It's been a fabulous run....

(c) Stephanie Williams

Well, lovelies, it has been fabulous, just being here with you. But my mind has been straying elsewhere as of late. My day job started a new restrictive internet policy a few months ago, so my activity became more and more limited. And, while losing moments at work was okay, lately I've been learning that I don't really want to lose moments outside of work -- I've got friends pursuing sewing classes, aerobics, yoga, cake decorating, scuba -- and I want to, too! Well, maybe not scuba, but you get what I mean :) And while I like to think I enjoy having a full schedule, I know I actually don't multi-task too well, and when I'm focused on something, I am *focused.*

And for a good almost-2 years, that was here. But I need to make a clean break. (Hee, insert "It's not you, it's me!" cheesiness.) I know, I hate that this seems like a break up post (erm, awkward?) -- but coming here + the blogosphere was such a haven for me, it was fantastic! And I just wanted to say thank you, and say goodbye properly.

Really, it's the reading of my 130+ blogroll that is beginning to wear on me. And a huge chunk of this blog was to share the loves I found. Hence, my need to say Thank You for joining me on this journey, but I believe this is my last stop.

Well, actually, I have three more posts scheduled, staggered for the end of this month and next month, just because those were scheduled a while ago. And if I do jump back into hoarding pretties again, you can catch what catches my eye on my tumblr.

But: I wish peace and happiness and serenity for all of you -- and thank you.

Weekend Recap

These fantastic weekends are something I could get used to. 

Impromptu date night with the hubs.

(by me)
sake flight at Sushi Zushi, since the hubs' soccer practice made us a little too late to join some friends until...

Birthday dessert cookies!

(c) Alison Cox at flickr

Then, Mexican vanilla ice cream + strawberries the next day with friends...

(c) Sun is Heart at flickr

And the most fabulous 30th party I've ever seen -- kudos to the event planner, the celebrant's sister! 

Everything looked *fantastic* I wish I had a real camera + had managed to capture more details than these, like the uuuuubber gorgeous layer cake + all the rustic-chic bunting + all the gorgeous, hand-painted bottle vases, but you'll just have to take my word on those...

Then a little light reading the next day.

(c) Sayoor on flickr

Then lots and lots of sleeping.

Martha Stewart feat. on Escapade, via myfarmhouse

Happy Friday!

(c) Erin Hearts Court, feat. on Once Wed

Thanks to everyone who's entered the giveaway -- just a few more days left, if you haven't yet :)!  Well, I hope everyone's weekend is as fantastic as I hope mine to be!

A little reading....

(c) M Al-Ahmadi via justbesplendid:

Ice cream with friends...

(c) BakedBree

And a fantastic 30th birthday celebration for my friend!

(c) vintagefern via youropenpalms

 designsponge feat. kiki la ru

Happy Weekend!

Happy Monday! {Weekend Recap}

Le. Sigh. My weekend was fan.tastic.

Sand volleyball tournament on Saturday. Early. Well, early for me ;)
And hot.

Remedied later by a *fantastic* afternoon + evening at our friend's pool.
Bratwursts on the grill + caramelized onions, chips + ranch dip, Woodchuck, and freshly baked brownies. With lots of lounging + catching up. Love love love.

Their awesome entry way + the gorgeous light deserved its own photo :)

And dinner on Sunday at our place with some other friends, who brought peanut butter cup martini fixins in tow. I know, don't you wish you had friends like these ;)? I wish I'd taken photos of my contributions, but just imagine a fantastic spinach + cherry tomato + tortellini salad (with a light vinaigrette dressing), bacon-wrapped spinach-stuffed chicken breast (I had lots of spinach to get rid of :D), and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

In case you can't tell, the word of the week is "fantastic" -- here's to hoping y'all have a fantastic Monday + week!

what.a.rockfest. {etsy finds}

Clearly, we all know I like to ... I don't want to say "toot my own horn," so I'm going to call it "celebrating."  But seriously -- tonight's sand volleyball game *was amazing*, my team was on fire!  If I could express myself in letterpress cards, they would be something like these lovely etsy finds...

{sycamorestreetpress}

{NavyBlueNotes}

{majoiepress}

[not letterpress but still awesome:]

{cooljane}

{TweeCards}

I am not sporty (or coordinated, generally) by any means, but something about fantastic teamwork makes for such a rockin night.  Whooooo, Pitchers!

Pure Loveliness {Style Circle} + Rabbit Trails

So, first, Bride Chic led me to this gorgeousgorgeousgorgeous board, created by Brancoprata.

Then, I popped over to Brancoprata. Um, more gorgeousness -- like Tuesday Shoes Day and their feature on Love & Lavender and lots of stuff.  But the most recent post was a board designed to celebrate Abby of SuperBurbs, who apparently got married yesterday.  (I know, this is like a tv show, I love it!)  So of course I popped over! 

And saw this: a quilt created by her fantastic cyber bridesmaids and etsy seller Tapestri!!!

SuperBurbs, quilt by Tapestri

The quilt has quotes from all of them -- apparently, each "guest" at Tapestri can purchase a square individually and submit a quote for Tapestri to embroider -- I.love.it.  [And again, it's like the world knows what I need, because this is so what I was thinking for my mother-in-law!]

