April 30, 2008

97 degrees of Solitude.

It officially reached 97 degrees today...not long until we are in the 100's. Since I spent most of the day working on stuff inside, the air conditioner was making me freeze, so by 5 pm I was dying to be outside. Brooks and I went out and sat in the sun, ate cheese crackers {well Brooks didn't participate in that part}, and watched the birds jump from branch to branch. It was one of those quiet moments that made me feel so happy, and I realized that I need to enlist more moments of solitude in my life. Quieting your mind and listening to what is rambling around in there can be so calming and healing. Life is so precious and seems to go so fast...don't forget to enjoy the simpleness of the every day.

April 28, 2008

Weekend Re-Cap.

We took Brooks on a few mini walks, we didn't end up going to the movies {we stayed home and rented instead}, and we rescheduled the tree planting for next Saturday. We did lounge around and watch J.'s brother put together new columns on our front porch, which look amazing. I can't wait to show before and after photos when they are complete...he's the perfect woodworker.

I got through half of Eat, Pray, Love ...{it's so good and I feel like I'm the last person in the world to read it} and enjoyed lunch with my mom and close family friend, enjoying the best french dip sandwich I've ever had in my life. It was one of those great weekends that was never rushed or stressful...I love that.

To see what else I did this weekend, go here.

April 25, 2008

Weekend Wishes.

We are going to spend the weekend taking Brooks for walks, planting a new tree for Earth Day, watching J.'s brother construct new posts on our front porch and hopefully seeing this movie.

I hope a wonderful weekend is had by all...

{image from blah, blah, blahg where a french bulldog named Bella runs the show. I wish she could be Brooks' girlfriend.}

April 24, 2008

Cupcake Party.

Yesterday one of my neighbors had a cupcake party in her front yard for her daughter's birthday. There were 16 kids at the party...and that is just from our street! It was so cute to see them all together and it made me feel so lucky to have such a wonderful street for kids when we join the ranks one day. The majority of older kids are boys, so after the party they put on a "rock band" for all the adults. It was pretty hilarious. It was such a wonderful way to spend my afternoon....plus I love cupcakes.

Why I Like Martha.

I love that Martha Stewart lets her French Bulldogs hang out on the beautiful marble slab island in her kitchen.

That's my kind of lady...

April 22, 2008

Grateful For...

Today I am happy about...

  1. J. coming home early on a Monday and taking me to a movie.

  2. Having a total of 11 citrus trees in our front and backyard.

  3. Eating peeled, cut up cucumbers and tomatoes with olive oil, sea salt and pepper {my newest obsession}.

  4. Cleaning out the magazine basket and recycling more than I kept.

  5. Brooks finally being able to jump up on the couch by himself...it only took him 3 years to learn. We put his blanket down and he jumps up between J. and I while we watch TV...god, I love that dog.

French Bulldog Addiction.

I am loving these pictures of a french bulldog I found online. He reminds me of my little Brooks. I could love and cuddle these adorable animals all day long...they are such characters!

Plus, I would have a house full if my husband would let me.

April 18, 2008

Candy Surprises.

All week I have been craving salt water taffy. I even bought a few pieces at a local store that sells them separately....but they were hard as rocks and didn't do the job at all. Yesterday the postman dropped off a package with my name on it. I opened it with delight to find a box of fresh salt water taffy from the Jersey shore, sent courtesy of my grandparents. I felt like a kid again, and immediately called to thank them and tell them of the coincidence of wanting taffy and it showing up at my door. Now....I just hope I don't eat this whole box by Monday. It's soooo good!!!

Wishing all a happy weekend and fun surprises at your door.

April 15, 2008

Need an Organizing Miracle...

I was not blessed with the organizing gene. I try and I really want to be like Monica on Friends or Martha Stewart, but I always seem to go back to my old ways of being messy and not caring. Unfortunately some things in my humble abode have gotten completely out of hand and I now need to buckle down, clear out and organize. It feels so overwhelming to me and I never even know where to start, so I am just going to dive in and see where it takes me. I wish I had a little organizing fairy that followed me around and told me what to do...

{photos from Martha Stewart...not my house}

April 14, 2008

What a Way to Start a Monday....

As I sat down at my computer this morning to check email, check blogs and start my week, I looked out the french doors and....a rat appeared out of the bush next to the door. This is one of the draw backs to living in our beautiful area....abundant citrus trees bring rodents. I have a huge rodent phobia...they make my skin crawl. So I screamed, called J. and made him promise to cut those bushes way back tonight so they lose one more hiding place.

Now, I am going to spend the rest of the day trying to get that long tail out of my head...

April 11, 2008

Weekend.

Have a Happy Weekend.

April 9, 2008

What I am Grateful For...

Upon reflection, here is what's making me feel lucky lately...

  1. Having a clean house and clean sheets on the bed.


  2. Going out to dinner, instead of having to make something, and then going to Dairy Queen for a butterscotch dipped cone....it was heaven.

  3. Cuddling with Brooks during my afternoon nap.

  4. A surprise gift in the mail from my mom.

  5. Watermelon being in season, and eating it every night {I love it sprinkled with a pinch of sea salt..weird, I know}.

April 7, 2008

Why I Miss Working at Kate Spade.

When getting a 50% discount, it was really hard not to buy everything in sight while working at Kate Spade. I pretty much never brought home a paycheck. I miss the discount immensely when I see things like this adorable yellow hat for the beach...

this perfectly metallic zip wallet....

these cute black patent leather wedges...

and this small black patent bag to take to dinner.

Plus, look how great this green nylon baby bag would be for someone with a little one {and all their goodies} in tow.

I think it's one of the cutest ones I've ever seen.

My Guilty Pleasure...

This show on E! is my new guilty pleasure. The Kardashians are crazy and yet I can't stop watching their lives. I especially love how the youngest sister, Khloe, is always calling Kim (the star) out on her acting like a diva.

Kim: "Did you guys know that I am one of the top Google searches?"

Khloe: "Oh, Kim get over yourself! That's only because you're always googling yourself."

Sometimes it takes your family to keep you in check.

April 4, 2008

Weekend.

Feeling a little under the weather. Hope to be back in full swing soon...


Have a Wonderful Weekend.

April 2, 2008

Adventures in the Neighborhood...

While our carpets were getting cleaned yesterday, I went over to my neighbor's house to hang out and raid her leftover Easter candy (since mine is all gone). While I was there the following took place: her 5 year old son took off his swimsuit and ran around the house naked, screaming that "his private was white" (the pool water was cold), her 3 year old flushed her ice cream cone down the toilet and it stopped working, the kids "april fooled" us that there was a scorpion by the pool, and then her son used nail polish as eyeshadow all over our other neighbors little girl's face. She started screaming when it got in her eyes....


I came home exhausted with my head spinning....but I still can't wait for the same adventures someday.