Together We Think Funny

silliness...and a birthday

2012-02-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

This sly sheep cracks me up, so I figured

I would share the joy. (and get that

dang song stuck in your head too!)

And...on a totally unrelated note,

I want to wish my lovely Momma

a very happy birthday! I love you,

and am so grateful for the amazing

lady you are and have challenged

your daughters to be!

*via

rest

2012-02-13T08:01:00.000-05:00

We had one of those quiet, blissfully sleepy weekends.

You know the type - full of movies and naps.

Leave the house only when necessary.

Plenty of cuddling on the couch. Lots of

laundry and catching up on little

household jobs. Stay in pjs as long

as you'd like. Rest. Time together.

Happiness. :)

*via

happy list

2012-02-09T17:00:00.001-05:00

1. Sunshine.
There's nothing like a bright,
sunny skies to lift my spirits!

2. Interesting art.
Loving this clever and beautiful
take on postage stamps.

3. Morning gym dates.
Good conversation and company
makes for a good start to the day.
(Oh, and the actual working
out part isn't bad either...)

4. Good music.
I switched out cds in my car
this morning, and re-discovered
this gem of a song. Wonderful.

5. Vacation countdown.
We leave for warmer places in about
two weeks, and we're currently
obsessing about packing and
other fun things. :)

*cuteness

busy, continued.

2012-02-07T16:44:00.003-05:00

Life has been so busy lately around these

parts. I feel like someone hit the fast-forward

button and every day is just blurring by,

which is total craziness. It's been a struggle

to just take every day on its own without

being completely overwhelmed, but

God has been so faithful to provide the

peace and rest I need. Psalm 16 has been

a huge source of joy & strength lately -

go check it out if you could use some too.

*photo from our fun dinner the other

night with some most lovely peoples!

ah, paper goods.

2012-01-31T17:26:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't it make your day to

get this sweet card from a friend?

I'm not entirely sure how, but found myself

browsing Kathryn Whyte's perfectly delightful

shop today, and instantly started a wishlist

that includes pretty much every item there.

Go take a peek - I bet you'll find the

perfect thing for your best friend

or sweetheart. (or both!)

*via

why i do my job

2012-01-28T12:41:00.001-05:00

I know that to most people, working at

an art gallery is one of those mysterious jobs

that only people in movies do...but to me,

working in a gallery is as real as it gets.

It's not always glamorous like you might

assume (I can assure you that I do my fair
share of mundane tasks and don't drink
nearly as much wine as everyone seems
to assume), but I love my job.

That being said - I'm human. Sometimes

I get tired and grumpy, and it's hard to
remember how good I've got it. Thankfully,
God is faithful to give me happy little
reminders of why I do my job.

Yesterday, an adorable little family came

in to look around, and were quite shy

about how they were "just looking."

(which is embarrassed code for
"I can't afford this stuff.")

These are my favorite kind of visitors,
because I believe that everyone should
enjoy and own some art that makes
them happy. Everyone.

We spent about half an hour looking
around together and talking. The chatty
little girl - decked head to toe in many
shades of pink - was amazing, offering
opinions and comparisons and plenty of
enthusiasm. By the end of their visit,
they were all relaxed and smiling -
and planning a return visit soon.

But best of all, was the excited parting
comment of my new friend in pink:

"That was REALLY fun!!!!"

I agree. :)

*my favorite painting

by John Bonner

thank goodness.

2012-01-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

This week has been crazy for me at work,

and I'm feeling extra grateful for my sweet

hubs and how kind he is to his tired girl.

No matter how late I get home from the

office or how overwhelmed I feel about all

the unfinished projects, he's endlessly patient

with his love, encouragement and hugs.

So despite the tiredness and busyness,

I am feeling pretty blessed. Because at

the end of the day - and thankfully there's

always an end, no matter how long the day -

I get to go home to my wonderful man.

And then it's all ok. :)

bliss

2012-01-23T13:03:00.002-05:00

After a busy week, we enjoyed a perfectly

mellow weekend. It was nice to have some

down time to rest and catch up a bit.

Hope your Monday is happy!

*via

true story

2012-01-19T13:47:00.000-05:00

This cracks me up...but mainly

because it's true! Don't we all go

through those phases of conforming,

and usually find out that it's ok to

just be ourselves?

Or maybe that's just me?

*via

visiting

2012-01-18T10:53:00.004-05:00

The hubs and I had the opportunity

to host my grandparents last night,

and we had a wonderful time catching

up and chatting about all sorts of things.

Since most of my family lives several

hours away, it's such a luxury to enjoy a

meal and evening together in our home.

Hurray for sweet family!

small things

2012-01-17T14:44:00.002-05:00

We've been studying these verses at

church lately, and I'm feeling challenged

to practice loving others more fully.

I think this is a good way to do that -

do the little things with lots of love.

Then they're not so little anymore,

are they? :)

*via

saturday happiness list

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

1. Extra weekend.

Today is the start of a 3-day

weekend for us, and I'm looking

forward to some fun friends events

and some much needed rest with

the hubs. Busy week = tired girl!

2. This sweet website.

I love love. Yes, I know that this

entire site is a marketing tool, but

it's pretty wonderful. The photos are

beautiful, the stories are sweet, and

the whole thing makes me smile.

