Jen Bowles Design

My New Green Orb

I'm not really sure if it's an orb or a stylized artichoke.
Either way, I really like it.
Thanks again, Home Goods.        

Makes Me Happy Friday

While making banana bread yesterday, I had a brilliant idea.
Perhaps not brilliant, but pretty good.
A new blog feature.
Introducing:  Makes Me Happy Friday
I know lots of bloggers have certain features on certain days of the week so I figured, why not join in on the fun.
And of course you can feel free to join in on the fun as well : )
So here it is, my first Makes Me Happy Friday list...

• 

• My new set of fish and wave prep bowls.  Love the colors, love the graphics.  I'm pretty sure I don't even need 'prep bowls' but they were only $10 for the set at HomeGoods.  And I've already used them once. Makes me happy.
• Silicone tool set.  In my favorite colors.  Another HomeGoods find.  These are now sticking out of my utensil crock on the island in the kitchen.  It's like they're waving to me whenever I pass by.  Makes me happy.
• Lime green melamine 4 quart batter bowl.  Another $10 oh-so-well spent.  For years the Pampered Chef glass 3 quart mixing bowl has served me well.  I even have the smaller companion size.  However, ever since I started making BGD apple pies on a regular basis, I've found it just isn't big enough.  Most of the time it's perfect.  But not when it comes time to mix 4 or 5 peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples and sugar.  Cinnamon sugar was always coming over the edge and setting itself free onto the counter.  No more.  This bowl is bigger, lighter-weight, and my favorite color.  Makes me happy.

So, what's making you happy today?

New York Shops, Part Deux: ABC Home Children

While this was one of my favorite stops/shops of the day, there was some definite sensory overload going on.  In fact my overall impression of ABC was 'Melrose Vintage on steroids'.  Which wasn't a totally bad thing.
Let's get to the pictures and you can judge for yourself...   

{See more at my Flickr photostream New York City set  }

  While I was overwhelmed, I did glean some inspiration for my bathroom walls (of all things).  See the pearlescent vines and leaves painted behind the French school chalkboard?  I'm thinking something like that would look cool in our downstairs bathroom.
And be a lot more budget friendly than say, $200/roll Farrow & Ball wallpaper.

We shall see...      

New York Shops

Seems like a long time ago, but it was only 2 weeks ago that I was in New York city, soaking up the eye candy.  Now that the kids are back in school I've been trying to cram a lot of house project type work into the day and have been slacking on the blog.  Again.
But now it's time to share.

• Home Decor trim at M&J Trim
• Beautiful fabric at Mood
• Vintage beauties at Tinsel Trading
• Cupcakes at Books of Wonder
•   Grand entry at ABC Home
• My next fridge  ; )

I was quite taken with the children's department at ABC Home.  So much so that I will post those pictures in a post tomorrow.  Really.

P.S.  See the lots more NYC shops pictures along with commentary on My Flickr photostream

Late Summer Roses

What a pleasant surprise to find that all of the (very fragrant and varied) roses that were in bloom back in June and early July when we moved in are now blooming again.
Too bad the blog isn't scratch & sniff ; )              

First (and Last??)

Last week, Lori of Fresh Picked Whimsy fame,  send me a blog award.
See, here it is: 
Lori is a great blogging pal, so endearing and a talented illustrator and artist--with awesome handwriting I must say (!).  What is supposed to happen is that the person who receives the award posts it on their blog with links back to the person that sent it (check!) and links to 7 more blogs that you love.  Oh, and you are supposed to leave a comment on the 7 blogs you award so the author knows the scoop.  All of this is supposed to be done in a timely manner.
Oops.
We were in New York, then it was the 3 day weekend, we had some upsetting family news, then it was the start of school.  Poof, suddenly it's more than a week later.
So I'm going to try my best to redeem myself with a modified version of the award.  Here are links to 7 blogs I do indeed {heart}...

1. CakeWrecks
2. Lena Hyde Photography
3. Paula Prass
4. Lilla Rogers
5. The Inspired Room
6. The RealEstalker
7. ohdeedoh

So there you go, a more links for your viewing pleasure.  Go off, explore and indulge in eye candy (and a few laughs).  And thanks again to Lori, who now knows why no one ever sent me chain letters ; )

First Day of School: Cuyler & Will

Can't you just feel Cuyler's excitement??
And Will (in orange) certainly looks jazzed, doesn't he?

