Key to Life...

I love this quote sooo much and it hits me right where I'm needing it lately. I'm looking for a little more "happy" in my life. Nothing major, just the run of the mill life stress has gotten me a little blue lately.

I miss being young and having sleep overs with my friends and laughing until our stomachs hurt. I miss daydreaming out the car window while my mom drove me to dentist appointments after school. I miss eating whatever I wanted and not worrying about it.

Life gets so complicated and we lose simple happiness sometimes....I'm going to try and win it back.

Happy Friday.

I can't believe it's Friday already. I've been a non-existent blogger this week. Here's what I've been busy doing....

• Attending first birthday parties for Harrison's friends.


• Helping my husband pick out glasses {finally....he's needed them since I met him...8 years ago}.


• Taking Harrison for daily walks.


• Going to the Barneys grand opening party {I don't mind that I didn't make the best dressed list. I was just happy to be wearing mascara, lipstick and shoes that killed my feet}.


• A Zoo trip with good friends.


• Making Harrison's birthday invites.

While consistently chasing around an active, almost walking, 11 month old. That age shift happened Wednesday....we are now one month away from a year. I feel weepy every time I think about it.

It's supposed to be 100 degrees this weekend. Where are you Autumn???

Living and Loving.

Harrison loves this toy. It's his means to upright mobility right now. This toy makes it's rounds around our house constantly...all the while playing music. It has banged into every corner, runs over anything in it's path and brushes up against our custom baseboards. I secretly love the havoc it's wrecking.

This week has been so inspiring for me. Seeing Stephanie on Oprah and watching her strength and kindness left me in awe. She inspired me before her accident, and now she just has me utterly amazed. I loved hearing about the energy in her house {warm, relaxed, peaceful}....in the midst of so much going on. It's what I aspire to have for my family.

I used to be more uptight about things. Now in an effort to create a happy and relaxed home, I want the corners to get beat up and kind of like seeing scratches in the wood floor. It means we're living and having fun. I spilled coffee all over my {expensive} leather handbag on Wednesday and didn't even care. What happy freedom.

Besides, with a happy little face like this one, nothing else really matters.

Have a beautiful weekend....

Lovely Days.

The weather Gods have returned and I now feel chilly when I step outside at night {hurray!}. My whole attitude changes with the weather. When it's not 110 degrees, I feel more energetic, happy and pleasant to those around me.

I've had a sick little boy the past few days and it's so hard to watch him not feel his best. He is always so happy and bright, so when he's not, it hurts me.

I'll be parked in front of my TV this afternoon {don't call me at 3pm} watching two of my favorite people. See here.

Clean Slate.

I like to think that when a new month starts that it's like a blank slate to make changes. In October I resolve to...

• Take nightly walks and enjoy being outside.

• Spend less time on the computer and more time playing with Harrison.

• Not go crazy eating Halloween candy.

• Start being on time {I'm so sick of racing around....}

• Call my grandfather more often.

• Ask my husband about his day.

• Less dreaming and more doing.

• Clean up the mess at the end of the day.

• Judge less and accept more.

• Make time to be creative.

• Regular deep breaths.

• Choose happy every day.

October, I'm sooo glad to see you.

It's going to be 89 degrees today and Harrison and I are having a picnic at the park.

What I Dream About...

My sweet friend Marissa, who lives in New England, sent me this amazing photo. It's a charming New England house with a big American flag hanging out front. It would make me so happy to be able to dress for Fall and to pull into this house at the end of the day.

I love to look at houses and make up stories about who lives there, and wonder what I'd be like if I lived there. I like the story for this house...

{I'm tired of Summer. Today it was 106 degrees. I'm longing for pumpkin pie, the smell of fire wood, using my crock pot and wearing cardigans.}

Balance.

Balance is a tricky thing these days. I find that when I'm out of it though, everything feels crazy. I always need "recharge" time and I usually take it late at night while everyone is asleep. Unfortunately babies don't like to sleep in, so that means I usually don't get adequate sleep. This carries into being tired the next day, and crossing my heart that I'm going to bed early, only to be lured into the peacefulness of night all over again.

J. took Harrison to a baseball game this afternoon and I find myself in a quiet house with Robinella & The CC String band playing on the stereo.

I haven't had the house to myself in months...it's heaven.