time to get planting...

in my mind i have a green thumb, and a beautiful, cottagey garden... one where i can go out and cut fresh flowers, arrange them in mason jars about the house and call it happy...

 

my reality is that i can't keep up with all of it... i often forget where things are planted... my markers disappear after long, frozen winters... tulips sprout leaves instead of blooms... i'm constantly saying, "is that a plant or a weed?"

 

hostas are my new bff's... they never fail or disappoint...

 

container planting is somewhat manageable... but even that can be a little overwhelming to me... shade, sun, colors, heights... i usually go with the tried and true impatiens... much like the hosta... they're pretty hardy... but this year, i'd like to mix it up, if even a little...

 

so... my friend cara has been telling me about lutz greenhouse for a while... every spring {over the last several years} i tell myself that it's where i'm heading to buy my plants... if i'm being completely honest, i've planted zero in my flower boxes that hang in the front of our house for the past few springs... and last year i managed to plant only in our containers on our patio area...

 

i have high hopes this spring... to cozy up the place... flowers add a much needed splash of color {especially to our dark-ish, english tudor home...}

 

off to lutz i went, a little road trip of sorts... i thought i'd pick up a quick gift for my mom {she who has the green thumb}... and scope out the place...

i'm so happy that i did!

 

i started off in their little gift shop...

so quaint...

 the type of place that makes you want to go home and plant... you feel inspired to pretty up your yard...

are you loving succulents these days? from what i hear, they're all the rage... i didn't quite get it until i saw these... they're actually really pretty in person...

 unique colors and shapes...

 

they have the cutest selection of fairy garden items... 

 container fairy gardens ready to go...

 or a neat collection of mosses and miniature fairy plants, to make your own haven...

 lots of textures...

 charming little houses...

 miniature peat pots full of treasures...

 herbs...

a greenhouse with the right amount of chippiness and character...

there's color...

 lots and lots of color...

 i had the best time looking around... so much pretty at every turn...

 this is the gem that came home with me... my mom loves it...

 

i met heather, who was very helpful in steering me in the right direction for my flower boxes this year... i'm heading back this week and i'll be sure to show you what i pick out... stay tuned!

 

xo

angie

a beautiful day...

this past sunday, i woke up early and met my mom and grandma for breakfast... nothing like a fried cinnamon roll to get the day started...

 {i love this pic... my mom looks so happy here and my cheesy smile cracks me up!}

donuts were brought home for my girls... my mom stopped over and we spent some time out in my yard enjoying the sunshine...

my girls gave me handmade cards, gifts and a coupon for one trip to the greenhouse... that made me so happy because i can't wait to get my flower baskets planted this year...

we spent the rest of the day hanging out in our yard... setting up our patio area...

 twinkly lights in the trees... setting up the table... washing down wrought iron chairs... there's something about seeing it all come together that makes me smile... one thing that i love best about summer is eating outside... we shared our first outdoor dinner... it was delicious!

mother's day is a time to celebrate and remember the special women in our lives... those still here with us... those who are watching from above... those who long for children... those who have lost children too soon... my heart is heavy for those who hurt on this day... my thoughts were with a couple of my friends because i know this day isn't easy for them... and my thoughts were with my dad, this being his first year without his mom... my thoughts were also with the three sweet babies that i lost, but will forever hold a piece of my heart...

and my thoughts will always be on these two...

i'm so thankful that i get to be their mama!

xo
angie 

spring photos with mmgphotography

a few weeks ago maizie and marina had their pictures taken by michelle with MMGPhotography...

 

 i'm always super excited when this occurs... i have the best time pulling together clothing and accessories for the girls...

 

and i really love seeing the moments that michelle captures...
 

 here are a few of my favorites from that day... i couldn't be happier!

what i love so much about this one {besides miss marina and that gold, velvety chair!} is that it was taken in the truck bay of the wonder bakery that used to be at the end of the street where i grew up... so many memories walking to that bakery... money in hand... buying ho-ho's, chocolate cupcakes and lemon fruit pies... i miss those days!

downtown youngstown provided a great urban setting...

her little dress is by matilda jane... love the mixed up colors and patterns...

love this one!

sisters... so lucky to have each other!

the b&o station is such a neat location... a beautiful old building that was once a train depot... lots of architectural details and textures...



in the blink of an eye... she's a beautiful, young lady...

she has her own sense of style... and is loving the beanies these days...

i wonder what she's thinking about here... i love her expression!

