Divine Imperfections

Project Life: Take Two

 

 

Last year I decided to tackle Project Life for the first time.

I’ve been scrapbooking seriously since 2002 (yes I’m that old, and that nerdy), but I inadvertently took a few years off to deal with moves, and planning a wedding, and then adjusting to life as a married woman (who could no longer live on cereal alone).

 

While I learned to cook, and work-from-home, and find my way around the metroplex my lovely (hoarded) scrapbooking supplies went mostly untouched. And as a result a lot of personal stories went untold.

 

It was no way to live my life.

 (Oh, you know what I mean.)

 

Enter #ProjectLife. It’s a so-called simplified scrapbooking system, in which people use page protectors to store photos and journaling. It’s mean to be a quick way to preserve memories.

 

I was super excited to give it a try.

And then I got started.

 

The first few weeks I overthought every little thing, confused at the idea of mixing elements in divided page protectors.

 

Having gotten used to the gigantic canvas that is a 12x12 piece of cardstock, it felt unnatural and weird trying to limit my decorations and journaling to tiny 4x6 (or 3x4!) cards.

  

January and February from last year remain unfinished notes about what photos to print and put where. 

But, by March, I had started to get the hang of things. And actually completed several weeks worth of layouts.

 

 

Then things got busy, and my layouts starting getting less… completed.

I still have weeks and weeks of partially filled pages from 2013.

 And do not get me started on the “ephemera.” Oh. The. Ephemera.

 

 

Business cards and grocery lists. Band stickers and folded shopping bags. Things saved with the intention of placing them neatly in my album.

They’re now a mess of unsorted, unused “junk” to most people. But to me they represent stories still waiting to be told.

 Memories I intended to capture, before my overly-ambitious plans got the better of me.

 
What a mess. What an unfinished mess.

 

 

Honestly, I’m a natural scrapbooker. (And hoarder, but that’s a story for another day.)

I love taking photos. I love writing, telling stories.

I love playing with stickers. And colors. And patterns. And glue dots.

 

That's precisely why scrapbooking was such a great creative outlet for me.

So it surprised me that I really struggled to find my groove with Project Life.

 

I just couldn’t find my scrapping mojo (it’s a real thing!). And it started to really get me down. 

When the new year started approaching that unfinished album of mine taunted me more and more.

 

And seeing it so disappointingly incomplete left me with a lot of questions to consider.

  

Do I even do Project Life again?

 

If so, do I change my approach?

 

Do I keep collecting stuff?

 

Do I go to a smaller album size?

 

Do I go back to traditional scrapbooking?

 

Do I try to do them both?

 

Or go digital?

 

Or do I give it up altogether?

 

 

Does this hobby I once loved have a place in my new life?

 

Is it worth the trouble?

 

Can it be fun again?

 

 

 

I think the decision I’ve come to is that it’s time to get back to the root of what I loved about this hobby in the first place.

 

I loved telling stories, through pictures and words (and stickers!).

I loved creating things with my hands, albums that I could treasure (and share with my family) for years to come.

 

 

It wasn’t about capturing every detail of every day, but telling the stories that should be retold.

It was about fully experiencing my life, with gratitude and awareness. Then preserving the highlights for future generations (or a forgetful, older version of me).

 

Mostly, though, it was about having fun doing it!!!

 

I loved scrapbooking.

And I really think I can love it again.

I just can't tackle this project - Project Life - like I did last year.

 

I can't have another year of jumbled receipts and clothing tags, and incomplete layouts.

I can't have hours of stressing over design ideas, instead of simply telling the stories I want to tell. 

 

Last year I spent so much time perusing Pinterest for ideas about how to tackle Project Life that I lost sight of what I was really trying to do.

This year I don’t want to worry about trends, or techniques. I want to get back to the basics. 

I want to create a scrapbook I can be proud of, one that’s completed. That’s really important to me.

 

And I want it to accurately tell the story of our life. Notsomuch what we ate for lunch each day, but what passions we were pursuing, and what new adventures we were taking.

I want to celebrate the little things that make our life special, and document the daily things we’re doing to grow, and learn, and love each other more.

