open house for butterflies

merry christmas.

2011-12-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

{my sis, kimmy + i...christmas circa 1974}

wishes for a christmas filled
with child-like wonder

+ amazement...

merry christmas everyone~

xoxo.

snowy destination.

2011-12-22T17:14:00.002-08:00

-1-

how lovely + desolate + holy

this little chapel in bavaria looks...

i'm not a snow kind of person

(as you know)

but i'd brave it + then some

in the winter.

my sister + niece took a trip to bavaria

some christmases ago + absolutely fell in love with

the country.

i have a sneaking suspicion i would too.

a few random christmas-sy thoughts.

2011-12-22T17:11:00.000-08:00

-1-

1. i must figure out how to put christmas lights on my bike!

2. speaking of christmas lights, why do christmas lights look

sooooooo much prettier without glasses?

3. note to mr. sky: snow already! gosh, darnit!

(but just for christmas)

4. elf is pretty much funny,

even after the gazzillionth time

("you sit on a throne of lies...")

5. spiced hot chocolate~ heavy on the spiced~

pretty much rocks.

6. making handmade gifts is soothing my soul...

plus, it's pretty fun.

(+ most importantly is keeping

me out of the mall!)

7. thinking of last year how much christmas wore me down.

this year, i'm adamant about keeping it simple,

peaceful + real this season.

8. are you ever really ever too old

to watch a charlie brown christmas?

9. playing secret santa, is one of the most
magical things you can do when you grow up.

10. listening to
'have yourself a merry little christmas'.
the part where 'may your heart be light', gets me
every single time.

hope you are enjoying all the holiday sights + sounds :)

just another day at the office.

2011-12-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

i've been spending these last few days

making tons + tons of schmoensters:

which means

non-stop planning, cutting, sewing + tweaking

with the details until they are just right.

one of the perks is being able

to stay at home

+ work in my my jammies all day as i work away in my lab

(which may or may not be a very healthy thing to do)

+ make these little guys.

they kind of crack me up,

these schmoensters.

i'm pretty sure making them won't lead
to any life-changing or dramatic changes in the world,

but maybe at the very least
they can save the world from grumpiness?
maybe that's their mission-
world domination in the name of eliminating
all + any sullen, cantankerous moodiness.
at any rate, i think they are kind of cute :)

okay, back to work i go!

have a fabulous + non-grumpy thursday y'all!!

thankful thursday.

2011-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

it's december 1st technically

+ thanksgiving is now a ghost,

but it's always nice to carry over

thankfulness to other days of the year

(also, i secretly miss doing joy pockets!).

this morning, as my hands were playing around in the emerging sunlight,

i started thinking about how versatile they are,

+ how often i take them for granted.

they get beat up a bit,

my fingers are callused from playing the guitar,

they need some kind of cold weather intervention

because they're getting dry as hell.

+ you know when you work with your hands a lot,

there's bound to be a bit of wear + tear over the years.

but they've served me well...

without them i would be lost

because they do so much.

they've helped me to

care,

to create,

give,

as well as receive,

express,

bond

to love

(not to mention, so much more...)

so, a humble + most heartfelt thank you, hands!

thanksgiving.

2011-11-23T21:17:00.000-08:00

-1-

not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~w.t. purkiser

thanksgiving seems to be one of the most underrated, unassuming

holidays~ in the states that is~

but as i get older,

i'm finding that it's fast becoming one of my most favorite holidays.

of course the food is top-rate: mom's stuffing, pies galore + turkey

(we always have a twist on the classics: turkey/pumpkin enchiladas for us this year!).

but more than the food + the camraderie,

i love the chance to quietly reflect on a larger scale

what i'm thankful for right now, as well as throughout the past year.

it's neither too commercialized or glitzy... the mission is very simple:

be thankful + share your blessings.

i can handle that.

well, whether or not you observe this day,

i hope that there are many blessings in your life~

(+ maybe a little pumpkin pie too!)

happy thanksgiving, friends! :)

golden girl.

2011-11-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

it was a big something that happened over the weekend...

someone had a golden birthday!

miss lana lou turned twelve~

(something also cool is that she celebrated being 11 years old
for the last time on 11/11/11!)

well, gah! where does time go?

twelve....

it's such an exciting age!

but it's a little bittersweet as well,
witnessing her on the cusp of childhood~
dipping her toes into teenagerish territory,

flexing her wings + testing things out.

which is all good stuff, completely normal stuff, right?

(although every now + then i keep looking around

for my baby girl!).

miss elena,

i feel truly blessed.

thank you for bringing so much sunshine,

laughter + excitement to our lives!!!

xoxo.

for the love of words.

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

-1-

well, i think this is some kind of awesome, not to mention interesting

(or as fordy would say: 'inneresting').

i especially love the thought behind 'meraki' .

also too, 'l'esprit d'escalier'...

who else but the french, can make almost anything sound beautiful?

although the translation~ spirit of the staircase~ sounds so poetic in itself!

it got me thinking about english words i wished existed, but are still waiting for a name.

my friend luisa + i like to make words up...

she coined: half-assery,

which is pretty self-explanatory but is kind of fun to say.

are there any words you wished existed in the english language?

i wished that there was a word to describe the smell of the earth after it rains
+ the swooshing sounds that cars make on it,
the way your stomach feels after an amazing full-out belly laugh.
i also wished there was a word for times when
you realize that you've chosen the wrong register
at the store to stand in line once again,
or the breakthrough when you cross over the magical line between being aquaintances
to being trusted friends.

at any rate, here's a few more words here !

back to the basics.

2011-11-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

-1-

a light supper,

a good night's sleep

+ a fine morning

have often made a hero

of a man,

who by indigestion,

a restless night + a rainy morning

would have proved a coward.

~lord chesterfield

trying to take small steps these days to take care of the things

that really matter...

it's so easy to put my needs on the back burner +

forget that all the things i make sure my kiddos need

+ get, are things that this mama needs too.

sleep.

nourishment for my belly.

nourishment for my soul.

hugs from the kids.

fun + spontaneity.

striving today for simple.

glitteratzi patrol.

2011-11-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

well, speaking of glitter...

saw this crazy 24 pack of magical rainbow glitter + just had to go for it.

glitter makes me go nuts + i can't help myself, like literally.

it makes me insanely happy.

i have a feeling i'm going to be glittering everything in sight!

watch out :)

{just the start of my glitter campaign}

more crazy glitter love:

-1-

-2-

{source unknown}

-4-

-5-

nature's glitter.

2011-11-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

today i was surprised to look out the big window

+ see big, fat snowflakes swirling about.

what a gift...

(+ this coming from a warm weather kind of girl).

i hurried outside with my galoshes + jammies

~yes, still in my jams today! don't judge!~

to catch a few snowflakes in my hand

+ watch the snow dance a crazy tango in the sky :)

can't wait until the kids come home

to see what they think of this madness.

first snowfall is exciting.

glad it's finally here....

moody monday.

2011-11-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

-1-

the sun is gone, but i have a light.
~kurt kobain

yeah, we all shine on, like the moon,

+ the stars + the sun.

~john lennon

today it is mostly cloudy with a few tickles

from the peeking sun.

for the most part, it's a 'make-your-own-sunshine kind of day'...
perfect for a steaming cup of tea,

perfect for wrapping up in a luxurious silence

to reflect, think, + organize my day.
perfect for sharing a sublime, quiet smile.

perfect for doing lots of things...

weekend wishes.

2011-11-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

{short + sweet}.

have a magical weekend everyone!

the wisdom of roald dahl.

2011-11-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

-1-

"if i were headmaster,

i would get rid of the history teacher

and get a chocolate teacher instead..."

~roald dahl

{just another reason to love mr. dahl}

happenins' of late.

2011-11-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

{fierce gladiator + unbemused lion}

i've missed you guys!

i've also missed the daily ritual of blogging,

so it feels extra-special to be back in the swing of things.

for the curious~

what i've been up to:

fierce 24 hour halloween costume making sessions

(foil + glue guns are life savers)

examining the magical properties of eating pumpkin butter...

with everything!

in the process of eliminating our

experimental prairie experiment

(a.k.a. overly-weeded garden)

hopefully before snowfall

getting myself in the right frame of mind,

by repeating this mantra:

"i am an artist, i am an artist"

tackling my new pottery class~

i think i might know what i might want to be when i grow up...

(or one of the things...)

{first project before firing + glazing}

making a new fall/winter list,

which i'll share with you later

thinking of things to make for christmas gifts.

i've resolved to try to stay out of the malls

as humanly possible + instead enjoy

my holiday time, snug + warm, with my loves instead.

channeling my inner simon + garfunkel

by learning to play this song, in this manner:

now, it's your turn! :)

what have you guys been up to?

boo!

