how we keep ourselves amused on warm summer nights.

when we get antsy in the city apartment, we go out on the verandah and make bubbles.

and more bubbles.

hubz is mostly the mastermind.

just call him mr. bubble.

we mix dawn dish soap with the bubble mixture from the store and crank out the big mamma-jammas.

and some small ones too.

it's all good.

on humid nights they float forever and fill the sky.

sometimes they float all the way down to the harris teeter.

our neighbors quite possibly think we're crazy.

a big announcement.

my boy is engaged.

yes, it's true. our property manager's daughter, bella, told me last night at the aloha! party that when my son grew up he was going to marry her.

wow. i was totally joking about the beiber bangs turning the boy into a chick magnet, and then this happens.

better start picking out my mother-of-the-groom dress.

anyhoo, the aloha! party was awesome.

it was held in an unfinished retail space on the first floor of our building.

the ladies looked lovely.

and the men dashing.

there were dogs to pet ...

... cupcakes ...

... and barbecue to eat ...

... bubbles to chase ...

... and grass skirts to be worn.

and did i mention cupcakes?

we spent time with friends ...

... and made some new ones too.

... and made plans to do it all over again.

i love our city apartment.

chillin' in the big bed

the boy loves his big-boy bed.

he's not too big for spider-man jammies, though.

rug exchange

the west elm rug with the lovely butter yellow center simply did not match (as tasty as it looked).

so we exchanged it for this one. it's not as soft (the boy has complained it's too crunchy), but it absolutely looks wonderful in the room.

my good cameras are all out of batteries, so you'll have to settle for this west elm catalog image and a camera phone snap.

did i mention we love being in town? we miss the critters, but oh boy do we love the convenience.

restaurants! within walking distance! grocery stores! within spitting distance!

and the commute? less than 15 minutes!

it's surreal.

west elm is cool

i just came upon west elm in the hill center and it was not as expensive as i thought it was going to be.

many things were actually quite affordable.

we bought this rug for the new city apartment. the butter yellow center looks good enough to eat.

and this mongolian lamb's wool pillow? oh, it's just something i want but am not daring enough to buy.

on the other hand, why not?

UPDATE: I'm returning the delicious rug. it doesn't quite match. but there's another one there i have my eye on.

M is for moving

the day has finally come!

today we are moving into our new fabulous city apartment!

the boy is excited to live a mere three miles from school and his nashville friends.

i foresee lots of play-dates and sleepovers in our future.