Well hello...Summer

Summer seems to start earlier every year, so we've been trying to make the most of May.  My step father is still fighting his cancer, and undergoing chemo and his clinical trial, but since he is still feeling ok (and his latest scan, the week of my sister's wedding, showed his aggressive tumors are shrinking), we decided we should all take a little trip together. 

We went over to Holland, Michigan for the final Tulip Festival weekend and had a great time.  The weather was amazing, which made up the many of the flowers being past prime (again those earlier summers).  Our twins found two random flowers all alone and we declared them the twins.

The kids finish up preschool (forever!) next week and then their fourth year of summer camp (now up to four hours/day, yay!) starts right away, which is great because I've been keeping busy with work (my biggest project yet, a repeat of one I did last spring, but this time I'm doing it mostly myself).  It should wrap up at the end of June and then we are headed back to the Hamptons for the week of the Fourth, since back to school (kindergarten!!) events in mid-August required a rescheduling of our usual vacation time.  No showhouse for me this year, as it starts in late July. :(

The kids are doing great and while it's been crazy, I'm so glad that they each got to go to their respective schools this year.  We've met tons of new friends and are super excited about our new school. They will be in different classes since they always separate sibs, but they are old pros and will have some things together, including the bus rides.  They will be 5 1/2 in a few shorts weeks.  The time does fly my friends.

I'm working on figuring out what to do with myself come September when the kids are in school full time (~9-3 plus bus time).  I may do contract work while we get used to the new schedule, or if something great full time comes along, I may do that.  Anything to avoid all the home projects that still don't get done with kids in school just over two hours a day.  Ack!  I'm really not looking forward to finding someone to come help us in the afternoons/evenings (see also: why I'm still a SAHM) for when the kids get home, making dinner, watching them until we get home.  Ugh, time to bit the bullet after I procrastinate most of the summer.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  Happy Summer!

Hamptons Designer Showhouses (Part Two: Traditional Home)

Traditional Home sponsors THE annual Hamptons Designer Showhouse, which while it is a spec house, it is truly a showhouse for designers, as there are many represented.  My favorite room was definitely the living room by Kate Singer Home.  I could have just pitched a little tent in front of the fireplace (and under those panels) and lived their happily.  But the outside was great too, with a pool, tennis court...  I should have gotten a job on Wall Street.  This house was a lot busier, so I got lots of photos bombs to go with my sketchy IPhone photos.  Sweet!

The house was up on a crazy hill and they had us park in the driveway, which was weird.  Hello parking brake I never use, nice to meet you.

The Living Room!  Swoon...

Hamptons Designer Showhouses (Part One: Coastal Living)

There were two big showhouses in the Hamptons last summer since Coastal Living joined the club (the regular annual Hamptons Designer Showhouse is sponsored by Traditional Home).  I planned then debated going to both, but then realized they were five minutes away from each other and sucked up the cost ($35 each, and only one was for charity).  Lucky for me, when I got to the Coastal Living House, there was not a soul working there, selling tickets or collecting money, it was just open with a few other ladies perusing so I got in and got out before anyone asked me for cash.  Slick Katie.

One of the main differences between the Coastal Living House and the other, is that they had one design firm, Meg Braff Designs, do the whole house, unlike the other where they have dozens of designers with each doing one room or nook.  It was also generally less impressive, save all the awesome tile work by Fireclay, which we almost used for our kitchen, which was the general theme of the house.  White and lots of colored tile, with all the rooms having a different color scheme.

J. McLaughlin, the clothiers, contributed to the mudroom, so it was prep haven.

The beginning of all the beautiful tiles in the powder room off the mud.

I found my place!  The poolhouse!

 I'm super predictable, but man I love two tone blue tilework.  The mini kitchen in the poolhouse.

 And the bath!

Back inside and downstairs...