Favorite {Photo} Friday! #3

What could be cuter than a fuzzy baby cow? I took this photo somewhere in the mountains in the north of Italy or in Slovenia on a drive with my parents. I love that his (her?) ears and the area around the nose are a different color. I love the huge daddy in the back with enormous horns and super shaggy hair. I love that I almost missed this shot because the little guy ran away over the hill but then came back just long enough for me to get this one photo before he scampered off again.

Happy Friday, everyone!

p.s. Let me and Stella know if you take up Favorite {Photo} Friday as well!

Shear Genius!

Last time this was on I lived in Italy and had to wait for some kind soul to upload it to YouTube every week so I could watch it. Now it's Season 2 and I get to watch it on Bravo, yippee!

Tune in tonight at 10 (9 central)... but check your local listings! :)

Today...

I am grieving a loss.

I am heartbroken for a Good Man.

I am angry and trying to not wish Bad Things for someone.

I will go to the Chiropractor again.

I am thankful for Jason, for Friends, for Family, for Good People.

I am sorting through photos from May 25th for the Scrap Your Day challenge.

I am planning to take photos again tomorrow (already!).

I'm thinking about which princess I want to be.

I cried in the shower.

I drank three cappuccinos.

I watched this on YouTube and cried again.

I replayed moments over and over in my head (without wanting to).

I stepped on the scale and learned that my "screw South Beach" weekend didn't do nearly as much damage as I'd feared.

I decided not to re-start Phase One today.

I'm doing laundry and dishes and normal life things. {Weird.}

I'm trying to remember that everything happens for a reason and good things will come to those who deserve good, good things.

I am crying.

I am cutting myself some slack.

I am sending good vibes.

Favorite {Photo} Friday! #2

Stella is still doing Favorite {Photo} Friday and so am I!

I've been missing Italy a lot lately... it comes and goes in phases. Sometimes I can just cry if I think about it too much, and othertimes I'm just fine. I've felt crappy this week because of a pinched nerve in my neck that's caused pain and tiredness and crankiness a bunch of stuff I don't want to bore you with, so I think that's contributed to the general melancholy. Which I intend to kick outta here today, thank you very much!

Living an hour north of Venice was a dream. I hopped on the train and went down there more times than I could count. I have, literally, thousands of photos of Venice. But I chose this one today because of the sense of looking into the scene but not being part of it. {Hello, Symbolism, how are you?} I love how the photo is framed with the arch and the scrollwork iron gate at the bottom. I love that you can see the Basilica and also the campanile (bell tower), and of course the pigeons. I love, mostly, how it makes me feel. And to me, that's what Favorite {Photo} Friday is all about! :)

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Went to the Chiro yesterday and he fixed me up, but I'm still having some residual muscle crankiness. So I'm going to take it slowly today and, you know, not try to leap tall buildings in a single bound. I'm jaunting out to the Great American Scrapbook Convention, which may or may not be great--I'll be the judge of that and I'll let you know! :) Leaving my credit card at home and am seeking only inspiration this go-round.

Went to a special party for "Bonus Card" Avon Walk ladies last night, which was great fun. The Avon staffers were great--hi ladies!--and I got rave reviews on my book. I won an hour massage and brought home a huge hunk of cheese (literally, Manchego--they divvied up the leftovers!), and if that wasn't enough I also met a couple of fellow crafters. My kind of party! :)

Tomorrow we're joining Andrea and Scott for a baseball game--sweet! Besides doing the Avon Walk together, Andrea and I (and our husbands, obv) were in Italy together... so I imagine there will be some reminiscing going on, too. All in all, it should be a super weekend!

Happy Friday, y'all!

I am not PMSing...

...so why did reading this on Ali's blog make tears spring to my eyes?

Mary Cholmondeley: Every year I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing, and which shirking pain, misses happiness as well. No one ever yet was the poorer in the long run for having once in a lifetime 'let out all the length of all the reins.'

Thanks, Ali. :)

Happy, Happy Birthday Baby!

Thirty-three years ago today, my best friend and soul mate was born. Blessed be the day! :) So this is for him... some of my favorite things about and favorite photos of my favorite person in the world. :)

Happy Birthday, Baby! I love you more than I could ever say. Here are just a few reasons why. :)

You know how to fix and build things.

