delight in life

lucky

As I get home from a long workday that was more fun than work, I am so grateful for where I am. I have a great job that may be frustrating at times, but what job isn't? I've been given so many cool opportunities and I get the chance to learn new things all the time. More importantly, I was hired with a group of 8 very good people. Each of us come from very different backgrounds, and they all inspire me daily to challenge myself and figure out what I want to do with my life. I am lucky to work with these fun, smart people.

And I am lucky to be sitting here on my porch on this warm evening, listening to night sounds, thinking about how great my life is.

the invitations!

So, the wedding's in 54 days. I don't post about it too much, mostly because I like to have pretty pictures to share and so far there haven't been tangible things to take pictures of!

But. These invitations. Are so pretty.

If I do say so myself.

 

I saw a similar pennant design on oh, hello friend and I loved it. I knew immediately that's what I would be doing. I bought some Japanese masking tape (I'd been looking for an excuse for that anyway!) and started cutting tiny triangles. So many tiny triangles! And then I pulled out my sewing machine and started stitching lines. So many lines.

It's a good thing I love assembly line work.

 

My sister designed all the text. And those cute little dots. She is awesome. I owe her big time. 

I didn't want to include a maps/accommodations card, so I just made a tiny card with the website address on it. On the response cards, I lightly penciled the addressee's name on the back, as I've read some stories on the internet of people getting the RSVPs back with no names on them! I wanted to be sure that didn't happen.

 

I used Paper Source labels and printed the addresses on them. Easy. I added the return address label to the back, and then as a final touch, stamped the wedding date on the edge of the flap. I know I saw that idea somewhere, but I can't remember where. I love it though. I lined all the envelopes in the yellow polka dot paper, which I also adore. I think it is so fun and pretty!


 

I threw all the envelopes in a big bag, headed off to the post office, and wished them safe travels.

throw something

The weather was really nice the weekend before last, so to celebrate I continued on in my quest to wreck this journal. I decided on "throw something: a pencil, a ball dipped in paint". I enjoyed myself immensely.

 

hey spring. nice of you to join us.

 

 

Here in north Texas we celebrated the first day of spring with temps in the 30s and SNOW. Snow! I still can't believe it. Anyway, things seem to have sorted themselves out now, and today is going to be beautiful. Thank goodness. Bring on the sunshine!
 

relay for life

I'm proud to be participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life this year. If you'd like to donate to this worthy cause, please go to my donation page. If you donate, make sure to leave your name on your donation and you can be entered to win 1 of 4 pairs of American Airlines round trip tickets to anywhere in North America (including the Caribbean!) except Alaska and Hawaii. $5 gets you one entry in the drawing, $12 gets you three.

we are all a little weird

 

I love love love this wedding invitation. It's so true.

(by imeusdesign, via mustard & sage)

 

san diahhhgo

A few weeks ago we took a trip to San Diego. Just because. It was the first trip we've taken where we weren't going to visit someone we know in another city. It was just us, exploring somewhere new together. It was so, so good.

In an uncharacteristic move, I did not pre-plan every minute of the weekend, which was a good decision. As we headed to the hotel, every other highway sign said "Beach" so as soon as we dropped our stuff off, that's where we headed.

We wandered up and down the shore, collecting pretty shells and rocks, and eventually we rented bikes so we could even further up and down the shore.

The next day we headed to the zoo bright and early, and can I tell you? Best decision ever. We got there right when it opened. The weather was gorgeous (of course) and the zoo was practically empty.

We got pretty lucky and were able to see quite a few animals out for their daily walk! The whole zoo was just great. So many animals, and it was so beautifully landscaped. I would love to go back again -- especially since the polar bear exhibit was being rebuilt. Such a bummer to miss out on those guys.


My dad recommended that we check out the Hotel del Coronado area, so we headed out there after the zoo. We spent some time walking the shore -- would love to stay at that hotel someday! -- and then wandered in and out of the shops.

Since we live half an hour away from each other, Chris and I do not get to see each other as much as we would like! It was so wonderful to spend so much time together on our own private adventure. Being married will be so awesome.

 (74 days!)

calm nights + texas skies

 
 Almost as much as I love warm spring days, I love cool spring nights. Where I can leave the screen door open and have a hot mug of tea while the cats can survey the world from the balcony railing.

And Texas sunsets are just the best.

plants, anyone?

On Friday, I made the unpleasant discovery that I'd left my headlights on and my battery was dead. However, while driving aimlessly around to charge it back up, I made the very, very pleasant discovery that a charming, family-owned plant nursery is just ten minutes away from my apartment! I stocked up on pretty succulents and few foxtail ferns, came home and turned my back porch into a potting factory.

One of the plants, the one in the front of the top picture, was very big and had to be cut back. I couldn't bear to throw so much plant away, so I cut it up into smaller pieces and put little cuttings into 7 tiny pots I got in the Target Dollar Spot. I still have so much plant left over. Does anyone want some? Let me know and I will mail you a small cutting or two or three!

Now I have a very pretty little container garden on my counter. Hurray for spring!

 

a new look

 
I wasn't in love with the last blog banner I made, so I thought some pretty pink Caribbean flamingos would do the trick of perking things up around here. I don't know that the flamingos are in any danger, but the phrase kind of stuck in my head so I used it. 

The photos are from our trip to the San Diego Zoo, which I plan on writing about later this week.