'Til Monday: A Weekend To Remember.

Today marks the first weekend of summer and the last weekend spent in our Cambridge home. With just a few days left before the movers arrive, we have lots to get done, but what we want most is to enjoy the time left with friends and with the house that has meant so much to us.  I'll continue to organize and pack for the month of travel ahead still hoping to cross off a few more items on my Farewell, New England list.   Time has been flying by, and I now feel the list may not see completion, and strangely enough, I'm fine with that.   I don't want to force our experiences,  but rather take happenstances that arrive our way with an open heart.   Like the one captured above in Cape Cod, a short trip the kids and I took during the week.   We set fish traps, drove on the beach and chased many a wave;  we lived a quintessential cape experience.

Many thanks to GM for a sharing her home and her love for the cape with us!

Tomorrow we're surprising the kids with another consummate New England experience.  Venture a guess on what it is?

Off The Counter: Borrowed Recipes

For the next month or so, I'll have neither a kitchen nor a counter, making my Off The Counter posts a bit  more challenging.  However, I would love to continue featuring them throughout my upcoming travels, so I've decided to search out recipes that fit my culinary profile and share them with you .  This week's borrowed recipe for Watermelon And Feta Salad (pages 30-33),  is from House Of Fifty, a favorite online lifestyle magazine.  Crisp watermelon, lime marinated red onions, feta and spinach make this salad not only a visual treat, but also a refreshingly tasty dish. See ingredients and instructions below:

 

INGREDIENTS:

Watermelon, cucumbers, feta, red onion, lime juice, baby spinach, olive oil, mint leaves, salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Thinly slice the red onions, sprinkle them with lime juice and let rest while preparing the rest of the ingredients.  Peel the cucumbers and cube along with the watermelon and feta cheese.  Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix in the baby spinach.  Add softened red onion slices in lime juice, drizzle all with olive oil, salt and pepper to your liking.  Gently toss and garnish with mint.

See the original recipe and other great summer eats in House Of Fifty 's summer 2012 issue here.

Orange: (May Be)The New Yellow

Orange just may become the new yellow.  My obsession with yellow (right down to a tire swing) was on target for our house in Cambridge.  It worked perfectly as an accent color to offset a monochromatic scheme,  but I'm not feeling it for our California home.  In our next abode, I'm looking forward to exploring new colors and styles, and as of late, orange seems to be catching my eye.  Here are a few inspiring images from Pinterest:

three layer chiffon dress , funky comfy sofa, groovy stools, tangier pillow

Mid-Century Design: A Home Tour And Our Latest Giveaway Winner

I think it appropriate to announce the winner of the mid-century design ceramic set during a mid-century house tour.  Before I reveal who the lucky blog reader is, let's take a look at a home that my husband and I toured while house hunting in California.  It's impeccably designed and decorated.  Every detail, from the sideboard hardware to the poolside swings, is true to the period. We were in awe at how well appointed it was.  However, since we love a challenge and creating spaces of our very own, this house was not for us.  Enjoy the tour, we certainly did!

The pool ALMOST got us...

Now the moment you've been waiting for:

Judy, you're our lucky winner!  Congratulations!!  Please email your coordinates to me at~   debra@cocoonhome.com   ~so I can send you the Kenji Fujita oil and vinegar set  courtesy of Reside.

A huge thank you to all who participated.  Keep posted for future reader giveaways.

Just Breathe

Less than 2 weeks left before we leave our Cambridge house, so the anxiety levels are reaching an all-time high.  I need to remind myself to slow down and breathe.  Taking deep breaths calms my mind and body for at least a moment in time.  The moving preparations have been going smoothly and now I'm gearing up for a month of visiting family and friends on the East Coast before we head out West.   I thought I'd share a few of the things that happened last week:

1.  I received the sweetest thank you from the youngest clients I've ever worked for on this project.

2.   Friends hosted a farewell party for us, which was both emotional and celebratory.  Thank you EVB and DVB!

3.  I got this tote as a gift  and it says it all.

4.  Cocoon Blog reached over 280 friends on Facebook!  Click here to become one.

5.  I crossed off one of the seven items on my Farewell, New England list.  Six more to go!