Good Morning

America.......

I seriously thought for half the time in line that we were going to be on the Today Show. I {heart} Al Roker. Diane Sawyer did take a picture with her arm around me. We're probably best friends now.

UPDATE: photo

On My Way to the Big Apple

I am meeting my mom, a friend of hers, and her daughter, for a girls weekend. Lots of shopping, eating, and shows!

Last year we had lunch at Pop Burger. Have you been? Very cool interior design, and very cute mini burgers. The "Pop" is a play on Pop Art. The dining area is clad in Andy Warhol's famous Soup Cans. And the cuing line walls have back lit metal panels that are laser cut with fun phrases to get your mouth watering.

Next time you are in town you should check it out. Have a fun weekend!

The Time Traveler's Wife

I finished this book a couple weeks ago during our 7 day trek to Boston and I've been meaning to post about it. Awesome book. SO AWESOME. There are some scenes of I wouldn't want to read aloud to my preacher...but other than that...totally awesome. I heard they are making a movie about it. READ the book! There is no way this book, with it's crazy back and forth time line, could be as great of a movie as it is a book.

This book was so good and I got so wrapped up in it that I will occasionally catch myself missing the characters. You know, while I'm making dinner, just wondering what Clare and Henry are up to or what decade he's in....totally normal right? God forbid I ever finish the Twilight series.

Update: I just Googled the movie...and Clare is SUPPOSED to have long red hair, but Rachel McAdams hair is totally not red, or long. But I do love Rachel McAdams. They did better on Henry. Don't get me started on Hollywood casting. Like any MIT card counter ever looked like THIS.

Read the book, it's good.

Now THIS is why I went to design school

I know my blog header says "I'd rather be crafting" but the truth is I would MUCH rather be doing bad-A interior design. It's creative and it pays waaaay better {do you know what I would have to sell baby booties for to actually make minimum wage?... a lot}

Despite the economy, I am starting to compile a list of firms that I would like to send my resume and portfolio to. I've spent my day going through a Top 100 List, and lucky for me many of these firms have Boston offices. I clicked on every single website on this list, but only ONE took my breath away when I clicked on the INTERIORS tab {see above}.

Isn't it wonderful!? This is my kind of interior design, THIS is why I went to design school.

I should write the firm name on here, but I know from previous experience, firms Google themselves and I don't want them reading my blog and thinking I'm a total weirdo... at least not yet.

I showed Mr. Sabbe their website, he said "Wow, you're going to have to get your A game together for that one." And that's what I'm going to do....get my bad-A game together.

SOWA!!? I am SO there

...If I were not going to by in NYC this weekend.

But NEXT weekend, I am SO there. And as fate would have it, it's only .8 miles from my house!

I may have to break out my bike {with the basket} and I will wear a helmet Mr. Sabbe. What's up with nobody wearing helmets around here? I know it looks cooler, but your head is seriously not that hard...and these drivers are seriously not that good.

I dare you to rain Boston, I triple dog double dare you!

{please don't rain}

Tuxedo Ruffle T-Shirt {a tutorial}

Rain or Shine...Tuesdays are for crafting.

The fabric will ravel a little bit in the wash, which I think will give it a neat look {we'll see}

The only thing I would do differently next time is start the ruffle directly at the top of the neckline (not leaving the banding exposed) I think that would look better

and p.s. it's still raining

Monday, Monday

I've been excited to post the flower boxes Mr. Sabbe installed for me outside our bedroom window {so I won't miss my pretty flowers in my pretty yard, sweet man}. In my mind the photo would have a cascading sun beaming in through the window. Not my luck ...I've been singing the rain rain go away song for two weeks now. But on account of my major case of the Mondays, I wanted to post anyway. The purple one's are supposed to bring butterflies. Zoe will love that.


And here's a little peek at the living room. I'd say it's about 30% there. I want to make some fun curtains. It needs something fun in here. I can't decide if I'm over the damask thing on the right. It goes better with the dining room side of this space. I'll save that side for a later post...with 800 s.f. we've got to space the home decor posts out. Our petite furniture worked out well. {Mr. Sabbe's plans for large-man furniture foiled once again}

We bought the coffee table this weekend. It's fun to put your feet on. It made us laugh thinking how small our last coffee table was. I suppose this piece could be counted as man-size.

Boston!

Please quit raining!

I left the south, with all it's humidity, for good summer hair {among other reasons}

Yet I attended church today with the biggest, curliest claw bangs ever.

And unless those are making a comeback, along with all the cut off jeans I've seen around here this week, I beg you to pleeeaaaase stop.

P.S. What's up with the cut off jeans?!...very popular look on the South End.

Oh Deer...not again

We are almost done getting the main living space of our little Boston apartment situated. I still have little things to do, like make new curtains, maybe some pillows, and figure out how to make my seriously unfortunate kitchen look cool. But all it all, it's there. Downsizing from 1400 s.f. to 800 s.f. does not leave you with a lot of new furniture needs.

So today I am sitting looking at the bare wall over our sofa, thinking...what does this wall need? And it hit me!


