oh hello there

well here i am - at the start of a brand new year. 2014. i have high hopes for this year. already it is starting off quite well. miguel & i have a few goals for ourselves this year that we are encouraging each other to keep up with. one big one for both of us is being healthy. so, i've gotten back into my morning walk routine, bought some (awesome!!) workout clothes & a yoga mat, & plan on going to a free yoga class they are offering this sunday in town. i've been trying to eat better & have been really feeling a lot better - inside & out. i'm excited for this year : )

the holidays came & went way too fast. they were very, very nice & i got to try new things that may become traditions. i went to a jane austen tea with my mom. it was oh so lovely! we even participated in some old english country dancing. i had a day of baking christmas cookies with my cousins at my aunts house. i was the official gingerbread decorator & they turned out pretty great if i do say so myself - complete with bow ties, holly, & earmuffs. i spent new year's eve with miguel for the first time. it was fun! we went to a little party with laksa & monopoly & then headed to the waterfront for fireworks & a new year's kiss.

with raquel away for christmas (i miss her!), i decided to send her a photobook via shutterfly. her cat, alice, died this november while she was away & she was heartbroken. she got alice for her 6th birthday. so when i got a free book coupon from target, i wanted to put it to good use. i'm quite please with how it turned out:

                                     Click here to view this photo book larger

i got my first mail from raquel too! she sent it for my birthday, but it was a little late getting to me. it was really cute : )

now days i just want to be content with this one - eating hobbit food & shopping at target. what more could you ask for? ;)

link love:

probably the best couple photoshoot ever. 

i fell in love with these glasses.

i found this new film while browsing trailers & wasn't sure if it was strange or incredible. i'd love to know your thoughts!

i'm so excited that downton abbey is returning this sunday!

currently

currently:

1. i love the lady bird johnson centennial stamps i picked up at the post office the other day. there are only five, but it was just the amount i needed. lady bird johnson was an advocate for beautifying america's cities & highways, so the stamps portray beautiful flowers & trees in cities.

2. i'm eyeing these clutches/pouches.

3. i want to make this.

4. & this.

5. the restaurant i celebrated a friend's birthday at was designed quite nicely.

6. i wrote to an instagramer for the first time & i received a cute little package from here. it's neat to be branching out from blogging to find friends & pen buddies.

7. i've been enjoying the chia seed "pudding" i've been making lately. chia seeds are a great source of omega 3s & only one once contains 11 grams of dietary fiber!

this is how i make my "pudding":

1 cup almond milk (i use almond breeze vanilla)
3 tablespoons of organic chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

add all ingredients to a mason jar, screw on the lid, & shake to mix. place in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes. take out the jar & give the ingredients a good stir. place the jar back into the refrigerator for at least an hour to set. the chia seeds will get a bit gooey & it reminds me of tapioca pudding! anyways, experiment with the measurements to get the sweetness you prefer. you can also use agave as a sweetener! enjoy!

8. i've never seen annie hall before & i want to see it.

that's it for now...i'm sleepy.

a few little notes

me & miguel on the fourth 

photo credit: lizzie

+ miguel & i went camping in june & we had so much fun! we did forget to pack a pot to heat water for tea & oatmeal in the morning, thus cutting our trip a tad short, but it was all part of the experience & we are both waiting for the weather to cool down so we can go again! 

+ i want to try making this. i can't eat raw egg anything (i even have to have my fried eggs over hard - otherwise, my poor tummy!), so this recipe will be perfect - especially in summer! & it's healthier, which is a big plus!

+ i kind of went crazy at the jcrew factory sale...i mean 50% off the whole store & 60% off clearance?? yes please. got my first pair of jcrew ballet flats. retro jade suede. so excited. photos probably in the future! (p.s. the sale is until tomorrow so you still have time to see what there is!)

