daydreaming about design... (again)

You see, I have this problem. I constantly daydream about the placement of furniture in our new home... How that new desk will look in that new room... If I can repurpose the china hutch as a book shelf...

It's somewhat of a disorder actually. My to-do list is a mile long, but yet, it seems that all I can think about are room measurements and paint colors.

So, until I am actually able to arrange (and rearrange) in our own new home... I will have to get my inspiration from blogland. And there is plenty out there. I have a few favorite decorating blogs/sites that I check out every once in a while... but all this seems to do is increase my design daydreaming habits.

Over at Marta Writes, they are discussing the selection of decorative pillows and pillow placement... I am in LOVE with that yellow flower pillow!


Then at the Nesting Place, she beautifully repurposed a $3 Goodwill picture frame.


And at COCOCOZY, she inspires with my new absolute favorite color combo... yellow & gray.

You guys have any other favorite sites for decorative inspiration? I'm all ears, as I will be making our new guest house a home in only 3 short weeks...

thankful thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for:

1) Ranier cherries. I could eat bowls and bowls of ranier cherries... seriously, I love these things. Ranier cherries are so deliciously sweet and juicy. They define summer for me...

2) Weekend visits. This weekend we have a handful of old friends coming in town. I am particularly excited about this family... Matt and Carrie are good friends from our college days and have two beautiful daughters... can't wait to see you guys :)

3) Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookie mix. This box makes the absolute best chocolate chip cookies ever... hands down. All you have to do is add a stick of butter and an egg... and wah-la, you suddenly have delicious chocolate chip cookies that taste homemade. I dare you to try them yourself... double dog dare you.

top 5 :: lessons learned from dave...

1) The more tie-dye, the better. I think all the tie-dye might have damaged my vision... seriously. Bright colored swirls everywhere.

2) Inhale through your nose. If you breathe through your mouth, you are bound to swallow large gulps of marijuana smoke.

3) Always pack extra snacks. My $6 burger and $6 drink.... not so great. Besides, if you didn't follow rule #2 above, you will probably have the munchies.

4) Prepare yourself for an oversized fraternity party. The crowd was not lacking in frat boys... lots of North Face apparel, corn hole games, and beer.

5) Put tracking devices on drunk people. The large quantity of passed out drunkards was worrisome... Where are their friends? And why was no one looking for them?

hangin' with dave

That's right... tonight, I will be chillin' with my good ol' friend Dave. Yes, as in Dave Matthews. I am beyond excited. I bought my tickets months and months ago and it has finally arrived. I have never seen the Dave Matthews Band live in concert, but have always been a huge fan... so I knew this one needed to go on my 30 by 30 list... and I needed to make it happen.

And happen it will. Let's just pray for no rain, as we have lawn seats... and I'm not real big on wet, soggy grass. Rumor on the street is that Dave is taking a break after he finishes the 2010 tour and won't be performing again until 2012... This somehow makes my tickets seem even more valuable and makes the experience as a whole even more exhilarating.

Don't worry, I'll tell Dave you said "hey"... :)

ben & katie got hitched! {birmingham wedding photographer}

There were so many beautiful details at this wedding, and I feel so honored that Ben and Katie allowed me to photograph their special day. These two love birds are just adorable... they could not keep their eyes off one another. When I was shooting, there were so many moments that made me smile... here are just a few...

a stunning bride...

13 gorgeous bridesmaids...

10 ninja groomsmen...

the fact that the groom could not keep his eyes off his beautiful bride...

this awesome blue door...

the coolest wedding location ever...

sweet moments shared between the love birds...

a long row of absolute gorgeousness...

this awesome "Ocean's 11" photo shoot...

ummm... holy-bridal-party...

the anticipation of walking down the aisle...

the cutest flower girls ever, that were bribed down the aisle with suckers...

special father/daughter moments...

a beautiful heart-felt ceremony...

reflective moments...

the thrilling excitement of saying "I do"...

the flowers that replaced the veil so the bride could shake it on the dance floor...

and shake it, she did indeed...

the look of absolute bliss...

and the signs of "happily ever after"...

Congratulations Ben and Katie! Enjoy your new journey together!

get excited...

The honeymooners are back and there is a big wedding post coming soon... with LOTS of photos!

thankful thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for:

1) Fresh summer veggies. I love fresh, homegrown, summer vegetables. Nothing beats a good ol' tomato sandwich. And if I could talk Lance into cooking squash and zucchini on the grill every night... I would.

2) My pet horse. Okay, so I don't really have a pet horse... but my 89 year old neighbor does. And occasionally, little old man brings the horse over to our backyard to eat our grass. Hilarious, I know.

3) Technology. I have been working from home all week as a sort of "trial run," if you will. Once we move to Kentucky I will be working remotely 3 weeks out of every month, so we wanted to try it out before I move... And I am very happy to say, it has been a glitch-free-super-successful-week!

top 10 reasons why "161" was stinkin' awesome

10) Cozy fires in the winter time.

9) Awesome hang outs on the back porch.

8) The best New Year's parties.

2007

2008

2009

7) The "sweatshop."

6) That amazing bath tub.

5) We built it ourselves.

4) The laundry room connected to the master closet.

3) We could have the tallest Christmas tree.

2) Hosted several big-time birthdays.

Jenna's 20th

Linda's 60th

Lance's 30th

1) It was home.