: cats & crafts & coffee & cupcakes & & &

yesterday proved to be just as magnificent as i suspected. so many little things happened. so many details. it would take countless posts to fill you in on everything::: so i hit the high points with a collage of some of my favorite moments from the day::


details::

1). sitting on the couch talking to my mom before she left for work:: my big fatboy at my side
2). taking full photo advantage of some awesome sun and shadows on my front porch
3). reveling in the fact that beauty grows and thrives:: even on the edge of the city alley
4.) putting the finishing touches on my totally elise blaha inspired "23" mini-book
5). snapping photos in the flower aisle at the local craft store
6). cupcakes in the coffee shop window
7). sipping starbucks with my sis on the outdoor patio at barnes & noble
8). wrapping up a game of bananagrams with a photoshoot


speaking of photos:: that girl you see snapping shots in the lower picture is my one-and-only little sis. (btw::: i am uber envious of her camera). her passion has long been photography. in fact: the cupcake and starbucks shots in the collage are compliments of her. i've linked the picture below to her new blog.

click it. look around. leave love. she'll adore you forever.



the final high point of the day involved purchasing/receiving some top-notch goodies. nothing was too extraordinary. nothing was too extravagant. but it's what i love. and it made my day in a huge way.

i'll leave you with the list::

* felicity season 1*
* the daily writer: by fred white*
* hummus, pita, edamame, goat cheese, wheat crackers and cucumber water*
* marta's mini-diary*
* loads of pretty paper, velum and stamps*
* the new issue of: yoga journal*



"i'm beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones, after all." -laura ingalls wilder

: happiness ::::

the sun is shining through my window. my ipod is quietly (okay...loudly!) playing in my ears. this is me on a beautiful holiday afternoon.

after a late night of "bananagrams" with my sis and brother-in-law, I slept in till late morning. i immediately stumbled down the stairs and clumsily made my way to the coffee pot. after initiating the drip, i toasted an english muffin, added a healthy smear of peanut butter, as well as strawberry jam, and waited for my sweet brew.

with fresh cup of coffee in hand, i returned upstairs, positioned myself by the window, and began soaking in all the happiness you see below:::


still-hot-from-the-pot coffee in my favorite mug, the brand spanking new issue of Instyle magazine, and my newest project: my journal for 'write club', are all sources of pure happiness for me today.
(i just went back and read all of marta's old posts/prompts for write club and immediately got on the bandwagon! week 1 starts today for me. head over to 'm.writes', and click on the "write club" link for more info)

and while this goes without saying, i must mention that another source of happiness for me is my very own backyard. as we speak, i am earnestly watching the weather updates, waiting for that temperature to rise just a hair more, so I can throw on a tank top and shorts and spend the rest of the day being lazy in the sun. grass between my toes. clouds in my hair. birdsong in my ears.

there is nothing like closing your eyes and actually FEELING life in the things around you. one of my favorite sensations is feeling the breeze. this invisible force sweeps my clothes, hair. it has the power to cool. to destroy. to transport. it amazes me to ponder the fact that something so un-tangible is also limitless and available. and oh-so-powerful.

i think that is the kind of legacy I would like to leave. one like the wind. a force that comes and goes. one that has enormous impact, but does so seemingly unnoticed on most days. one that is always moving. changing. evolving. wrapping itself around every corner of the earth. a comfort. a constant.

the wind is such a beautiful evasive thing.

i am going to go enjoy it...

assignment::: find your happiness.

:: weekend wonders

Four Things That Made Me Happy Today:::

:this unclaimed family of beach lounge chairs:

:this glorious blue sky and amazing view:

:hanging out with my awesome sister:

:discovering these great prints from ::theloveshop::: on Etsy:

The weekend wonders have just begun...

Here's to a fantastic few days!

Happy weekend to all...

7 Things That Made Me Happy Today:::

No. 1:::

A much needed and long overdue Girls Night Out with Jill::: Chili's consumed/Obsessed viewed

No. 2:::

Discovering old pictures of me and my little sis

No. 3:::

The smell of my lilac tree blooming in the backyard

No. 4:::

Catching up on my DVR episodes of 'LIVE with Regis and Kelly'

No. 5:::

The song "The Moneymaker" by Rilo Kiley

No. 6:::

Purchasing the 2nd Season of Lipstick Jungle on DVD

No.7:::

The trailer for this fantastic movie (which has me SO SO excited!)

Until tomorrow...