LOVES from this past week

I am loving these word-filled walls, and this sitting room color scheme .

I think I am changing the name of these cookies to--Are You Serious? Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies--There is some serious goodness in every morsel that you'll hardly believe you've made them.

Need to go to Seattle from Portland or vice versus? Check out this shuttle service. Have someone else do the driving as you read & blog in luxury.

I would LOVE one of these by made in the Hudson Valley for my living room. Thanks for the heads up on a great shop, pretty*pink*rat!

Loving these invites. I've already been-there-done-that, but it's a great idea for all you fabric queens and soon-to-be's out there!

Umm...these are too cute for the kitchen.

Get gilding! This post is an absolute fav from The Inspired Room's Fall Nesting Week. Know where I can find a good deal on fake pumpkins??

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal is such a neat site! They show and tell the creations of ABC's of Me Art Journals of all who want to be a part of the process. I think I need to get ABCing my 27th year...and the kids 1st and 3rd...now that's sounding like a lot.

And for you--

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My Big News...

Quick! They're asleep!...

One sad day, almost two and a half years ago, as I had sat down in my rocking chair to feed Brooklynn her first bottle of the morning, I looked down to see that my wedding ring of only a mere 16 months or so was gone. off my finger. gone. disappeared. vanished.

And I mean VANISHED!! I am not one to lose things. After tearing our small 600 sq. foot house + basement apart with the help of my Hubby, the pit in my stomach grew. I knew that it was gone; I would not find it.

As the days wore past, and after many glances down at an empty left-finger, the reality set in that I had really lost my wedding ring--the ring I failed to get insurance on; the ring that my husband chose for me and proposed with the night before my birthday; the one he couldn't wait for my birthday to give, because I was sad that night and he wanted to make it better; the only ring I ever planned to wear; the one he always said looked great on me and the one that he was proud to have given me--like he had somehow staken his claim with that very jewel.

For the next year I switched it up a little with fake bands. I say switched it up--because two of those rings turned my finger green. It was embarrassing to be at the jewelry counter and be shopping for my left ring-finger. I insisted on replacing my loss with a little something nice, as it was the least that I could do for myself as a ring-widow. It was also very awkward for me. I didn't like to appear unmarried with a toddler in my stroller and a growing belly, and because I was paranoid that some of the sales ladies didn't even believe that I was married...just that I wanted to be. I also felt cheap. I hated feeling that way especially since I knew I had lost such a beautiful wedding ring. Uhh...it really made me feel self-conscious.

After the first year of wearing fakes, Nate surprised me on our anniversary with another ring. Happy and surprised, I thanked him. My heart ached a little though, as my new ring was much different from the one that I used to have that was SO me.

Since the loss two and half years ago, we've moved three times. Each time, we've packed and looked carefully to find the missing ring. Nate and my brother-in-law searched high and low as they tore our tiny basement apart during the remodel of that house. The great mystery remained.

Last Tuesday, Brooklynn and her friend played dress-up in some of her baby clothes. Funny that that box of clothes was even in my house, as all the other boxes of too-small clothes of her's are in the garage in storage. When I finally got to cleaning up the mess on Wednesday, I sat down to fold and organize the clothes into stacks. About half-way through the pile, I felt a little something in the footsie of one of the one-piece outfits. I did a double-feel and right then, I knew exactly what I had felt.

There it was--a little dirty, but with the same glorious beauty--

My long-lost, long-loved, original wedding ring!!!!!!!!!!!!

I jumped up breathless, yelling GET-OUT!s and hightailed it to my phone to send Nate a message.

Remember this? No Way! I wrote next to the picture.

A short time later he returned my call and he couldn't believe it. While he looked at my picture-text he was asking his business partner--"Is that my house?" He couldn't believe that I had found the ring.

And neither can I. The ring is now on my finger, sized correctly, and symbolizes a lot of love and history for us.

This is what I could not wait to share! I hope none of you is let-down by my news. Who knows, maybe you were hoping I'd won a bunch of airline tickets and that I'd take you to NYC with me or to Vegas for a crazy weekend? Maybe you were thinking I had baby news, or that I had a great give-away?

In fact, I like the sound of that last thought--Give Away--since I am totally feeling the love. I'll see what I can come up with and let you know what & how you can win. Keep those eyes peeled! I've been known to bake up some serious goodness and dabble in quite a bit of crafting.

Asher's been screaming at me from his crib for a few minutes now, so I better run...

Have a GREAT night!

~C

A Girl & Her Boots

First, I'd like to say thank you for all the Birthday wishes! It was a lovely week (and day), indeed. Although I did not make it to the bookstore on my own or did I make to the lake for an early morning run like I hoped--(a run at the lake is special not just because it is at the lake, but because I get to go without toting the kiddos), I did enjoy all of the rest that was on my list:

Received my order from Powell's Books

Had some great writing sessions with lots of progress made...

