{my mantra}

{dinner with s+c}

I feel every opportunity should be taken to make things special. Even if it's just having friends over - why not make it beautiful? Last night we had Sara and Carlos over for dinner. On the menu?

• Fresh Caprese Salad
• Grilled Corn with Cilantro and Lime Butter
• A Combination of Cowboy, Cowgirl, Hawaiian, and Santa-Fe Grillers
• Homemade Raspberry Sorbet with a Chocolate Mint Garnish

Since we don't have a formal dining room, we always entertain on the patio. It has also become my only place for table decoration. To be honest, we probably use the table outside more often than we would use one in a dining room. When the weather is nice, we eat breakfast and dinner out here. Since it's outside, when decorating I have to think of things that make sense outside. I can't do cutesie place mats or really cool centerpieces because they either blow away or just seem too yuppy for the setting. I have seen this place mat idea many times, but never had a chance to use it. With my free time, I actually had time to make it yesterday. I think it turned out really nice. It complimented the setting by embracing the fact that we were outside. 

{lanterns}

{let the fun begin}

School is out - FINALLY! We had eleven snow days to make up, but the time has finally come and I am sitting, at 9:10 in the morning, basking is the great outdoors of my backyard oasis drinking my second latte of the morning. This is the sweet beginning of the Summer of Sam. (Tim has tagged each summer to be the "Summer of Sam" because, let's be honest, most of the time they are) Yesterday was day one and I would have to say, if every day is as good as yesterday, this might be the best one to date. I woke up and got right to my "to do's." First thing, clean the heck out of this house. After that, the fun began. I painted, did some projects, made our summer wish list, ate wedding cake for lunch (thanks Josh and Rachel), took the dog for a walk, watched the iris' bloom and painted my nails!

This is our summer wish list. The most exciting thing on the list? Chicago! Tim and I are...wait for it...attending the 2011 HOW Design Conference!!!! We are so flippin' excited! I have been so inspired lately that I just think this conference is going to be the icing on the cake. It's going to make me move! I'm not sure which direction, or how, but I'm ready to go.

Happy Summer!!!