2011-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

-1-

finally peekin' in after a few weeks hiatus

(you know, busy mom stuff!).

will fill everyone in on the going-on's

+ can't wait to catch up on what

everyone has been doing!

oh, + happy, happy halloween

(still technically 46 minutes + some odd seconds left here!).

hope everyone's had a safe + mischievious,

fun-filled day!

huzzah~ it's friday!

2011-10-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

-1-

last weekend, my sweet family + i were moseying around the farmer's market

when we happened to see an amish gentleman give another dude a fist bump.

it was such a random + unexpected encounter *

that everytime i thought of it througout the week on the gloomiest days

it made me smile...

*unfortunately, it's the one time i didn't have my camera... but imagine the caped guy in regular clothes, a table chock full of delectable amish pies~ + it was kinda like that!

happy friday everyone!

hope it's filled with things that make you smile :)

autumn floral crown.

2011-10-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

my ~~summer~~ autumn floral crown is now completed!

it took me four months to actually get after it,

but i can now cross #15 off the list.

hooray! :)

cocooning.

2011-10-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

-1-

you guys, i was just thinking about the crazy, warm autumn

most of us here (in the states) have been getting...

sooner or later it will end, right?

fall will give in to winter

which means....

brrrrrrrr!!!!

this jumper cracked me up; it's slightly bizarre but it looks super comfy.

is there anyone who can knit this

preferably with two pant legs + armholes?

temptation.

2011-10-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

we're trying to hunker down + pay off some bills
so that we can do some traveling in the near + far future.

but i just found out that justin vernon, our favorite homeboy from wisconsin,

+ the rest of the band, bon iver, is going to be in town this december.

+ to boot, nellie mckay is playing this month.

shoot...how's that for temptation?

i might just have to spring

for a couple of tickets + call it a date night.

confessions.

2011-10-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

-1-

just today, i was hopping from blog to new blog, checking things out in the cyberworld when i stumbled upon a keeper, domestic reflections. there is a section, called 'confessions'~ basically a little shout out of all the little (or big) things that have been building up + bothering the writer. well, i thought it was fabulous...! sometimes i hold things in mostly because i hate to bitch unneccessary + for too long (in other words to bother someone else + be a pain in the you-know-what); friends have told me that just gives the impression that everything is normal.

sometimes there are times when i need to get items off my chest; i don't want to wallow in it, but sometimes it's nice just to get it out in the open because i like to generally keep unpleasant things to myself or it's just too much information. but you'd think i'd learn this lesson, because when i allow myself to do that, it's like....aaaahhhhhhh, now there's finally space to move on. being in a vulnerable position is something i don't really care for: proclaiming potentially embarrassing or what some might see as shameful thoughts makes me feel like i'm opening myself up for criticism + judgement. on the flip side, i always appreciate someone when they open up like that; they somehow seem that much more reachable + human. must be why i like post secret so much...

so here are my confessions... which by the way i think i'm going to change the name to 'things i'm getting off my chest' (this may or may not stem from mandatory catholic church confession sessions from my childhood which still give me the hives...). anyways as you guys probably know, i try to look at the sunny side of life as much as possible~ but sometimes things are just what they are at the moment. + then, like usual, i'll move on! :)

things to get off my chest

(here we go...)

1. this month i agreed to do a healathy eating challenge with a friend, but i've been pretty much eating whatever i want these days which has included, but not limited to: farmer's market scones, dark chocolate, sea salt caramel mochas at starbucks, pumpkin doughnuts. exercises i'm supposed to be doing have only been imagined in my head.

2. if you ask me what my biggest fear is, i'll say dying (unexpected, by plane = worse case scenario), but really it's dying prematurely knowing i didn't live life to the fullest.

3. fordy is done with football + i'm ecstatic. i love watching him get stronger + learn all sorts of positive things. i love that he loves to play football. but i do not love driving him to + fro to practice + games 5 days of the week, freezing my ass off during cold, rainy nights, eating waaaay too much fast food (blech) + waking up early the next day to help the kids finish their homework. plus, i can stop worrying that he'll get hurt on the field.

4. legos. i want to equally curse the dude that invented. they are one of the best toys ever invented + the absolute worst to step on!

5. i've always had a problem telling others that i'm a stay-at-home mom. somehow i always feel like i have to justify it with statements like, 'i also do this...', 'i'm thinking of going back to school' or 'i was a teacher/beauty blogger/etc'... they are all true statements + i do/many things, but i need to say proudly, 'i'm lucky to do what i love: i'm lana + fordy's mom'. period.

6. + just one more: hamsters on hamster wheels in the middle of the night do not mix with peaceful sleeping...i've thought more than once as i lay unable to sleep to the cacophonous sounds of two hamsters running on their squeaking wheels, about the merits of craigslist. now i know why they eat them in peru.

that's it.

those are my latest confessions...
eeeeek. that was a little bit scary, but in a good way.

here's the link to domestic reflections if you'd like to read her confessions

or share some of your own!

weekend adventures.

2011-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

-1-

wow, what a quick week!

i'm ready for family + fun this weekend ~

i'd love to delve into a quick project or two,

head off to the farmer's market,

sneak in a leisurely canoe ride

+ our annual trip to the pumpkin patch

where usually we freeze our you-know-what's off

(but not this year~ woo hoo! we'll probably go for the doughnuts

+ skip the hot cider~ it'd be kind of weird sipping it in this kind of weather...)

it'd be fun to work on some

skateboarding skills with the kids too

(this could be fun + maybe slightly dangerous... for me, that is!)

what are you guys up to this weekend?

hope it's fabulous~

see you on monday!

playing hooky.

2011-10-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

yesterday the mr. + i played hooky while the kids were in school.

+ we did a rare thing...

we went on a date!

the weather was perfect with a capital P~

we totally took advantage of dining al fresco (my favorite)

+ mulling about the japanese gardens, talking.

it was toasty warm

but it still feels like fall, to me!

i swear there is something deliciously different

about the air this time of year...

it was a good, good day :)

time well spent.

2011-10-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

-1-

time you enjoyed wasting,

is not wasted time.

~t.s. eliot

unexpected visitor.

2011-10-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

every now + then, we cross paths with something

really fantastic living out here in the country.

most recently we met up with this cool little dude:

he's a leaf bug (a.k.a. angle-winged katydid, i believe)
+ we might not have noticed him had

he not flew into the house to

pay us an unexpected visit.

he was actually quite beautiful + we marveled at him for quite awhile.

i love it when functionality meets beauty!

(hard to trump mother nature in design).

mr. leaf bug had other pressing things to do

(probably like enjoy this stunning weather we're having),

so he bid us adieu + flew off.

we were glad he stopped by though!

p.s. i've only seen these twice in my lifetime, but they are pretty neat as well.

tea time.

2011-10-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

i'm off to slay weeds in the garden + enjoy the 'bonus' summer that

mother nature has ever-so-graciously thrown our way.

but first, some tea...

happy friday.

2011-09-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

-1-

it's friday...

OH YEAH!!!
it makes me want to do
a happy friday dance (or something).

have a fabulous weekend ya'll!

fall's 5.

2011-09-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

{sunshine art design}

now that fall is ceremoniously here in the midwest, i am so appreciative of the awesome fall colors + all the season will bring with it. i'm thankful for fall, its crisp air, + the gorgeous colors.

this is what i'm most looking forward to this season:

1. fall's jewel-colored leaves

i can't wait to do some hiking + canoe down the creek with the family this fall;
i know we'll be rewarded with a whole entirely different perspective.

{amg photo 81}

{bomobob: this + second autumn photographs}

2. warm duds + cuddly blankets

{kitty dune}

including but not limited to:
boots, chunky hats + scarves, thicker coats, argyle socks + tights...
(the selection of patterned tights is mind boggling these days)

{tortilla girl}

{wrapture by lnese}

{onok wild yard}

3. warm food to warm our souls
+ bodies...

{teton cocoa company}

{pretzel bread from miss munchie. is this for real?}

{vic + albie}

*i cheated, spoons aren't technically food,of course,
but they're a spiffy + cheeky little soup accessory!

and by god, fall means it's chili time...

{becca the baker}

4. campfires, fireplace fires, grill fires (we still grill year 'round
even in subzero temps 'cause we're kind of sadistic)

{polb photo}

everyone here burns leaves out in the country~

it's synonymous with fall + smells lovely, warm + cozy...

{brooke schmidt}

snuggling with my loves, drinking some wine
+ watching the kids read, laying out by the fire (later in the fall, of course)
are some of my favorite fall things to do.