3. This hysterical blog.

I'm not really a big pop culture girl,

but easily spent an hour looking through

these snarky posts and laughing my

head off. Perfect weekend reading. :)

4. The Design*Sponge book.

Sister gave me this most exciting of

Christmas presents, and I've been

enjoying flipping through the beautiful

pictures and fun ideas. Thanks again!

5. This food blog.

Oh. my. word. I have spent tons

of time pouring over her luscious

pictures and drool-worthy recipes.

(and half of them are pinned here...)

Makes me want to spend the

next year in the kitchen!

Wishing you a very happy weekend,

whatever goodies it holds!

*image

everyday beauty

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of cherishing all of

the little things, I am loving this pretty
picture of organized kitchen utensils.

Shortly after discovering the wonder
of Etsy, I bought a beautiful pottery utensil
jar - and while mine isn't nearly as organized
as this one - it still makes me smile every
time I grab a spatula or wooden spoon.

It really is the little things. :)

*via

Papa Bear

2012-01-12T11:35:00.001-05:00

My wonderful & handsome Daddy

is having some surgery today, so we're

praying for skilled hands, a good outcome

and a speedy recovery. (And plenty of

peace for my Momma...because no one

likes to see their hubby be miserable!)

*photo by Matthew Lomanno Photography

my kind of resolutions.

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't the world be nicer

if we all tried to be silly, honest

and kind more often?

*via

sweet wedding video

2012-01-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

I love a good wedding video, don't you?
I found this one this morning, and it is
just too lovely not to share. Enjoy!

Oh...and if you're like me, you'll

want to have some tissues handy...

*via

empowered love

2012-01-06T07:25:00.000-05:00

Do you ever just know God put something

in your path? It might be a song, a book, a

verse, a beautiful picture...but in that moment,

something just clicks. It's like that thing you've

been rolling around in your head just crystallizes,

and it's like God reached out and squeezed your

hand, reassuring you that He's right there.

I had one of those moments this morning

when I picked up a book that the hubs & I

have been slowly working through:

"The Holy Spirit is the one who fills believers

with God's love and the one who enables us

to love one another. Paul describes this

beautifully in his prayer to the Ephesians:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may

strengthen you with power through his Spirit

in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell

in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,

being rooted and established in love, may have

power, together with all the saints, to grasp

how wide and long and high and deep is the love

of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses

knowledge - that you may be filled to the

measure of all the fullness of God. (3:16-19)

May we know this love that surpasses

knowledge - the mystery of this great love -

by the strengthening power of the Spirit."

*excerpt from Forgotten God,

image via etsy

contentment

2012-01-05T11:04:00.001-05:00

I have found the one whom my soul loves.

(Song of Solomon 3:4)

Best feeling in the world! :)

*via

my thoughts exactly.

2012-01-03T15:51:00.001-05:00

Because really,

isn't it all about the

little things?

*via

wedding bliss

2011-12-30T16:19:00.002-05:00

On Christmas Eve morning,

this sweet girl married this wonderful guy.

The ceremony was lovely - full of tender

love, sweet gazes, a few laughs - and all bathed

in bright morning sunshine. Perfection!

The pretty handmade background made for

fun group & couple pictures. (totally dorky

but fun...admit it, you've done it too!)

The reception was cozy - like going to a happy

family gathering. And while the food was amazing

(best french toast of my life), their cake took

the prize for most fun food at this party.

Who doesn't love pancakes!?

Happy marriage, my friends! We're so happy

for you, and can't wait to see what

wonderful things married life holds for you!

christmas

2011-12-29T13:42:00.001-05:00

My first Christmas as a married lady was lovely!

We spent a couple of wonderfully low-key days

up in Maine with my family, and did plenty of

laughing, eating, and relaxing. So happy! :)

Oh, and we took about a million pictures...

...of everything!

I hope your Christmas was equally wonderful!

things to be happy about

2011-12-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

1. My husband.

He's handsome, makes me laugh

with his silly faces, and this year we

get to enjoy Christmas together!

2. Today's wedding.

This sweet girl get to marry her best

friend today, and we get to celebrate

with them! Congratulations, we love you.

(And welcome to the married club!)

3. Family time.

We head to ME this afternoon for

a couple days with my sweet family.

I'm looking forward to lots of relaxing

& yummy Christmas food!

4. Wise words.

I've been spending time in the verses

from this post, and am grateful that

the Word is so applicable to my life.

5. We're planning a get-away.

And it will be warm and glorious.

(more details soon!)

6. Christmas!!!

Wishing you and yours a most

wonderful day full of family,

love & faith!

stockings

2011-12-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

It's our first Christmas as married peoples,

so we're having a blast enjoying lots of cheesy

firsts. Last night - first Christmas stockings!

(Yes, we know it's early still, but we'll be

traveling on Christmas. Plus it was

fun to cheat & open them early!)

Just to show off how well he knows me,

the hubs put spools of fancy ribbon

in my stocking...amazing!

Hurray for fun new traditions. :)

celebrations

2011-12-21T07:24:00.003-05:00

We spent the weekend celebrating Christmas with

all sorts of family, and it was wonderful. One of the

coolest things about being married is having double

the family...and double the family gatherings!

Despite all of the Christmas parties & dinners

in the last couple of weeks, I'm still having a hard

time believing that Christmas is SO close. It seems

like it's come so quickly this year!

How about you?

Are you ready? Excited?

anticipation

2011-12-17T10:25:00.002-05:00

We just got tickets to see Coldplay,

and are ridiculously excited!

Hurray for good concerts!

