The lovely little (big) Guestbook

Over the past few months I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the guestbook. Personally, the traditional guestbook never really did it for me. It simply didn’t make sense to me; I mean what in the world am I supposed to do with a book half filled with signatures?

Thus led me into my search for alternatives

A crystal etched bowel would be pretty amazing if I had the money and/or was willing to spend it on such a thing—but I don’t and I couldn’t so there goes that idea. Along those lines, I’m not much of a cook so a signed platter didn’t ……

A wishing tree/pot/etc. is a cute idea but honestly are people really going to write much more than “congratulations!” or “good luck!” along with their name? Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a cute idea but it seems like something rarely accurately executed. It seems to me that it is probably quite hard to be heartfelt when you’re being rushed and on an empty stomach. While your guests obviously care about you—they are probably just a wee bit more interested in the food and open bar. Besides after all is said and done all you’re really left with are a plethora of pieces of paper that need to be displayed…and of course the consequentially guilt you’ll feel when you put them in a box in the back of your closest (admit you, you’ve thought about doing it!)

Having everyone sign a picture of us or a picture book of us is also a cute idea but overdone and (I feel) slightly narcissistic. Don’t get me wrong I love photos of S. Monster and me and am always up for taking more but I have to draw the line somewhere. We’ll have framed wedding photos, engagement photos and old everyday photos and then wedding albums on top of other albums—and you want me to add a signed album or frame to that mix? Don’t you think it’s a little much?

No, none of the above options would work for me/us. Ultimately, what I was looking for was something a little non traditional, something that had a special meaning to us and something people could sign.

After searching high and low for ideas I stumbled across my solution—a coffee table book. It couldn’t be more perfect.

You see, I have had a torrid love affair with coffee table books for quite some time now. I simply can’t get enough. What makes this brilliant though is that not only are both of us are both book junkies, given our nomadic lifestyle and oh so very long distance relationship, travel has also always been a huge part of our lives. So why not combine our two loves? What could possibly be better than lovely giant book celebrating the country of our first home (the first *hopefully* of many more to come)? Below is the book I think I’ve decided on using. A lovely little (big) special something that I will enjoy cherishing for years to come. Let me know what you think!


“An enormous book in terms of dimensions, it won't fit on the average bookshelf. It might even serve as a coffee table all on its own. Spectacular Ireland, a magnificent collection of more then 140 color photographs by some of Ireland's best landscape photographers and elegant text by Peter Harbison, one of Ireland's most distinguished archaeologists. This handsome volume celebrates Ireland, a small island country of extraordinary beauty, fascinating history, and evocative myths and legends where the old and the new thrive together in an interesting mix”

available at Amazon.uk

May I have your attention please

It is (officially) official--I am moving to Ireland!!

As some of you know, S. Monster and I are somewhat long distance. He lives in Ireland, and I live in New York. Since the engagement people have constantly been asking where we would live after the wedding. Well we decided to wait and see what his company would offer him in terms of a new contract before we made any finial decisions on where we would live. However, I am so excited (and so very proud!) to announce that not only did S. Monster's company offer him an amazing promotion, but they are also paying for my visa and my move overseas! 

So now the plan is to move home from New York at the beginning of August to finish up wedding planning and work on unpacking/ re-packing for the big move. Then immediately following the honeymoon we'll stop back by in FL for a few days to start processing all legal documents and grab more luggage before heading across the pond to our new home in Dublin! 

If anyone wants to stop by for pint of guinness, our doors will always be open! 

Grey skies

Today is a dreary cold June day here in New York and I am in desperate need of some pretty images to pick me up. I saw this post awhile ago, but true to form, forgot to tag it and then could not for the life of me remember where I had found it. After some in-depth internet sleuthing and a dozen or so blogs later, I finally stumbled across it again.

Meet Pia Jane Bijerk, a brilliant designer/stylist/blogger that lives between Paris, Sydney and Amsterdam (I am beyond jealous). Below are her gorgeous images from her Amsterdam houseboat. Yes, that’s right, a pretty little home on a lovely canal in a quaint city. Please enjoy

Welcome to my home. It’s a little different to some… mind your step as you jump on board… Nestled under chestnut trees on one of Amsterdam’s beautiful canals is where you will find my home.

Kitchen:



The kitchen is my favourite space in the boat - it has a great oven and stove top (hard to find in apartments here in Amsterdam), and the water reflections dance on the ceiling all day. It is very inspiring for when I am recipe testing and food styling. There are 7 windows in the kitchen and it is on a little mezzanine level as you enter the front door, then you step down into the main living space…



The bedroom is behind the screen that you can see in the loungeroom. It has a large storage space that is in the very front of the boat for clothes, and there are also lots of shelves. i will show you more of this space soon, it is quite interesting. It is very quiet, in the mornings we wake up to singing birds and ducks playing. This is me making the bed so that you see I do ocassionally make it. But that is the thing about being a stylist, you do get a bit lazy when it comes to doing your own ironing and tidying…

And the grand finale, the teeny weeny bathroom:

Yep, that’s the bathroom! Very tiny, possibly the smallest bathroom I have ever had, and I thought the Paris apartment was small! It was the only concern I had about living on the boat. But I have since fallen in love with it as the most beautiful light comes through the pothole and streams across the shower.



all images are from Pia Jane Bijerk. Go check her out!

Le sigh…one day I will own a quaint houseboat on a cozy little canal…and a cute beach house overlooking the ocean with a lime green vespa parked out front …and also a fabulous loft in the city…..oh one day….

Objects of Desire

In an attempt to ward off any "Case of the Mondays" that may be lingering around (it is an extremely pesky case that is quite fickle and hard to please), I've been roaming the web, meandering through some of my favorite blogs. It was in my search that I stumbled across these lovelies:

These Luggage sets from Globe-Trotter are exactly what luggage should be. They offer a nod to eras past and a world full of possibilities at your feet. If I could I would buy a few pieces, sell everything that wouldn't fit and head off into the sunset in search of adventure. Until then though, I'll leave you with this....

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost." -- J.R. Tolkien