chapstick

May 15, 2018 in family, hank, residential interior

a few weeks ago, hank ate a cherry chapstick. he didn’t eat the plastic part, but all the waxy stuff inside. we are all still getting used to having a puppy and taking care not to leave things out that aren’t good for him. at the time, i was annoyed at the kids and fascinated by the new sweetness of his breath, but was not overly concerned. i should have been. at 4:30 am the next morning i woke to the sounds of loud slurping. when i managed to get my eyes open, i saw that hank was licking something off my duvet (YES… he has started sleeping in my bed. one night i just meant to have a cuddle with him and i fell asleep before putting him back in the crate and now his new spot seems established.) i couldn’t understand what he was eating and then i came to the horrifying realization that he was re-ingesting his own VOMIT! i am not great with bodily stuff and it was all i could do not to throw up myself. i scooped him up and took him outside for some fresh air. then i brushed his little teeth and had him drink some water. he seemed okay and i thought it was a “one off” situation like my children sometimes had as babies. we went back upstairs, i replaced the blanket and we both went back to sleep. and then at 6 am he did it AGAIN! this time, i was much swifter. i picked him up before he could eat it and quarantined him in the bathtub. he was not best pleased with this situation, but i could not let him roam around my house barfing. i was already faced with laundering two duvets and their covers. luckily, the vet opened at 7 am so hank didn’t have to stay in the tub too long. the doctors were a bit surprised that i brought him in… apparently dogs eat weird things and throw up all the time, but i have never had one before and was worried he would get dehydrated… he is such a little guy. we both went home to rest and do laundry - you wouldn’t believe all the feathers flying around my drier from the duvets! hank spent most of the day sleeping and i thought it was over. unfortunately, i had a date that night with someone new and i could not get a single sentence out without yawning (so rude!) because i was so tired. it didn’t really matter as it turned out this guy had THREE cats. that was definitely a deal breaker… i am now a dog person, even a barfing dog person.

jip and janneke (yip and yawn-a-kuh)

May 08, 2018 in family

*we are spending christmas in amsterdam this year… i am just beside myself. in anticipation i am reposting stories about some of my favorite dutchie stuff… jip and janneke are two adorable little friends… x0x

jip and janneke are two little dutch kids who met when they saw each other through a hole in the hedge that separated their houses. in the celebrated story by annie m.g. schmidt, jip was peeking through…

little mamas

May 01, 2018 in art, residential interior

nearly a month ago, i was browsing in the delightfully curated cedar and hyde shop in downtown boulder. i was completely charmed by a collection of whimsical, stoneware vases, each with three little feet, displayed there. they came in different sizes and resembled women in the waddly stage of pregnancy when everything is protruding and feels surprising and unbalanced. each zaftig piece was unique, as is each child-bearing mother. the vases were textured in a way that held the glaze in various degrees of intensity. they had a soft, organic, earthy feel and i spent a good while comparing the bulges, patterns and characters of each vessel.

keukenhof (coo-ken-hoff)

April 24, 2018 in family, travel

the dutch east india company was founded in 1602 and monopolized both asian and european trade for two centuries, a period known as the dutch “golden age.” a wealthy dutch merchant class was established and the netherlands was the center of some of the greatest achievements in art and academia (think rembrandt, vermeer and hals, the invention of the pendulum clock, the discovery of bacteria, the first modern stock exchange…) at the start of this era, tulips were imported to holland from the ottoman empire. these brightly hued flowers with petals growing in the shape of elegant teacups completely captured the dutch and became highly valued. the “tulpiere” vase was designed to hold individual stems, as each blossom was considered so precious. by 1636, the tulip bulb was the fourth leading dutch export, following gin, herring and cheese and “tulpenmanie” was at its height. tulips became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency and a speculative frenzy ensued. it is said that one canal mansion was offered in trade for just ten rare bulbs. in 1637, the tulip market crashed after buyers in haarlem refused to show up to a scheduled auction and make good on payment. some believe that the haarlemmers stayed home because the bubonic plague was going around and they didn’t want to stand around in a big, infected crowd. since this was long before purell’s product launch in 1988, it is completely understandable. the burst of the “tulip mania” bubble did not have a lasting impact on the dutch economy, but it did effect the dutch psyche and is considered a reminder to stay grounded when making financial decisions. tulips continue as a beloved and iconic symbol of the netherlands (as do gin, herring and gouda, also popularized during the golden age) and today’s dutchies still love to chat about the period in history when a country the size of maryland fairly dominated the world.

