{one fine day}

Woke up early & went to the local greenhouse.....Yep...bought plants even though it is too early to

How could I resist...I just needed to make my outdoor space happy after a LONG, COLD winter! Oh those are the pillow I sewed this winter from material given to me!! I just love free stuff!!

Opened the pool...FINALLY! Who cares if we might still get below freezing!! Hopefully it won't happen~Got this super cute table at Kohls and I think it's perfect! Had to cut some daffodil blossoms to make it even more happy~

Made a nice dinner!! Ok...truthfully...I improvised a great meal! I went to the local grocery store and bought pre-made pasta salad and bruschetta topping and spruced it up a bit!! Oh and that's a soy riblet {in case you were wondering}!! And I am making the switch to white wines for the summer!! Any day with vino is a good day~

I think he's happy that he can finally relax! Poor guy...he just came home yesterday from a 2 week trip and I had him help me open the pool!! Must have tired the kitty out too!! Well that's not too hard to do...she's always pretty laid back! Finally I can relax!! I just love warm days!! I get so motivated I think I drive my husband nuts!! Good thing he loves me!!

Well... back to listening to frogs and my vino! Have a great evening~

{summer blues & whites}

Try as I might...I have great challenges moving away from creating in various shades of blue!! Most preferably aqua blue!

simpledaisy

It's ok though~I just can't help it...I completely love the way a simple white shirt can look so fabulous paired with a pop of blue!! I am a simple girl at heart and try as I might I never seem to get too involved in the trends of today!! Simple is best for me!! So that's the way I create jewelry...I think about what is simple and not too over the top but still a little girlie~

one, two, three

Well...I think you know by know that I also love ruffles!! I think they are so girlie without being over the top!! Oh and I never pay too much for my clothes! In fact, all of these fabulous white shirts are from nonother than Forever 21!!!! I know I have posted about that place before but I just love it!!

one, two, three

Don't get me wrong...I am not a total cheapskate...I do pay extra for certain things, just not clothes and especially white shirts! Let's see, within one season they usually end up with stained armpits {gross but true}, red wine stains, dirt stains {because i'm always in such a rush to plant my new plants that I don't change my clothes before I start diggin' in the dirt} and muddy paw prints!!

Oh and don't forget a super cute purse!! I definately like one of a kind things. And I sort of obsess over not having the same things that everyone else has, so I do shop a lot on etsy and that's where I found this little vintage gem!! My Sweetie Pie

So cute! OK well get out there and get yourself something new and cute!!! And remember to keep it simple....if you want to!!!!

"It's better not to expect approval from people, because you'll just be disappointed. You have to be who you are" Madonna

Have a great day~

{Happy Earth Day}

flickr

Even if your not a tree hugger sort of person you can still do a little something to celebrate the place we live!!!

Go outside and just look around at all the beauty the earth offers us....

Please don't litter....

Pick up random litter that you see along your travels....

Buy organic produce and enjoy it al fresco....

Turn off lights when not in use.....

Watch the surise or set....

Just simply be thankful that we have such a lovely place to live~

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Have a super great day and go out there and hug a tree...if you feel like it :)

{beach days}

Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL!! Finally, 70 and sunny!! So, I took a half day at work and picked up the dog and headed straight to the beach!! I have been wanting to get those photos done for the dining room!! Didn't happen, L.C. had other ideas, but we had fun anyways!!

I had to keep her on long lease b/c really it is a no pets beach..but I figured it was early enough in the year that we were safe but I didn't want to press our luck!!!
She was so excited to get to the water.....she loves to swim!!

I thought I would try and get a good picture of her...but she did everything expect look at me!! I think she was too excited to even stay focused!!I do like this one...It is so her...Ears back trying not to listen to me!!!

Finally we get down to the water and she is in pure bliss....

I didn't let her go in too far...b/c the water is only 36 degrees and I didn't want her to get to cold..but she did have a blast chasing the little waves!! I just love dogs....they really know how to appreciate the simple things in life!!

I even got to wear flip flops so I was super happy!

L.C. felt like the queen of the world after this day!! {oh and in case you're wondering, L.C. stands for last chance...we adopted her from the Humane Society and she was there so long that she on her way.......} We love her and think she is the best dog ever...I am glad we gave her a last chance!!!

Hope you have a super weekend!! And don't foget to appreciate the simple things in life....the best things in life are free......

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have" Frederick Keonig

{so true}

sarah gardner

{starfish}

I *heart* starfish~~
I think they are so beachy without being too shelly...does that make sense??

