{nephew love}

I love spending time with my nephew! I always have the best time with him and I try to get him as much as I can! This time...he spent the night but I just wasn't up to my usual fun aunt Heather self!! I was down and out with a sinus infection...but I did troop on with just a little art! Oh and pizza~~ He is always so easy to please!!!!

Here he is enjoying pizza with uncle Jay!!! I know I should make him eat something healthier but hey....

I just love how he sits on his knees even though the chairs are more than high enough to the table for him!!

You know I am just thinking...please don't touch anything with your pizza fingers!

I asked him before I got him what he wanted to do...since aunt Heather was not feeling totally up to par and he chose marble painting!! This is so simple and he just loves it!! Fine by me~
I love how something so simple can be so much fun.....really makes you think that as adults we should find so much more fun in the simple things in life! Just spending time with people you love should be enough! Ok..fine...maybe a little music too!

Notice the sheet on the floor!!! I am just much to nervous that things will get out of hand and all over the place!! The funny thing is...it is never him that makes a mess..usually i'll walk in the paint or spill something and I end up making a mess!! Oh-well what's the creative process if you don't have a little mess somewhere?!?!
I made an impromtu display for his art!! He was so happy!!!

I just really enjoy how proud he is of his creations!! And I think they're pretty great too!!!

I love kids but I can say we are past having any of our own.....we love our freedom too much and really appreciate having a little extra change in our pockets!!! I appreciate my life just the way it is!!! But I do really enjoy when I get to have my nephew stay the night....it mixes things up just enough~

{yoga}

I have always been a rather fit type of person....what can I say I get bored easily!!! Over the years though my running has certainly slowed and I just am not what I used to be...but who is!!!
Well....as I told you in this post ...I am determined to get back into shape....but it has been MUCH slower than I anticipated...call it stress and 34!!!
Anywho...recently I thought I would make a major change and I took up yoga.....


flickrDefinately not me!!

Yes I would much rather practice my yoga on the beach BUT.....
I don't!!!
Honestly....
Yoga has never been on the top of my priority list..but then one day I gave it a chance and I was hooked!!
I run miles...I lift weights....I rode 50 miles on my bike and nothing has made me feel like yoga!!! I am just starting but I am for sure hooked and can't wait to see where it takes me!!!

flickr
Again....not me...

but more poses I am striving to achieve!! When I started 5 weeks ago I couldn't even put my heels of my feet down in a down dog....but NOW!!! i can!! yippee~~~
Seriously.... when I started my husband snickered and said....that looks easy...
Hey well give it a try, I said.......
One session and he couldn't keep up!!!
I am totally obesessed!! I am not going to give up on my other loves...mainly running and riding!! Thanks to Jamie my running has never been better {except when I was younger}!! Thanks for the interval tips over the winter!! I went out for my first spring run and rocked it!!! I can't wait for the autumn when we are riding in the 100 mile bicycle ride...but yoga is definately part of my life!! I think it's always great to expand one's mind into areas not explored before!! I find it completely relaxing and very spiritual!! Almost like a hike in nature~~~~~
I am so happy with taking a minute to explore new things to better my fitness!!! I can't wait {or maybe I can} wait to see how the 100 mile bike ride turns out for us!!!! It's always fun to have things to work towards and to have to look forwards too!! You never know where life has to take you!! And as one friend says "never say never"~~ So True!!!

I am so very thankful to have wonderful friends that have the kind of personalities that are not afraid to try new things!!! Like a crazy night at the BACKER......Michelle!!!!!!

So get out there and give something new a whirl.....

{enjoying a simple life}

Sometimes I think it is really important to slow down and just do something that makes you happy!! Recently we had a bit of really nice weather and I decided to make a delicious dinner on the grill!!!
I also talked my husband into sitting outside and taking in all the spring views while we enjoyed our dinner!!


Here is my dinner...blackened grilled salmon with fresh mango salsa, asparagus and a yummy salad with organic feta!! Oh and don't forget the wine~
I even put some candles and daisies on the table!!!

