Our Trip to Vienna

A few pics from our trip to Vienna.

Things Making Me Happy Right Now

Starbucks NYC Gift Card - Through the winter, I'm not a Starbucks person. Every now and then I'll treat myself to a Dunkin' Donuts decaf with cream, but that's about it. But come summer, one of my most favorite things is an Iced Green Tea from Starbucks ... one Splenda please. This is so yummy and refreshing when it is hot outside. Plus I'm pretty sure there is a Starbucks every 3 blocks in New York. I compiled all of the Starbucks gift cards I've accumulated on this fun NYC card. Makes me happy every time I use it. Hooray summer.

Anthropologie Bowls - I feel like every meal I eat, I'm eating it out of one of these bowls. Fruit, cereal, tuna salad, heirloom tomatoes, berries, yogurt ... everything in these bowls. They are cute, colorful, just the right size and they make me happy.

Essie Fifth Avenue Nail Laquer - What I'm wearing and loving right now. Plus, love the name.

Farmer's Egg Crate - I have been wanting one of these forever and finally got this one from Anthropologie. Makes me happy when I open the fridge and see our cute brown eggs on display. Also very functional as you can easily see how many eggs you have left. We seem go through a lot around here.

Farmer's Tote - I feel I have been searching for just the right, plain, cute, utilitarian farmers tote for a long while. Its an essential especially in NYC. The straw totes at J. Crew are a 42.50, which seemed, to me, a bit much. However, I found this near replica at Target for 19.99. I love you farmer's tote and I love you Target.

J Crew Espadrilles - I have been wearing these Espadrilles from J. Crew a ton. They are surprisingly comfortable and cute with rolled up chinos.

Garden Redesign

My mom's garden is a very special place. Some of my best memories with my mom take place no more than 100 feet out my parents' back door. Walking through the garden cutting roses for a bouquet, potting herbs for the kitchen, having breakfast in the garden in the mornings and swinging on the deck in the evenings. My parents' beautiful garden is a reflection of countless hours of hard work and a passion for flowers.

When my parents purchased their home 25 years ago, there was barely a blade of grass. Two tall trees defined the empty lot and they built their home around them. Over the years their garden has been designed and defined by the shade these two massive trees provided. Over the course of the last year, my parents lost both trees to storms leaving a large hole in the design and shape of their yard.

After shedding a few tears, my mom got to work dreaming and scheming up a brand new design. Above and below are photos of the new stone patio they built in place of their shade trees. 8,000 pounds of flagstone, plus 10,000 pounds of dirt and 8,000 pounds of mulch were moved by my parents this spring to make the new design a reality. Not to mention the 53 stepping stones that were individually moved, stacked and adjusted by my mother nearly 8 times to get just the right paths through the space. In addition, 14 new roses, 3 buckthorns, 2 spruces, 15 day lillies, 5 lilacs, 4 weigelas, 2 boxwoods, various flowers and ground covers were all added to the garden this spring.

Their hard work is quite an impressive undertaking and the results are absolutely beautiful.

Good job momma and daddy. You are amazing ... absolutely amazing.

Read my mom's blog "A Garden Diary" here