my [ heart ] is full

my heart is full with happiness.
a few things that made my [heart] smile this week...

- the most unexpected and delicious 6 course meal we made over fire at Mark's farm.
eating with just our fingers, sitting in the dark of the cool fall night with the fire as our only source of light and warmth, surrounded by friends and puppies.

- when I realize my baby (pup) is learning things.  she's now the queen of "sit", "down", and "stay"... sorta.

- seeing a bald eagle flying outside my window as I am writing this... no joke.

- every early morning, with bed head, drool dripping out the corner of my mouth, and my eyes crusted shut because I forgot to take my contacts out (yuck, sorry, too much? ; ) Mark still wakes me up to kiss me goodbye and tell me he loves me when he leaves for work... and I swear he still looks at me like I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever laid his eyes on. 

- sharing in a gorgeous fall wedding this weekend with Mark's family.  fire pits, amazing pulled pork, and sunflowers.

- & boyfriend/dad bonding time.  they are currently out skeet shooting... here's to hoping everyone returns safely ;)

what makes your heart full with happiness?

so not ready for this weekend to be over... 

teaching a "Tasty Art" art class tomorrow for 1-3 graders, eek!  

Experimenting with a lot of (hopefully) fun food projects,

I'll try to get some good pictures!

7 Moments of [ Bliss ]

 

bliss/blis/Noun

1. Perfect happiness; great joy.

2. Something providing such happiness.

- realizing that despite my fear of change, i'm surprisingly comfortable in this crazy transition into the real world.

- feeling at home, even when i'm homeless

- walks down daffodil valley with my best friends

- getting random texts reminiscing on the memories
of the good ol' days (a few weeks ago :)

- packing for my trip to california
(my first time ever on the west coast!)

- waiting all year for my favorite flower to bloom,
ooh peonies, you get me every time...

and

- all my blog friends i've made in the past few months,
and opening my eyes to this new world of beautiful people i never knew existed.

i love these types of posts because its easy for me to just overlook these moments of happiness and let them pass by, but this gives me a chance to really just sit and be immersed in the little things that bring me joy.  we need to appreciate these moments, always.

Happy Birthday, my Love

My boyfriend turns 22 today.

 

We've been dating for almost 5 years, but we've known each other since 2nd grade : )

... he had a crush on me in fifth grade
when he saw me on the morning announcements...  

 ...I had a crush on him and his gold chains and gelled hair (glad he's outta that phase :) all through middle school...

...our timing finally fell into place our Senior year of high school...

Senior Homecoming, 2006

This past summer in Charleston

He's kind, and calm, and patient...

And handsome, and strong, and level-headed...

He holds me when my anxiety gets the best of me...

And let's me talk when I'm angry...

He follows me in my daydreams...

and never worries about the details.

Cinque Terre, Italy,  2009

 Happy Birthday, babe.

Thank you for the past five years, and growing and maturing with me along the way.

Have an amazing day, and everyday ♡

[ Spring Break ] Key West 2011

So as I am lying in bed, attempting to recover from the past five days of absolute craziness, I've realized 5 things...

1.  we never did get a piece of key lime pie
2.  i managed to leave without losing anything (i think) or getting my nose pierced (ha)
3.  even if i wear 50 spf, i will still get burnt (and more freckles)
4.  i didn't take enough pictures... so typical  
5.  i will definitely go back one day

I can't begin to describe how fun.beautiful.romantic.delicious.overwhelming this spring break experience really was.  As my first, and last true college spring break it certainly satisfied every expectation, and then some.  About 40 kids from my school came down, including my roommates and boyfriend, and it was as if we had just relocated my college right into paradise.

My favorite people, in my new favorite place.  
It was just perfect.

Our adorable little inn

So yeah, sadly these are really the only half decent photos I have... but I'm anxiously anticipating being tagged in tons on facebook (i hope none are too outrageously embarassing :)

[ for free ] Date Ideas

I'm starting a new series... ideas for all things "free."

Because, hey, they are the best things, and as a broke college student I don't know what I would do without free and/or uber-cheap things.  My boyfriend and I have been dating for 5 years (eek, really 5 years?) and we are always looking for ways to mix things up (why does this sound like we are already an old married couple, ha).  So I set out on a search for the best dates, that cost little to no money, and can make a boring, old day/night, a little more exciting.

1) go on a picnic. My boyfriend is a total boy, and loves being outdoors.  While I'm not so crazy about the bugs and sunburns, I can suck it up for him for a few hours, and its nice to change up the scenery a bit.

2) star/cloud watching.  I'm fortunate enough to go to a school with a few hidden little beach spots.  I can't wait until it's warm enough to take a blanket, a bottle of wine, and be able to soak up the sky.

3) go to an art gallery/museum.  While my bf is not exactly "artsy," he loves me enough to humor me for a few hours and go with me to galleries and museums and pretend to be interested (he even asks really good questions, like he really cares :).  We are close enough to DC to be able to take a nice little day trip to all the AMAZING and FREE museums... my favorites are the Hirschorn and the National Gallery.

4) movie marathons.  Since my boyfriend doesn't quite share my infatuation with Teen Mom and the Real Housewives of NJ we are making a conscious effort to find things to watch that we both enjoy.  (especially until the weather warms enough to always be outside) So movie marathons are always a great alternative... especially the classics.  Gotta love Netflix!

and finally...

5)  build a fort (inspired by Taza-and-Husband) There's just something so whimsical about being in an intimate, playful space with the one you love.

(Images are from WeHeartIt.com, obsessed with this website!)

This post was so much fun and inspiring to look for ideas, hopefully you and your love will feel inspired too!

9 Things That Make Me [ Smile ]

... being in a community of such talented artists, and the adorably creative Chinese food cupcakes they make just for fun...

... having a few extra moments in the morning to watch the Today Show and sit with a warm cup of coffee ... 

... cuddling with my love...

... waking up to the sounds of birds and for a moment thinking its Spring...


... fresh flowers, in a mason jar of course...

... brunch ...

... running out in the pouring rain to cover my car's broken and open sunroof (i have to laugh, or else I'll cry)...

... painting into the wee hours at night, and being too inspired to quit...

... dreaming of soaking up the sun and lying on the beaches  of Key West in TWELVE DAYS for Spring Break...


What makes you smile?

Happy Valentine's Day, my Love.

As the weather begins to warm, and the faint possibility of Spring whispers, I'm already dreaming of summer, and greener grasses, and spending quiet moments with the ones I love. 

With Valentine's Day upon us, I felt it was fitting to share my favorite love poem...

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)   i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)   i fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart  i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

Have a lovely day!