Wisdom from Dr. Seuss

Maybe it's because I've seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas on
TV about three times in the past week, {or maybe it's just because the man seriously knew what he was talking about} but I must say...
Dr. Seuss has seriously left an impression on me.

His outlook was so positive and his words were always full of joy and fun! {even the made up words} So...today I'm bringing you words of wisdom from a man who really knew what he was talking about!

Here we go!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
—Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
—Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.
—Dr. Seuss

and of course.........

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
 —Dr. Seuss

Nice reminders to not take life too seriously, that we should always
be ourselves regardless of who is looking and that going after what
you want is really up to you. Hope that you enjoy these quotes from
Dr. Seuss as much as I do!

Stay turned tomorrow for the start of DIYD! {Do It Yourself December!} A whole month of crafts, recipes and fun little DIY projects!

Ode to The Mullet

Mullets always make me happy. {come on...business in the front...party in the back...genius!}

It's true that not a lot of people easily admit that they love this haircut...but...I'm about 99.99% sure that they'll make you happy too. {or at least make you smile for a minute}

So...I've put together my top ten favorite mullets of all time {if I missed one of your favorites...let me know...}

Drum roll...random order...{it's kind of difficult to rate awesomeness!}

The A.C. Slater

The Billy Ray

The Joe Dirt

The Uncle Jesse

The Gibson

The Macgyver

The Swayze

The Kenny Powers

The Lady Brady

The Chuck Norris

What can I say...there's just something magical about this haircut. So...if you see a mullet...take a minute and enjoy it! And know that the people that are rockin' {or did rock at one time} this cut have some serious style and aren't afraid who knows it!

Ninja or Nun?

I hope that you enjoyed Robot Unicorn Attack yesterday! {I know...it's kind of awesome}

Today...I'm bringing to your attention to another awesome game if you happen to need a mental break {or if you just really want to work on your ninja skills}...Ninja or Nun! One of my friends sent this to me a few months ago...and I love it!

To be honest...I don't really play a lot of games online, but this one is quick, awesome and a lot of fun! Hope that you try it out if you're feeling like getting your ninja on! Judo-chop!

Nature's Little Refresher and Unicorns

So...I know that I promised to write everyday...and then...I went and missed yesterday. {sorry!}

I know what you're thinking...what happened you slacker?
Well, no excuses here. The truth of the matter is that I was sleeping.
{and it was glorious!}

My husband and I woke up a little early and went Black Friday deal hunting. {and scored some pretty awesome finds} After a few hours of braving the crowd, we came back home, had some lunch and took a seriously awesome nap! {for about 3 or 4 hours...I lost count...
ahhhh....heaven}

When we woke up...it was almost dark outside and we both had a serious surge of energy! After we whipped up a quick meal, we attacked a few renovation projects that we've been putting off. {The progress was impressive!} After about 4 hours of work, we retired back to the couch for movies and a little more relaxation. Looking around the house this morning...I can honestly say that we marked a few pretty decent projects off the list! {in a matter of only a few hours...YAY!}
Go Progress!

My point...YAY for naptime! I know that we would of gotten the surge of energy to knock out the to-do list eventually...but I think that the nap is atleast partially responsible. So...I'd like to give a shout out to nature's little refresher...the nap!

If you have the time...take one! It's good for your body, awesome for your soul...and you'll feel so good when you wake up!

And...since I missed yesterday. I'm leaving you with another happy little thing...robot unicorn attack! If you need a mental break from whatever you're working on, {or you just really like unicorns as much as I do} you'll love it! Happy Saturday! Hope that you have a great day!

A Day for Thanks

Today has been a day filled with family, friends, food and of course...thanks. I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life and all of the blessings around me. {aren't you?}

I think that taking a few moments to think about how wonderful the world can be and how lucky we each are {in so many ways} is something that we should all do more often. Thanksgiving is always a perfect opportunity to reflect on the year and make time to do this...but so is each and every day.

