You can dress me up, but can you take me out?

I came across these three beautiful dresses from Anthropologie (http://www.anthropologie.com/).  They are three very different styles, yet imagine all the places one could wear these fabulous pieces!  They are so pretty, I would probably wear them while cooking dinner or cleaning...wouldn't that be a sight!  The black dress with the strap over the shoulder I imagine wearing to a wedding or event.  The blue dress reminds me of something an updated June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver) would wear.  Perhaps it would be found on an episode of "Desperate Housewives"???  I LOVE THIS DRESS! (Greg, take note...thanks.)  The last dress (orange top) I would wear to work.  It seems absolutely appropriate for that venue, but it's one of those pieces where you can be working all day then go out for drinks after work and not have to worry about changing or being comfortable.  I am currently on the hunt for a few really cute summer dresses that I can take on my honeymoon.  So please leave comments with any suggestions!

Images from www.anthropologie.com

Feliciana Dress

Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress

Vestiges Dress

Time

It feels like every time I blink another week has gone by.  Forget that, another month!  It's truly amazing how time just goes by without you even knowing it.  The evolution that comes with time is extraordinary.  One second there's dinosaurs roaming the earth and the next Burj Khalifa, the tallest man made building (2,717 ft) in the world, is built. 

In less than 3 short months I will be a married woman.  Me!?!  A married woman...wow.  I say that with only good connotation.  It just is hard to believe that 24 years ago, I remember being 3 years old and chasing all the big kids, trying to keep up with them.  I also remember a nap time that consisted of Alli Mac and me sleeping on a piano bench...yes, this really happened.  What strange kids!  It's nice how at a time like this you look back and remember all those fond memories you had as a child.  I then look forward and think of all the fond memories that have yet to be made and I can't wait for them to happen!  Within these next few months lots of things need to be completed and finalized.  I am starting to feel the pressure, but I keep telling myself just to breath.  That's all I can do, well maybe cry out the stress then breath...that works too. 

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure." ~Oprah Winfrey

(Image from Roger Lascelle's Vintage Clocks)

Small space, big ideas

Greg and I are moving into a beautiful apartment up in Massachusetts, about 15 minutes north of Boston.  It is a big and bright place with a spot for a dining room!  First things first, we need a table!  I've found one I love at Crate & Barrel, however the price is not always right at that store.  The color of the wood is just so pretty!  Ideally, I would like to have a table with 2 chairs on one long side and a bench on the other long side.  The way the dining area is set up it allows for a bench to fit perfectly.  The look of the bench would just add a different feeling to the dining area.  It would make it a little more laid back, which is what I like.  I do not want it to feel all stuck up and hoity toity.  I am also loving the idea of putting a big mirror on the wall above the bench (this would be so much easier for you all to imagine if I had a picture of the area I was speaking of.  Soon enough.)  By putting the mirror on this one particular wall, it would make the dining room and living room seem endless!  And of course that is the feeling one would like to achieve in an apartment!  Lastly, I also love the idea of decorating the wall with tons of different pictures in all different types of frames!  What a focal piece and discussion topic.  So many ideas going through this head of mine...now just to find the money to do it all!  I will start small...that's the plan!  Enjoy your Thursday!   

Images from :

Crate and Barrel

Apartment Therapy 

Apartment Therapy 

HGTV  

Into the wild...

Sorry for the slight hiatus, but I was camping!  Yeah, me, camping...and no it was not a 3 star hotel instead of a 5 star one!  It was actually a really fun, relaxing time.  Although my back ached a little from sleeping on the ground, I truly had a wonderful getaway.  The weather was phenomenal, allowing for a perfect beach day on Saturday.  There were 9 of us between 2 tents, but you really never would have known and it was great just hanging out by the fire at night and playing some drinking games.  You can't go camping without drinking games!  Although, one might have learned things that they could have done without during a little game of "Never Have I Ever," it was a lot of fun.  I only kid though because that game will never  get old, no matter how old I am!  We had visits from the neighborly skunks, squirrels and birds.  It's amazing how the animals are so used to people being around that they will come right up to you to see if there is any food or crumbs.  It's kind of nice though being able to enjoy nature like that and hearing all the sounds of night.  However, please explain to me why your bug bites don't actually itch until at least 3 days later????  I look forward to planning another camping trip for this summer or maybe even the fall!  Who's in???? 

(image from Cath and Math Camping )

Light up the night!

I saw an amazing site last night while driving home from a delightful dinner with some great people.  Some of you will know the road, Terrys Plain Road with their big open fields.  It was dark out as I came through the stretch following the fields and the river.  I looked to my left and saw a deer jumping through the field, surrounded by millions of fireflies!  It was like the sky was sparkling. Just amazing!  I just wanted to share this really beautiful experience with you all and hopefully you have some similar experiences of wondrous moments you would like to share!  Leave comments with any story.

