leftovers

inspireDC thinks one of the best things about hosting a brunch party is the bleary-eyed leftovers for breakfast the next morning. and dishing on the night before, of course.

shower prep

inspireDC is of the mind that planning a party is even better than attending a party (but please don't stop the invites). so getting ready for her saturday shower for the special bride to be is keeping her busy and inspired. a peek at the prep for tomorrow's fete.

no party is complete without pretty paper goodies

the stash, ready to be set out

inspireDC knew her $2 pitcher would come in handy
the perfect color for the pretty purple hydrangea

ok, back to rain dancing.

cali wedding/vacay planning

inspireDC is all about bff biz's labor day weekend wedding in cali. here are the invites inspireDC and the bride created (along with the wordsmithy groom, too) for the rusticly-chic barn wedding on the central coast (you know, cali's last great beach towns!).

now that the wedding invites are sealed and delivered, its on to the par-tay planning. yah! here are the shower invites that went out last week.

now inspireDC is dreaming about decorating the barn, thinking of some twiggy ideas for place cards, and planning the fun shower in august. oh, and drooling over the fish tacos we'll be eating on the central coast.

thanks to biz and nathan for the fun project! and for giving me a good reason to finally buy that monterey font. which inspireDC is now obsessed with. as you can see.

farm fresh eggs

inspireDC went north for independence day inspiration, with a country vacay to northern michigan. and while there she found the most wonderful farm fresh eggs you've ever tasted. pulling over at a sign reading "fresh eggs $1.50/dozen" (handpainted, of course), inspireDC and the uncle knocked on the farmer's door and for the next 30 mins found themselves trapsing through his backyard picking the eggs from under the chickens. talk about farm fresh! along the way we learned how they love to eat watermelon (seriously - who knew??) and how different breeds lay different colored eggs.

to all my urban chicken farming friends: like you, kristina (who's unique voice on the issue of urban chicken farming made inspireDC a convert to the concept), and high school pal gretchen in seattle, who is designing a mobile/green roof chicken coop for next spring with her landscape architect huz (please, oh please, start a blog to show us the progress): there were even the peskiest little naughty chickens who stray from the nests and lay eggs in odd places, like under a life jacket in the garage and behind a pile of 2x4s and inside of a tire. which made inspireDC think those country chickens would probably love your urban oasises. free range indeed.

cozy!see those eggs right under there - 30 mins later in the pan (below)

getting some fresh air outside the coop

look. how. yellow! and look how pretty they are, all different shapes and colors. almost too pretty to eat. almost.

inspireDC is heading north again tonight for the big family reunion (with cousin Dani Rose, hooray!) and has another appointment (urban term for stopping by a country farm) at the farm at 4:00 on thursday for 4 dozen fresh ones!