the first few poppies

May 24, 2022 in family, garden

(vintage postcard from california)

the end of the school year is always just BANANAS… there are so many band concerts and dance performances and award nights and TESTS and teacher appreciation weeks and concluding events from activities both in and outside of school that it is REALLY hard to keep track of it all. some days we’ve had more than one thing… racing from lucy’s hip hop performance to theo’s band banquet (i’d messed up the time for that one and thought we had an hour in between… we DIDN’T. the band thing was so interesting though because the first part was a dinner in the cafeteria and i felt like an anthropologist observing all the different groups of kids - what they were wearing, how they interacted, the ease of the seniors versus the restraint of the underclassmen… generally, they looked a lot like we did in the late 80’s - high waisted jeans with big hightop sneakers and thick socks, giant sweatshirts… we had bigger bangs and more colorful make up while they were sporting MUCH smaller tank tops and faces twinkling with “highlighter” but it was the same general vibe and i loved seeing them.)

the center of our universe

May 18, 2022 in family, hank, pet

when theo was about three, an old friend of my first husband came to visit us in amsterdam. he was and is quite a character - a serious new yorker who looks like a rockstar but with a sweetie heart. he was hilarious with theo because he talked to him like an adult and by the end of his visit theo was tweaking his outfits and looked like he could be a drummer for guns n’ roses. on the last morning, after watching us dance around theo while serving him breakfast, first’s friend said, “WOW! that kid is front and center…FRONT AND CENTER!” and he was right.

my tread teacher, jess, with the one big dimple

May 10, 2022 in exercise, hank, pet

(baby hank in his first sweater)

so today during my “pop walk” with jess with the one dimple (like lu and my grandma) it came out that jess’ dog, zeus, died earlier in the week and she was missing her walks with him. i am not sure when she recorded this class but i just started bawling. i had to really grab onto the sides of my tread to make sure i didn’t get distracted by my grief and fall off. i have to imagine that she is the the kind of person who would have a frenchie, like hank, and i was pretty gutted.

the most WONDERFUL ones! x00xx

May 08, 2022 in family, hank, holiday

(half californian…)

for whatever reason it was not easy for me to get pregnant. i used thermometers and ovulation kits and “planned” and “relaxed” and went to the terrifying dr. wu for acupuncture and smelly herbs and ultimately created embryos via IVF with the incredible dr. cedars of U.C.S.F. these two were actually from the same batch but lu was frozen for four years. (only recently did she understand that she was NOT tucked up next to the mint chip ice cream at home but was in a freezer at the doctor’s office.) i think that’s why they look so much alike. lucy considers them twins. theo does not buy into that and feels 100% like an older brother. i am just so GRATEFUL that fertility science was advanced enough sixteen years ago that dr. cedars could help us bring these two into the world. i am GRATEFUL to all of the amazing people who supported us through that super intense process that entailed coordinating drugs and doctors from two countries (they were both born in the netherlands even though they began in san francisco.) and i am GRATEFUL to the legions of people: our kraamy, my dutch baby group, the godparents, the grandparents, the fairy godparents, the aunties and uncles, the babysitters, the teachers and the beloved friends who have helped us nurture and support them. i cannot imagine my life without these two half californian, half new yorker monkeys with a big splash of dutch and even some coloradan (i DID just get a tread and the accompanying attire like a real boulder mom) thrown in. they are everything. HAPPY, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! x0x0x

interviewed for CANVAS REBEL

May 03, 2022 in press, residential interior

i was so honored to be interviewed about my design practice for canvas rebel by kimberly chang. THANK YOU so much kimberly for including me in this series! see the full article here. x0x

to read other interviews click here or here or here

my tread

April 26, 2022 in exercise, family

(my first teacher… he is german!)

so… i FINALLY got on my tread! it had been so long since the guys came to set it up that i couldn’t remember how to turn it on. turns out the BIG red button that says, “STOP” is also the start button, which is totally non sensical. i wanted to ease into my tread so i chose a ten minute “walk” that was really meant as a cool down. for some reason my teacher was speaking in german. he was actually yelling in german (i accidentally had the volume turned up super high and it also took a long while to find the control buttons for that) in a very happy, encouraging way. i don’t know what he was saying but i just tried to do what he was doing, except when he stretched his arms up - i was too afraid to let go of the sides… i’ve watched many episodes of the jetsons and i know that walking on a tread can get out of control.