 

 

I also want to enjoy creating again.

And I know, to do that, whatever I make must come from the heart.

 

Inspiration is great, but it shouldn’t drive my every move.

 

Art is about trusting one’s own instincts.

And I’ve got to let mine have some say again.

 

  

This year I’m tackling Project Life again, but not because it's trending. Or supposedly simple. Or quick.

This year I'm trying it because I think it’s the best vehicle for telling the stories I want to tell.

 

Little ones. Big ones. 

Everyday. Extraordinary.

 

Stories that are ours. 

Stories that are us.

 

That’s what I thing scrapbooking is really about.

And that's what I want to pursue with this project. Take two.

 

Telling more of our stories, in the ways I deem fun, and good.

Being driven by passion, and fun, not fear (of lost memories, or imperfect pages).

 

 

This was a note I found tucked away with my Project Life "stuff" from last year.

 

"Doubt kills more dreams than fear ever will." 

 

I think it's a good motto moving forward, both for scrapbooking and life.

 

More than anything I want 2014 to be the year I tackle things without fear.

A year for stepping out of my comfort zone, trusting my instincts (instead of second guessing every move, or sticker placement).

 

A year for more doing, as The Home Depot would put it.

A year of conquering. Completing. Trying again, and if that fails, trying harder.

A year of less looking on from the sidelines, and more living.

 

Now wish me luck crafty friends!

And thanks, as always, for your sweet support!

Five MInute Friday: See

See.

 

Sometimes, a lot of times, I wish I could see into the future.

 

I would love to take one quick peek at whatever it is lying ahead.

 

 

Wouldn’t life feel safer, better, if I knew what my next steps would be. Should be.

 

Wouldn’t I be happier, if only I could see what’s to come?

 

 

 

 

But then I think about the beauty of surprise.

 

The excitement of a kid on Christmas morning when she sees the gift she most wanted, the one she may or may not have mentioned to Santa, wrapped in shiny paper under her tree.

 

The way a new mom feels when her child, the one she’s loved all these months without seeing his face, is placed in her hands. To hold. To behold.

 

 

And I know, the key to happiness isn’t seeing what’s ahead.

 

It’s not getting a cheat sheet of what to expect, how to react, where to go, or what to do.

 

 

The secret is seeing what’s right in front of your face.

 

Places made for exploring, right in your backyard.

 

People meant to be cherished. Relationships needing nurturing.

 

Talents that need cultivating.

 

Stories needing to be experienced, first, then told.

 

 

The older I get, the more changes that come, the more I know it’s not about what’s around the river bend, as Pocahontas used to sing.

 

It’s simply about being present, so I can see, and appreciate, and live amongst all the beauty that is ever around me.

 

Beauty always, patiently waiting for me to simply open my eyes.

 

While we were in Austin, walking back up the hill from the water, I was telling Mikael about how sensitive a camera lens is.

 

Especially in the sunlight, it reacts like an eye. Struggling to focus when there is too much light. So the tiniest movement can make all the difference in an overblown shot and a beautiful, vibrant photograph.

 

Sight is interesting like that. 

 

Life is interesting like that.

 

This post is in response to a prompt in the Five Minute Friday series.

 

I know I sound like a broken record, but you should really check it out.

The rules are simple (and it's open to anyone).

Have a great weekend friends.

Weekend Update: Let's Take a Drive

I’ve already told you why this weekend was good for the music lover in me. But now it’s time to explain why the city of Guthrie stole my heart. 

It’s hardly a secret I have a serious fondness for downtowns in general, but this one in particular was especially sweet. 

When you’re going out of town for a two-day music festival, you learn pretty quickly it’s a marathon, not a sprint. So Jessie and I did our best cramming in what we could, without getting overwhelmed by all there was to do.

We probably could have spent the entire 48 hours listening to great live music, which would have been awesome for sure. But we decided to squeeze out time for exploring the city, and a little extra bit of Oklahoma too. And I’m so glad we did.

 

Guthrie’s population is right around 10,000. That was quadrupled, however, by the foot traffic from the festival.

