playing with picnik

I know that by now many of you, if not all of you, already know about the site Picnik. I have been using it for the past year to edit my family photos. For some reason, I never thought to use it on my blog photos. So, what started out as a post about my kitchen, ended up being a post of some of my favorite things and playing with different borders and exposures.

This "HOME" sign is hanging in my kitchen window. It has been there for almost 2 years and I will never get sick of it. I bought it from Etsy but unfortunately, I don't think the seller sells on Etys anymore.

Top of a lampshade in my bedroom....And also my new banner that still needs some tweaking!

Just love these old architectural pieces! Mudroom....Doesn't always look so pretty. Usually backpacks and baseball hats are hanging on this rack.

Thanks for bearing with me while I experiment with these photos...I'm having a lot of fun!

Hydrangeas

My god....has it really been 2 months since my last post???? Hmmm...well let me see. Since then we've had field day, field trips, school parties, little league....times three. 4 Th of July BBQ, husband's birthday party, my 12Th wedding anniversary, in-laws came to visit and my oldest son turned 10, which by the way, is just killing me. In the meantime, I've really missed blogging and all my blogging buddies!Every time someone walks in my backyard they have the same reaction to my hydrangeas. For some reason this summer they are out of control. Maybe it was from all the rain we had this spring but they are just extra huge. But I just love it because I constantly have flowers in the house this time of year. I always put them in this iron urn in my living room and let them dry out. They stay perfect until the fall when I will replace them with gourds.On the coffee table in the living room The kitchen sink. At least I have something pretty to look at while washing dishes.And my newest and most favorite purchase. I have a thing for black wicker and when I saw this in Heather's shop, I fell in love. It's so perfect sitting on my kitchen table! I am also thinking about how pretty it will be with a candle in it! Here is some exciting news...I won my first giveaway. It's from Suzanne and this was one I really wanted to win!!!!!

Not only did she send the sweet wicker purse, but tons of fun along with it...vintage wallpaper, ledger, ric rac, an old hankie...lots of fun stuff to play with!



Hope you are all enjoying your summer so far. I am lovin' it! Not having to rush in the morning or deal with homework after school. Staying up late with the kiddos! Right now I have to go...lots of Target bags sitting on my floor waiting to be unpacked.

Happy Summer everyone!

White Flower Farmhouse

On the eastern end of Long Island you have the north fork and the south fork. The south fork is known for The Hamptons. The north fork is known as wine country. Acres and acres of vineyards. Farms where you can pick any fruit or vegetable you can imagine or just buy them at one of the hundreds of farm stands. In between are some of the most beautiful and quaint old farmhouses and antique shops. Or you can go the very end to Montauk and see the Montauk Lighthouse. Every Christmas we take a ride out to the north fork and cut down our own tree. This year, by accident, we came across one of my now favorite antique shops. The White Flower Farmhouse. It's out in one of the cutest little towns called Peconic. Since Christmas I've been dieing to go back and as a Mother's Day treat to myself, I took a ride out with my boys.At Christmas I bought some candles that have now become some of my favorites. I love how simple they are...in just plain old clear glasses. The white "lavender" I bought from their Etsy shop. I love it in my bathroom!

Another one of my favorites is mercury glass. I picked up the beautiful tall one and the little round one second in from the right.

Of course my all time favorite collectible...Ironstone! Last time when I was there I bought a few pieces. When I walk into a shop with ironstone I just know we are on the same page!

And a girl can never have enough flower frogs! What is it about these pointy things, that poke you (and it hurts!) if you are not careful and would probably break a toe if you dropped one, that we love so much?????

As I was downloading my pictures tonight I cracked up when I noticed that my son must have been snapping away as I was looking around. Sneaky boy!

Happy Mother's Day!

Well, tomorrow is Mother's Day and I want to wish all you a very happy one! My husband has to work tomorrow and I really don't mind. Mother's Day is always bittersweet for me....I'm proud to be a mom of my three little rugrats but it's also just another reminder of my mom not being here with me.

