Oh, the possibilities...

Image from haus maus

Somebody hold me back. The ever fabulous Holly over at haus maus posted about this little guy on her blog. Would you look at those adorable mini photos? They're going on eBay for about $150 or so. Unfortunately, that is cash I'm not allowing myself to spend right now. Trying hard to tackle #93 and have a week of unpaid time off next week (loving the economy), but more on that later. Gift fairies- please send this little guy my way. Oh, the possibilities!

About Me

One of my favorite blog reads, Rockstar Diaries, has recently been posting "10 things that make me happy" series. This prompted me to start my own list of "happys." I started this blog after being inspired by the (embarrassing number of, to which I subscribe in my new obsession a.k.a. Google Reader) blogs that I do spend my time reading as a place to keep my thoughts, inspirational findings, and general ramblings. Somewhere along the way, I attracted a few readers. WOO HOO! (Thanks to all five of you). For those of you that I have not "met, " allow me to share a little bit about myself in the form of what I love (aside from all of you, of course).

What I love:
  • 90’s music
  • fall hayrides
  • a good book that makes me sigh and look at the cover when I'm done reading it
  • cuddling up on the couch with a warm blanket (no I do not own a Snuggie)
  • buying cute and colorful office supplies
  • caramel macchiatos
  • the zoo (it's all happening there)
  • Brady Bunch reruns
  • Irish festivals and the Highland games
  • hoodie weather
  • Beverly Hills 90210
  • Harry Potter
  • chocolate, peanut butter, and both mixed together
  • gossip girl
  • fabulous shoes
  • 80's power ballads
  • singing my heart out in my car on a long road trip when the golden pipes are really warmed up
  • lily of the valley
  • when my ipod is psychic
  • Husband's spontaneous "i love yous", hugs & kisses
  • Smiles from strangers
  • yoga
  • thunderstorms
  • the first scent of autumn in the airl
  • being near the ocean
  • open sunroofs
  • secret single behavior (like ice cream for dinner)
  • fresh flowers at home
  • campfires
  • chick flicks
  • coming across something inspiring
  • driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge while listening to a Beach Mix on the radio
  • interior design
  • watching “Sex and the City" on DVD for hours at a time
  • naps
  • road trips
  • getting cards in the mail
  • pretty stationery
  • eating cotton candy
  • brand new boxes of crayons
  • the smell of fresh laundry
  • a fresh pedicure
  • massages
  • a dishwasher & a washer/dryer- luxury items that we don't have
  • good dark chocolate
  • dinners outside in the summer
  • late night gigglefests
  • climbing into a bed made with fresh sheets
  • writing my name with a sparkler
  • snowflakes so big you can catch them on your tongue
  • hearing a song that brings back a good memory
  • seeing a star filled sky
  • running further/working out harder than I thought I could

What about you? What are the little things that make you happy?

Check Out My New Digs!

Don't you love what I've done with the place? In honor of warm and fuzzy Friday, I want to give a shout out to this lovely gal who designed this awesome template*. Now I feel more inspired to work my blogging skills.

*Check out her shop if you'd like to fancy your blog up a bit too!

The next YouTube sensation?

So we've all heard about Judson Liapply's Evolution of Dance*. And the kid dancing at the Celtics game. Then along came Susan Boyle. My sister just sent me a link to this. Made. My. Day. The next YouTube sensation? Decide for yourself:



In about 12 years, this kid is going to be in the middle of a frat party in the middle of a circle just workin' it.

*Saw that in person at a conference once before his 15 minutes of fame on YouTube. The boy can move. He has made a sequel and does the Gator from Animal House. This very move was performed at my wedding by my dear sister and MOH and friends. Look for it in the recaps.

I heart Google Doodles

I am easily amused, and it makes my day when Google spices things up by swapping their standard art header for something a little fancier and festive. I think my all time favorite has to be the Eric Carle "Very Hungry Caterpillar" art, just because I loved that book growing up (still do).

Image found here

When I visited Google this morning, I noticed a link to a page that featured google art from school kids across the country. Google is holding a contest for various grade levels, and you can vote for your favorite art to be featured on May 21st. How cool are these:


All images found via Google- duh.

I personally like the art where you can still plainly see the word "Google," and took the age of the children doing the illustrations into consideration before casting my vote. I love the little people holding up the hot water bottle on Mother Earth. I think that adorable little critter on the letter "e" in the garden art (top image) might sway my vote.

What about you? Any favorite Google Art?

