presenting: squid and whale

have a wonderful weekend!!

costume sneak peak

soooooo. we decided to scrap plans to go see noah and the whale tomorrow. i am too tired to spend 6 hours in the car. and i love making my hubby happy.

so we are going to go see the fabulous breathe, owl, breathe at the daac instead!

and with a poster like that, of course we had to make costumes, right???

(if all goes well, i'll post the finished product tonight!)

Do you still dress up for Halloween?

Thursday Sounds #3

 Guggenheim Grotto - Her Beautiful Ideas

 I love this song. And have I mentioned my love for stop motion???

(besides, this week has been rainy and work has been long, and this song is oh-so-sunny)

oh yeah, that's a new haircut for hubby.

he's so cute!

(gpoyw ya'all!)

Tandem Pillows

The past couple days have been exhausting. I've had conferences up the wazoo and more paperwork to do than my sanity will allow.

It's also been rainy and windy.

I come home and change into pjs and read. And cook. And craft. Just generally de-stress, ya know?

Here's the crafting result:

Tandem bikes have long been an inspiration for me - they represent togetherness and so many of the things hubby and I value in life, like taking time to enjoy the little things by traveling by car as little as possible.

I think they turned out pretty cute.

My Parents

these are my parents.

they have been married 26 years.

they recently returned from a trip to italy, where they stayed in a villa in the tuscan countryside (amazing, right?). they saw so many historic things and experienced unbelievable beauty. but the only story my really wanted to share with my brothers and i is this:

"Everywhere we went church bells were always chiming.  Every little village we visited had at least one huge cathedral, so the bells were always ringing.  I said to Jeff (my dad),  'I just love church bells, they are so romantic.'  He laughed and I kissed him.  From then on whenever we heard church bells we kissed. Well, while we were in the airport heading home he started getting a little testy with me.  So I just looked at him and said, 'I hear church bells.'  We both started laughing and he leaned down and kissed me. And everything was all better.  That's gonna be my slogan from now on.  Try it--it could be good for your marriages as well."

what advice.

i am so grateful that mattchew and i have such an enduring example of love.

My boots came in the mail today! Oh yay!

I really, really like them!

Oh, what a weekend!

We started the weekend off right - with a real gown up date!

Dinner at Rockwell's, a visit to the Art Museum, and then drinks at San Chez:

 (they set this on fire before making the drink - and there's a candied cinnamon stick to stir it with. yum!)

Saturday, I spent time with some important kiddos, then made homemade pizza with Brad and Steph!

yummy mess

And Sunday for relaxation! And a long walk with the puppy to look at all the colors:

also, a movie with cuddle time, and lots of crafting...

All in all, everything I hoped it'd be!

Soooo... how was your weekend?

Paper Banner

My best friend (long distance, too...tear) Angie finally received the package I sent her last week. Inside was the banner I made her:

(inspired by Gennie's Art Blog)

That means I can post my own sister banner:

So easy and colorful - and a great way to use the pictures from my vintage book collection!

Happy Weekend!

Wooo! Just got home from work! Time for my "It's the weekend" dance!!

I got stuck in really bad traffic on the way home - like semi jack-knifed over all lanes of the high-way bad. and while stuck, i had time to think of all the things i'm excited for this weekend.

like:

carving my mini pumpkins. harvest dinner with friends and then another with my parents. maybe sneaking in another zombie movie (warning: my new love. eek!). being with my handsome hubs and pup. enjoying the fall beauty.

and I get to spend some quality time with this guy:

it's going to be a great weekend!!

I want one of these:

Or all three. I think any of the FreyaArt prints would look perfect in our little place.

(By the way, what do you think of the new layout? I'm really trying to figure this whole blogger thing out.)

She & Him- Vol. 1

Found this cd in the car yesterday. So perfect for all the crazy driving I had to do for work, especially since NPR is still in the midst of it's fund drive (good cause, bad listening).

First off, I love myself some Zooey. Second, I love myself some M. Ward. Lastly, I love myself some good mid-century tunes.

Does it get any better?

(also her outfit in this video remind me of one of my favorite scenes of her in The Go-Getter (great movie, by the way))

What are you listening to these days?? I'm always up for suggestions!

Thumbs Up #3: Ode to Fall

Dear Fall:

You are my favorite season.

You bring new smells and colors. You remind me that beauty often lies in things winding down, not only beginning.

Also, I love cardigans. And colorful scarves. And not having to wear shorts and capris to survive.

Two words: spiced cider.

I love the idea of apple picking and pumpkin picking and hay rides.

And you gave me an excuse to carve pumpkins with my 2 year olds yesterday. Even if most of them were afraid to put their hands inside, or screamed when we lit the pumpkin, or gagged when handed a slimy seed.

Did I mention spiced cider??

And, because you're colder now, we can sleep in piles again! Which Mattchew and I love, of course.

Oh, and TV is better when you are around. And I get particularly crafty this time of year.

And it isn't snowing yet!!

In short, you are amazing. I love you, fall.

            

Laundry Day

>

One thing I've learned since getting married is that some things simply aren't a life of death matter.

Before the wedding, I had this idea of Matt and I living in an idyllic apartment - surrounded by our neatly hung photographs and brightly colored walls. I'd cook yummy healthy meals every night on our beautiful kitchen gadgets. And he'd never be out of socks and I'd always have ironed pants to wear to work.

Ha.

Although it took me a couple of months to stop stressing about the fact that our apartment wasn't spotless and that there are (almost) always dishes in the sink, I have gotten much better about it. 

Sometimes it's simply more important to spend a beautiful afternoon out with the puppy, enjoying one of the last warm, sunny days of fall. Because, quite frankly, the world won't end if I wear mismatched socks to work. And Matt will still love me (maybe even love me more!) if I don't make the bed every day. 