Indulged in the best cupcake I have ever enjoyed from St.Cupcake

Rocked out at my bowling party

and...

Almost dropped dead when I met these beauties face-to-face!

Friends, these boots are SERIOUS! And just in time for the fall!

Actually, there is a funny story that accompanies these boots. Thursday night, two nights before my Birthday, I was standing in my room with my laptop, reading some comments left on my Birthday post and started laughing. My sis, Amber said something to the effect of--"now you go get those boots..." So, I had to ask the husband where we stood on these boots? I mean come on--I don't hint at gift ideas, well, really ever, so when he smiled the other week at my blatant want-of-a-gift, I figured we were good. Also, I must add that I DO trust his taste in picking out awesomeness as he has picked out sunglasses, my wedding ring, and the other cowboy boots that I love--so yes, I figured he'd do the job and pick out some killer boots.

So, when I asked about the boots...I received a so-so response, the kind that you know that nothing has been done about. Laughing and feeling a bit embarrassed, I told him that we were definitely in a pickle since I had posted on my blog that I was hoping for some boots--which, it's not like this was new-news or anything, right? and people have commented on me getting those boots and asked for a peak when they arrive...

Again, he laughed. Not because he was hiding a surprise, but because this blog was going to help me get those boots, dang-it.

And they sure did.

Right then and there, we began the search for the perfect boots. Husband had Laccheses in mind, and after an hour or so of searching, I laid eyes on them, and it was then that I knew that I knew what knowing-when-you-see-it is all about.

truly

A match made in cyber-space.

And even matchy-er match when they arrived on my doorstep.

And even more so, when I jerked them onto my foot--
because this is what you have to do when you put on boots that need to desperately be broken in.

I still smile when I think about them. I know. I know. Just material things--but sometimes it's a look at something so beautifully intricate that makes your day.

I know that Husband is happy that I helped him pull through, too! I had the biggest grin on my face, UNTIL...

BIG NEWS UP NEXT!

Please Excuse This Rant...

Seems I've had a lot of opinions to get off my chest lately, but EXCUSE ME!!! Someone needs to kick Jon Gosseling off the red carpet already! The only reason he EVER became famous is the fact that he has sextuplets and 8 KIDS! So, instead of giving him the red carpet deluxe, the entertainment industry ought to do what's best for him and those kids he forgot about and ban him from these VIP parties that he keeps showing up to. Uhh...what a loser.

I guess I need to start filtering my intake. Seems Internet gossip is getting the best of my solitude this afternoon...

P.S. Kanye West is an idiot, too.

Books, Books, Books!

I just finished reading Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. It is so nice to have completed a book, as I've had a few too many lingering on my night stand. This book I highly recommend. It's an invigorating and mysterious read drenched in the charm and glamor of the early circus era. Check it out.

And while I am on the subject of books, a few things...

Isn't this dreamy?

Credit-We Heart It

I'm swooning over this cozy atmosphere. Nothing appeals to me more than a wall full of books-- and to have them piled above you as you sleep?! You could actually breathe books while you dream! You know, the scent of old books, or better yet--the bookstore? You know what I mean.

Now that I have finished Water for Elephants, I am focusing on September's Book Club read, Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore. I'm also working on Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

How about you? What are you reading? Any suggestions for me?

xoxo,

C

"Book-love, I say again, lasts throughout life, it never flags or fails, but, like Beauty itself, is a joy forever." The Anatomy of Bibliomana Vol.II - Holbrook Jackson

"Only in books has mankind known perfect truth, love and beauty." George Bernard Shaw

"For books are more than books. They are the life, the very heart and core of ages past, the reason why men lived and worked and died, the essence and quintessence of their lives." Amy Lowell

"The true university of these days is a collection of books." The Hero as Man of Letters - Thomas Carlyle

A Wish-Full Week!

It's my Birthday Week, and yes, I said WEEK! I've been taking notice of other birthday weeks, so now I am going to join the fun! And let me tell you--I have a lot in store for myself!

Here is a little list of things that I am looking forward to this week:

Hitting the BOOKSTORE alone for a few hours

My POWELL'S Bookstore purchase arriving in the mail

An early morning RUN down by the lake

A trip to ST. CUPCAKE downtown P-Town

Some good old CARE OF THE SOUL reading time

Daily WRITING sessions

The beginning of the next Beth Moore study

A Big Al's Birthday party!! I'll be BOWLING into my 27th year with Husband and some great friends!

And last but not least--a new pair of COWGIRL BOOTS...I hope Husband pulls through on this one...;)

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Hope your week is wish-full, too!

~C