*via

some wise words

2011-12-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

Really loving this reminder today...

(and in such a pretty presentation, too!)

*via

if you're a dork like me...

2011-12-15T12:26:00.000-05:00

...this might just make your day.

Happy Thursday to the HP lovers

out there! (And to those just putting

up with my randomness...)

*via

diy polaroid magnets

2011-12-14T16:59:00.001-05:00

Right after moving into our cute apartment,

I made a whole bunch of these sweet little

magnets to decorate our blank fridge.

Since everyone who walks through my kitchen

stops to look at them, I figured I should post

about them! (Plus - they still make me smile

every time I open the fridge...aka all the time.)

I was initially inspired by a photo on pinterest,

loosely followed these directions here,

but did plenty of improvising along the way...

...like skipping the download and heading over

to picnik to stick my photos into their free

polaroid frame. (Plus free editing, yippie!)

...or gluing my photos to white foam-core

scraps so that I wouldn't have to color

the edges. (total laziness)

I'd love to know if you've made any

for your fridge! (Or as cute little stocking

stuffers perhaps??) How did you cheat

to make it easier / cheaper? :)

christmas spirit

2011-12-13T13:46:00.002-05:00

Are you feeling jolly yet? After wrapping a whole

lot of presents this morning and listening to

some of my favorite Christmas music, I'm feeling

quite festive today. And good thing too, since we

have our first Christmas party tonight!

*via

warm & fuzzy

2011-12-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this sweet post? These two

kiddos enthusiastically send their Dad off

every morning with lots of kisses and hugs

- and it's adorable. (Watch the video

to totally melt your heart.)

Did you ever do happy things like this?

I vividly remember standing on my tiptoes

(on the heater!) so that I could see out

the window in the living room and wave

goodbye to my Daddy every morning.

I felt so loved knowing that he cherished

our crazy antics in the front window,

and got so excited when he would honk

the truck horn and wave back at us. It was

a happy tradition in our house for years,

and even now I still wave and blow kisses

to my family when they drive away after

a visit. Old habits die hard. :)

*found via Cup of Jo

a little reminder

2011-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Something worth thinking about,

especially in this season of stuff...

*via

yep.

2011-12-10T11:25:00.001-05:00

Now that's true love.

(And I couldn't agree more.)

*via

turkey soup magic.

2011-12-09T07:38:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Inbetweenus (a little made up holiday we

like to celebrate each year with our friends), there was

some leftover turkey lurking in my fridge. So yesterday

morning I pulled it out, tossed it in the crockpot with

whatever veggies I could find, and left for work.

Now is it just me, or do crockpots seem like magic?

Because when I came home, my entire house

smelled amazing, and there was a delicious soup

ready for dinner. Ready. As in sit down at the table

two minutes after walking in the door ready.

It's magic, I'm telling you.

*image

it's pretty accurate...

2011-12-08T12:11:00.001-05:00

I've had this card saved as a favorite on

Etsy forever because it's pretty much

dead on. There are definitely days when I

spend more time daydreaming about hubs

than doing the things I should be!

And yes, I know that's totally dorky

and lame. I'm ok with it. :)

*via

oh christmas tree...

2011-12-07T16:24:00.001-05:00

Anyone else love just sitting and looking

at the Christmas tree? Ever since we put our

tree up, I've been content to turn off all the

lights and just go sit in front of the tree.

I love all of the sparkly lights and mysterious

reflections. I love how the tree gets blurry

when I squint my eyes. I love looking at

the delicate ornaments and remembering the

sweet family & friends they came from.

It's these little joys that make Christmas

so special, don't you think?

women of god...

2011-11-30T07:14:00.001-05:00

Well now, that sure packs a punch. I'm in this

crazy busy season at work right now, and it's not easy

to remember things like tenderness when you're

running at a million miles an hour just to keep your

head above water. Or, if you're at all like me, isn't it

easy to get into superwoman mode and forget all about

the importance of faith and purity?

Anyone else out there like me?

Thoughts?

*via

some family love

2011-11-28T12:18:00.001-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. Getting to see both

of our families was amazing, and we had a completely

jam-packed weekend of friends and fun stuff.

Sister just put this picture up, and I thought it was

too happy not to share. Hurray for cute family!

Happy Monday, friends.

*stolen from sister

cute video

2011-11-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

One of my artists posted this video the other day,

and I loved it too much not to share!

The concept is incredible, but I think the music

totally makes the emotion of it come alive.

Happy black Friday!

*thanks, sid

thanksgiving...times two!

2011-11-23T07:02:00.001-05:00

Sorry for being so absent this last week, friends.

Work has gotten wonderfully busy, and my head has been

jammed full of spaces and inspiration for my clients.

(Just ask the hubs - if I get quiet lately, he knows that

I've probably started walking through plans in my head

and am mentally writing up proposals or brainstorming

solutions for some tricky space or needy client.)

But no work can compare to the excitement of this

weekend, as we will celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow

up in Maine with my family, and then we get to have a

second Thanksgiving on Friday with hubs' family!

Yippie for double the family fun :)

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I've been loving these

sweet gratitude posts (I & II), and want to encourage

you to take a few minutes and list some of the

things you're grateful for this year. We live such

blessed lives, and have so much to say thanks for.

Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love,

joy, gratitude and lots of pie!

*image

stay cool.

2011-11-16T15:52:00.001-05:00

It's been a nutty, busy day around these parts,

so I figured this was a good reminder.

