I’ve been on Instagram duty for both Quite Like It and maché this week…

1. pure thai cookhouse in nyc // pa-yao beef noodles soup
2. succulent shopping for an upcoming shoot // brainstorming DIY appetizer sticks
3. sneak peek of Baltimore-inspired wedding invites // coolest 90th birthday invites ever went out

Follow Quite Like It AND maché on Instagram for twice the fun!

Remember back when I posted the 27 things to do before I’m 27?  I believe I said, “No excuses, it all must get done.” Weeeellllllllllll, suddenly I’ve run out of time and I’m 27 already. Here is how far I made it:

1. Plant an herb garden DONE
I’m addicted to caprese salad with basil from my backyard.

2. Buy art DONE
I added two prints to my collection. See here and here.

3. Finish the bathroom remodel (anything is better than when we had razors in the wall!)  DONE
And it’s about freakin’ time!

4. Make a rainbow cake for my daughter Leona’s first birthday  DONE
Well, my husband made the cake … but it was drop dead gorgeous. In fact, it ran in the first issue of maché magazine.

5. Visit the National Stationery Show in New York City DONE
We had a blast!

6. Run in an organized race  INCOMPLETE

7. Send out Christmas cards BEFORE Christmas  DONE
It’s hard to do, but we did it!  See the design here.

8. Volunteer at a local organization  INCOMPLETE

9. Cook my way through a cookbook … I’m thinking “How To Cook Without A Book” by Pam Anderson  INCOMPLETE
Does cooking one section of a cookbook count?

10. Take 12 significant photos “Twelve significant photos in one year is a good crop.”  DONE
I think this is done? I’ve made an effort to take more photos and keep track of them all.

11. Make a habit of making my bed INCOMPLETE
This one sounded good, but I’m not convinced it’s worth it.

12. Add a few “investment pieces” to my wardrobe  DONE
And you know I look good in them too.

13. Find a good shade of lipstick and wear it!  INCOMPLETE
Bought the lipstick. And the liner. And the gloss. I just don’t like the feeling of lipstick on my lips. Is that so wrong?

14. Hang all the photos I have in frames (including our wedding photo which has been leaning against the wall for 1 ½  years now)  INCOMPLETE

15. Switch to cloth diapering  INCOMPLETE
Sorry environment, it’s not going to happen for you this time. I decided not to switch.

16. Move the television to the basement  INCOMPLETE
This WILL happen.

17. Give yoga a fair shake  DONE
I did yoga rocks the park a couple times and loved it. I think I might keep it up.

18. Wear jeans to work less  DONE
Well, kinda. It’s warm out now so I’ve been wearing skirts.

19. Take the bus  INCOMPLETE
But my husband takes the bus quite often, so I consider this a half completed task.

20. Get that tattoo I told my husband I would get two years ago. DONE
Photo to come.

21. Have a girl’s weekend in Kansas City  INCOMPLETE
Next year ladies?

22. Mail something other than bills (Christmas cards don’t count)  DONE

23. Attend church at least 5 times  INCOMPLETE

24. Keep current on writing in Leona’s baby book calendar DONE

25. Take down all wallpaper borders in my house  INCOMPLETE

26. Buy fancy new underwear and bras when I finish with nursing  INCOMPLETE

27. Finish making my wedding photo book  INCOMPLETE

Too many incomplete items on the list. It’s time to make a new to-do list … I wonder what this year will bring.

Happy first day of summer! I could definitely see myself lounging under this Hollie & Harrie sombrilla. It’s saweeet.

{from Hollie & Harrie}

Happy Father’s Day to all the superb dads out there. Even if you do wear socks with sandals. To my own dad, thanks for being YOU!

{photo from Oh So Beautiful Paper, card by Fugu Fugu Press}

After stress, stress, stress, your wedding day was a fairytale. Then there was the honeymoon… But what happens after you say I do?

Kendi at Better off Wed has a fantastic sense of humor about how funny marriage can be. If you’re looking to wed, engaged or married (heck, even you if you just know someone who’s married) head there NOW for a good laugh. Here are a few snippets from Kendi:
See. Things can be rather complicated. And that’s exactly why we’re officially making Wednesdays all about real life!

It’s a cheesy cliche, I know, but I find myself thinking that I learn more and more about my husband every day. I really had no idea how good of a decision I was making when I married him. Happy birthday Ben! You’re a swell guy.

{our cheesy Christmas photo by Daniel Johnson}

It will be reaching down into the negatives tonight, so I’m dreaming of hot cocoa and this snuggly scarf.  Stay warm and dream of Spring weddings!

{via SOUL PRETTY}

Smart Gandhi. I need to remember this in 2011.

{from Sentense Me. Say Everyday!}

Happy long weekend.  Happy family time. Happy shopping. Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of  all your Thanksgiving food running together and it STILL tasting good, I give you … Bacon Jam!

{photo from Oh Joy!}

On Saturday we got all dolled up and headed to my mother’s house for an early Thanksgiving dinner. We walked into a room full of laughter and the smell of rolls baking. The meal was full of family stories and laughing uncontrollably. It was perfect!

We strayed a little from tradition in the food department. Instead of mashed potatoes, we had mashed sweet potatoes. I brought a summery fruit salad that ended up being a perfect break from all the dense foods. My brother roasted asparagus and made a sweet potato pie with home-made whipped topping. My mother made a delicious batch of stuffing with a surprise ingredient: dried cherries!  Instead of cooking a whole bird, we opted for turkey breast. There was also my brother’s “favorite” orange fluff. The only thing on the table that always makes an appearance was the green bean casserole. Afterward, I had to take off my belt to lounge on the couch and watch the game.

I hope you have fun at your Thanksgiving dinner as well. Since I’m ahead of the game, maybe I’ll go set up the tree!