Here's to hoping all this Sunday sunshine finds you well :)!

Happy Almost Weekend!!

LaPetiteBoheme

Hooray, the weekend is almost here! I've just found out that my aunts*might* be coming into town tomorrow for their last day in the States! See, their visa, for which they had applied in THE 80'S!, was approved earlier this year, and they finally got to come over from the Philippines! They've been staying with my parents and sister, and I've seen them once when I was able to drive in. But, fingers crossed, they'll drive in tomorrow to my neck of the woods with my Sister, and get to scope out our State Capital :)!

by me: work getting done on the Capitol!

Else, hopefully I can drive into where they're staying with my family. Regardless, I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend!

More of The Bestest

I know, can I stop gushing already? But I can't help it -- it always cheers me up to read about other people's ecstaticism, so I hope that all of this comes out the same.

But -- I stepped out onto my front porch yesterday afternoon to leave out some cat treats that are, apparently, offensive to my cat, but I think other visiting cats [which are many] will enjoy.

And when I turned around, what did I see?

And I immediately recognized the return address of MadeByGirl (love her!), and I was thinking, "Did I win something I don't remember...?"

And so I popped it open inside the house, opened the tube, and heard a business-card *plink* and saw at the bottom ...

!!!  That would be Lana & Elizabeth

And then when I opened up the tissue-wrapped surprise, I saw...

print (c) MadeByGirl, pic by me

I heart you girls, this was the perfect way to commemorate my oral argument!!!  Seriously, I almost cried when I read the card + saw the print -- it was taking what I uber-heart, completely unrelated to this event that had been consuming my life for far too long (and which still lingers as I fall asleep or stand in the shower) -- I mean, maybe it doesn't make sense, but it is perfection for me.  Like replacing all this fear + stress with nothing but love :)

Thanks, girls :)!  I hope everyone is having a beautiful weekend!

Happy Friday!

Seriously, I'm so lucky. Not just because I knocked out that uber-scary deal Wednesday, but because I have the kinds of friends who celebrate with me with, say, tres leches cupcakes!

{photo by me, cupcake from J. Golden*}

And margaritas in a teeny, not-so-much-air-conditioned-but-still-fun spot!

(c) Fuzzy Gerdes

And later tonight: dinner at my place!

(c) e.t.

(c) Grace

(except this will actually be Church's, but there just aren't any good photos of Church's tenders out there -- but seriously, if you haven't had those, they are delicious. Heart attack a near certainty, true, but mmm.)

What better friends can a girl ask for :)?

And, lest you think that I am uber self-centered and all about celebrating me (even if I am, so?) -- my best friend is coming into town with her hubs on Sunday and staying with us a couple days, before she gets to actualize her dream of MOVING TO THE BIG APPLE, WOOT!

knotworkshop

So, I thought it would be fantastic to finally get to try out my Magnolia cookbook -- but then Snippet & Ink linked to Smitten Kitchen, who already did this test run. So I'll save my novice attempt and follow her adaptation -- yea, fantastic bakers!

(c) Smitten Kitchen

Here is to hoping all of you have fantastic weekends!!

*okay, this is that venture I talked about way back when -- I started this off for J. Golden's birthday present, since she just celebrated her golden birthday. Pop on over now and then -- it's not quite up and running yet (since the first 2 posts are mine, hee!), but I think it's going to be a fun space we share photos, a little fun, and who knows what else :) Cheers!

Cattle Drive + Kolaches

Cattle Drive {by me}

mmmmm Kolaches by {NoNoJoe at flickr}

Best work trip.  And we still have halfway to go!

Beautiful Sunday Wishes

Craig and Eva Sanders, via Style Me Pretty

It is seriously crunch time, ladies (and gents?)  I just thought this picture beautifully captured what I hope for today: calm, serenity, beauty, and hope -- is that silly?  But, cheers to wishing everyone a fantastic week -- I will check in periodically, but until this huge project I have blows over (August 4, whoop!), it'll be touch and go.

But, if you are so inclined, a summary of my life, currently, in pictures:

Attended a party baby shower! Pure delight.

{zalita}

Learning how to argue sandbagging.

Mahdi Abdulrazak via flickr

Catch-up visit with my sister at Starbucks, transforming into seeing my aunts visiting from the Philippines and introducing my husband to them for the first time! Incredible is just the tip of adjectives I could use to describe that impromptu visit.  Long long long story.

6igella

And, surprise, work work work work work work.

Adam Peterson on flickr, via sweethomestyle

Do update me on anything fabulous happening in your life, please?

Happy Friday!

Life is fantastic.  Just a smidge more hectic than I'd like. Although, it's probably even more hectic than I'm letting myself even feel, whoops!  But this weekend is the hubs's family reunion -- his whole maternal grandmother's family!

{Brian Indrelunas on flickr}

We'll be on the river -- woot!

{Eric Conner on flickr}

Although, the weather forecast makes it more like...

{Greg Peverill-Conti on flickr}

But hopefully we'll enjoy some of these!!

{Michelle Tribe on flickr}

And these (which I baked late late last night!!)

{katrina on flickr}

Cheers to a fantastic weekend to all of you!