Thursday, May 31, 2012

#photoadaymay Week 4+


I know it's Thursday & I usually do my weekly #photooftheday... posts on Monday, but I didn't want to wait until the following Monday to finish out May, so here I am today.  With 11 pictures :)

May has been good, but I'm ready for what lies ahead in June.  See you next week for the start of #photoofthedayjune!


+ Day 21 - where I stand {filing away}
+ Day 22 - pink {part of my closet}
+ Day 23 - technology {apply love}
+ Day 24 - something new {online purchases}


+ Day 25 - unusual {an empty sink}
+ Day 26 - 12 o'clock {Saturday shopping trip}
+ Day 27 - sweet {gummy bear}
+ Day 28 - weather {at least it's not raining today}


+ Day 29 - number {or nine}
+ Day 30 - my personality {in the form of bookcases full of pictures, books, & decor}
+ Day 31 - something beautiful {friendship with Kristi & Sherlai}

If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

May Catch-Up

I've had several posts drafted up for various things have have been going on in May, but seeing as it'll be June by the end of the week, I thought a bulleted post would be the best way to cover some big events that have happened.

*May is a popular month for birthdays in our family - my mom, Sam, and our niece Linnea all turned another year older this month.  Linnea's birthday was particularly special seeing as it was her first!  The last year has been so much fun mainly because we've gotten the chance to watch this little one grow & learn.  Every new little "wow" is like experiencing it for the first time yourself.  So fun!  For her birthday, we all showered her with love & gifts and watched her take in another first for her.


*May was also the month of our much anticipated family vacation!  Sam's family went in together & a condo in Sunriver for the weekend. It was something we've all talked about doing, but was made possible thanks to a killer deal from Sharing Spree.  We walked & biked the trails. Explored the touristy town. And enjoyed a delicious dinner out as a family. The only complaint that I heard was that everyone wished we had longer to stay, which I took as a sign of a good time.  I'm already crossing my fingers we can return again next year!





*We got a lot done in terms of flooring in May - about 90% done! In only a couple months, we have managed to tear out all the carpet + padding, prep the subfloor, and lay over 1,000 sq. feet of laminate flooring.  It hasn't been easy, but the outcome has definitely been worth it!  The look, the feel, the overall cleaner look - we love it!  Only the stairs to go...



Other details from the month can be found through my photo of the day posts {the one consistent here on this blog :)}.  Hopefully future happenings will be updated more timely, fingers crossed!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

#photoadaymay Week 3


This week was a fun one!  I got to see a friend + her kids {who live in Texas} thanks to modern technology.  I felt like I was able to catch up at work {at least for the time being}.  I baked something {which hasn't happened in a long time!}.  And we took a little vacation with Sam's family to beautiful Central Oregon {which deserves a post itself}!!!


+ Day 14 - grass {+ the awesome Sam mowing it}
+ Day 15 - love {technology + friends in TX}
+ Day 16 - what I'm reading {my never ending inbox}
+ Day 17 - snack


+ Day 18 - something I made {fresh banana bread}
+ Day 19 - a favorite place {best Mac & Cheese ever!}
+ Day 20 - something I can't live without {Sam by my side!}


If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Summer Staples


Summer has always been my favorite season. When I was younger, it meant no school and my birthday. And now that I'm older, it means beautiful weather & plenty of BBQ's. So when it comes to summer staples, I have 3 staples that keep me comfortable through the summer months.

First, I turn to my most favorite tank top - Anthropologie's Reversible Seamless Tank.  With a variety of colors to choose from, there is one to match any outfit.  Then throw in the ability to wear it either as a scoop neck or a v-neck and you've got two tops in one!


Second, during the hot days, you really shouldn't leave home without a bottle of water!  I know there are countless reusable bottles out there these days, but my current go-to is the Contigo water bottle, with it's pretty colors & a BPA-free option.


The last, but certainly not least, on my summer staple list would have to be sunscreen.  It's actually a more recent discovery for myself, but something I've learned is more important that I thought.  After seeing what un-sunscreened skin looks like after years of sun exposure, I have learned that it's always good to bring a bottle wherever you go.


