House + Home: Outdoor Spaces

Over on the HGTV blog, Design Happens, we were just talking about the importance of having an outdoor space in, or shall we say, outside of, your home. The consensus from all of us is that having an outdoor area to unwind in, from the tiniest fire escape to the most lavish landscaped backyard, is a crucial part of a happy life. 

Our last apartment, in which we lived for almost 9 years, started out with an outdoor space. When we first rented out apartment on N. 7th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in January 2005, it had a big backyard that we loved to garden and grilled. We let our dogs romp around and had friends over for dinners outdoors during the first few years there. Until they paved over it. I can't even get into the disappointment involved in all of that, nor can I discuss when they took it away from us altogether. I can only move forward to the much more pleasant present, and discuss how in our *new* place, that we moved into almost a year ago, we have a lovely balcony overlooking a patio and garden. My landlord has cultivated a gorgeous green "English garden" over the last several years, and with him being away quite a bit, Will and I absolutely love being tasked with taking care of it.

The balcony off the kitchen is a dream. Nearly every day I begin with coffee and a book out there. It's the most peaceful way to start a day, and it makes it easy to resist the urge to check my phone or email until I've read a couple of chapters and had a nice cup of coffee. Is it too much to say that this little outdoor room of zen has changed my life? Because it most definitely has. To have a beautiful space like this that is filled with trees, flowers, plants, squirrels, birds, and other wildlife, it's a little slice of nature in our New York City backyard that brings tranquility through the sliding door with every backyard breeze. The space is exclusively dedicated to quiet, peaceful moments, and having it within eyesight makes it easy to create more and more of those. Where do you find your moments of peace and zen in or around your home? I will do all I can to ensure that our next home has an outdoor space as well, because now I just can't imagine going without. Until then, I'm going to savor every second, sip, and page outside on the balcony.

Episode 15 // Succulent Wreath

 

This week on HGTV Handmade,  let's welcome the spring and summer months to stay FOR GOOD by bringing some greenery into our homes. Some of my favorite flora are succulents and air plants. But in today's video I make a startling confession about same-said greenery and embrace a new technique to make sure my succulents and air plants live forever. Make a wreath here.

// MORE //

Meg's HGTV Playlist

Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 6 / Episode 7 / Episode 8 / Episode 9 / Episode 10 / Episode 11 / Episode 12 / Episode 13 / Episode 14

Ate This/Planted This/Worked on This

This weekend I...

Planted these.

Labeled my pantry shelves with these.

Ate this, this, & this.

Worked on this, this, & this.

Brown rice salad. 

3 Ways to DIY a Bag with P.S. I Made This

What is better than a crafting? Crafting for a cause! In today's video I team up with Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This to show you 3 easy and fun ways to customize a bag. We were at the ShopBop and Alternative event launching Olivia Wilde and Barbara Burchfield's messenger bag that gives proceeds to the Academy for Peace and Justice, a charity that builds schools in Haiti. An awesome cause and a fun DIY...win/win!

Treehouses

We coveted these treehouses a few months ago, and this morning I found these.



For a whole collection of treehouses pick up a copy of Pete Nelson's book that feature some of the coolest and most unique designs.






These modern Baumraum Treehouses are so rad it hurts a little.


Here are 10 more gorgeous designs to imagine frolicking in until we make our own. Who's going to help me start building one?

Herbs 101

I came home from my sister's wedding with a myriad of herbs, so I added them to my fire escape herb garden. We have a shared backyard, but the closer I keep them, the better care they get and the more frequently I end up using them in my cooking. So the fire escape it is!


I use herbs in every way. For their culinary purposes, medicinally and as aromatherapy. Here is my first little Herb 101 class.


Thyme, (above and below) is one of the healthiest herbs and serves many homeopathic purposes. A simple tea mixture aids gastrointestinal problems, gives a boost to the immune system, and helps kick coughs and congestion. For culinary use, thyme enriches dishes like fish, cake, cookies, soups and deviled eggs.


I will use the fresh mint below to make water, mojitos or lemonade even more thirst-quenching. Eating a sprig of mint aids with digestion and helps with chest pains. Find more recipes with mint from foody blog Epicurious. Mint is invasive in the garden so be sure to give your plant plenty of room for fast-growing roots.



Sage is used to shift energy in new homes or spaces and can be done by having a dried bunch and burning the ends. Sage has many medicinal purposes as listed here. Try sage in fish, on a crostini or any of these recipes.



Basil is perfect for summer caprese salads, panini sandwiches and mixed greens. There are countless recipes, so get started at the Joy of Cooking's list. As part of the mint family, basil is used to help with coughs, indigestion and has a sedative effect, so can help relieve stress and insomnia.