(Image from: The Mountains are Calling.™ ) 

A simple recipe that anyone will love!

BEER and BREAD...BEER BREAD!!  How can this go wrong?  I am going to prepare one of these delicious treats tomorrow night so I will take pictures of the final product to share!  This evening I will be heading over to my future brother-in-laws for a nice dinner with Greg's whole family...minus Greg :-(  therefore, I will not be home in time to prepare this absolutely marvelous bread.  I'm sure people have tried the Tastefully Simple brand (Tastefully Simple), but I have found a recipe that mimics theirs almost to a T (no pun intended, of course).  It will save you some money on ordering their mix.  Try it out and leave comments on how it comes out and if you like it!  Enjoy! Cheers!

Ingredients

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 3 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

 

In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and flour. Add beer and continue to mix, first using a wooden spoon, then your hands. Batter will be sticky. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan.

 

Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 for 60 minutes. The top will be crunchy, and the insides will be soft. Serve topped with butter or cheese spread.  (or sprinkle some chedder cheese on the top with about 5 minutes left in the baking process! YUM!)

(Recipe from AllRecipes)  
(Image from MyRecipes)  

 

A few nice thoughts to start off your week!

The Blues are creeping in...

It's one of these days at work where I just want to be left alone.  When it's time to leave at 5pm, I'm sure my spirits will rise a little, perhaps because I know the company I will keep tonight is splendid!  However, I do not look foward to Sunday, when I will not say "goodbye" to someone, but I will say "until next time" (which will be in a week, but that feels like an eternity!).  

On a side note:  I love this green chair!  

Grant Hamilton Polaroid
 

The beauty of a vase

I think a beautiful vase is a staple in any household.  A vase can light up a table in a second.  Alone or with flowers, a vase makes a statement about who you are and what your style is.  Do you own a beautiful vase?  If not, I'll buy you one as a gift one day!

Check out these vases on www.etsy.com

(Clockwise: Impressionist Landscape Hand Painted Original Art Glass Vase by marysworkshop

Hand Painted Miniature Vase by TalyGlassIsland 

Blue Hummingbird Bud Vase by bradgoodell )   

Dancing in the Rain

Do you ever have one of those dancing in the rain moments?  A moment where it seems like the world stops spinning and it's just you and your moment?  Share that moment if you feel compelled too.  Enjoy your weekend all!

Images from:

Man and Woman

Singing in the Rain

3 friends

I Heart U

I came across this photo on www.etsy.com and I just adore it!  The simplicity of telling someone you love them is amazing.  I am thinking of doing framed pictures above my bed instead of buying a headboard because the look of all the different frames and the different photos is going to give the bedroom an added spice.  It's something diverse and special instead of just a boring old brown or black headboard.  I think I am going to have to invest in this photo so that it can be the center frame.  Perhaps, something even better would be if I took the pictures of things that make Greg and I smile or make us feel warm and comfortable and then use those.  There would be that element of originality, which can never be faked.  Yet another project I am ready to embark on!  I HEART U ALL!

(This work of art was created by bethberg.  Check out her stuff at bethberg - www.etsy.com)  

The day is Tuesday, which is not Monday!

I love it when there is a long weekend and the work week starts on a Tuesday.  Getting up in the morning knowing it is not Monday makes it a little easier.  Granted, rolling out of bed is never easy, knowing there is only 4 more days until another weekend makes it better! 

What a jam packed weekend!  Greg and I traveled up to North Reading, Methuen, and Tewksbury, Massachusetts to look for places to live.  We found one that is absolutely breathtaking!  I walked in and instantly started arranging furniture and thinking about colors in my mind.  I think I put the cart before the horse sometimes so I quickly put the brakes on because reality set in.  Budgets, forecasting, costs, etc.  Luckily, we can afford it so that's a plus!  So, we will see what happens.  We do have some time to get everything settled so that takes a little stress off my shoulders. 

On the way home we stopped by my brother and sister-in-laws to say hi.  Natalie was so excited to see us.  She just melts my heart.  I learned that I stink at disciplining her because when she cries, I cry.  What a mess! I'm a mush for that child. 

Yesterday, Greg and I visited his parents and then enjoyed a nice picnic dinner with my parents.  We sat on the back porch because it was a beautiful night.  We have not eaten on the back porch in a long time as a family (minus my brother) so it was really nice.  It was the perfect ending to a long, well deserved, weekend.

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend and holiday!

God bless those men and women who have fought for our freedom in the past, currently and those who will fight in the future!  We thank you.

(Photo courtesy of The DC Traveler )