mill creek park

hi guys!

it's been for-ev-er...

 

life is busy... instagram is easier for me to do quick documentation... but i always feel bad about not getting my words and pictures shared to this space...

 

so, in an attempt to get back at it... here i go...

 

on sunday, the girls and i grabbed our picnic blanket, picked up some food and headed to mill creek park {it was wendy's for marina and chipotle for me and maizie}... the flats were the perfect spot to have our lunch... it's one of my most favorite places in the park... listening to the running water of the stream... the cinderella bridge in view...

 to be in the moment was nice... a lot of the time, my girls will have lunch and i'll eat while standing at the kitchen counter because i'm already moving onto the next thing in my mind... if i sit down, i might lose my oomph... it was so nice to relax and actually slow down enough to enjoy it... i definitely think we need to go on more picnics this summer...

 

we stopped by pioneer pavilion...

such a beautiful structure...

spotted some daisies... {keri, those are for you!} 

then we walked over to see one of the parks waterfalls...

it was such a pretty scene... and peaceful... so much that i wanted to take a video... which i started... until my girls were shuffling gravel behind me... marina started yelling "mommy!"... maizie started yelling back at marina under her breath... both were shooting dirty looks at one another... idyllic moment over! ha... such is life...

 

what have you been up to so far this summer?

 

xo

angie



how to wrap up a cute, little gift...

 my last post was about having a giving spirit... today i wanted to share a quick way that i wrapped up a cute, little gift for a sweet friend of mine... for me, the wrapping makes me just as happy as choosing the special gift to give...

 

i found these fun strawberry baskets at michaels a few weeks back... they were on clearance for 70% off in the valentines day section...

i also purchased this project life kit which is made for scrapbooking... but for now, i've been using the small journaling cards when gift giving...

 they make the perfect little addition to jot down a greeting or thoughtful note...

 

i also found a cute cupcake liner and topper kit from tj maxx the other day {you can see it in the background of the strawberry basket photo}... i couldn't leave it behind... i could just picture the tiny bunnies as package toppers...

 

i also had a variety of colorful tissue paper on hand left over from marina's birthday...

 

first, i gathered all of my supplies...

i wrapped the gift in tissue and tucked it into the basket... added tissue paper squares all around it {much like you would do when fluffing it out of the top of a gift bag...}

 

then i made a tissue paper flower, folded some tissue in half and snipped downwards towards the fold {but not snipping the whole way through} this made the fun, fringy filler that's tucked in and about the basket...

 i added the cupcake topper off to the side... added a few twirls of twine for texture... and wrote a little message on a coordinating project life card...

and wallah...

a really cute package...

do you like to think outside of the box when it comes to wrapping? if so, what are your favorite go to wrapping supplies?

 

have a happy day!

 

xo

angie

 



a giving spirit...

i was always a giver growing up... i can remember putting all of my change in an envelope and marking it "poor kids" after watching a program that touched my young, impressionable heart... when i learned to crochet in 2nd grade, i chained an entire skein of yarn and gave it as a gift to one of my mom's closest friends... as i got a little older, i never forgot birthdays, anniversaries, or thank you's...

 

and then life got busy, scattered, sometimes messy... my calendar went by the wayside... and to be honest, i'm a bit disappointed in myself... i have good intentions, but my follow through often falls short...

 

there's one person who continually shows me a giving spirit... our marina... what an example she is at only 9 years old...

 

that girl loves to give like crazy...

she's always thinking of who may need a little pick me up...

 

she makes cards... or little books for friends...

 

she wrapped a pretty bow around a hershey bar for one of her teachers a few weeks ago {because she overheard her mention that she could really use some chocolate}...

we made tissue paper flowers over the weekend and she gifted her bus driver with a small bouquet and a tiny tub of cotton candy... {and was thrilled as she came running through the door, to say how much miss stacy loved her surprise}... you could see her beaming at how her gift made someone else's day...

she made me a present for my birthday and it's been sitting, wrapped up in her closet for days... and insisted that john take her shopping last night so she could buy me something with her own money...

 

she has such a giving heart... it is her gift... and i love to see that quality shine in her... it makes me proud...

it's also made me realize that i need to get my act together in this department... whether it be a card... a small surprise for someone... happy mail being sent or time spent... i need to start doing better... i really miss my old self...