Fishbone Images
Anywho..
I have been using them quite a bit in my decorating and I just love how they look!!
A simple coffee table...
I don't like things too complicated~
Paired with a sand dollar~
One of the shelves next to the fireplace! I think a lone starfish is just so cute~
The mantle...I had these jars already and just painted a simple stripe of chalkboard paint on them and wrote words on each one!! I think they turned out cute~
Another shelf... I love using things you already have around the house and well...you know me and vino!! So I just used them to display cute little daisies and a starfish~
I also incorporated starfish into my simpledaisy jewely... although I haven't listed them yet~
What do you think???

Simple and cute~~~ Just how I love my jewelry!!

I also came across all kinds of cute starfish things while surfing the web...
L.O.V.E. this bag~

Olive and Bubby
A diffuser .... who doesn't need a diffuser...especially one with a starfish!!

Pottery Barn

I might just have to splurge on one or two of these charming pillows~Pottery Barn

~~The Starfish~~

Based on the story by Loren Eisley...

I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.
As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."
As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."
The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."
I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea.

Have a great week~

{it's a happy day}

Woke up early and spent the morning listening to music, drinking coffee and creating!!!!
The sun is shining and I am happy~

Stay tuned....I'll be adding these little pretties to my etsy shop soon!!!!
Such happy little colors~

Oh and on a side note~

I walk around the corner and just happen to look into our spare room and see my kitty happily laying on my treadmill!! Maybe that's what it's really supposed to be used for!!!!

ps. don't mind the floor...we just tore the carpet out and are getting ready to redo the room!!! Yippee~
Have a great day~~~

{switch it up}

Sometimes in life it is so easy to get stuck in a rut......lately I have really been thinking about this and have been on a sort of mission to...switch it up!!!
Yesterday was certainly not fun...snow on the ground and freezing cold....so I decided to make the best of it!!
Since I am on spring break I have more time to myself and one thing I love to do is make super yummy, healthy food!! I love everything about shopping around for the best ingrediants and taking the time to prepare it!!
I have had this meal swirling around in my head for awhile and just decided Monday night was the perfect night to make a fabulous meal and really take the time to enjoy it!!!
Here's my idea of a wonderful evening....sans TV!
First off....pour yourself a glass of wine~
There isn't much in my life that doesn't first start with a glass of vino! I just love it!
Next, light some candles...
Yes, even on a Monday night~

And actually sit at the table!! We haven't sat at this table since I
re-did the dining room!
Enjoy your view~

Yes, I would much rather be looking out at the ocean or palm trees but that's not my view! I did get to see a lot of bird activity though! Poor things they're probably freezing!

Slow down enough to actually make a delicious meal and truly enjoy it!!
Linger and enjoy the conversation~

This was so wonderful and so simple....

Salmon with tequila lime rub
Whole wheat pasta with fresh lemon juice, italian parsley, tomatoes, fresh asparagus and the most delicious fresh gouda cheese!!
Switch out the salmon for a T-bone steak for the husband!! But even he liked the pasta....Yeah, because it was so healthy!

Oh and I forgot .... always finish a wonderful meal with a small piece of dark chocolate! So yummy and it goes perfectly with the red vino!
I truly think happiness is all about choices and sometimes all you have to do is decide to switch it up!! Make a happy choice...life is much to short to not be happy! Even if it is SNOWING in April!

Bon Appetit~

"Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times." Anon.

{spring break}

Or at least I thought.....

I woke up this morning to this.....Seriously .... this is RIDICULOUS!!!! Is sprink ever going to get here??

I can't even find one happy thing about this image...

Even the ducks that make our pool their home are freezing!! I just told my husband...it's almost time to open the pool! Guess we better wait a while longer!! I had all these super great plans of all the things I wanted to accomplish while on spring break {i'm a teacher} but I don't even remotely feel inspired!!!

I would rather sit around and look at happy images like this....

Coastal Living

Coastal Living

I love gardening and can't wait to get out there and get my hands in the dirt!! How awesome would it be to have your garden on the water!!! Aahhh....Dreams!!

Well...I do have to say...in my "can't stand living here one more minute" decided on a whim to book a vacation to Key West for my Winter Break...I know it's a ways away but after summer at least i'll have something to look forward too!!!

southernmost on the beach
More to come in future posts~~~

southernmost on the beach

I definately don't want to wish time away...but I am so happy to have something to look forward too!! Hopefully {unless one of us were to lose a job} we can finally get back to our regular vacation schedule!!!!!! Anything to get through the cold, dreariness of living in the Midwest during the winter and what is SUPPOSED to be the spring!!!!!

Summer is beautiful here.....but is it EVER going to be summer?!?!