 

 now i just have to decide what prints to order... it's going to be hard narrowing it down...

 

thanks so much, michelle! we had such a fun day with you :)

 

xo

angie



marina's first communion

i'm always very emotional when it comes to events in my girls' lives... i know that most moms are, but i think i might be a little extreme... first days of school, last days of school, choir performances {anytime there's a group of young, angelic voices singing... it brings me to tears almost
instantly...}, orchestra concerts, church, i cried at Disney all 3 times that we've been there... anytime music accompanies these landmark moments in our lives, i tend to weep...
 

saturday, may 3rd was no different... it was marina's turn to make her first communion...

 

we started off the morning by getting her hair done... our cousin kim did a beautiful job...

she didn't want a veil... only a flower tucked in...

 we got her a little token to remember her day... a lovely pair of earrings and bracelet by leelee jewelry... so sparkly...

we offered to go shopping for her own dress but she tried on maizie's and it fit her perfectly... i love that she chose to wear the same one as her sister... i'm very sentimental like that...

 they encouraged us to not take pictures and video during the ceremony at the church... the focus was to be in the moment, watching our children receiving a very special gift for the first time...

as soon as the processional music started and the children began walking down the aisle... i began to cry... there was no holding it in... it was such a beautiful moment that overwhelmed me with emotion... my thoughts went from her baptism... to thoughts of how fast time goes and to how much i miss my grandma g. {i went to church with her and my grandpa every sunday from the time i was little until i was 18... it was a huge part of my life so thoughts of church immediately lead me to thoughts of my gram}... i so wish that she was still with us because she would have loved every minute of this special day...

gosh... how i love this girl...

she chose to wear a special antique ring from her papa... {my dad gave it to her a couple of years back}... she came downstairs and i saw that she had put in on all on her own... my heart kinda melted in that moment... she's such a papa's girl...

we had a small party/dinner afterwards at our house with family and close friends... it was so nice to sit around and catch up with everyone... we had yummy food... the kids played... we enjoyed cookie cake for dessert {at marina's request... it's her fave}...

 

we couldn't of had a more beautiful day...

 

god bless you, sweet marina! 

 

 

xo

angie

the rose garden...

i grew up a couple of streets over from one of the prettiest places in mill creek park... fellows riverside gardens... or the rose garden {which is what i've called it ever since i was a little girl}...

i have so many memories here...

today i went for a walk through the gardens with my mom... she's been telling me about the amount of tulips that were planted this year... it was amazing!

tulips have been my favorite flower for as long as i can remember... don't get me wrong... i love most flowers... peonies and hydrangeas are a close 2nd and 3rd for me... they have an old fashion, cottage-y appeal... but tulips are just outright 

 h a p p y to look at...

 

  a vibrant shout out that spring is here...

 

i took lots of pics so you can see the beauty that's blooming in ohio right now... that's one of the things that i find so special about blogging... to me, people and the places that they live are so interesting... it's always nice to catch a glimpse into someone else's world for a moment...

 

here are some glimpses from my morning...

 so much color...

 and so many different varieties...

the name of this double tulip is miranda... they're gorgeous...

 row after...

 row after...

row of color!!!

 are they making you happy, too?

 i so wish i could get them to grow in my own yard like this... every year that i plant them, i have high hopes... i usually end up with tulip leaves... this year 4 actually bloomed... it was the most impressive display :)

 so much detail in every petal...

i hope that you're having a beautiful day!

 

xo

angie



pocketful of posie garlands...

i've seriously been slacking on this little, blog of mine... like, i skipped the entire month of april... how does that happen?

 

i had good intentions... still have a bunch of posts sitting in draft mode... i just never got around to sharing any of them...

 

nothing major was getting in my way... just the busy of every day... i have lots to catch up on here, but thought i'd drop in real quick today with a little shop update...

 

the pocketful of posies garland is something that i've had in the works for a while... i finally sat down the other day... made up a few pattern pieces and started pairing up fabrics...

 

i'm so happy with how they turned out... there is an eclectic mix of 7

{5"} flowers strung on approximately 9 1/2 feet of twine...

 the flowers slide around on the twine so they can be adjusted to fit any space as needed...

each flower is embellished with a vintage button center... i like the special touch that they add :)

i've spent the last few days in my studio working away on these... i hope that you enjoy them as much as i do...

 

xo

angie