thursday thoughts and links

i've had a rough week. i don't know what's wrong with me but i've been struggling this week. struggling to be motivated {to do anything} and to stay positive. you know how sometimes you just feel down even though you know there is so much to be grateful for and happy about. i feel kind of lost at the moment but hoping i'll be able to find myself over the weekend.

i was listening to sarah maclachlan's new album last night {as i wallowed in my self pity} and i fell in love {again} with her music. some lines from her song "awakening" that touched me.

Oh, the tears of rage I cried, when nowhere could I find
An answer that made any kind of sense to me
I point the finger out, the anger gets so loud
It drowns out all the sorrow, at least until tomorrow...what then?
 
{i get to see her peform live next weekend, i am so excited! see there, i was positive}

sometimes i hesitate to post about when i'm down or sad because i don't want pitty and i don't want people to worry or be sad. so don't worry or be sad... be happy and i'll join you there shortly.


a list of things that made me smile this week. hopefully they make you smile too.
{smiling cures everything}

this cute canvas bag

this article on 101 recipes for grilling

this love magnet poster

this light & airy wrap cardigan in natural and this ruffle tee in golden mustard

this rad cabin in idaho

these beautiful blue poms

this great sewing book

this event and the fact that we'll be in salt lake when it's going on and that
this person is going to be there

this album

this blog

i heart

swaptree - been swapping books for a couple weeks now and i love it. it is fun and a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle.

this wide angle lens

our truck - we loaded 1.5 tons (3000 lbs) of rock into it this weekend. it was awesome.

this fabric

mesa farmer's market - it's every friday morning in downtown mesa and it is amazing. i've never been able to go before because i usually work fridays. but now with my summer schedule of fridays off, we've gone a couple times and we heart it, like a lot.

these shoes

"Doctor Humus" {and pesto from said farmer's market} - this is a new thing for us and we are loving it. we put it on pita bread and add cheese or tuna or eat it plain. we are coming up with new creations daily. my new fav flavor - jalapeno and cilantro humus.

this awesome yellow bag

the new iphone 4 - um yes please. except this time it's E's turn. so i will have to wait.

this photo

the story of the trapp family singers - i am reading this book {got it through swaptree} and i love it. seriously it is good. i wasn't sure what it would be like, but i so far i've been pleasantly surprised. E finished born to run, he LOVED it and has been begging me to start it.

maple leaf cutting boards

weekend favorites

SMOOTHIES

a couple months ago i bought these yellow bicycle glasses from Vital Home on etsy. i am in love with them. it makes me happy when we use them. and it's even better when we drink our weekend smoothie out of them.

JEANS
nordstrom last chance is one of the best bargain stores for designer merchandise. picture a nordstrom rack and then discount everything another 80%, that's what last chance is like. plus it has a larger selection. it is the only last chance in the nation. nordstrom sends all their returns and un purchased merchandise to this one store. but of course, it can be hit or miss. i have gone before and left with nothing. but the times when you leave with something... it's amazing and you will be hooked. on saturday i picked up some seven jeans for Eric for $19.99 and got myself some citizen skinny jeans for $29.99. there was a lot more i wanted to bring home with me but i resisted. needless to say it was a good day at last chance. i was ecstatic when i got home to show E his pants. he was a little worried that i was so excited about these jeans. but i mean come on, sevens for $19.99. you can not beat that. so if you ever come to phoenix, you have to go to last chance. if you come visit us, i will take you there.

SEWING

i cleaned and organized my sewing room and closet. it feels so good when everything has a place and is in it's place. it also helps me take stock of what fabric i have and what i need. here's a before and after.

and i have to include a picture of my growing stack of flannel receiving blankets. i completed 3 over the weekend and have 3 left to complete before i list them all in my etsy store.

i LOVE this, i could play on it for hours... in fact i do.

i LIKE this, it's a good one to waste time on too.

i ENJOY new project ideas... this is the next one i am going to try out.

i LUST after this, in the red.

i FOUND out that this place sells fabric... i am interested.

happenings

its been raining a lot these past 2 weeks and i love it. but seeing the beautiful clear blue sky today did get me excited for sunshine again

i got some new sewing books... this and this are 2 of them. i am obsessed with my sewing books and all their waiting projects for me. i fantasize about sewing all day, everyday. there are so many things I want to create and try

we got photoshop and i'm already spending way too much time on it

i am sad jillian is gone

i am reading a really good book... a thousand splendid suns. ok maybe i could sew and read all day

i love learning how to use my camera and i'm getting some great tips from here. oh how i would love to be a great photographer, maybe some day after a lot of practice

i am cooking more than I ever have and am surprised that i am actually liking it

i really like this

i am excited for this weekend

i got this for my birthday. i like to caress it and smell it and look at it

Jaqua Buttercream Frosting Body Butter

Mindi got this for me for my birthday. I am in love with it. I put it on every chance I get.
It smells delicious and it keeps me moisturized throughout the whole day! Thanks Mindi!











Check out their other products here: Jaqua

I like...

Minted Rose Lip Balm

I think my lips might be addicted to it

Frozen Yogurt

Eric and I have started this little habit of getting frozen yogurt and I love it! Its so fun to get out of the house and have this little treat that we both so enjoy. We started going to Golden Spoon one night and that's what got us hooked. Golden Spoon is kind of expensive though and its not self serve. But last night I was shopping at Trader Joes and I saw this place called Ohana and it was a self serve frozen yogurt place. I was so excited because self serve is always cheaper than the other stuff. So after I got home I told Eric about it and later that night we ventured out to try the new place. Score, it was way cheaper, had better flavors and you can decide exactly how much of each flavor you want. I got blueberry tart and country vanilla. Mmm Mmm, I could sure go for some more right now.
I love my Fat Free Frozen Yogurt.

the 2 things i love the most right now

NUMBER 1

The Rascals (as I like to call them)

They are so cute! Always trying to escape and get into things. Licking our fingers like crazy and eating anything they can get their little paws on. Its amazing how much we love them, play with them and talk to them like they can hear and understand us. They are so fun!

NUMBER 2

The best Eric ever - aka my husband

I love this picture. I took it last weekend when we went on a hike together. He is just so cute, I want to squeeze him. I am so lucky to have such a understanding, sensitive and supportive husband. He always makes me laugh and we have so much fun together. Sometimes I just sit at work and think about how funny he is, it always brings a smile to my face. In the evenings lately, we have been playing soccer together in our front yard area. I have really been enjoying it, we make a great team. I am so grateful for everything he does for me. I must be in a loving mood today cause I sure love Eric and everything that goes along with who he is.