On the prowl

for new couches....

Sad to say, but after 7 years our Pottery Barn couch (bought from Downeast Home) has seen better days. Once upon a time this couch was a beautiful washed linen. Now it's tattered to shreds We really thought we'd get a few more years out of it but with the slip cover looking like this:

And the back cushions looking like this:

(this is what they used to look like ... Guess the corner doesn't get sat in as often as these 2 cushions are almost perfect.)

we are done. I hate the sloppy, worn out look. I want something crisp & fresh - pretty much just new. However, to get just the new slipcover from PB it's $1600 plus another $125 in shipping. Plus I have to purchase all new back cushions from PB. Not going to happen since we didn't pay that much for the couch to begin with - probably why they haven't lasted more than 7 years. Yes, I sew, but no, I have NO desire what-so-ever to tackle the project of making my own new slip-covers.

Anywhoo, I really want white couches. I know, I know, most of you are thinking white couches with 2 young kids and a dog with black hair that sheds everywhere? But no matter. I want what I want, and it's white couches for me.

These are some of the couches I'm looking at. I would say my style is more Pottery Barnish casual. I think these would all look great with new throw pillows made from my stash of fabrics (especially this fabric):

Pasadena Couch

Super basic, clean lines. Nice.

(courtesy of furniture.com)

Bono Button Tuft

(courtesy of csnsofas.com)

Harrison Sofa

I LOVE this sofa, but for the price, so not going to happen. But if money weren't an option, this is what I would put upstairs .....

(courtesy of wshome.com)

Or this one ....

the Presido

(also courtesy of wshome.com)

Ikea Ektorp Sectional

(courtesy of ikea.com)

We have the ektorp armchair w/ white slipcover and I really like it. It's held up fairly well with the original slipcover and we've had it since Finley was born - 5 years ago! The slipcovers are cheap too, so it's OK to buy a new one every few years. AND there's a 10 year warranty. For these reasons, I'm leaning this route. Slipcovers in my opinion are the way to go. And for the total price, it's really the only option for us since we need a sectional AND a love seat/sofa to fill our big room (or get 2 sofas and a love seat).

What do you think? Do you have a favorite? Do you like white or not?

Apricot Pickin'

The apricots are here and we have WAY too many - especially since Berlin & Ryan are the only ones who'll eat them. Yuck! is my opinion on the fuzzy little things :)


As I was mowing the lawn on Monday Berlin came out singing another song she'd made up and went down into the field. I look over and saw her jumping to reach the branches. I ran in, got the camera and snapped these up, then went back to mowing the lawn.


Seriously, how can you not love this little gal?

Heading over to the apricot tree after realizing the cherries were all snatched up by the magpies.

Upset because she can't reach the branch.

Pickin' heaven on a lower branch.

I just told her she'd better not be eating them off the tree. Totally guilty!

Park City adventure

Every Summer we try to do a little trip within Utah, like getting a hotel in Park City, or in Downtown SLC, or even MOAB (like last year) - basically a little Stay-cation. This year, it was Park City. We stayed at the Bear Hollow Villages by the Olympic Park. It was a blast. Besides the fun time we had swimming in the pool (blogged about here: http://ryanandcynthia.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-is-this-kid.html) we also got to visit with Ryan's friend Patrick and my sister Val, who each stayed with us a night. 

We hit the Tanger outlets and the shops on main street with Patrick, then stayed up way too late at or annual movie night, then woke up and had a yummy breakfast at Kneaders (thick cut cinnamon french toast = YUM!). The kids love Patrick - especially Berlin. She is smitten with him and had to hold his hand the entire day. 

the kids & the Park City Bear

Then we met up with Valerie for an afternoon at the Olympic park for some Arial jumping (just watching of course) and some alpine slide riding. It was a blast.

The next day we got to ride the Canyon's Gondola up the mountain and hike around. They have a couple trails & a nature hike up there that are are good for kids.

they loved the gondola & the free ski lifts. After we cleaned up from our hiking, we went back and just rode the gondola a few more times (it's $15 for a full day pass - so we had to get our money's worth). The kids laughed and giggled as we went over the tree-tops. It felt like flying.

Our kids loved having a pool at our fingertips. Fin, especially, couldn't get enough of it. 

Poolside Diva

We can't wait to see where our next Stay-cation takes us!

Summer catch-up

We've had a busy Summer and looking at all these pics makes me realize, that I'm kinda dreading school starting in less than 3 weeks (can you believe that Fin is going to be in KINDERGARTEN!?). Once school starts, that means Winter is right around the corner, and we all know how much I hate Utah winters. Oh well. Guess I'll just enjoy the nice weather while we have it :)

Our kids love to be buried in the sand. While at the lake at few weeks ago we had a burying frenzy with little fishies and sea turtles galore.

Berlin was VERY insistent that her fish be a girl. Ummm, how do you make a girl fish different from a boy fish? I did my best.

Our beached sea turtles chillin' on the sand.

We also took advantage of the wind and busted out our new millennium falcon kite. The kids had a blast with this. Note to self though, build the kite BEFORE you go to the park. They always take longer than you think.

Wind is pretty common at Bear Lake. Usually about 1:30 or 2pm, the wind kicks up down by the water. This one week though it was really bad. We heard a loud crack-like explosion and I look up and see this:

The wind was so strong that it was ripping up sun canopies left and right and launching them into the air. Had to snap a picture of the dementor-like image of the canopy ripped into 2 pieces. Crazy huh.  

This was also the busiest weekend I've ever seen down here. Crazy. Ryan hates it like this because it's so far from what it was like growing up - even just from 5 years ago. It's sad really. Probably doesn't help that the water level was super high this year - which means less beach to share.

Berlin of course just being the cute thing that she is. She's really gotten into playing with her dollies this summer. She tells me constantly that her dolls don't have pj's for bedtime. Guess I'll add that to her Christmas wishlist & my sewing to-do list.

We also got to spend some fun time with cousins. Finley loves having friends to play with at the cabin. They had a blast.  Berlin of course just wanted to dig in the sand or play football with Ryan & I. She's actually getting pretty good at catching the ball.