happy 2nd birthday, ava!

{This is the first of the birthday posts this week, get ready!}

Today is my best friend's daughter's 2nd birthday.  I'm so proud to be Ava's "Auntie Jen".  I can't believe she's already 2.  I haven't seen her since she was about a month and a half old, because they live in another state, but it's been so fun to see her growing up through the beautiful pictures that her mama takes and hearing her little voice over the phone.  

She is one special kid.  

It's also been so amazing seeing my lifelong friend as a mama, and I can only hope that one day I am as good at being a mother as she is.  

Jon and I are planning to make a visit to see Ava this fall {and her baby brother that's on the way}.  I can't wait to soak her in and see her in action!  

Happy, happy birthday Miss Ava!  We love you bunches!  

Auntie Jen & Uncle Jon with Ava ~ August 2007

Last friday...

we tried a new chinese buffet that went in near our house.  $5.99 all you can eat.  It was good, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  The only thing I found a little strange is that they had scoop-it-yourself ice cream.  Like out of the giant tubs.  Seemed a little unsanitary to me having every person off the street scooping in the ice cream...but of course, I ate some anyway.  

Who passes up free ice cream?  not I!

Here is my cute husband...

and here I am looking like a total crazed lunatic!  

I guess I was really excited about that egg drop soup!

Happy Friday everyone!

happy father's day...

i guess you could say i've always had an extra special soft spot for my dad.

he is one of my best friends and favorite people.  

he's always there to lend a hand or give some encouragement or advice.  

he's the kind of guy that will do anything for the people he loves.  

he's the retired guy that mows the lawns and plows the driveways of 4 or 5 of his neighbors just because he likes to help them out.  yeah, he's that guy.  everyone loves him.

he can almost always fix cars, sometimes just for fun.

he's always up for going out to eat.

he can build or fix just about anything.  

he loves a good story and tells the best ones.  

my dad is the best dad i could possibly ask for.  he's been there for me through thick and thin, always with a smile and a wink.  i love him the whole world's sky.

happy father's day, Dad!  I love you!

oh, and the picture was taken at the lake a couple of years ago.  he let me style his hair in a faux-hawk.  isn't he the cutest!?

last night...

i saw my first lightning bug of the summer.

Happy Friday everyone!

my house smells happy...

coconut lime verbena from bath and body works.  oh yes.  reminds me of my best friend.  she lives in texas, and i usually visit her in summer when it's 1000 degrees down there, but her house is always nice and cool and smells like coconut lime verbena.  it does make me miss her terribly, but it's kind of comforting too.  i wonder if my house smells like her house right now!?  

i went to the big sale today and stocked up on wallflowers. 

{$4 each!  you can't beat that!}

i have the scent of my house planned out for the next 6 months.  when the coconut lime wears out, i think i'll finish off the summer with juicy nectarine and then move to spiced cider for fall/winter.  maybe throw in a little cherry blossom to liven things up at some point.  

what are your favorite home scents?  

photo via bath and body works website

since you asked...

Unfortunately, I was too eager to get started on the artwork in my last post that I forgot to take a picture of the original vintage print before I started painting on it!  I did get a pic before I got going too far though...

Hope you all had a lovely tuesday!

I had a great day at work and even came home and ran in the heat.  When Jon got home from work we went to the neighborhood pool and took a dip to cool off.  It was soooo nice!  We think we might just do that every evening during the summer.  The sting of the chlorine in my eyes took me back to my childhood.  It definitely feels like summer now.  Love it.

Skull Baby Climbs a Tree

It is time for our annual art show at work, so I have been busy coming up with my latest work, titled "Skull Baby Climbs a Tree".  I really let loose and let my mind go wild on this collage.  I started with an old 70's print that was just sad and dated and turned it into something whimsical and interesting.  I'm quite pleased with the final outcome.  

What do you all think?

p.s. I know I've been HORRIBLE about posting lately, and I'm sorry.  I'll try and do better.  Promise. 

happy birthday maddie!

the littlest of my sisters is having a birthday!  

this little lady is turning 12 today.  I can't believe how grown up she is.  it seems like just yesterday that she was this little girl with her crazy curly hair.  she has grown up to be a beautiful young lady with a sassy sense of humor and a knack for all things athletic. 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE!  I love you sweetie!

calmed...

i came home stressed from work, and poured myself this...

my favorite.  gin & tonic.

then i was catching up on some emails, and was sent this link by my dad.

it made me feel thankful and happy again.

now i feel all better.

what's your favorite cocktail?

my little fisherman...

while unpacking and organizing the office today, i came across 

this old polaroid of my husband.

this is from his fishing trip to canada when he was just a teen.  look at that giant northern pike that he caught!!  it's mounted and in our basement at the moment....

not sure where that will go in this new house...

but isn't he cute!?  

{the husband, not the fish}