TGIF, 5/28/10 Edition

(image via Martha Stewart)

Happy Friday, everyone. It's almost three o'clock here and I'm itching to start my Memorial Day weekend. How about you?

While enjoying the barbecues and the start of summer, let's just remember those currently engaged in combat (like my sister-in-law, Jamie). Whatever your politics may be, Memorial Day is a time to enjoy our country, remember its history, and honor those men and women who served it.

Daydreaming of the Islands

With Memorial Day just around the corner, I am finding it hard to concentrate on work. I'm thinking that this weekend is the beginning of corn-on-the-cob, barbecues, beach weekends, and summer weddings. Naturally, with imagery like this floating around my brain, it's nearly impossible to keep my mind in reality. I'm dreaming of an island paradise instead.

(image of Fiji via Google)

No, no, silly...not those islands. These islands:

(images of Casco Bay via Google)

Off of Portland, Maine is a series of islands in the Casco Bay. My mom is from Maine, so as a child I spent countless summers in "vacationland" with my extended family. Occasionally, we would take the long way via Route 1 and experience the scenic New England drive to my grandmother's farm in Farmington.

The temperatures today in Philadelphia are approaching the 90's, and I'm imagining myself biking along a gravel path on Great Diamond Island, one of the islands in the Casco Bay. I am biking to my island cottage that is surrounded by New England nature at its finest. My bike's basket is brimming with flowers and my hair is messy from the ride.

Here are two potential contenders for my dream Maine island cottage, currently for sale on Great Diamond Island in the Casco Bay:

This Sunset Avenue house

and this Crescent Avenue house

Both need work and are still over my imaginary-Maine-dream-cottage budget (currently set at a whopping $0), but it's fun to dream, isn't it?

Impressing the Fam

I don't know about you, readers, but when my parents or extended family come to visit us in Philadelphia, I feel compelled to impress them, to show them that I'm not only an adult, but I'm a pretty great adult. I'm an adult who lays out towels in the guest bedroom, spreads blooming peonies in vases around the apartment, and plans wonderfully delectable meals for all to enjoy.

This is, after all, not an every day occurrence. Family visits are special.

On Thursday, my mom, dad, and grandmother will be traveling from Connecticut for a visit. Considering my parents haven't seen our apartment since a week after we moved in, I have been buzzing around after work making sure everything is just "so."

So far I have the following meal ideas, all via Martha. For Thursday, I'm thinking:

Penne Fritatta with basil and ricotta (yum!)

(image via Martha Stewart)

and, for dessert, Martha's Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

(image via Martha Stewart)

Readers, do you have any special things you do to prepare for special visitors? Any great summery recipes you want to share?

Prints, please

After a long day at work, I was thrilled to check my email and find a delightful email from Roberta Roller Rabbit. What did I receive? A discount code for the summer picnic-ready hand blocked printed napkins, place mats, and tablecloths!

(image via Roberta Roller Rabbit)

From now until May 31, receive 15% tabletop items via the online store using the promo code ALFRESCO10. If you're looking for more than just great dining decor, here are just some of my fave (non-tabletop) items:

The "Fantasia" pillow in blue, $40

The "Elephant" quilt in pink, $125 for full

The "Amanda" lounge set in blue, $85
(all item images via Roberta Roller Rabbit)

The image in the heading of my blog is of our bedroom, in which I've paired cobalt Roberta Roller Rabbit curtains and an Rubie Green-upholstered chair. Everyday I wake up and honestly think, "I love my bedroom. More prints, please."

Weekend Recap: Wedding Venue, Take 2

Happy Monday, blog-readers. Adam and I were very busy this past weekend. As promised on Friday, I will share a bit about our second trip to wedding venues.

Saturday was spent buzzing around to two potential wedding sites: Bartram's Garden and the Belmont Mansion, both historic sites that are a part of Philadelphia's expansive Fairmount Park. Don't get me wrong, both are beautiful and a drastic change of pace from the normal urban hustle-and-bustle of Philadelphia, but something was just not right in both of these location. Just not...well, perfect.

The grounds weren't maintained well enough, there weren't enough flowers in bloom, the parking lot wasn't big enough...I could go on (and really, these are both beautiful places, don't get me wrong).

Soon-to-be brides or marrieds out there, do you know what I'm talking about? Will I need to forgo perfection for reality, or can you actually find "the one"?

On a side note, my parents and grandmother will be visiting us over the next weekend so we weren't just scouting wedding venues...we also did a bit of purging. Clearing out the junk made me feel like this weekend wasn't a total bust.

How was your weekend?

TGIF, 5/21/10 Edition

Happy Friday, everyone!

Like most of you, Adam and I have a busy weekend ahead of us. We are visiting our second and third potential wedding venue tomorrow and I think we're both pretty excited about it. Here's a sneak peek of one (more details to follow on Monday):



Can't you sort of see what I'm trying to go for with the wedding? A historic location with a wonderful outdoor space appropriate for a relaxed, but beautiful outdoor celebration. I can't wait to share photos next week.

Also, if you have any remaining ideas on what I should do about this sad looking ottoman, share them! Comments always welcome at Meet Me in Philadelphia!

Until then, readers...Happy Weekend!

What Wha-what Would You Do?

If only a Nickelodeon studio audience and Marc Summers were on hand to help me with this decision. I am at a loss on what to do with this very tired-looking ottoman that Adam unearthed from his grandparents' home a few weeks ago.



I've placed it at the foot of my thrift store chair (the one that I recovered in Alan Campbell "Deauville" fabric), but I can't get moving forward on reinvigorating this piece.



You'll see I've sanded and restained the legs to match the chair, but I'm not sure what fabric to use for the reupholstery. Remember, it was free and I have a wedding to plan for...so, readers, I turn to you:

What wha-what would you do?