Treasure Seeking at the Barn House

On Saturday, I told Husband while he worked on a "project" truck in the shop, that I needed to get out more.  As much as I like my time at home, in the quiet of the country, with our many projects--I need to get out.  We need to get out.  Especially while the skies are blue and the temperature is comfortable.  We Washingtonians, have far too many days out of the year that'll keep almost anyone wanting to stay cuddled on the couch with a cup of tea.

So we went.  The kids and I drove down to Camas Days where a parade was happening.  To my happiness, the kids agreed that treasure seeking and garage sales were way more exciting than a parade, so we kept driving.  I may or may not have encouraged this with talk of a special drink along the way.

We headed out to Battleground, Washington, where a little bird told me the Barn House event was taking place.  Boy was it!  I could hardly believe the extent of the event--cars piling up, live music, food and outside vintage dealers galore.  Everything was so gorgeously put together and inspiring.

I came home with a large chicken wire frame,

that Husband asked politely how much I paid for?

I can't wait to fill it up with beautiful remnants and photographs.

We also meandered through one more vintage show on the corner of a country road, that I'd been wanting to visit for some time, along with a handful of garage sales, while drinking lemonade and sharing a snicker doodle cookie.  The country is my favorite place to garage sale, and it was a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

I just kept wishing that my sisters were there with me.  How I miss them.

The Lovers Bridge

One more reason I want to visit Paris...

Lovers from around the globe attach a padlock to the Pont de l'Archevêché bridge and throw the key into the water to symbolize their love.

I love it.

Now, I'm encouraged to seek out romantic spots in my city...

Do you know of any romantic spots in yours?

image via twistedsifter tumbler

Heart-Shaped Baking

We had a good, wet weekend!  You?

One of my favorite things to do with the kids--especially on a raining day, is bake.

Any time I'm in the kitchen, Brooklynn pulls up a stool and insists on helping, so we've started telling her that she'll be cooking us dinner in just a couple short years! 

In fact, as I write this, she has me helping her with her Easy Bake Oven.  It's not exactly what I wanted to do this morning as I drink my coffee,

but the girl is determined--especially since Dad asked her for a cookie last night.

So chocolate chip cookies in a plastic oven at 9am it is.

On Saturday, we were out of crackers and in need of a project,

so we made these:

Homemade 'Wheat Thin' Style Crackers

To make it more fun, the kids chose cookie cutters to cut the crackers into shapes.

Using cookie cutters made the process long, but they turned out cute and tasty!

Owning a set of heart cookie cutters is a must!

Remember when we made these?

Heart-Shaped Oreo Cookie Truffles

Heart Potatoes

Anything heart-shaped wins, no?!

Hmmm...what should it be next?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the $75 gift certificate GIVEAWAY!  Ends tomorrow!

The Olsen Twins

I grew up watching the Olsen Twins on Full House, and they were as cute as ever.

What stunning beauties they've become.

So glam; so unique in their sence of self--

and I can't help but admire their strong sisterhood.

x

Once upon a time, there was a heart-shaped tree...

Months ago, I spotted this chopped tree trunk in the far end of the yard. 

Giddy, is just one word that describes the way I felt
when happening upon this natural treasure. 

Oh, the many things that I've considered doing with this piece of tree! 

Cake platters, wall art, a photo prop for an impromtu photo session...

Love, in the most peculiar of places.

P.S. I'm still trying to figure out how the crayons and hair brush ended up outside,

and in case you were wondering about the pink shoes...that happens every so often.

P.P.S. The murder mystery party was a hit! 

Once I get my hands on the pictures, I'll share more about it!

xx

My Anthem

One morning, when you're too lazy to get to the gym because the rain is falling and just the gloomy sight makes your toes cold, you may just come across your anthem.  Then, for the rest of the morning, you're filled with joy, because God is good. 

"I'll be my brother's keeper

so the whole world will know that we're not alone."



It don't have a job, don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home in Beverly Hills
Won't fix your life in five easy steps
Ain't the law of the land or the government?

But it's all you need

And love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I'll be my brother's keeper
So the whole world would know that we're not alone

It's waiting for you

Knocking at your door
In the moment of truth
When your heart hits the floor
And you're on your knees

And love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I'll be my brother's keeper
So the whole world would know that we're not alone

This is the first day of the rest of your life
This is the first day of the rest of your life
'Cause even in the dark you can still see the light
It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright

x

A First Birthday Little Man Party!

Love is in the details...

grab a cupcake

grab a stache

and celebrate!

 

This lady, Gaby has some skills.  She cut all the mustaches including the tiny ones on the cupcake toppers!

She's a real sweet auntie and one of my favorite friends.  She also helped me with Husband's 30th.

Which reminds me...I never showed the cake and talked about the recipes!  Yum.

Doesn't Husband look like he's thoroughly enjoying himself?

Of course, me and the girl are kissing, and Husband is shoving the skewer

up the boy's nose.

Love the birthday boy's parents, Rocky and Krisitan.

And she knows how to throw-down for a first party, right?!

My kids got...a cupcake.

The favors were chocolate mustaches on a stick.  Cute!

The Little Man. 
Happy Birthday, Jonah!

Great job, Kristian!

Simple Beauty at Portland's Saturday Market

A visit to Portland's Saturday Market is always a weekend highlight.  More than the belly dancers in the rain, the cheesy paint bucket drummer, the carmel corn, the ancient Tibetan turquoise that I carried home with me, and the handmade goods that I could have emptied my bank account over, I was enthralled by this:

Portland, Oregon

Simple beauty in a full city, on a rainy afternoon.

All photographs property of Cassie McCully.

Please do not duplicate or redistribute.

Just Be Lovely

Some days I worry that I'm selling my soul to the interwebs...

Other days, I'm so thankful for all of the connections far and wide.

Thanks to Resolute Twig, today I found Kind Over Matter.

The site is overflowing with kindness and smile-worthy messages,

and words of wisdom, like Roots of She's post on self-sabotage. 

I've been finding a reoccurring theme pushing itself to the forefront of what I've been stumbling across in reading and in music lately, and it all has to do with self-love.  It's an issue that I struggled horribly with for more than a decade.  But there came the day, when a powerful seedling, screamed

I'm worthy, just love me...and we'll flourish.

This is beautiful. I'm adding it to the 'every girl should hear this' file.

                                                                       Happy Friday!

pinterest

Thoughts on Beauty.

"The real and proper question is why is it beautiful?" 

Annie Dillard

I was cleaning up remnants of Husband's 30th Birthday, when I saw these mason-jarred daisies.  I grabbed them by their stems, headed for the dirt, and stopped, with arms out, hovering over the edge of the deck.  

I studied the yellow centers, and followed the shriveled strands of what were once full, white petals with my eyes.    I observed the leaves which had long since succumbed to their scorched stems.  I looked them over and over, unable to piece in my mind why these weeds--invasive inhabitants of a yard growing wild, had taken my attention.  

Then, I realized, it was simple.

Parched and lifeless were they, yet, beautiful in the same.

I'm linking in to oh so lovely's photo challenge--day 14: flowers.