+ since it's been SO HOT lately, i really want to try this cute scarf updo from delightfully tacky: 

Head Scarf Updo Tutorial from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

+ back in june, the blogger family had a "favorite things" swap organized by maggie. i got an amazing package from shelby! thanks, shelby ;)

+ the county fair is going to be starting up again soon & i'll be working again (as i have for the past 10 summers?!) in the building where they display all of the arts & crafts, baked & preserved foods, etc. that people enter. this year i will be entering two cookie recipes (as part of my 25 before 26) & miguel will be entering his beef jerky! i'm super excited. i'm going to take the train to stay with him on monday (for our monthiversary hehe) & he's planning to start the jerky that day. he always impresses me - making his own jerky : )

+ i've been looking for a striped tee. not exactly just any striped tee, but more along the lines of THE striped tee. a comfy one that isn't fussy (meaning not see through or too clingy). what t-shirt brands do you like the most? i need help!

that's all for now! stay cool! (& for those in the cool now, stay warm! ;))

lemon bars, packages, & jamba juice

i made lemon bars twice last week. once at miguel's house & once the next day when i went home & my sister was visiting. they both love lemons, so it was the perfect little treat for them : ) i used this recipe but changed a few things (like i didn't chill the dough or let the crust cool before adding the topping). it came out amazing. the recipe is really good, but not very healthy (just a warning!).

i came home from miguel's to two packages awaiting me at the bottom of the stairs to my loft. i was so excited. the first one i opened was from sarah. she sent my a lovely letter & a cute little penguin books notebook. thank you sarah : )

next i opened a package from pauline. it was wrapped all nice and i loved the unicorn stationary! she sent me handmade, beautiful wrist warmers. i love them. thanks so much!

yesterday i officially applied for graduation this may. it is really surreal. by may i will have my master's degree in sociology. it's really a scary thought to be done with school after being in it for so long. i was talking to miguel the other day & i am considering going back to get my doctorate at some point, but not right now. right now i need a break.
we celebrated turning in my application & his first day of school with jamba juice : ) love his face here. such a cutie.

currently i am in starbucks writing my thesis. well, right now right now i am taking a break & blogging, but still. it's been a long day. & i need a break.

busy weeks

 i've been so behind in my blogging that i decided to make this one post to encompass some of what has been going on in my life. last month i decided that i wanted to get back into writing letters & sending packages. so i contacted jane & asked if she would like to exchange packages & she agreed! i got an amazing package from her:

 she sewed this little zipper pouch out of a toms flag!

 she designs cute graphics & she sent me two cards she designed! i want to send this one to miguel...shh! ;)

 in other news, my sister turned 21 last month & i flew to visit her for a week. we did so many things: whale watching (& dolphin sightings! see below), the spa (i got a facial for the first time & it was so relaxing), & a sunset cruise.

 we also visited the humane society & played with all the kittens! it was two hours of pure glee.

 i'll be teaching my arts & crafts project this year again to school kids. lizzie & i had fun making this flyer together. no one has signed up though...but i hope they do! we have a lot of fun things planned.

 lastly, i thought it was so cute that most of you who entered the giveaway said you wanted more miguel ;) i do too...haha! i was trying to not be one of those girls who blogs only about their boyfriend (even though it's hard not to!), but since you don't mind me blogging about him, i'll keep that in mind : )
here we are, one day after our seven month anniversary!

little summer things

so far, summer is in full swing. i've been to the beach twice already & that's saying something as i don't think i went at all last summer. 

i had my last arts & crafts class a week or so ago, just in time for summer. wendy came as a guest crafter & taught how to make dreamcatchers. i'm still working on mine...just need to add the feathers!

 lately i've become obsessed with terrariums! i just placed five terrarium books on hold for me at the library & have been collecting glass containers that i can use to make some. i've also been inspired by these sights for terrarium making. i took a photo of these terrariums in the window of a book & film store in the city. i can't wait to make my own! perfect summer project.

 since my grandma passed away a year & a half ago, i've been going to the city & helping my mom & uncle gary pack up the house as it will be sold very soon. we stopped at this cute little coffee shop for lunch. i had an amazing falafel wrap & decaf coffee (i don't like caffeinated anything!).

 i participated in a summer book exchange & got an amazing package in the mail from dillon. he sent me a decorated bookshelf package (doesn't it look amazing?) along with the book room and "some tea to enjoy while you read!" cute right?? thanks dillon!

thanks for all of your nice comments on my last post. it feels good to make this blog my own by posting about my life, good or bad. miguel is coming to visit me today after my dentist appointment hehe : )

pink

i got the cutest little package in the mail today! it was such a nice surprise from keetee. she has the cutest little shop too : ) thanks so much keetee!

this morning miguel & i went on one of our morning walks. he found this nice park that had a pond & bridges. it was very nice.

tonight miguel & i are making banana bread & watching new girl : )