I found these on Etsy in this little shop. Aren't they fun! And no animals were harmed in the process. I wish I could afford them, but I can't. I wish I could make them myself, but I'm stumped there too. If anyone sees a full sized, toy deer head out there will you let me know? I'm thinking I could decoupage it and get a similar result. OR do you have any other ideas? I would love to hear them! I know it's a phase and I'll be over this deer thing soon. And I know our new Boston friends will come over and think I'm a total weirdo for wanting a deer head {well location doesn't actually change that, my TN friends felt the same way} But I want one, I really, really want one.

SabbeSpot Boston

Ta-da! This is the cute shop around the corner from my house I told you about last week.

Isn't it cute!? Doesn't it scream craft shop!!

I called the number. It's 800 s.f....and $3200/month! yikes. I honestly thought it would be more. But I'm thinking you would have to be the best fabric selling, craft teaching, business woman ever to even come close to breaking even. And I am totally not the later of those three.

Don't you want to come here and buy Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, and Joel Dewberry fabrics and learn how to make cute stuff while we drink coffee {and or wine} and talk about all things woman!? I want a Purl Soho/ Purl Patchwork Boston and I want it now! I'm going to NYC next weekend. I may have to go and try to solicit some free business woman advice.

See the interior....all white, with a cute little painted metal ceiling. Perfect museum like background for billions of fun fabrics.

So if you happen to be independently wealthy {or a trustfunder who has been looking for something great to spend your money on, that may not necessarily make you more rich, but is guaranteed to make you more happy} give Boston {and me} the little fabric store we need! pleeaaaaase!

Three Years Ago Today

I said I do....

To the man of my dreams

And we've lived happily ever after

Apartment Therapy Blogger

Just wanted to update my sweet, sweet friends who made comments on the Apartment Therapy blog a couple months ago to promote yours truly. They picked a blogger...and it's not me. If you remember, the request was for a New England blogger and turns out they found their fit in Providence, RI. Check out her first post, which happens to be about one of my favorite subjects, here.

The Apartment Therapy people did write me, along with 3 others, a very nice email saying we were super short listed and if there is a spot in the future they'll keep us in mind. I thought that was nice.

BUT the nicest thing was all of your sweet "vote for sabbespot" comments. I mean, some of you wrote books! If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...blog friends are the best...and they even move to Boston with you.

Paging Dr. Sabbe

That's right...today is this hunk's first day of being a real doctor in a real hospital.

Technically, he's a resident. So I wouldn't want him to administer anesthesia to me quite yet.
But I would and will call him today to say...
paging Dr. Sabbe, it's your wife. Sitting at home in my pajamas
until noon is not as fun without you.

Craft Nook

Boston... We have a craft nook!

Recycled furniture + new IKEA pendant = the best
crafting space ever.

It is possible to move to a big city, half your square footage, double your rent and love your interior all the same...many more apartment projects to come!

First on my list: an extra long skirt to cover the cinder blocks propping up our bed for extra storage {see left side of picture}...ahh city living

Boston!? Where to Go...What to Do

Boston people {who like sewing, baking, interior design, and cats}....are you there?

I need help!! {you can like dogs too}

First...
Someone start a cute fabric store in the Back Bay/ South End area...please!
Stock Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry, Michael Miller....or better yet...
all the stuff on the JCaroline website.
You'll be a millionaire, well maybe not a millionaire, but I'll be your #1 customer.
I thought for sure there would be something like THIS around here. I actually had mentally planned a shop like this being a major part of my life in Boston. I saw a cute little vacant shop on Columbus today. The storefront is already painted purple. I'm telling you...big business! Snatch it up!

Have you read Friday Night Knitting Club? I imagine it like that, except sewing instead of knitting.
I tend to get a little wrapped up in my reading. I'm currently wishing Mr. Sabbe were a vampire.

Second...
I have a three year anniversary coming up next week.
Any best restaurants {with best prices} suggestions? Fun date ideas?

Third...
Church suggestions?
We would love to walk to church. We're in the Back Bay/ South End area.
Our last churches was non-denominational. We miss it.

and Finally...at least for today
Anything else?
I read the Boston versions of Daily Candy and Apartment Therapy
{ps. can these people please invite me over for coffee! this house is amazing and thanks to my all day hunt for a Massachusetts drivers license, I'm very familiar with Chinatown}
A sweet friend bought us the NFT Boston Guidebook, but I'm positive there are millions and millions of best kept secrets out there that people are dying to share with this wee little southern transplant!!

Thanks in advance! My email address is over in the right column.

And big thanks to Lindsey over at Everything LEB for already extending some huge northern hospitality.

I'm BACK and in BOSTON!

I've got many cute things in the works....including a craft nook! So stay tuned.

I love my apartment. Mr. Sabbe and I are having so much fun making it feel like home.

Grandpa Sabbe's funeral was lovely. His life was full of hard work and happy memories.

Grandma Sabbe was so stoic and graceful. Before they closed the casket she gently leaned in, kissed her husband on the cheek and said It's me Al and I'm doing ok.

Bryan's Dad and Grandpa circa 1967.