pompadour

April 18, 2018 in holiday, travel, family, commercial interior

i moved to amsterdam in august, but you wouldn’t have known it was summer because of all the rain. there is the general misting present most days that you can still walk around in and then there are the serious downpours where you need to go inside. one of my earliest rain-evading discoveries was the chocolate shop, pompadour. this “gezellig” (dutch word for cozy, but meaning so much more) patisserie was located just around the corner from my apartment. it was almost a holy place for me. the interior is beautiful…rich, intricate, rose-colored wallpaper with warm, carved wooden moldings cut for the town hall of mortsel in 1895 and imported and repurposed, striking light fixtures evoking wild flowers or some kind of nature and inviting little marble cafe tables. there was just about no trouble that couldn’t be soothed away by having a cup of mint tea at pompadour. the tea was served in a large, clear glass of hot water with a couple of fresh mint stalks tucked in, accompanied by a delicious almond cake on the side. and i haven’t even gotten to the gorgeous chocolates and little cakes that looked like works of art.

passover moon cake

April 10, 2018 in family, holiday

we were still in amsterdam over passover this year, so we had a belated seder dinner this weekend. seders are a big deal to prepare… there’s all of the components of the seder plate, which depending on where you live, can be difficult to come by. in new york, all of the markets suddenly dedicate at least two aisles to passover related groceries in the week leading up to the holiday. in amsterdam, you would never know passover is happening. i had to roast a drumstick our first year living there because i couldn’t make the butcher understand the lamb shank. also, there is no matzo meal, only matzo crackers. in order to make matzo ball soup, i had to first grind up the crackers myself with a rolling pin. it was like little house on the jewish prairie in my amsterdam apartment. horseradish, also, is not easy to find. for that i would have to go to what we referred to as the "expat black market.” it’s a tiny shop on leidesgracht that caters to homesick american and british expats. the prices are outrageous, but it’s often the only place to get a crucial ingredient… a can of libby’s, libby’s, libby’s pumpkin, for example, is typically about ten euros around thanksgiving! so for a shiksa raising my children jewish (the faith of their father), seders can be a challenge, especially when we were living in the netherlands.

cuckoo clocks

April 04, 2018 in residential interior

when we moved from amsterdam to boulder, our cuckoo clock came too. he never really got over the jet lag… he still pops out of his house and sings and flaps his wings each hour, it’s just rarely the correct amount of cuckoos. and turning the clock forward and back for daylight savings hasn’t helped him one bit. but we love him anyway. we know that when he cuckoos at 8 o’clock in the morning (no matter how many times he chirps) it is time to leave for school. he reminds us when it’s time to go bed as well… also at 8 o’clock.

nijntje (nine-cha)

March 24, 2018 in residential interior, travel, family

i moved to amsterdam when i was three months pregnant with my first child. i had never spent any time there and like many americans, i associated the netherlands with wooden shoes, tulips, marijauna “coffee shops” and the red light district. i was leaving behind my family, my pacific ocean and my super-fun job styling the windows for banana republic. the whole move happened so quickly i barely had time to process what i was getting myself into and what i was going to do with myself when i got there, besides being pregnant. one of my favorite work friends suggested i start styling the red light windows. i could rework them every season with different themes like we did at banana and dress the women in something beyond tiny, white bikinis that glow iridescent in the intense red lights.

living spaces

March 13, 2018 in residential interior, living room

for this kalmia home, we wanted to create engaging, flexible spaces that work for entertaining both large and small groups, as well as encouraging cozy, intimate family time. in the larger living room we left the persian rug relatively free of furniture pieces so that the intricate, colorful design could be appreciated. the burnt reds and teals of the carpet and the morroccan floor cushion add warmth and dimension to the expansive space. we scattered several ottomans around the room that are easily moveable to allow for a variety of seating and social arrangements.

