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Showing posts from 2015

Welcome to the Family, Sierra

This sweet pup joined the family this month and we couldn't be happier.

Flashback {Differences between Denmark and the US}

I just found this draft I never published about the differences I found in Denmark and the US.

My Christmasy Home

This year, I experienced the most excitement for Christmas decorating than ever before. I think it was a combination of simply being excited for Christmas season and it being my very own apartment to decorate. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, you would've found me immediately breaking out my joyful little Christmas creatures when I got back from this Thanksgiving break . Here's a glimpse at my Christmasy home. Be Merry garland

Snailboatin

Last weekend, I enjoyed an amazing sailing trip with the two adventurers. This time on Benton's sweet, new boat. We started in West Palm and ended in Vero Beach. Our journey was filled with lots of accents, super fancy houses and some showy mansions, too many protein (and sand ) bars, several naps made excellent by the sound and feel of the waves, silly dance moves followed by checking around for witnesses, serene sunrises, (unknown) planet spotting, a quick dip and drag through the cool waters, and lots of sun soaking. Adding to the greatness of the trip are the memories made on land with entertaining car ride games and trips through memory lane with some intriguing parents.Thankful for opportunities and memories like this!

Bachelorette Weekend in Savannah

I just returned from a bachelorette weekend in Savannah, celebrating Ms. Amy Rubin. It was my first bachelorette experience and a great one at that.  We started the weekend off with some fancy martinis on our first night out.  Shopped our stinkin feet off on Saturday.  Walked our stinkin shoes off that night.  Never doing high heels again. Ever. Wait. Except for Amy's wedding. Then I'm done. Goofed off talkin about our childhood celeb crushes and other girly things at our fancy dinner at Vic's. 

Rediscovering Folk Dance

              Last weekend was filled with fun and coziness, but the most important thing I learned was the fantastic tradition of contra dancing.

Recipe for a Great Thanksgiving

Apparently when writing holiday posts,  "recipes" seem the most fitting, like this one . So here's a recipe for a great Thanksgiving. 

Porch Fest and Happiness

This post was originally meant for Sunday, but that didn't happen. At that point though, I was reveling in the happiness the previous four days were filled with. Tonight I remembered I never posted this when I was reveling about those days again . So here it is.

Oh hey, Halloween

      This Halloween was celebrated in quite the unique way. Dylan and I started off the night relaxing on my neighbor's porch before moving over to Lillie's for their dreaded last day... Ate our last ham and apple sandwich on the patio while listening to some  French sounding music. Strangely, Benton showed up in a trash can and led us back to Lillie's. My smile hardly fell as we schemed to steal a lady on a bad date, moved our dancing feet, and I was graced with a Trash Can dance. I wish I could get the pictures form the strangers' phones.          Next, we joined my neighbors for a fire and a homemade video on a projector on the porch. Was quite the setup. We ended the night in Benton-Holiday Style, riding bike down 1st, shouting nonsense to the bar goers. Always entertaining. 

A Recipe for the Best Birthday {26th Edition}

      October is just the best. First it was my birthday, then my mama's and half of my coworkers and friends' birthdays, weather is getting cool, pumpkins are being eaten in this and this recipe, as are the apples that deserve their fame, I celebrated a year with a man, enjoyed a vey entertaining concert by Dr. John... Lots of goodness.

Anastasia Camping Trip

        About a month ago, Dylan and I headed out on our way to Anastasia Park for a spontaneous camping trip. We had our new camping gear,  chili dog supplies, and hearts ready for an adventure and an adventure it was.          The first mishap was with the food. Nearly to the campsite, Dylan noticed our just purchased chili was the dreaded can-opener-we-didn't-have kind. Go to a Publix to return it? Stop at a pizza place? Stop at a pizza place. Now, with subs in hand, we made it to the campground. Beautiful it was, with winding roads canopied with natural Florida trees.         While eating our subs on the picnic table, we were now grateful for the quickness of our backup meal, for the mosquitos would've really  gotten their fill if we'd had to cook with our slow-cooking stove. With bellies full and legs adorned with new bug-bite mountains, we headed to the beach. "Shouldn't we just walk to the beach? It's so close! We're in nature!" &quo

Another Benton Contest and a Day with Mom

Woops, this post got lost left in the dust over a month ago. Last weekend never got its glory even though it deserved a record of its greatness. Saturday was another 1st annual event created by Benton, after the first success of the sandcastle hilarity. Our prizes from the Sandcastle contest... This time it was the 1st Amateur Surf Contest 2015. No pros allowed. The score sheet included points for age, shakas, wipeouts, "getting in the water," paddling out, trying for a wave, and negative points for experience. Other criteria appeared such as negative points for body hair, gnarliest injury, intelligence, smarts, and tide pool pros. Prizes were a little better this time with Q-tips, a dart board, and old toys with expired candy. Sunday morning was filled with Mama time: Morning coffee, wedding dance practicing and dart throwing in the living-room, chit chatting, shopping, and lunch. Then I got the strange pleasure of organizing and cleaning the brother's house in pr

Today's Gratitude

Well hey! Obviously I haven't improved on my writing frequency but not from lack of events. A lot of amazing things have happened in the last two months. I didn't even write about my best friend getting married!  Holy moly.  There she is in all her wonderful beauty. I don't think it could've been a more perfect night.  My heart has been extra filled with gratitude lately. Super grateful for...  Great family time with a Father's Day trip, a quick visit with Papa and Mimi, hanging with Mom and Pops, and dinner and a trip with Dylan's family.  A boyfriend keeping my belly happy with delicious meals, my mind and body happy with active adventures like my first successful surfing session, lots of biking, and living room yoga, and my heart happy that I have such an encouraging, supportive babe.  Farmers market trips and Cinotti's bakery runs on Saturday mornings for dinner supplies and eclairs. Two eclairs in one day should not be attempted though.

