A Re-Introduction.

If anyone is still kind enough to be following "323" and me after a [gulp] three month hiatus, I probably have some explaining to do.  Part of me thought you were sick of looking at a pile of lumber.  But if the real truth be told, my beloved 323 and I were engaged in a bit of a lover's quarrel.  I mean really, did she have to test my love with the the eleventh hour reveal of termite damage??   Oh, and then there was the "water in the basement episode" which had "never happened before."   Mmmhmm.   But, I digress.  We have reconciled and are committed to moving on...thanks in part to the installation of drainage tile in the basement, a rock star sump pump, a termite contract with a local pest company, and...most importantly...signs of progress:

To be continued...

Our First 4th at 323.

The combination of the Independence Day weekend and the constant smell of smoking BBQs made the walls of our rented condo officially close in.   Committed to salvaging the holiday, the Mr. packed us up for an impromptu trip to Home Depot.  We emerge with a grill, charcoal, mosquito coils and a renewed spirit.  With a Costco box turned table, a bit of plywood and a bottle of wine, we successfully rang in our first celebration at 323.

\

Schools Out for Summer!

So yes, I'm admitting to having Alice Cooper's lyrics reeling through my head all morning (what can I say...I had an older brother who loved heavy metal.)  Today marked the last day of preschool for my 4 year old and ahead lies literally weeks of schedule liberation.  I feel a bit nostalgic watching his teachers dismiss the class, as I recall the excitement I always felt on that day.  Ten minutes later, my excitement is replaced by panic.  I feel terrified and hopelessly unprepared, because for better or for worse, I'm a schedule girl.  The beautiful and inherent flexibility of Summer begins to overwhelm me...


Fortunately, Meg from Whatever had my back.  Check out her clever idea for bringing some "structure" to Summer:

And, more inspiration:

Photo Courtesy of A Soft Place to Land

Another great resource for local Summer "to-do" ideas can be found on the Washington Post's Summer Bucket List.


 I'm off to dig out my Crayolas.  Happy Summer to all...

What a Steel.

Hardly, actually...the stuff costs a fortune.  That said, 323 is ready to stand in as the neighborhood storm shelter.  

The much anticipated steel beams arrived and were installed this past week.  As a result, we are projected to be "fully framed and under roof" in a short 4 more.  The hot, dry weather has been unrelenting, but for us, it is exactly what the construction contractor ordered. 

A quick look at the front...hmmm...something's missing...

Monday Madness.

This cute Etsy sign just about sums it up.  Think it would make a great addition to the mudroom:

Monday 8x10 Print by Pixel Cloud

Another quick find I came across on Recycled Consign & Design is this great alternative to the refrigerator for notes and/or art displays.  A clever "upcycle" for old trays that would be perfect next to the door for last minute reminders...

Photo Courtesy of Recycled Consign & Design

Happy Monday!

Blush Crush.

Two weekends, two weddings and a revived love of the color pink!  Don't misunderstand, I'm still true to blue, but I have long been a purveyor of pink's happy hue.  I take a quick internet trip to revisit the iconic ceremony from Steel Magnolias, drenched in shades of "blush and bashful."

When it comes to decor,  pink can have a hard time shaking its girly reputation.  But as you can see from the sophisticated rooms below, pink can be very grown up.

Photo courtesy of County Living

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful

Photo Courtesy of The Decorologist

Check out Betsy Johnson's posh pink pad:

Photos Courtesy of Material Girls

A modern bathroom of sugar, spice and everything nice:

Image from Domino July/August 2006 via
Eclectic Interior Design Group

Blog Loves

I'm on the road again...this time for back-to-back weekends of weddings.  And since the stroller and rolling Spiderman luggage trump the laptop when it comes to carry-ons, I am on a forced hiatus.  In the meantime, I thought I'd call out some of my favorite, inspirational blogs.  Here are the links to a few I love to follow:

COCOCOZY

Simplified Bee

The Decorologist

Apartment Therapy

Belle Vivir

Roost

The Party Dress

Foundation & Footings.

Another busy week at 323.  Among the happenings was the news the sunroom we had intended to keep intact was "structurally compromised," and would need to be torn down and reconstructed. [insert gulp here.]  On the flip side, my wish for fair weather was granted, and great progress was made on the addition.  Temporary support walls were erected, the rear brick wall was almost entirely removed, and plywood was installed to conceal what would otherwise be a big, giant hole.  

The foundation and footings were on the week's agenda, and I was downright tickled to see the cement truck pull up on Tuesday afternoon.  

A large pipe was assembled, and literally loads of the grey stuff was pumped directly through the house and in to the backyard. 

A sign of things to come...welcome to our kitchen and family room!

And finally, another shot of the constantly changing back facade .  I don't think we can call  it an "upgrade" just yet.

French Florals 101.

Yesterday, I went back to school (well, for the afternoon at least.)  As part of an extraordinary Mother's Day gift, I had the pleasure of arranging flowers along side Jeanette Momeni of Boutique Fleurgreige. 

Outside Boutique Fleurgreige

Our introduction was the result of Fleurgreige's recent feature in Garden & Gun magazine, as well as my secret little desire to have my own small flower shop some day.  Having trained in Paris with Catherine Mueller, Jeanette's arrangements reflect a natural, European style.

A glimpse of Jeanette's portfolio

My instruction began with a quick inventory of the blooms she had picked up that morning for our lesson.  Jeanette doesn't believe in having her flowers delivered, so five days a week she makes her way to Potomac Floral Wholesale in Silver Spring, Maryland to hand-select her fresh offerings. Her recommendation...go on Wednesday and Sunday mornings when the market, which is open to the public, is less busy.

Jeanette's studio ready for my lesson

Buckets of blooms

Peonies, Mock Orange, and Lilacs (a special request) were among her selections.

The flower board

I am outfitted with an apron, and put to work clipping and pruning.  Jeanette guided me on how to clean the stems and where they should be cut to optimize water uptake.  The woody nature of the lilacs makes them often difficult to keep fresh, so I was advised to work quickly and minimize their time on land.

Preparing the flowers

Once the prep work was complete, it was time to start creating.  Unlike my preferred method of arranging directly in to a vase, Jeanette holds all of the flowers in one hand.  With the other, she expertly crosses one flower over the other, turning it constantly to ensure a full arrangement that can be "enjoyed from every side."

Once complete (she just knows when,) the arrangement is tied with raffia, and stems are cut to the same length.  The result is a freestanding arrangement that can easily be removed from a vase to freshen water, which she recommends doing daily.

Finished product

The last step is to place the bouquets into glass vases, which she then carefully wraps with French tissue secured with raffia.   A Fleurgreige hang tag adds the final touch.

My time spent with Jeanette at Fleurgreige flew by, but I left with some wonderful tips, three beautiful arrangements, and even an invitation to accompany her on an upcoming trip to the flower market. As for mastering the art of floral composition, I will admittedly need a "bit" more practice.