i heart you.

1. cozy coffee mug. 2. heart decorations. 3. simplicity earrings. 4. heart crayons. 5. petite heart hoop earrings. 6. blooming red heart pillow. 7. pink love ring. 8. my little valentine. 9. bouton de rose hairpins. 10. red ruby glass ring. 11. my heart's in PA (card set of 3). 12. lotus flower print necklace.

with valentine's day right around the corner i guess i've got hearts & spring colors on the brain.

peace & love,

pretty little thing.

i'm not a big jewelry person. i like the idea of jewelry, but i don't really wear a lot of it. i blame it on my less is more mentality, and my allure to simple pretty little things. so when it comes to wearing jewelry i have my wedding bands on my fingers, and then usually a pair of earrings on, and sometimes on occasion a necklace. last valentine's day debo bought me this beautiful handmade necklace from the noisy plume. i love it. it's simple, elegant and very pretty.

as of late i find myself eyeing some pretty necklaces that i wouldn't mind debo "surprising" me with one for valentines day again: loves embrace & paloma's crown of hearts.

handmade christmas.

i can't believe christmas is two weeks away. i have not even gone out christmas shopping yet, and i fly out to pittsburgh this upcoming thursday! i also have not done any christmas baking either.

the plan is making christmas cut-out cookies with a vanilla glaze (a favorite recipe my family has done for years from "cooks illustrated") and some buckeyes. i'm going to make a ton, get little christmas baggies, tie them with a bow and give them out to our staff of boys and the other RD's. baking is about as far i go for homemade things. i was reading my friend suzannah's blog and she was showing the adorable things she was getting her daughter from various vendors at etsy.com. i am such a sucker for handmade things, and so far the only christmas shopping i have done has been the online variety at etsy.com.

here are the things i have purchased and i'm quite excited:

some pretty stud earrings for my cousins. (sofiamasri.)

these lovely little pouches to put the earrings in along w/ gift card/lip balm. (GimCarry.)

this adorable set of heart dishes for me madre. (redhotpottery.)

ok and i couldn't resist it. i gave in and bought myself this dress. *sigh* i know. her stuff is absolutely gorgeous. i wish i could afford to get her whole line. (heirloom08.)


i love buying handmade though, because you can get some beautiful and unique things for people that you aren't going to find in department stores. it's a lot of fun searching through etsy and seeing what you will find.

now if i could just finish my christmas shopping and start baking.

happy halloween.

where on earth did october go? i must say that i'm sad to see it leave.

it is indeed my favorite month. i adore fall, and october is the peak of the season. i also love pumpkins, mackintosh apples, mulled cider, bonfires, corn mazes, costumes, corny old horror movies, pumpkin cookies/bread/pie/seeds, and perfect hoodie weather. *sigh*

here is some recap in pictures of the past few weeks since last posted...

dana & moffat came to visit.

headed to pittsburgh to be a part of meg's BIG day!

i'm a nerd. i know.

becca and i waiting for the aisle call.

me with the beautiful bride!

i had my kiddos out in the leaves the other day. it was so precious. keagan was having so much fun, he would literally get running starts before plummeting into the leaf piles. no one even showed him this, he just started doing it all by himself. we probably played outside a good hour and a half. i wish i would have had my camera.

well i hope you all have a fabulous saturday (i just love saturdays), and a lovely halloween.

wow...the christmas commercials have already started, and halloween isn't even over yet.

i've left bethlehem and i feel free.

Fall is officially here! hello october. hello cool fall weather. hello leave changes, pumpkins, and mulled cider.

i dare say that i am greatly enjoying the ushering in of fall this october. it is my favorite season of the year and this is my favorite month. recently i have been dragging my poor husband on these walks with me through the local high school(s) cross country path that makes it way past the athletic fields, brush fields, and farm fields. the line of trees in the background make for a lovely view which i am hoping will only grow more beautiful with the changing colors.

in other news i have found a local pumpkin farm that debo and i are going to be going to next weekend. i'm so excited, it has hay-rides, you pick pumpkins in the fields, it has corn mazes, a country store, petting zoo, and more. our good friend tall john is coming to visit us next week as well, and we shall be dragging him with us on this adventure, with most likely a few of our hodson boys, and hopefully a nice group of the other RDs.

