Restoration Hardware – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Week in Review October 13, 2014

Week in Review

We find ourselves in October, yet it doesn’t feel like fall in Texas. I am really excited about the prospect of cool temperatures coming soon. Sasha, Isla and I had a wonderful, busy week with many highlights, which I’ve outlined below (the first being my favorite):

This giggle fit (I’ve watched it on my phone at least 50 times!)
Visits from numerous sweet guests (lots of cute babies)
Isla passing her four month appointment with flying colors (58% for weight and 93% for length!)
First FaceTime session with adorable Simon (of Hook, Thread and Tinker)
Spending quality time with Sophee (one of my best friends who lives in Austin)
Much needed workouts at Life Time
A video shoot (more details to come soon!)
BBQ at Sasha’s cousin’s new home
Serbian Slava (party celebrating a family’s patron saint)
Eating out at our favorite places with friends: breakfast at Buffalo Grille, lunches at Local Foods and Counter Burger, and dinners at Empire Turkish Grill, Carabbas, and Adair Kitchen (see all of my favorite Houston restaurants here)
Officially becoming Texas Exes
Bedroom furniture shopping at Restoration Hardware (i.e. design heaven)
Spending four hours at the hair salon getting my hair colored (it has been 8 years since the last time I had blonde in my hair!) and chopped – five inches off – I am still really on the fence about the whole thing though…
Retail therapy at the new Nordstrom Rack (reference above for why) and getting the cutest chambray tunic for Isla (probably not very comfy, but ohmygosh so cute – to be debuted soon!)

Did you have a good week? What did you get up to? Have a wonderful Monday. xo

Getting all dolled up for Sasha’s uncle’s Slava party

Baby June 17, 2014

Isla’s Birth Gift: Pearls

For the month leading up to Isla’s birth, Sasha asked me what I wanted for a ‘push present.’ I thought the idea of gifting your wife for delivering your child seemed kind of bizarre – it’s not like men have the option! I told him time and time again (semi-jokingly) that I wanted this elephant from Baby & Child. He refused.

After Isla was born (and the chaos died down), Sasha handed me a small jewelry box and explained that this gift was to commemorate this special moment (not a ‘thank you’). I opened the box and started crying – my first set of pearl earrings. Isla was born on June 4, and her birthstone is pearl. I love them so much and have literally worn them every day since she was born (13 to be exact).

What are your thoughts on push presents?

Baby March 12, 2014

West Elm Graham Glider

Deciding on the baby glider or recliner is a big decision – as new moms, we’re about to spend a lot of time nursing there, as well as many years to come reading our little ones stories on the chair at night. Sasha and I looked at Pottery Barn Kids, RH Baby and Child, Land of Nod, Serena and Lily – we liked a lot of the chairs, but none of them seemed just right for our house/Isla’s room. I saw the Graham Glider online at West Elm and loved it, but wasn’t convinced until 1) my good friend, Mara, told me that they had just bought it, and 2) we both sat in in and decided it was “the one.” We ordered the Pebble Weave chair in Oatmeal, as well as the matching ottoman. We were told that they take 8-10 weeks to arrive (ours came in 7!). It arrived on Saturday, and I seriously could not be more pleased. Pictures below!

Gold polka dot pillow from Anthropologie

New accent ceramic jug vase and flowers – also from West Elm

Baby February 24, 2014

Miss Ellery Grey

I was in Washington, DC this weekend with my Mum for a calligraphy workshop (post to come this week – see sample at the bottom of this post!), and as soon as I touched down in Houston, Sasha and I made plans to meet one of our best friend’s little baby girl, Ellery Grey. She was born on February 19 – the day after my birthday! Ellery is so cute, and I cannot wait for her and Isla to be best friends. Yesterday was my 100-days-left marker, so I’m in the double digits now. I hope the next 99 days fly by.

Isn’t Ellery adorable? I plan on taking a million pictures of her, just like I have with little Pierson.

I love this one – sleeping peacefully in her daddy’s arms!

This is what Matt and Sasha’s future looks like – and also a glimpse at their gorgeously decorated Restoration Hardware house

I landed from the airport and went straight to meet Ellery – stopping briefly to practice my new calligraphy skills for her gift label! We got her the monogrammed stroller blanket from Baby and Child – it’s so soft!

I need to practice more calligraphy, but loving it so far.

Snapshots August 12, 2013

Tour de Texas

Sasha was in Austin all last week for class, so I drove to meet him on Thursday. We spent Friday eating breakfast at Kerbey Lane, working from the AT&T Conference Center (where we were staying), then getting lunch at the flagship Whole Foods, going paddle boarding on Town Lake (so much fun!!!), getting drinks at Abel’s on the Lake, then cleaning up and meeting some of my favorite people for dinner at G’Raj Mahal (amazing). After dinner, Sasha and I walked back to Town Lake to watch the sunset on a dock, then trekked across downtown Austin to go back to the hotel (via the Capitol and TCBY, naturally).

On Saturday, we were back at Kerbey Lane for breakfast (it’s that good), then headed to San Marcos to visit one of Sasha’s fraternity brothers. They live on this amazing 100 acre ranch with the most gorgeous Restoration Hardware inspired house. They have two gorgeous blonde girls of their own and have adopted three beautiful kids from Africa. I honestly did not want to leave.

Afterward, we went to Gruene for lunch at the famous Gristmill restaurant, next to Gruene Hall (Texas’ oldest dance hall). We walked around this quaint Texas town after, then got in the car and drove to San Antonio (hence, the Tour de Texas post name). I met two of Sasha’s high school friends and their precious three kids – a newborn who I didn’t want to put down. We went to eat at Scenic Loop Cafe and Bar, which was delicious – great outdoor dining spot with live music and gorgeous strung lights.

We woke up early on Sunday and headed back to Houston. We arrived home to the West Elm storage bench we ordered ages ago. Hoorah! Not many more pieces to go until The Manor is complete. The busy weekend ended with family dinner at Indika (one of my favorites, as expressed in my ‘Best of Houston: Restaurants and Coffee‘ post). It’s Houston Restaurant Weeks – my favorite time of the year.

Happy Monday!