{groundwork}

5. + finally, this:

{irene suchocki}

+ this:

{semi sweet studios}

we have pumpkins galore this year in the backyard, lots + lots of them

even though we didn't plant any seeds in the garden last summer.

they were unplanned but we're happy to have them.

regardless we'll still make trips to the

pumpkin patch + apple orchards, of course.

because apples + pumpkins mean

we get to make:

{let them eat pie}

{ajoyha}

what about you?

what fall things make it to the top of your

autumn list?

{georgianna lane}

*all photographs, home baked goodies + handmade crafts were found through etsy, one of my favorite places to shop...seriously, who needs the mall?

perfect reading weather.

2011-09-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

you guys all know how i tackle multiple books at one time...is there a support group for that? because i think the people at the library think i'm nuts- i'm always the gal who has 20-30 things checked out at a pop... currently, i am tackling/have tackled these books:

harry potter + the prisoner of azkaban~ j.k. rowling

the complete potter~ steve mattison

the hobbit~ j.r.r. tolkien

italian visual

vegetarian slow cooker~ lynn alley

when god was a rabbit~ sarah winman

on the road, jack kerouac

how to be an exporer of the road~ keri smith

actually, i just finished three of the books above: the hobbit, the third of the harry potter series + when god was a rabbit. i thoroughly enjoyed the hobbit; i began reading it after fordy inhaled the book, staying up late on weekends + some school nights sprinkled in when he should have had the lights out (i'm really in no position to scold when i can stay up most of the night sucked into a good book). harry potter is always a treat; well, that goes without saying, right? but i was surprised how much i became aborbed with the novel, when god was a rabbit. quickly, i grew fond of all the characters' funky quirks + humorous ways, their love for one another + their ability to navigate life's shitty curveballs with iron-will determination.

did i mention that i'm learning italian? just in case that time arises when i finally (+ blissfully!) set my feet in italy, i can stumble through the language + ask for a pistachio gelato properly. i'm also skipping through a how-to pottery book to refresh myself for my upcoming pottery class, since it's been years-read: high school- that i've worked with clay + such. at the present moment, i'm deeply involved in jack kerouac's novel, on the road, which i stumbled across courtesy of the lovely monica, on her blog. because i'm always thinking of what i should read although i'm busy with my armful of books already, i'm already brainstorming what books i'd like to delve into next. on the list so far: roald dahl's autobiography boy, grace bonney's design sponge + a collection of short stories~ undecided yet.

do you have a favorite collection of short stories you can recommend?

what are you currently reading?

*isn't this tree library neat? we have book exchange program with wooden receptacles all over town,

but i'd flip if i came across this:

-1-

my happy place.

2011-09-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea.

~e.e. cummings

*my friend, grace melanio snapped some amazing photos of her trip to the beach recently, including this beautiful, soothing photo (taken near monterey, california). isn't it gorgeous? it instantly calms me + makes me long for a trip to the ocean to hear the waves + smell the sea again. it's true, as my cousin pointed out to me the other day: you can take the girl out of cali, but you can't take the cali out of the girl...

rule 4562.

2011-09-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

sometimes apple crisp is allowed for breakfast...

friday + autumn!

2011-09-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

hello friends!

first off,

happy autumn

happy friday to everyone :)

i'm still pinching myself that summer is over + fall is here!

the temp ratcheted up a bit, but it's overcast + the leaves are

showing off a few vibrant colors so it still feels like fall today.
i'm on the fence, if i should start to put all my summer clothes + sandals away,
or hold out for a week or two, just in case!

i'm curled up on the couch with a cold (blech!) but i'm snuggling with my favorite

blanket + my favorite furry pal + catching up with some reading (as if i need an excuse!)

+ doing some catch-up reading everyone's blogs!

tomorrow we're going hiking with some friends + then heading off to

a popular orchard to drink some apple cider +

go apple pickin'~ i'm intent on making a sky-high

apple pie + a few other goodies!

what shenanigans are you guys up to this weekend?

have a safe + fun weekend;

see you next week!!

trying my hand at canning.

2011-09-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

i've always wanted to attempt to can summer's abundance, but i've always felt a bit intimidated with canning. i'm a pretty careful person with a rapt attention to detail, but i'm always freaked out that something will go array.

i don't know what my change of heart was; maybe it was the encouragement of a friend who just started canning herself, the memory of my grandma reminiscing about pickled watermelon rinds, or feeling the seasons change over in my bones that makes me want to start squirreling away the jewels of our summer garden, but i thought i'd give it a whirl. with a spanking, brand new canning pot + some sparkling new canning jars, i got to work on the aforementioned pickled watermelon rinds.

watermelon rinds sounds like a crazy choice, but we go through a lot of watermelon in the summer, + after picking up a couple of watermelons at the farmer's market it seemed like a natural choice because i hate wasting anything!

pickled watermelon rinds recipe (from here):

for brine:

3 quarts water

3/4 cup salt

ingredients:

4 quarts watermelon rinds (white part), cut into one inch pieces

2 tablespoons whole cloves

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

10 (3 inch) sticks of cinnamon

1 quart apple cider (i used white vinegar)

2 cups white sugar

directions:

in a glass bowl, stir together the water + salt until the salt has dissolved. add the watermelon rinds + any additional water needed to cover them. cover the bowl + refrigerate overnight.

drain the watermelon rinds from the salted water + place into a large saucepan or dutch oven. cover with fresh water, then place over high heat + bring to a boil. boil rinds for 30 minutes, then drain + set aside.

ladle into hot sterilized 1 pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. seal jars with new lids + rings, making sure you have cleaned the jars' rims of any residue. process jars uner 1 inch of water in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. let cool overnight. then press down on the lids to make sure they are sealed before storing. store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator. recipe states it yields 4 pints (we got about 6).

meanwhile, tie the cloves, mustard seed, and cinnamon sticks in a piece of cheesecloth (i skipped the cheesecloth). place into a large saucepan or dutch oven along with the vinegar and sugar. bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. stir in the drained watermelon rind, then return to the stove over high heat. bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until the rind is transparent and the syrup is slightly thickened, 45 to 50 minutes. remove and discard the spices after 40 minutes.

it helped to learn more about canning before hand (tips here) + to also have a few extra hands to keep things moving especially when it came time to fill the jars. also, i learned timing was key + to just take my time during the whole process. overall, i thought it was a lot of fun + i'm looking forward to canning some lavender lemon curd today, some apple pie filling to store for the winter + maybe a few tomatoes (what is left) for future pizzas + salads.

do any of you do any canning?

if so, what's your favorite thing to can?

p.s. the canning labels were adapted from this free download from paper crave. it's nice to have a few labels on hand for gifting!

falling for fall.

2011-09-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

-1-

 "life starts all over in the crisp of the fall"~ the great gatsby

it's feeling very fall-ish here today,

the temp has dropped

someone is drying laundry

+ the smell of softener

mixed in with the scent

of burning leaves is in the air.

i'm sitting here drinking coffee +

noticing the miniscule hints of fall:

leaves changing, corn drying out,

even the birds, who generally sing, are tucked somewhere safe today.

i succumb! :)
fall will soon be here,

+ i admit that i'm getting (a teensy bit-maybe more)
excited for fall!

gone to the dogs.

2011-09-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

-1-

yesterday was one of those days,

you know one of those days...

(ah, yes they happen to me too)

+ anyway, it kind of spilt into today.

i'll spare everyone all the personal details,

but this morning i was still feeling the

residue of yesterday's cloud...
+ i knew it just wouldn't do.

so i decided to have a really good day.

i played with a puppy

who made me laugh

(a king cavalier with big brown eyes

that looked straight into my soul

+ said bring me home...),

enjoyed a chocolate dipped ice cream cone,

took a walk

+ soaked in the sun's warm rays,

said quiet prayers for others in trial,

wore colorful rainboots

(even though it wasn't raining, just because)

talked to my sister

+ one of my very best friends.

i sang 'always look on the bright side of life'

with fordy

(who picked it out~

we thought it was very appropriate).

that didn't solve my problems,

but it made me feel

much, much better~
at least for the moment.

+ you know what?

it ended up actually being a pretty darn good day.

-2-

happy tuesday, my friends~

flowers + hair.

2011-09-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

-1-

so pretty.

i've yet to cross off #15 on the list,

but i will...pinky promise!

{thinking that an autumn floral crown would be delicious!
~leaving a little wiggle room for my deadline :)}

p.s. i did manage to accomplish #21!!!

moscow mule.

