Back to School

I really have no words!

my little brother, me and my big brother {circa 1984}

I heart the Minnesota State Fair

Kev and I hit the fair on Monday . . . we LOVE the fair! Our first date was at the fair. Seven months later he asked me to marry him at the fair. {technically it was the flea market on the fair grounds but doesn't it make for a better story?} 


A few of my favorite things from the day . . . 


1}  Tacos from the Taco King! YUMMY!!

2} Wine tasting . . .  a fun break from the crowds . . . I thought their presentation was really creative . . . the state of Minnesota cut out of cardboard {not sure I would have wanted to be the person cutting them out, but cute nonetheless}

3.} Spotting my cousin and her family on the wall in the Dairy Building . . . 

But my ALL TIME FAVORITE thing this year at the fair {insert drumroll} . . . 

4} The Giant Sing Along. I could have spent the whole day there, but Kev made me leave after three songs!

I heart the Minnesota State Fair!

happy heart

this pretty girl was on her way to bed . . .  but this big tub of water was calling her name! and she just couldn't resist . . . in she went pj's and all! { her older brother was using them for his cucumber boats.}

it doesn't matter that these two are almost 8 years apart . . . they can have so much fun together. just another part of an ordinary day that makes my heart happy!

To my right hand girl . . .

I am lucky to have a great print shop right here in Hudson and part of what makes it so great is Serena!  She is sort of my right hand girl at Pretty Girl Designs . . .  So when she asked me to snap a few picture of her son I couldn't think of a better way to "pay" her back for all the stuff she does for me . . . up until this point I was "paying" her in chocolate! 

Isn't he the sweetest? It was so fun to finally meet him in person and get to love on him a bit! I am pretty sure he asked about me the next day! 

shhhh don't tell our boss!

this picture makes me giggle . . .  at the time it was taken we were hiding behind a ginormous light in the studio . . . i was supposed to be taking product shots and i am not quite sure what she was supposed to be doing . . .  then she became the model and i the photographer (aka look-out girl)..... shhhhh don't tell our boss!


{isn't she pretty? guess what? she is smart too!}

this is so mint

did you ever say that in high school?  i am pretty sure i did!  you can not leave the summer months behind until you have tried this . . .

a gardening side note: mint will take over your garden! so if mint is in your future make sure you use a planter! 

Cucumber Boats

This past weekend we headed to my parents house for a family picnic. I brought a bag full of cucumbers (we have cucumbers coming out of our ears). The ones that were still good, I made this  . . .

The ones that were too big to eat we made these . . . 

Cucumber boats! My great-grandma used to make these with my mama and now I am making them with my kiddos!  All you need is a huge cucumber, a knife, a spoon, and a piece of tape and a toothpick (if you want a flag).

S T O P

Look what I found last night . . . a nest full of babies!

It doesn't matter how many times I see deer in our backyard, a humming bird going crazy around our flowers or a nest full of babies . . . it makes me stop . . . just for a second, but I stop and I take it in. I hope i never get too grouchy or too busy to stop! 

{did you know papa cardinals help feed their babies?} 

slight obsession #4

remember this post? i am still so preoccupied with my *new* vintage dictionary that i am now considering it a slight obsession! 


hmmmmmm i wonder what else i can whip up? 

your mama would be proud . . .

this past february i lost a dear friend. an old friend. a friend that i have known for 20 years. we met our very first day of college . . . UW-STOUT . . . north hall.  we lived together, we graduated together, we watched each other get married and have babies . . . she was a good friend. the best kind of friend and i miss her. she left behind two great kids . . .  cole and alli. 


alli has a LOVE for horses and this past weekend i had the chance to see this love . . .  

oh how i wish that her mom could have seen her. wow! this girl has no fear . . .  right into the stall she went . . . brushing and primping and picking up the hooves to inspect them . . . we all stood watching her in awe and i know we were all thinking the same thing . . . her mama would be proud.

Happy Birthday Henry!

H-Bomb turned 10 on Sunday! TEN! TEN YEARS OLD!!
It's so cliche but really, where does the time go?


He had a small pool party on Thursday with three of his buddies . . . nice boys, from nice families! (I hope I can always say that about the friends he chooses)

Lou, Henry, Jackson and Sam

Before the boys got too out of hand I had each of them jump off the diving board so I could make these . . . 

Let me just say: thank god there were only 4 boys! My fun idea gave me serious anxiety.

I googled pool games before the big day . . . tons of different ideas, but we decided on this one . . . the Frozen T-Shirt Game. I should have followed these directions instead of my own . . . the key here is to wring out the excess water BEFORE you freeze the t shirts . . . took a while for the big thaw, but the boys had a blast! (the tshirts had seen better days after this game FYI)

a party wouldn't be a party with out invites . . .

and cupcake toppers . . 

and thank you notes . . . 

(I am old school . . . I think kids should still write good ol' fashioned thank you notes)

Happy Birthday H-Bomb! You sure make my life more fun! Love you Kid!