A Sweet Surprise

"Seriously? Your blog is pathetic. Work on that!" - Amber, my oldest, sweetest, dearest friend, who is also quite candid and there to provide a swift kick in my ass whenever needed:).

She's right. I have been SO bad about updating my blog. It's not for lack of things to say, in fact, quite the contrary. There has been a lot going on around here lately. The biggest news is that I am pregnant- 15 weeks and counting :). I've been meaning to write about it for so long, but couldn't find a way to express how truly happy and blessed I feel. Some of you know that I've wanted this for a long time. Yet when I finally got those expectant 'two lines', I was actually..... shocked. And I've been shocked ever since. A sweet surprise. It wasn't until we went to see the ultrasound at 11.5 weeks, at which point we also heard the little heartbeat for the first time, that I felt a calming confirmation- 'there really is a little one in there'. Not that the morning sickness and exhaustion weren't clues enough, but having the raw data just sealed the deal. So, here we are today, feeling extremely, extremely grateful for this precious little thing, currently the size of an apple, that's growing inside of me. We cannot wait to welcome this little one to a home that’s brimming with love.

We love you and we haven’t even met you yet.

We’ve also been putting a lot of efforts into our yard lately. We’ve planted our apple trees, hydrangeas, butterfly bushes and our vegetable garden. There is nothing quite like walking up to the garden on a hot summer’s day, pulling a beautiful ripe tomato from a vine, taking a huge bite and knowing that all of this work that went into this delicious tomato was so totally worth it.

I will post some pictures of my garden this week, for those of you who would like to see;). But for now, I’m signing off to watch the end of the Yankees/ Mets game with hubby.

Good night, dear ones!

xoxo

a little bit of me

The Kreativ Blogger Award has been spreading across blogs for a while now and I’m so thankful to sweet Dawn at May All Seasons be Sweet to Thee and lovely Johanna from Birds on a Wire, for thinking of me. As a recipient, I’m to share 7 (or 11, since I couldn’t stop;)) things about myself and pass the award on to other bloggers. So, here are my things:

1. I don’t tan. I freckle.
2. I studied psychology and biology as an undergraduate. I’d like to go back for an advanced degree in the public health field but am not sure of what, exactly.
3. I’m inspired by and adore anything French- including, but not limited to the following: fashion, interior design, fabrics, toile, Chambord, lavender, the landscapes, the rose wine, the people, the language –I even find the President and First Lady to be quite charming.
4. My dog looks like a gorilla-bat hybrid and ever since we taught her to roll-over we can’t get her to stop.
5. I like to tear it up on the dance floor.
6. I have a very irrational fear of bears (as well as many other irrational fears, which I’m going to overcome because they’re silly).
7. But I am going to start wearing a helmet when I go snow-boarding.
8. I love the beach and anything that reminds me of the beach:).
9. In 2005, right after my 25th birthday, I ran a marathon with Team and Training. It was a proud moment for me and it was also for a good cause. I’m turning 30 this year and hope to do something else extravagant to celebrate this milestone:).
10. I can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. It’s actually pretty amazing.
11. I wish that I could live to be at least 200 (with the stamina of a 20-something year old and I wish that everyone I love would live as long too). I just love life and think it is way too short. I am trying to live as enriched a life as possible, surrounding myself with those I love (hubby, family, close friends), curiosity & interest, arts, culture, beautiful things, good people. There are enough terrible things going on in this world so I’m trying to focus on the good, the peaceful.

Which, speaking to #11, is one of the reasons why I enjoy coming here so much, to this little blog world. I’ve connected with so many women who share similar interests and outlooks, and these blogs are just filled with beautiful things, enough to brighten my mornings. And they’re filled with good people, friends from all over the globe. So, with that said, I’d like to pass this award on to 7 bloggers who inspire me and bring beauty to my day, through their stories and photos. They are:

~ Rachel at Mozart’s Girl
~ Kary at My Farmhouse Kitchen
~ Erin at I Heart New England
~ Gigi at The Magpie’s Fancy
~ Erin at Pughs’ News
~ COURTNEY at Scattering Lupines
~ Katrina at Kat’s Cradle


xoxo

L-O-V-E (pink~wedding~a wise skin horse)

No matter how hard I try to avoid it, the month of February fills my brain with thoughts of two of my favorite topics: pink and love. In honor of St. Valentine, I thought I’d share a few photos from our wedding (we’ll be married two years this coming June), as it was an occasion that was also filled with both pink and love.

