SUMMER!

Jump for joy, it's SUMMER!

Today is the first day of Summer.  However, with the weather lately, it feels like it's been Summer for quite a while now.  I mean, I've been drinking ICED coffee for weeks already.  And iced coffee = Summer.  I've also been sweating profusely in my house.  No AC = sweaty monster.  So yeah, iced coffee + sweaty monster = Summer ...but now it's official.   

Last night, we went to the farmer's market.  Now, what else screams Summer more than a farmer's market?  Nothing. Though we were a little disappointed with this particular farmer's market that we went to.  We had never been to this one before and they were seriously lacking on produce.  I don't know if it's still to early in the year or if this farmer's market is just not that good, but regardless we weren't impressed.  We did still manage to get a few select veggies like onions, tomatoes, and a zucchini (I can't believe I spelled that right on my first try!).

For dinner, we made mushroom risotto and roasted veggies (broccoli & cauliflower).  YUM.  It was so delicious, I could have eaten the whole pan, but I refrained.  Brett also prepped fresh homemade salsa (um, and also smashed our blender into a billion pieces... :) ) to have with our Mexican themed dinner tonight!  We're having enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce.

Homemade salsa,

fresh local produce,

watermelon,

cool drinks...

um, I LOVE SUMMER!

What's your favorite thing about Summer?!*

{photo drawn by my little sister Brita - she's amazing}

my favorite artist

ok, so i have this sister...

and she is kind of an amazing artist.

don't you agree?

and i think she needs to open up an etsy shop.

because i think her drawings...

are incredible.

tell her you agree:
on twitter

that is all.
:)

Dreamers Awake

Hi everyone!

I hope your Tuesday is going well. It was quite chilly at the bus stop this morning. But they say it's going to be in the upper 70s and sunny towards the end of the week. I'll take it! I wanted to stop by and tell you about this really great artist that I have grown to love. Her name is Kelli Murray. She creates such beautiful paintings and illustrations. I am completely in love with these:

Dreamers Awake

Bride to Be

Power to the Peaceful

Let Me Fly

Isn't her artwork amazing? These pieces are definitely on my wish list of things to buy some day, especially the "Dreamers Awake" and "Bride to Be" pieces. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop because she is awesome!

On another note, last night I went to check out a dance class! The Dance Cafe was offering a free hip hop cardio class downtown, so I decided to go. I heard about it through a new friend of mine that actually teaches at the studio. I am so glad I went. I was debating whether or not I wanted to make the trek downtown, but I'm really happy I did. I've been a dancer all my life, dancing at studios during my childhood and on the dance team in college. Then once I graduated, I had nowhere to go. Then this class came along and I was just in heaven. It felt sooo good to be dancing again. I hope to pop in to some more dance classes in the near future. Dance will always hold a special place in my heart.

Well, it's time for lunch. Just a side note: if you ever plan on trying Campbell's french onion soup... don't! It's gross! Ok, until next time!*

Explore, Dream, Discover

Over the weekend I did some crafting! I bought a bunch of supplies a while ago and have been meaning to work on some stuff, but just never got around to it. Well yesterday was the perfect little rainy Sunday to lock myself in my craft room and get down to business. I ended up getting really into it and didn't want to stop. But eventually Brett lured me out of the house to walk to Trader Joe's for dinner supplies. Here's just a taste of what I did!





“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –Mark Twain

Mary Engelbreit

I am a huge fan of the artist Mary Engelbreit (I get this from my mother). She has just the sweetest pieces of art. I admit they are sometimes cheesy but overall, I just love them. I have a ripaway calendar of hers that has her drawings with sweet quotes each day. I love looking at it every morning. It always gives me such a happy feeling to start my day. Here are some of my favorites:











Aren't they just too sweet?!*

Hooray for Bright Colors in Winter!

I love fun colorful fabric!! I think I am going to try my hand at making some clutches/purses/pouches using this fabric. I am slowing getting used to my new sewing machine and I'm loving it. Things are coming back to me that I learned in high school & from my mother about sewing. I can't wait to start making nice things and get them in my Etsy shop! I have so many ideas, I just need some time to work on them. Soon enough!*

Sew Excited!

Ta da! I GOT A SEWING MACHINE!!! On Sunday, my mom and I went out shopping and we were talking about craft projects, things we wanted to do, and how I really wanted to learn how to sew. Next thing I know, I was heading home with my very own brand spanking new sewing machine (thanks to my mom as an early birthday gift!). This sewing machine has escalated my excitement of opening up my Etsy shop! The ideas are churning in my mind of all the possibilities for my shop! I can't wait to get sewing and start creating things. I'm just 'sew' excited!* ;)

Etsy!

Over the last month, I have become more and more intrigued by Etsy. If you are wondering what this is, simply put: "Etsy is the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace. Etsy celebrates individual creativity in design and craftsmanship by connecting unique people, stories and items in a playful and meaningful way. Etsy provides a marketplace for crafters, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods and crafting supplies." I could sit on my computer all day and just browse through all of the amazing things on Etsy.

I've been inspired to open my very own Etsy shop! And today, I officially setup an account to open a shop! I am beyond thrilled for this endevour. I've always considered myself a creative person. I give credit to my extremely creative parents and siblings. I grew up being surrounded by my father playing music and my mother sewing and making things. All my life, I've been crafting and making little things here and there. And I've always gotten compliments on my creations but never really pursued anything further than gifts for friends and family. After discovering Etsy (which I was introduced to by my mother), I have completely been inspired to take my ideas and creations and go somewhere with them! So here's to setting up my very own Etsy shop in the near future!*