Sunday musings

I wish I could go back to this moment.  Everything about it.  My open smile at Spenser.  Us laughing.  Surrounded by friends.  The sun just getting to that perfect time of late afternoon going into evening.  The afternoon-evening light that comes with it.  The feeling of unending summer.  All the love and joy.  The freedom to run around and just be outside.

This photo just captures such a easy, relaxed moment brimming with love and happiness.  It's lightweight, simple, but perfect.  It's what I wish for and really what we all wish for.  I hope everyone can remember a time like that; pure and wonderful.

I guess I'm feeling pretty nostalgic tonight.  Do you ever do that with pictures-where it really creates a longing for feeling/time/event gone by?  I certainly like to look back and just smile over certain memories.  But tonight I want to be in that photo.  I want to be who I was at that time and be able to feel exactly what I felt.

Thank you summer 2013 for this precious gem.

Goodnight, and best wishes for the holiday tomorrow.
    

Monday Confessions

So here are some things to spice up your Monday morning...or not...maybe just some odd, slightly embarassing thoughts?

I like the movie 17 Again.  Yes, that's right: the one with Zac Efron.  I first saw it at a girls' night a few years ago.  We had watched a bunch of sad, sappy, depressing, bad movies (eek, sorry girls!) and then at three in the morning they decided to put in 17 Again.  I was sooo charmed! I was ready to give it an Oscar.  Afterwards, I decided my liking must have increased exponentially due to tiredness and lack of liking the other movies.  However just last Friday, a high school class I was subbing watched it at the end of the day and I realized I still very much liked the movie.  I didn't actually watch it (I had work to get done), but I could hear it and I still give it two thumbs up.  Also, how could you not be touched by this scene?

I wear my contacts longer than I'm supposed to...like a lot longer. :/

I could listen to this on repeat.  Can't you? Doesn't it get you dancing or at least a smile?

Now on the other hand...when I listen to this, I feel like this little guy.

Sometimes I can't decide if I'm a messy person or an organized person.  It's so strange, but I'm so much of either depending on the situation.

I think Bradley Cooper in American Hustle looks like Lindsay Buckingham back in the day.

Well, that's it for now.  Happy Monday!!

*picture found here

True Things

This is the card I bought the other day while in Galena.  When I looked at it, it was instant love.  It's by Brian Andreas whose work I adore.  I thought, "I'd want to frame this and hang it up!"  Other times while out, I've seen prints by various artists that I have the same feelings about.  However, Spenser isn't always there with me with me when I see these things so I don't get his opinion.  (I will say though that we both generally like anything a little quirky or out of the ordinary.)  Anyway, when I see something that I like, I buy the card form or smallest print.  I have no idea how Spens and I will decorate in the future, but that way I'll have a sample and all the artist info if he should like it too.

 

I also love many of Brian Andreas' other works, so I urge you to check them out!

the prettiest of yards

About a block from where I live, there is a little brown brick house with the most amazing yard.  The front yard is all flowers; tulips mainly.  Tucked between neatly mowed grass yards, it's just such a happy sight.  I'm absolutely in love with it.  I love yards that aren't just grass.  When I was in Urbana a year or so ago, I walked down a street where each and every house and yard was a plant-lover's delight.  I love houses like that.  I've never been one to be a real green thumb, but I'd like to grow more in the future.  I had always planned on having a small garden, but who knows?  Maybe I'll go full-out jungle like in Urbana.  Or maybe I'll walk out the front door into a thousand tulips each morning.  Who knows? ;)

Days of summer

I was driving today and saw this. Not only did it make me smile, but it also reminded me that summer is not too far off.  Warmer, longer days are ahead.  As are blue skies, cookouts, fireflies, and dogs who like to ride in trucks.  It all screams "summer!" to me, just like when I pulled up behind this truck this morning. 

 

Sometimes it's the funniest things that speak of changing seasons to me.

a "cute" story

Okay, so I just couldn't resist sharing this story:

 

I work part time as a teacher's aide.  This morning, the first graders were having what you see above^^ as a snack.  One of the little girls came up to me and asked me if I knew the name of them.  Each time I guessed she smiled wide (she was getting a kick out of me guessing) and answered with drawn out "nooooo".  The conversation went as follows:

 

"Miss Chelsea, do you know what these are called?"

"Clementines?"

"Nooo..."

"Oranges?"

"Nooo..."

"Tangerines?"

"Nooo..."

"Tangelos?"

"Noooooo..."

"Okay, I give up, what are they called?"

"CUTIES!"

Setting Up

This weekend, I'm setting up a garage sale.

And phew, garage sales are more work than one would imagine.

The sorting, the stacking, organizing, and pricing...

 

During all this, this little luna moth came to visit and I was charmed.

Doesn't take much to charm me, does it?

I think it was his beautiful shade of green.

Enjoying the little things in life.

happy weekend!

a note

I found this not too long after Spenser left this afternoon.

I've been caught....

I'll always love you, Dr. Pepper.

This Cream Soda thing is just a phase, I promise.

Made Me Smile

Last night, Liz and I went to go get free pie.

Look what I found when I got in her car!

That girl has got quite the Christmas cheer going on!

The lights wrap around the entire inside of her roof

and give off such a happy glow.