date night

last night, husband and i parked off of fayetteville street in downtown raleigh.  we walked around a bit and decided to dine at sitti.  we split the appetizer sampler while people watching thru the front windows.   afterwards, we stopped by fountain for dessert ... aka a glass of bourbon.

we walked around our city holding hands and laughing, just like you see in the movies.  it was absolutely delightful.  after stopping by harris teeter to pick up some chunky monkey and a redbox, we cuddled in bed to watch percy jackson & the olympians: the lightning thief.  *sigh* what a great night!

the pic above was taken on another date night with my friend tara.  we sat at boylan bridge and munched on onion rings until the sun set.  husband and i love to go there too because the patio is dog friendly.  there are always a lot of well behaved pups out there ... and then there is mailey :)

ps - i heart you raleigh!

morning time ...

every morning, i go into the bedroom before i leave for work.  i kiss husband on the forehead and tell him i love him and hope he has a great day.  

... 87% of the time, this is what i find:

it takes a lot of will power not to crawl back in bed and cuddle with them :)

bird's eye view

recently, i have been thinking and praying a lot about the following three things:

the girl i was

who i am

and the woman i want to be ...

a song i sing often

what up with that?

a short story about a fun trip

we arent the week long vacation type of people.  one day i hope we will be, but for now we like to go on weekend adventures ... or what we call our "mini vacations."

last year, for my birthday, husband took me to virginia beach.  we camped at first landing state park and spent most of our time at the fishing pier.

i loved this trip!  usually, when we camp, we go with a group ... but this time it was just us love birds (and a visit with cousins).

we ...

put our large tent up for the first time in the pouring rain ...

ate hot dogs and cold pasta ...

(this is one of my favorite pics of husband) 

tried to take pics of ourselves :) 

 

shared a meal with cousins ...

spent the day on the pier catching some sun and tiny fish ...

stayed up all night trying to catch the big one ...

took a nap on the beach ...

had some birthday cake on the way home

the end

peeking

... into the materialistic side of yours truly

i have decided that i NEED boots.  ok, so i dont need them to live ... but, to enjoy life to its fullest, i must have some.  new or used, as long as they are affordable and look a little something like this:

the first pare is, hands down, my favorite.  there is something quite feminine and beautiful about them.  they say "i am a lady.  but, i will step in mud and kick your butt if i must. *insert a twirl into a curtsey here*"

unfortunately, i forget where all these pics came from, so i dont have links to share.

to do list

1. recover ottoman to lighten living room
2. remind myself how to sew
3. find bold and "out of my comfort zone"material ... sew new pillows for living room
4. pressure wash house
5. find inexpensive mailbox and house numbers
6. purchase or borrow hedge clippers and take care of the shrubbery out front 
7. trip to ikea for kitchen organization items
8. call landlord to see if she can help us with the "uninvited house guest" problem

inspiring decor ...

... that require cojones and/or dinero (i have neither) 

i found this blog showing the home of s.r. gambrel.  this charming room with its gutsy wallpaper and lovely light makes my heart smile.  

husband loves dark rooms that usually depress me.  however, i fancy this dark grey room with pops of energetic colors.  still, i would not have the cojones to paint a room so dark.  this photo was taken from one of my favorite blogs, design is mine.

this room i found on apartment therapy is from a hotel la banane in st. barts.  i heart this floor, clean lines and the wood accents!  

room and bedding from anthropologie's july catalog.  i love how they created the room of chalkboard paint.  even the hardwood floor has been drawn in. 

wow ... loving this bold staircase i found on carolina eclectic.  

looking forward to diving into this blog more.  

to be a better me

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things i cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

i have never been thru a 12 step program to help with an addiction, but man, the serenity prayer speaks volumes to me.  it is my prayer every day to accept change, people and life. i seek to be a better person ... a better wife and friend, etc.  but i remind myself constantly that the only thing i can change is me.  this helps me to be able to love people for exactly who they are right now, not the person i can love if ___.  it helps me to love more like Christ.

recently, i have decided to take control of me ... or rather take control of being able to give God control (not sure if that makes sense to you, but it does to me).  i will have a plan.  this will not be the kind of plan that i have deadlines and freak out if things dont go accordingly.  this will be a plan that i open to God in prayer and searching thru His word.  this plan will be flexible to change at a moments notice if He is in control.  its refreshing just thinking about it.  

i will seek God daily and hide his word in my heart.  because of this, life will make sense ... it will move forward and i will be a better me!  

"i know not what the future holds, but i know who holds the future"

photo by christine hall

i heart you carolina beach!

photo by christine hall