30 Day Photo Challenge Day 3

So this is actually going to be a quick one. For 2 reasons: 1.) It was shot at my house, and 2.) it's really late and I should already be sleeping.

30 Day Photo Challenge Day 3:

Your Favorite Place

My favorite place to be is just hanging out on our deck or one of the porches. This happens to be the back deck.

Here is the view from the deck.

This is the view I normally see. It's taken from our front porch.

Here is what I normally wake up to. Can you see why my porch is my favorite place?

Until tomorrow!

Much Love,

Things That Make Me Smile

With so much conflict and negativity in the world, here are (in no particular order) some things that make me happy. I hope they make your day brighter, too. :)

1.) Baby ANYTHING.

Infants, puppies, kittens, bunnies. I love them all. I even squee over mini cupcakes and baby corn. I may have a problem, but I'm okay with that.

It's a fuzzy bunny hiding his face.
How can you not love this?!

2.) New books at the library.
I love seeing a new book from a favorite author on the shelves at the library. Crisp, new pages and the knowledge that I may be the first of hundreds to experience a novel.
Pure. Awesome.

That is happiness waiting to happen, right there.

3.) Flowers.
I like pretty things, like Flowers. They're colorful, some smell great, and they
attract other pretty things like birds and butterflies.
If only I weren't allergic.

How would you like to come home to this?
I know I would!

4.) Men with tool belts. (More specifically, my man.)
There is just something about a man that can fix and build things that gets to me.
The Hubbs doesn't just make the home--he can, literally, make the house.

(Unfortunately, The Hubbs wouldn't pose for a pic. Dang.)


5.) Footie-pajamas.
Kids in footie-jammies are frickin' adorable. And, they remind me of the days I spent "skating" around my basement--
sometimes knocking myself silly on the concrete.

Pink. Cupcake. Footie-pajamas.
Seriously?! Is there an adult version?

6.) Old People in Love.
They give me hope for the future, and remind me that if I want that with The Hubbs, we need to constantly work at our relationship. A sweet elderly couple makes me picture The Hubbs and me years from now, drinking sweet tea in our rocking chairs, and that makes me smile.

Ready? "Awwww!"
They are so sweet!

7.) Things that sparkle.
I've been known to wander off in stores after exclaiming, "Ooh! Shiny!"
It's not only jewelry, it's anything sparkly. I'm just as likely to be entranced by a bathroom faucet as I am a 2karat diamond.
What can I say? I'm easily sidetracked.

$2million earrings.
Not just bling--Ka-bling!

8.) Journals and Pens.
I'm a writer, 'nuff said.

9.) Kid Art.
Kids say, do, and make the darnedest things. Some is beautiful. Some is indiscernible.
And some, look horribly "inappropriate."
Those are the best.

Medium's early work. A dress and necklace for Mommy.

10.) Clean Sheets Day.
Aside from Thirsty Thursday (Hey! That's today!), and maybe Wine Wednesday,
Clean Sheets Day is my favorite day of the week. Crisp sheets, the scent of my
detergent and fabric softener--it's comfort and luxury. I love crawling
into bed on Sunday nights.

A baby and clean sheets! Double win!

These are a few of my favorite things. What are some things that make you smile?
I wanna know!

And for more things that make me smile, check out my Pinterest board, aptly titled
Little Things To Make Me Smile.


Much Love,

One more for the road:

Large with an armful of puppies. Squee!

30DPC Day 23

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book

I don't have a favorite book. I couldn't possibly choose a favorite book. I have favorite authors (Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nicholas Sparks, Susan Mallery to name a few), but to narrow it down to just one book? Impossible. Instead, here is the book that was picked for my book club's May read:

Interested? Buy it here.

From the snippets I've read, and what I've heard from other readers, it should be pretty good.

I can't wait to start!

Happy Snapping!

30DPC Day 3

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Anyone that knows me, knows there are two shows that I am absolutely crazy about.

Castle and NCIS. 

The cast of Castle on ABC Network

The Cast of CBS's NCIS

Happy Snapping!

Find the list of daily challenges here.

It's a Fave Rave!

It's Tuesday--I like to think of it as a Tell-All Tuesday. Since my birthday was last week, a lot of people have been asking what I'd like as gifts and what some of my favorite things are. It's hard to be put on the spot and say, "Oh hey, I love this/that!" So, I sat and thought about it for awhile, and here goes:

What is your favorite book?

Please, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child! But I'm currently reading this:

The Unfinished Garden by Barbara Claypole White

and this:

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

What is your favorite song?

Uh, duh. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield.

What is your favorite color?

I love the combination of Purple & Silver--so elegant!

What is your favorite destination?

I'm going to drag my husband back to Oaxaca some day. I love traipsing around in the mountains & the  ruins. :)

What is your favorite memory?

Christmas the year I was in second grade. I didn't know it then, but we were given presents from the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, & the church. I remember it as the year my teacher came for Christmas.

What is your favorite TV show?

Any show involving the acronym: NCIS

The cast of NCIS

What is your favorite movie?

Simply Irresistible. It's a little known film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, but I watch that thing all the time--I wore out a DVD and had to get another copy! Truthfully, the movie isn't that great, but I love it. Probably because the protagonist is a total klutz that leaves all her emotions on the table and I can relate to that.

buy it here: Simply Irresistible

What is your favorite food?

I love food. Especially anything that is made with chocolate. Yum!

What is your favorite dessert?

Amazingly, as much as I crave chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, my favorite dessert is Cheesecake. Like this absolutely fabulous one made for me by Vinny D's stepdad. It was heaven from a spring form pan.

What is your favorite treat?

Since moving back to  NW Iowa, I am suffering a deficiency of Starbuck's mocha's and Sonic Cherry-Limeade slushies.

What is your favorite car?

Mercedes. Benz. E550. Cabriolet.

Some day you will be mine, my pretty...

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

This totally goes against my love of classic, preppy clothing, but I love tank tops. I have sleeve issues, so I wear a tank top almost everyday--hey the layered look is in!

Snag this super cute cowl neck UofM tank top from Meesh & Mia here.

What is your favorite fashion accessory?

Earrings. As much as my husband hates them, I love dangly earrings.

What is your favorite perfume?

Right now I'm in love with Coach Poppy & Poppy Flower

Thanks txnpolarbear for the Christmas gift!

What is your favorite leisure activity?

Reading. Uh, duh.

Who is your favorite author?

It's a three-way tie between Nicholas Sparks, Susan Elizabeth Phillips & Kristin Hannah

Who is your favorite actor/actress?

Actor:

That's another tough one, but I'm a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds.

Actress:

I'm really into Kristen Bell right now.

Who is your favorite singer?

I love the soulful sound of Adele's voice.

Who is your role model?

Easy.

My mother, by far. The courage it took to leave her home (pregnant with me!) and travel around the world to start a new life--amazing. I have issues picking up the phone if I know I'll have to talk to a live person.

Where is your favorite place to be?

Fully engulfed in a cozy blanket and a good book. Bonus points if my husband is nearby. Double bonus points if he's reading, too!

These are the things that make my heart and soul happy. Some mentally, some spiritually, and some purely superficially. What are some of your favorite things?