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

open faced cabinets or shelving...

when i tell you that my kitchen is the size of a cubicle, i'm not kidding...

 

i can have one hand on the stove and one hand in the sink and the two are across the room from one another...

 

when we bought our house in 2000, i remember john and my mom both bringing up the fact that the kitchen was pretty small... and i remember myself saying "but it's such a cute, little kitchen!" you know when you really want something badly enough, sometimes the better judgment jumps out the window... my judgment on this kitchen being my case in point...

 

no matter how many people we have over, or how i try to corral guests to another room, inevitably we all end up gathered around, elbow to elbow, in this tiny space...

 

it's in need of an entire overhaul... new cabinetry... some pretty countertops would be nice... a farm house sink has forever been on my wish list... dare i say let's add a dishwasher? {you read that right folks, too squishy in there for a dishwasher... unless that washer of dishes is me...} i also didn't think that through very well before we purchased... ask me now and i'll tell ya i should have taken that into consideration...

 

i've been toying around with the idea of taking the cupboard doors off of our main cabinets... {they're wonky... one of them is a little melted from a votive candle incident {which could have ended up so much worse}... and they no longer stay latched {which entails us slamming them and holding them in place, until we gently pull our hands away, hoping they stay put... and sometimes they stay hanging open a bit because i've just about had enough of them...}

 

are ya still with me? i'm feeling a little long-winded in my description here...

 

anyways, on the way home from dropping the kiddos off at school this morning, i tossed it out there to john... what about open shelving in the kitchen?

 

we were no sooner home... and the screw driver was coming out... crooked, wonky doors be gone!

 

here's what i'm looking at right now... she's not a real looker just yet... and i'm not going to show you my pile of mismatched dishes that are bogging down my breakfast nook...

we're going to start with a fresh coat of paint and then go from there...

 

i'm feeling a little nervous about the whole thing... kind of a spur of the moment upheaval... but my fingers are crossed that this hopefully will be an improvement... 

 

i've been perusing pinterest for some inspiration... i'll be back tomorrow to let you know what i find...

what are your thoughts on this? do you like open faced cabinets or shelving versus traditional cupboards?

xo
angie



dreaming of florida..

it's been so cold... and windy... and icy... did i mention cold?

i've been dreaming of florida...
we were so thankful to be able to take a trip to the beach this summer...

the last time we visited the ocean was when maizie was 3 1/2... she's now 13..

there's just something about the ocean that calms me... the waves, the smells, the sounds... so, so relaxing and good for my soul...

we stayed on treasure island beach at the thunderbird beach resort which is on the gulf side of florida...

 i had never been to the gulf side and i've always heard that the sand is white and powdery and the ocean is warmer... true and true...

looking at all of these photos makes me feel so happy!

so many memories!

 

praying as we drove through the mountains in a blinding rain storm...

 

eating lunch {and dinner} at britt's pizza...

 our air conditioning not working and getting an ocean front suite because of it...

 visiting with my aunt dee and uncle dean... seeing their house for the first time... swimming in their pool... cooking out...

 hanging out with my cousin laurie, her husband ramon and their little boy diego {my girls just love him!}...

john driving a little over an hour out of our way to find the silver dolphin alex and ani bracelet that maizie really wanted...

dinner with the family overlooking the ocean and walking along the beach watching the sunset {what a gift!}...

sand castles... shell collecting... early morning walks before everyone else was awake... toes in the sand... {so rejuvenating}...

lunch at bubba gump shrimp company on the patio... watching the dolphins jump up out of the water as we ate...

eating chocolate covered bacon for the first time... {it tasted like a crunchy candy bar}...

driving towards st. pete's beach and having john pull off of the side of the road so that i could take marina's picture by a marina sign...

i remember the afternoon that my mom, aunt and uncle met us at our hotel pool... my mom walked down to the ocean with me to see it all... she said "so this is what you love..." and i said "yes"... {she's not a fan of the ocean... finds it a bit scary...} if i was brave enough to move somewhere warmer, by the beach, i know i would love it {if i could only convince my parents to move as well!}...

trips are amazing... they're moments that no one can ever take away from you... memories that will last a lifetime...

i'm hoping to make it back there again...

i feel better just typing this post... it's almost as if the sun is jumping from the screen warming me right up and i can almost hear the waves crashing in and back out again...

what are some of your favorite vacation memories?

xo
angie

today was...

today was the first full day that both of my girls were back in school since before christmas break... it started off a little rocky... a bit of drama in the clothing department from my little one led to her missing the bus... i had a very icy windshield and back window when we were getting ready to leave... but once i did the drop offs the day was mine...

 

first stop: panera for a frozen caramel... the newest one that was built by us has a drive-thru... so convenient! {maybe a little too convenient, if i'm being honest!}

second stop: back home...

i turned on the laptop... tuned into parenthood from last week {i may have had several good, ugly cries} and sewed away...

{seriously, why does this have to be their last season... i feel like i came in a little late to the party... like, i need to find season one and start from scratch... love, love, love this show!}

 

then i got all caught up on downton abbey... umm... tony gillingham, i'm a fan!

 

as for the sewing... it went pretty fast...

 

patterns...

textures...

colors...

it all makes me happy... especially when i can just spend the day doing my thing without a zillion and one interruptions... being productive is such a great feeling!

 

done...

and...

done...

 

how was your day?

 

xo

angie

 





a day to celebrate maizie...

ahh... that sweet little face... i'd give anything to go back to that time... maizie was about 11 months old in this picture...

{my goodness... i can't even begin to tell you how much i loved to dress that girl!}

fast forward...

today she turns thirteen...

happy birthday sweet girl!

time just continues with no regard to how i feel about it forging on... and it's forging fast, might i add...

 

and while i can't believe that i'm the mom of a teenager, i am so proud of the young lady that she's becoming...

 

she's just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside... such a smart and caring girl... i'm so lucky to call her my daughter...

 

today was her first day back to school after her surgery... when she came home, we celebrated her!

 

bw3 for dinner {it's her fave}... a little happy birthday singing along with the dessert of her choice, handel's ice cream... and presents...

 

i know her 2015 is off to a rocky start with the crutches and all, but my wish is that she has a wonderful year, full of happy memories with family and friends... these are the best times and i want her to enjoy every minute of them...

 

xo

angie

fingers crossed...

we had a snow day yesterday and we were pretty happy about it... i was relieved that maizie wasn't missing more work than she already has due to her ankle... and marina is always more than thrilled when there's a snow day because she loves to relax at home...

 

as i tucked marina in last night, she said "fingers crossed" for no school tomorrow... when i went back up to check on her this is what i saw...

i love that girl... so full of hope!

 

 when i woke up this morning at 6:00 we were sitting at a 2 hour delay... marina tip toed into our room and asked right before 8:00 if school was closed? i told her there was a delay and she said... "well, my fingers crossed at least got that... better than nothing"... soon after, an email notification came across my phone saying that we were closed... cue happiness!

 

this is the scene outside... it's pretty but i'm glad to not have to venture out in it...

today will be for relaxing, movie watching, and sewing... sounds perfect to me!

 

wherever you are, i hope that you're enjoying your friday, too!

 

xo

angie