Hope your Wednesday is cool :)

*via

good call.

2011-11-15T07:07:00.001-05:00

Well there's a question that makes me squirm a little bit.

I think I have some praying to do...you?

*via

little adventure

2011-11-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

The sun was shining, we had the day off

and no real plans to speak of. So why not

climb the giant rock on the west side?

It seemed like a good idea to me,

so up we went...

I was wearing my most practical climbing

shoes (ballet flats) since our morning started

off with errands, but the hubs very sweetly

helped me whenever the leaves were

slippery and I had to scramble.

The pretty views were worth the little climb!

(Check out this great photo for an idea

of what we saw.) Parts of our little city

looked like those collectable ceramic villages,

and it was great fun trying to identify which

street and building were what.

Definitely a fun little Friday adventure! :)

*vintage postcard,

what to wear

2011-11-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

We did some shopping this weekend,

but I can't help but think that these

qualities would make for a better work

wardrobe then anything I purchased...

*via

where are you from?

2011-11-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

I get a kick out of this map. Yes, I know

that it's one giant stereotype - and frankly -

kind of insulting, but it cracks me up.

(Plus the typography rocks!)

What do you think...funny or not?

Either way - happy weekend!

*via

coffee time

2011-11-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Maybe you're not an addict like me,

but in my world, morning doesn't really start

until I've had those first sips of coffee.

Hubs & I have today off, and I'm looking

forward to some lazy morning time together with

plenty of coffee-drinking and snuggling.

Who knows what the rest of our day will hold,

but I'm sure it will be a fun adventure!

Once we've had the coffee, that is...

*via

quiet

2011-11-10T11:09:00.001-05:00

Ever notice how quiet it is on a foggy morning?

It's like the world wakes up a little more slowly,

and everything takes longer to get up to normal speed.

Or maybe that's just my brain. Hard to tell.:)

*via

mmm bacon

2011-11-09T12:02:00.002-05:00

I made this fun little appetizer for the hubs the

other night, and we both loved it. Try it soon,

and I promise you will be a hero to the

bacon lovers in your life. :)

WARNING: This recipe involves a vegetable,

but is definitely a danger to your arteries!

you'll need:

1 lb. fresh green beans

5 strips of bacon

3 tbsp melted butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 clove garlic (or garlic powder)

1/8 tsp soy sauce

Cook halved green beans until tender,

then drain and set aside. (Add a pat of

butter if you like, because if you're like

me, you'll have extra & will eat them later.)

Cut bacon slices in half, fry over med-low

heat until soft, then cool on a paper towel.

Wrap the little bean bundles in bacon

and place in a 13x9 pan. (You can use a

toothpick to hold them together, or just

wrap tightly and place carefully.)

Melt the 3 tbsp of butter on med-high,

then stir in brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce.

Once everything is melted together, brush

or spoon the mixture over the bundles.

Bake for 10-15 mins at 400 degrees...

or until it smells so good that you

cannot resist pulling them out to try!

*found, recipe

little moments

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

I was walking across a grocery store

parking lot the other day, when a perky

jingle started playing. As I looked around

trying to figure out where the tinny music

was coming from, I spotted a young

dad standing next to the tiny carousel in

front of the store - and a very happy little

one going round and round.

It totally melted my heart to see this dad

love his kiddo in such a sweet way,

despite whatever inconvenience or

awkwardness it might have caused him.

And that kind of love just makes me

smile - even in complete strangers.

*image

initial necklace

2011-11-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

How sweet is this husband & wife

initial necklace? I love the pretty, loopy

letters and the idea of wearing your

initials for the world to see!

*from Etsy, of course.

happy things

2011-11-04T13:38:00.000-04:00

Because it's Friday and the sun is shining,

a happy list seems appropriate...

1. Apple Streusel French Toast.

Oh my lands, this stuff was good!

Thank you, Cracker Barrel for clogging

my arteries & making my morning.

2. New Friendships.

I've been enjoying getting to know some

pretty fabulous ladies over these last few

months. New friends are the best!

3. Dark Nails.

I'm loving dramatic dark tones for

fall nails...right now, a luscious purple.

(Or how about this lovely deep red?)

4. Maine + Family = Happiness.

We're heading home to visit my family

for the weekend, which is always lovely.

I love relaxing and catching up on all

the good stuff happening at home!

*image

52 Things...

2011-11-03T14:07:00.000-04:00

Even though it feels like we just got married

yesterday, the hubs and I celebrated our

6 month anniversary a couple of weeks ago.

(And yes, we actually celebrated,
which was totally dorky but really fun!)

I wanted to do something sweet to love on

my handsome guy, so I decided to tackle

this project I saw on Pinterest.

I used these more detailed directions

to start, but mostly just figured it out

as I went along, which was fine.

I was really excited with how it came out,

but more importantly, he loved it. He seemed

pleased that I took time to express some of

the little things I adore about him. And that

makes me a happy girl - mission accomplished!

*Want to see more cool Pinterest inspired projects?

Check out others from the Pinterest Challenge!

2011-11-02T10:35:00.001-04:00

This is so true. (and so sweet!)

Who do you love to see smile?

*via

candlight

2011-10-31T12:02:00.001-04:00

We started off our weekend by heading up north

to attend a marriage conference put on by our

church. It was great to invest in our brand new

marriage and to have a night away together.

We arrived home in the snow, cooked dinner,

and snuggled in for our first snow storm. We even

lit candles because it was just so cozy and fun.