So...take a minute to think about your loved ones, situations in your life that make you happy or even something random that just happens to make you smile. Savor it...enjoy it...and be thankful for that handful of seconds, minutes or hours.

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a wonderful night!

WIWW {what i wore wednesdays}

Last week I jumped on the WIWW {what i wore wednesdays} wagon and really had a lot of fun digging through my closet trying to mix things up. Enter week two! Here we go!

I'll admit it...I was feeling a little retro this morning...

the basics:
dress {modcloth}
skirt {target} 
sweater {old navy}

the details:
headband {just some ribbon I had left over from another skirt...tied strategically}
hair {straightened}
make-up {normal}

shoes: {piperlime}

bag {urban outfitters}

jewelry earrings {a gift from my old boss}; bracelet {a gift from my sister-in-law} 

polk-a-dots + blue {aka my favorite color} = a fun outfit for me

If you haven't already started digging in your closet for fun happy things that you've forgotten about...get in there and have some fun!
It's kind of like a scavenger hunt with no rules.

Happy Thanksgiving Day Eve! I hope that you have a wonderful evening!

MYSS: What Dreams May Come

Tonight I have a MYSS! {movie you should see}

What Dreams May Come is one of my favorite movies of all time. I wish that I could go into extreme detail with you on why this is one of my favorite movies, but if I get a roll, I might ruin it for you...so you should just pick it up and watch it! {trust me}

I will tell you that it has a beautiful love story, a bit of tragedy and a lovely ending. Also...if you're an artist {or love art in general} this movie is likely to strike you the same way it did me. {I've day dreamed about jumping into paintings...and this movie gets that!}

How much do I love this movie? It's on my top five of all time.

So...if you're looking for something to watch over the holiday weekend, I highly recommend this one. I have a feeling you'll really enjoy it!

YAY for Coupons!

Today I discovered couponsuzy.com! In a word...awesome! I'll admit it...I'm a frugal girl. {who doesn't love to save a little here and there!} I've seen coupon websites before, but this one has a few extras that I haven't seen.

If you're looking for your general everyday coupons, just go to the site. If you want to search by ZIP code, you can! Also, as you "clip" coupons on the site, a coupon carrier calculates your savings. {genius!} Want more? {okay} You can also get a "Daily Deal", coupon codes for online shopping and even recipes.

I know what you're thinking...so how did you stumble across this terrific site? Simple...good marketing! I actually saw a commercial yesterday that was kind of vague, but catchy enough to stick in my head. So, I looked it up today. Maybe this has been around for a while and I'm just now catching on, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. So...if you shop and you like saving money, check it out!

A word on Love

Today I'd like to share with you one of my favorite verses about love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

My husband and I had this verse read at our wedding ceremony a few years ago, and I continue to think about the words almost everyday. The verse is a beautiful reminder to cherish love and to not take it for granted. With Thanksgiving coming up {and every other day of the year} make sure to tell those around you how much they mean to you and try to remember this verse. Love is a amazing thing and should be celebrated every chance that you get.

Sing-A-Ma-Jigs

Christmas is just around the corner...and I've already started playing Santa.  My favorite gift that I've picked up so far has got to be Mattel Sing-A-Ma-Jigs! I saw that they were on the "hot" toy list this year and didn't want to get caught in another Zhu Zhu Pet crowd rush like last year...{I've never seen so much chaos happeining in toy aisles due to a tiny little hamster}...so I ordered four of these cute little singing creatures online a few weeks ago. I don't have any kids, but do have a few nieces and thought that they might get a kick out of these. They arrived yesterday and are so stinking cute! {I'll admit it...I had to try them out...and had so much fun!}

Mattel Sing-A-Ma-Jigs

If you have little ones, I highly recommend this toy! A word of advise though...hurry! They're going fast!

Big Pink Nightmare!

Today...I'm giving you a peek into one of our upstairs bedrooms...with the disclaimer that I did not put this on the wall {it was there when we moved in} and that when we get to this room in the renovation process...it's going down in a bad way!