things have been so busy as of late. debo and i were talking about how we are lucky to get and hour together. between our boys being over, coffee dates with my girlfriends and students, and just other things that book our time (for instance, last night i was on a panel discussion about female relationships/camaraderie in our sister building) and work during the day, its enough to say "bring on the weekend!" tonight debo and one of our boys, fussy, is helping our friend andra move a couch, so i'm going to have andra and fussy over for dinner afterwards. then it will be off to the gym and over to steph's apt for The Office. good times. :-D

on a completely different note...its been so cute bundling my kiddos up and taking them outside to play. they crack me up. also, keagan who is not even two yet is obsessed with letters. he already knows what most of them are and he can say for practically all of them the sounds they make. he doesn't even talk yet besides some basic words, but he knows his alphabet! it's crazy! being with kids so much, and talking to moms def. makes me look forward to the day i become a mama. thats a few years down the road mind you! (i'm only 23) but i think it such a beautiful thing and i am really looking forward to it.

i hope its becoming Fall where you are! :-D

summer skin.

Squeaky swings and tall grass

The longest shadows ever cast

The water's warm and children swim

And we frolicked about in our summer skin

I don't recall a single care

Just greenery and humid air

Then Labor day came and went

And we shed what was left of our summer skin

~ death cab for cutie

debo and i have been talking about how we feel our summer skin growing in. it's like the layers of winter skin begin to fall off allowing the warm air to creep into your pores. it's actually being able to smell the air instead of the cold that freezes the insides of your nose. it's feeling exhausted simply because you soaked yourself in pure sunshine. it's a charming, refreshing, and sometimes dare i say tedious time of year, but i love it.

*sigh* oh, sunshine! twist ice cream cones w/ rainbow sprinkles. sun dresses. flip flops. swimming. vacations. rollerblading. farmers markets. fresh air. the zoo. long walks outside. BBQ's. fireworks. painted toe nails. pittsburgh baseball games. time well spent. i love growing into my summer skin.

walk into the sun.

turn your head. look.
have some faith.
listen. love. even when you don't want too.
don't judge. don't criticize. don't tear yourself down.
hold. embrace. stretch. reach.

respond.

fancy some fringe?

why hello there! i have returned. my trip to pittsburgh was absolutely wonderful. we arrived wednesday around 1 up at geneva. i spent the afternoon/evening/night catching up with friends (some graduated & in the geneva area/some still in school). it was so nice to see these girls/guys and just hang out. i however, had decided to head home to spend the weekend with me mum.

so then bright and early thursday morning i hopped onto 76, to 79, to 279 and drove up to see the beautiful city sprout about in my horizon. then taking 28 i came to my neighorbood, the new childrens hosptial even bigger and ever more visible from my street. my mom was waiting for me and we spent the morning talking over tea and then taking a walk at the allegheny cemetary [ it is the 11th largest in the U.S. and literally there are deer in this fenced in cemetary located admist the inner city neighborhoods of pittsburgh. it is also a piece of history i might add as it was founded in 1844 and has large and elaborate grave stones all over, people just don't make stones like that anymore]. so, yes we walk in a cemetary, but honestly it's one of my favorite places. perhaps it's an escape from our urban metropolis, or because it's just so peaceful there, or perhaps even it's a reminder to me of our mortality which doesn't have to be morbid thing when you think of what's waiting for us.

my mom and i did lots of talking, lots of shopping (she spoiled me rotten), and ate yummy things, watched movies, got petticures and just enjoyed each others company. i also got to spend time with my dad and brother and it was lovely. i just have such great family and i feel so blessed to have them. God is so good. what a beautiful visit. debo also got some much needed time with his guys up at geneva. since so many of his close friends were a year behind him (most of my close girlfriends graduated when i did) i think it was just nice for him to visit with them and hang out, and have guy time with people who don't know him as an RD, his friends. so yeah we had very good times.

on another note i got my hair cut. i kept the length, trimmed my layers, and yes...i did it i got some bangs! (or as the british say, "fringe")... here are some snapshots i tried to capture in a mirror...my sad attempts...but they will have to do because i'm lazy. it's a change. i'm kinda diggin them, and debo loves 'em, so that's a plus. lol.