Rosemary is delicious in potatoes, breads or meat and adds an enticing aroma wherever it is. Rosemary's medicinal purposes include improving memory, relieving muscle pain, and stimulating the circulatory and nervous systems.


Oregano oil is an amazing immune booster. Add 2-3 drops to a shot of water to fight off colds or the flue. This is truly the most effective way I have found to give my body a natural kick when it feels run down. Oregano adds wonderful flavor to pastas, sauces or meat. Here is a recipe list with oregano as an ingredient from Every Day Food.


What herbs do YOU have and how do you use them? Do you have any killer Summer recipes that require herbs? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!

Adorable Recycling

Pilot, photo taken by his dad, Garen Scribner.




Thank you, Garen, dad of Pilot for providing an up-dated photo. I had no idea it was even possible to get cuter than the last, but he did!

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day should be every day. Let's have today be a reminder of what we should be doing all year long. Do your part to take responsibility for your neighborhood, and just think of the changes we could make!


If you haven't see my Earth Day episode yet, check it out and leave a comment on the Threadbanger site and on our YouTube page.



While you're at it, read this sustainable home decor article that I contributed to from Orlando Magazine.


And a BIG THANK YOU to Planet Green for featuring the episode in This Week's Best DIY Projects.

My Earth Day Special

I am really excited about the latest episode of my DIY home decor show on Threadbanger. I have had this pendant lamp idea in my head for months, and was dying to make them. This episode is our Earth Day Special and is all about being green. Enjoy!



Earth Day is in one week, so for this episode of Decor It Yourself, we make a pendant lamp out of recycled materials, show you how to do a neighborhood clean-up, and share a green tip with you about sustainable energy.



Please support the show by subscribing to Threadbanger and leaving comments on the episode or on the Threadbanger forums. You can become a fan of Decor It Yourself HERE!

Lolita's Treehouse

This looks so lovely and fun. A high-design Swiss Family Robinson. Thank you, Lolita.

Sydney's Orchid

I love orchids and have had many through the years. Mine didn't survive my move to New York almost seven years ago, but my homegirl Sydney received a stunning specimen recently. She shared these beautiful photographs of it so we can all enjoy it's splendor.

Green Guide

My siblings (step, half and in between) and I try to all get together when we are home for the holidays. A few times, we have gathered rubber gloves and gone on a "clean up". Fun, easy, and a great way to keep your neighborhood litter-free.


With Earth Day just around the corner, you might be feeling the urge to up the ante on your "greenness". If so, I definitely recommend organizing a clean up, or check out the bottom of the right column of this blog in the Green Guide for other ideas. I do my best to share earth friendly websites, projects and resources with my readers and am always open to suggestions as well. If you have green tips to share, please do so by leaving it in a comment below!



This Earth Day I think we should bring the clean up to Brooklyn again. If you are in New York and want to join us, let me know and I'll fill you in on the meeting place.

It's Finally Time

HAPPY OBAMA DAY!!!

Landslide

This is where my husband and dog were in the middle of the night last night celebrating a historic and overwhelming moment in history.



Earlier that night I was moved to free-style rapping about Obama in our living room. A night none of us will ever forget. Bravo, America. BRAVO!

6 Days

As these kids express so well...you can vote however you want. Just get out there on November 4th and take part in this crucial election.

My Very Own Tomatoes Part II

My tomatoes are ripe and ready.



I picked my very first tomatoes from my garden. It is all-too-perfect that today is my Nana's birthday. I think she would be proud.

"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits"

No words could describe how proud Hillary Clinton makes me. Proud to be a woman. Proud to be a Democrat. Proud to be an American.




I believe this is the first time mental health care has ever been mentioned at a National Convention, and maybe only the second time Gay Rights were addressed. Hillary is an amazing, intelligent and giving public servant, and this country needs her now more than ever. As loyal to her as I am, I also know that the only way to accomplish what she has worked so hard for all these years is to elect Barack Obama into office.

Bravo, Michelle

And Happy 88th anniversary to women. It was 88 years ago that we got our right to vote, Ladies. In November, let's use it.

Jewelry Organization

Most people have a ton of jewelry and accessories; the trick is how to organize. This week we make a DIY earring screen and display it in vintage pieces. We also reveal who won the Tool Box Contest and show you a tutorial of their winning project.

50 Ways to Help

Earth Day should just be a reminder that what used to be a once-a-year celebration should now be a way of life. No longer a trend, we need to implement the tips and ideas we are learning about into our everyday life. Here are 50 ways to help from Wire and Twine