One of my favorite things to do when I travel to a new destination is to find a garden  or conservatory to visit.  It may be an acclaimed one that I pinned to my "Gardens I Must Visit Before I Die" Pinterest board, or I might have just stumbled across it while out exploring.  Regardless, in my book garden visits trump museums any day.  Here are some of my favorite gardens that I've visited across the US, as well as gardens that I plan to see in the future.

More

If you're planning an outdoor wedding or other celebration this season, chances are that you're scouting ideas for outdoor lighting. Whether you're adding sparkle to your celebration with strings of twinkle lights, pendants hanging from tree branches, or intimate table lamps on your guests' tables, we've rounded up the best and brightest here (without an electrical outlet in sight). 

More

This reclaimed picnic table comes courtesy of the Instructables Green Design contest. Katie Jackson and Lilah Crews-Pless submitted a tutorial for a table and bench set made entirely of scrap wood (minus the table legs, which were purchased new). Besides the simple and sustainable design, the best feature of this table is what's inside it...

More

I was recently repotting some plants with my mom, and she passed along a useful tip: save your old broken or chipped terracotta pots. You can break them into smaller pieces and use them for drainage at the bottom of a new pot. You'll be diverting broken pots from a landfill, and terracotta is relatively light, so it will not add much weight.

More

All it takes are some leaves (and perhaps even weeds) from your yard to create these beautiful and simple prints as an homage to spring. Find out how after the jump!

More

I don't know what it's like for the rest of the world, but in the North East of America right now, it's a bit of lunatic weather. The result of erratic temperatures is sick kiddos at home... 

More

I have been writing a book since the new year, and I am finding it quite distracting. Normally my garden would have been in the ground for over a month now, but at the moment I barely have half of it planted. Trying to be practical — I don't need too many veggies forcing me to have to can this year — I am opting instead for flowers.  My daughter wants to sell them at the Farmers Market later this summer. 

More

The American Institute of Architects recently selected six projects as this year's best examples of single-family housing. They're all modern in design, site-responsive, and all integrate eco-friendly design and construction practices. They're outstanding examples of thoughtful design, and absolutely dream buildings to call home.

More

It's officially summer, and that means picnic season!  But eating outdoors does require some planning — unless you do as I do and keep a picnic pack ready all summer so when the mood to picnic strikes, you can get out the door without any excuses.  

More

Aelfie Oudghiri opened her namesake design studio and rug showroom earlier this year in Brooklyn, New York. Aelfie specializes in handwoven antique, vintage and contemporary rugs, but also offers mats made locally from old t-shirts and beautiful pillows. 
More