December 31, 2013

Happy New Years Eve!  This is the end of my blog and I truly hope that anyone that took a glance every now and then found something to smile about.  I hope everyone had a great year and I hope everyone has a safe and fun night.  Cheers to what is going to be a wonderfully blessed 2014!!

December 30, 2013

One of the best parts of my vacation was getting to hang out with this little boy! Axel Fynn was so much fun this past week and I hope he knows how much "Ti Ti" loves him!

December 29, 2013

The beauty on Kauai is honestly like no other I have ever seen.  It is just phenomenal!

December 28, 2013

I love this flower!  It almost looks like some sort of crazy bird.  It is such a beautiful addition to the pool area.

December 27, 2013

I love how you can actually see the rays of sunshine behind the trees. So pretty!

December 26, 2013

The sun was peaking out through the clouds this morning and it was just beautiful with all of the colors.

December 25, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

December 24, 2013

I went to a real luau for Christmas Eve and it was so cool! I have never seen anything like that and it was such treat!

December 23, 2013

I went deep sea fishing yesterday and this was the beautiful sight at the end of trip. So pretty!

December 22, 2013

I can't even begin to describe the beauty on this island. It is just stunning!

December 21, 2013

I was lucky enough to spend my 31st birthday in Kauai with my family. Not too shabby.......

December 20, 2013

Had to capture my loves before I take my week vacation.  Going to miss them...

December 19, 2013

The sunset tonight was just phenomenal!  So bright and beautiful!

December 18, 2013

The sky was so pretty this morning.  I love when the rising sun peaks out through the grey clouds. It makes for such beautiful colors.

December 17, 2013

Buying a pre-cut Christmas tree in the parking lot of a grocery store was not was I was used to before moving to Texas.  I had always cut a fresh tree down on a farm and thought there was no other way to do it. In Dallas, you buy them off the lot and that is just how it is done.  It took me a long time to get used to that, but now I find it comforting to smell the trees when I go to a grocery store.  That's how I know it is the holiday season.

December 16, 2013

It was such a beautiful day and this church looked so peaceful and pristine.  Such a lovely site around the holidays.

December 15, 2013

It was such a pretty night with the beautiful colors in the and the big moon.  I love nights like this....

December 14, 2013

Happiness.......

December 13, 2013

There is a piano store right by house that has been around forever.  While I do wonder how a piano store stays in business and how many people actually buy pianos, I have always loved the sign on top of the building.  It's so retro and fun!  I love that they don't update it, but keep it original and classic.

December 12, 2013

I think ice cycles are pretty and make for great winter decoration, but I am so happy to say that these gems are the last of them!!  Goodbye ice!

December 11, 2013

In case you can't tell, this is the sunroof on my car.  It has been unusually cold here and I severely dislike it, but the patterns the frost make are actually really pretty!

December 10, 2013

Our weather has been so crappy lately that I haven't seen a nice sunset in awhile.  I know there have been better sunsets, but it was just so nice to see one!

December 9, 2013

I am beginning to think that we are never going to thaw out and my poor plants are not enjoying it, but it still looks so beautiful.......

December 8, 2013

It's so beautiful!  It seems like the fall colors are frozen in time.

December 7, 2013

This is what part of the neighborhood looks like.  Can't believe that is all ice!  Incredible!

December 6, 2013

Just another shot from our icy tundra!

December 5. 2013

Dallas was hit with a pretty major ice storm and the entire city has been shut down since Friday.  There was quite a bit a damage to trees, people lost power for a few days, and Pat and I had to miss a wedding for a wonderful friend.  These are definitely the times you have to look around for the small things.  Even though the ice really messed up a lot of plans, it really did look beautiful!  The trees sparkled and glistened.  It is really a site to see.

December 4, 2013

This tree is glorious!  I left for Thanksgiving and when I came back almost the entire tree was this vibrant red color.  So beautiful!

December 3, 2013

The weather has been pretty warm and humid for the past couple of days which is causing some pretty cool fog.  I love the fog around the buildings.  It looks so cool!