fortnight collective

March 06, 2018 in commercial interior

“fortnight collective is a brand marketing accelerator driven by the desire to liberate the strategic and creative development process. with our advertising hack process, fortnight collective tackles brand strategy and campaign development -- all in two weeks. gone are the days of lengthy processes, group-think, and all the things that get in the way of progress. by putting the right talent around the table at the right time, we look to accelerate brand momentum for our clients. in keeping with our rallying cry 'better hustle,' fortnight helps brands be better, faster.” andy nathan, founder and CEO, fortnight collective

cotillion for hank

February 27, 2018 in pet, family

i have always had a bit of a southern obsession. i loved watching gone with the wind as a child… i was mesmerized by the big hoop skirts decorated with intricate ribbons and lace and layered over all the petticoats and cinched up corsets. i spoke with a terrible southern accent for the entirety of my fourth grade year, nearly driving my father out of the house. in my twenties, whenever i suffered a break up, i would return to gone with the wind and read in the middle of the night when i woke up miserable. “fiddle dee dee… i’ll think about that another day!” i’d tell myself when i couldn’t stop ruminating over whoever had broken my heart… just like scarlet. in my early thirties, i was invited to a wedding in north carolina. there were loads of southerners there, but there was one proper belle that i became fixated on. she was newly pregnant so she had a perfect little baby bump poking out beneath all of her floral empire waist sundresses. she always had a matching cashmere cardigan draped over her shoulders that never fell off, even though the top wasn’t buttoned. her husband wore pink pants and immaculately ironed button downs and loafers all weekend. i studied her and followed her around all of the wedding parties and events like a stalker. i couldn’t wait for the bride to return from her honeymoon so i could interrogate her about my belle. i learned that all of my belle’s towels were monogramed and every christmas her entire extended family had a huge photo shoot where they wore matching clothes. apparently, holiday cards are very important in proper southern families raising belles and gentlemen.

sarah kinn's paintings

February 20, 2018 in art

i first saw sarah kinn’s work when it was on display at max (boulder’s esteemed women’s clothing shop) sponsored by the boulder creative collective. the paintings hung throughout the store were done primarily in deep pinks with hits of black and grey and other startling, vibrant hues. they almost looked like textiles. the canvases were boldly feminine and so very uplifting. i immediately wanted one, and i wanted to meet sarah kinn.

valentine's day

February 14, 2018 in holiday, family

valentine’s day is my favorite holiday. i love pink and red. i love lace and flowers and chocolates and hearts. and who can resist a chubby, naked baby with wings shooting love into your heart? but mostly, i love making valentines with my children and thinking about those dearest to us. this year boulder valley school district decided that students could not include sweets with their valentines in order to promote “healthy habits.” TYPICAL boulder! so we had to tape lame pencils onto the cards instead of hershey’s kisses or sweet tarts. i wouldn’t be surprised if lucy comes home with a sack full of kale and yeast ball valentines… but that’s okay because i will have loads of proper chocolate for her at home. HAPPY, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY lovies!

brown-haired family

February 07, 2018 in family, pet

my whole life, when i envisioned getting a dog, i pictured a brown-haired dog. we are a brown-haired family and more importantly, we have dark wood floors throughout our house. the flooring was an intentional choice because i can’t stand the sight of my long, brunette, fallen-out strands on white tile or light floors. also, i wear A LOT of black and navy, even in summer, and didn’t want light dog hairs on my clothes. so last july when we got permission from my dad to get a puppy (yes - at 48 i still felt i needed to ask because the vikings STILL hadn’t won the superbowl) and we’d zeroed in on a frenchie, we immediately decided we would get a “brindle” because they have very dark brown/black hair like we do.

i won a prize!

February 02, 2018 in press

i won a prize! BEST OF HOUZZ 2018 SERVICE. this past year and half or so of running my own business has been a roller coaster of excitement, learning, joy, shock, fear and fun. since i never did team sports (or any sports really) winning a prize is new to me. aside from a lovely pair of bar method socks i won about three years ago (and didn’t take out of the package for at least nine months because i had them proudly displayed on my bulletin board) this may well be my first prize. i am so thankful to my wonderful clients, family and friends for all of their support and encouragement. i’m sorry if this sounds like an oscar speech (it IS awards season after all) but i need to milk it a little since this may not happen again. you have to eat a special diet for the current bar method contest and i can’t do that, even for a great pair of socks!