That meant the downtown streets were a bustle of activity, including local musicians on temporary stages, gunslingers in period costumes, chalk drawings, food trucks, and whatever this is:

The entire town seemed excited to host so many music-loving guests, with mustaches and GOTR symbols greeting us on nearly every building.

 


Any downtown trip isn't complete without two important stops, in my book.

First, a little antique shopping. And then, a lot of eating.

 
Enjoying the air conditioning, and on the hunt for some quirky souvenirs, we stopped in a handful of the shops. 

I’m quite the hoarder collector when it comes to souvenirs, and antiques, so I was delighted by the eclectic selection Guthrie had to offer.

After scoring two charming keepsakes, it was dinnertime. And we decided the best way to refuel would be barbecue!

Boneyard Grill came highly recommended, and luckily, it was as good as the locals told us.

I had a brisket sandwich and Jessie tried the ribs. Both were messy and delicious; everything barbecue should be. The garlic potatoes that came with them were simple, but great, as was the sweet tea. So refreshing after walking around in super sonic heat.

 

After dinner we needed to hurry back to the festival grounds for Mumford And Sons. Thankfully the sweet town was kind enough to treat us to a free ride on their trolleys, giving our weary feet a break.

Now, I know I can’t recap a musical weekend without talking about the main event. But I’ve covered a lot of ground already, so let’s take a break. 

I’ll be back soon to talk about Mumford, the festival grounds, and the rest of the Oklahoma trip.

 

Thanks for going along on the journey with me, or letting me wax nostalgic about it anyways.

And if you're ever in Oklahoma, please check out this super cute city.

P.S. If this post justs whets your appetite for more vicarious travel, you can see even MORE photos on my Flickr. And we want more, right?

Life Lately: A Few Thousand Words

 

Life is busy. Life is good. 

 

I've been brainstorming, and tackling to-do lists, and getting older.

I've been enjoying time at home, and traveling to places near and not-so-far.

 

I've been planting plants.

And drinking copious amounts of coffee.

And falling in love with my camera all over again (and one cute puppy face too).

 

 

I've been wearing dresses, all my dresses. (And maybe adding a few more to the closet thanks to Target's pretty clearance section.)

 

And I've been doodling. And staying up late.

And gearing up for an upcoming wedding.

And seeing family. And appreciating Skype.

And spring.

 And I've been wondering where to go from here.

What to do from here.

 

I've reached a crossroads of sort. (Insert Bone Thugs-N-Harmony joke here.)

 

 

I still don't know the answers, only that lately, here feels like a fresh start.

A chance to start anew.

An opportunity, a challenge, to make this year the best year yet.

 

 

 

Here's to hoping, and dreaming, and wishing and praying and...

Happy thoughts about another wonderful weekend that's so close I can almost taste it.

 

An Earth Day Update: My Plant Babies

Last spring I got this strange, sudden urge to become a gardener. 

Maybe being a newlywed made me feel the need to be domesticated.

(And since I am was terrified of most kitchen appliances planting a windowsill garden seemed like a safer way to start.)

 

 

Whatever the cause, I kept a handful of plants alive for much of the spring. But, they met demise as summer approached.

So I waited out the cold winter months with a nearly empty windowsill (one Ivy is still going strong) and then took advantage of the local market for restocking my herbs/plant companions.

 

That first batch of the year had some serious issues (i.e. I didn't allow them to drain enough and they got all Titanic on me), so I started fresh last week.

This time I hit up an even closer garden supply store for plants, advice, and a weird run-in with a very large turkey. (It was at least fourty pounds and free ranging the greenhouse.) 

 

It's only been a week since I brought these young beauts home, but so far they're looking great and stealing my heart.

I think it's doing them good having them on the patio, where they can get a lot more sun.

It's also doing me good to see so much green, and to have a reason to forego my vampire ways and enter the sunlight at least once a day.

 

I'll keep you posted how well they do/taste, as the season progresses.

But for now, it's nice to have a house (patio) of plant babies to liven the place up.

Happy earth day friends, world.

