13 Of My Favorite Things{A List}

1. Mini cinnamon-sugar Fair-style donuts
2. Book stores-especially ones full of old, vintagey books
3. Sparklers(even in August)
4. Farmer's market flowers
5. Donuts made in my kitchen w/chocolate icing from a tub
6. New school shoes(Bonus points for high-tops)
7. New art supplies
8. This podcast. Oh, how I love Elizabeth Gilbert.
9. Driving through the country at sunset
10. Lemon shake-ups
11. This magazine. Absolutely beautiful photography and words.
12. Vanilla candles
13. Brick roads

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I could go on and on... But I'll stop there for today.
I'm still here. Still no laptop. Still only iPhone pictures.
Oh how I miss my big camera(although it seems to be on the fritz as well. When it rains, it pours, huh?)
I feel like I am missing a little bit of myself as silly as that may sound. It's true.

Happy, Happy Monday friends.

It's Friday + I'm Excited About...

It's   F  R  I  D  A  Y   and we made it to the weekend, friends!
I'm so happy and the sun is shining and the day and the week went fast and I just plain love me some Friday!

Things I'm excited about...

+    It's still cold but super sunny today
+   Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the 50's.... FIFTY? You guys, that's 50* warmer than it has been some days lately. I.Can't.Wait.
+   The kids and I are getting away for the weekend starting tomorrow morning. Road Trip: two of my most favorite words ever. Like ever, ever.
+   The kids get to go to an indoor trampoline place tomorrow and they're so excited.
+    Charlotte has a drawing in a little art show this weekend and she's pretty proud of herself...
I'm excited and pretty darn proud of these kids and their creativity. It amazes me really.
+   Donut Shops. That's one of the things on our list for this weekend... to find a good donut shop. This mama is teaching these kids right... Or wrong? I'm going with right.
+   Hotel staying. Even when it's nothing fancy at all,  it's still fun... and not just for the kids.
+   Modern medicine. I hate it that my girl gets ear infections, but I'm super thankful that we have quick and easy access to a doctor's office and to medicine when needed.
+   Photo Booth apps. ^ That's what we did while we waited foreverrrr at the doctor's office this morning. Waiting is boring, fun photography apps are good.
+   Margaritas. I see a margarita in my near future.



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What are you excited about/looking forward to this weekend?
I'll be back Monday with some snapshots from the weekend...I hope you have a great one + I hope the sun is shining where you are this weekend!

10 Favorite Cozy Things

'Tis the Season to be chilly here in the Midwest.
The cold,  oh the cold...  it's coming, it's definitely coming.
Instead of whining and fighting the impending Season(I mean, don't get me wrong, I'll do that later), I thought I would share a few
of my most favorite cozy-weather things.

1.  A hot mug of coffee in my hands. The best. 

2.  Old faded quilts + afghans

3.  Scarves.

4.  Stacks of books.

5.  Baking- bread, pies, cakes, cookies...

6.  Candles. Lots of candles.

7.  Twinkle lights int he house

8.  Hot Chocolate with LOTS of mini marshmallows

9.  A fire in the fireplace

10.  Holing up inside, while it's snowing outside, and watching movies with the kids on the couch under a bunch of blankets and eating popcorn!

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What are your favorite ways to survive the cold months?

Must-haves?

Any little things that make Winter bearable for you?

Do tell.

Good Things :: A Monday Morning List

Last week was a long, sad week for us... but I'm feeling content and grateful this morning, nonetheless.
I cried nearly every day about our sweet  Phoebe  girl last week... so many memories and missing her... and then of course there's the guilt.
But despite all of that I know I have so many little things to be thankful for, so that is what I am focusing on today.

* Friends + Family.  I am lucky to have great friends that send messages, call to check on us and send cards last week.

* I am thankful for grandparents that will keep the kids over night so we could go to the Illinois football game with friends on Saturday.

* Changing leaves. I LOVE all of the beautiful Fall colors so much!

* Family Night at TapRoot Friday night, getting a few things done while the kids played and ate  pizza...now that was an AWESOME Friday night.
   And hopefully a memory was made that the kids will always remember!

* This clip of Mr. Roger's(aka Fred Rogers) speech accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award. It's short and sweet and I  LOVED  what he said.

* TEXTING. Yes, texting. I can have group conversations with my girlfriends that would make a grown man blush.... it keeps us in closer contact and
 sometimes things are just easier to say via text... Ya know? My friends make me laugh and save my sanity, a lot of it via texting and that trusty iPhone.

* Sick Days. My girl is home with a little fever this morning and I am thankful that it is no problem for me to be at home with her today.
 I am thankful to be able to stay home and take care of the kids when I need to be.

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Happy Monday, everyone.
Hope it is a great un-Monday like day for you.
I'll be back here tomorrow morning for coffee, bright and early.

{13 Things}

Thirteen things that make me HAPPY,  in no particular order....

1. Scoring at the church rummage sale
2. my hankie bunting in the back yard
3. my new Yo-yo sandals(rummage sale .25)
4. art time with the kids
5. how nicely our fence is coming along!
6. cousins rolling down the hill in grandma & grandpa's yard together
7. cupcake liners
8. day lilies that come up every year without fail
9. Ferris wheels
10. watching our garden grow
11. coffee to go
12. sparklers
13. this beautiful sunset we were lucky enough to see last night


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how about you?
share your 13 things here.

{An Autumn List}

Since we are officially into October now...

Welcome Autumn.

So happy you are here.

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We celebrated the first day of Autumn with a special family dinner.

 I made dinner and the kids helped set the table and made

 a special centerpiece of acorns and buckeyes.
We lit candles and all used real wine glasses. We are brave.

I absolutely love Autumn, I really do. But sadly, it is just way too short. 

It feels like no sooner does Autumn start than it is over and Winter is showing her face already.
And I am usually not near ready to see her face.

This season goes quick so we have to savor it and squeeze in as much as possible.
So I made a list.
Of things we hope to do, make and see this Fall.
And it's a lovely little list.

 My Autumn List:

Visit the Pumpkin Patch

Buy mums for the front porch

Buy myself a new pumpkin candle

Make a pumpkin pie

Go on as many afternoon walks with Charlotte as possible

Collect buckeyes
Have friends over for fondue

Make pumpkin bars

Buy a new scarf

Make a new wreath for the front door

Make (and drink) mulled cider
Celebrate both of my kids' Birthdays

Eat apple pie

Carve pumpkins

Go to Boo at The Zoo
One more trip to the Apple Orchard

Eat a double-dipped caramel apple with nuts

Watch You've Got Mail (the perfect Fall movie) at least once

Decorate for Halloween

Attempt to make vegetable pot pies

Go to a football game

Try this drink at Starbucks

So, there's my list.

I just love all the changes a new Season brings... in my old age I have decided it is
 best to embrace these changes since there is no beating them.
And yes,  I do realize that a month from now I will be whining for 
daydreaming of Summer. But for now,  I am so ready for Fall.
Bring it on.

Do you have a list? 

What's on yours?

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{I'm linking up with Heather today and sharing my lovely little Autumn List.
Check out more loveliness on her awesome blog!}