backyard garden: day one

We are getting a bit of a late start on our backyard garden this year, but I say better late than never! We got a tomato & a pepper plant (in the bigger pots in back) and then our herb garden consists of basil, rosemary, cilantro, chives and dill. We just found out today that a friend of ours has to move and has decided to give us his 4 x 6 foot raised garden & soil!!!! We couldn't make the arrangements to get it today, but hopefully sometime this week. I was resigned to the fact that we couldn't make a raised garden happen this year - so that was an awesome surprise!!

blues..

I made this necklace today - have had these beads & a bag of skeleton keys laying around forever. Soooo glad it's a long weekend, I need another day to get through my to-do list. I'm hoping for some nice weather tomorrow so we can get some gardening done & go swimming, but the forecast says storms are coming...we'll see. Either way, I'm happy that I don't have the "Sunday Night Blues" tonight. ♥

summertime...

It's officially summer!! I spent this gorgeous, sunny day with my sister, nieces & nephew playing in their backyard. Water guns, water balloons, a water table and the garden hose...you name it, we played with it! I ♥ summer!!!

oops...

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I pretty much dropped the blogging ball this week, but I promise to do better!

♥ a weekend in May ♥

Our very good friends Andrew & Michelle got married at a breathtaking winery in southern Illinois. Cory was the Best Man; he saved the day by having brought our iron & board with to the winery for photos before the ceremony. It was actually more of a serendipitous moment than planning ahead, but he did a great job getting the Groom's suit jacket in tip-top shape. He really does beautiful things with an iron. :) We got to see lots of friends & we didn't take nearly enough photos - but I did catch our friend's Nate and Doug playing during cocktail hour. A really fantastic live band played after dinner & I caught this snapshot of their first dance. It was such a really sincere & heart-warming wedding and we are lucky to have shared it with them. ♥

tape.

I got a little behind on my pages for the Tell Your Story class and I have spent the last few evenings trying to get caught up & get things done for the weekend (out of town wedding). Above is my 3 P's page - paint, pen & paper. Mine should really be called 3 P's + T, and T = tape. I am obsessed.....no, seriously. ♥

ok, stop already....

with the wreaths!! Actually, these wreaths have been on the to-do list/half-completed pile for a few months now. I asked my mom if she would prefer sunflowers or daisies....she said daisies, and can you add some branches & ribbon? Sure! OK, so the branches are a tad strange. I found these weird fluffy pipe cleaners & twisted 2 of them together to make a bigger branch. And I am not sure how I managed to get a good bow - and I don't expect it to ever happen again. We'll see. ♥

quiz time...

What is your current obsession? the RVA Tell Your Story class

What is your current favorite memory? the day my niece Addie was born ♥

Starbucks or Peet's? Starbucks, occasionally - no Peet's here.

What's for dinner? Chinese takeout - YUM!

What would you eat for your last meal? filet mignon, loaded baked potato, spinach salad & chocolate mousse.

What's the last thing you bought? Happy Tape - I ♥ it!

What are you listening to right now? Coconut Records, Ingrid Michaelson and Coltrane.

What is your favorite ice-cream flavor? butter pecan

What was your favorite toy growing up? Strawberry Shortcake - I was obsessed!
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
to Portland to see my friend Shelbi - miss her soooo much!!

Which language do you want to learn? Japanese. I lived there for 2 years and learned enough to get around OK, but I spoke a lot of English, too. I can definitely understand more than I can say - to be fluent would be amazing.

What is your favorite color? aqua, acid green, yellow & magenta

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? my black dress that pretty much always looks good no matter what and my fox hat from polka dot robot

What is your dream job? independent business owner

What is your worst habit? TV & Pepsi.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
plants, flowers & gardening supplies

Do you admire any one's style? Elsie & Rachel

Describe your personal style? always evolving - a little preppy, a little bohemian, colorful

What are you going to do after this? watch Sherlock Holmes :)

What are your favorite movies? Miyazaki: Spirited Away, Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle

What is your favorite fruit? strawberries & blueberries

What inspires you? art, music, movies, the blogs I read, my family & friends

Your favorite book? The Wind-up Bird Chronicle

Do you collect something? craft supplies :)

What are you most proud of? Living on my own for 2 years in Japan.

What do you like most about yourself? I'm a pretty good listener.

What is your go-to nail polish color? Pacific blue ♥

my favorite day again...

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Frankly, I'm just glad I only have to work until noon tomorrow.

what I been up to....

Actually these are ongoing projects or ones that I have done in the last few weeks - from the top: the angel food cake I made for Mother's Day (box angel food cake mix & the glaze is made of powdered sugar mixed with orange juice - unbelievably easy & YUM), the coptic journal I got from Evalicious is finally completed - it's a little wonk (cuz I'm such a novice) but I really like it anyway, and finally a daisy & sunflower wreath made from yarn & felt - for my sisters Molly & Erin respectively. ♥

morning rituals...

This morning we got up early and took the dogs on a walk (trying to start new/good habits). Bella was so excited she nearly gave herself a heart attack - and she usually has to be coaxed out of bed in the morning, she's super lazy. The walk was nice, it was a little chilly but the sun was shining and the park was peaceful. The photo above is of the pavillion and pond at the park we walk through in our neighborhood. Hopefully we can make the walk a part of our routine. Although if it continues to rain all week (like the forecast says) I think there will be some snoozing on the alarm clock & a rain-check on the walk :)

Happy Mother's Day!!

my mom (Kathy) with my niece Addie

We went to church with my family and then enjoyed a lovely brunch together, complete with mimosas!! The sun is shining & it's a really beautiful day. I am going to finish off the angel food cakes I baked with an orange glaze, grab some rainbow sherbet and head out of town for a few more hours of fun family time! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day! ♥

tgif...

1/2/3 source ; print by Ashley G

I have been exhausted all week...even now I am yawning as I am typing this! I am super excited that it's the weekend and there is a major storm brewing outside right now - which is a good excuse to cozy up inside & get lots of rest ♥

eye candy...

The Urban Outfitter's print shop is pretty amazing. I love all three of the Matt Lyon prints above - the colors & the graphic shapes are so great. I have quite a few blank canvasses I need to fill myself - these are major inspiration ♥

snapshots...

from around my house :)

oops!

I took an unplanned blog break this past week but I have been feeling so inspired & creative lately. The Tell Your Story class is amazing - I am anxious each morning to read the new prompt and am making time every day to work on it. You can see more of my pages here. I finally finished my first coptic journal (kit from Evalicious). She has an amazing new vintage art journal kit and awesome embellishments - they make everything look finished & thoughtful, I just love her stuff! ♥