I'm gonna go have dinner that doesn't come from a styrofoam container tonight. 

Ya know, just doing my part. ;) 

 

 

*Oh, and if you want some gardening tips or creative container ideas from experts (unlike me) you can check out my Pinterest Page: Green Thumb, where I've been hoarding good gardening advice.

Related articles

Weekend Update: Hangin' with our Homies

How to Create a Windowsill Herb Garden

Seedling Take Over

Color Coded: Green!

Sunday Fun-Day - Please Plant Me

Window Sill Gardening

Weekend Update: A Nearly Wordless Wednesday Post

We had another great weekend, this one filled with out-of-town guests and trips to the market...

Birthday parties and exploring the park...

A new Dallas hotspot, a movie, and very little downtime...

 

Here are a few snapshots from another whirlwind of a few days.

 

It's kinda nice to have some quiet around here once in a while, even if I can't quite do completely "wordless" just yet.

 

Have a great Wednesday friends; it's a chance to take lots of deep breaths, knowning another weekend is right around the corner.

Related articles

Weekend Update: A Fresh Feeling

Weekend Update: A Birthday Bash and Band Practice

Weekend Update: A Conference, A Concert, and Plenty of Coffee

Weekend Update: A Birthday Bash and Band Practice

I'm gonna let you in on a dirty little secret, one that you've probably already picked up on if you've been around here long.

 

I LOVE taking pictures. I really do.

I take my camera everwhere. And it's heavy too.

 

But I'm not so great at taking pictures of people. (Wah wah.)

In fact, I don't do it very often. At all. It's kind of sad really. And strange.

 

Pictures of my shoes? Yes; I've got plenty.

But pictures of people I love? Precious few.

 

Moving subjects are just so difficult to capture.

And truth be told I love the subtleties of photographing a great many little details.

Looking back over this weekend though, I realize how much I need to get over this strange aversion to photographing people. 'Cause what's a weekend - much less a life - without great company to share it with?

 

Note to Self: Photograph More People!

 

That little diary entry aside, guess what? It was another great, busy weekend, one filled with people (who are mostly not pictured).

Friday Mikael and I had a super early dinner date (like, before 5) before he headed off to band practice.

We went to Potbelly's; it was our first time there as a couple. (Dorky as it is, I love that a year into marriage we're still finding new places to explore together.)

The sandwiches were good, but the cookies... WOWZA.

Adorable and incredibly delicious. I'll definitely go back for those.

While Mikael and the boys (the band) worked really hard to gear up for their next few shows, my night was spent watching Cold Case reruns with my mom and sister. (My mom is eerily good at making that opening noise by the way, the screechy shrieky scream. You know the one!)

 

While I've already shown you plenty of pictures of my adorable puppy nephew, there are relatively few appearances of his sister, the cat.

I'm just NOT a cat person (or a people person apparently).

But this one, Ellie, is pretty tolerable as far as cats go. Especially when she's sleeping.

Pretty much anything napping is cute. Am I right?

So I caught her cute little kitty nap, while lazing around with my family, but I didn't capture the drummer trying to cuddle the cat after practice. (That didn't go well.)

I also didn't photograph myself stealing the electric guitarists' leftover chicken nuggets. (But then again, that's a picture I can live without.)

Saturday Mikael's youngest cousin gave us a perfect reason to head to Dave & Buster's. (It was her birthday!)

And even though I embarrassed myself horribly at the basketball game, (i.e. I didn't make a single shot, sorry Dad; you taught me better than that!) I was still glad we got to celebrate a special girl's sweet sixteen.



Did I mention she loves zebra? Zebra nails. Zebra belt. Zebra cake.

Her coordination was very impressive (as is the fact I finally got a picture of human faces).

That night we had a legitimate date (meaning not an earlybird dinner at a sandwich shop).

We sprang for steak and then went to see the new Oz.

The storyline was great, and the effects superb. But my favorite part (being the nerd I am) was the opening credits.

 

It was incredibly artistic and well done, like handcut figurines dancing in a carnival scene. It's hard to explain, but was very inspiring. (Now if only I'd put all that great inspiration to good use.)