easter comfort food (REPOST)

April 14, 2022 in family, holiday, recipe

this is one of those crazy years where passover and easter fall on the same weekend, which means A LOT of cooking for me! i am reposting my mother’s easter recipes for mushroom crust quiche and easter buns because they are super comforting and yummy and delicious. HAPPY, HAPPY EASTER chckies!*! x0x

my whole life there have been two essential easter recipes served at our brunch: my mother’s mushroom crust quiche and her easter buns. they are both a little trashy… the quiche has smashed up saltines in the crust and the buns are made with the dough that comes in a can you bang on the counter to pop open. but they are both delicious. the quiche (or KWEE-CHEE as theo used to call it) LOOKS a little more elegant, but the buns are never pretty. the filling always squirts out and the jam slides around so they are just a mess. i have tried and tried to clean them up to no avail. when new people come for easter, they usually bypass them on the buffet and i have to force them to try one… no one has ever been disappointed. AND they are both still yummy, cold, the next morning as leftovers. happy, happy easter all! x0xx

passover moon cake (REPOST)

April 12, 2022 in family, holiday

we were still in amsterdam over passover this year, so we had a belated seder dinner this weekend. seders are a big deal to prepare… there’s all of the components of the seder plate, which depending on where you live, can be difficult to come by. in new york, all of the markets suddenly dedicate at least two aisles to passover related groceries in the week leading up to the holiday. in amsterdam, you would never know passover is happening. i had to roast a drumstick our first year living there because i couldn’t make the butcher understand the lamb shank. also, there is no matzo meal, only matzo crackers. in order to make matzo ball soup, i had to first grind up the crackers myself with a rolling pin. it was like little house on the jewish prairie in my amsterdam apartment. horseradish, also, is not easy to find. for that i would have to go to what we referred to as the "expat black market.” it’s a tiny shop on leidesgracht that caters to homesick american and british expats. the prices are outrageous, but it’s often the only place to get a crucial ingredient… a can of libby’s, libby’s, libby’s pumpkin, for example, is typically about ten euros around thanksgiving! so for a shiksa raising my children jewish (the faith of their father), seders can be a challenge, especially when we were living in the netherlands.

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweetie baby lu! x0x

April 11, 2022 in family, holiday

one morning when lucy was about three we had a disagreement as she was leaving for school with her dad. i can’t remember what it was about… possibly me suggesting that she not wear seventeen pairs of underwear all at once because it was hard to get them up and down when going to the bathroom (she started stacking her undies shortly after she stopped wearing diapers… i think she missed the extra booty pop) or maybe i gave her the wrong colored spoon for her yoghurt or maybe i wouldn’t let her have gummy bears for breakfast. i’m not sure, but she was in a SPICY mood. as they finally shuffled out i stood on the porch and called to her, “have a good day lucy!” then i stepped inside and quickly turned the lock (i ALWAYS lock my doors because i’ve seen every episode of law & order SVU so i know what horrible things can happen if a cuckoo gets in your house.) before i could even exhale i hear “BAM, BAM, BAM” on the glass door. there is lucy impatiently pounding with a fierce scowl on her face. i cautiously cracked opened the door and she hollered, “NO mama… YOU have a good day!” she likes to have the last word.

the new normal

April 05, 2022 in family, hank, pet

my parents came to stay with us in amsterdam when my first baby was born. after a few weeks of being woken up constantly at night, regularly getting puked on, never being able to count on any kind of schedule and feeling insanely tired i said, “mom… when is my life going back to NORMAL?” “oh honey,” she said brightly, “this IS your new normal!” and she was right.

my new (as of yet, UNUSED) tread

March 29, 2022 in family, exercise, office

the pandemic has wreaked havoc and heartbreak all over the world the last couple of years… one small but personally impactful effect was the closing of my bar (exercise) studio. i am NOT a natural exerciser and somehow i managed to attend this class with regularity for nearly TEN years. they DO offer online classes but i always answer the phone or get distracted or manage not to complete them. i tried to replace my bar classes with extra vigorous walks but hank is not the best partner for that. he only wants to visit his friends or sniff around under the picnic tables in the park in the hopes of finding a snack. he does not keep a good pace and frequently just lays down and refuses to move at all. i tried going on “dog walks” without my dog, but that feels silly and no fun. also, we have so many blizzards here (and i am NOT one to march around in the snow like a straggling member of the donner party) so they put a big dent in my walking routine. the result is that i may have a new career opportunity… posing on the biscuit cans that you bang on the counter!