and well we're back to work, easter is on the horizon and we are staying in the neighborhood (we decided we didn't feel like traveling) so it will be nice just to be home here in indiana. debo's sister is here for the weekend as well so that will be nice to have some company over. it was hard to leave pittsburgh, it always is. however, with 3 of our like 7 weddings coming up this summer being in the area, i know we will be back there come june!

for a pair of black eyes.

a little while back i stumbled upon the blog, lovelydesign. it is such a delightful blog to read. not only does it hold such clever and lovely homemade design ideas it also follows Sharilyn herself who is a new mom with her daughter Addie. she posted a good while back with this picture, and it literally makes my heart melt.

is that not precious? she took this pic of her daughter while she was napping with their cat elliot who had cuddled up with her. i know a lot of people hate cats, but i grew up with them and i just love them. i love dogs too, and i know debo and i want to have one of both when we finally have the space and are in a place that allows them. however, i must say that along with longing for a pet, i find myself more and more really wanting a baby of my own. it's so funny for me to be saying this because, although, growing up i always knew i wanted kids someday, i've never been really the mothering kind of girl. yet, i think getting married and settling down, pretty much nannying a baby & 3 year old almost full-time, and totally adoring the tv show jon & kate plus 8, have left me truly looking forward to being a mom.

don't worry though, hehehe, i'm not in a rush just yet! i think it's good to enjoy the time i have right now just being a newly wed before i start thinking about having a family. i think debo and i will at least wait 3 or 4 years until we make that next step. however, it is fun to think about the future and all the possibilities.

right now though i def. do truly yearn for a pet. every time i return home to pittsburgh i get to cuddle, play with, and tease this little guy:

this is chance. i call him, "chancey pants." this grey beast is the best cat i've ever had. he's literally part-dog incarnate. he has so much energy, he loves people, he's a good greeter, and he's not afraid of anything (not even the vacuum cleaner). he loves to cuddle, and he is the softest cat (his fur is like silky velvet). i soak up my time with him every visit i get to pittsburgh. he's just so enjoyable. he's also super mischievous and gets into lots of trouble. i know people hate cats, or because of their allergies they hate cats, or because they think all cats are mean, or that they are stupid compared to dogs (which is ridiculous, esp if you are a cat owner, and you grew up knowing plenty of stupid dogs), but...i insist...please give him a chance! (pun intended, sorta).

on a completely different note i purchased one last piece of artwork (i need to take a break from buying stuff for my walls now). this beautiful original painting is from italian painter, vincenzo rizzo. it's water color on acrylic paper and the painting itself is called, "For A Pair of Black Eyes." as soon as i saw it i was drawn in. it's youthful, simplistic, and just lovely. not anything against men, but i love the way that God created women. i just feel He knew how to show the softness, the vibrancy, the nuturing soul from the inside all the way out. our Lord is a fine craftsman, and i think this piece by vincenzo does our Lord some justice in portraying his creation of women (at least in this particular painting).

our cozy room.

wow. i'm on a blogging kick. 3 days in a row. i guess i have more time on my hands without all the students around this week.

they came today! the photos i ordered (i also got my earrings which i am loving!). i've been keeping my eyes out for square frames this past week, however i decided to do something a little different instead and i think it came together nicely. so to copy kel (who just posted lovely photos of the adorable living room in her home), here are some pictures of how our bedroom now looks (try to ignore the poor picture quality here).

debo also found a disposable camera a while back that was mixed up in some of our various packing boxes for our move out to indiana. he actually got the film developed and boy was i surprised. it was pictures from my trip to italy (i went the summer after my sophomore year of college). my digital camera had died during the last part of our trip which happened to be in venice (go figure), so i had to use a disposable. i was just thinking a few weeks ago about my italy trip and how sad it was that i didn't have any of my venice pictures (i thought i had lost the camera). so to make a long story short, i used some of the pictures i took and put them in a frame i got and added it also to our bedroom decor. (note the third picture in this frame was not taken by me, it was a free pic i got from scarlet beautiful 2, that happens to be of the one of the islands in venice i took photos from too).

i feel like our bedroom is becoming a very warm and cozy place. it's fun putting together your first home, even if i can't get away from dorm cinder block walls, or have an adorable fireplace like kel's, or the coolest farm house ever like suz's. (love you ladies *wink wink*).

pretty. lovely. sweet.

i spy with my little eye some pretty colors, loveliness, and adorable things.