Elementary school starts at 8:20 and the walk to school is (much) shorter than Ebby's walk to the bus stop.

Around 8am we went to the bottom of the driveway to hang out and wait for some other walkers to come along.  It didn't take long.  Before we knew it, there were 5 kids and 4 parents walking up the sidewalk.     

Mommy and Daddy were allowed to go as far as the dining room at the school before we had to bid our boys farewell.  They were fine.  We introduced ourselves to the assistant principal and told her who the boys were and how it was their first day at the school (which, after hearing their names, she did know.  She's administration after all).  It felt a little weird leaving, I haven't seen their classroom or met or spoken to their teacher.  Yes, they are in the same class again this year, per my request.  I eased the pain of leaving them in a new place by attempting to build an IKEA bookshelf for Ebby's room and savoring the

silence.  Silence except for BGD who worked at home.  But he's pretty quiet, what with his tendency to nod off and all...

Walked over to pick the boys up just before 3pm. Got another good report from them when I asked how school was, "good!", "awesome!".  Alrighty then.

The only problem that either one of them mentioned was a little miscue from Mrs. Carey, their teacher.  Now we all know that Cuyler (like Kyle with an r) is an unusual name.  It was plucked from a fictional character in a book I was reading while on bedrest in the hospital, awaiting what would turn out to be my emergency c-section.  I love it.  Obviously.  And I feel it suits him.  Of course.  I will admit that it can certainly be a curve ball on the class list though.  When the aforementioned Asst. Principal asked him his name and he said "Cuyler" she said, "Nice to meet you Tyler".  Happens all the time.  We correct, they apologize and we move on.  When people see his name written, that's a whole other set of miscues.  The most common one is "Q-ler".  He's also been called Kylee more than once.  And that's typically a girls name.  Sheesh.
Well yesterday he told me his teacher called him "the worst accidental name ever".  And what was it?
Sy-ler. 
As in Sigh-ler.  As in Cy-ler.
Oh, the drama!
Cuyler (Kyle with an r) corrected her.
And here's the big news.
He didn't cry.  He didn't sulk.  When he was telling us about it, we laughed.
And he did too.

My little Cuy-bee is growing up.
Maybe just a little bit anyway.

First Day of School: Ebby

was yesterday. Not bad, considering my recent track record.
 It was Ebby's first day of 6th grade which means...middle school.

The bus comes at 7:10am.

At the end of the street. Which is a good 5 minute walk away. Making it necessary to awake at 6am.

Yaaaawn. I totally understand.
 Daddy and Jake walked her down to the bus stop.  She's the only girl at her stop. 4 sullen, silent boys.  At least when there's an adult around.  Oh, and ours is the first stop in the morning.  Which means ours is the last stop in the afternoon thusly maximizing Ebby's time on ye olde noisy school bus.  And she's oh so pleased about that.

Otherwise, we got a good report on her first day. They didn't switch classes until today, she managed her locker and lunch and backpack and has a few friends already. Today when she got home she told me that middle school was "easy" and "fun".

How long do you think that'll last?

Catching Up

Sorry to give the impression that we went to New York and never returned.
Not quite.
It was a fun 30 hours, lots of walking and browsing, sightseeing and picture taking.
I will say, it's a good thing that BGD had to work because the W Hotel on Lexington and 49th is not worth $550/night.   
 
 
      
View more pictures (with witty blurbs)
on my flickr page:
click here. 

My overall impression from our quick trip...
there's a lot of
everything in
New York City.
Taxis, people, streets, sidewalk vendors, restaurants, shops, public art.
Oh, and I can't imagine that anyone in NYC needs a TV Guide.  Every bus,  billboard, and payphone booth is plastered with ads for the premieres of all the fall shows.  Pushing Daisies?  October 1st.  Inside the NFL?  Now on Showtime. Entourage? Starts this Sunday. 
Anyway, plenty to see, plenty to do in New Jack City.  And next time we might even bring a child or 3 with us : )