The above photo is a piece from my moms pink lustre ware collection. I keep it on my dresser. That pin I gave her for Mother's Day one year and the pearls she wore when my parents were married and I wore when I got married.

Last month my Aunt (her sister) came across this silhouette of my mother and sent it to me. I love surprises like that coming in the mail!


In this photo I think she was like, 14! Don't you always find that woman back in the 1950's always looked so mature for their age? I remember her telling me that she had it taken for her boyfriend at the time. It's hard to see but she was wearing a white furry collar and she added a mole to her cheek with her eyeliner pencil...she wanted to look "older" she said.

This picture is of my mom and dad a few years later. I think she is about 16 or 17 here and my dad about 19. I love this picture!
This picture is one of my favorites! It was taken to be used on the placecards for my parents wedding. She said she had the flu...you would never know it! I think she looks beautiful!

I had a few gifts to give out tomorrow and wanted something special to put them in. I had some matchboxes left over from a swap a while back and thought I would use them. I have to tell you, these are the first things that I have made in months. Is it weird that when I was going through my wallpaper stash that I missed that smell...that old musty wallpaper smell? So I decided to make more and put them in my shop tonight. I loved the way the came out! Also squeezed in one little journal...

So, tomorrow I will be spending the day with my boys. We are taking a ride out east on the north fork and have lunch with my best friend whose husband is also working. Hopefully I will make it to one of my favorite antique shops and some farm stands. Hope you all have a great day!

I'm Baaak!!!!!

Hello everyone!!!! I am finally back to blogging again! I've been wanting to post for so long and life has just been so busy that I have hardly even been on the computer that much. I want to thank all of you for your kind comments and emails over the past month! April was busy, busy....We welcomed my brother and sister-in-law's twins on April 9th...Alex and Katherine. Healthy and happy! Little league season (for all three boys) has begun and mine and my youngest son's birthdays were in April. All is good!!!!

So I thought I would share my birthday gift with everyone. Warning: If you are not a cat lover, you may want to skip the rest of this post! Meet Simon....

I've been wanting a new kitty for quite a while now and when my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday this year I said (while cringing) a kitten????!!!! To my surprise he responded with "what kind?" Well I wasn't that surprised...I have to admit, my husband is wonderful. He is a British blue shorthair. Within a few days of me asking my husband found a breeder in Connecticut. He is the sweetest little thing!



Bailey immediately took him under his wing. He is being a great big cat brother. Penelope (my Siamese) on the other hand, has copped a major attitude.

Ever since I was little I have loved cats...all animals really.
We always had cats growing up and I just adore them. I've even given them an old yelloware water bowl to drink out of (in style)....




...and a shabby chic container to hold their food.





Since I am on the subject of cats...I am lovin' Grey Gardens on HBO. So fascinating isn't it!? The history, the house, the era and of course, Little Edie and Big Edie. Now, as much as I love cats, three is my limit....really!

misc.

Yesterday, we all went into the city to go to the Intrepid. It's funny...I've lived in New York (actually on Long Island) my entire life, but there are still so many things in New York City that I have never been to. It was a beautiful day yesterday so I thought that maybe spring was on the way but not today....it's freezing!Whenever we are in Manhattan, there are two things I usually will not go home without....roses. Beautiful roses too! $10 for 2 dozen...can't beat it...


...and cupcakes! Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. Unfortunately they weren't as inexpensive as the roses...

...but, they are soooo good!

I also wanted to share this with you. My house isn't very big and I'm always looking for ways to save space. A few years ago I picked up this big jar from Target and filled it up with the kids snacks. When you have three hungry boys, you have a lot of snacks and keeping them in the boxes were taking up too much room. This jar holds a lot more then you would think. I also keep it low since it's glass.

Before I go, thanks so much to all of you for leaving me such kind comments about my husband. This past week has actually made a huge difference in how he has been feeling. One of the reasons we had a fun family day out yesterday. But it's always nice to hear that someone understands or has been there...so THANK YOU!

XOXO

Jennifer