click here to read about another prize

shel's skies

January 30, 2018 in photography

by day sheldon rilliet is a realtor in northern california, but by dawn and dusk he is a photographer. when shel is driving to an early appointment or commuting home in the evening, like many of us, he notices the sky. unlike most of us, he captures those early morning and late afternoon skies in his striking photography. shel’s skies are expansive and moody. the clouds are often dramatic and sculptural. the colors range from subtle pastels to saturated sunsets to deep, poignant blues. many times, shel’s skies are framed by architectural trees or arresting buildings. sometimes, the sky expands across the photo alone. in all cases, shel’s skies make me pause and wonder and breathe a little deeper… and i am not even really a nature person.

hank is perfect

January 23, 2018 in pet

hank is perfect. he sleeps through the night and always wakes up in a good mood. he is super quiet…he has only ever barked at his own reflection in the piano or when he is trying to play with another pup. (so maybe he won’t make the best guard dog?) he sleeps A LOT so i am still able to get work done. he is perfectly happy to binge watch the crown with me. he allows my daughter to dress and and undress him in his various hoodies and weird little outfits she creates. he hops around the yard like a bunny and thoroughly enjoys the simple things like chewing sticks and sniffing mulch. like me, he is a bit lazy… on our last walk he would only go as far as one and a half houses (and in my neighborhood the houses are very close together!) before he sat down and refused to go further. i had to carry him the one and a half houses back home. and of course, he is absolutely the most ADORABLE little guy you’ve ever seen.

sheepskins

January 16, 2018 in residential interior, pet

we got our new puppy, hank, just over a month ago. even though it was december, his first few weeks in boulder, colorado were pretty temperate. he was potty trained fairly quickly as he loves running and sniffing around in the backyard and would just do his business in the midst of his exploring. (except at other people’s houses - so sorry liz, bette, anne marie and adam!) one night, however, we were both caught off guard when we came downstairs for a 2 am potty and the whole back lawn was covered in snow. after delicately tapping one front paw in the icy whiteness, he made a beeline back into the house without making his potty. luckily, one lounge chair had been left out, so there was a two foot square of grass free of snow. that is the only place hank would potty until the snow melted. and i would have to carry him over the snow to that spot. when he was safely back inside, he would run right to the big sheepskin rug and recuperate from his trials of exposure to the snow.

eddie's jackets

January 10, 2018 in family, residential interior

my father-in-law was gone too soon. by the time i met him, he had been suffering from parkinson’s for nearly thirty years. there was still a twinkle in his eye that confirmed all of the stories i had heard about him when he was younger, but i missed knowing him when he looked like ricki ricardo and was celebrated for his violin playing, spontaneous fun, witty humor and dapper dressing. i did, however, get to see the beautifully tailored cashmere coats and suits he left behind. while none of them fit his son quite right, they were too fine and too sentimental to give away. we packed them away carefully and they moved with us to three different apartments and two houses. recently, i found them when i was doing a major post-lice cleaning. i know you don’t have to go through EVERYTHING in your house when your children infect it with lice, but once i get going on the cleaning i tend to get carried away. they were in the back of my sewing closet in an unmarked box. i am no longer married to my father-in-law’s son, so clearly i needed to give the jackets back. but i decided to take the cashmere herringbone coat apart and have it made into two sofa pillows because the fabric was so soft and appealing. after getting the deconstructed jacket cleaned, i had the pieces sewn together into two squares. one square has a pocket showing and the other has the jacket buttons going down the middle. my daughter and i picked out a neutral plaid that has a 60’s era feel and we used that as the backing on these pillows. my one-time husband had forgotten about the jackets and was delighted to have them repurposed and added to his living room…a cozy reminder of his dashing father.

gingerbread houses

December 22, 2017 in holiday, family

i can’t remember when i started making gingerbread houses… it’s probably an extension of my love of my childhood dollhouse. i do know that making them with my children is one of my favorite christmas traditions. they are messy and sticky and my kitchen gets a thorough dusting of powdered sugar every year, but the extra mopping and wiping is worth it. we eat way too much candy, lick loads of frosting off our fingers (i always tell our recipients not to eat them, just use them as decoration!) and we usually feel a bit sick afterward. some years are more structurally successful than others - more than one house has had to make due with a cardboard wall as a result of a “kitchen earthquake.” the candy roof design has evolved as well. in the early days they were a kaleidoscope of random candies and today there is careful thought put into the layout of licorice squares, lifesavers, gumdrops and mike and ikes. the recipe is the same as the modern one we did last year… just a more traditional pattern.