entertained: Holiday Baking part 1

found this little slice of heaven on Pintrest

Source: sundaybaker.net via Lea on Pinterest

I made it yesterday. There is none left. It is GROOD (thats great+good) You can get all of the necessary ingredients at good ole Trader Joe's, or any other grocery store. We are a TJ's family. I got everything organic too. So I knew it would be even better for me.
I totally plan on making this again. I'm so not a baker, and I thought this was E A S Y. The only thing I  will tweak next time is doing all pumpkin batter on the bottom and all cream cheese filling on the top. It was delicious and moist and crispy all at the same time. Oh yeah, did I mention its freaking healthy! Mmmmmm, enjoy!
xo Lea

designed: Lucketts

guess where I went the other day! The old Lucketts Store just outside of Leesburg.

It. Was. Awesome. Like, kind of how I would imagine...heaven. Yep,  definitely heaven. It is just outside of Leesburg, VA (about 40 minutes from Arlington) and the drive out there during the fall is absolutely beautiful. I snapped a picture just after we turned onto Lucketts Rd. 

So this store is stuffed to the gills with totally awesome stuff! 

I love the topiaries. And the formal yet somehow very comfy looking couch :)

Tons of painted frames and mirrors. And, this ceramic canister set for $18. They have lots of old vintage-y metal outdoor furniture out in the yard. I also really liked this rusty pendant light. Possibly for the new house? 

       There are these cute little sheds out in the yard, too. Also full of awesome stuff!

 

 

This sofa frame was a whole set, seven pieces for $98!!! What?!? Also on the property is a store called the Beekeeper's Cottage with all things sparkly and girlie. I got the cutest pair of earrings. I LOVE anything that sparkles... I'm a ferret. I can't help it. And rooms with piles of linen-y, ruffle-y, snuggly pillows and throws. I was happier than a pig in... well, you know what. 

So, I had the best time there. I got some great stuff to decorate with. I'm going to take a few pictures of my   finds and the decorating I've already started at the house with them. And I got this diamond in the rough...

I know, it looks quite "rustic" but I loved the shape of this patio set. It looks sort of Gio Ponti-esque. I just hadn't ever really seen outdoor furniture with those sort of lines. I told M, I haaaaaad to get them and if I talked them down, could I please, pretty please. He said sure, and I talked them down to $65 for the whole thing! 2 of the chairs need to have the spacers refastened and I need some glass cut for the top. But after a little elbow grease, a new coat of paint, and some Mexican Oilcloth on the seat and I think it will be the piece de resistance in the new backyard! More updates as I work on them! I'm super excited, can't wait to show y'all. After shopping at Lucketts, M and I took a stroll around historic Leeaburg. My photography skills do not do this foliage or this adorable town justice. You should go check it out, and see it with your own eyes. 

This house was my favorite. I loved the exposed brick and the trim colors. And the classic architecture.

I love living in Virginia! There is so much fun stuff to see and do!
xoxo Lea

designed: for the kiddos (but mostly for their Moms)

We have had a bunch of new additions to our family in the past few years. I couldn't be happier. I love my big crazy family and all the new little ones I have to play with! Two of my sisters are Moms now, and they have three kiddos between them. I saw some really creative pieces like these on Etsy and I was inspired to make something for nieces and nephew that I'm so lucky to have.

So super cute, right?!? I'm giving them to my sisters for Christmas. If you've got little one in your family and you'd like one of these, just send me an email at paperandspace@gmail.com   I'm going to put them on Etsy, too :)

xoxo Lea

designed: 12 by 2012

I somehow found Danni's blog oh, hello friend a few years ago, and have read it almost daily. She is a talented designer with a beautiful outlook on life. Its a really great place to stop by for a daily dose of pretty.  Check out her beautiful wedding posts, she just got married too! I promise it will make you smile. Anyway, Danni came up with this great idea to cross 12 things off the always growing TO DO list before 2012. Um, awesome! Just the push a master procrastinator like me needs. So I've decided to write everything down and actually get stuff done.  (and yes... that means y'all get to hold me accountable) Yikes!