2011-09-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

'summer ain't over until it's over' is my line of thinking~ until september 23rd that is, when the fall equinox will fall upon us. until then, today is going to be 86 degrees!! really, don't be envious because very soon the temp will be dropping to normal temps + then a cold, long winter will be bearing down on us.

today, i'm making a few more moscow mules to cool down with + pretend it's the beginning of summer instead of the end. i've never had one until last weekend, but i've just made it my new, official hot weather drink. it's very refreshing, not overly sweet + it's got a bit of zing~ if you like that sort of thing :)

here's the recipe if ever you want to give it a whirl:

moscow mule

lime juice from half of a lime

1 teaspoon sugar syrup

2 ounces vodka

3-4 ice cubes

4-6 ounces of ginger beer **

a dash of bitters, optional

combine all ingredients in a medium sized glass (or copper mug, if you want to be traditional). stir.

add a few lime slices + a mint sprig for decoration if you like. if you like your drinks more on the sweet side, you can stir in a teapoon or so of a simple sugar syrup.

**using the best ginger beer you can find ratchets up this drink quite a few notches in quality. my two favorite brands are these two:

fever tree which is really gingery-y

+ will knock your socks off

(in a good way)

bundaberg which hails

from austrailia,

doesn't contain corn syrup,

and has a milder, but still delicious taste

(if you guys know of any other brands that you like, would you pass it on?)

it was a bit of wild goose chase trying to find a good ginger beer; the fever tree brand i found a week ago was a lucky find. it was a stumble-upon in a tj maxx store + ever since then i haven't been able to find it. bundaberg is a brand i found at an international grocery food store + i'm crossing my fingers they never discontinue. otherwise, good ole' amazon carries both brands for a pretty penny; spendy, but worth it for a yummy moscow mule + perhaps if you'll be having a party/bbq/get-together!

+ just because i'm a bit of a geek,
you can find the history behind the moscow mule here.

cheers! :)

* photo via our libatious nature

remembering.

2011-09-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

-1-

happy weekend +...

2011-09-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

-1-

these clouds make me want to jet-set off somewhere magical + new!

instead, this weekend i'll (happily) be

watching fordy play football,

canning lemon curd,

partaking in some bbq madness

squeezing in some relaxing, cuddle time

with the bean sprouts,

perhaps gander over here,

{+ dare i say it?}

actually doing some art.

no friday joy pockets this week;

it's been one of those simple + subtle weeks

where nothing super-exciting or substantial has happened,

but it has been a pleasant one

+ i feel filled up.

{still, don't let that stop you from checking out some very lovely

folks' joy pockets though

via bohemian twilight~ take a peek here!}

oh, happy friday too everyone!!

never too late.

2011-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

-1-

"for what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. there's no time limit, stop whenever you want. you can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. we can make the best or the worst of it. i hope you make the best of it. And i hope you see things that startle you. i hope you feel things you never felt before. i hope you meet people with a different point of view. i hope you live a life you're proud of. if you find that you're not, i hope you have the strength to start all over again."

~benjamin button

(from 'the curious case of benjamin button')

bronze fonz...check.

2011-09-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

scratchin' off #8 on the summer-to-do list.

(technically, it still is summer, right?)

happy friday (weekend).

2011-09-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

what a lightning-fast + eventful week this was...
+ friday, here you are on our doorstep :)
that means time for another round of friday's joy pockets
(linkin' up with the ever-lovely monica @ bohemian twilight):

quietness plus

freshly sharpened pencils

to write a new list of fall goals

(inspired by this quote found here)

discovering ground cherries- yum!

a haircut that makes me feel all spiffed up

helping a dog find his lost owners

(although we had a back-up name just in case~ King George, it was)

getting a pinterest invite after much waiting
stumbling upon some great ginger beer
(now i'll be forced to make moscow mules)
excitement over signing up for a new pottery class

in the fall

but lately it's the most simplest of all things

that make me feel the most satisfied:

a cool breeze to temper the (returning) heat,
having just enough,

trust in myself,
trust amongst friends...

+ a light left on for me @ the end of the day.

have a safe (labor day) weekend filled
with fun-filled or relaxing
activities~
or both!
:)

a beautiful thought.

2011-09-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

-1-

what if?

first day of school.

2011-09-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

{one thrilled to pieces + one sorta-kinda thrilled}

ahhhh, my hearts...

back to school they go.

today is fordy's first day of middle school;

they start 'em early at 5th grade

(which means lockers + change of classes

amongst other things).

good thing big sister is down the way

to lend a helping hand.

even though i'm sad that the house won't

be filled up with the noise of their voices,

the energy of their bodies + all the crazy commotion

(well until the bus rolls around this afternoon),

we did have a smashing summer

+ i'm happy to see them off to

experience new friends

+ adventures...

now time for mama to have some adventures of her own~

{which unfortunately today starts with tackling a long overdue to-do list}.

one more day.

2011-08-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

{a snarky, but funny little sign}
-1-

just recently, i read an interesting los angeles times article on technology addictions, concentrating on cell phones. remember my 30-something day sabbatical from facebook? i was feeling a little edgy last week + almost caved in to log in on facebook to see what my family + friends have been up to (reasoning homesick + the wide distance between friends /family). i was glad to have stumbled upon the article + gathered enough strength to fend off temptation.

the findings of one study were a bit surprising:

-more than half of Americans would rather give up

alcohol, caffeine, + chocolate than their cellphones

-1/3 would give up sex,

40% i-phone uses would give up their toothbrushes

+ 21% would rather go shoeless

than give up their mobile phones.

reading this definitely makes me reconsider how i'll use technology now (including facebook...tomorrow my self-imposed ban will be lifted) as well as my bean sprouts' pleas to own some mobile phones. they claim they are the last kids on the planet not to own one (oh, how that sounds familiar!). i'm on the fence on that one though. it would be nice for them to carry one for emergencies, but i'm reluctant to be thrown in a battle of preserving the balance between responsible technology use~ as well as not being a fuddy dud~ + helping them learn the important skill of being present in the moment. thoughts?

p.s. i think i'd rather give up chocolate than my cell phone!

cherry ice cream smile.

2011-08-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

i'm a sucker for anything coconut,
but this flavored ice cream
had our heads spinning
(toasted coconut + almonds, plus candied cherries).

i coined it 'cherry ice cream smile'

after a line in duran duran's song rio.
it's so yummy,
i think it may be
borderline criminal...

***recipe can be found here at my other blog that I share
with my cousin, lori + my good friend, luisa.

+ in case you're in the mood to hear 'rio',
video link is here :)
{cheesy 80's video warning}

warrior monday.

2011-08-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

-1-

happy monday everyone!

this will be the last of the marvelous monday posts for now-

i've enjoyed finding happy tidbits

to share for our mondays.

here's a few more
bits of sunshine:

***sometimes warrior mode is needed to get through mondays.
in that case, you'll need a ninja name.
what's yours?

{mine's tekameito!}

-2-

***i think i want to rename marvelous monday to

marker monday

because it looks like just the silly fun
i need for a monday:

-3-

-4-

***and lastly, just a little sugar

to sweeten your day!
{found via door sixteen}

happy monday friends!!

poetry bombing.

2011-08-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

pure awesomeness!

*spied @ hula seventy.

sunday (friday) joy pockets.

2011-08-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

{pretty flowers from the farmer's market}

oh dear...

i've been a day(s) late + dollar short lately~

apologies!

nevertheless here are my joy pockets

for a rather quiet, yet peaceful week:

{a pretty invite + a sweet quote}

an awaited wedding invitation in the mail

tomatoes that are finally ripening~yes!!!

scouting out a charming ice cream shoppe

(that has been under my nose this whole time!)

mini-golfing with the fam

reading the third harry potter book

enjoying the best mild, san diego-ish weather

being able to be there for a friend

early morning bike ride with my love

my kids, not afraid to tell me they love me

in front of their friends...feeling good about that one!

making time for play +
lots of relaxation this week :)

{aren't the globe tomatoes trippy?}

hope everyone is having

a most splendiferous

weekend!

p.s. lovely joy pockets + bits of inspiration found here

@ monica's bohemian twillight!

dog days of summer.

2011-08-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

-1-

just spending these last lazy + waning days of summer

with the kidlets before

they start school once again...

which is next week {already!}~

where does summer go?

in lieu of,

awaiting dishes,
laundry to be done

+ all sorts of

necessary but boring

responsibilities

we're choosing to play today in the sunshine.

we're hoping to squeeze in some more

swimming in the fishing hole,

ice cream making

+ other shenanigans.

what are you up to these last days of summer?

new motto.