May this Valentine’s Day find you all feeling loved (in the real sense), whether it be from a significant other, a secret admirer, a loyal four-legged monster;), a friend who has seen you through your best and worst times or a family member who has loved you inside & out during those best and worst times. Happy Valentine’s day, dear friends.


EXCERPT FROM THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
~ By Margery Williams ~

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

xoxo,

Blair

Happy 101!

I was given the opportunity to think of and share a list of 10 things that make me happy. This was actually a fun exercise because for the past few days, I’ve been focusing on things that make me happy, smelling the roses of sorts:). There are so many things that bring me joy, in one way or another, but I’ve captured just a few of them below (small and large :))…..

1. My Husband/ Marriage: I fell in love with him for many reasons, but one of my most favorite things about Matt is that he makes me laugh. Every single day he does or says something silly and he has me laughing even after he’s left the room. He also thinks I’m funny (even during those times when no one else does). Being married to him is the best thing in my life. I don’t usually even think about it because it’s just so natural. Right before we got married I told him that I love being with him because it’s just like being by myself. Had I actually thought about it before I said it, I might have said it more eloquently, but he knew exactly what I meant. I don’t feel like I’m compromising on anything, I just feel that I’m doing what I want to do, with him by my side.

2. Luna: This dog was made for our family. We got her from a local shelter. When we got there, we were faced with about 30 black lab/mix puppies. At first glance, they all looked the same. When I went over to her crate (which she shared with a little white & black polka-dotted male puppy who bit her ears), she pawed at me, as though she was hand-picking me. She uses her mittened-hands all the time as a way of communicating with us and it is just as endearing as it was that first day.

3. Family & Friends: I’m so very fortunate to have such an amazing family. I’ve always been so close to both my mom & dad, though my relationship with each of them has evolved throughout the years. They’re a huge part of my life and I’ve learned so much from them, along with my two lovely brothers and their families. I have a few very close friends who’ve also known me throughout the various stages of my life and we’ve remained close. My life has been shaped by each of these people and it is in part, because of them, that I am who I am.

4. Photographs: I love taking them, documenting my life and the lives of others and being able to replay captured moments, with just the click of a mouse (thanks to fabulous modern-day technology, although there really is nothing like an old photograph with worn edges, showing years of love).

5. Art: All forms of it; music, writing, drawings, paintings, theater, decorating, fashion, movies, poetry. I find comfort and satisfaction in being lost in a painting, a good book or hearing a song that perfectly matches my mood.

6. Good Food/ Wine: Matt and I have recently deemed ourselves as foodies. Whether we’re cooking in (mmmm…. Filet with gorgonzola cheese sauce?) or going out to dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants (going out to dinner on vacation to experience local cuisine also makes my heart skip a few beats:)), eating is such a pleasure. Pairing food with a good wine…..well, that’s the icing on the cake.

7. Plush Slippers & Throws: Though I’m a New England girl (I can brave winters with the best of ‘em;)), I get cold so easily. Even in the summer, you’ll find me curled up on the couch in the evening, under a lovely soft blanket, slippers not far from feet.

8. Gardens/ Harvesting: Having fresh flowers & produce, bringing nature inside, makes me feel calm, at ease. I love the smell of fresh flowers (they seem to smell even better when they’re freshly cut from my garden:)) and I love the taste of the veggies (again, veggies from my garden seem to taste so amazing to me; maybe it’s because I know the time & love that went into growing them).

9. Traveling/ Exploring/ Learning: My life feels more enriched the more I travel. It’s so enjoyable to experience other cultures, forms & styles of life, to see the beauty of places other than home.

10. Coming Home: But then again, it is so good to come home, whether it be after a vacation, a work trip or just an errand run. There really is no place like home:).

Thanks to Dawn from May All Seasons Be Sweet To Thee and Rachel from Mozart’s Girl for sending me the ‘happy award’, forcing me to relax and focus on the little glories of the world. As a recipient of this award, I’m to pass it on to bloggers that make me happy :). Each of the following blogs provide me with a little slice of happiness with each read, so here they are, in no particular order:

1. Amber @ Sunshine Flavored Kisses
2. Dawn @ May All Seasons Be Sweet to Thee
3. Kat @ Kat’s Cradle
4. Heather @ A Day in the Country
5. Koralee @ Bluebird Notes
6. Rachel @ Mozart’s Girl
7. Morwenna @ Bluebells and Butterflies
8. Tracey @ French Larkspur
9. Katie @ Katie Slater Photography
10. Courtney @ Scattering Lupines**

** I seem to not be able to hyperlink the blogs..... if anyone knows how, please feel free to send me a note so that I can direct you to these adorable blogs! I guess I'm still working out the kinks. Thanks:)