5 Years

My dad had been gone 5 years today. There is not a day that goes by that I don't want to pick up the phone and tell him something funny that happened that day. That I don't want to share my life, and then it hits me that I can, and I am. Everyday. I miss him, but I see him in everything, in a beautiful sunset, in his artwork that hangs in my office, in my toes (we have the same toes). 

No matter how big & brave I might appear- a little girl never gets over losing her daddy ❤

We LOVE Visitors!

I must apologize for the delay in posting, I have been fighting something icky all week and I haven't been up to much.. But LAST week my MIL came to visit us at new place! It coincided wither Birthday so of course I had to bake a cake! It was blueberry with a hint of lemon, since the birthday lady requested "no chocolate". 

We had a lovely time while she was here, we went to a couple farmers markets .. well street fairs that sold onions... & we even got to play tourist a little bit, as well as plant some things in the backyard! She even taught me how to sew curtains!  This was the first time that her and I have gotten to spend any significant amount of time together since MR. Wonderful & I have been together, and I have to say it was just as I hoped it would be!  We cooked & shopped, and talked & I learned a ton of things I never knew about her (and stories I hadn't heard about The hubby too!)

It is so nice to feel like we are finally connecting! I hope she feels too that she has gained a daughter rather than married off her son. 

Love you Mom Stone! Can't wait for your next visit! 

Operation Hydration

Here I am, still attempting to stay hydrated out here in the Colorado wilderness.. And everyone keeps talking about Chia Seeds & their amazing benefits. No joke, when I first heard about this all I could think was... "You mean like chi chi chi chia!?!"

 Yes, that's what I mean.  But when I drink it, it looks like this! 

I mix it with coconut water & cranberry juice. (At least it's pretty!). It seems to be helping. 

I know I know... Hydrate, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!! I hear you. 

Project Day- The Kitchen Curtains

Today my MIL & I tackled the kitchen curtains (which were VERY old lady/ floral...) They SO needed to be re-done!  We stopped at "hob-lob" (HobbyLobby) and picked out some great fabric & a little burlap.. (Seriously, can you ever have too much burlap??? I think not.) 

We busted out my sewing machine & went to work, here is the finished product! 

Soo much brighter & happier in the kitchen! 

We also made pillows to coordinate with the new window treatment in the living room. remember the window treatment??

  Loving our new space!

Happy Father's Day

It's been almost 5 years since my dad passed and this is my 4th Father's Day missing him.  June is always hard; I get older, Father's Day comes & goes, and then the anniversary of my dads passing.. With each passing year, I remember him clearly & with a fondness only a daughter can have for her daddy. I am thankful for the men in my life who have been supplemental father figures through the years.  And I'm even lucky enough to have an amazing father in law, who raised the amazing man I married. This is the first time in quite a few years that I didn't greet today with a heavy heart & tear filled eyes. Today I am at peace. 

Happy Father's Day dad, I love you!

Home Improvement: Window Treatment Re-vamp!

This week Mr. Wonderfuls mom is visiting us! And one of our many projects to tackle while she is here is to recover our window treatment. It was suuper easy & we are thrilled with the way that it turned out!!

We are definitely starting to feel like we LIVE here. <3 

Xoxo

All You Need Is Love.... And a Dog

Here is Augie-the-wonder-dog! Isn't he just the cutest!?!? We think so. 

Critter-Watch!!

I love taking pictures of the local wildlife, especially the  cows, deers & Eagles. Here are some of the critters I've seen lately. 

The eagle update, you know you've been waiting for it! 

Here are some of the birds, from giant tiny; and a few squirrels. (There's one less now) 

Can I tell you how much I HATE yellow jackets?? Which I keep accidentally calling tracker-jackers (thanks a lot Hunger Games!). Wasps are just their evil cousins. Lol 

 

Somewhere over the Rainbow...

Let me set the scene for you... IZ "somewhere over the rainbow" playing on the overhead speakers ... Me staring wistfully at the newly planted hibiscus in the yard with just 1 red bloom on it.  Daydreaming of Maui. 

Snap back to reality.. It's 8 million degrees and its not even 10 am and we are out in the yard up to our elbows in dirt/ mud replanting everything from the old house into the garden.  We wanted to add some color to our space, so we are adding some plants to our backyard! 

We added the herbs to the box. We can't take credit for everything, our landlords are from Ventura County & they made their home awesome. 

I'm hoping everything will spring back after the transplant! (Fingers crossed that they will flourish & produce before the snow returns) 

Just in case you didn't know how happy we are with our move to our new home,  we are thrilled!! 

We love it here, and if the option came to buy I think we would be seriously considering it.

Kitchen Adventures: Grandmas Banana Bread

I had a heap of "about to be black" bananas on the counter and I decided banana bread was the way to go, I called my momma, and got my grandmas FAMOUS banana bread recipe. And once I got started, I decided if I was going to make2 loaves, I might as well make 4.  I'm so glad that I did!  I sent a loaf with Mr. Wonderful to work, I gave one to a friend, I froze one, and I'm not gonna lie, the other one disappeared.. Into my tummy. 

If you think these look yummy, just imagine how amazing our house smelled! 

The recipe called for eggs (obviously) and I went against my better judgement and put the eggs directly into the mixer without cracking them into a separate bowl first..lesson learned! UMMM EEEWWWWW! 

To answer your next question, yes,I still eat eggs. Haha.

Happy Birthday to ME!

This year I turned 31, or well...it was the 3rd anniversary of my 29th Birthday.

This was the first year in my entire existence that we didn't have a huge party surrounded by a bunch of our family & friends.  This year, Mr. Wonderful took me to lunch and we spent the day together in GJ, shopping & then a quiet night at home. (He let me take a break from unpacking... happy birthday to me!)

We are settling into what feels like a quiet existence here in Colorado, today I find myself reflecting on all of my past birthdays and the 2 days of hangovers that usually followed them.  LOL  And I realize, I must be growing up! Weird... (I may take all of this back in August when we go to Ventura for our visit & everyone wants to pretend it's my "birthday" and celebrate!)

I love my life & my husband;

Mr. Wonderful is the most amazing man I know; he makes me feel special no matter what we do together.  I hope he knows how special he is to me. <3