 

what are your favorite ways to give to others?

 

xo

angie

something that brightened my day...

instagram has been a wonderful experience for me...

 

it's so easy to make connections, to see and share glimpses of daily life on ig... i can't even believe the community of online friends that i've made through this social media app...

 

i met helen from the uk when i hosted my first giveaway... she won a pocketful of posies garland...

 

in the fall she sent a bundle of beautiful felted acorns my way... they were perfect!

 

in january, we decided to do a swap for valentine's day... i was excited about it... i sent her a handful of hearts garland and she sent me felted hearts that she had made...

 

her package arrived on my doorstep and totally brightened my day... she addressed the envelope adorably... and tucked inside were felted hearts for me... treats for maizie and marina... and a special package for mr. milo {soft toys shaped like sardines, stuffed with catnip... he hasn't slowed down long enough for me to take his pic with one!}

ahh... the polka dots!

and the little hearts within the hearts...

her felt work is amazing...

i need to find a larger milk glass bowl to tuck them in...

 

knowing the amount of time and thoughtfulness that she put into that package filled me with joy...

 

helen, if you're reading... i absolutely love it all, friend... thank you for sharing your talents with me!

 

xo

angie



currently...

hi there... just a quick round up of what's currently going on around here... i've seen similar lists on a few of my favorite blogs lately {whatever & natalie creates}... my line-up is a little different but i thought i'd join in...

working on...

handful of heart garlands

wishing for...

this new book by amy from nana company... she makes the cutest things...

sweetly stiched handmades

reading...

where'd you go Bernadette

 trying...
to be better at meal planning
i've seen this recipe floating around on pinterest and i'm really wanting to give it a go... yum!

this appetizer doesn't look too shabby either...

 

{still} dreaming about...

florida


obsessing over...
 this whole look... by evy's tree... is that not the coziest, cutest hoodie ever?

listening to:

ed sheeran: thinking out loud... it's dreamy!

 

eating...
chips {i could go years without em'... then i get on a real kick and buy them nonstop for a while... these are my current fave... super healthy, i know!}

 

drinking...
 coke... since i just shared my super healthy snack above, i may as well let you know a little secret... i drink WAY too much coke... like, even right after i wake up in the morning... i so need to bring H2O back in a big way!!!
 

 

loving...
my new eos lip balm from marina... indian summer orange blossom is where it's at... {and... am i the only one who didn't know that eos stands for evolution of smooth? ya learn something new every day!}


smelling...
a little christmas gift i got for myself... the butterscotch toffee candle from bath and body works...

 

inspired by...
natalie and her favorite organizational tools post... i love putting pen to paper so a lot of her tips seemed doable to me... also, i think i need a receipt organizer in my life... my purse would thank me for it...

thinking a lot about...
how to work smarter, not harder when it comes to oopsie maizie... so happy and thankful for the progress i've made so far, but i still have so much to learn...

what does your "currently" look like?


xo
angie



an honorable mention...

hooray!

 

maizie recently brought home a paper stating that she was going to receive an honorable mention award for a piece of artwork that she had done in art class...

title:  the flu

 

the NEO scholastic art awards ceremony took place on saturday at our local university...

it was so nice that maizie was able to be a part of it... i was worried that she would have trouble getting up on stage with the crutches but she did just fine...

the works will be on display through january 29th {in bliss hall if your local}...

 

so many talented kiddos...

there were some really amazing pieces...

 

it definitely made me so proud to watch her receive this honor...

 

xo

angie

 

 

kitchen inspiration...

welp, i did some searching... i'm torn... i've seen some cabinets with doors removed that i really like...

there's these...

{flea market Trixie}

and these...

{pretty handy girl}

and these...

{skies of parchment}

this seems like the more doable option for us right now because i'm not quite sure what's lurking behind the monstrous cabinet that's currently hanging... or what shape that wall is even in...

BUT...

if i had my choice... i would love the slatted walls and open shelving that my friend jen has created in her kitchen...

she always gets it right... such an eye for color and a real knack for placing her beautiful things just so...these views top my list...

swoon-worthy...

{the cottage nest}

wish us luck in this venture...

for now, i'm off to search for a new set of dishes... {an early birthday gift from my mom...}

have a great weekend!
xo
angie