Yes...I know. It's a baby pink wall with a creepy, deranged looking poodle that almost looks like it's angry enough to hop off the wall and get you...{YIKES}...look closely...notice how it's even painted over the light socket. {now that's fancy!} 

So...why am I sharing this with you? Admit it...it's weird and awesome in a strange kind of way! And even though I plan to get rid of it...it still makes me laugh every time I go in there. What were they thinking?

With this, I hope that our unique mural makes you smile...and rethink any murals that you have planned in the near future. {just think about all of the sanding and priming that will need to happen when you want to change it...and come up with plan B!} Happy Friday!

See you tomorrow!

DIY: {herb cheese rolls}

Tonight I baked herb cheese rolls for a Thanksgiving Pot-luck at work tomorrow. Believe it or not...it's easier than it sounds. So, if you love bread, cheese, herbs and are feeling a little adventurous...this is absolutely a recipe for you!

Herb Cheese Rolls {fresh out of the oven}

What you'll need:
1 cup milk {I use skim milk}
1 tbsp butter
1 package dry active yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil {or olive oil}
shredded cheese {I use a little over a handful of colby jack}
2 tbsp of your favorite herbs {sometimes I use garlic, but tonight I went for oregano}

What you'll need to do:
First, measure your milk and pour it into a microwave safe bowl. Warm it up for about 125 to 135 seconds. Remove warm milk from microwave and add butter. Once the butter is melted, add the dry active yeast. {make sure that the milk and butter mixture is warm...not hot! if it's too hot, it will kill the yeast and your dough won't rise} After the yeast had dissolved, add salt and sugar. Then add 2 cups of flour. Stir until you have a sticky consistency and the mixture starts pulling away from the edges of the bowl. At this point, add the last 1/2 cup of flour. Work the dough with your hands, kneading it until you have a ball. Coat the ball of dough with 1 tbsp of oil...evenly. {here comes the fun!} Add your choice of cheese and herbs. Roll the dough around and knead in whatever you decide to add. Work the dough into a ball and place in the center of a large bowl.

Now...you play the waiting game. Queue visual aids!

In theory...this is kind of what your ball of dough will look like after you take care of the steps above.

After you've taken a few minutes to admire your handy work, cover the bowl with a clean, fresh dish towel and place the bowl in a warm, dry place. {I normally use my microwave or oven...make sure that you haven't been cooking in it though :)} Leave it for 1 hour. After an hour, check on your dough. It should be double the size that it was when you left it. {YAY!} Time to shape it up!

Sprinkle flour on a large cutting board {or your clean counter top}.

Turn the bowl upside down and let the dough fall onto the flour. Turn once to coat. Press the dough down a bit in the form of a circle. Cut into 8 even pieces {kind of like a pie}. Smear a little bit of butter over each of the triangles, separate them and roll them up into 8 sections. {any shape that makes you happy will work...tonight I went for mini loaves}

Place them in a baking dish or a loaf pan. {do not grease} Cover them up with clean dish towels and put them back in the place that you let them rise the first time. Let them rise for 45 minutes.

When you check on them in about 45 minutes, they should be a bit bigger than they were when you left them. Expect almost twice the size. Now you can cook them! {YAY!} Preheat your oven to 350° and then cook for about 20 minutes. {sometimes mine are done at 18 minutes...so keep an eye out! It kind of depends on your stove and how fast it cooks.}

And...18 minutes later we have delicious herb cheese bread! Yum! I hope the peeps at work enjoy this tomorrow. It was as fun to make as I'm sure it will be to eat. Hope that you try it out! I have a feeling you'll really like it!

WIWW {what i wore wednesdays}

Generally speaking, I'm a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. Don't get me wrong...I love a good dress {especially the kind that you can twirl in}, but at the same time if you put a dress next to my jeans in the morning...it's pretty obvious where I'm going to go.

