yes, please

here's to longer days, warmer weather and shorter sleeves. 

love sent, xo

a few things...

today i started my day with a cup of coconut milk, 2 spoons of coconut sugar, 2 minutes in the microwave delivered in bed. 

i love saturdays.

we have had some crazy busy weekends where we haven't been home.  so this weekend we are catching up with all the home "stuff". we are hosting a grad party next weekend so there is a ton to get done.   i am hanging out in bed on my lap top convincing myself it's time to get moving...
i thought i would share some cool things i came across this morning.

 conquering cancer..  one person at a time.

start your day with this video it moved me to tears, as it will you.  sending thanks to these incredible people who add so much beauty to this world.  people who work so hard every day to make a difference. may you be surrounded by love and kindness.

i am always interested in beautifying my home.  i am at the moment in the midst of a total mess here as we   the hubby finishes up installing the final wood floor.  one by one he has done each room.  they look amazing.  it is just incredible how much over flow comes from one room and spills over the entire house.  today i will spend the day putting things back together and purging....  luckily we have a graduation party next door which works out great because i can pop over and celebrate and still get lots done here.

while perusing the internet ( i know it's where i find so many cool things) i found these very intriguing palo santo sticks from south america.  they claim to remove negative energy from your home.  they boast a clean bonfirey scent and i think they would be cool to burn in a can on our deck while we enjoy some warm summer nights.   you can order them here.
a change from a candle or incense.

i am always on the look out for some new recipes, food, desserts or otherwise.  presentation is
always part of the appeal.  there is a new little shop in newburyport, ma that sells ice pops. that's it, just ice pops.   lots of unusual flavors.  i was totally intrigued, so immediately ordered a recipe book of mexican ice pops and a popsicle mold. last night i made my first batch, they were really fun and tasted delicious.  the base was coconut water, fresh pineapple, mango and grated coconut.  all natural, healthy, no processed sugar.  they are awesome.  can't wait to mix up some unusual flavors.

and while we are on a health kick and all natural stuff.  i definitely have to try this recipe.  how delicious and refreshing does this look?

find the recipe here...


hope your saturday is off to a great start.

love sent, xoxo

here we are...

having a conversation with a stranger is always the best kind of conversation because you are learning something new.  admiring a new location with my favorite person is getting to know the familiar in an unfamiliar way.  that is why getting away is so awakening for me/us.  you don't have to go far even day trips are amazingly eye opening.  there is nothing i love more than seeing and doing new things.  we had such a great time, a wonderful three day weekend.

these few clouds opened up to become a  beautiful sunny day

and of course it is always my favorite thing to do on a beautiful sunny day. 

picnic in the park 

 

the sweetest baby ducks were everywhere.

                                                        pretty cool place to people watch.

                    this is a horse racing town so there were many different kinds of creative horse designs.

                           
  the homes had beautiful balconys and amazing porches.  it was the perfect spot to hang out late afternoon before dinner,  sipping wine and talking with some super nice people.  the b&b was amazing.

                                               
 there were some beautiful peaceful spots.

                 night life was great.   street performers everywhere, night life goes on to 4:00 am
                        not that we would be participating until 4:00 am but you can if it suits you.

the saratoga track opens on july 18th and although i never thought i would want to go to this place after being there and with all the hype surrounding the belmont race it was super fun.  watching the jockeys train on the oklahoma track was really exciting.
                                                          

                                             and with horse racing it's always a hat town.

there were tons of great restaurants and lots of nice shops.

                                         lots of fun things to do.  we will certainly go back!

       the weekend was dreamy and moves differently than real life days, it was awesome. plan a day trip soon, you'll thank me for it.

hope everyone had a beautiful weekend with the ones you love.
happy 25th to us.
love sent, xo

sum sum summertime...

although the calendar does not officially say so...
i am ready for summer.

after a long winter we have earned enough reasons to enjoy the sun.

                                                               make yours a good one!


here are 25 reasons summer is a rock star!!

1. the smell of fresh cut grass
2. feeling that extra sunshine on your face
3. summer outfits and flip flops
4. hammocks
5. farmers markets
6. that summer glow
7. yard sales in the early morning
8. romantic picnics for two
9. bike riding
10. windows open, radio blasting
11. ice tea with lemon
12. sunglasses (cool ones)
13. summer rain
14. sparklers on the fourth of july
15. strawberry picking
16. making jam
17. bedrooms filled with flowers
18. anything blue and white
19. listening to the waves
20. long walks on the beach 
21. candle light dinners on the deck
22. kayaking 
23. local honey
24. reading under the shade of a tree
25. coffee on the deck in my pj's

happy beginning of summer to you!

love sent, xo

my love of picnics...

seriously...    i need this right now .. with wine.

from my new favorite cook book

recipe: cervelles de canut (fresh cheese with shallots and red wine)serves 4-6

preparation time: 10 minutes
chilling time: 2 hours

you'll need:
8 oz. fromage frais  or cottage cheese
3½ tbsp. crème fraîche
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 small shallot, finely chopped
½ clove of garlic, crushed to a paste
½ tsp. sugar
4 tbsp. finely chopped chives
salt and pepper

drain any excess liquid from the cheese. mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, saving some of the chives for the garnish, and taste for seasoning. cover the bowl and refrigerate the cheese for 2 hours.

sprinkle the cheese with chives and serve chilled.

can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for several days.

or this caprese sandwich (my favorite) either would be great for a picnic.

love sent, xo

the story of 25 years...

if you were here with me right now hanging out in my kitchen i'd offer you some of my favorite tea (vanilla from the concord cheese shop), or better yet, maybe some wine.

today i would tell you the story of our 25 years of marriage. this post  shares the history and the love 

home is where we are and what we chose to make it. i believe with all my heart the effort is worth it.
25 years is a long time, and yet it feels like such a short time. in the blink of an eye our little family is
grown. many of our dreams have been fulfilled.  twenty-five years ago we took a risk - as any marriage is, a chance, and a belief that we could build a life together. it often involves keeping your balance amid many surprises and disappointments. there has been collaborating with chance and a trust in the unfolding of life's journey. a risk, the unforeseen can't be measured or counted, only anticipated. sometimes you have to hang on to faith. today we celebrate the limitless magic of our choices. the incomprehensible beauty of how our lives carry us to exactly where we need to be, moment by moment, year to year.

this life is a gift, not a promise. so for today, we hold this gift in our hands, our good health, our togetherness, our love, and our future.


and this song, our song, still rings as true today as it did twenty-five years ago.




i hope we have many, many, more to come.

this quote sums it up.
"when i was young, i believed that life might unfold in an orderly way, according to my hopes and expectations. but now i understand that the way winds like a river, always changing, ever onward, following god’s gravity toward the great sea of being. my journeys reveal that the way itself creates the warrior; that every path leads to peace, every choice to wisdom. and that life has always been, and will always be, arising in mystery." 
~Socrates from The Journeys of Socrates by Dan Millman


love sent, xoxo