Heels and Hay Bales! 152.365

June 2nd: What you wore today; your favorite shoes

I probably have two favorite pairs of shoes. These and my very flat black patent leather flip flops. The flip flops that I wore when I broke my foot while simply walking through Central Park. I do really love them, but since I rarely wear heels, I thought I'd show them. I have favorite heel and favorite flat. I should have taken a picture of my flip flops too. Maybe tomorrow.

And my outfit... a comfy black and white patterned dress. Hair in a simple up-do. Silver and black accessories.

And finally... I got my pictures on top of a hay bale! Ever since I moved down south, nearly six years ago (six years next month), I have wanted to do this. There were freshly plowed fields, lined with bales and as Mono and I were driving up to Church tonight I stopped the car, flipped on the emergency lights and hopped out of the car! Mono is so good to put up with my crazy love of taking pictures. He even knows to pause before he takes a first bite out of food so I can capture fun meals! What a great sport he is! Thank you Mono for taking some pictures of me with my hay bales... finally!!!

And this may just be the best one of them all... shown with lots of humility...

Yes, I was attempting to hop up on the bales of hay that were nearly as tall as me without any help. I realized after one attempt that if I made it on my own, I'd either rip the hay right off the bale or I'd scratch the heck out of my legs and then get a nice picture with blood dripping down my legs. Then came Mono to the rescue... of course after catching my first attempt on film! ;)

On my lists of prompts to write today, along with what I wore and my favorite shoes, is things I am good at. We can just say jumping on top of hay bales is not on that list.

On that list though I'd say, I am good with kids. I love them. I am good at baking cupcakes, wrapping gifts and painting. All real random, but those came to mind first.

Today 151.365

Today

This is me … today. Stripped down completely. I don't mean completely, completely. I'm not talking about stripped down of clothes...

This is what I look like on most given days... days like today filled with errand running, dinner cooking, house cleaning, gym loving days... Not an ounce of makeup, my hair in a pony tail, topped off with a plain ol' gray t-shirt (this is what I meant by stripped down). Though this can be the norm for me for days in a row, if I am going out, and am able to, I like to get a little dressed up, throw on a little mascara and wear my hair in something other than a ponytail.

I'm doing a 30 day challenge inside of my already 365 challenge. I'm following prompts for the next thirty days. Lets hope all goes well. ;)

I don't ever just take my own pictures, but today's prompt is a self portrait. Unfortunately today's picture fell on gym day. Maybe I can also take another self portrait tomorrow when I am looking a little more alive. ;)

Today I cut 157, or more, wires. I am working on a tedious but wonderfully dainty and fun project.

Today, in three months, we will be able to walk into our new home and start the fun! The cleaning, re-painting, decorating, the stuff I live for...

And, today, in four months I will be marrying my best friend! That will be the best today of them all!

Today I am wishing I was at the beach… or at least smelling a (Yankee Candle) Sun and Sand candle. That may hold me over until I get to the beach.

Today I am all about balance… water and chocolate.

While I'm on today's challenge of a self portrait, I might as well give you some insight to getting to know me.

I love being creative. 

Creativity excites me. 

I just do not put it to use like I wish I could.
I am in love with the beach. 

I wish I lived by the sea. 

There is just something about it that calms my soul. 

It's my element. 

On the cold gray days of winter and the sunny days that make up the summer.
I am an only child by birth, but a sister by choice. 

I'm happiest when hanging with the little ones (or not so little anymore).
I'm not the tidiest person, but I love good organization!
I get nearly daily headaches.
I am not a person that likes to exercise, but I long to have legs like Carrie Underwood. 

I know that's impossible with a person like me. I'd rather eat a cupcake.
I love cupcakes in case you haven't picked that up on that by now.
I'm a northern girl growing a southern heart.
I don't like to always wear the same scent, though I wish I could just stick with one. 

I tend to switch it up, daily.
I was never a real shoe lover before… until now. 

I am starting to love shoes. 

I only wear flats (heels on very rare occasions) so they are harder to come by, but I am hesitantly growing a love for them.
I have two best friends and I live hundreds of miles away from each of them. I haven't lived near either since I was 13… that's too long in my opinion.
I am not a phone person. When Mono and I were talking long distance before he moved here, I didn't call that much... You could be my sister or my best friend and you'll agree... I seem to never pick up the phone and call. I do keep in touch, but in other ways.
I don't have a real need for a little office in my home, but I sure would like this sweet space to me mine:

source

Five things that will win my heart over:

a good cupcake 

a hand written card/note (I LOVE to get mail, especially for no expected reason)

nicely wrapped gifts 

source

a good party - not clubbing drunkin' type - more like a backyard party like this:  

source 

a lovely purse 

And two things that are not material that always win me over...

Mono

My dear family and friends

A genuine smile

Little children

Live in today. 

I have trouble with that. 

I am a natural worrier.

Accept today for what it is.

Accept who I am today and always strive to be better.

Never take today for granted.

I hope your today was wonderfully full of small, little moments that made you smile.

A Bit of This and a Bit of That 150.365

Yesterday Mono surprised me and bought me this:

I love this shirt! It is so soft and cozy. It longs for cool fall days. I love the color combo: navy and pink. Actually, one of the color combos I wanted for my bridesmaids was navy dresses and pink bows. I love this combination, but I didn't want the whole party so dark with the guys in their black tuxes. So I picked another color combo. :)

Speaking of our wedding, I cannot wait to wear the dress that is hiding in this garment bag.

Today a package arrived. I'm working on a project with pearls... One of the very many I am working on right now... especially with the wedding projects going on too. I hope the recipient enjoys it as much as I hope they do!

While I was shopping with my Mom today I saw this little clutch. I thought it was so different. Perfect for someone who lives in or loves Hawaii.