So, I thought it was about time to mix it up a bit. My friend over at The Chipper Chickie does something called WIWW {aka what i wore wednesdays} and I'm jumping on the wagon. My reasons for throwing this into the mix are simple:

• I have some really cute clothes that live in my closet that I should seriously pay more attention to.
• I've noticed that everytime I do laundry I'm washing the same things over and over again.
• My happy little legs rarely see the light of day from October to February {I know this is seasonal...but once Fall sets in...they normally don't come back out until Spring!}
• Just because a few things work together sometimes, doesn't mean that I shouldn't let them mix and mingle with different outfits. {it could be awesome...it could be really bad, but how will I know if I never try it?}
• It's something I know I'll enjoy and have fun with if I make myself do it!

Well, that's reason enough for me! Here we go!

everything from today is something that I already had, but have never tried together:
make-up is normal {yes...that is an everyday thing for me...since junior high}
hair is curled {this may seem like nothing...but it's kind of rare thing these days}
jewelry {earrings...Cammi Stanley originals made from vintage beads...if you're interested, I work with her and she makes beautiful little treasures; bracelet...a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law)
boots {colin stuart @ victoria secret}
shirt and sweater {old navy}
skirt {le chateau...and yes...it's covered in sequins and sparkles like crazy in the light!}
belt {holidays fashion}

It was a bit chilly today, so I threw a coat and a scarf on top for good measure...

scarf {wal-mart}
coat {urban outfitters}

I'm kind of excited to go exploring in the abyss of my closet for something fun for next week {or tomorrow}. It's really fun to find things that you've had for years and have completely overlooked. I think you should all go digging in your closet for treasures and see what you come up with. If you find something awesome...I'd love to hear about it! And...I think if you have something that you love in there...that you never wear...you should rock it out tomorrow and have some fun with it!

Wisdom from Julia Child

So...I think Julia Child is amazing! She oozed passion and taught me that I could put butter in everything! {which I don't always do...but seriously consider...I mean...butter makes everything taste better...right?}

Where am I going with this? To be honest, I had a bit of a rough day yesterday {thus the cozy slippers in t-minus 5 minutes after I made it into the house} and came home and watched Julie & Julia and it lifted my spirits {and made me want to cook}. Today was better, but still left me wanting a little lift to boost my creative juices {and help me finish up a few projects tonight}!

Enter...words of wisdom from Julia Child:

"Life itself is the proper binge."
— Julia Child

"You'll never know everything about anything, especially something you love."
— Julia Child

and of course...

"...nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should."
— Julia Child

All of these are very true and a good reminder for us all. I have a feeling tonight will be much better than today, and know that tomorrow I'll keep these thoughts in mind when I wake up and get things going. Thanks Julia!

Happy Feet!

Long days and chilly nights call for warm cozy slippers! If you have a pair and you've had a rough day {or not}, I highly recommend slipping into them. I think I managed to make it about 5 minutes before hopping into my favorite pair of bumble bee slippers after making it home from work tonight. Somehow I can't help but smile looking at the little fabric wings as they jump a little when I walk around the house. {not to mention that these cute little guys were a sweet gift from my husband a few years ago and always make me think of him when they're keeping my toes warm}

What can I say, sometimes it's the little things that make your day. So whether your sporting bumble bees, panda bears or maybe even some cute little sweater socks...cozy up and enjoy your night! Happy Monday! See you tomorrow!

Sunshine and Changing Leaves

In between bursts of rain yesterday...I noticed that our trees have officially started transitioning from green leaves to beautiful warm shades of scarlet, gold and rich orange. I love our trees year round, but there's something spectacular about them this time of year.

High up in the branches of my favorite tree.

Fall is often a brief visitor in the South. We generally only have a few short weeks of crisp perfect weather before it starts to feel like Winter outside. Today is absolute perfection! {at least where we are} Sunny, brisk, beautiful and full of color! So get out there and enjoy it! Take a walk, play in your garden or simply take a chair out on the porch and a enjoy a glass of tea.

As for me...I'm about to tackle some serious yard work with my husband and soak up all of the beauty that this day has to offer!

Mmmmm...Tastes Like Fall!

