogling fabulous photos of the really luxe versions. I found a wonderful site which builds and sells beautiful pool house kits that actually have a more modest charm than those that the rich call a pool house, and the rest of us would dub a home fit for a family!

Here are some of the designs:

Personally, although a pool house is a fantasy feature for most of us, I can't help but be drawn in by the charm of its more modest relation: the pool side changing area:

source: Coastal living.com

In fact, I loved it so much I built my own!!

What are you hooked on?

Find out what others are loving this week at Julia's Hooked on party!

Special Delivery...

Proof positive I've officially lost it:

Does having three cats qualify me as cat lady?

I'm a sucker for a homeless kitty...

We call him Ollie: eight weeks old and totally scrumptious.

Take a Bow Tuesday

Okay, okay, so ignore the fact that it's Thursday. Summer schedules foul things up around these parts, but with so many talented bloggers with so many great ideas to share, I wouldn't dare miss the series completely! I admittedly have less time to peruse blogs these days - somehow little missy wants her mama perched within feet of her, catching every word that she utters, and she utters a lot! She's her mother's daughter, I guess...

Anyway, back to the program. I have some great ones for you and I hope you will head there way and show them some love. You can tell them I sent you, if you like, or not.

Either way, will the following bloggers Take a Bow:

• Linda Crispell, of her blog of the same name, has a blog chock full of fun, vintage style. Not only does it say so on her banner (which is one of the cutest I've ever seen, and brings me back to my childhood,big time) but her home is decorated with whimsy and from the perspective of an artist, so you know it will be something you haven't seen before. Check out this glimpse into her garden and then dig through her archives to see even more of her home. Linda is FUN!!
• 
  
  Watch the Wind Blow By is a great blog. She hasn't posted in a while, but when checking her site recently I was reminded how talented (and fun!) she really is. Chris @ Just Beachy's post about painting wood cabinets reminded me to feature Marie's fantastic kitchen make-over. She painted out some oak cabinets and it will make you think, why doesn't everyone paint cabinets they don't like?!


• Manuela was one of the first blogs I discovered when I started blogging. Her home is so beautiful, and I love that she shares my desire to decorate on a budget. Check out these adorable plant markers she made. I think they would be especially fun as personalized "place cards" for the dinner table.
• Seeing that it's summer and I love camping (and campers), check out Suzanne's post about vintage campers she discovered on a recent trip. Scroll down to my favourite, the Shasta Daisy one, but also take some time to read some of Suzanne's posts. Her writing alone makes hers a blog worth visiting.
• Now that Lanny has a new, fancy pants camera, her pictures literally jump off the pages of her blog! I love checking out her blog just for the sensory experience alone of seeing such great images, and Lanny's sweet personality always shines through, too. Speaking of camping, S'mores are a campfire staple, and Lanny put a fun spin on the experience. She left me wondering, "Why didn't I think of that?"

*******************************************

A few other tidbits to pass along:

• Ohdeedoh has a great article about family summer camps, another great alternative to dragging the kids all around points of interest in the heat, only to realize they're completely bored. Sound familiar, because it does to me?!! Being a bit of a negative Nelly (no offence to any Nellies out there), I figured there would never be any near me (or outside of California or Portland, Oregon - where everything seems to be!), but there was one in Maine. Too bad I just decided I will never drive in a car with my kids for more than four hours!
• Carol of Long Ramblings has a great give-away going on at her blog. If you like decals and want to win one, head on over to Carol's site. Don't forget to have a look around. Her blog is a lot of fun!

Keepin' It Real...part two

How am I keepin' it real?

• To start: I have no idea what part one was about but this title is vaguely familiar...
• I missed my Take a Bow Tuesday series this week. It didn't take me long to foul that up, did it? Let's aim for Take a Bow Thursday this week, 'cept I'm not changing the photo!
• Remember I said I wasn't going to do much besides clean in preparation for Matthew Mead's visit? Yeah, right! I've been eyeing that bucket of paint all evening. Sorry, Matthew! I can't honestly pretend that I'm so cool as to take this in stride. I didn't fool any of you either, I bet!
• It took me all evening to clean my bedroom. I forgot you're supposed to dust lampshades, who keeps up with that? Of course, it didn't help that I allowed myself to be distracted every time I left the room. I remembered the top of the fridge probably shouldn't have sticky dust, and I figured the wasp I killed last week probably shouldn't have his final resting spot be the windowsill in the living room. While in the bathroom, I realized I'd better reorganize the linen closet. The boys probably doesn't need Buzz Light Year bath toys anymore...
• The yard has not one, but two dead mice in the grass. Whose stupid idea was it to have two cats??!! I'll have to scrounge up a shovel and a couple of bucks and bribe one of the boys to deal with the carcasses...nice!
• I haven't posted since Monday! Honestly, I'm too scatterbrained to come up with anything but drivel (case in pint: this post!), but I will honour my Take A Bow Tuesday/Thursday commitment tomorrow. Small goals, they're the best kind!

Not even any photos. How's that for performance??

A Sweet Surprise: ( a casual) Tablescape Thursday

Saturday morning one of my best friends, Alissa, stopped over while we were gettting our lower level wall-to-wall seagreass carpet installed. I had to miss a little party some of our friends were having because I had to stay & supervise the install, so she brought over BREAKFAST!!! I've been meaning to do Tablesapes Thursday with Between Naps on the Porch for a while now & figured this was the perfect opportunity! (This one is definitely more food/ friend focused!)

Below is Alissa withher delicious goodies!!!

Now my husband's always said the way to my heart is through food. (He used to bring me beef jerky, not flowers, in college. hahaha) Anyway, the breakfast looked so pretty- being the blogger that I am- I had to make everyone wait to dig in so I could get a couple of pics. It was so simple but so perfect- fresh fruit, o.j., bagels, croissants and I toasted & loaded mine with hot ham & cheese mm mm. (I will now crave that sandwich all the time..)

The pink zinnias in the old jam jar (from my garden- yay the one thing I haven't killed!!) were already there & worked perfectly with all the bright colors in the fruit. I've been dying to use the pitcher that the o.j. is in: It's cut glass with palm trees on it that I found at a thrift shop for $4. The plates are Pottery Barn Classic white and the bowls are vintage soup bowls with a pretty green design on them from Lucketts for $4. So thanks so much to my Tikie Torch (just a nickname for Alissa)- we love you!!!

Hope you enjoyed!! There are so many beautiful tablescapes waiting at Between Naps on the Porch, so go check it out!!

xoxo,

lauren