Remember that farewell par-tay I was going to help throw? Well, we threw. In a most majestic fashion! Just thought I’d share some of the result. Way to go Tami with your simple, gorgeous style. Lorraine’s beautiful strawberry cake was the piece de la resistance…and I believe I’ve even convinced her to share the recipe…

+having our shower head fixed; from what? It was {screeching} at us!! james & waterpik to the rescue!! +having dear friends over for spaghetti tonight, ten of them actually..in our tiny little space. +realizing we only have eight dining chairs #squish +eating reese’s mini pb cups..and they are heart shaped #dreamsrealized +strawberry cake at our…

mem·o·ry pic·ture [mem–uh-ree pik-cher]  noun, verb 1. mental impression retained in images 2. where one pretends to take a picture with their eyes, and make a visual memory   Since I was a little kid, I’ve had this saying about taking a “memory picture”..you’ll have to excuse my definition party above..but basically when you’re in a wonderful moment,…

Finally got some nails and stuck things into my walls over the weekend. And yes, this is about nine months after us moving in, and yes, it’s about TWO months {less actually..} before we move out! But heck if I can’t cross this task off my list and make it feel more put together in…

Our Superbowl was very eventful! As James is a certified sports junkie, and mostly incredibly knowledgable about all sports, people essentially employ him to be the brains of the game. Or at least that’s what I think about it. He, himself is an event. He just makes sports so dang interesting and fun. If you…

+finding out that we’ll be staying overnight in a castle for our trip in April #princessdreamsrealized +oh yeah, and I have a feeling it will look like the above photo, but expectations open. +how when in we’re in a meeting together, sometimes hubby starts giggling and staring at me all awkwardly. i used to not know what…

Sometimes James is like a celebrity…mostly with kids. See? They flock to him, ask for a hug, take a picture with their disposable digital camera or iTouch (yes, I’ve seen it people). He smiles, embraces, and acts like it’s no big deal, while so humble about it the whole time. Babe, you’d be a real…

to Hansel (our pickup truck)… you always have a special place in my heart because you drove me up and down this golden state so I could see my hubby and graduate and other good stuff like that. you have always been pretty loyal.  but it is really annoying when we get new shocks and fix…

+A surprise croissant from a co-worker from my favorite of all favorite bakery in town, the Buttery. +Finding this missed connection in the local paper this week: “I slowed down and stop’d for you to cross the street. You had a small dog and it seemed you were with your bf, but when you were crossing you…

we had a nice cup of tea last night with a dear sweet lady named Kristin, one of our youth group leaders and she has a big heart for those lil jr highers, many oh so fun things in the works with those junior whipper snappers. we played ticket to ride and James made this…

yay, the rain is finally going to grace us with it’s presence! My dear friend Ronda getting engaged! shout out, lady! sorry, boys…this deal’s gettin sealed! Sleeping in this morning until the last possible moment this morning, giggling and making silly voices like we’re five year olds. it was mostly delirium. this video. boom. James…

hi, lioness here, feeling very wild and free with my crazy hair… guide to becoming lion: sleep with your hair in a wet braid (lots of tossing and turning is *strongly* advised) wake up late and run around your house frantically (allowing significant other/roomate/friend to make you breakfast IF offered…) take out the braid last…

Directions: take spoon and eat. Have you seen the Warrior? We are big fans. In fact, James has a bonafide MAN crush on Tom Hardy right now. Pfft, what am I saying…we both do. {Sorry, Leo, you’re on the back-burner at the moment} It’s a story of redemption, working things out, and fathers and sons reunited through…

these personalized tea bags from Martha are awesome- of course she is already ready for V-day… -James calling me his “besty” over gchat, obvies- we’re super besties. I just don’t think I’ve ever heard him say it *quite* like that! And I’m thankful he’s way more than man enough to say it 🙂 -Yogurtland from…

We have officially begun our healthy in 2012 plans! They commenced with a very healthy grocery trip, and a shameful late night moment of james and i wrestling as he hid the chocolate bar from me (man, where did you get your ridonculous dedication??). I mean, really. is that what we’ve come to? no matter,…

I found out the definition of resolute is to be admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. And that’s SO what I want for 2012…so um, my resolution is resolution, ha…or to be admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering in how I go about life this year! Here are some places I want to start… In the love I…

2011 was so incredible!! … in 2011… +moved home to santa cruz and married an amazing husband +began wearing my oh so gorgeous wedding rings + I graduated from University of California, Irvine +with a degree in literature +enjoyed our incredible wedding!! +Hawaii came after! can we go back?? +we began pastoring the high schoolers at…

you’ll have to excuse me as lots of this pictures are from my favorite little guy Jasper, just some pictures of our family celebrating Christmas day 🙂 *and* my favorite moments from the cmas eve and day… eleven oclock service at our church. so amazing to ring in christmas like that. but also so fun to shmooze with…

Merry merry Christmas to you and your family!!

because who’s really counting *days* anymore anyways?…for my last twelve days of christmas feature, I wanted to share twelve pictures of my favorite little friend Julia. we celebrated with her and some other “fam” last night and Julia *loved* her hello kitty necklace. we had a photo shoot too. in case it wasn’t obvious 🙂

spending LESS money than we saved shopping for cmas- stinkin incredible you are, old navy. Finding this blog, I heart it. Anthropologie’s fresh cuts. I put about oh $800 worth of product in my shopping cart- let’s just say once-a-week, pretend that I’m going to buy it, and it satisfies some weird, sad-ish Anthropologie craving.…

artwork by bansky this year, james and i have the pleasure of leading our christmas day chapel service at our church! in planning everything, we feel it on our hearts to teach about hope…how Jesus was born into a world filled with overwhelming sorrow and hope-lessness. ooh and how it can feel like i’m living…

thank you for cleaning our car window of frost and for being  the most amazing husband. ever. i love you!

Way to go Niners! You gave me an excuse to eat cheesy bread and buffalo wings (btw not doing *that* again anytime too soon, dinner of champions with resilient tummies) …Too bad we couldn’t cheer for the Lakers like we cheered for you guys. wahh!

Our high school girls night consisted of sumo wrestling, twister, eating WAY too many cookies (and Queso/chips too) and giggling a whole lot. Our sumo wrestles looked like sushi wrestling, donchya think?? I’ll take two spicy unagi.                 decor c/o the youth group. creative, no? love.   Happy…

the most respectable picture of chips and queso I could find.

hallways with rugs and pendant lamps, and a straight line of same-sized frames make me go “ooo” (house projects on the mind much) that we finally. finally. FINALLY. got our photo Christmas cards in (don’t worry, you’ll get one too!) the fact that my mama’s birthday is next tuesday AND i found THESE Christmas themed…

Was soo sleepless last night, I think the official amount of sleep slept was three hours (1am-4am…bleh!). I wasn’t anxious or worried, but a lot came on my mind while I was laying there (and before I finally picked up a game of Sudoku..). We had some deep chats that night over making sugar cookies…