Art for art...

This is a piece of art from my favorite show, One Tree Hill.  This show has amazing writers and artists behind the scenes and this sketch, in particular, really struck me when I saw the episode where Peyton created it. It just represents a dream of mine and whenever I see this picture....I'm hopeful.  I would love to own a little artsy cafe that serves delicious food, features acoustic/indie music, and on occasion, hosts open mic nights.

Reflection of me and you....

I was challenged to come up with the #1 song that always makes me cry...Here it is.....

SO HARD

by The Dixie Chicks...

Here's a few lines that give the song it's meaning...and it's aching sadness.  This song always makes me so sad.

"It felt like a given
Something a woman's born to do
A natural ambition
To see a reflection of me and you"

"And I'd feel so guilty
If that was a gift I couldn't give
And could you be happy
If life wasn't how we pictured it"

"And sometimes I just want to wait it out
To prove everybody wrong
And I need your help to move on
Cause you know it's so hard
It's so hard"

 "Last night you told me
That you can't remember
How to feel free"

He ain't hard to like...at all.

I know I don't mention him much...but I admire my husband.  I call him Beans.  He's my Beans. 

I will keep this short and sweet, because I can go on and on about him if I wanted to. 

I'm just so happy that we came along in each others lives when we did.  We knew each other in high school....but not until later in life did we fall in love.  He loves me and takes care of me.  We still fight like we did when we first starting going out, but we also love each other more everyday.  He knows exactly who I am...and doesn't fight it.  He loves me for me and accepts me for who I am.  He makes me laugh...out loud, a lot.....he annoys me...a lot.....but he also calms me down and makes me feel safe.  If I just want to be alone...he understands and lets me be...he's always been great at that...and lets face it, we all need our solitude sometimes.  I love him. He's my Beans. He will ALWAYS be my Beans.

Maybe it's over the rainbow...

October Road

I love going on vacation...but I absolutely hate to fly.  I am terrified...and every time I do have to fly somewhere, it ends up ruining my entire trip, because all I think about the entire time is the flight I have to take back home. :(  With that said.... my dream vacation might seem a little lame.  Of course I would love to go to Italy one day, but as ridiculous at it sounds...I don't think I could ever bring myself to be on that long of a flight. 

My ideal dream vacation would be to go with my mom and sisters to the Country Living Fall Craft Fair!  (Wherever it may be this year!)  I would love if it was somewhere like Savannah, GA...I've always wanted to go there!  I absolutely love fall....it's just the beautiful color of the leaves changing, the crisp weather and pumpkins everywhere....it's just one of my absolute favorite times.  Nothing makes me feel better than going apple picking, hitting up craft bazaars and eating delicious comforting food with my mom and sisters.  If we could take a road trip for a couple weeks to the Country Living Fall Craft Fair...it would be pure bliss.  Who knows...maybe it will happen someday!

Photo Challenge: Black and White

This is a picture I took of my best friend's son, Mash.  My best friend is Jessica, and we met our freshman year in college in Kansas.  We both had softball scholarships, lived in the same dorm quad and ended up being roomates.  She has been just like a sister to me.  We ended up both getting softball scholarships to a University in Tennessee after graduating from our juco in Kansas with our other best friend, Crystal.  Considering how softball brought us together...I think this picture means a lot!  This little boy is something else.  He's all boy, that's for sure...and I bet he'll become an awesom ball player...just like his mama.
 

Thanks so much to Live Every Moment for hosting this photo challenge! 

Check out her beautiful photography on her blog at:

Breathe.

I was asked to write about a guilty pleasure....

I believe in passion and never really claimed to have a "guilty" pleasure.  I know all the yummy junk food I love is a serious guilty pleasure...but I have something different to share and its definitely my guilty pleasure.

I love music...and I tend to lean towards singer/songwriter/indie/folk type music, but there's a musician that is just so catchy and adorable...and I can't stop listening to her music!  Taylor Swift.  I know she's labeled as a "pop" country star...and there's really no music I hate more than pop music...but her music is different!   She is very true to her style as an artist, and it's always an added bonus in my book if you write all your own music and can play the guitar, which she does.  She might not have the haunting soul in her lyrics and melodies, but there's just something about her music that makes me...yes I admit it's true...a fan.

A medley never soon to forget....

Today's challenge:  A Song You Want Played at Your Wedding (or was played)

My wedding was on November 4, 2006.  It was a wonderful day!  Music was a very important part of that day and I planned months and months ahead of time on what music would be played during every aspect of the wedding!  My bridesmaids walked into James Taylor, my flower girls and ring bearer walked into the Dixie Chicks...our first dance was to a significant song by Wynonna....the removal of the garter and the garter toss was to the Counting Crows.....etc.  You get the picture....I was very specific about the music for my wedding!  We even gave away "David's and Amber's Wedding Soundrtrack" away as our guest favors!  My parents sang "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" during the exchanging of rings....and my favorite part of the wedding was when my Dad walked me down the isle to "Over the Rainbow" by IZ.  It's actually a medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World.  It was beautiful and perfect!  Here it is...this amazing rendition of Over the Rainbow that made my wedding day so memorable. : )

Christmas Eve...

Today's challenge....A Recent Photo of Yourself

This is my husband and I on Christmas Eve.  Christmas Eve is one of our favorite days of the year.  We get together at my parent's house...eat yummy food, play music and spend time with friends and family all night long!

Scrabble Tile Photo Challenge: Valentine's Day

Here's my entry! This is my adorable nephew....who fills my life with LOVE!!

Ok, so I'm not a photographer...but this challenge seemed so much fun!   Thanks to Ambrosia for hosting it!  Check out her blog at:

Did I show you this picture of.....

Today's challenge....A Photo of You Taken Over 10 Years Ago

Me, my brother and sisters...I think it's around 1989.

This one is my first traveling softball trip when I was 12.  We were the Sierra Vista All-Stars!

 Some of the greatest times of my life were in high school on the basketball court.  This was taken in 1998, my senior year!

 High School Softball 1998.

 This one was taken in 1998....at my best friend, Maria's, wedding. 

My little sister Bri was almost 10 and I was 18

 This is my sister Ginger and I in 1997 or 98.  I was a senior and she was a freshman.



These pictures bring back some great memories!