daylight savings

March 16, 2022 in family, hank

this sunday hank and i slept in until 7:30 am, which is practically mid day for us… typically we are roosters. (i think best early morning and hank is eager to have his breakfast and first potty of the day… he usually goes straight back to bed after - literally, he heads directly upstairs and curls up in my bed for a few more hours…he’s not very industrious with his mornings.) i was so excited about the extra sleep until i got into the kitchen and saw that the clock on my range didn’t match my phone. for some reason i never know when daylight savings is coming. this was the “bad” kind of daylight savings where you lose an hour, but it was also good because now the clock in my car is correct (i’ve been waiting SIX MONTHS for this) so i won’t have to adjust when i look at the time… i just have to remember NOT to adjust.

wishing for peace

March 08, 2022

this has been a heartbreaking, terrifying couple of weeks with the invasion of ukraine… hoping kinder, wiser minds will prevail soon… x0x0x0x

painting by jessica magee

the backyard of my hawthorn project was featured in a houzz article!

March 01, 2022 in garden

i was so thrilled that the outdoor seating area of my hawthorn project was included in this houzz article on landscaping redesign. we had so much fun creating this inviting dining and lounge area for the garden. many THANKS to lauren dunec hoang of houzz for including my project in the piece and to heather knierim of HBK photography for the lovely photo.

my juniper office project was referenced in this article for ashokafutureforum.com

February 24, 2022 in office, residential interior

i was thrilled to have my juniper office project “linked” (i just learned about this process… i am not terribly techie!) in this article about coping with working at home (which most of us are STILL doing a fair bit nearly TWO YEARS after this pandemic began - HAY SEUS!) look for it under the anchor text “office environment.” x0x

whispir digital communication agency

February 22, 2022 in commercial interior, office, sofa

(bludot felt upholstered lounge chairs in front of the mountain view)

the newly opened boulder office of whispir, a global digital communication agency, is located on pearl street in the center of boulder’s downtown walking district. the upper level office enjoys both street scenes and stunning mountain views from the multitude of windows that wrap the building.

TRASH THE RUNWAY this thursday evening! x0x

February 16, 2022

trash the runway is a design competition established eleven years ago by the creative lab at common threads in boulder, colorado. middle and high school students design, actualize and model super creative, high fashion looks made entirely of found and recycled materials. the garments run the gamut from ultra chic to whimsical cheek and have been created out of the most unexpected “trash”: discarded dog food bags, bubble wrap, gum wrappers, wall paper samples… for kids growing up in a town that regularly tops the “worst dressed” list in america (albeit with the most exercised, toned bodies underneath the fleece and spandex) i find it miraculous and inspiring that they design clothing made of literal garbage that rivals the looks of new york fashion week. this show is so much FUN and i am so proud to be a sponsor this year. purchase tickets here! x00xx

valentine's day 2022 x00xx

February 14, 2022 in family, hank, holiday

we LOVE valentine’s day around here… we love MAKING valentines…

best of houzz service award 2022!!!

February 08, 2022 in commercial interior, residential interior

i am so GRATEFUL to have won the “best of houzz service award” for 2022. (i’m not really sure why it isn’t for 2021 since 2022 just started but it DOES make me excited about the potential for 2022!) i have been so lucky to work with such talented, helpful people (my amazing accountant, amy hubbard, my favorite photographer heather knierim of HBK photography, my super supportive “business therapist” ashley wick, my teachers and classmates from heritage school of interior design and of course my wonderful clients. THANK YOU all! x00xx

i was interviewed for a story by camillestyles.com on color trends for 2022! x0x

February 01, 2022 in family room, residential interior, sofa

it was so exciting to be included in this article by stacey lindsay for camillestyles.com about color trends for 2022. i chose terracotta. sam, one of my SUPER talented classmates from my studies at denver’s heritage school of interior design, employed this color so effectively and beautifully in her work that i fell in love with it too. and with all that we’ve been through already in 2022 - fires, shootings, blizzards, omicron - i think the warmth and earthiness of terracotta will do us all some good. THANK YOU sam, thank you camillestyles.com and thank you heather knierim of HBK photography. here’s to terracotta and feeling safe and grounded in 2022! x00x