As previously mentioned, Sunday ended up being an entire day about eating tacos (breakfast, lunch and dinner), plus a little soup.

But it was also about hanging out with family and new friends, including the peeps from church (who I'm still too embarrassed to take pictures of my food around).

 

After dinner they invited us out to karaoke too, and that made for a very fun (entertaining) evening.

I resisted the urge to do The Replacements' dance when one of the guys sang "I Will Survive," but only barely.

And I guess that means I stopped being a card-carrying Baptist just in the nick of time. (I kid. I kid.)

To sum the weekend up, we missed SNL (something everyone was talking about Sunday) but it was with good reason.

 

Life is full. And moving fast. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

I do hope to share more people pictures with you in the future. 

In the meantime, though, thanks again for sticking through these Weight Watchers-like entries of what I ate over the weekend.

 

You're good pals, especially those of you who've been eating with us.

It's really great having such good company to gather with.

 

Weekend Update: A Fresh Feeling

March is here, as almost unfathomable as that is.

After a long, cold winter there are signs of spring sprouting everywhere.

And this weekend we put the sunshine to good use, with another busy but great weekend. (That’s how things seem to roll around here lately.)

 

Friday Mikael and the boys had band practice in my hometown (not an Adele reference).

That meant I, the dutiful #bandwife, had a great excuse to lounge around my parents’ house on Pinterest and to cuddle with my favorite puppy nephew.

 

I got a free cup of coffee out of it somehow too.  All in all, not a shabby way to spend the evening.

 

Mikael’s band – Sparrow and the Clay - is actually gearing up for a show in Princeton. It’s going to be April 6 at the old high school (now Clark Junior High).

Please consider this your first of many personal invitations to that show.

They’ll be playing some familiar worship songs, some originals they’ve worked really hard on, and it should make for an exciting evening for the young and young-at-heart.

It’s also designed to be a great chance for the churches in town to come together (not a Beatles reference) for a night of music. I’m pretty stoked about that too; I love it when churches unite for good music or a good cause (I think it's a good reminder that heaven probably won't be segregated by denominations).

 

Back to our weekend, Saturday we slept late (of course).

Then we walked to see our favorite donut store lady who gave the charming hubby a free kolache. (Lucky him!)

 

We don’t eat donuts very often these days, but I sure love when we do, mostly ‘cause I can think of no better way to motivate me for cardio than to dangle donuts or coffee in my path.

It’s very effective. Maybe.

 

 
To combat our “bad breakfast” we headed to the local farmers’ market that afternoon.

It was beautiful.

 

I forget how much colorful fruits and vegetables, especially stacked neatly in adorable, old-fashioned baskets, make my heart mushy.

I love junk food as much, if not more, than the next person, but even cream-stuffed donuts can’t get my heart racing as much as a gorgeous basket of fresh strawberries, or even a bushel of brussel sprouts. (Crazy, huh?)

 

There’s just something about seeing such a fresh, colorful bounty like that.

It’s sort of like spotting those first, reassuring signs of spring.

With our bags full, and our pockets emptied of cash, we headed to eat downtown while we were out.

It had been weeks since we’d been to Deep Ellum. I forget how much I really do love it down there.

 

The graffiti-d walls. The skyscrapers at sunset. The super random palm trees.

There’s something sorta magical about a big city at twilight (not a vampire reference). Or maybe I just need to get out more. Your call on that.

 

 

Though we had a great time Saturday, and Friday was nice too, by far my favorite day of the week is Sunday.

It really is a day of rest around here, a day for recouping from a long week, a day for drinking my coffee slowly.

 

About a month ago we started visiting a church that meets in the evenings.

It’s non-denominational, but what some would call emerging I guess.

 

It meets in an office space in Dallas, where they take communion each week with actual bread. And the pastor is a girl. (Imagine that. True story.)

 

But we didn’t choose to go there ‘cause it’s trendy, or non-traditional.

We go there because the people are witty and educated and funny, and relatable.

And... more importantly... they make me think, a lot, the way they talk about God, and life, the way they live as a community, the way they’re concerned about global issues it’s all-too-easy for me to ignore.