maria bonita extra has my favorite color palette, soft-simple-whimsical dresses, and what i like to call some downright "prettiness-charm".

orla kiely also has lovely pieces i'm totally adoring.

these pins from fomato cards crack me up. my cousins and i always joke about our love for food and how we are chubby kids at heart, lol. fomato cards are equally entertaining.

lastly, but of course not least, i was looking through pictures i took in jamaica and well let's face it God created such beautiful things.

ellie-girl, doctors, & green muses.

whew. long day. as i watched the little ones today, ellie, the 3 year old told me that her stomach hurt during lunch. poor ellie-girl has been off and on sick for the past 3 weeks. i had her go lay down on the couch and i put on a movie for her. then as i put keagan down for his nap, ellie turned to me as we sat watching cinderalla and said, "i need a towel." i proceeded to ask her why she needed one, just as she picked one up from a basket of folded laundry. next thing i know i have one sick child. i called jamie (her mom) immediately who then decided to take her to the doctors (this will be her 3rd visit in the past three weeks). in the meantime i was making a spot for ellie to lay down on in her parents room (using old blankets), cleaning up the mess of puke, all the while thinking of the joys of motherhood. haha.

so, jamie comes back from her meeting, and she has me help her get ellie ready to go to the doctors. this may seem like a small task, you know shoes, socks, coat, etc. however, ellie is absolutely horrified of the doctors. as soon as her mom broke the news gently to her, she was pitching a fit. she cries so hard that she can't even talk coherently. it's the saddest most pitiful thing to watch an adorable 3 year old just so scared. it makes me wonder how i was when i was that little and had to go to the doctors. i mean i know it wasn't my favorite thing to do, but i don't remember such fearful reactions. for ellie the the conotation of the doctors = shots. so even when you tell her she's not going to get one she still cries her eyes out. one time jamie told me that keagan had an appointment but she had to take ellie along with them, and ellie still threw a fit although she wasn't even the one seeing the doctor. *sigh* that's just so tough, i wonder why for some children it's just a harder thing than for others? i'm praying everything is okay.

on a completely different note...

i've been in such a creative mood today. i edited my blog layout. i adore green and well i decided to bring in some soft greens to captivate that love. i also was looking through some of my photos (including some from my wedding) and decided to tweak my banner too. i used paint shop pro 7, i have had it for years since my fetish for webdesign occured during highschool.

and on another note: i went through with buying those photo prints from scarletbeautiful2. i'm really excited, since our bedroom is the room where we really have nothing on the walls per say. and well the wall above our bed is the perfect place. now i need to go find some frames.

it's actually been quite tough for me lately to resist the urge to buy things online. i think the girl in my dying for summer has been eyeing spring-types-of-things with the earnest desire for something new, like warm weather, and so warm weather clothings inspires me. also, i haven't really bought new clothes since last summer. however, buying stuff like that online is too difficult for me, i'm a "try it on" type of girl. i need to see it on myself to be sure i absolutely like it and would be willing to buy it.

today however, along with purchasing the photos i also splurged on something that i don't usually need to try on: jewelery! i found an adorable pair of stud earrings, that are bright, beautiful, and simple (from sofia masri). hello spring. i'm waiting. ;-D

.

my quest for wall art.

so our apt is still in much need of decoration. i'm just super picky about what i want to hang on my walls, and well also most "art" tends to be on the expensive side.

i find that i am such a sucker for photography, it's something i would love to do myself, but i don't have the adequate camera or the money to buy one. so i've been searching a lot of different photography on etsy (and looking in a more affordable range). my goal is to have something to put above our bed which definintely needs well...something.

*sigh* see what i mean?

right now i'm currently digging these prints from the shop ScarletBeautiful2. i think viewfinder photography is just so pretty. i love the sort of distorted/blurry vibe of them. i kinda would like to have these four, and i would matte and frame them in 13x13 frames. then i would hang them 2 by 2, in a sort of square shape to match the square frames.

what more, these high quality prints are pretty affordable at only $9, and the shipping isn't ridiculous. ($1.60 for one, 25 cents for each additional print shipped with it). i don't know i think i just might get these. i've been looking for months now and it has been hard finding something just right and i really like these. if i go through with it i will be sure to post a picture of the results. :-D be sure to check out her shop though. (the link is above).