Lately...

Lately I feel like I haven't had time to even breath- I know get out your violin and play me a sad song, ha!  My second half semester class started and that just means double the work.  But after this semester I only have 1 class left, woohooo!

 

Anyway, here are some things I've been up to and loving lately...

 

The Decorista posted these on Instagram the other day and I fell in love- how awesome are those??

Walking through the Boston Public Garden never gets old.  No matter what time of year, it always makes me stop and really appreciate where I get to live!

Yes, I have had a fireplace in my apartment and never once used it.  I was always afraid of smoking myself out or something worse happening.  But I finally decided people pay big bucks for fireplaces, so I need to take advantage of it while we are living here.  It finally just got cold enough for a fire this week, and I cant WAIT to light it up this weekend!

Don't you love it when you score a good deal at TJ Maxx?  I stopped in the other day and these Cole Haan beauties were calling my name.  Since most of my wardrobe is plain, solid colors- I love spicing it up with some bling on my feet.

 

The Home Depot Holiday Challenge is in full swing, I'm up to my eyeballs in Christmas decor around my apartment and loving every second of it.  I love that I had an excuse to get out the Christmas stuff early this year!  Here is a sneak peek at what I have going on.

That's it for now- off to go catch up on some of my favorite blogs.  Tell me, have I missed out on anything good this week...give me the good blog / interior design / DIY scoop going around!

If it works in nature

After over a week of tinkering with my blog I think I am finally done.  I say that now, but guaranteed tomorrow I'll want to change something else about it.  So, no promises that there wont be more tinkering later.

If you'll notice I'm now using the domain I bought over 3 years ago.  woohoo!  So this blog can be found at www.everythingleb.com from now on.  With the google reader issue I figured it will be much easier to find me here after its kapoot.  Oh, and I have a new logo.  Still the same idea just updated a bit- I'm in love with it an I hope you like it too!

So enough of that, on to the pretty.

Not counting this past week Boston has had some pretty great weather.  It has been the perfect for walking and I love nothing more than walking around my city when it nice out.  One of my favorite places to walk through is the Public Garden.  There is just something magical about it.  The statues, swan boats, ducks, and the gardens.  Oh the gardens!  They remind me of my Memes gardens when I was little.  Now she had a green thumb.

The past few times I've walked through the garden I realized that Mother Nature really has a way with color.  She really knows what colors work together and I think if they work in nature they can work in a home as well.  Actually I dont think, I know.  If it works in nature, it will make for the perfect color pallet.  Just take a look at these examples from the Boston Public Garden

So tell me, what cues do you take from nature for your own home?

Boston Strong

It's been a little difficult to get back in the swing of things around here.  I find myself online looking for design inspiration but all I can do is read about the bombings, the lock down, the suspects, the survivors, those lost and the heroes.  I still can't believe someone did this to MY city.

But I will say this, having been though the past week makes me even more excited for Marathon Monday next year.  You better believe I will be on those sidelines once again, screaming as loud as I can and I won't let anyone take that away from me.  Not even two cowards who tried to ruin it this year.  All they did was make this city stronger, prouder and closer than ever.  In the words of Big Papi, this is our *&#$%@ city! 

We are Boston Strong! 

Click on the image to donate to The One Fund

PS- I'll be back tomorrow with an interior design post

Love for my City

My heart has always been and always will be in Boston. 

Today we are with heavy hearts around here, but I can say with certainty that we are a strong city and will stand together to face this.

Christmas in Beacon Hill

A few weeks ago I took a photography class in Beacon Hill.  It might have been the coldest day of the year because I couldn't feel my toes after, but it was totally worth it.  I just love Beacon Hill!  Our class basically stayed in a two block section on the Flat of the Hill, so these photos only represent a tiny sliver of the beautiful decor in Beacon Hill this time of year

 

 

 

And just as I was finishing up this little beauty was headed for a walk. 

 

 

Can you stand the cuteness??

 

Hudson Shopping

Boston friends- major sale going on at Hudson right now!  They are moving and from now till next week sometime they are trying to move everything from their old location. 

I stopped by yesterday and basically wanted to buy everything I saw!

Those large wood things were AWESOME- I wish I had a place for them in my tiny apartment

there was tons of lighting, mostly Visual Comfort stuff too- on major sale I might add

It took everything in me not to take these chairs home.  Marked down from something like $1500 to $750 I WANTED THEM!

This lamp shade was MASSIVE.  It would be perfect for someones huge room- it was $350 marked down to $50

This tortoiseshell console almost made it in my bag- but then I remembered I'm still paying for a wedding, boooo

loved the live terrariums- super cute

Oh this couch, it was lovely and on major sale- like 50% off sale.  Run now to get this and make me super jealous.

Hudson Boston

312 Shawmut Avenue, in the South End

*this post is in no way sponsored by Hudson and I didnt get anything for free- I just love what the have and wanted to share :)

Changing Seasons

I love walking through the neighborhoods of Boston looking at the beautiful homes and apartments,  specifically the ones in Back Bay.  Their front gardens are always perfectly manicured and the front doors always freshly painted- everything seems to be in beautiful order.

On a walk to work the other day I happened to have my camera and snapped a few of my favorite fall sights.

The kick plates on these huge wood doors were beautiful, they had the perfect green patina to them. 

Mums and more mums

I just love this brick pattern

the moon was still out

pretty Greek key detailing 

Another shot of the moon over the front gate of the Boston Garden

 The trees were beautiful at the peak of their fall change

At the end of my morning walk, off to work I go.

Have a good day everyone!

All is calm

The snow is coming, it's slow but it's coming.  I'm excited that the February issue of Lonny came out today because it gives me something to read as I curl up on the couch and watch the snow blanket the city with a pretty white dusting.  Yes, 4-8 inches of snow here is considered a dusting.

**Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the Graphic Image notebook!!  Contest ends tomorrow night.

(Photo from Lonny Mag by Patrick Cline)

Simple Things

It was a particularly windy day in Boston yesterday. There was debris all over the road and sidewalks; leaves, acorns, branches, trash- you name it, it was there.

As I got off the T and walked to my apartment I saw the cutest little oak branch just lying in the middle of the sidewalk, complete with an acorn still attached. It looked too pretty to just leave there so I picked it up. I brought it home and put it in some water, hoping that it would stay green so I can enjoy nature inside for a bit.

With a pretty candle lit and a movie on TV it was a quiet, simple evening at home. The best kind in my opinion.

St. Anthony's Feast

This past Sunday the BF and I made our way over to The North End (my old neighborhood in Boston) for St. Anthony's Feast. For those not familiar, the North End is the little Italy of Boston and home to celebrations, feasts and other street parties every weekend in the summer.

A t-shirt I snapped a picture of

Parking in the North End is always a challenge

Wall to wall people

more people

lots and lots of great food!

2009 marked the 90th celebration of the feast and it still looks and feels the same as it has for years.

And at the end the streets are filled with shredded paper, streamers and more people! If you are ever in Boston during the summer you must head over to the North End to see some of the fun festivities.

(Photos from Stanthonysfeast.com and my own)