On Sunday, the crazy heatwave that kept it over 100 degrees (at least by heat index) for what felt like forever finally broke. The outside isn’t such a dreadfully hot place anymore, and I’m back to enjoying summer.

In May, I learned on The Nate Berkus Show that you can use exterior paint on indoor furniture to make it outside safe! You have to repaint it a bit more often than you probably would furniture that’s meant to be outside, but it’s still a fun idea. And … think about all of the color!

From Design*Sponge's sneak peek: lynne testoni

West Furniture Revival: OUTDOOR FURNITURE

From 2-Clicks Outdoor Furniture

From Brick House ~ Brown Shutters

I love the color art prints by Amanda Catherine Designs on Etsy! They are all great and very affordable! I love affordable art. I completely believe in paying the price asked by an artist but most often I just can’t afford it. These type of prints can have a great impact in a space, while also being affordable! Love that! Click on each image to be taken to the listing.

Mary and I hope you’re having a wonderful fourth of July week! We’re spending the next several days spending time with our families and trying to relax, a little. We’ll be back on July 9 with regular posts. Have a great week and a happy Independence Day.

I was thinking about sharing this Japanese playground from artist Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam in our Friday Reader Roundup but it’s just too much fun for a small post. You can only imagine how colorful this must feel in person. I’m sure the photos don’t do it justice and that’s saying a lot because this crocheted playground is so striking and amazing.

Toshiko and her husband’s, Charles, company is Interplay Design and Manufacturing, and she’s got multiple playground projects. The innovation and art that is married in these playgrounds is just spectacular. This looks like so much fun.

These particular photos are taken from the Open Air Museum located in Hakone, Japan and that was installed in 2009. There were design partners and archeticts that worked on this with Toshiko.

Doesn’t this just seems like an amazing fairytale?

(via My Modern Met)

**Special Thanks! to my sister Abby who shared this with me.

I broke our french press last night! Oh no! It was on the drying rack and I bumped it off while loading the dishwasher, breaking the carafe. We have the option of getting a new carafe, but the one we bought is so cheap that I’m not sure we’ll be able to order the carafe and I don’t know if other brand replacements will fit it.

There are a lot of pretty options for french presses, so I thought I’d shop a few before I commit to purchasing the replacement part.

1. EILEEN 3 cup, 12 oz coffee maker from Bodum: I really love the pattern around the carafe on this one, and the color palette is great.

2. BEAN SET 1.5 l, 51 oz red iced coffee maker from Bodum: The one that just broke is about this color, but it didn’t make iced coffee. Appealing! I also really liked how bright it was. Our kettle is bright yellow so they looked pretty good together.

3. Bonjour Maximus 8-Cup French Press from Williams-Sonoma: I love the lid on this one! The dome shape and the metal makes it look so sleek.

4. Melior Bodum Single Cup French Coffee Press by LessToxicToaster on Etsy: Speaking of sleek, I think this one is so cute and vintage. A single cup press wouldn’t be completely unrealistic for us, though maybe we’d want two.

5. Red Bodum french press coffee machine Danish by CuratorvsCurator: Luckily, there is another, similar press available on Etsy right now! This one holds 4-6 cups, perfect!

6. Mid Century french press by RueDesLouves on Etsy: This one is another vintage find. That polished chrome looks so shiny!

I’ve got a big projects I’m working on and promise to reveal very soon. We are working out huge kinks and it takes up all of my brain power. In the meantime, I’ve been grabbing onto inspirational sayings to keep me going. Combine that inspiration with beautiful design and I’m sold.

 Dreams 11×14 Art Print by Project Type

 Impossible Print by Vapor Qualquer

Matthew 6:34 by Cory Say

This last one just makes me chuckle. It’s so true. All of it. (via Ffffound!)

Hope y’all find these inspirational too! It’s good to constantly be encouraged in whatever creative process you’re working on.

Mary’s Picks

• Honestly…WTF has once again inspired me to make my own bracelets. These gold tube bracelets are beautiful and there’s so many options!

• The zinnias are in full bloom in my backyard and so this beautiful arrangement featured over at Oh Joy! has me wanting to run out to the garden and create some bouquets!

• Whoa, this paper cutting from Lori Danelle is ah-mah-zing. The added detail of the hedgehogs is fantastic and adorable. Paper cutting art makes me think about the trip Jess and I took to New Orleans. There was paper cut (cutting?) artist there in the French Quarter and I loved his stuff. Makes me miss Jess and makes me want to go back to New Orleans. (Forgive the tangent)

Jess’s Picks

• Moonrise Kingdom is finally making it’s way to my area next Friday. I can’t wait! This series of Awesome Posters: The Wes Anderson Alphabet via Flavorwire is really fun and gets me in the mood to rewatch all of Wes Anderson’s movies!

• Since I’ve been out of school for several years, now, I’m missing the grind of learning new things. I read a lot, but I have a new interest in math and science and the so-called STEM field. I’m thinking that it might be time to take advantage of some of the new free educational courses you can take, so this list of 7 Free Education Websites You Don’t Want to Miss from Goodnet was a great find.