Appalachian Trail with Gnar Gnar and Knick Knack

        A month later and here I am. With two bridal showers, a lovely bachelorette weekend at the lake, a graduation party at the good old Withlacoochie River with awesome folk, a maiden voyage on the kayaks with Dana, a weekend full of visitors, and an Appalachian Trail experience under my belt.                   

Jumbled Updates {Weddings, Easter, Yoga}

In the last month, I celebrated Amy and Sal's marriage! Had a blast with ze best friends, this dapper date, and a foreigner with a crazy international connection. Beautiful photogrpahy from Shannon Lee Miller Had an always enjoyable visit with the best friend filled with  wedding  planning fun, tasty foods, jazz and beach time. Can't believe she's getting married in 2 months!  Had brother and future sister in law over for dinner! First dinner party at the new place was a memorable one with this  company, food, and post dins beach walkin and talkin. And concocting a master plan for getting a pup pup. Brought this funny bunny home for Easter with the fam! Continued tradition with a delicious meal with the O'Connells, and gathering with friends for the like 7th(?) year in a row according to timehop. Enjoyed an afternoon hike at the never disappointing Santos trails too. Ocala's got somethin.  Started a #detoxyobody challenge and f

Today's Gratitude

Lately I've been grateful for... The help and love of my friends and family during my move into my very own, big girl studio, making Neptune Beach my new home. Technically, I lived in three cities in one year.  And even getting to give my brother a tour from another country!  My first sunrise in the apartment, serenaded by the birds and palm trees.  Mid session hugs from a little one at work.  A night walk on the beach and a reminder to talk to strangers. We enjoyed a bonfire and bar games with some fellow humans.  Good things happening for friends all around me including one getting engaged , another moving to her dream home in Georgia , another getting an awesome internship,  AND Amy Rubin getting marriiied this weekend!  So many things to be grateful for! 

New Smyrna Camping

What started out as a camping/surfing trip in New Smyrna with two of my favorite adventurers, turned into way more than we imagined.  When our campsite plans failed with the only two sights filled, we first went for a run and surf. Then decided to work out our housing situation. With cheap hotel, setting up camp at a "for rent" house, and some other options, I remembered the couch surfing option. Two quick requests later and we got a call back... A guy living on his boat with an island we could camp on.  Sold.  So off we went to meet our host, sail on over, and set up camp. If there was a 10th cloud, I was on it. Our host was incredibly nice with an inspiring story. He biked across the United States over two years, camping and couch surfing all over. Even his decision to buy this boat was a reminder of spontaneity. "I saw this boat up for sale and said, I'm gonna guy that boat." Then started this whole new, free lifestyle.  A weekend filled with

Munchkin Quotes

This was a week filled with happy quotes like... "I can't wait to go home! Not because I don't like this place but because I have a play date!" "A t first, when my mom said reading camp, I was mad, but I didn't know it was going to be this much fun!"    "Can I have my birthday party here?!"  Those should be used for Lindamood-Bell advertisements or something.  "I'm glad I have you so much today (3 out of 4 of her sessions). I like you."  After getting so excited about some rewards I gave one girl " I'm so excited, you deserve this!" And proceeded to kiss my pony tail.  "You coming here was like my life long dream!" From a nanny babe.   These sweet little souls just warm my heart. 

Today's Gratitude

Well, hey, long lost readers! Other than holiday posts, I've been slacking a bit. On this relaxing Saturday morning. Lately I've been grateful for Surviving two weeks in Miami for work! I lucked out with a like-minded, minimal partying, ok-with-hotel-chillin roomie Emily. It was a cool experience with extra tasty foods and hilarious foreign littles but I don't know that I'd be back.   Hearing the Abby Song last night that my sweet munchkins sing when they know I'm coming to nanny.  Coming home to sweet boy helping out with my paleo challenge meals.  Pa and Grandma talks the other day! And new business ideas from Pa to smuggle goats to Miami.  Being reminded of how incredibly blessed I've been with my super parents. Boyhood was an extra reminder of that.  Super silly mornings with turkey-wolf calls and songs, and getting back to the beach for biking, Lillie's, and Miss Meryl time!  And a new addition to the family with Genevieve. N

Colorado Christmas {Poem Edition}

This Christmas was spent in Colorado with the Tiptons for a whole week! Complete with relaxing, baby smothering, gallons of tea and coffee, tastiest turkey, best and messiest breakfast burrito at Burger Boy, animal sightings galore, snow fulfilling dreams, a wild lookin llama, Native American ruins and more. 'Twas quite fantastic.  Here's my Christmas morning poem.  Now the snow's falling down On this sweet, Colorado town A perfect morning for this Christmas travel All the love and adventure unravel  Our adorable addition has had us grateful Norwegian surf and turf, a delicious plateful It'd been years since seeing the Tiptons  Now catching up on how we've been We skied down the Tellluride mountains  Baby's so cute when she be bouncin   Piano and carols on Christmas Eve  Were more lovely than you could believe  The Ross's had a griswald tour Were Anasazis happy? We're a little unsure  Adaleigh rode