I want to go on a weekend trip...badly. So today I bought myself two magazines. I can drool over a few of the places I want to go while I dream that I am actually there.

Crossing the Mountain 149.365

95 degrees and sunny. The last out of three days off from work. A beautiful day... When you add all of that together, it made for the perfect day to cross over the "mountain" as Mono and I like to say... We headed to the area (crossing over the mountain) where our new home is to visit two outdoor shopping areas. In between the strolls around the two shopping areas, we made a stop at a little place we discovered when Mami was visiting... Yogurt Mountain. Normally, I don't like to waste my calories on yogurt, but as calorie free right? haha - Yeah right! It was worth every.single.calorie though! It was just too much fun to pass up! When Mami was here we never ate there, so I knew I wanted to go back again to eat this time. And that we did!

There is an entire wall with over a dozen, maybe even two, yogurt flavors. You grab a cup and fill 'er up! Then, you walk over to the opposite wall that is just as long, but with toppings. There are more topping choices than there are yogurt flavors. I was in my glory!

I chose half peanut butter, half cookies and cream (there were no cookies in it, just the flavoring). Then I piled on Fruity Pebbles, Pretzels, chocolate covered caramel truffles, crushed Oreos, crushed Butter Finger, pretzels, Rice Krispy Treats, crunched up Reese's Pieces... I think that's it. Mono got vanilla, Rocky Road and peanut butter yogurt. He got Rice Krispy Treats, Fruity Pebbles, Graham Cracker crust, Butter Finger, Heath, Reese's Pieces, Oreos, colored sprinkles marshmallow sauce and hot fudge... Do you think we chose enough toppings?!

I wanted to take more pictures, but there were a lot of people so it make it awkward. Plus I knew I'd be back and I didn't want to take up all my angles in one sitting. ;) Good excuse for me to have to go back. Right? hehe-  

And no, our whole life doesn't revolve around food. I just like to take pictures of it!

Here's our dinner... Light and healthy!

This Is All You're Getting From Me Today 148.365

This may be the most random and boring blog I have ever posted.

I hate Blogger. I wish I knew how to make a real blog and not have to deal with them. I have such issues with posting pictures, changing their position and size... Oh well.

Sometimes I get curious. I check the stats on the number of people who read my blog.

When I started this, Mono was the only one that knew about it. Then it expanded to Mono and Mami. No one else knew about it.

Then I got brave and put it out there a little. I still don't have it out there all the way.

But I do wonder if anyone really reads this little blog of mine.
I have 8 followers that I know of, and at least some others here and there.

I read so many blogs every day and to me, they are the real bloggers. Mine may never seem real to me. Maybe one day mine will become real too.

I'll never take pictures like them or write in the style I wish I could. But no matter what, I still take pictures and write... and I enjoy it. That's all that matters. Right? 

So, for anyone who may actually read this often, thank you.  

I hope you don't get too bored with my random thoughts!

I have a million bug bites on my legs. In a matter of one night, they all appeared! I have given them an ultimatum though. By September 1st, there is no more chewing on my legs... or anywhere else for that matter. I think they should comply. I do think I was fairly generous with that time limit. I do not want any massive scars or mounds from bug bites. I am not sure why, but when I get bit, it's not pretty at all! Hear that mosquitoes! It's out there for all to hear now! Stop biting... or else!

Do any of you know what Pinterest is? Well, I love it! It is such a source of inspiration. And when I have ideas myself, I see if anyone else has done something similar so I can post the idea on my virtual bulletin board to remember! It's so much fun! It makes me want to decorate my home more, plan more parties, bake and cook more than I already do... I guess it's a little dangerous. ;) 

I am just dying to be near water. We don't live all that far from the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico, but it is a little far to just pick up and go for the day. Well maybe that is doable sometimes, but just not right now. And I really want to find a restaurant by the water... where I can have a nice lobster dinner! I haven't had that in years and I looooovvveeee lobster. I will have to write about my favorite lobster place growing up on Long Island... That's a future post. ;)

Well, I could go on with my random thoughts, but I better be getting to bed.

My pictures today are of Monet; my outdoor friendly adopted pet rabbit. He shows up all the time. Tonight he ate his clover dinner right outside our kitchen window.

Hopefully I will have some less random posts coming up!

Our Day... In Food 147.365

 

 Our day started off with cinnamon roll pancakes... and a silver dollar (plain one) for Jimmy... See him looking down at it? haha- It's like he knew that one was his!

 I thought these were quite tasty! I mean after all, how can you not like something that involves cinnamon roll flavor!? 

Then came dinner...

 Sliders... so yummy!

A friend gave me the recipe for these little burgers and of course I forgot it so I had to make do with what my memory felt like sharing with me at the moment. I added some shredded cheese and a packet of the powered Ranch seasoning. Then I made a bunch of sides... cole slaw, baked beans, fries and corn on the cob (which sadly did not make it to this plate for the picture).

 

I spent a good portion of my morning through to the afternoon cleaning and scrubbing my parents old grill (they bought a new one a couple years ago and left the other one at our apartment) until it looked nearly brand spankin' new! So after all the work on that grill, plus running errands for something for it (and other things too), I just could not let the day go by without eating grilled food. So I planned a mini-barbecue at the last minute. :)

And now that you know all the food we consumed and enjoyed today, I am going to bed... completely exhuasted!

May I Come In...Please? 146.365

Today we have had this little birdie trying to come in our kitchen. No matter what we do, he won't stop pecking at the glass. My Mom tried putting paper or a cloth in front of it... he just moves the next window. We feel so bad for the little fella but there is nothing we can do. I certainly cannot let a bird in the house with a mom that has a deathly fear of them. I'm not so fond of their fluttering wings either. 

Literally, all day long, he pecks at the window. What do we do?!