Here is my husbands dinner...mostly the same except for the steak and no wine...

A picture of my wonderful husband trying to enjoy my hairbrain ideas to eat outside when it is just above 50 degrees outside!!
Hey we live in the Midwest and you really have to make an effort to get outside any chance you get!!

I deflinately think you should have fresh flowers in your home at all times!! Daisies are my favorite and they just make me smile!!

A cute little chickadee enjoying his dinner~~I could watch birds for hours!

Our dog L.C. trying her best to look cute enough for a table scrap or two..

A beautiful sunset making it all worthwhile to sit outside and enjoy your dinner while being just a little bit chilly!!!
Sometimes in life I really think you have to get out there and make a real effort to do the things that truly make you happy!! For me being outside is where my heart is happiest....

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

{welcome spring}

After a LONG winter it is so nice that spring is officially here!! That's not to say we won't have anymore cold weather but at least we are moving ever closer to warm and sunny days!!

I love spring flowers and can't wait until I can actually see some color in my yard!!

lilacs

daffodil

tulips
Spring always gives me renewed energy and makes me think of the million things I want to do! It's the time of the year when I start a million little projects and never finish any of them. Drives my husband NUTS..but owell~~~
Here are a couple simple little things I might give a whirl this spring.....

amy butler
I have been sewing up a storm lately...but only pillows! I would really like to try my hand at something a little more challenging, like this cute apron, but I am not a person with a lot of patience......
But I do love all things Amy Butler and have been wanting to try one of her patterns for a long time~Maybe now is the time!!!!
Or I could try my hand at....

amy butler
I love these cute little wristlets and would love to try my hand at making one....

Spring is such a great time of the year because I get so inspired and motivated all over again and I just love that~~

Of course I love tropical cocktails, so I could give this one a try and to make it festive I might make these adorable little butterfly straws!!

one blue hawaii cocktail
two butterfly straws
Yummy~

Well I hope you are as happy as I am in the spring time!! I think it's a great time of the year and I hope all your spring projects go well and I hope I actually get around to mine!! HeeHee~~~~

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" Robin Williams

{happy spring sunday}

I really had good intentions of doing yard work all day...but then thoughts of the beach starting creeping into my mind as I was diligently raking out the beds in my yard and thinking of how warm and sunny it was....
Eventually I go inside to my husband and say "hey let's go to New Buffalo today" {Lake Michigan for those of you who might not know}...I don't think he was too too excited about this thought but I am persistant!!!
So..

I know it's not tropical...but it's all i've got!! And it's pretty!! That's my husband...he's super cute but I am still not sure he is convinced of what I have in mind!! but he does love me...and hey it was 9 years ago this St. Patty's day that we met...so...I think he feels a little like he should do anything I ask!!! Except help in the yard!! HaHa....

I first decide we should go to the beach..I have some photography thoughts in mind....even though I don't have my new camera yet...You can tell by the tree that it is clearly NOT summer here in the midwest...but it is still lovelyThe sky was simply sublime.......

Definately NOT warm and tropical...but lovely nontheless.....

We even climbed the beach stairs...I just love the view...even though it is only March...it was just beautiful!!

Sometimes....I think...I really want a new, super camera....then I take a fw photos on my ultra simple camera and I think to myself....hey...look at how lovely these images turn out...why spend $$$ on something you don't truely need.......but then I definatetly think...what would these look like with the proper equipment....... I tried to take our picture...but I guess ...not everything can turn out the way I want!! A little blurry...but happy!!!

I just love this beach and it is where I spend a lot of time in the summer!!!This seriously cracks me up.....anyone who knows me .... knows I am obsessed with jeeps..but even I would not have the top down on a day where the temperature only reached 58 degrees!!! You go Jeep owners....

After all that walkin' and talkin'....okay only 10 minutes..... we went to our favorite place to have a bite to eat and a cocktail!!!!

After the Dog.. I get a hair brain idea to go to Redamak's ...it was the place we went on our first date 9 years ago!!!

