Communal Dining: Feasts + Fields

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

Beth Helmstetter Events via Style Me Pretty

The school year is drawing to a close and I for one am counting down until the dog days of summer! Late dinners, leisurely mid-week get-togethers with friends and lazy mornings all spell vacation to me (although the novelty could very well wear off by week 3!) and some of my favourite memories have always been those last minute meals shared with friends. You know, the ones where everyone just grabs what they already have on hand and come together for a potluck of sorts. It seems I'm not the only one with such fond memories and there has been a revival of communal bread breaking lately. Organizers such as Feast to Fields and magazines like Kinfolk celebrate locally grown food, farmers and chefs while bringing people from all walks of life together at one table. I would love to attend a similar event one day, especially one hosted in a picturesque field, orchard or venue like the following...

Design*Sponge

 Rue. Photo by Jose Villa.

Casa Vogue Brazil via Trend Tablet

Hans Blomquist

 100 Layer Cake. Photo by Jackie Wonders.

Stacey Van Berkel via My Paradissi

Kinfolk. Photo by Parker Fitzgerald.

Whether celebrating a special occasion like a wedding or spending a casual evening with friends or family, there's something to be said for the simplicity of joining together at one long table to share food and conversation. Meeting new people, tasting new foods and learning where what we eat actually comes from are important habits to learn and teach to others, would you agree? And I'm seriously dreaming of owning at least one of these gorgeous harvest tables!

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. 

Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. 

You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.

Hanging Around: Hammocks + More

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

2 Friends & 2 Cities

Father's Day is only a few short days away and I'm on the hunt for a hammock to give to my husband. We have the perfect spot to hang one, between two large fir trees in our backyard, and I know he'd love to have his own space to stretch out and unwind once the summer sunshine finally arrives. It should be nice and peaceful too, only a few feet away from our trampoline, ha ha!

Alexandra Angle

Serena & Lily

Hans Blomquist for H&M Home

Elle Decor. Photo by Miguel Flores-Vianna.

Tropicalia Hanging Nest via Apartment Therapy. Designed by Patricia Urquiola

Annixen

There's something so peaceful about hanging hammocks and chairs, don't you think? Shady afternoons spent swaying in the wind with a good book seems like the ultimate in relaxation...unless you suffer from motion sickness, of course! I have a feeling there may be some serious competition for the "money" spot once our new hammock is strung up! Which style would you choose? My budget is small so odds are pretty good I won't go for the $8500 hanging nest by Patricia Urquiola in the second to last picture! I'm leaning towards something very similar to the one in the second image but preferably with a canvas body....and hopefully some stripes. Wish me luck!

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.

Family Living: 9 Backyard DIY's

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

1. Build a table:

 Better Homes & Gardens

The summer weekends are slowly ticking away and I don't know about you, but we haven't checked off nearly as many little projects around the house as we had planned! We've got a lot on the go for the next few weeks too so I have a feeling that we'll just have to save them for the fall (or next summer!) but here are some great outdoor DIY's that I would love to accomplish at some point in time...

2: Plant a fairy garden:

 The Gardeners Anonymous

3. Build a fort for the kids:

Lowes Creative Ideas

4. Make stump stools:

Photo by Tonya McCahon for Natural Home and Garden 

5. Build a half pipe: (my husband actually built one for our last house but it didn't come with us)

Photo by Prue Ruscoe of Inside Out

6. Pretty up the driveway:

 Better Homes & Gardens

7: Host a movie night:

Prairie Hive

9. Hang a hammock: (ok, so not exactly a DIY but this is one project that we actually did do!)

Birch + Bird

You might remember one of my earlier guest posts featuring hammocks so I thought you might like to see the one I chose and also get a little sneak peak of our backyard. While not much of a DIY, it has been the perfect place to rest and daydream about the next projects on our list! What outdoor plans do you have in the works?

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. Lily is also opening a new storefront in Abbotsford later this Fall. You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.

Broad Horizons: Outdoor Rooms with a View

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

 Style At Home. Photo by Stacey Van Berkel-Haines

Summer seems to have some commitment issues with our corner of the West Coast and it's hard to believe that our furnace is still in regular use! All of this torrential rain does have at least one upside though...our whole town and valley is incredibly lush and green right now and we can almost watch our backyard plants growing. On my evening walks with our dog, (damp though they have been) I can't help but feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful place, nestled amongst the hills and mountains. From the countryside to the coast and plenty of cityscapes in between, here are some views that I would be perfectly happy to take in during on a balmy evening with friends...

 Janne Peters

 Elle Decoration Germany via On Blue Pool Road. Photo by Solvi Dos Santos.

Skona Hem 

 Canadian House & Home. Photo by Stacey Brandford.

 Home Life. Photo by Prue Ruscoe.

My Home Ideas. Photo by Tria Giovan.

Has summer already arrived in your neck of the woods? Or are you wistfully dreaming of hot sandy getaways like I am? Whatever your summer plans may be, hopefully they include at least a few warm sunsets and wide horizons like these!

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.

Taking it Outside: Pretty Picnics

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

Ikea

Summer + sunshine = parties and picnics, wouldn't you agree? My kids like nothing better than bringing lunch and snacks out onto the back deck and lawn and I'm a big fan of impromptu shared meals myself. We'll often meet friends at a local park with a bag of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and whatever other goodies we've got on hand to share while the kids play. Now that the sunshine seems here to stay, I cannot wait to get outside...

Styled Creative via The Glitter Guide

DIY Picnic Baskets on Oh Happy Day

DIY Picnic Blanket on Design Love Fest

DIY Bolo Rug Pillows by Summer Robertson on Simple Design

Photo by Bodil Bergqvist for Trendenser

Whether planned ahead or last minute, picnics are one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon in the shade. Beachside, in a grassy park or in your own backyard, it doesn't take much to make a meal feel special for grown ups and kids alike! Canning jars make great containers for salads and drinks and the farmers markets are full of local berries and goodies just waiting to be shared on a picnic blanket somewhere. Have a sun-filled weekend!

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.

Diving In: Outdoor Pools

Guest post by Lily Ellis of Birch + Bird.

David Allee for Dwell

Although we've had a fair amount of sunshine over the past few weeks, temperatures haven't been nearly as warm as they have been in summers gone by. They are supposed to rise this weekend though and I'm sure my kids would be pleased as punch to take a dip in any one of these backyard pools! I don't know about you, but I prefer pools that look more natural and blend into the landscape a little bit more than the standard bright blue-lined versions. Although with views like these, I wouldn't complain about a thing!

 Micasa via Desire to Inspire

Peter DaSilva for The NY Times

Martha Stewart

Jenna M. McKnight for Architectural Record

The Cabin House

Leslie Williamson

I think feed tank pools are pretty genius and oh so affordable! Upcycled and the perfect size for a cool plunge, not to mention so much easier to maintain than a full sized swimming pool. Would your dream home include a backyard pool? If so, which would you choose? Enjoy the sunshine!

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Lily co-writes with Rachel over at Birch + Bird. Together they organize local handmade + vintage markets and run a small Etsy shop. You can follow Birch + Bird on Facebook and Twitter.