So what are you summer staples?

Check out BlogHer's Life Well Lived page for more ideas and while you're there, enter to win an iPod touch!

Monday, May 14, 2012

#photoadaymay Week 2


May has been beautiful so far!  And I'm particularly smitten with this month because it holds quite a few birthdays of some of my favorite people.  This week, we celebrated Sam on Monday {the big 3-0} and then celebrated Linnea's first birthday on Saturday!  So happy both of these people were born :)  Throw in a some beautiful summer-like weather, time with family & friends, and I'm not sure we could have had a better week!


+ Day 7 - someone that inspires me {the birthday boy, Sam}
+ Day 8 - smell you adore {fresh cut grass}
+ Day 9 - something I do everyday {take my vitamins}


+ Day 10 - favorite word {WOW, thanks to Kristi}
+ Day 11 - kitchen
+ Day 12 - something that makes me happy {celebrating this rockstar!}
+ Day 13 - mom {favorite picture of us, June 2008}


If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

And the winner is...



Her entry was picked by the random number generator.  shopfreak, I've sent your email over to Ashley and she should be in touch with you soon about getting you your adorable new necklace!

Thank you to all who entered this giveaway!  It was fun getting to see what others had their eye on, which in turn made my wishlist just that much longer :)  And remember, if you're interested in purchasing anything, head over to Ashley's Stella & Dot site and shop away!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Happy 1st Birthday Linnea!

  

Happy Birthday to the little girl that stole 
our hearts* one year ago today! 


*And it doesn't look like we'll be getting them back anytime soon :)

Monday, May 7, 2012

#photoadaymay Week 1


Happy May!  This month is pretty busy, but I hope that I'll be able to share the happenings through this month's prompts.  With 4 months down, another one seems easy enough, right? :)


+ Day 1 - peace {flying home}
+ Day 2 - skyline
+ Day 3 - something I wore today {my computer glasses}
+ Day 4 - fun {make-you-own pizza night with Sam}


+ Day 5 - bird
+ Day 6 - you {+ my sweet, giggly niece}

If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

You Have No Idea #BHBC


Whenever I’m at the grocery store, I can’t help but take a peak at the celebrity gossip magazines.  Often the pictures on the covers are less than flattering, yet I still wonder about their high profile every day life and how much it probably differs from my own.  Which, more times than not, is completely false.  And I was proved wrong once again while reading Vanessa Williams’ memoir, “You Have No Idea”, an account of Vanessa’s life through both her &, her mother, Helen’s eyes.

Vanessa Williams was a celebrity name I had heard before, but didn’t know much more beyond her recent parts on Ugly Better & Desperate Housewives.  From her childhood, to Miss America scandal, to current day and everything in between, Vanessa and her mom reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly of growing up in the spotlight and how they tried to live as normal as possible.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was going to be reading about when I picked up the book, but actually enjoyed hearing about Vanessa’s trials & triumphs through the years.  Not only did I learn more about someone I may have judged on gossip alone, but I also realized that even if one is in the spotlight, they are still human and still experience the emotions & experiences that we “commoners” do as well.

To find out more about this book, check out BlogHer’s Book Club and even join in a few discussions.

While I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review, all opinions expressed above are my own.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

#photoadayapril Week 4


The last week of April is gone & we're already a few days into May - wow!  The prompts that April ended with seemed to be a little easier for me thanks to the little getaway I had visiting my mom.  It seemed that all of our "events" coordinated well with what I had to take a picture of {which makes things super easy, especially when you're on vacation}.

You know I'm already taking pictures for May, so stay tuned to for next week!


+ Day 23 - vegetables {dinner salad}
+ Day 24 - something I'm grateful for {kicking up my feet up after a long day}
+ Day 25 - looking down {@ our backyard}
+ Day 26 - black & white {one of my favorite Sam photos}


+ Day 27 - somewhere I went {to see my momma for a few days}
+ Day 28 - 1pm {pampering}
+ Day 29 - circle {hotel carpet}
+ Day 30 - something that makes me sad {leaving these two}


If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!