Carrie Bradshaw's apartment

What would Carrie and Big's apartment look like? You'd have to balance her whimsical tastes with his love of clean lines and masculine features. Would it work or would the combination of tastes clash?

See for yourself and decide.

My favorite room - without a doubt - is the closet. I'd invite friends over to drink wine, try on dresses and gossip all night long.

(via Elle Decor)

Sneakers

I couldn't help but mention by new favorite sneakers from Habitat. I ordered them online and they arrived in two days. They run a little small in size (so if you're a 9, like me, it feels closer to an 8.5) but once you run around town in them for a few days, you'll stretch them out. They're just so perfect for a casual Saturday jaunt or if you're on the lookout for shoes you can throw on when you're late to work and can't bear the thought of running to the Metro or bus in heels (not that that ever happens to me....).

Menus for the kitchen

While perusing Eastern Market's Flea Market a few weekends ago, my Mom pointed out a wooden-framed chalkboard and suggested it as a nice addition for our kitchen. It seemed a bit cheesy to me at first -- writing up menus or to-do's for display near my fridge or stove -- but I loved the concept the more I thought about it. Seeing handwritten chalk messages might make things feel even more homey and personal.

This particular chalkboard pictured above is from Martha Stewart Living's recent issue, which features one of my favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard of Cup of Jo. The one I purchased is a lovely salmon color that compliments the light green in our kitchen.

Now I just need to buy some chalk, create a menu and invite some folks over for a cook-out. Stay tuned.

American style

I saw this photo on Sartorialist and couldn't agree more with Scott Schuman's reflections. Spot on.

Lemon tart

From the looks of this you still need to make (or buy) a pie crust, but after that's done it's just three simple ingredients for the best part (the middle). Not being much of a baker, this is right up my alley.

(via She Eats Bears)

Splashes of pink

I just love this exactly for what it is.

(via Saipua)

Life on a boat

Last week one of our friends turned another year older so my husband planned a lovely dinner for close friends and family at Jackie's in Silver Spring. Imagine our luck when we had the pleasure of hearing the tales of our friend's father's experience growing up in Maine.

I mentioned that my first connection to Maine was through an Outward Bound sailing course set in Rockland, which I signed up for towards the end of high school. We spent two weeks without any contact with anyone other than the 14 people in our boat. We cooked all our meals, showered in the ocean and learned to navigate by the stars at night. To this day, it's still one of my all-time favorite trips.

My friend's father enjoyed my tales, but his were, admittedly, much better, and, I must say, much more authentic. He didn't need to pay a company to sail him around his lovely state -- he did it on his own (and often) with just the company of a few friends.

He and his buddies often said goodbye to their parents and set out on a boat with a pack of food, jugs of water and little else. (Little did they know that their parents asked the local lobstermen to keep an eye on them!) They inevitably ran into some difficult situations along the way, including horrible weather conditions, but they always found a way out of them.

I hope kids still have the luxury of that kind of freedom. I grew up in the suburbs and now live in the city, so it's difficult for me to imagine that kind of journey beyond parental control and human interaction.

I wish I had had more of it, though. Maybe there's still time....

(via Lowell's Boat Shop)

For a cook

Hand me an apron, a recipe and a group of 10 to cook for and I'd happily take this kitchen off your hands :)

(via dress, design, decor)

A trip to the barber

Back in the '60s the men's skincare market was slim pickens'. Baxter Finley stepped in to fill the void in 1966, starting Baxter of California, the first American men's grooming company. These same folks have now opened up a barber shop in L.A. that, for a brief moment, made me wish I was a man just so that I could have a good shave at this place. I mean, look at it! It's fantastic.

Could she look any lovelier? I think this might be my favorite of her many, many dresses.

(via Mrs. O)

Well said

(via Le Love)

Rhubarb ice cream

My Dad has an ice cream machine that is, in my humble opinion, very underutilized. If I had one of those suckers on my hands, I'd make a batch each Sunday evening and then I'd have a huge problem keeping my hands off of the final product.

But just think about it -- wouldn't fresh, homemade ice cream be the best gift you could give a house guest or a friend on her birthday? (Or am I naively assuming that everyone loves ice cream as much as I do??)

Regardless, I'm now prodding my Dad to make this rhubarb ice cream recipe. Spring is pretty much out the door in DC since 90 degree heat hit this past weekend, so it's time to use the last bits of this fantastic plant for a very satisfying purpose.

(via not without salt)

A few things for Sunday

A comfy leather chair to curl up in while reading my new book. A whimsical whale pillow to give a little character to our guest bedroom. And a peek at the beach, which is now one month away!