there’s not much of that in my life because i choose otherwise!  on my quest to prove it really is the little things in life i’ve chosen a photo from my master bedroom.

while my life is hectic i have managed to make my surroundings calm.  this photo is of one of my (many) fav spots in my house. 

when i look at this i take a deep breath, relax for a minute and then i run like hell straight back to my crazybusy life!

but for that moment when i allow myself to pause and take this in, it makes me smile…and that little furr muff makes me *grin*!

~ happy heart friday!

because it’s friday…because my creative juices are flowing…because i’m blessed…because i like to…because i’m loved…because i’m going to heaven (someday!)…because i can…because i think we’re all prettier when we’re smiling!

now go get your SMILE on!  and don’t forget to come see me at City Wide this weekend!

~ happy heart friday!

this happy-heart post is about a memory…of my 50th birthday trip across the big pond to london this past summer with the girls in my family!  thankfully, we got there just in time!

it appears Big Ben was in a bit of trouble…Meg and Marcie to the rescue…

when Meg’s arms got tired, Marcie took over…what a good cousin!

Meg showing BB a little love…

Marcie wanted to stay longer…she’s up to no good!

when the girls pooped out the next group was in place and ready to take over…phew!

i don’t have to tell you how much i love my girls!  friday or not, they always make my heart smile!

~ happy friday!

i’d have to say that cookie-cat is a bit of a fraidy-cat!  so making friends is not at the top of her list.  plus, she has me!

a few weeks ago i noticed her mouse toy was MIA.  i started looking around for it and spied it in her bed.

it’s actually a piece to another toy and it’s not exactly small…it easily fills the majority of the palm of my hand and it has a stick for attaching to the other toy.

so it totally cracks me up to think about her thinking about picking that mouse up off the floor, jumping up on the bed with it in her mouth and dropping it in her bed…satisfied, i’m sure!

it’s her friend.  it’s in her bed.  there it will stay.  until she decides otherwise!

cookie-cat’s mouse friend…

sleepy girl…and her friend…

yeah, it makes my heart smile…every single day!

~ happy friday!

it’s not easy, but it’s time to say *fare thee well* my wee paperclip friend.  your work here is finished…

you’ve been loyal.  going with me.  everywhere.  never complaining.  available.  month after month.  year after year.  faithfully holding the pages of my calendar.  

i paniced.  more than once.  when i thought you were lost.  you always waited patiently in the deep, dark, lint filled corners of my purse.  until i found you.  and now you’ve been replaced.  

by technology.

yes, you made my heart smile everyday.  and not just because you’re PINK.  although that definitely helped.

enjoy your paperclip retirement.  go.  be happy.  be free.

~ happy friday!  *snifflesniffle*

it was hard to say see ya to 2011…it was good to me! so i say to you 2012, bring it, i’m ready!

i’m the first one to skip new year’s eve.  it’s never been my favorite and, as far as i’m concerned, it’s amateur night and i’d just as soon let those folks have at it!

i’m content to ring in the new year with NYC and hit the sack long before the clock strikes midnight in my house!  but this year we headed to san antonio for a night at the JWMarriott Hill Country Resort & Spa with our dear friends shannon and dan!

i didn’t know this hotel existed…it was quite swanky and, yes, i will definitely be going back!  i didn’t step foot in the spa and that’s just wrong!

the boys…

the girls…

the self portrait…

and…oh lordy…the photo booth…

you can ask…chances are, i won’t have an answer…

if you can’t laugh at yourself…

wait, i’m not ready!  shoot.

phew, midnight…we made it…the fireside toast…

i’m thinkin’ i should ring it more often…or not….

in this new year…

~ may you live in the moment,

~ find joy around every corner,

~ cherish those you love,

~ reach for a star or two or three,

~ laugh til your belly hurts,

~ and delight in God’s perfect plan for you life!

wishing you the very best in 2012!

finishing up december with my last happy-heart Christmas post…while this post makes my heart smile it isn’t exactly good for my heart…so be it!

tis the season for the one time of year you’ll find a loaf of white bread in my pantry!  because my favorite part of the holiday meal comes the day after…

leftover turkey…on white bread…with real mayo…and…don’t forget…a sprinkle of salt!

can i get an amen!

yummy in my tummy!  ~ happy friday!

the week between Christmas and New Year’s is what i call the week “in-between”!

there is not one single thing on my schedule and i love it!  i sleep in, spend lazy mornings in my jammies and take long walks.  other than that whatever happens, happens!  maybe something, maybe nothing…

when i finally crawl outta my jammies, i head to town lake for a walk on the hike & bike trails.  it’s one of my very favorite things about austin!

once i hit the trails, if i’m happy it makes me happier…if i’m out-of-sorts, it puts me in-sorts…if i’m stressed, all my worries fall away.  it’s the place i love most in the city i call home!

as i cross the bridge in zilker park i start to look for turtles!  the water here is fed by natural springs and it is supercold!  on sunny days the turtles like to feel the rays on their little-turtle-backs!

hope you enjoy a little turtle time during this week in-between!

i was worried santa wouldn’t have time to stop by my house, but Christmas morning there was no doubt!  cookie-cat was still a wee bit skeptical until she did the big sniff and then she knew!

uh-huh.

yeah.

so sorry cookie-cat, santa’s leftover bite is not a toy…nice try!

he came!  he snacked!  he left goodies under the tree!  apparently i was a really good girl!  whew…it’s always a little iffy!

hope you had a super-duper Christmas!