life lately (according to instagram)

Spring is here, and it feels like life is picking up...

like we're coming out of hibernation!

 

We've had lots of chances to hang out

with the hubs' family lately, which is a treat.

We've had some silly fun...playtime with our little niece

and a very relaxed night with our small group.

The longer we look for a house, the more I want 

to get a dog...which is a little dangerous.  :)

Lots of little joys lately too...like pretty fresh flowers 

& frivolous magazines about princesses.  (thanks, babe!)

Life's not perfect, but we certainly have 

plenty to be thankful for!

*instagram

evidence free

Labor day weekend was pretty perfect:

full of friends & family, plenty of fun little

 adventures, and so long and luxurious!

But here's the deal...since our trusty
camera is a little sick, we have no pictures
to show for our fun.  Total bummer.  :( 

So instead, here's a recap in words...
just so we have some evidence: 

{ Birthday }

I felt so loved all day on Friday -
calls, texts, dinner & ice cream
 with the hubs - and it was great! 

{ Mini-Mountain }

We took on a local "peak"
on Saturday morning, and enjoyed
pushing ourselves up as quickly
as possible.  (yay cardio!) 

{ Campus & Coffee } 

Our cousin just started at my
alma mater, so we hung out there
on Saturday afternoon.  We also got
delish coffee & wandered through
a random car show that we
happened upon.  Fun!

{ Fair }

We continued our annual tradition
and went to the Hopkington Fair,
which was as good as ever...plenty
of yummy food & lots to see!

{ BBQ }

Sunday afternoon we hung
out with friends and acted like
it's still summer...yard games, lots
of food on the grill, and a bonfire!

{ Hike #2 }

Monday morning we went to
check out another local spot,
and enjoyed a lazy little hike.
No cardio, but still pretty!

{ Apple Picking }

Hubs was craving fresh apples,
so we stopped and picked some
crisp macs and jonamacs on
Monday afternoon.  Very fall!

{ Family }
We wrapped up the weekend
with a relaxed family dinner.  It was
fun visiting with the hubs' parents!

*image

wedding day fun

This happy photo popped into

 my inbox this morning, reminding 

me again of how much fun we had

getting Miss Katie ready for her

big wedding day. :)

Hope you find something equally

happy for your Thursday!

happy wedding!

Today is the big day...my 

best friend is getting married!

I am so excited to celebrate

with you, and wish you a day 

filled to the brim with joy 

and all good things!

Congratulations!

happy list

1. Sunshine.
 There's nothing like a bright,
sunny skies to lift my spirits! 

2.  Interesting art.
Loving this clever and beautiful
take on postage stamps.

3.  Morning gym dates.
Good conversation and company
makes for a good start to the day.
(Oh, and the actual working
out part isn't bad either...)

4.  Good music.
I switched out cds in my car
this morning, and re-discovered
this gem of a song.  Wonderful.

5.  Vacation countdown.
We leave for warmer places in about
two weeks, and we're currently
obsessing about packing and
other fun things.  :)


*cuteness

wedding bliss

On Christmas Eve morning, 

this sweet girl married this wonderful guy.

The ceremony was lovely - full of tender

love, sweet gazes, a few laughs - and all bathed

in bright morning sunshine.  Perfection!

The pretty handmade background made for

fun group & couple pictures.  (totally dorky

but fun...admit it, you've done it too!)

The reception was cozy - like going to a happy 

family gathering.  And while the food was amazing 

(best french toast of my life), their cake took 

the prize for most fun food at this party.  

 

Who doesn't love pancakes!?

Happy marriage, my friends!  We're so happy 

for you, and can't wait to see what 

wonderful things married life holds for you!

turkey soup magic.

Thanks to Inbetweenus (a little made up holiday we

like to celebrate each year with our friends), there was

some leftover turkey lurking in my fridge.  So yesterday 

morning I pulled it out, tossed it in the crockpot with 

whatever veggies I could find, and left for work.  

 

Now is it just me, or do crockpots seem like magic?  

Because when I came home, my entire house

smelled amazing, and there was a delicious soup

ready for dinner.  Ready.  As in sit down at the table

two minutes after walking in the door ready.  

 

It's magic, I'm telling you.  

 

 

*image

happy things

Because it's Friday and the sun is shining,

a happy list seems appropriate...

1. Apple Streusel French Toast.

Oh my lands, this stuff was good! 

Thank you, Cracker Barrel for clogging

my arteries & making my morning.

2. New Friendships.

I've been enjoying getting to know some

pretty fabulous ladies over these last few

months.  New friends are the best!

3.  Dark Nails.

I'm loving dramatic dark tones for 

fall nails...right now, a luscious purple.

(Or how about this lovely deep red?)

4. Maine + Family = Happiness.

We're heading home to visit my family

for the weekend, which is always lovely.

I love relaxing and catching up on all

the good stuff happening at home!

*image

another wedding weekend

Another sweet couple in our circle of friends is 

getting married tomorrow, and since my handsome

hubs is part of the wedding party, we have a whole

weekend of fun wedding events planned.

I'm especially looking forward to...

- seeing the groom cry (so sweet)

- first dances and happy toasts 

- seeing my man look studly in his tux

- dancing the night away with friends

- crashing on the couch when it's all done!

Happy weekend, my friends.

*image

Slam Poetry

  In honor of attending my first Poetry Slam

last night, I thought I'd share the incredible 

piece written & performed by our dear friend

Josh for our wedding back in April.