 

And that’s something I need, at this stage in my life.

To be encouraged and challenged. To be part of a community that makes me feel at ease, while drawing out the best from me.

 

 

And the fact that these great people meet in the evenings is maybe the best thing of all (kidding, kind of).

Because instead of rushing to get ready with the sunrise, instead of fighting traffic to get there, then fighting for a table at the best nearby lunch spots…

We get to lounge around for a bit on Sunday mornings, and that’s such a nice change of pace for this season in my life.

 

 

Before you go painting me as someone that hates traditions though, you should know…

 

Some of my favorite people in the world still get dressed up and head to church faithfully, every Sunday morning. They sing hymns or worship songs, and sit in pews or padded chairs.

 

Other people I love throw on jeans and sit on couches, in a living room where they talk about Jesus and grace.

 

Still others meet on Saturday nights, and go for beers after to discuss what God’s been doing in their lives. (Scandallllous!!!! ;) )

 

Some gather right alongside the people that live under a bridge, sharing music and stories, and the power of doing life together.

 

 

Some have church with dancers, in a strip club, with a cross attached to a pole on the stage behind them.

 

 

Some meet outside, weather permitting, to praise the Creator while taking in the beauty of His work.

 

And I think all those people are wonderful, and I respect them very much, just as I respect the people I know that don’t want anything to do with church.

They're people that don’t believe in God, or maybe have just been hurt by His people, but just because we don't agree about things doesn't mean we can't be friends. They are incredibly kind people, who are honest about their thoughts and their stances. And I'm learning a lot from them. In many ways I hope to be more like them.

 

 

It’s so hard in this day and age to be vulnerable, to have open conversations with people that think differently than you.

But it’s so important, I think, and that’s why I’m so thankful to have people in my life that are teaching me to be kind, above all else.

 

I'm thankful to be learning slowly how much better it is to show love, than to prove a point, much less try to "win" an argument, especially one being fought "in Jesus' name."

 

 

I was richly blessed to grow up with people that lived that principle out in their own lives, and not just on Sunday mornings.

In their business dealings, in their conversations (and gratuity) towards waitstaff, and in their interactions with my coaches, teachers, friends...

They lived kindness, so much so I grew up thinking that was the norm.

 

It has broken my heart, and also challenged me, realizing not every person has had similar experiences with "church people."

I hate that many people have been hurt by an entity that claims Christ's sweet name.

In many ways I'm ashamed by the company I keep.

 

But because I've seen so many good examples too, because I've read what church can be, I can't give up on the beauty of a group of people that have been touched by grace, living in community and using their lives (their talents, their money, their time, their voices) to share that same free grace that saved them freely with the rest of the world.

Getting back to our sleeping late on Sunday, for years, my very Southern Baptist parents kindly encouraged me to find a church where I would feel at home.

And I knew they meant well, they wanted the best for me. But in my mind I kept adding a condition.

 

“Find a church… but make sure it’s just like our church.” That’s what I heard them saying.

 

It’s taken the better part of my adult life to accept that the clause I lived under was mine, not theirs.

They really just wanted (want!) me to experience life in community, being encouraged, and serving with other people that have experienced God’s grace the way they have.

Because they know what a blessing that can be, living in Christian community, they want that same positive experience for their kids.

 

Whether that community calls itself Southern Baptist or not, they want to know we're actively participating in God's redemptive work, by being his hands and feet, with other members of the Body of Christ. (Membership cards and letters not required; correct me if I'm wrong on this Dad.)

 

 

As spring approaches, I’m so very glad to have found just that.

A community. A place to seek Truth, to ask questions, to serve and to celebrate the blessings in life.

A place I can be of use. A place I can let my guard down.

A place I can admit my frustrations, seek solutions, and humbly ask for help on this journey I'm on.

 

I love that we are on the verge of a new season, one characterized by growth and thawing and second chances, and hope.

And I pray this will be a time of enrichment, that it will be a season marked by grace and kindness and newness of life and hearts.

