Tag Archives: fresh

we put the “happy” in happy hour

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a few days backmiss elinor, hubby, and i grabbed some early dinner with my folks at st. francis.  it was mighty tasty. there is just something about heading to a restuarant on the earlier side and making the most of the evening.  it usually gives us license to try more dishes and double up…you can’t beat a happy hour deal, am i right?  and in this case, i am talking a big ol’ gourmet burger with a side of hand cut fries for seven bucks.  #winning.

the springtime weather was particularly springy and the restaurant opened up the side of the restaurant so there was a perfect breeze while we dined.  elinor sat in her little seat just playing away while we sipped some good wine and noshed on baked goat cheese with crusty bread, french onion burgers, chicken salad sandwiches, and radish/bacon/garden pea/buttermilk ranch salad.  good stuff.  and so local and fresh.  it was a simply delightful meal with great company.  happiness and satisfied tummies all around.

 

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all things bright and beautiful

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spring.  ah, spring.  feels good, doesn’t it?  amazing what one little day can do.  things feel fresh.  the air feels different. a spring in your step, if you will.  welcome!  you sprightly season, you.

springtime makes me want fresh fruit and hot dogs and peanuts {preferably at the ball game} and ice cream and floral prints and bright colors.  this saturday will be spent switching out wardrobes and tidying up to make way for a fresh season.  i am hoping to dive into some cheery DIY projects and to add more fresh flowers to our home.

so happy to smell the orange blossoms in the air again.  bonjour, spring buds.  nice to see you again, brightly painted toenails.

hello march

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hello-marchimage source

{what?  march already?  no way.}

have i mentioned that this is shaping up to be one crazy month?

hubby is taking his series 7.  elinor has a 4 month checkup.

{what?  i have a four-month old already?  no way.}

a birthday celebration.  st. patrick’s day.  a wedding shower.

woah.

i don’t know why this always happens to me.  february comes to a close and i have a mild freak-out that march has arrived.  mostly, it is a happy freak out.  like…hurray, spring is around the corner!  but it also contains a hint of panic and melancholy.  like…wait, i’m not ready for spring cleaning and to flip the closets and put away the sweaters and scarves!  and this year especially, i am feeling overwhelmed with that feeling of SLOW DOWN TIME!  this time last year i was getting ready to head to the doctor to confirm that we had a little peanut on the way.  and now, now that little peanut is a chatty little thing that rolls around on the floor and grabs at objects and smiles at me. and is moving through diaper sizes way too fast.  i am acutely aware of how quickly time can fly once springtime hits.  and it is thrilling but also jolting.

something deep in my bones starts buzzing with excitement this time of year.  i love the fresh infusion of energy and hope that seems to accompany the change of seasons. but i also mourn the cool breeze and coziness that fall/winter offers.  alas, time waits for no man.  the page turns.  the seasons shift.  and you know what?  i am going to embrace it.  let’s do this march.  i am ready for a fresh start.  i am ready for the warm, fragrant air of spring.  i am excited to see what new life and creativity and joy bursts forth from the stagnant soil.

jesus, you’re the one who saves us.

constantly creates us into something new.

jesus, surely  you will find us.

surely our  messiah will make all things new – will make all things new.

life is breaking out, it’s breaking out, it’s breaking  out.

gungor – dry bones

there’s no place like home

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i am not sure what goes on this time of year…atmospheric pressure perhaps?  or maybe it is the suddenly empty and blah feeling that comes from taking down the christmas decorations.  but i always feel this overwhelming desire to redecorate and freshen up!

while perusing the pages of one of my daily blog staples { a cup of jo } i stumbled across a few pictures of a lovely home that has my mind spinning with inspiration and possibility…

and with a sewing machine in the house?  just think of what could be done!  this could be a very productive and creative and decorative spring indeed.

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a bold print on the wall.  fresh, white linens.

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that tufted velvet chair is simply dreamy!  and i wouldn’t mind that neon purse either…

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love the palatte. deep, rich navy with yellow and gold.  plus a pop of pink.

