the first ice cream date of the year.

The other day the ice cream stand in our little town opened. Those of you who know me or have been a reader for a while know two things. a) I love ice cream and b) walking to the ice cream stand is my number one favorite warm weather activity. In the future it may also be the number one reason we don't move.

When Tyler got home from work I had dinner all ready in hopes that he would take a walk down to get the first ice cream cone of the season with me. He really didn't have a choice. He knew that.

The sun was still out and there were fresh sprinkles. Two of my favorite things.

Have I mentioned I love my this town of mine?! I do I do.

Here's to a whole entire summer of ice cream cones and a wonderful weekend!

lunch date and blossoms

Last week I had a moment to meet my sweet friend for a quick lunch and tour her new home. The weather was absolutely beautiful and all of the trees were blossoming, which made walking a few short blocks for lunch quite perfect! I love this time of year and wish it lasted a bit longer. Those flowers are always so fragile, it's hard to keep them around too long. Especially in Ohio.

We had lunch at one of my favorite local spots, Aladdins, which serves the BEST hummus. Seriously. The best. It's good on top of everything really. We sat outside like it was June and talked, enjoying the sunshine. If it was up to me, every meal would be eaten outside. It's the only way to do it. :) 

It was really such a nice afternoon. I'm so glad I have these moments right now in my schedule to make time for spontaneous lunch dates and walks outside. Makes me so happy!

Have a beauuuuuuutiful Wednesday!
<3

things that are awesome//sunday evening

//all of the birthdays I've gotten to celebrate this month. so much cake. so much fun. 

//walking dead season finale. ohmyword. 

//call me maybe. 

//the beautiful summery weather that we had last week and all of the skirts and tee shirts I wore. And flip flops. 

//fresh salads. 

//filling up an entire row at the movie theater for The Hunger Games Friday night. Great movie, great friends. 

//popsicles

//starting a new book. 

//meeting a friend for lunch and eating outside. 

//naps

//weekends. they are my favorite. 

<3to you. 

mad for mad men

With the new season of Mad Men starting tonight (Eeeiiiiii!!!!) I got out my Mad Men fashion book earlier in the week for some inspiration. And because the photos are pretty awesome.
My sister got The Fashion File for me for my birthday two summers ago because she knows I'm a fanatic and it's held it's own on my bookshelf ever since. A lot of great fashion advice from the costume designer on the show, featuring the leading ladies (and men) of Mad Men, as well as various other starlets of the time. There is even a cocktail checklist! Just in case.
If you're a fan of fashion...or more specifically Mad Men, I suggest you check this lovely little book out. It's a lot of fun. :)

the barn

Tyler took me to The Barn a few nights ago to celebrate my "feeling better". It's one of our most favorite places to eat, with real home cooked food and sweet ducks swimming in the pond. Not to mention, you get to eat in an actual barn and there is a salad wagon. Wagon! Oh my. And a buffet in the bottom level too, just so you know.
Tyler loves to sit in the dining room so he can admire the curved beams and lanterns hanging....if we're lucky we even get a table by the large windows overlooking the pond.
And the best part? It's only a fifteen minute scenic drive through the country from our house. Love. 

mornings

Lately, I've really been enjoying my mornings at home. I had the terrible (but wonderful) habit of sleeping in for a long time but it seems the last few months I've had a harder and harder time sleeping past eight, let alone nine.
One of my favorite things to do after I've let the doggies outside to play is sit on the couch next to the window and read something. Anything. Preferably something that does not involve a lighted screen.
I've also been a big fan of seedless cucumbers and italian dressing with cheese lately too.
This week I've spent my mornings reading A Year of Mornings by Stephanie Congdon Barnes and Maria Alexandra Vettese. If you haven't heard of these women or this book, you can read more here. I love photography and these women do not disappoint. I can't wait to pick up A Year of Evenings next. Such wonderful inspiration when it comes to capturing daily life.

growing

I think we can safely say that Spring is here. As I walked around my yard this morning I couldn't help but notice all of the green popping up everywhere. Or the large amounts of moss we have growing on our trees. And flower bed dividers. 

But I really don't mind at all because it means more days of sunshine and light are ahead. More days with flowers blooming and most importantly, that the ice cream stand in my town should be opening soon. Yesterday they put out the picnic tables. I almost jumped for joy! This is exciting news. 

Was it St. Patrick's Day this weekend? I nearly forgot. Husband and I spent a lot of time lying low this weekend, enjoying the sunshine and finishing up a little home renovation project. We're moving my bookshelves downstairs and are going to be sharing an "office". Im excited for this, it means walls of bookshelves and not having to yell down the stairs every time something goes wrong with my computer. 

It also means taking all of my books off of the shelves and hoping they stay in order so I don't have to sort and alphabetize them again. 

Who am I kidding. I love that stuff. :) 

Here's to a great week! <3

spring wishes

1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//9

Okay, wow. It has been a *long* time since I've posted anything. Ill try to be honest and say it's all my husband's fault, for rewiring our basement and thus not having any internet. Don't ask me how those two things are related, I do not know. 

But if I'm going to be TRULY honest, it's because I'm apparently a hundred years old and it takes me forever to recover from being sick. Seriously. I have had NO energy. 

BUT guess what? 

The sun is shining and the weather is gorgeous and sometime while I was asleep on the couch winter left and spring came to visit....and then left and now its summer? And 70? I'm so confused. 

But nonetheless, I'm happy for the sunshine and the flowers that are starting to bloom. And happy I can retire my sweaters for prettier attire. 

Thus, I give you....my spring wish list. 

Wish being the operative word. Though I might be able to swing those pink pants, since Target is really only a short drive from my house....

Happy Weekend friends! 

sick days

 Unfortunately I've been more than a little under the weather the last two weeks and have spent quite a bit of time on the couch. Wearing pajamas. And drinking copious amounts of Gatorade. I'm not actually sure if I'll ever be able to drink it again honestly. 

Luckily, I've had sweetest husband look after me while he was home on vacation last week. Seriously. He even did my house chores! While putting in a new floor in our office! And took care of me while I was probably the least prettiest I've ever been....hello hospital trip and dehydration. Mew. That is not a road I'd like to go down anytime soon again. Ever. I definitely owe him big time. I might even watch Family Guy with him for a whole week. Maybe. :) 

I've also been blessed with friends who  have dropped by to just sit with me or bring me a bag of my favorite things including a coloring book!!!! and a pretty new nail polish from my sister that went with my jammies quite nicely. Cause we all know a girl's gotta be on her a-game at all times. :) And I can't forget my mom and dad, who made us an entire "mini Thanksgiving dinner" last week. And then stopped by to stock our freezer with ice cream a few days later. 

Seriously, if this being sick thing wasn't so horrible I might actually be enjoying myself! :) Hopefully Ill be feeling more like myself soon. Because as much as I love reading and watching movies, napping or catching up on messages from church, I kind of miss the real world. And wearing a bra. It's been a while.

:)