Now I see why we don't go there anymore....who serves beer like this??? If I want beer I want in a frosty mug...if I want wine I want it in a glass like that.......On our way home...we saw all these turkeys in a field...how awesome and can you see all the male turkeys have their back feathers up!! I thought that was really cool....because how many people actually take the time to look for nature while they are driving!!!

Hope you have a super happy week!!!

{cute spring jackets}

I love cute little jackets and here in the Midwest you have to wear them well into July!!!

I don't think one can have enough and during my recent "window" shopping escapade.....I found some really great ones~

anthropologie

Who doesn't love Anthropologie...a little out of my price range..but I do love their clothes and I really love this little trench~

J Crew

Definately my favorite jacket!!! I think the ruffles are just too cute! If it were a little more within my budget I would definately own this jacket! Maybe it will go on sale~

Charlotte Russe
A little 80's but super cute!! I think this would look great atop a simple tank top, maybe an aqua blue one!! And it's very affordable~

Just a little something to look forward to if spring EVER gets here!! The high was 25 degrees today.....brrr...even the sprouting daffodils are freezing!!

Have a great day.....

{happy little room}

Hands down...my favorite room in our home is the sunroom!! It really is only a 3 season room and here in the Midwest that means I don't get to be in there as much as i'd like too!! But a recent warm up allowed me to get out there and do a little sprucing!!!

I just love how bright and sunny this room is!!
There is even room for a happy little table to enjoy our dinner at!!

I made the beach letters by painting those cardboard letters from the craft store in various shades of aqua blue!!I love these grey lockers....my husband picked them up from a school that was going to throw them away...I think there perfect in this room! Plus my friends can all have a locker for their towels, etc. for summer hangouts by the pool!!!

I don't think I have a room in my home that doesn't have a chalkboard in it!! I love them... And a little dog bed or floor pillow that I sewed!!
A close up of the couch...I sewed those turquoise pillows out of $.97 bandanas from the craft store!!!! I think they are super cute!!!

This table is very special to me.....it was given to me by my grandma! She and my grandpa bought it for their 30th wedding anniversay...so it's pretty old and growing up we didn't do anything that didn't involve gathering around or crawling all over this table!! I am so proud to have it in my home now!!!!

These are the little stars that I showed you in this post. They were brown and now they are my favorite color!!!Cute little towels that really are just for looks!! I suppose if someone came over and used them I wouldn't really get upset...BUT!!!!!!!

OK..well hope you have a super favorite room that brings you happiness whenever you are in it!!! Take care and have a GREAT day~~~

{hysteria}

I just got the most exciting news......

Our super awesome friends {Michelle & Kenny} just called to ask what we are doing on 7/17....aah, nothing I said!! They said "do you want to go see Def Leppard?" and as Michelle says "is a frogs as* water tight?" YES........

They bought tickets for us to all go see Def Leppard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

allposters

Maybe my husband will let me get this giant wall mural for our living room....ha!!!!

Seriously.....

Anyone who even slightly knows me....knows I am obsessed with Def Leppard's music...I was a total 80's hair band teenager and now I get to see them along with Poison and Cheap Trick!!!!!!! Check out my post from my 80's party....Michelle totally nailed the 80's!!Def Leppard

Having awesome friends ROCKS.....We are going to have soooo much fun!!!!
I am already getting crazy excited!!!!! Have to go work on my perfect Def Leppard outfit!!!!!
Step inside, walk this way
You and me babe, Hey, hey!

Music is Love

{welcome March}

1. the robin is the one ..., 2. Spring/Summer (not sure which) is here!, 3. The Painted Lady III, 4. Red Dogwood, 5. rush (fl)hours !..., 6. Two lips on your ...... lips, 7. rush (fl)hours !..., 8. WHITE FLOWERS (DOGWOOD), 9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Daffodils

A little composition of all the things I look forward to in a Midwestern Spring!!!

It has been a very long, hard winter and I am more than ready to experience the sights, sounds and fragrance of spring!!!

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow" ~Proverb