When Mitch and I moved to St. Louis, we bought a 110-year-old house in Tower Grove Heights, a historic area in St. Louis City just south of Tower Grove Park -- almost 300 acres of running trails, ponds, green space, pavilions and Busch-league kickball.
The house had been completely (and beautifully) renovated by a local company that specializes in restoring historic homes in the area. It had been gutted to the studs, with all-new plumbing, electric, HVAC, and a new roof. By the time they were finished with Humphrey House (as we call it), he was absolutely turn-key and SO handsome, but also totally inoffensive. The house was smartly renovated by a firm, not an individual, and so the details were designed to be as palatable as possible. It was vanilla, is what I am saying, and I am a person who enjoys sprinkles.
Read MoreWe've already talked a bit about anniversaries on the blog. And although there's not a gift prescribed for the 31 year mark (they go from five-year intervals to decades between gifts as you get further into marriage, sort of backwards if you ask me) we think 31 years is worth making a fuss over.
So to Mr. and Mrs. David and Carol May... Mom and Dad...
Congratulations! 31 YEARS TOGETHER. We don't know how you've made it, exactly, but we couldn't imagine you apart.
Read MoreA year ago today, I stepped foot on the fourth continent in my goal to make it to all seven. The continent of South America. Location Lima, Peru. 12:15a.m. With three of my best friends, we went backpacking for just a week, but the number of adventures that we crammed in that time would astonish you.
Read MoreEvery trip is unique. That being said, you have to figure out the right trip for you. I’m not saying Mom and I’s method was perfect, but we did see the highlights… which if you’re in a limited time frame like we were, might be all that you are able to do. Anyway you spin it, I was able to visit my fifth continent, starting in Beijing, China.
Read MoreI've realized over the last few weeks that my mission for 2015 and for this blog -- to live my life with more intent and less impulse -- has sort of fallen by the wayside. In its place has been a mad scramble to get keep it (barely) together in between social obligations, whether they be significant family gatherings or spontaneous happy hours.
I haven't been grocery shopping in more than two weeks, didn't go to the gym once in that span, and have even been neglecting this blog. One of its requirements, which I'd planned on and hoped for, was that I write every. damn. day. Instead, I've been dragging posts around the editorial calendar and dragging my feet.
Read MoreEvery spring brings new life -- to your yard, yes, but why not your wardrobe? This year, I’ve decided to be a bit more adventurous and stock my closet with 5 new items to wear this spring and summer. Here are my must-haves for May. Follow the links for purchase info.
Read MoreHow to spend just a few pennies to transform a modern day home back into a retro time-machine? The answer is simple, raid your grandmother's cupboards to make use of things that are free! Add some flowers, great internet finds, and voila! Your mood is set for a fantastic bridal shower with family and friends.
A personal favorite in planning the event of Caroline’s Bridal Shower to become Mrs. May was creating the décor. My concept was simple – retro. How hard could it be? But, the challenge was to find out how to turn a modern day home into a beautiful retro home on a small budget. Because, let’s face it, we sure aren’t going to keep most of this around the house for day-to-day use.
In my penny-pinching mentality, why waste a few dollars buying new items that I already knew my grandmothers had tucked away in their cupboards? So step one became raiding my grandmother’s cupboards, particularly the back or highest shelves to find unique items that they’ve had forever. I counted on anything that you could no longer buy at a common store to add some retro style.
Read MoreStumbling through Pinterest, I knew a pink bridal shower didn't suit the future Mrs. May. Nor did a Disney theme, or fairy tale, any reference to prince charming or basically anything too lovey-dovey.
So when I happened upon the idea of a "retro" shower, I wondered if it might be just ironic enough to fit the bill...
Read MoreFrom time to time on the blog, we'll offer unexpected alternatives for traditional gift-giving situations: Engagement trinkets that aren't all about the bling; rogue wedding gifts that inspire awe instead of "aw, you should NOT have;" things your parents won't only keep out of obligation, etcetera, etcetera.
Giving a truly thoughtful and well-executed gift is one of the most rewarding feelings ever -- like that time I found a set of dessert plates for a friend graduating PA school in a seemingly abstract pattern that was ACTUALLY super-magnified human tissue samples. (Eternally self-fiving that one.)
So, we try to replicate that feeling as often as possible around these parts. Good gifting is a gift, I think is a saying.
Read MoreEvery year around this time I struggle to put into words how much my mom has meant to me. She’s kept me safe and kept me reasonable. She’s always insisted that we be kind and also useful. She raised us to be compassionate but not sweet (an important distinction), and taught us early on that “of course, bourbon is always an asset.”
I know, also, that my affection for words comes from my mom, who strings them together with SUCH effect both when she’s heaping praise and reviewing expectations.
So this year, I’ve decided to re-write the sappy store-bought cards -- whose lines she would absolutely detest -- in favor of something more true.
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