Today I'm bringing you a recipe for one of my favorite espresso drinks...the homemade Cinnamon Mocha!

Homemade Cinnamon Mocha

What you'll need:
1 cup fresh brewed espresso
1/4 cup milk {I use skim milk, but you can use your favorite}
2 squirts of chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
a few sprinkles of cinnamon

First brew your espresso. Then add your milk. Add chocolate syrup, sugar and cinnamon. Give it a stir! Top it off with your choice of toppings.

If I'm enjoying this in the morning {like today}, I sprinkle ground cloves over the top to add a little spice. If I'm enjoying this in the afternoon, I normally add a spoonful of whipped topping and a drizzle of chocolate syrup {and sometime a sprinkliing of ground cloves} on top. YUM!

It's tastes like fall, is a little bit of heaven and always gives me that much needed caffinee boost...right in my own kitchen!

Give it a try. It only takes a few minutes to make {under 5} and is well worth the effort! Enjoy!

I Heart Mustaches!

That's right. Mustaches make me happy! I'm not 100% on why exactly I love them…but they just make me smile. If you stop to enjoy them, I'm pretty sure that you'll love them too!

For those of you know me pretty well or see me on a daily basis, you know that I'm a serious mustache enthusiast and am also a proud "Mo Sista" aka a lady member of team MODEN. A group of people at my place of business who are supporting the cause one mustache at a time! Movember is shining a much needed spotlight on men's cancer awareness during the month of November…and with this, several people from around the world are stopping for a moment to celebrate the mustache. Whether you are a manly man and are growing your own as we speak, a manly man who has chosen to sport a clean face, but appreciates a fabulous 'stache on your fellow man, or a lovely lady who digs the shapely whiskers and can't help but stare sometimes when they curl up just right on the corners...it's easy to join in on all of the fun!

My favorite newsletter thus far from Movember came via email yesterday and included something that is pretty awesome and on it's own level of uniqueness! I present to you…The Moustardche t-shirt!

I know what you're thinking…Mustache + Hot dog with Shades = Epic! If you're as excited about this as am, you can order your own and rock it out whenever you want to show some love for the fine mustaches in your community!

So...in short, for today…take in the simple pleasures in life and if you see a mustache, enjoy it!  With that, I'm leaving you with a few of my favorite mustaches…

The Kenny Powers

The Mutton

The Bronson

The Dali

The Fiesta Handlebar a la Mannering

Have a Happy Friday!

Hello & Welcome to {change of venue}!

I've started to notice a gray cloud cast over several people lately. No one specific! Just a general observation of a random sampling of individuals that I've come in contact with. No, it's not a case of serious depression or anything...I think. It's just that the shiny, happy, crazy, fun, sugar-coated <<insert awesome adjective here>> is lost or in some cases missing in action from some people's lives. Somehow things have gotten too serious and the candid awesomeness has found it's way into seclusion. I intend to change this...one day at a time.

I'm an artist. A dreamer. A get-your-hands dirty, crafty kind of girl. I love to bake, paint, sew, tile floors and of course work with power tools. Who doesn't? I have a strict rule that I live by when it comes to trying new things...always take the plunge and try it at least once! Unless you go for it, you'll live in the dark and never learn to appreciate new things. With this philosophy, I have learned that walking on stilts is hard...but a whole lot of fun, baking treats is good for the soul, welding is scary at first...and then a serious rush and that I just might be the worst surfer on the planet. But, I still intend to try it again...who knows...maybe next time I'll be awesome! Always keep an open mind, and know that no one's perfect. I have tried lots of things out and have been successful to a certain degree, but not always. Even if you fail at something, at least you can say you went for it.

So...where am I going with this? Good question!

My plan of action is this: Everyday I will be posting something fun, happy, crazy, inspirational or just something intended to make you smile. You may not get a kick out of everything...but, maybe you will...you never know. My hope is to bring a moment of candid awesomeness to you each day to brighten a few seconds of your time. With that, welcome to my happy place...and stay tuned!