Can you see where this is going?

Long story short - it's a good thing we had

already lit candles and like to snuggle, because

we've been out of power since Saturday night!

It's been a fun adventure so far. We've hung

out at several warm houses, used our JetBoil,

and discovered that we have enough blankets

to stay warm through just about anything.

And hopefully when I get home today,

the lights & heat will be back on!

*image

just love

2011-10-28T11:34:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about

what my life will add up to - things like

roles, purpose, goals and the like.

I'm coming to the conclusion that it's

all about boiling it down to the basics:

love God and love others.

Sounds easy right?

And yet - somehow it's easy to make

things much more complicated than that.

I'm practicing taking it one day at a time,

and trying to keep it simple. To keep

letting love guide my life.

*via

memories

2011-10-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

I did an unexpected grocery run this morning

before work, and in a sentimental moment,

stopped at the bakery to grab one of these

decadent double-chocolate muffins.

I was blessed to grow up eating the most

delicious homemade goodies. Between

Momma and Grammy, we always ate really

well - and it was always fresh and from scratch.

But every once in a while, Grammy would

pick up one of these chocolatey muffins

from the local grocery store and we would

share it over a steaming hot cup of coffee.

Some of our best chats and laughs happened

over coffee and a muffin, and to this day

I can't bite into one of these without

missing those sweet times together.

*recipe

another wedding weekend

2011-10-21T13:14:00.004-04:00

Another sweet couple in our circle of friends is

getting married tomorrow, and since my handsome

hubs is part of the wedding party, we have a whole

weekend of fun wedding events planned.

I'm especially looking forward to...

- seeing the groom cry (so sweet)

- first dances and happy toasts

- seeing my man look studly in his tux

- dancing the night away with friends

- crashing on the couch when it's all done!

Happy weekend, my friends.

*image

wanna go for a walk?

2011-10-20T16:56:00.000-04:00

We're dog-sitting this week, so I'm spending

lots of time outside with the pooch these days.

Miss M (a cute beagle mystery mix) seems to enjoy

sniffing her way through our long morning walks,

and I've been loving the crisp fall air and time

to call up my Daddy for long silly chats!

*via

these boots...

2011-10-19T17:46:00.001-04:00

I've been hunting around for a perfect pair of

camel/cognac colored leather boots, but am finding

that my champagne tastes are severely conflicting

with my beer budget. I know lots of girls are

able to spend hundreds of dollars on boots, but

this girl just can't cough up that kind of dough

these days. I found some cheapos at Target,

but can't seem to get over the plastic-y looking

heel. Payless had a cute pair too, but they

were too dark of a brown. Have any of you

bargain hunters seen anything fabulous

(and affordable) out there?

*image

a bounty of apples

2011-10-18T13:04:00.001-04:00

We have way too many apples sitting

on our counter after going apple picking

with some friends from church, so I'm

on the hunt for new recipes to use them up!

Last week the handsome hubs made

this recipe for our apple bake-off, and

right now I'm eyeing this one just because

the picture is so gosh darn pretty.

Any other suggestions?

*image

things to be grateful for

2011-10-15T13:05:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week, and I'm feeling pretty

worn down. So it seems like a good time

to list some things I'm grateful for:

1. Crisp breeze & sunshine.

Today is the most gorgeous fall day.

2. Good worship music.

Loving this song today. It's calm

and reassuring - like God's grace.

3. My wonderful job.

Yes, it requires a lot of time lately,

but I'm blessed to have a great job.

4. The sweetest man.

Hubs made me a yummy breakfast

and is still nice even when I get grumpy.

5. Tasty fall treats.

Apples, pumpkin-flavored everything,

and hot donuts from cute country stores.

*image

for a giggle

2011-10-07T16:13:00.000-04:00

I've been cracking up over this kiddo

costume for a couple of weeks now,

so figured I should probably share.

It makes me want to have a child, just

so I can torment them with terrible costumes

that only adults appreciate...or go

home and watch Napoleon Dynamite.

Happy Friday, friends! :)

*image

it's practical

2011-10-06T12:15:00.003-04:00

I love this promise.

I still find it amazing that the Creator of the

universe cares to help guide my steps,

and am grateful for daily, practical help.

PS - Doesn't this typography

just make you swoon??

*via

rainy day wishes

2011-10-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

This rainy day makes me wish I was

home cozied up inside our little apartment.

On my dream list of things to do:

1. A long, hot bath. (And I'd like my
bathroom to look like this one!)

2. Read something. I've been craving a

quiet reading day for a while now.

3. Baking adventure. I'd like time to

experiment with all these tempting recipes.

4. Nap with hubs. Always a great

way to spend an afternoon.

*image

swoon

2011-10-03T12:44:00.000-04:00

I found this photo on The Sartorialist

last week, and even though I can't quite

identify what it is that I love about it,

I keep coming back to it. Thoughts?

*via

friday kisses

2011-09-30T12:28:00.002-04:00

I was downloading pictures from my

camera this morning, and found this

happy shot from our trip to the mansions

over the summer. Because it made me

feel smiley, you get to see it too.

In other happy news, Mark's sweet

sister is getting married this weekend,

so we get to celebrate with them!

Hope your weekend has lots of

love & happiness in it too.

cutest. thing. ever.

2011-09-29T11:56:00.000-04:00

I came home last night to find these adorable

letters spelled out across our bed.