What an amazing realization.

So Excited For...

Saw this preview before Where The Wild Things Are. 

I love stop-motion. I love Bill Murray. and I love love Wes Anderson.

In short, I cannot wait to see it!

Three Months!

Hard to believe that we got married three months ago yesterday. This was printed in our program:

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love which any of us can convince ourselves we are. 

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."


Quote from Captain Corelli's Mandolin
St. Augustine


I loved the quote from the moment I read it, and it fit so well with our vows and the tree we planted. But it is now, after some time has passed, that I have begun to understand just what it means for Matt and I.


I am discovering new things about myself, and our relationship, each and every day. I am so thankful for the man I married and our little family. 

7 Reasons to Go See Where The Wild Things Are

7 Reasons

(matt and i are going on sunday)

Winslo's Birthday

Winslo turned one yesterday!

                                

So we visited the park to play with friends.

And run around (would you look at those crazy ears?!?).

Then we went home for some very dog friendly cake and ice cream.

Although the cake was nothing I'd ever eat, (a combo of peanut butter, carrots, vanilla, and other puppy friendly things) Winslo sure loved it.

                                       

And then Matt and I left for a while to let him sleep off his birthday fun.

Upon return, he proved to us that although he may have had a birthday, he is still very much a puppy. The small black pieces are bits of my bicycle helmet, which he spread about the living room. He also chewed up a hardcover book. Yup, still a puppy.

                                        

Well lovelies, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! I'll be back next week with some fabulous thrifting finds and (hopefully) some fall colors.

Favorite Sounds: Thursday

The First Days of Spring Official Trailer from charlie fink on Vimeo.

My favorite cd right now. I'd play it all the time if Mattchew didn't have such a crush on Kid Cudi. But, being the wonderful hubby he is, bought us tickets to see them on October 30 (even though there is a bottom 40 halloween party he has to miss). Best hubby ever?? I think so.

(Oh, and first birthday to our little pound puppy!)

Wednesday Morning Smile

Since I had the last two days off, this morning is really my Monday. And who doesn't want to smile on Monday (Wednesday) morning?

Plus, gotta love that T-Pain. I've made many a wonderful song using Matthew's iPhone and this magical app.

Look! Our wedding was blogged again!

This is always exciting for me, as I religiously followed way.too.many wedding blogs during the whole planning process. So when my wonderful, fabulous photographer sends me a link, I get all geeked and jumpy.

See our amazing photobooth here.

(of course, it also serves as a reminder that it's high time we ordered up some of our pics. we have gorgeous frames just dying to be filled!)

Yumminess!

Last night, the lovely Ally came over to make dinner with me!

We made one of our favorite dishes from our days living together, Curried Lentils with Sweet Potatoes. So flavorful. So warm. So filling! The perfect thing on a chilly fall evening.

Yum! We made Basmati Rice and drank Lemon Ginger Tea.

Afterward, we had lots of great conversation while making crafts (to be revealed later... oooo the suspense!)

Winslo especially loves his Auntie Ally - he likes to be as close as possible to her at all times.

What a great night... Ally, you are beautiful! I am so thankful for our friendship!

Share a Little Comfort

Boots

I've been casually looking for the perfect pair of brown wintery boots for a few years. On sunny Saturday, I wore a dress and tights, with a cute pair of flats. The result: FREEZING LEGS!! Thus, the time has come for me to take this search much more seriously. I need a pair of boots that are versatile and will last me several years. Here's what I've come up with:

1. Frye's Campus 14L - $282 at Zappos. Who can resist the history that is Frye boots? Then again, I know I can resist the price tag. And the overall chunkiness of the pair.
2. Born's Miriam - $180 at Born. I love the Motorcycle look of these - definitely channeling a little Sons of Anarchy. But would it look good with a skirt?
3. Blowfish Humvee - $83.90 at Zappos. Ooooo! Love the buttons on these guys - as well as the slouchy without being too slouchy look. Downside: made of fabric, maybe not the best choice for our rainy/snowy/generally full of precipitation winters. 
4. Chinese Laundry Park - 98.85 at Zappos. Cute, right? These boots have a bit of the motorcycle look without being to clunky. Also, gotta love the price tag!
5. Nine West - Fiddle - $109.50 at Piperlime. These are by far my favorite. I love the grommets that run up the side, and I love the color. I also love that Piperlime has free shipping!

So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite pair of boots you can recommend for me?? I'd really appreciate it...

(Also, this was my first attempt at using Adobe Illustrator, and while hubby was at work and everything! I'm excited to learn some cool tricks!)

Sick Day

Came home sick from school today. 

Maybe have the swine flu??

Most likely just bad headache + exhaustion + exposure to over 25 runny (but very cute) noses on a weekly basis. 

Makes me want a cup of chamomile tea and sunshine through the window while I rest. 

I'll take cuddling with puppy and rainy Michigan fall, though. And maybe one of these: 

Thank you hubby for showing me all things good, bad and ugly on the world wide web.

(Oh, and lil' old Grand Rapids made BBC yesterday. Oh yeah. We're awesome.)

My Boys

I am in love.

Craft Room Update

Finally hung up pictures and filled in my inspiration board. I love the Kennedy Portrait - Matt's Grandpa Johnson painted it years ago. Tackled the big bookshelf in the room, but it is definitely still a WIP. Unpacked three large boxes (yay!).

Also, worked on the beer cap table - didn't finish the last row because I ran out of caps that I liked (need to have a good balance of microbrews and lawnmower beers, right?). I'm digging the look of it.

Quite a productive afternoon, if I do say so myself.