42"

Or, your standard bar height. John and I are in the process of working out our kitchen butcher block design with the talented Brooklyn based builder Jesse Hooker. We're very excited for our new table, but some attention should be given to its temporary stand-in.

Though it looks like a potential toxic waste disaster, this fold out table from Home Depot propped up by two paint cans (one quart, one gallon) has survived groceries, breakfasts, cookbooks and pretty extensive and heavy home brewing equipment. The white eggshell paint and quick-dry polyurethane have remained safely contained in each can, helping to make the table's overall height exactly 42 inches.

I guess you could say this makeshift design has grown on me, but I still think something like this will look way better.

Ode to Anthropologie

There's been a great deal of change in my life in the last five years. But one thing has stayed the same, the curtains. At the time it was a big, sweaty palmed investment..but these casual yet chic window treatments from Anthropologie have been giving my bedroom just the right pop of green since 2005.

East Village circa 2005

Brooklyn circa 2007

San Francisco circa 2009

Buffalo present day, positively charming. (wink)

Newest Addition to the Kitchen

The chalkboard had all the table assignments on it as you walked into the reception at our wedding. The board was cut and painted with chalkboard paint two days before the wedding by my soon to be husband and father in law, my sister then spent many hours the day before the wedding writing out all the names and table assignments with her perfect teacher handwriting. And what's even better, after everyone was seated the names were erased so people could write silly little notes and well wishes. By the end of the night it looked like this.

After thorough documentation the messages were erased, and now its the newest addition to our kitchen. Will be great for grocery lists..if I ever remember to buy chalk.