The hubs (who was looking all pleased with

himself for obviously surprising me), simply

said "I was making copies at school, and

I thought it would be cool to cut out some

letters and write you a message."

I'm the luckiest. :)

cookies

2011-09-28T11:26:00.000-04:00

The hubs has a new-found love for Nutella,

so you can only imagine his excitement when

I found this recipe for no-bake cookies.

We made them last night, and they were

definitely as fudgy and delicious as promised!

Let's hope our small group feels the same

way tonight...and I guess if they don't,

it's just more for me later this week. :)

*image

a good stuff list

2011-09-27T13:50:00.001-04:00

1. PB&J.
It's not often, but sometimes the
old stand by hits the spot. Today
was one of those days. :)

2. This article.
I love #4 and #7.
Such good reminders.

3. Chocolate Mud Facemasks.
Yep. We were the cool kids who
smeared chocolate mud on their
faces this weekend. (The hubs
is such a good sport!)

4. New Hillsong Music.
We picked up the new album
over the weekend, and I've been
listening on repeat all day at work.
This one is my favorite right now.

Hope you find something good
in your day today too!

*image

peace

2011-09-26T10:23:00.001-04:00

A little reminder for your Monday...just

in case it's starting off anything like mine.

*image

Slam Poetry

2011-09-23T15:33:00.001-04:00

In honor of attending my first Poetry Slam

last night, I thought I'd share the incredible

piece written & performed by our dear friend

Josh for our wedding back in April.

WEDDING SLAM FOR MARK & AMANDA
I never thought I'd be a spectator at this art show.
I didn't know that Mark's Head Coach's playbook was painted Amanda.
That when God blended her husband's hues his heart bled Boston green.
His lean physique was lost in play-making on the Pulse court,

scoring fruit by the basket.
He was asking for co-captain and got a work of art.
Her eyes dart across a room and like the Painter

she envisions what loveliness could be.
She sees a star who serves like a Living Waterboy.
He sees a palette of passion reds and fashion threads,
A yellow curled ardent girl who heads blue soirees

and white middays at the yard sale.
I failed to predict the oneness of the artist and the athlete.
But now I see the kinetic beauty of this one flesh.
One sets the pick SL the other can roll.
One stays unseen so relief is more bold.
The odds favor this rookie masterpiece.
I think you'll play fine.
Just color your dreams inside parallel lines.
Find creative ways to keep smiles indelible despite uncertainty.
Frame your lives with eternity.
Permit each other to brighten your black with Jesus' pigment.
The perfect spouse is a figment of idle imaginations.
So after today's congratulations,
You must never question this decision.
Doing so is sinful derision and your commitment is already made.
Don't let it fade in the direct UV of "me" and "my way."
Ball hogs don't get a lot of play.
Pass the rock as often as you can

and demand only face time with the Portrait-er.
Remember that you were commissioned for a purpose.
Together pound the hardwood surface

until the roaring cloud of witnesses resounds with,
"Well done good and faithful forwards."
All your fans from courtside seats to nice box suites begin to scream.
The Painter-Coach enjoins his technicolor dreamteam.
Today the whistle blows.
Game on.

*photo by Matthew Lomanno

dress indecision

2011-09-21T17:35:00.000-04:00

I've been lazily shopping around for

a new dress for a few upcoming weddings,

but haven't found the right one yet. I bought

this cutie, but ended up returning it. This

week I've been eying a couple of others

(here and here), but still can't decide...

The hubs and I have a shopping day

planned for this weekend, so hopefully

I'll find something fabulous then.

Any ideas? Recommendations?

*inspiration image

pets on funiture

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

I always get a kick out of the weekly

"Pets on Furniture" posts over at

Desire to Inspire. There's something

comical and endearing about the furry

faces posing for the camera.

This guy really cracks me up. He's so

dignified and goofy all at the same time :)

*via

sunday afternoon

2011-09-19T12:31:00.000-04:00

Ever since the weather has started feeling cool

and crisp, I've been craving a good cup of

hot cocoa. Yesterday the hubs taught me how

to make it from scratch on the stove, then

we happily enjoyed sitting outside in the sun

sipping away. Hurray for Sunday afternoons!

In other lazy Sunday afternoon news, we have

discovered this show...and are wasting hours

snuggled up on the couch being weirded

out / fascinated by the wacky plot lines.

Anyone else out there watching it too?

red sox

2011-09-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to Fenway with my lovely Sister

to cheer on her beloved Red Sox. We had a

great time and some fun adventures together!

It's always such a happy treat to spend time with

each other, and I very much enjoyed my first

game...rowdy drunk fans and all! :)

*image

sweet illustrations

2011-09-15T10:41:00.003-04:00

I'm smitten with these darling

illustrations by Caitlin McGauley,

spotted yesterday at A Cup of Jo.

There's something so cheerful about

her sweet style that makes me smile!

living in harmony

2011-09-14T14:15:00.000-04:00

I was just reading these verses the other

day and thinking about how practical God is.

He doesn't just tell us to do something as

difficult as "live in harmony" without giving

us specific ways to make it happen.

Think about it - when we encounter

bad drivers, rude co-workers, or hurtful

gossip, God has given us the keys to

responding in ways that foster harmony:

1. Show sympathy and be understanding.

2. Love fiercely - like they are your own family.

3. Demonstrate compassion by actively caring.

4. Practice humility and think of others first.

Thoughts?