WEDDING SLAM FOR MARK & AMANDA
I never thought I'd be a spectator at this art show.
I didn't know that Mark's Head Coach's playbook was painted Amanda.
That when God blended her husband's hues his heart bled Boston green.
His lean physique was lost in play-making on the Pulse court, 

scoring fruit by the basket.
He was asking for co-captain and got a work of art.
Her eyes dart across a room and like the Painter 

she envisions what loveliness could be.
She sees a star who serves like a Living Waterboy.
He sees a palette of passion reds and fashion threads,
A yellow curled ardent girl who heads blue soirees

and white middays at the yard sale.
I failed to predict the oneness of the artist and the athlete.
But now I see the kinetic beauty of this one flesh.
One sets the pick SL the other can roll.
One stays unseen so relief is more bold.
The odds favor this rookie masterpiece.
I think you'll play fine.
Just color your dreams inside parallel lines.
Find creative ways to keep smiles indelible despite uncertainty.
Frame your lives with eternity.
Permit each other to brighten your black with Jesus' pigment.
The perfect spouse is a figment of idle imaginations.
So after today's congratulations,
You must never question this decision.
Doing so is sinful derision and your commitment is already made.
Don't let it fade in the direct UV of "me" and "my way."
Ball hogs don't get a lot of play.
Pass the rock as often as you can 

and demand only face time with the Portrait-er.
Remember that you were commissioned for a purpose.
Together pound the hardwood surface 

until the roaring cloud of witnesses resounds with,
"Well done good and faithful forwards."
All your fans from courtside seats to nice box suites begin to scream.
The Painter-Coach enjoins his technicolor dreamteam.
Today the whistle blows.
Game on.

*photo by Matthew Lomanno

happy things

 1. Gorgeous day.

It's one of those clear, sunshiney

summer days that slyly hints of

the crisp fall to come.  Glorious!

2. Breakfast chats.

I got to start off my day by hanging

out with one of my lovelies.  I adore

our time together, and always come away

encouraged by her heart & friendship.

3. The hubs.

Doing life with my best friend is so 

fun.  We've been enjoying our summer

evenings with lots of grilling, walking, 

swimming...and ice cream, of course!

4. Cake stand cuteness.

Another of my lovelies just gave

us the most adorable cake stand as

a wedding present...and I'm so

excited to go home and frost a cake

tonight just so I can use it!

5. Worship music.

Thanks to the magic of Pandora, 

I've been enjoying a great mix of tunes 

at my desk.  On stressful or super 

busy days, it makes all the difference

in my perspective and attitude!

*image

well look at that!

Check it out!  The ever lovely

Miss Ab featured us on her

blog yesterday, as part of her

sweet Valentine's series.

If you don't read her blog yet,

you should.  I love her insights, 

sense of humor, and killer fashion 

sense.  She's one of my faves :)

girlfriends

I love this picture, because there's really nothing
like girlfriends.  They always know how to
gush & giggle (or cry) with you, their opinions
on clothing choices are invaluable, and no matter

what season of life we find ourselves in, 

they are always there.  You know who you 

are, and I love you, girls.  

*via

a happy list!

Things making me smile today:

1 - Beautiful and ridiculously generous
anniversary gifts from the handsome man.
I am so loved and spoiled.

2 - Warm tea and these warm words on
such a cold day.  (Warning - you might 
want a tissue handy if you read this.)

3 - It's finally Friday.  Need I say more?

4 - Loads of fun plans for the weekend:
the parentals & sister are coming,
wedding dress shopping with bridesmaids,
plus a giant Christmas feast with family!

5 - I'm still full from our Inbetweenus feast
last night.  Kudos to our little group who
cooked an entire turkey dinner and kept us
laughing all evening long.



Hope you find some happy things along
the way today too!

the fair is a fair...

 

We're going to the fair this weekend

with a bunch of our lovely

church peoples, and I'm so 

looking forward to a fun fall day

with lots of food and farm animals!

*image

i love my friends.

Last night we stayed up all night
(or took naps in some form or another)
while watching all three of these movies...

And afterwards?
Definitely did a fabulous IHOP run
this morning for lots of coffee & pancakes...

I love my people!

lunch date.

I just had the most delightful lunch
with this fabulous girl.

We ate yummy food together,
shopped for cheery fabrics,
and had some fun girl talk -
everything you could want in a lunch date!

I love my girlfriends -
they are the best!


*photo editing via picnik

girls

One of our SAC favorites is graduating and
heading off for great new adventures,
which is sad and exciting all at the same time.

When thinking about her imminent departure,
Twin and I came to the logical conclusion that an evening
of food and laughter would be the best solution.

It was.

And let me tell you, we should all eat sherbet more often.
The world would be a better place.


*photo editing via picnik

another good quote

When talking with a few of my closest girls this weekend, I shared this quote - and thought it was good enough to share here too.

Sometimes it's easy to assume that tears are the wrong response, and try to stop them too quickly, isn't it?

After all, what does it mean to rejoice/mourn with those who are rejoicing/mourning?

I know, big questions for a Tuesday morning...any thoughts?


*image via tumblr

weekend

Lots of relaxing this weekend, folks. And it's been wonderful.

I slept nice and late yesterday, then Twin and I made the most delish french toast and watched 500 Days of Summer.



Holy cute, amazing movie. I loved the characters, adored the music, and laughed my way through the entire thing.

(Can I please be Zooey Deschanel? Or at least have her wardrobe?)



Then we got to hang out with a few of our favorite girlies - because what could be better than girl time on a rainy weekend evening?

We ate lots more yummy food (including this cheesy wonder) and watched Bride & Prejudice.

And no, that's not a typo. If you haven't seen it, it's a Bollywood style Pride & Prejudice story, full of dancing and Indian culture and incredible cheesiness.

Watch it and giggle - you won't be sorry.



Then, because we hadn't had our fill of tv yet, Twin and I finished Season 4 of Criminal Minds this afternoon.

(Yes, I know...it's another cop show. But you know what, we really like them!)

Hope your weekend has been full of good things too!