Our Wedding

As J and I approach our 6 month anniversary this weekend, I've been thinking about where I was this time last year. Wedding planning consumed SO much of my time last year, and although I miss it in some ways, I rather enjoy going home at night and being able to do absolutely NOTHING. Still, planning such a major event opened up the creative side of me like nothing else has in a long time. I was inspired by a lot of things last year, and want to return the favor to some readers that have been asking for DIY ideas and some of the resources I found. Since this blog is a place for me to share a little bit of myself with those that I've learned from, I feel compelled to post my own wedding recaps complete with oodles of details. So stay tuned if you're interested, and I hope you like what you're about to see.

Why I Love My Mom

It's Friday and time for something Warm and Fuzzy. In honor of Mother's Day, here are ten tiny reasons why I love my mom:

1- She is tiny. 4' 11". It makes me laugh when she jumps to reach things on the shelf in a store. And it's funny to see her very tiny shoes laying around the house.

2- She is a rock star. She was in a folk group called Harmony Sun when she was a teenager, and I have very fond memories of her bringing her guitar to my preschool. We sang "Puff the Magic Dragon." And she brought the house down during some Ohio U. Mom's Weekend karaoke.

3- She can make a scrumptious sugar cookie. She made tiny little wedding cakes complete with glittery details for my wedding and decorated each by hand.

4- She laughs at the small things in life. America's Funniest Videos stirs up the laughter in her like nothing else.

5- She knew how badly I wanted to make the cheerleading squad in high school and spent hours teaching me one of her old cheers from her high school days. Although the styles had changed over the years, I'll never forget her helping me.

6- She does so much to make her family happy. Even the little things- I made a request for a totally ridiculous Dave Matthews Band firedancer cake, and she had a lady at church make it for me and brought it to Cleveland for my 30th birthday.

7- I once caught her singing The Backstreet Boys while doing laundry.

8- She waited in very long lines and watched people roll under store front gates to get me and my younger sister Cabbage Patch dolls for Christmas when I was little.

9- She does a funny dance to "Maria Maria" by Santana. I once witnessed it while she was driving. It was all elbow action.

10- Because she is my mom, she inspires me to be who I am, and I wouldn't trade her for the world.

Yes, please.

Photo found on Flickr here

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! I am hoping to get me a grande margarita today in honor of the festivities. Feelin' it? May try to convince husband to take me here for dinner for a cactus flower margarita-mmm... Their drinks and guac are to die! Guac is made onsite, and my favorite is the blue crab/corn/chile variety but they are all so good! Check it:

Anyone have a favorite Cinco de Mayo tradition? Or how about a favorite mexican dish?

It is Monday.

I went to the local racetrack with my husband and in-laws on Saturday to take in a little local Derby action. Most people were there to watch the thoroughbreds, but I found entertainment otherwise. If you are craving some people watching (or like to hunt for bad wigs and awesome mullets), I suggest heading to Thistledown in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs. It does not get any better. That is all I have to say today.

Warm and Fuzzy Fridays

Friday. The last day of my work week. Ahhh...

I always feel inspired on Fridays with a whole weekend stretched out before me. I am feeling particularly inspired and happy today about one particular thing on my 101 in 1001 list. I am not wild about my day job, you see. Especially in today's economy where it is likely that I'll have to tell someone that I work with and respect that they've lost their job. I come in here most days wondering how much longer I am going to have to be at this job, at this company, or even in this career. Today is not about the negative, however. It is about the happy things. The inspiring things. So, starting today I am going to blog about something inspirational on Fridays.

Today's topic: blogging. Last year, while planning my wedding I got into the blogging scene. I signed up for a google e-mail account, and slowly added some blogs to my reader. I now have more blogs on it than I care to admit and may be slightly obsessed... Funny thing about blogs - I seem to get more inspiration from what I'm reading than I am finding in my everyday life. I am pretty sure that some of my blogging "friends" are more interesting than my real life friends. I even started this blog and this list as a result of the inspiration I got from some of my favorite reads. Many of the blogs I read are authored by some highly creative women that have made a business out of blogging or blog about some small business they have recently started. Reading about their stories and day-to-day adventures has caused the wheels in my head to start turning. What if I started my own business? What if I actually got to do something every day that I love? What if I could make money doing it and eventually make enough to call it a career? I've been thinking about it long enough to know that I will never be happy working for anyone other than myself. I also need a way to use the skills that make me feel alive and happy, because life is too short not to feel that way. I've been fortunate enough to find some great resources and I think I finally have the confidence to go for it. So here marks my journey toward #25 . And I have many of you to thank for it.