*image

yum

2011-09-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

We tried these little potato cuties last

night and loved them. Not only were they

insanely easy, they were delicious and

looked pretty on our dinner plates. Win!

How to make the magic happen:

1. Scrub or peel your potatoes.

2. Make thin, careful slices without

actually cutting through the potato.

3. Drizzle with olive oil & butter.

(I melted them together, then used my

fingers to get it between the slices.)

4. Shake on some salt & pepper.

(Or whatever spices you love.)

5. Bake at 425 for 30-40 minutes.

Enjoy!

*image

quiet nights

2011-09-12T13:03:00.000-04:00

This last week & weekend has been very busy

for us, so tonight I'm excited to get home to

the hubs and enjoy a quiet evening together.

I'm going to try a couple of fun new recipes

(if they go well, perhaps I'll report back),

we might take a long meandering walk,

and to end the night, we'll cozy up on the

couch to watch the big football game. Bliss!

Hope you find something to enjoy

for your Monday night!

*image

little notes

2011-09-08T07:51:00.001-04:00

I am a total sucker for awesome papergoods.

Just like a good pair of shoes, I have a tough time

passing up sweet stationary, cute cards, and

pretty wrapping paper. And this shop -

Red Letter Paper Company - definitely makes

me want to splurge. Often.

I love surprising the hubs with a sweet

note in his lunchbox, or sending a pretty

card to a friend to say hello.

Oh - and if you're old fashioned like me

and love sending out Christmas cards,

make sure you check out

their lovely selection of designs!

*etsy, of course

rain

2011-09-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

A few reasons why I love a good rainy day...

1. The cozy factor.

Rainy days make me feel gloriously domestic

and cozy. Things like cooking and cleaning

suddenly hold an amazing amount of appeal!

2. Contemplative moods:

The rain usually helps me focus in on

the more important things...especially prayer

and worship times. (This morning it

the words to this song that got me...)

3. The sounds:

I love how normal noises get muffled,

but you can hear every splash of passing

cars and trucks. Lovely!

4. Rain Is A Good Thing.

Enough said. :)

*image

hitting the road

2011-09-02T15:37:00.000-04:00

The hubs and I are heading north this weekend

to see my lovely parentals. We're super excited

for a visit and the chance to get away.

Hope your long weekend is happy too!

*image

reminder

2011-09-01T15:26:00.001-04:00

Who is wise and understanding

among you? Let them show it by their

good life, by deeds done in the humility

that comes from wisdom...

...wisdom that comes from heaven

is first of all pure; then peace-loving,

considerate, submissive, full of

mercy and good fruit, impartial

and sincere. (James 3:13, 17)

It's been a weirdly nutty day today,

and it's been a struggle to keep

hanging on to these verses. I was

reading them this morning, but some

days just seem to require a second

(or third) look to keep on track.

How do you manage these

sorts of days?

*image

a happy list

2011-08-31T13:01:00.000-04:00

1. Breakfast in bed.

It's official, people. The hubs is super

handsome AND the sweetest!

2. Sunshine.

I've been loving these magical

late summer days - the crispness of

fall plus the bright cheer of summer

is the best mixture!

3. Weekend trip.

We're heading north to see my

parentals this weekend. Hurray

for happy family visits!

4. Birthday love.

Nothing like a million texts,

calls and fb messages to make

a girl feel totally loved. Thanks,

guys...you're sweet!

Hope you find some happy things

in your day today too!

*image

true generosity

2011-08-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

Isn't that the best?

We could just trudge along,

you know. But I never get very far

on my own joy or strength,

so I'm grateful that we serve

a God who is generous with

the good stuff!

*via this cute shop

stormy sunday

2011-08-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

It was a bit of a wet weekend around these

parts as the not-so-ladylike Irene blew through

New England. Our little neighborhood fared

very well with very minor damage and no real

flooding to speak of, so the hubs and I enjoyed

a quiet, cozy day inside. We spent lots of time

in the kitchen together making yummy things,

but the whoopie pies were by far the best!

Making them brought back many happy

memories of Saturday baking with Grammy,

which was neat. Isn't it funny how tastes

and smells hold so much memory?

Hope your weekend was safe & dry!

friday!

2011-08-26T12:59:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling pretty darn good about

today being Friday...aren't you?

*image

bite-sized

2011-08-25T14:53:00.000-04:00

A confession:

I spend far too much time dreaming

up fun ideas for dinner parties,

birthday bashes, and holiday fun.

My latest obsession is the idea of

an appetizer party... where everything

is bite-sized and adorably presented.

Sounds fun, right?

And then at end of the evening,

wouldn't you want to have one

(or two!) of these darling little

doughnuts with a shot of cold milk?

*image

it's the little things

2011-08-24T11:56:00.000-04:00

Last night was one of those blissful,

quiet evenings that makes me love being

married to my best friend.

The hubs made us a fun dinner, then we

snuggled on the couch and watched Once.

If you're into music, this movie is sort of

magical...we were both mesmerized!

Then we realized that the leads from

the movie have made several lovely

albums together as The Swell Season.

(Jackpot!) The hubs had great fun

downloading his faves and playing along

on his guitar. And as every girl knows,

sitting and listening to your man play

music is always amazing!

So to make a long story much shorter:

we had a quiet night which was happily

filled with good music. My ability

to ramble even amazes me sometimes...

more summer, please

2011-08-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

Mornings and evenings are rapidly

adopting that undeniably crisp feeling of

fall, but I'm still not quite ready to let

go of summer. I still want to grill a few

more fabulous meals, have a couple more

lazy naps in the sunshine, and I still want

to make this easy ice cream cake!

