design finch

In the spring and summer we basically live outside on our back deck. The backyard is what originally sold us on our house and it’s become one of my very favorite places to unwind. On the rare occasions I actually have a leisurely morning to enjoy, I love lounging on the deck with a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper or a favorite magazine. When the weather is nice (and before the mosquitos become too ravenous), we dine alfresco almost every night. We’ve discovered the peaceful surroundings of our own backyard are more romantic than any fancy restaurant (except we’re still stuck with doing the dishes afterward).

A few years ago my grandmother (Hi, Nana!) gave us this wonderful rocking bench that she had on her patio. The wood had weathered over time, but the bench still had great bones and was very sturdy and comfortable. I gave it new life by stripping the old paint, then staining the wood a rusty brown color to tie in with our existing outdoor furniture. Call me an old lady, but I would love nothing more than to sit here and rock all day!

Recently I decided my little bench needed an extra somethin-somethin’ to help welcome the gorgeous weather. I’ve had my eye on these colorful floral and striped outdoor pillows from World Market, but think their $20 price tag is for the birds. So, when I spotted some cute outdoor throw pillows at Costco (only $15 for a package of two!) I snatched them up. Perfecto!

Speaking of pillows, remember how I’ve been hunting for some new ones for the living room? Well, looky here! My talented mom whipped these up for me with fabric she already had on hand. The pillows are reversible so I can mix and match the patterns when I want to change things up. Aren’t they cute?! I seriously think she should start a sewing blog! She has more creativity in her pinky finger than most people will ever have.