2011-08-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

-1-

'do one thing everyday that scares you'

~eleanor roosevelt

for some reason this quote really struck a chord in me. recently i realized i've been playing it safe, maybe just a wee bit toooo safe these days. i don't think eleanor roosevelt was talking about high risk sports like sky-diving, although it certainly is up for personal interpretation {and truthfully that has crossed my mind, but now that i'm a mom, well.....}.

i think of it on more simpler terms of stretching myself more and taking risks

that take me just beyond the boundaries of my comfort zone;

attempting that one thing that makes my heart pitter patter + makes me

sweat just a little...something i know i want to do, but need that little push + a wee bit of self-confidence...

that said, i've also learned that the actions don't need to be necessarily grandiose,

require balls of steel nor be shocking to the general public. sometimes it's been sharing a piece of writing or art that i'm not sure people would accept or smiling at a stranger that i'm not sure will smile back. in essence, just setting the wheels of motion in place when self-doubt creeps in.

recently, i decided to test out my new motto by ziplining off a 20 foot platform

into a friend's pond*. it helped that two grown men + my 10 year-old son successfully

attempted the stunt multiple times before i did, but i have to tell you

as i climbed the rungs of the ladder to the tippy-top while everyone was giving me pointers,

i looked down

{with a slight case of vertigo}

+ i started to have fleeting thoughts of scrapping the whole darn thing.

before i could further question my sanity,

i grabbed the rungs + slid down the line~

screaming like a little girl

and kicking my legs all the way

much to the amusement of everyone.

but i did it

(twice in fact).

+ i'm glad!

*pictures were taken, but i'm in my bathing suit so it's highly unlikely you'll get to see them ...i'm not brave enough for that!! ;)

do you have a motto that you live by?

cure for the monday blues.

2011-08-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

it's monday...you know what that means!
{it's time to make it marvelous...}

first off, killin' you with cuteness:

-1-

+ like that wasn't enough:

-2-

it's hard not to be happy when listening to this song:

click here, if you want to know 30 ways to make it a good day!

{i'm off to find a baby pet pig now...}
happy monday!!!

friday reflections.

2011-08-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

last friday, i missed monica's fabulous friday 'joy pockets'!

as you probably know by now, it's one of my most favorite things to do
+ i felt like i was missing something all day...
{what was going on in my head: did i forget my purse? my first-born child?
paying a bill?
did i remember to put on deoderant?
nope...i didn't do joy pockets, that's it!!}

well, i'm very happy to be back to partake in this weekly ritual...
my week is now complete! ~

some things that made me smile:

eating magnificent tortas from spain
(sent from a sweet friend)

wearing a dress that makes me feel like frida kahlo

painting toes a bright plumberry on a dreary day
thankfulness for reconnecting
with an old childhood pal

going to sleep with the windows open
enjoying the last of the lazy summer days
with the bean sprouts
the realization that sometimes it's
better that things don't work out
the way you initially hoped
midnight hot chocolate snack
with the kiddos
date night!

hope you've had a fantastic week everyone!
may you have a fun friday
+
a weekend chock-full of endless possibilities!!

:)

the city that never sleeps.

2011-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

-1-

a hundred times have i thought new york is a catastrophe, and fifty times:

it is a beautiful catastrophe.

~le corbusier

cut off as i am, it is inevitable that i should sometimes feel like a shadow walking in a shadowy world. when this happens i ask to be taken to new york city. always i return home weary but I have the comforting certainty that mankind is real and i myself am not a dream. ~helen keller

it's been a year

since i met up with one of my best friends, claudine,
for a girls' trip to nyc.

it was my first time visiting the people-watching

capital of the world

+
quite frankly,

i've never been the same.

it was everything everyone said it would be,
plus more.

the city is a strange creature,
but the energy within it is absolutely electric...

i felt transformed,

alive

that

there,

anything is possible.

(it beckons me back everyday...)

p.s. if you heart nyc, take a peek at newly yorked's fantastic collection of curated photos.
p.p.s. amazing photo of the whizzing taxis by jamie beck.

patchwork pretty.

2011-08-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

-1-

holy stromboli....
this is the most incredibly insane craft project that i've ever seen...

it makes me deliriously happy.

{i got a yes vote from the girly to do this to the bug
+ fordy told me i could only do this for a day...ah well!}

the most comfy flats.

2011-08-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

lately there's been a lot of fashion flasbacks + if there's any one rule in fashion that stands true, it's that fashion trends will eventually loop back to present day. for example, friendship bracelets, bellbottoms + swing dresses (and other iconic 70's fashion-yay, it's back!), loafers, and now these:

i'm a self-proclaimed shoe-a-holic + i love a sexy, gorgeous heel, but truth be told, i don't have much reason to wear heels (except for the occasional wedding). comfort rules supreme with this girl + that's exactly why these are going to be my everyday shoes from now unto eternity. i can't believe how comfortable these babies are + they are slightly nostaglic too...i used to have a pair of beaded ones in grade school! (lets just hope parachute pants don't make a comeback!! ay!).

so enamored i am by these, i think i might spring for the boots in the fall + warmer winter days:

-1-

usually i revert back to flip-flops (slippahs as we call them in hawaii),

but not so keen on doing that in the wintertime.

do you have a favorite go-to shoe?

basil blueberry ice cream.

2011-08-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

lana + i made this this lovely basil blueberry frozen concoction today.

we are hooked...

{recipe is here, if you like :) }

airstream love.

2011-08-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

-1-

down the street + around the corner,

there's a little airstream parked in

someone's driveway.

everytime i bike past it,

i look at it with longing.

one day i'd love to

snag me

one

refurbish it.

-2-3-

-4-

we'd take it everywhere...

heck,

i'd even camp in the backyard

like every

single

night.

-5-

what is it about airstreams that's so darn cool?

hello there!

2011-08-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

-1-

hello friends! i'm finally getting around to catching up on visiting my favorite blogs + seeing what everyone has been up to...you've been sorely missed! i've been taking the last few days to get the kiddies ready for school + at the same time trying to also reflect, refresh + realign myself for fall- which is right around the bend.

i've been feeling a little funky lately: drained + overwhelmed, so i took it upon myself to take a few steps back + try to figure out how i can shape my life a little better...so for starters, i've been trying to baby myself a little {diy manicures, reading + generally slowing down + trying do do things that bring me joy}.

also this past week i've stepped away from facebook {for thirty days-eek}, easing back on emails + for the most part most of technology. it's refreshing, but also a bit like living in a bubble! on the flip side, it's allowed me to really examine my life + figure out my life goals, relationships + recheck my spiritual bank~ in essence see what i need to change currently so that i can get on a path that feels right, once again... {i'm finally realizing this is an ongoing process!}

so apologies for being gone for the week! i've got a ways to go to become organized + enlightened, but i'm getting there! do you guys have helpful hints to getting getting your mojo back + being more energized + more in sync with everything? i'd love to hear...

happy monday!

2011-08-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

it's monday!

here's a few things floating around that i find amusing this fine monday~

goofy:
{so corny, but i can't help myself!}

-1-

{this movie + this scene still makes me laugh...}

a new favorite quote:

-2-

hope you are finding some magic in monday today!! :)

monday chuckle + inspiration.

2011-08-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

-1-

this silly photo made me laugh...

-2-

...and i found this inspiring. what a fantastic + creative way to approach

the first workday of the week!!

here's to making monday a "my" day~

have a marvelous monday y'all! :)

simple joys.

2011-08-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

this week went by like lightening-

so i'm happy to slow down a bit

and get after my

joy pockets for the week.

my joy pockets:

driving next to mint fields

a single, fragrant plumeria blossom-

{off my dad's plumeria tree}

seeing paul mccartney live

surviving the deathcab ride back to the hotel

new side drawer panels for the ice box-

{no more stuffing food on the shelves jenga-esque style!}

people-watching in chicago

learning to say 'no' without feeling guilty

saying 'yes' to coconut creme pie parfait-

without feeling guilty!

hope your week was delightful

in every way possible!

{and please take a peek at monica's fabulous site:

bohemian twillight.

more joy pockets + sunshine

found there!)

happy friday!!!

paul.

2011-08-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

{paul mccartney @ wrigley field, chicago}

the paul mccartney concert finally came + went after much anticipation.
+ paul was amazing!
{we couldn't believe we were actually there, listening to one of the beatles...}

it was a 3-hour party of non-stop back to back songs + i'm pretty sure that everyone would have gladly stayed all night to hear him play every single song he's ever done.... the best part was taking the kids with + hearing them sing along + dance in the bleachers {it's also been great that ever since, they've been inspired to play their instruments like fiends-without being asked to!}.

we were housed in the nosebleed section waaaaaay up top in wrigley field, but the energy at the concert was a lot of fun + i even managed to snap a few semi-decent photos from my point + shoot as memoirs.
also, i can finally cross #20 off of the summer to-do list too! (i'm slowly knocking things off one by one...).

p.s. i've always wanted to do the 'na na na, na na na na' part of 'hey jude!'

{paul on the ukulele singing 'something'}

smile {it's monday}.

2011-08-01T01:47:00.000-07:00

-1-

i was listening to the radio last week, when the emcee shared a recent study

that discovered monday is the least favorite day of the week for most folks.

not too surprising right?

but did you know that most people don't even smile until 11 in the morning?

