The Man Bakes

And he doesn't just bake. He bakes chocolate chip cookies.

Really, really good chocolate chip cookies (in dough and baked form)...

He likes to drop the cookie dough balls from high above the sheet pan. I usually set them gently in place. I think he's imagining them as little paratroopers...

We didn't have enough brown sugar, so he Googled a solution. I learned something new - no brown sugar? Use white granulated sugar & molasses. I had no idea you could do that. Am I the only one?

I've only had a few dozen so far, but they are excellent cookies. Hooray for baking husbands!

Nursery Inspiration Part III

Tulips!

The Professor wants flowers in the spring.

His solution: Tulip bulbs & a bulb digger.

I guess we'll see if they survive the winter and come up in the spring.

Nursery Inspiration Part II

The saga continues.

Here's a nursery from Rambling Renovators.
It's great because I've got a radiator to think about and they did a lovely job creating a seat over the radiator:
And I love the little balloon in the window:
Here are some nurseries with lots of white:



The drape/netting over the cribs is really very sweet.

Green pom poms:
This is a terrific mixture of colors - the quilted window drape is so pretty!

Very cheerful framed frog pictures and cute matching dresser knobs:
Whites, tans, & browns - I like the birch wood curtain rod & wicker chair:
Painted alphabet - the background may be a bit much, but it would be very easy to do with alphabet stencils.


I like all of the colors on the pale yellow:
Look at the little sheep in the corner!
So many ideas. One more nursery post to go!

Berries

I love red berries. I think cherries & winter berries are beautiful. I'm not sure if these are winter berries, but there are two large bushes of them in my absent neighbors yard. I may have to pick some for a little bouquet. I don't even feel guilty because I have permission to steal flowers and berries from their yard while they're gone.

I think winterberry is usually closer to the branch than these are. Maybe it's just a different type than what I'm used to? Regardless, I think they are happy and cheerful.

I think I'm going to have to make or buy a winter berry wreath for the front door this winter. I just love the way they look...

Nursery Inspiration Part I

I'm in the early stages of planning a nursery - as in - I've briefly thought about it. Briefly. Nothing specific. No real details. However, the arrival of an actual crib and baby items got me brewing a little bit about coming up with actual ideas for the nursery.

All I know is that we'll have more than one child (only children always seem sad to me) and so I think it would be best to keep it mostly gender neutral. Not that there can't be any girl or boy things -just something easily changeable.

Also, my mother keeps reminding me that the baby doesn't really know what's going on with the nursery in it's early months - so the nursery should really be a calm and happy place for the mother since she (I) will be spending lots of time there.

Keeping all of that in mind, I did a google image search on nurseries. I found a lot of really cute, sweet, and inspiring spaces. I decided I'd compile them on the blog to keep as a reference for when I actually start making design plans and decisions for the nursery. It may end up being the only room completely done in the house by April (I hope?). Sad, but true.

There's this space from Life in the Fun Lane. Very sweet. I like the giant pom poms.

I love, love, love this nursery:
Definitely gender neutral, but still a comfortable space!

I like the framed alphabet letters:

I like the idea of keeping plants in the room. I think every room should have plants of some kind. They really liven the place up!
The book rack at baby level is so sweet!
Hmm. Mommy chairs... Gotta start thinking about those. This is a fun pattern:
I like the window seat:
More on the elegant side:

The argyle pattern effect is created with ribbons and tacks. The princess drape is also very pretty:
And I've been seeing a lot of embroidery hoops/fabric combos that I really find to be adorable:




So, so many ideas. More to come later.