 

It was a cold and dark and dividing winter. There were times I didn't want to leave my cave, and other times I didn't want to get out of bed.

I just wanted to be wrapped in the blankets of comfort and security I was used to. I wanted to hide out until the cultrual climate seemed safer.

 

But now the sun is shining; it's beckoning me to come out and enjoy the day.

And I don't want fear to keep me from answering its call.

 

It's time to take a deep breath, change out of my PJs, and begin again.

I hope you'll join me out there.

Weekly Update: 7 Days in 14 Photos

MONDAY

1. It's always nice when I get to start the day with a fresh pot of coffee, prepared by my favorite barista hubby.

2. This was our first time making (and my first time eating) brussel sprouts; we roasted them with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. They were surprisingly delicious, not at all what I expected.

3. Cooking together has become one of my favorite things (even though he mostly does the cooking and I mostly do the dishes; we work with the talents we were given).

TUESDAY

4. My Valentine's flowers hung on a really long time, which was nice. They kept me company on my longest work days.

5. Fake bacon, lettuce, no tomato for me sandwiches made for a nice little lunch break. (And yes; that's veggie bacon. It's much better than it sounds.)



WEDNESDAY

6. My favorite mug makes early mornings a bit easier to swallow.

7. Driving to meet new friends for lunch downtown, I was amazed how much the rainy city streets of Dallas reminded me of our trip to New York.

THURSDAY

8. We're lucky enough to live close enough that we can get our cardio walking to the nearest Starbucks. It's a little weird, but whatever works.

9. Mikael and I took a little roadtrip Thursday night. It was lots of fun, and the drive sure was pretty.

FRIDAY

10. I met a friend for BBQ Friday, and lucky me she brought along a cute lil' man she was babysitting. Our table proved a great spot not only to catch up over pulled pork and potato salad, but for his darling red truck to go for a cruise.

11. And of course I would get coffee for dessert, from a darling new shop I discovered. (I can hardly wait to go back.)



AND THE REST...

12. This pretty little basil plant lived to fight another week (though he did not fare so well this Monday night, wah wahh).

13. I can't get enough Cuties lately. They're just so delicious, and adorable.

14. Until next time, Mike says "see ya."

 

Weekend Update: A Conference, A Concert, and Plenty of Coffee

We had a pretty whirlwind weekend. And I probably say that about any weekend not spent exclusively in my PJs, but this was particularly busy/crazy/good/caffeinated.

It was such a rushed (albeit wonderful) time I didn't get a lot of pictures. But here is a quick photo recap of another enjoyably chaotic weekend:

 

Friday we headed to Allen for a marriage conference, which wasn't nearly as bad as it might sound. (More on that later.)

We stayed in a lovely hotel that gave us a full-sized chocolate bar too.

You know you're living the good life when they leave you Hershey's that isn't "fun-sized," play Abba in the elevator, and have pictures of "local" celebs adorning the walls.



Then Saturday Mikael had a concert at a coffee shop in McKinney.

(Thanks to my sister for getting the below shot of hubby playing while I was accidentally drinking someone else's drink. And thanks to Kenny for sitting in on mandolin, and all the other folks who came out to support them.)

It was a great show, a great night...




... and having the concert downtown was a great excuse to take "the boys"* to eat pizza at Sauce!

We tried "Texas Jalapeno" and a pesto & mushroom pizza called "Green." Both were delicious - good work Sauce.

(*For those of you that don't know, when your husband is in a band "the boys" in that band become like sons to you, regardless of their age, or yours. So yea; I have two teenage-ish sons now. Man can those kids eat. ;) )

Sunday afternoon was spent trekking around various parts of Dallas for a photoshoot and lunch with friends that are getting hitched.

They were all cute and lookin' crazy in love, and good sports letting me snap pictures of them in random places. Like in a sketchy part of Oakcliff.

Then came church/dinner with some good peeps whose names we're still trying to learn.

(There may or may not be a rough diagram of these people, with sketches, names and their relationships to one another - spouses or siblings, etc. - laying in our car. But just maybe.)

 

Hope your week is off to an A-wait-for-it-Mazing start.

See you soon.