{ay yi yi...okay, that kind of surprised me...}

i have to admit that mondays really aren't my favorite day of the week either...friday is my favorite because of all the possibilities that the next two days promise {time with family, relaxing + doing the fun things that i love + of course making/finding good things to eat}.

but then i start thinking, life is too, too short.

everyday should be squeezed until there is nothing left,

mondays should be marvelous too.

so in honor of the next few mondays, i hope to find something

amusing, funny {maybe bordering on hysterics},

joyful, hopeful, or happy to make

our mondays

a little brighter.

{or at the very least, get you + me smiling before 11 am!}

happy monday!

northern lights.

2011-07-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

-1-

since the kids + i have been doing so much stargazing lately

(when the rain + clouds cleared up this week),

the northern lights immediately sprung to mind.

i'm all for a trip to norway or any of the scandanavian countries

for that matter~

but if it also promises a spectacular light show

that would definitely seal the deal.

i want to be awed + amazed...

i have a sneaking suspicion that the northern lights

would deliver.

have any of you ever been lucky enough to admire the bedazzling colors of the northern lights?

{two years ago, we could make out ever so faintly

the swaying lights- not much- but we were pretty excited!}

happy friday + wishes for a weekend

that is filled doing all the things you love with

the people you love :)

friday joy pockets.

2011-07-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

{potted oregano with dappled sunlight}

hi friends :)

this week has been a bit topsy turvy...

lana was sick,

i'm frantically trying to find a dogsitter who doesn't mind pooches
who freak out during thunderstorms...
(any takers? she's pretty cute + sweet!),

we have carpenter ants ~eek~ + i have been spending time trying to battle the little buggers

...so sorry i've been m.i.a. this week!

but i should mention, i'm still smiling

+ i'd hate to miss out on partaking in

monica's fabulous joy pockets,

so here goes!

my joy pockets:

{'hey jude'- the first song i christened my new toy with}

a new ukulele to mess with

{also part of the reason i've been m.i.a.}

grilled food from the barbie

reminiscing + listening to 80's tunes

desserts in mason jars

butterfly kisses

the smell of freshly-laundered clothes

starting on the harry potter series- the books

a new running partner (lana lou who!)

a sunny friday

seeing the sun after a succession of rainy days really is worth it's weight in gold, i'd like to add!

{a sweet butterfly momentarily resting on newly sprung black-eyed susans}

hope the week brought you smiles + many warm moments!

under a starry sky.

2011-07-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

-1-

so far my favorite summer activity has been the spur-of-the-moment

starwatching sessions out on the lawn with lana + fordy.

we usually grab a few blankets:

one to lie down on the dewy grass

+ one to cover us up from the evening chill,

then we lie back + take in all of the starry sky
{if we're lucky like last night, we'll spy a few shooting stars!}.

i've forgotten how dreamy
the sight of stars can be,

they make me feel like a kid again:
i like realizing how small i am amongst our amazing, big universe ...
it kinda puts things into perspective.

i love sharing

moments like that with

my two

bean sprouts....

what has been your favorite summer memory so far?

my backyard.

2011-07-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

sometimes i take for granted all the wonderful sights around me right in my backyard.
to quote ferris bueller:
"life moves pretty fast. if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

the summer season always seems to go so fast {too fast!} so last weekend, i decided to mosey about our sleepy little town with fresh new eyes + camera in hand to see what life i could find + admire.

come along :)

and seeing this cheeky little sign also gave me a chuckle:

even though i claim to be a city girl through + through, i do love the beautiful countryside

{i just need to be reminded of it sometimes!}.

thanks for coming with on my little scenic tour!

india.

2011-07-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

-1-

have you ever wanted to visit somewhere so much

you

ached?

india calls to me + fills me with longing...

i want to wander in this most intriguing country

+ lose myself with reckless abandon...

it seems so magical~

a place that would fill

my soul + heart up

with beautiful things.

{plus, i'm dying to partake in this!}

happy, happy friday everyone!! :)

friday joy pockets.

2011-07-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

i adore friday joy pockets~ put simply, they make me
happy + aware of everything i'm grateful for each week....
if you'd like to join in + see what happiness has touched others,
pop on over to monica's wonderful blog here !

this week's joy pockets:

cicadas buzzing in the trees

{reminds me of childhood trips to the midwest}

sweet rain after a dry spell

sharing a midnight snack with fordy

friends that love you still
(even knowing your flaws)
basil + blueberry cuppies

pedicures

smell of tomato vines + earth

being asked to play a song
for a dear friend's wedding

packages of rainbow-colored glitter

feeling a little
more in sync with the world!

hot potato.

2011-07-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

my, oh my is it ever hot this week! we broke 100 degrees here in the midwest- not counting the humidity. today lana lou + i even tried to fry up an egg on the driveway, but it was so relentessly hot we abandoned our mad experiment to go back inside to hang out

in the air-conditioning {the egg didn't fry in the end after all!}. so far we've been drinking lots of fruity, cool drinks + eating lots of ice cream too~ no complaints there! :)

this has been our survival guide these past couple of

steamy, sultry days:

{fans, lots of 'em!}

{ice cream + popsicles; we've been hooked on coconut flavored treats mostly}

{dips into cool water}

{breezy dresses + equally breezy hair...}

{yummy, chilled sangria for mom}

{lots of time in the sprinkler!}

what's been your favorite way to stay cool on scorching, hot days?

*photo sources: -1-2-3-4-5-6-

love.

2011-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

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not a super big fan of the transformers movies, although fordy loves 'em- i suppose what boy doesn't? but i saw this quote + i thought, there's a lot of truth to it...

{even if it comes from a robot alien dude!}

makes me want
to hug someone

i love

tell them

i love

them! :)

p.s. happy monday!

paris.

2011-07-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

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paris.

need i say more?

even though i was a little bit reluctant
to admit it...

it felt cliche.

it seems she's on everyone's to-go-to list

{with very good reason to be sure}.

but still...paris is always in the back of my mind.

{i think i'm in it

for the

macarons.}

p.s. seeing this awesome french flea market

just stirred up the ole'

parisian wanderlust

some more...

here's wishing for you,
a lovely + relaxing weekend!
happy friday friends!!

friday joy pockets.

2011-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

this week has been filled with some highs + lows, some uncomfortableness that led to some self-discovery

(which is good thing).

i'm happy it's friday where i can just relax now.

+ it means doing bohemian twillight's friday joy pockets,

which is a joy in itself!

here's what brought me joy this week:

getting 8 hours of sleep

finding out i can still do a cartwheel-
egged on by my daughter :)

sweet gestures- unexpected
stinky blue cheese + crackers for dinner
letting my guard down
new red shoes (that finally came in)
my niece turning two!
listening to my daughter sing
learning to let go

and
finally...

seeing the last harry potter movie tonight (anticipation!)

hope your week was filled with abundant joy as well! :)

pretty do's.

2011-07-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

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there's no shortage of pretty hairstyles floating around this summer.

i'm so inspired + in love with these romantic,

feminine braids,

loops, twists

and waves.

-2-3-4-5-

what has been your favorite way to wear your hair this summer?

banana coffee smoothie.

2011-07-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

last week, we made numerous batches of this yummy treat for breakfast, to go with dinner + for dessert. apparently we couldn't get enough because we recently restocked our banana-coffee smoothie arsenal to create a couple more batches this week. even fordy surprised me (he's not a huge coffee fan), but he gulped this down with nary a complaining word + even asked for more.

it's extremely easy to whip up on busy mornings~ usually my kiddos aren't very hungry when the school bus comes at an ungodly hour in the morning + would rather drink their breakfast. this summer it's been our go-to, effortless + light breakfast when the humidity is already climbing.

i bet you even have most of the ingredients on hand:

coffee banana smoothie:

2 c. vanilla yogurt

1 c. strong coffee, cold

splash of milk

1-2 bananas (we say the more the merrier), frozen

1/3 c. melted chocolate or chocolate syrup

2 t. sugar (honey or agave syrup), optional

throw everything in your blender + give it a whirl. top with whip cream if you're feeling decadent!

makes 2 servings.

we also have swapped out the yogurt with vanilla ice cream {you could also use coffee ice cream in lieu of vanilla + replace the cold coffee with milk if you want a more subtle coffee flavor} to make an equally delicious milkshake. you can also add a few teaspoons (or more to your liking) of espresso powder in a pinch if you don't want to brew a carafe of coffee. that's the beauty of smoothies, anything goes!

{warning: approach with caution... they're pretty addictive!}

summer list revisited.