 

and so here is my list of 12 (progress in italics)

1) organize my Etsy shop -  nothing yet...gaaaaaa! I'm on it for reals now y'all

2) host housewarming party! - this is the only way I will get all those boxes from the move dealt with and I love a party    downstairs DONE, office 80% (just need some organizing stuff to finish off), living room DONE, and we picked a date, and decided it will be a Birthday/Christmas/Housewarming partaaaaay!

3) meet my adorable new niece - tickets booked! I can't wait to kiss her little cheeks just like her Mama is doing right here  soo excited we have got lots of fun stuff planned for the weekend! 




















4) be a regular blogger, at LEAST once a week - check and check! I've got quite a few posts cooking

5) go all out decorating for the holidays this year, because I haven't had a front door or a porch to decorate in years!   I've gotten a few ideas like this one thanks to Pintrest  - pinecones, pears, leaves are sprayed and glittered! got some great ribbon at Chartreuse & Co and some other cool stuff at Old Lucketts Store and Goodwill. Posts with all the details are on their way!

Source: None via Lea on Pinterest

6) sponsor a child through Bright Point for Children if you want to read about my sister's trip to Cambodia this summer it might inspire you to sponsor a child in need too - M and I are both on board and I'm thinking of hosting a "NIGHT IN" to raise money to help support and organization that is helping to feed these kids! 

7) start the LOVE IS A BIG DEAL project   God planted the seed for this amazing idea and I can't wait to spread the LOVE y'all.  ok I think I'm a little scared to start this and I need a little push here...

8) go to the gym   seriously, I'm already paying for the membership...  :/  I swear I'm going...today 

9) find a new church, we just moved and I need a spiritual home in my new city   did online research and found a few to try out first one - Grace Community Church  We have been to Grace 3 times now- I really, really like it and so does M! Yesterday we had the author of The Shack come and speak. It. was. awesome. I'm reading the book now 

10) learn how to make my Mom's date nut bread for Christmas - gotta call Mom for the recipe, maybe we will practice when I come down for Christmagiving.

11) explore our Nation's Capital, my new hometown! I've been to a few fun places, but there is lots more to see!

12) plan honeymoon + update M and my passports   we are ready to go!  Nothing yet.... grrr.

OK! so all the hard stuff is to be done by me... but I sure could use some words of encouragement. Please send some my way and hold me accountable! I need it!
xoxo Lea

ps- have you seen all our wedding photos?!?! I just love them! Thanks so very very much Carrie! We love you

designed: glitter pumpkins

Well, I saw the little cuties over on pintrest and I knew I had to make those for my first Fall with a porch in years!

wildinkpress.com via Lea on Pinterest

And we live in the cutest neighborhood in North Arlington, its about 5 minutes from Georgetown. So we are super close to the city, with all of the fun stuff DC has to offer, but we get to live in an old historic house in a cute little neighborhood. I took a little stroll around and snapped some pictures of some of my favorites.

Its a pretty big change from Brooklyn. I'm still a little home sick for the Big Apple. NYC is awesome, and I will always love it. But for me, and for now, I'm happy to have a little patch of green grass and a porch to put some glittery pumpkins on. 

I'm excited to explore my new town! I've got some road trip pictures to share with y'all. And I'm going to be posting about some of the cool places I've recently discovered in Our Nation's Capital (which is jokingly/lovingly how I like to refer to DC!)


xoxo Lea

designed: a new life in a new city

Goodbye NYC, Hello DC!

We are moving! We are leaving New York City and heading a little further south to the Washington DC area (Arlington, VA to be precise). Hello green grass and more space! M grew up in the DC area and I've been visiting with him ever since we started dating. I instantly liked the area and thought it would be nice to move there, someday...

Well, after 4 years of dating (and almost 2 months of marriage!) and 5 years of living in the Big Apple, it looks like "someday" has come. M will be transferring to a DC Trader Joe's with a promotion into management, while continuing to create digital art and media. We will send out new address information soon! And everyone is invited to come spend some time with the Pinos! We'll fire up the grill for y'all...

xoxo Lea

loved: me

this is the only one I have so far... I cannot wait to see the rest of them!