Rambling thoughts from today...

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” 
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Memo by ali edwards | Flickr

I have just set a personal record for body product usage: I emptied a fullsize bottle of lotion in just two weeks - it usually takes me at least a year ...

My intention for February is to "maintain momentum" and to cultivate four daily habits - as you can see, I've been pretty good at moisturizing daily and avoiding soda, I've been so-so at cooking dinner every night, and have just plain sucked at exercising everyday - I blame winter ...

Although I've been doing Zumba or yoga every so often, it's been almost a month since I've actually run, so tonight I took advantage of a not-so-freezing night to slowly get back on this horse ...

I did feel like quite the badass when I noticed that I was running outside when there are still snowmen in our neighborhood, albeit toppled over and melting as they might be ...

Which brings me to the fact that I'm about over this cold weather - it's time it said "adios"...

I'm at that point in the season where I hate everything in my closet - I changed clothes four times this morning before I found an almost decent combination, and needless to say, I didn't really have that kind of time ...

I really want to hang a gallery of frames/prints on my stairwell wall, but it's really causing me a lot of stress - then it stresses me out knowing that I'm stressed about something that's supposed to be fun ...

Speaking of walls, have you seen the alphabet wall that my friends Heather and Ricky designed and painted in baby Jackson's nursery - what a labor of love! ...

This weekend I was a wedding invitation fiend - refining concepts for my friend Maegan and finishing the final touches for my mom - hey, did I mention my mom is getting married?!?! ...

I also bought my plane ticket to the CST for her wedding today - can't back out now, Mama! ...

And, that's all she wrote ...

Valentine's Day 2013...

"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together… and I knew it."
-Tom Hanks, Sleepless In Seattle

Last year I was so good with my Valentine's Day craft week. But, this year between work and more work, I wasn't quite feeling it. However, I couldn't just let the day slip away without any craftiness at all.

Despite my silence here on the blog lately, I've still been "pinning" away and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to actually make something out of all of that inspiration.

Last weekend, I whipped up some Heart-Shaped Soft Pretzels, inspired by those posted over at Say Yes to Hoboken. Rob was thrilled with the idea of homemade pretzels. When he saw them, he exclaimed, "Hey, look! They kind of look like hearts!" I just had to grin... that was sort of the point!



I also fell in love with these Date Idea Arrows over at Sugar & Cloth. It was a bit of a challenge to think up ten different easy, unique, creative date ideas that we would both enjoy.

If you need hints on date ideas, here's are some of mine:

• At-home spa night
• Read a book together*
• Hike at a local state park
• Go out just for dessert
• Visit the local planetarium show
• Go on a downtown walking tour
• Order Chinese takeout
• Watch a TV show marathon on Netflix
• Take a picnic to the park
• Spend the day at the lake

*I was afraid Rob might think this was a corny idea, but I loved it, so I went with it anyway. What do you know... after he read each one to himself, he said, "I really like the idea of reading a book together."



Rob and I tried to think back and reminisce about all of our past Valentine's Days. We did pretty well, but for the future days when our memories are not so swift... here's a record of this year's festivities:

After work, we changed clothes and went to dinner at Red Bowl (a new Asian restaurant in town). I had "Beef a la Szechaun," while Rob enjoyed a "Sesame Chicken Bento Box."

Then, we walked the mall to kill time before the 9pm USC-Upsate/Mercer basketball game. [It was way past our bedtime, so we yawned through the game.] The Spartans lost the game, but it wasn't a total loss because Rob and I made the "kiss cam" during one of the timeouts!

Every knee shall bow...

"So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
-Philippians 2:10

Tomorrow is a day that many of my friends and I have been waiting anxiously for... it's the day that our pastor and friend, Chris Barrett, receives a bone marrow transplant.

The miracle of modern medicine and the miracle of prayer will come together to transform the very marrow of this man.

He has a long road ahead, but after tomorrow, he will be one step closer to victory over Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

To show your support and solidarity with Chris, check out the Support for Rev. Chris Barrett Facebook page. You can even download/post a pic of this "awesome" graphic [designed by yours truly]. I'm sure Chris will take all of the prayer warriors he can.

One Little Word album...

"Getting momentum going is the most difficult part of the job, and often taking the first step is enough to prompt you to make the best of your day." 
-Robert J. McKain

Because it's so personal, I've gone back and forth about whether I wanted to post the progress of my One Little Word scrapbook. But, I'm just tickled with the results, so why not share it...

Page 1 - text from blog post on Jan 1
Page 2 - definition of momentum with vintage dictionary page

After picking my word for 2013, "momentum," I spent several days brainstorming and researching all of the different nuances of the word. I have a work-in-progress Evernote document where I have recorded all of my thoughts and then moved them around until they made logical sense. Only then did I attempt to put my creative spin on them.

Pages 3 & 4 - monthly intentions for January to December
each month includes a catchy focus, an inspirational quote, and two bucket list goals

I'm amazed by how often my word has inspired me in just the first three weeks of the year. I look to it when I'm making a tough decision or even as I choose how to spend my days. I'm also keeping a running list of ways I've embraced "momentum" so far, which I hope to include in my album each month.

Full speed ahead...

Bein' green...

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."
-Pedro Calderon de la Barca

If you've been reading here for awhile, you might remember the awesome kitchen artwork that my mom and I constructed this summer.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember last month that said artwork leapt off the wall one morning while Rob and I were getting ready for work.

Apparently it didn't like hanging on the wall anymore. The hooks on the back bent out of shape and down it went. The silverware landed in pieces, the board was dented, and Rob panicked because he doesn't handle crisis very well in the moment.

After a trip to IKEA last weekend with my friend Lesa, we both committed to starting house projects this week. And, this newly blank wall in the kitchen was itching for something new...

Here's the look I'm going for...

1. Valspar City Chartreuse paint
2. 10" Raised Numbers Silver Wall Clock
3. Endless Circle Lattice Stencil
**Still haven't figured out the label/frames

Step one... paint the wall.
This afternoon while Rob was riding, I tackled the wall. Four hours and one quart of paint later... tada!

Now, I just need to commit to the rest!!