2011-07-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

summer is whizzing by at warp speed like i expected + i've made a small dent in my summer list of to-do's. last week i was able to knock off the very first one off the list... we went hiking at a near-by state park {on a self-proclaimed family holiday-"only child day"- in which we only have one kiddo for the day}. lo + behold on the way home we happened upon a ferry that goes across the wisconsin river. we were happy to spy a cute little ice cream shoppe at the ferry stop that we just couldn't pass up while we were waiting for the next ferry!

the ferry ride was a welcome break a fantastic way to take in the pretty scenery, not to mention rest our tired, hiking feet ( fordy was a trooper...we trekked for 3 hours up a rocky bluff and all around a lake + saw fish, spiders + two snakes-eek! ).

there's talk of replacing the ferry with a more economical + common-sensical bridge, but the ferry is much more charming in my opinion. i'd love to make this our new summer tradition.

a happy song for monday (tuesday morning).

2011-07-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

just a happy song for today to help me through my {now ending} manic monday.

a storm blew in early this morning knocking our power out for 6 hours today + causing a few minor inconveniences + a little bit of sweating {i was planning to finish sewing a dress for a friend this morning who is leaving for an out of state wedding very soon. thankfully i was able to finish it tonight! phew!}. anywho, one thing for sure i had a lot of time to think about the pros + cons of having no electricity. i realize i usually take it for granted most days...

the bad thing about having no electricity:

having to make numerous trips to mcdonald's + convenient stores to peruse the restrooms

running out of water midway through shower with soap + shampoo still on you

no communication

missed deadlines

the good thing about having no electricity for 6 hours:

going out for lunch

no communication

a little quiet time with the kids

reaffirming my belief that i'd make a horrible pioneer woman!

{i love my electricity.}

it's actually kind of amusing now- funny how with a little time + perspective it all changes.

hope everyone had a good start to your week!
:)

yes to hungary.

2011-07-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

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i would very much like to visit budapest, hungary one day (word of mouth the buda side is especially breathtaking).

oh, to soak in the warm thermal baths,

ride a bright, cheery tram

partake in tea time + oggle pastries.

then walk in the castle district

to buy spices-

(i'm told there are different variations of hungarian paprika!).

afterwards i'd definitely go to an opera house

+ take in the gorgeous, illuminated architecture

overlooking the danube.

sounds like the life!

p.s. in fourth grade i had a teacher named mr. herman who was part hungarian. he was the best! we'd march in circles around the room to opera on good days!

a most happy friday friends!! :)

friday joy pockets.

2011-07-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

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it's friday- hip, hip, hooray! + you know what that means...one of my favorite weekly rituals... joy pockets! i'm especially thankful for family this week like getting to spend time with my niece who'll soon be off for more adventures in florida before she swings back home to california. it's bittersweet- we had a blast with her the last 3 weeks she's been here, but now that we're nearing the end of her visit, i'm really going to miss the kiddo; she holds a special place in my heart + is in many ways like one of my own kids.

my joy pockets:

"sky" painting with sparklers

singing beatles' songs with the kids in the car at the top of our lungs

drinking coffee-banana smoothies (3 times this week!)

wrapping up a few projects

listening to old 45's on my parents' record player

pretty lace

tickets to see paul mcartney in august!

stargazing

an unscheduled day just for fun- no housework allowed!

playing my guitar on the sundeck

p.s. if you have the chance, go take a gander at monica's bohemian twillight. i love reading through all the joy pockets + seeing what made everyone's week special!

currently reading.

2011-07-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

i recently started picking up my books again + reading after a long, dry spell. it's such a great way to relax + is my little form of escapism. i've always considered books my friend + can literally get lost in old (and new!)book stores, the library- really anywhere there's written page. i remember the overwhelming feeling i once got perusing the poetry aisle at the library when all of a sudden, i just wanted to crawl in between the books on the shelves, close my drowsy eyes + take a short catnap amongst the sweet-smelling pages of all the books. before you think i'm weird, i guess what i'm saying is that i truly love books- and poetry- a lot!

lately i've been reading a few different things...i usually never read just one book at a time: 180 poems collected by billy collins, the girl with the dragon tattoo, keith richard's autobiography (how can the dude still be alive? geesh!). i'm also revisiting a few favorites from my bookshelf like d.i.y. by ellen lupton + a fun, quirky favorite- the principles of uncertainty. lana lou was forever urging me to read the hunger games trilogy, which i hungrily finished recently- it was an easy, simple read but i got very attached to the characters. i read all three on her kindle that she got from grandma, which is by the way a nifty, little machine although i still prefer flipping pages + having something tangible in my hands. call me old school!

i'm hoping to start reading a tree grows in brooklyn with lana this summer, which is one of my perennial favorites + the hobbits with little dude since he digs the lord of the rings movies. maybe k can read that one with him, since he's read the complete lord of the rings trilogy twice (which he funnily lugged with him on work trips...the book is huge. this was pre-electronic book gizmos though).

do you like to read + what are some of your favorites this summer?

photograph collection.

2011-07-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

{dear photograph, me and my first bike. the bike i have now goes a little bit faster.}

{dear photograph, thank you for everything that we had.}

{dear photo, disney will be magical no matter what age.}

{dear photograph, grandma loved this beach.}

i just discovered an awesome collection of photographs

called dear photograph.

it's amazing.

people submit a new photograph of themselves holding an older, sentimental picture in the same exact spot + share the memories associated with it. some of them really pulled at my heartstrings...especially

the second photo- gah! it breaks my heart...

don't you want to submit your own photo now?

check the rest of the gallery out right here.

a winning combo.

2011-07-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

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this photo of a beautiful roadside, parisian flower stand reminded me of a favorite quote:

"when you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.”

-chinese proverb

(~and maybe perhaps some wine to go with it!)

independence day.

2011-07-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

happy, happy fourth of july!

hope there's abundant relaxin',

grillin',

fun

lots of bright, snappy firecrackers

in the sky
in store for you
today!

{and lots of sparklers too, of course!}.

just like a rainbow.

2011-07-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

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i'm not exactly sure where this magical place is, but it is sure filled with happy, splashes of colors! it reminds me of a box of bright, rainbow-hued crayons spilling out of its box...optimistic + cheerful- the way fridays make me feel!

i wouldn't mind visiting it.

anyone know where this mystery locale is?

p.s. speaking of rainbow crayons, don't you kinda wish this was your job? {the name i would choose would be beaming bougainvillea!}

little joys.

2011-07-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

bohemian twillight's joy pockets are my new friday tradition + it's such a lovely way to wrap up the week! no matter if it hasn't been the most exciting week or it's just been filled with a few down + out no good, horrible days, i can always count on a a few bright moments to make me smile. luckily, this week proved wonderful in more ways than one.

here's a few of my favorite snippets from the week:

lavender sprigs by the side of my bed

a new french press

a thriving herb garden

homeade pesto

hot, humid summery days (hooray!)

bike rides at dusk

little, heartfelt thank you's

nature hikes

slowly getting my life in order

sparklers

sake eagerly waiting for me by the door, always

hope your week was filled with sweet, joyful things as well :)

have a fun-filled, exciting weekend!

imperfect swimsuits.

2011-07-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

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there are three things in the world that can strike ultimate fear within me: one is the fear of public speaking, second is the fear of flying (or rather crashing- bummer since i love to travel so much!) + lastly, swimsuit season.... i 'm pretty sure i'm not alone in the endeavor to discover the perfect swimsuit- except for maybe the lucky, statuesqe, model-like women out there!

read more here...

well, each year i'm sorely disappointed in what i find. my 'challenge' is that i'm petite, have a curvy build + i'm a little more well-endowed up at the top (the lady at victoria's secret swears i'm lucky though). i disagree at least come summertime, when it's especially vexing to find tops for bikinis as well as one- pieces that can appropriately cover 'the girls'.

somewhere recently i read an online article about swimsuits + malia mills mentioned that there are no imperfect bodies, just imperfect swimsuits.

agreed.

so just when i was about to throw my arms up in the air, i decided, armed with this new bathing suit mantra, to dig a little deeper + search a little harder to find something that didn't scream jezebel nor matronly nun... just something i could wear to the pool that was appropriate for hanging out with the kids...

here's what i found:

malia mills' starlet- steep price but the cut + color is so luxurious + stylish. the back is extra gorgeous too!

cosmos by aerin rose has a classic halter top. i love the print- it's dreamy; something i would choose for a dress print.

i'm leaning towards modcloth's bathing beauty. i'd feel marilyn-esque in this one. the red is daring but the cut says retro (yet modest) cute.