How about you? Are you clinging to

summertime like me, or are you ready

to embrace fall in all it's glory? :)

*recipe here

happy weekend!

2011-08-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

Some days you just need a nap...

Hope your weekend has room

for a little snooze!

*image

strengthened

2011-08-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

Ever notice how sneaky the enemy is when

it comes to stealing our joy and peace?

Over the last few days I've been slowly getting

more and more overwhelmed with work and

the busyness of life. It happens gradually...with
just a few things here and there until suddenly

it all adds up to complete stress and panic.

This morning as I sat on the couch in tears,

my amazing hubs encouraged me to spend some

time clinging to God's promises - which was
precisely what I needed to hear. And when
I flipped open to Isaiah 40 and 41, I found
precisely what I needed to read.

It's refreshing to hand over my worries

to the Creator, and so energizing to put my hope

in his power. When I do, I realize just how

inadequate my power is, and how much
better life is when I'm letting the Spirit lead.

If you're running low on your own strength,
or trying to do things without the peace
and joy of the Spirit, take a few minutes
to read these incredible promises.

It's sure made the difference in my day.

*via

pinterest inspiration

2011-08-17T15:52:00.000-04:00

Anyone else love playing around with Pinterest?

There are so many good ideas, pretty pictures,

and yummy recipes - it's a little addicting.

I noticed a common theme today on one of

my boards...fun wrapping ideas! Which if you

have ever seen my giant bin of wrapping

paper & ribbons, isn't really all that shocking. :)

How lovely are all these little beauties in

brown paper? The top one is just a strip of

glue with confetti - which I think is genius!

I also love this one with the balloons -

so cute and cheerful!

Are you on Pinterest?

What fun things are you finding?

rainy day color

2011-08-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

We're having a couple of lovely,

rainy days in these parts. Although

the sunshine is my favorite, sometimes

a quiet rainy day just hits the spot.

I've been loving this series of prints

on Etsy for a while. Don't these colors

seem particularly luscious and

cheerful on a grey day?

*via

home again

2011-08-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

We spent our weekend away in the

oh so fabulous town of Newport, RI.

It was great fun to be cute little tourists

and explore the glorious "summer cottages"

of the Vanderbilts and their pals from back

in the day. If you've never seen them, it's

definitely worth the trip!

We took loads of photos (with our

Polaroid baby of course)...so here

are some fun highlights!

(1) Fabulous grounds at The Elms

(2) Romantic gardens at Rosecliff

(3) Kisses at Chateau-sur-Mer

(4) Chinese Tea House at The Marble House

(1) Chateau-sur-Mer

(2) Lounging at The Breakers

(3) Fabulous lawn at The Breakers

(4) Grand entrance at The Elms

(1) Rainy Boston on the way home

(2) Kicking butt at the arcade

(3) We loved Rosecliff!

(4) Our strange little B&B

*The Breakers

roadtrip

2011-08-13T07:00:00.019-04:00

In an effort to soak up every possible

second of summer, we're hitting the

road this weekend for a little adventure.

I'm looking forward to exploring and

spending time with my handsome guy.

Everything is just more fun together!

*image

just because

2011-08-12T07:00:00.017-04:00

In my humble (and kind of dorky) opinion,

this is the best office skit ever.

Happy Friday :)

happy things

2011-08-11T11:43:00.000-04:00

1. Gorgeous day.

It's one of those clear, sunshiney

summer days that slyly hints of

the crisp fall to come. Glorious!

2. Breakfast chats.

I got to start off my day by hanging

out with one of my lovelies. I adore

our time together, and always come away

encouraged by her heart & friendship.

3. The hubs.

Doing life with my best friend is so

fun. We've been enjoying our summer

evenings with lots of grilling, walking,

swimming...and ice cream, of course!

4. Cake stand cuteness.

Another of my lovelies just gave

us the most adorable cake stand as

a wedding present...and I'm so

excited to go home and frost a cake

tonight just so I can use it!

5. Worship music.

Thanks to the magic of Pandora,

I've been enjoying a great mix of tunes

at my desk. On stressful or super

busy days, it makes all the difference

in my perspective and attitude!

*image

his & hers

2011-08-10T15:37:00.000-04:00

I'm loving these "His & Hers" diptychs.

Makes me want to carry our little

Polaroid clunker around everywhere

and be more creative!

*found here

deep breath...

2011-08-09T11:02:00.000-04:00

A confession: When I get too

much on my plate and start feeling

overwhelmed, I just want to run away.

I know I should roll up my sleeves and

just do my best, but sometimes it's very

tempting to believe that I'll never get it

all done perfectly and just check out.

Today I'd much rather go find a spot like

this than deal with the mountain of stressful

projects on my desk, but instead I'm

going to take a deep breath, say a little

prayer, and try to be more like the woman

described in Proverbs 31:25...

She is clothed in strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

*image

anticipation

2011-08-08T11:09:00.000-04:00

After working on it all weekend,

we finally ordered our wedding photo

album this morning, and now all

either of us can think about it getting

it in the mail to ooooh and aahhh over!

Thanks again to Matthew Lomanno

for capturing our day so wonderfully.

It was almost impossible to choose

which pictures to include because

we love all of them! :)

*Matthew Lomanno Photography