About begin with a Sunny Outlook

How We Got From There to Here!

We are sisters. Both landscape architects by profession. And these are life’s unpredictable events that led to the creation of begin with A Sunny Outlook.

When the economy goes from bad to worse, the construction industry (regionally) typically is one of the first things that is affected. Because of that situation, both of us, each working in our capacity as landscape architects, lost our jobs – from companies that we had worked for, for many years (11 years and 8 years, for the record!). Guess you can’t blame the companies. Many did all they could to retain employees for as long as they could, and stay afloat.

Naturally, the typical job searching ensued, and after updating resumes, writing cover letters, phone calls, and months and months of going on interviews (relocating was not in the cards for either of us for many reasons), the bad economy not only proved to be a bigger obstacle than we had anticipated for landing another job, but eventually it left more friends and colleagues in its wake.

So we had to rely on our own enterprising creativity to pay the bills! And in the entrepreneur spirit, we formed a company together, and voila! begin with a Sunny Outlook was born! Hooray for good old fashion America ingenuity! And prayer!

So how did we come up with the idea for the website? Well, after much conservation we decided to create a site for basically everything that can possibly take place outdoors, at home, for women. From hanging laundry outside to building a brick walk or a deck, we wanted our website to be the informative go-to-source for women.

And that’s what we are striving for. Our website is evolving, and growing in content by the week. If you don’t find what you are looking for, leave a question, or check back often because more than likely we’ll get to it!

We have a formula for what’s at the heart of our website. It is simply this:
house + yard = home.

Our education in landscape architecture allows us to provide the know-how to help you do those outdoor projects, and our love of everything domestic instills in us the spirit to make outdoor living at home a fun and adventurous thing!

We would love to hear from you! The Comments Link can be found in the site map at the bottom of every page on our website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mission Statement

begin with a Sunny Outlook is a residential outdoor living and outdoor design website focusing on the domestic interests of everyday women. We invite you to visit us often, especially when your sunny outlook needs recharging.

It was created through the melding of our professions as landscape architects and our own individual interests in everything domestic. It just so happens, that as sisters, we share similar domestic interests, perhaps as a result of growing up in the same house!

This website is about a woman's, a mother's, a wife's relationship with her house and yard which together, create a home. As for the yard, one may not have been aware that such a relationship exists, but make no mistake, it does exist. There is an emotional bond that we have with our homes and, believe it or not, with our yards too. One might ask don't we have enough emotional bonds going on without having one with our yards. Don't be silly.

It may not be readily apparent, but if we pause to think about all of the ways in which we use our yards, we can see how these occasions are so closely tied to our heart strings. Baby showers, barbeques, parties, swing sets, reunions and receptions, tricycles and popsicles, a safe place for the kids to play, a quiet reading spot, the summer garden, memories of our own childhood. As we add our own everyday happenings to the list, we begin to see how a yard, big or small, can provide the perfect setting for life and celebrations.

It is our intention for this website to be informative, intelligent, inspiring, and useful, and hopefully fun. It will evolve and expectantly improve. It will probably be as complex as we women are (only we know why our closet is full of so many pairs of shoes or why we hang on to that small piece of wrapping paper at the end of the roll).

We focus on the varied aspects of outdoor residential living: it's design, aesthetics, architectural continuity, functionality, bright colors, and emotional rewards, and how one's yard is used in everyday life. Some outdoor spaces need to have a relationship with the house and thoughtful design will help blend outdoor and indoor spaces. And we shouldn't forget to nurture ourselves by means of specific outdoor settings and elements that provide a sense of wellness.

For those that enjoy snippets of history, there is a brief lesson about the history of landscape architecture. Landscape architecture has impacted the design and functionality of America's cities and most every type of development from college campuses to suburbia. And the big question: what is a landscape architect, anyway?

Simply said, we want our outdoor living spaces to be as special to us as our house. Through attention to design and detail, you'll begin to see unique and wonderful spaces emerge to provide year round interest and enjoyment for you, your family, and friends. Could it be possible that you will start inventing holidays just so you can throw an outdoor party?

Our Philosophy

WE'D LIKE TO TELL YOU a little about the look of our site. In hopes of inspiring joyfulness and being uplifted, we chose to use the bright and cheerful colors and images that are typically associated with summer, and that can be found in those warm places near the sea. So, year round, no matter what the temperature outside, here at begin with a Sunny Outlook, we can be reminded of that time of year when everything in the outdoors comes alive and renews itself, and running in and out of the house is effortless (no coats, mittens, or boots!).

Our name, begin with a Sunny Outlook, is more than just a name. It can be a philosophy, a positive way of viewing life. For, as we all know, there are many times in life when a sunny outlook may serve us best, in dealing with our day to day happenings. And being in that mindset, perhaps we can be helpful to someone in our own lives who needs their sunny outlook restored!