December 2, 2013

Beautiful sunset in Iowa.  The sunsets in the city are pretty too, but there is something about watching the sun go down in the country.

December 1, 2013

Precious little Axel Fynn playing on his Fisher Price bike!  He loved that and I absolute adored watching him "vroom vroom" around!

November 30, 2013

These are the big, beautiful pine trees that line the front of my parents home.  I remember when I was little and I was actually taller than these monsters!  I still think they are just as beautiful now as I did when I was a little girl.

November 29, 2013

I don't think my little Nephew, Axel Fynn, can get any cuter!  I absolutely loved being able to spend time with him over the Thanksgiving holiday.  He is just the sweetest, smartest little boy in the world!

November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!  I know these are Christmas trees, but my family has always had the tradition of going to The Festival of Trees on Thanksgiving night.  It is such a beautiful display and I felt like a little kid again.

November 27, 2013

I hadn't been home to Iowa in a few years and I finally got to go and spend time with my family!  This bridge has always been a symbol of home to me.  It didn't matter if I was riding home with my parents from my grandparents house, driving home from college, or driving home from the Moline airport, but as soon as I saw this bridge, I knew I was home.

November 26, 2013

This bridge is over the creek by my office and it looks especially pretty with the festive leaves.

November 25, 2013

Another crappy day in Dallas so that means another picture of a dog!  Such a pretty girl!

November 24, 2013

It was such a cold, damp day today that these two actually snuggled quite a bit.  They looked so cute together!

November 23, 2013

I danced for many years when I was younger and I have always loved it.  I was very busy when I was in high school, but those nights I went to ballet was just the greatest.  I finally bought myself a new pair of ballet shoes today and it felt so amazing to put them on!  I have definitely missed it.

November 22, 2013

Even though it was a pretty crappy day weather wise, I had to laugh.  It never fails, if there is a big event going on in Dallas, the weather will go from amazing to awful!  It was 75 and muggy yesterday and today for the JFK 50 year memorial event outside, it was 34 and rainy!  Even though it was wet and rainy, the city, lights, and buildings still looked beautiful.

November 21, 2013

This made me laugh this morning.  Ellie tries so hard to find a space of her own and Queso always finds someway to join her. He just wants to cuddle!

November 20, 2013

This tree has turned out so beautiful!  It has almost every fall color possible. I just absolutely love it!

November 19, 2013

I don't know if the fall colors are more vibrant this year than they have been in the past or if I am actually taking my own advice and appreciating the smaller things, but this fall seems to be more beautiful than any I have experienced in Dallas.  Everything just looks so amazing this year.

November 18, 2013

I thought the leaves and the shadowing on these trees was just gorgeous today!  It was another beautiful day and this shot only highlights that.

November 17, 2013

It was such a beautiful day here and I am so thankful that we were able to enjoy one last day like this.  It was over 85 degrees with beautiful blue skies.  The weather flips flops quite a bit in Texas, but with those flip flops, it brings beautiful days like this.

November 16, 2013

I love how beautiful the leaves look when they are scattered on the grass.  I grew up surrounded by beautiful pine trees, but every fall I was always a little jealous of people who had trees that dropped leaves in their lawns every fall.  It is nature's decoration!

November 15, 2013

The moon was so big and beautiful and looked amazing behind the trees!  I love when the moon gets full!

November 14, 2013

When I let the dogs out yesterday morning, I noticed how pink and beautiful the sky was.  My schedule has been off lately and I realized it has been awhile since I was able to see a beautiful sunrise.  Such a nice way to wake up.

November 13, 2013

We have a puppy slumber party going on!  We are dog sitting our friend's dog, Thor, and my dogs are loving it!  Constant play time!

November 12, 2013

Last night I was able to go to a book signing for Giada DeLaurentiis.  Anyone that knows me knows how much I adore her and her recipes.  This is my 3rd time meeting her, but I was just as excited last night as I was the first few times.  This book is dedicated to eating and living healthy and I cannot wait to start cooking my way through it!