You support me no matter what I'm doing.

You know how to have a good time.


You’re always there when I need your help.

You really, really like sunsets.

You make friends, quickly and easily, wherever you go.


You encourage me to do things I'd never do otherwise.


You love caves…

… and tunnels.

You embrace our German heritage.


You're the best travel partner ever.

You understand my limits but push me to test them (and you're usually right).


You don't take yourself too seriously and laugh at yourself all the time.


You indulge me when I want to take funny photos.


You dress yourself well and are great at matching colors.

You show me new ways to look at things.

You make me laugh every day.


You're never bored and can always find something to entertain yourself (and me) with.

You help me to chill out and make the best of things.

You love life and experience joy intensely.


You’re a nature-loving mountain climber/hiker/ski-er/snow-shoer…





…and I think that’s so hot!



We have the best adventures together…



…and they’re fun even in the rain.

You appreciate the little things.

Did I mention you’re a hottie?




Besides that:

You're the least-picky eater I know and are always willing to try new things, and you always thank me for cooking even if it's something simple.

You love your family.

You have so much faith in me and think I can do anything.

You have a great sense of direction.

We’re a great team.

You make me feel beautiful (no matter what I actually look like at the moment).

When I said I wanted to go to Inspired because I wanted to learn how to be an artist, you said, "Baby, you already are an artist; you make beautiful things every day." (Followed shortly by, "Sign up!")

Everyone who's worked for you has loved you.

I've lost count of the number of strangers and acquantances who've told me that you "obviously adore" me.

You love to dance.

You're great at thanking me and not taking things for granted.

You're super smart and are good at explaining things to me when I ask, and you love to learn new things.

You're a very hard worker and have been good at every job you've ever had.

I'm so lucky to be married to and loved by you, Jason. You are my favorite person in the world. Happy Birthday, Baby!

Hallmark Loves Me This Time of Year...

Happy Father's Day!


My Dad and his oldest granddaughter (my niece) Emma, taken just last month. Obviously she's having a ball! Happy Father's Day, Dad! And Don, Grandpa Bill, Grandpa Fred, and Papa, too! :)

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Today is also my dear friend Stacy's Birthday!


Happy Birthday, Stace. I love and miss you bunches and bunches. Let's chat this week!
[This photo was taken at a Murder Mystery Dinner that Stace and her husband Chaplain Jack hosted while we were all in Italy. Yes, my hair was really that color. ]

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Friday was Angella's Birthday!

This is her two and a half years ago in Paris. I love this photo of her, doesn't she look like a model? Happy Birthday, my dearest and most favorite sister-in-law. :) I know you had a great day. :)

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Finally, today is Don and Jo's 40TH ANNIVERSARY!!! Holy cow, that snuck up on us! Jason Someone thought that this was "just" 39 years, but turns out it's 40. Either way, an amazing accomplishment that we should have acknowledged more properly!

Just try to tell me this isn't the coolest photo around. This was taken back in their Oregon State days when Don was a motorcycle racer. Seriously; that's mud from the course on his shirt. Look at him eating the sandwich in between races, scowling at the photographer who happened by. And Jo? In his letterman's jacket and those sunglasses? Puh-leeeeeeease. Glamour much? This looks like a movie promotional shot!

When Jason and I got married, I got photos from all of the married couples in our families and put them in little silver frames (with descriptions) and set them out all over the tables at the reception. Because I wanted a certain number per table and was a little short, I made extra copies of this one and spread them out. During the reception I told people to take the framed photos of themselves or whichever ones they liked; later when I looked through the photos not a single one of this photo was left. This is a cool photo. The amazing thing is that they almost didn't buy it from the photographer who took it and tried to sell it to them! Can you imagine?

So thanks, Don and Jo, for buying this photo. Thanks for getting married and sticking together all these years. Thanks for having two amazing kids and for raising them to be such wonderful adults. Thank you for modeling a great marriage, and teaching your kids how to be great partners (in their own relationships) and great friends (to many). Thank you, especially, for raising the man who is my Favorite Husband in the World. Happy Anniversary!