*jantzen makes a similiar style in a deeper red color one too- sadly, it's sold out at popina!

jcrew's polka dot tulle number is adorable + sweet (this buff color in the same style is growing on me too).

loving the ikat swimsuit by jcrew as well. it's a nice switchup from slimming albeit-predictable-black.

anthro's lane line maillot is pretty sweet as well. i'm a huge sucker for striped anything, as you know + i like the pieced together design.

i'm still interested in trying my hand at making my own swimsuit (am i crazy????).

what do you guys think of the swimsuits?

+ do you have a favorite place that you buy your swimsuits?

strawberry heaven.

2011-06-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

june means strawberries galore for us in the midwest. when we moved into our new digs seven years ago, we took along a few strawberry plants from our old house to plant in our new yard + they literally exploded with glorious, red gems within a few years. this year has been a little rainy + my garden pitifully (embarrasingly/sadly/extremely) weedy so we haven't had the bumper crop we would have liked.

thankfully the farmer's market came to the rescue with lovely, plump strawberries so we wouldn't have to miss out on making + consuming strawberry desserts! i made this strawberry rhubarb gallette earlier this month but wanted to share it because it could be easily made with just strawberries (or any fruit really! nectarines, plums, blueberries, cherries!). it's so easy to put together + its rustic, lackadaisical appearance ensures more time to do other things in the summer afternoon.

recipe is from on the fourth floor + if you want to take a peek! it's a goody :)

p.s. i like to sprinkle my crust with turbinado sugar just to add a little texture + sweetness. i also substituted some wheat flour for white flour for a little heartier flavor.

the art of doing nothing.

2011-06-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

hello everyone!

hope you are having the most relaxing, fun-packed, surprising, whimsical, adventurous summer :) what have you been up to this summer?

summer always seems like the busiest season for us because we always want to squeeze every last bit out of the warm, drippy, sun-drenched day as we possibly can... we've been enjoying having my niece, mia, hang out with us for the last two weeks on our home turf (sadly my sister had to go home last thursday~ sniff, sniff!) + we've been trying to scratch everything off mia's wish list of things to do + see while she's here.

today we went to pearl lake (which i jokingly call our 'faux beach'- but it'll do for this california girl)+ the weather was fabulously stellar. i don't know about you guys, but i have the worst time staying still; even though i am pretty laid back, i am a planner + a do-er. if my body is still, guaranteed my mind is racing a hundred miles an hour about the next project i want to tackle, ideas for the blog, chasing after the kids, etc. + eventually i will keep on going until i'm overwhelmed + ragged. so it's always a good thing when i can reign myself in a little + actually honor that little voice in my head that says, be still...

i cherish the days i set aside when i do absolutely nothing but relax...(even though sometimes i have to still convince myself that it's not a wasted day!)

toes in the sand, a small stack of fashion magazines, + watching the kiddos splash around ( + an icy pina colada- added bonus) was just what the doctor ordered!

an emerald paradise.

2011-06-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

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today my mind is entertaining the thought of visiting somewhere exotic + lush (it's been unseasonably cool + rainy lately in our neck of the woods). vietnam would fit the bill + then some... just looking at the emerald waters in the photo immediately soothes my harried soul!

i'd love to eat a banh mi + sip vietnamese iced coffee to counteract the sultry, humid day, dart around traffic on a zippy mo-ped at night + mosey around a colorful, noisy marketplace to soak up all the sights + sounds around me.

are you dreaming of visiting any far away places this summer?

happy friday!!! :)

joy pockets

2011-06-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

hello friends! i can't believe it's friday already- i've been whishing around from here to there + there to here + enjoying my time with my lovely sister + sweet niece this week. but i couldn't pass up an opportunity to do bohemian twillight's joy pockets...i'm especially thankful for so many things this week + it makes me happy to do it!

here is my joy pocket for the week!

{blueberries waiting to take their place in a berry salad}

little dude turning double digits yesterday (@ 10:10 am!)
watching my chickens strut in the yard
fresh, seasonal berries

girl-talk with my sister

lightening bugs

chocolate + other goodies from this lovely lady

people-watching in the windy city

a (finally-yay!) clean, uncluttered basement

baby ducks

the sun peeking out

walks by the river with lana + my niece, mia

tea + quiet, peaceful mornings before everyone wakes up...

{new hot chocolate squares to try while sitting around the campfire}

{naughty chickens in the garden!}

{one happy, newly-coined 10 year old!}

united: the three amigos.

2011-06-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

tomorrow my sister + my niece are visiting from california...i'm besides myself waiting for the morning to come! my sister + i were especially close growing up (only 19 months apart) + i miss her something fierce ever since she's moved back to california...

the photos above are from last year's trip to d.c.; my niece mia was with us for most of the summer. it was a fun-whirlwind-kind of trip visiting museums + national landmarks with the fantastic trio. as you can tell lana, fordy + mia are all pretty goofy + usually a lot of fun to be around (except, understandably, when the temps tipped into the high nineties- and oh, that southern humidity!!! woo!!).

the kiddos also grew up together + are extremely close as well; in a lot of ways they are more like siblings than cousins. it will be sentimental seeing them all together again, 'pal'ing around like the good ole' days, rolling around like little bear cubs + creating mischief.

so if you don't hear from me in the next couple of days, i'm just enjoying the time with my special company! i'll pop in here + there :)

the loveliest votive holders.

2011-06-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

-1-2-

i can not for the life of me, get these out of my head. i've admired michelle armas' work before: it's so pretty + dreamy, that when i stumbled upon these michelle armas-inspired votive candle holders on blue lereve (please check out amanda's beautiful blog- really!) i wanted to drop all that i was doing, run to the store + grab some supplies. it is just the thing to transform my blah-blah beige bathroom with a splash of romantic, swirling color into it (i think i might even take the time to take more relaxing baths too!).

as i write this, i am freezing the remains of candle residue out of my existing votive holders so i can get to work!

-3-

has anyone attempted to make these beauties yet?

*directions here at once wed via blue lereve.

how to have a good monday.

2011-06-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

sleep in if possible...even if only for 5 minutes more.

eat french bread (made by nuns) from the farmer's market + smear with fruity wine jam.

surround yourself with something beautiful (bonus points if it smells good too!)

i admit that mondays are not my favorite day + i also admit that i'm the worst kind of morning person to be around come monday (or any day). my cure? pretend it's the weekend!

being bathed by gorgeous morning light also does wonders for my soul...

have a wonderful start to your week :)

island vacation.

2011-06-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

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i would love to hang out in this wee cabin on this miniature island in the middle of a lake. by day you could go canoeing, swimming + sun while reading a good book. by night you could take in amazing sunsets, make s'mores + relax around a campfire.

(i won't think about the mosquitos or the improbability of indoor plumbing..!)

wishes for a fun-filled weekend

happy friday!

joy pockets.

2011-06-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

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the bohemian twilight blog does a sweet feature called the joy pocket each week. it's really simple to do + a good reminder of all the positive things that happened this week. i don't know about you guys, but it's been really busy around here + sometimes i should, no i need, to stop, take a deep breath + see all the beautiful and perfect little things around me that fill my life up with happiness.

here's my little joy pocket for the week:

coffee ice cream with oreos at coldstone creamery

afternoon nap on the couch with the kiddos

blossoming peonies

learning miserlou on the guitar

the feeling i get after a run

the smell of rain

bright red lipstick

homeade chocolate chip cookies

the farmer's market

friday movie night

what's your joy pocket? :)

just a really pretty quote today...

2011-06-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

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"we are all mortal until the first kiss + the second glass of wine"

-eduardo galeano

tall drink of water.

2011-06-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

-1-2-3-

today is smokin' hot...like jake gyllenhaal hot, like my car thermometer topped out at 99 degrees kind of hot... this kind of day is good to do lots of things like:

hanging out to the pool

{optional: beach}

going to the movies

hanging out in the freezer section at the grocery store

shoppin' at the mall

booking a trip to the north pole

sitting on the front porch sipping a lemonade {or beverage of choice}

today i'm most likely to do the last, sit on our covered porch + with drink in hand. ever since we took a trip to washington d.c. last summer {when the weather was not unlike it is here now} + were treated to fruity infused water in our hotel lobby, i've had infused-flavored waters on the brain. don't the three infused waters above {blackberry mint, cucumber basil, + peach sage} sound + look very refreshing?

dinosaur sightings.

2011-06-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-

i heart dinosaurs...

fun little fact: i have a dinosaur on the dash of my car.

when people cut me off (or drive otherwise recklessly) on the road, i push a button on it's underside + it gives a hearty roar.

take that rude drivers of the world!

(no, it does not mean i love you either...)

denmark.

2011-06-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

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copenhagen seems so charming + quirky! it's definitely a point of interest on my my 'european dream tour' that i want to take with a few of my girlfriends {back packing, train hopping on a whim + eating our way through europe}.

doesn't the countryside look just as stunning? what eye candy.

happy friday!