OH - IO!

last weekend we took a little trip to visit the one and only miss heidi!  heidi is living the life at ohio state, which let me tell you is unlike anywhere you've ever been.  the campus defies the word big.  not to mention it's smack in the middle of a really fun town.  we were definitely impressed with columbus...awesome city, great food, an incredible zoo...i'm running out of adjectives.  suffice it to say, it's worth the drive.  of course, the best part was hanging out with my little sister (:


we made a stop in good 'ol lexington va on our way up to see em & chad...poor em wasn't feeling well, but she put on a good face.  there's never a dull moment with those two.


a few tidbits...

stopped off at new river gorge in w.va on our way...gorgeous

very content after our lunch at ted's

columbus zoo has flamingos!

this one was way happy to see that the penguins were out

walking through the zoo...seriously, these two are a couple of peas in a pod

thanks for having us, heidi...can't wait to come back!!

those days

today was one of those days.


you know those days where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, hit your funny bone, put salt in your coffee instead of sugar {really though, i don't know anyone who's done that (: }...  you know those?  i would have loved to have one of those days today.  in fact, my day started off pretty well- sleeping in a bit, getting some laundry done before work, putting together a cute outfit : i was ready.


then i got to work.


300-odd emails were waiting for me.  how does that even happen??  i haven't a clue.  after i came to from the shock, i realized that my inbox was so full that i couldn't send any replies.  talk about your classic catch-22...   our IT department apparently had more pressing matters at hand, because i was put on hold, told they would check on my space issues, put on hold again, then hung up on.  rude.  finally, email up and running, i set off.  i was hot.  my fingers are flying, my phone is lighting up, i'm not sending too many of those calls to voicemail (; ...things are taking an upswing.  well, there i am- working away, hunkered over in my little cube with a look that i can only imagine is a cross between sheer terror and dogged determination on my face, and justlikethat it's 5:30. 


{note: one of the best things about my life is that i get to work with my husband.  nothing can replace driving in together, taking our morning and afternoon breaks where we walk around the building, talking, not talking, whatever we feel like...this is bliss.  i know that anytime i need a pick-me-up, all i need to do is walk 2 flights up and see the love of my life...i know i really don't have room to complain, but indulge me.}


so jordan calls me up "hey, ready to go home??" i know he's itching to get outta there, but there is that something in me that wants to stay.  work all night if i have to, because i might not survive if i have another day like today.  but, thanks to that great guy, i turn off my computer and walk away.  i feel momentarily better walking out of the building, bidding adieu to a rotten day, and then as soon as i sit down in the car i lose it.  tears, so many tears.  the people in the cars next to us were staring, i'm sure.  i couldn't help it.  it all hit me.


i have spent a fair amount of time thinking about what i'm good at, and also what i enjoy- that tenuous balance that we're all searching for, no?   i have taken a few wrong turns, been denied a good few times, learned what i'm definitely not good at, and i think i have a decent plan of attack in the works.  of course i understand that you do what you have to do to make things work for your family.  so suffice it to say, i know what i need to do, now it's just a matter of getting those ducks lined up.


in the meantime, j is cooking dinner, i'm already in my pj's and we're getting ready to go watch something mindless on tv.  later on, i'm making popcorn.  i need it.  


so here's to taking those days and turning them into a new plan.   cheers.

before & after

sooo...i did it!  i finished my mini home-improvement project.  {emphasis on mini}

you might recall, it wasn't always smooth sailing on this project, but i think it came out pretty well. 

if you have trouble telling the before from the after, don't feel bad...it's better in person, just get your booty over here for a visit and check it out for yourself! (:

before...

a little brassy, no?

...a work in progress...

ta-da!

this weekend

ah.  busy, but somehow relaxing weekend.

we got to see our niece, the adorable miss esther who was in town with her parents for passover.  this girl's eyes get wider and those cheeks get chubbier every time we see her...can't get enough.

{i made her that little headband.  every girl loves to accessorize}

saturday we did some much- needed housecleaning, then made pizzas on the grill, a surefire sign in this house that summer is on its way.  this is one of my absolute faves: sauteed leeks, tomatoes, basil, and goat cheese...and a little mozz to keep it all together.  love it.

and finally, we welcomed the great weather with a trip to the beach {just to read...still way too cold to swim...we checked} and a loooong bike ride through first landing state park on sunday.  seriously, how much do we love having that park so close? 

here's hoping the warm weather continues- we can't wait to have friends over to enjoy it with!!

shout out!

so my mom and i scooted over to the ODU international festival this afternoon...so fun!  there were a lot of people there to scope it out, merchants, food vendors, it was a good time.

one of the merchants is a friend of mine from work who makes the coolest earrings.  they're paper mache- made entirely of recycled newspaper and then painted- they're all unique and as a bonus, they're super light.   she's always wearing them around the office, and i'm constantly bugging her about when i can get a pair.  well, mission accomplished.  i walked away with a pair for an upcoming bday gift, as well as some for my very own.

her etsy site doesn't have a huge selection yet, but her title banner gives you a good idea about the styles she makes.  check it out if you have a sec! (: