Independence Day 2011

What a nice family weekend! Here’s a quick rundown of our Independence Day festivities:

Saturday morning we ventured down to the Farmer’s Market, our first time this summer. It was so hot that we quickly made our way through the aisles and came out with only corn on the cob, basil, cucumber, and fresh flowers. Jord spent the remainder of the day doing yard work while I joined my dad at Rookie’s for a fundraiser. Then off to a rooftop party in downtown Davenport to enjoy the fireworks from the River Bandits stadium.

Love the selection of fresh flowers at the Farmer's Market

Sunday we headed out to Eldridge for the annual Collins Reunion. It wasn’t quite the same as years past – very quiet. But it was nice to catch up with the older Collins generation. Luke was the entertainment and insisted on the classic water balloon toss, so tradition lived on in that respect. After getting home, we were tempted to stay on the couch for the remains of the day, but Luke called and invited us to play tennis and I couldn’t resist. Then he asked us to watch fireworks with him, so again we were obliged to go. We found a good spot on the top of the hill so we could avoid the throng of people downtown. Luke provided a running commentary while we enjoyed the spectacle.

Our contribution to the Collins Reunion menu: caprese skewers

Monday was a bit more relaxing, although there’s always more yard work. This time, I was out there helping Jord – a rare occurrence. Then we had Jord’s mom and sister and my parents over for dinner, so we grilled out. Jord tried a recreation of the cheesy bacon dog that we love so much from Five Guys and got pretty close. It was a great end to the holiday weekend!

Luke enjoying the Red, White & Boom fireworks

Design Trend: Kelly Green

It’s not too often that I’m ahead of the curve… in anything. But when I saw this piece on Casa Sugar, I was delighted to see that Kelly Green is a current trend in decorating. I’m absolutely swooning over the pictures, especially the Hollywood Bed!

 

My office is primarily black, white and green. I wanted to do something different, so we kept the walls white and painted the ceiling and the window molding green. The painters argued with me over the color, trying to persuade me for a more muted tone. But I adore Kelly Green and knew I would love it.

Inspiration from Lulu Powers

The first time I saw celebrity caterer extraordinaire Lulu Powers was months ago on an episode of The Nate Berkus Show. I can’t remember the exact purpose of her appearance, but she was suggesting tips on how to style some kind of magnificent event, a birthday if I recall correctly. I loved her chic and classy approach! Of course she was also promoting her new book, so I put it on my wish list. Tricia gifted me Food to Flowers for my birthday, but I didn’t have a chance to sit down and flip through it until recently. It’s filled with useful and inventive ideas for a plethora of occasions. I can’t wait to enact her lessons for my next soiree!

Coincidentally, there is also an article featuring Lulu in the current issue of Lonny. In Summer Nights she offers expert advice for hosting the perfect summer affair. Now if only I could get Jord to end his strike against my parties!

Back in the Saddle

I found this antique piece at a yard sale in LeClaire with a little help from one of Jord's co-workers who knew we were in the market for a church pew. Although there was a church pew available as well, at eight feet it was too big for what I had in mind. This four foot bench will do just the trick, with a little fabric upgrade and perhaps a coat of paint (still deciding on that one). We had taken a break from projects like this, but I'm ready to get back at it!

Father's Day Weekend

In preparation for Father's Day, I dedicated last weekend scrapbooking. I wanted to put together an album of all the 2011 St. Patrick's Day festivities for my dad to commemorate his grand marshal status. My scrapbooking skills were a little rusty, but it turned out okay and we'll have something to remind us of all the funny things that happened throughout the weekend.

Just a taste of the scrapbook pages

My parents, Sarah, Jord and I decided to spend Saturday afternoon in LeClaire. For lunch, we tried a new spot called Blue Iguana. It was pretty tasty, especially the margaritas, but my heart still belongs to Azteca when it comes to Mexican fare. After a little shopping, we headed to the Distillery for a tour and tasting of either vodka or gin. It was nice to spend and afternoon doing something different and fun! And although we had good intentions of going out and about last night, we ended up staying in and grilling out at my parents' house. It turned out to be a great family weekend, just the thing my dad enjoys.

Margaritas at Blue Iguana

Tasting vodka and gin at the Distillery

Shelter Mags

This NY Times article introduced me to three new online shelter magazines: Rue, High Gloss and Matchbook. The piece also gave some background on Lonny – I wasn’t aware of its humble beginnings nor the following they've established. The story gives motivation to all the young entrepreneurs out there (myself included). I have admired Lonny from the beginning and am happy to have some fresh sources for inspiration from these similar publications.

And 100

I cannot believe I’ve written 100 blog posts! Where has the time gone? At this time last year, we were just getting serious about the house search and were on the cusp of finding our home on Fairhaven.

Oh how much has changed since closing day!

To commemorate this milestone, check out this link to 100 Ways to Save the Environment. Jord and I are always looking to reduce our carbon footprint. Recently, Jord has started riding his bike to and from work, an excellent way to save on gas and emissions!

Season of Grilling

Jord finally unboxed the grill and got it ready for the season. I’ve only had charcoal on my grocery list for the last month, but Jord kept telling me not yet. I was so anxious to have a real grill! We’ve been using a little Smoky Joe for the last five years since we didn’t have space for anything larger at the apartment. We donated that to Sarah and went out in search for a grown-up version. I thought Jord would be interested in a fancy apparatus, but when it came down to it he chose a classic Weber.

I had grand ideas of hosting a BBQ to kick-off the summer with family and friends. Who was I kidding - we kept it simple the first time around with just hot dogs, chicken and shrimp for two. We don’t have outdoor furniture or even a suitable space in the backyard to plop down. I guess we’ll have to wait to throw any summer parties until I can find some acceptable outdoor furnishings. In the meantime, we’ll continue our ritual of grilling every Sunday for just us two.

Sarah's Summer House

I was so excited when I saw the first commercial promoting a new season of Sarah’s House on HGTV. This has a special spin – a summer home! I set my DVR, thinking I might miss an episode here and there. I hadn’t watched a single one until Sunday when my sister Sarah, my mom and I sat down to get caught up. I knew once I started watching I wouldn’t be able to tear myself away! Her eye to renovate and decorate is truly inspiring. And I especially enjoy getting a glimpse into her personal life, with clips of her husband and daughter sprinkled through the show. This reaffirms why the Sarah's House series is my favorite!

Hat Luncheon 2011

Mamie hosted her annual hat luncheon today. To give a little background, this has been a Collins tradition for about eleven years and running. Mamie started this back when all of us cousins were about high school age – we would have brunch at The Outing Club and have to wear a hat. There were a couple years that we didn’t have as much enthusiasm for picking out a special hat and getting all dressed up, but it has always been a fun outing for just the girls to get together. Nowadays, we go all out to find the perfect outfit to match our carefully chosen headwear. It’s quite the occasion!

Sarah posing in her new hat

Like mother like daughter!

This year was a bit different than years past. We typically meet at St. Anthony’s for 10am mass and head to brunch afterwards. There was a conflict this year, so we pushed it to Monday (we always aim to have it during Memorial Day weekend) and met at The Symposium Café for lunch. There's constant chatter about the story behind each hat and compliments flying. This year, we had quite the array of colors and styles. They get better and better every year!

Mom looking glamorous!