…

images from here

a post that will make you super envious

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this weekend, my amazing hubby made me the most scrumptious and decadent dinner.  you know you’ve got it good when your man randomly turns to you one day and says “i would really like to start making a special dinner at home once a week”.  um, okay.  so.  the plan is to get out on the town for a date night dinner out at least once a month and eat a special date night dinner in once a week.  courtesy of mister ben.  yup, sounds like a good plan.  he just loves to cook and he is so darn good at it.  this is one of his best ideas yet.  and has inspired a new series that i will be calling “chef ben”.  winner, winner, chicken dinner indeed.

dinner1he took a page out of tyler florence’s new cookbook fresh.  i highly recommend it. dinner2

nothing sexier than a man in the kitchen. dinner3the finished plate.  butternut squash puree topped with crispy porcini mushrooms, crispy sage, roasted pecans, and brown butter wine sauce.  and a dusting of parmesan.  so rich and satisfying…and no meat to be found!  now that is a culinary feat.

decor inspiration

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one of my very favorite blogs to check out on a daily basis is spicer + bank.  this blog is hosted by interior designer, allison egan.  she is lovely and fabulous!  each day, she fills her blog with beautiful images of vibrant interiors and interesting design elements.  i could get lost in her site.  it makes me want to paint walls and hang curtains and snag some kitschy knickknacks and lay down a fresh rug.  amazing stuff.  lately, i have been searching for some inspiration for our little peanut’s nursery.  and, allison did not disappoint.  plenty of good ideas to go around.  here are a few of my favorites that are inspired for any room of the house but that i am loving for our little one’s abode…

i love those chevron walls!

the cognac colored chairs with the big furry blanket…for a luxe nursery look

the pop of neon pink [if it is a girl, of course] with the golden velvet chair.  i am thinking crushed velvet curtains in a fabulous color!

the mint color + the yellow color + the geometric rug in that rich brown

those prints are fabulous!  clean, fresh, fun, and oh-so-cool.  it has a playful vibe that is appropriate for a baby without being too “baby-ish”

now, all i have to do is somehow put it all into cohesive plan and then make it a reality.  hmmm…

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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farewell to another wonderful weekend.  and just like that, a new week is here.  hubby and i made the most of every moment.  we did some friday night grocery shopping and baking.  then on saturday, i headed off to help at a bridal shower while ben had some boy’s time and took in a guy movie.  then, we joined up again in the afternoon for some quick cleaning up…then it was off to dinner with ben’s sister and her hubby at windsor [yes, again...it just never gets old].  after all that, we took it easy on sunday and spent the afternoon watching a western and catching up on laundry.  capped off with a sushi date night.  it was a pretty great few days.  over much too soon.  but, another weekend is always right around the corner.  until then, here are some of our favorite snaps.

here’s to a fabulous, fresh week!

windsor! + a quick little outdoor wait for a table…perfect atmosphere + the cool succulent planters + the boys + the gals + retro decor + hubby making a little gopher face for the camera + some serious menu surveying and discussion before making the final picks + appetizers…fondue and corn dog poppers + rachel’s selection: crab cake blt with mac and cheese + nathan’s selection: the windsor burger with fries [and plenty of ketchup] + my selection: the pastrami reuben with fries and cole slaw [yup, i got two sides] + hubby’s selection: the porkwich with mac and cheese + concluding the evening with some churn ice cream and cookies from next door + lazy times with the buddies + shogun sushi night…i’ve been so wanting some of this + starting with some tempura + enjoying a big plate of rolls.  yum

i heart…beauty products

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my mom taught me well.  i remember watching her when i was little as she cleansed and moisturized her skin, delicately dabbed her perfume, and carefully applied her makeup.   i would mimic her technique.  i so loved when we would do pedicures and facials together and she would share her tips and tricks. i admired her attention to detail.  i watched as she would clean her makeup brushes, organize all of her products, and use “just enough”.  she wanted to savor her little beauty treats and make them last.  she always took such great care.   i so appreciate that time and those lessons.

it wasn’t frivolous or vain, she was illustrating the importance of taking care of what God has given you.  from her skin to the products in her purse.  she wasn’t wasteful.  she wasn’t indulgent.  she didn’t take it for granted.  she was careful and thoughtful.  she knew how to save on some things and splurge on others.  and she knew how to enjoy it all.

to this day, we still have fun little chats about the latest chanel nail color, the top beauty editor picks, the perfect mascara [i love maybelline the falsies, by the way], and the best drugstore steals.  it is fun to be a girl.

over the years, i have tried my share of products.  i love lip glosses.  i am a sucker for body lotions. i am a big time fan of spa-like skin treatments.  and i find myself drawn to pretty smelling stuff in cute packaging.  i like to try things and then settle in on my go-to beauty items.  while some products will come and go with seasons and seasons of life, there are a few that have stood the test of time and that i continue to look to.

here is my personal list of beauty product favs:

all images from my :: i heart :: board on pinterest

sweet little kumquat

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we are expecting and we are delighted!  ben and i can’t wait to see what God has in store for us during this fresh chapter of life.  what a blessing.

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james 1:17

every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from  the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

spring has sprung

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it’s here!  it’s here!  it’s officially here! and the signs are everywhere…

this spring i want to spend more time in the fresh air of the outdoors, have more fresh flowers in the house, and try some fresh recipes that incorporate springtime ingredients.  what are your fresh ideas for spring?