adele.

Can I please see her live already???

happy happy, joy joy.

Flowers make me happy.  I mean, I guess that's not really an unusual statement.  They are beautiful, smell good, and are always so bright and cheery. (If only I could be like that all the time...)  And the first sign of these blooms is the first indication that spring is coming.  And THAT, my friends, is good news.  When you come from St. Louis, any signs of spring coming, of life blooming all around, is long overdue.  And I am one of those people who dreams of having a big, blooming garden one day where I can try my go at creating beautiful things.  But until then, I'll just have to daydream with some pictures...

Farmers Market in New York filled with my favorite- peonies.

lots and lots of fresh peonies...

Ok, and here are some pictures that may just knock your socks off. In Holland, they have these things called Tulip Farms. (pause) Yes, Tulip Farms. When I saw these pictures I was in awe.  I can't even imagine how beautiful this would be to visit in person.  

Like, Whaaaat?!

can you imagine seeing this view from an airplane?

ba.nan.as.

Yes, God is GOOD.

So beautiful. 

Garden roses- another favorite

and my third favorite- ranunculus :)

Yes, they make me verrrry happy.

And here's my last few pictures. They are of the beautiful bouquet Becky Huffman created for my wedding last August and make me the most happy.  When I saw them on that day, I fell in love. And of course I requested ranunculus and garden roses... bonus! 

Photos by Duston Todd

yes please.

I want to go here:

That is all.

deja' vu.

I used to keep a diary when I was a kid.  

And, I hate to say it, but that poor little red diary covered in little white flowers was what the diary community might call "a victim of neglect."

The poor little guy became accustomed to a few entries scribbled down for a week, getting crammed into my nightstand and not seeing the light of day until a couple of months later, when the cycle would begin again.  

I mean, don't get me wrong.  I don't neglect everything.  Take my pup Ellie.  She is the most spoiled little honey bunches of oats on the planet.  Just ask her little fat belly filled with treats whether or not it feels overlooked.  And my clothes.  Yes, my clothes.   I will just come out and say it,  I am addicted to doing laundry. I frequent the apartment washer and dryer like it's going out of style.  And I'm pretty sure my neighbors love me for it. 

But keeping up with things like a diary was never my strong point.  And I remember, on those occasional days I so happened to clean my room (with much prodding from my wonderful, patient mother), I would find that sweet floral diary filled with daily ramblings and my heart would go out to it.  I would open it up, look at the last entry date, and feel a tugging sense of despair.  Almost every opening line read, "Dear Diary, So sorry I haven't written in so long!" Followed with some excuse about how my pre- adolescent life was just so busy.

(Oh, if only Michael J. Fox and his DeLorean could have given me a glimpse into what college was going to be like...)

Then, many many years after receiving that darling diary, I started blogging. And guess what.... 

"Dear Blog, 

So sorry I haven't written in so long!"

But this time, I don't really have an excuse.

All I can say is that now, when I open that precious little diary, I am so grateful for the entries I did write.  Yes, I wish I would have written more, but that doesn't matter now.  What matters is the emotions that pour out when I begin to read each penned line.  The laughter, the memories, the tears.  

And that's exactly how I feel about my blog.  It's just fun to go back, after a bit of life has gone by, and read my daily musings.  In the end, what really matters, is that it is an outlet I can go to whenever I am needing to just jot down my thoughts.  And for that, I am thankful.

sixties love.

So for my Forecasting class, my group had to evaluate and describe the 1960s in relation to trends and issues during this decade.  And I have to say, I became rather fascinated with this time in history.  Not only is it the decade my mama was born (shout out!), but it marked a shift in the country's traditional ideals and an encouragement to actively pursue freedom in expression.  Known as the "youthquake" by the 1965 January issue of Vogue, which had just been taken over by Diana Vreeland at the time, the young people of the generation were finally finding their voice.  As I looked through photographs of this decade gone by, I couldn't help but find myself intrigued by the 1960's woman.  All the ladies staring back at me had an utter coolness about them.  And not only that, but were starting to become rather rebellious and experimental in their fashion choices.  I mean, any brunette ballsy enough to wear all bright yellow with red tights and an orange beret is a winner in my book.

seriously slacking.

So I have seriously, SERIOUSLY been neglecting my poor little blog.  With the holidays and traveling, I just never made the time for it.  But we have kissed and made up and now I am ready to post again!

Lately, especially after spending time with our great families over the holidays, I have been dreaming of the one day when we will have our own little family unit and our own little home.  I have taken a slight obsession to home improvement and decor blogs in the midst of my dreaming of one day getting to take on a house of our own.  And with my sister and her hubby in the process of finding their first home, it makes me even more excited for that possibility and for the idea that that will be Erik and I one day.

So here are some seriously swoon-worthy images that I have been obsessing over...

 

Some intense beautifulness going on up there.  And I think I have been on a kick for a light, airy, and soft aesthetic because I am so excited for it to be warm again.  I want there to be a summer breeze flowing through out windows- not an arctic storm going on all around the country!  All I can say is that I can't wait for the day that we have our own house that we call our own.  That will be a happy day.  And also a family to fill that future baby up.  But at the same time, I am so happy with where we are now.  We have a pretty amazing life and we get to do it all together.  How much better could it get?