My Darlings

I dread the day when I no longer step all over legos and pretzel crumbs.
I dread the night I do not get awoken at 2 a.m. because someone is thirsty or lost their bear.
I dread the morning that I do not wake up at dusk to a little boy who wants to cuddle.
I dread the night I do not tell a bedtime story or sing a lullaby.

I am in awe at how fast my boys are growing up.
I am in wonder at how smart they are.
I am captivated by their innocence and beauty.

I am overcome with gratitude and amazement that I get to experience such a precious and treasured (although fleeting) time in their lives.
Although I look forward to seeing them grow, experience life, and mature; I value this time with them and will dearly miss it when it departs.
Each day is so wonderful that I can't imagine the next day being better.
Yet somehow it always is.

Planning Ahead

We are trying to decide where to go in January or March of next year.... about the time we usually get island fever ;)  Where is your favorite sandy spot?

The art of Espresso

I love espresso.  White Chocolate Mocha.  YUM.  But, I think more than I love the taste of espresso, I love to MAKE an espresso drink.  There is just something creatively unique and satisfactory about the mundane process of grinding beans, the drip, the steaming, and the pouring that makes me feel joyful.  Anyone else?

Wishing time would stop right in its tracks

Ah, youth.  Even though I am a mere 28 years old I feel like I am growing older by the day.  What do they say? Living to Die?

A bit depressing, but not my intention of this post.  I have 1 and 3 year old boys.  They are growing so fast!  I feel like the sand from our hourglass is slipping right through my hands as I madly try to grasp it.  I have loved every (well, ALMOST every) second spent with them since the moment they were placed in my arms.  Even though time has just gotten better I still wish I could feel the weight of a newborn, and smell my babys' breath again.

I love how animated and full of energy they are.  I love how they sing at the top of their lungs and dance in the kitchen with me.  I love the passion and energy they feel for something as mundane as helping me put the laundry into the washing machine.  I love how much fun they have going on a car ride and the joy the experience when they see a concrete mixer or dump truck.  I want to remember each and every moment.  I wish I could pause, rewind, and play back moments from my life whenever I wished.  Or maybe, just maybe, it is fleeting moments that make life so treasured.   

WOW

I HAD to share this recipe with you.... it was so delicious!

Black Bean Cocoa Quinoa Recipe

On my husband's 'to-do' list:

are these beautiful projects:

(http://theletteredcottage.net/painting-dressers-and-planning-a-pocket)

(http://www.housetweaking.com/2011/02/04/pardon-me-your-barn-door-is-open/)

Seriously?  How could you NOT love them?  Thank goodness my WONDERFUL husband likes to do my projects for me ;)

ah-maze-ing

I am not a big drinker.  I like red wine, amber ale, and the occasional martini.  However this drink has rocked my WORLD ;)

Here is how to make yourself a LEMON MERINGUE PIE:

2 shots Lemoncello Liquor
1 shot Absolut Citron
2 shots freshly squeezed sweet and sour (recipe below)
1/2 shot of heavy cream

Shake w/ ice and serve.  Enjoy!

Freshly Squeezed Sweet and Sour:
Heat 1 cup of water on stove, stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved.  Remove from heat and add 1 cup squeezed lemon juice and 1 cup squeezed lime juice.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

June

ah the simple joys of summer.  Sun kissed faces, the sound of a lawnmower, the ice cold feel of a sprinkler, and the smell of outdoors on my boys.  Oh summer, how I have missed you.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles....

I am so excited to be planning next week's vacation!  It is going to be a whirlwind of travel... flying to Boston, driving to Buffalo, NY; then driving cross country.  One of my anticipated stops: we will be staying at a hotel on the banks of the Mississippi river!  I am so excited to see the countryside of the land we call home.

Perspective

We live, then we die. We make no real impact on the world; just those around us, particularly our family. In 200 years from now, the only people who will even know or care that I existed will be my great great grandchildren (hopefully!).

Our existence is so mind blowing to me.... we are living organisms (or so we suppose). Just the mechanics of our bodies is so extensive, that it is easy to get caught up thinking about that. Then you take it one step further, to the mechanics of society, communication, and human interaction. Yikes. Now, go even further. The planet, the solar system. Did these things just occur? If so, how many more are out there? Where; really, is 'out there'? I feel like a tiny ant that is unaware of the big picture.

It is about now that I start to get overwhelmed with the hugeness of this train of thought... and then determine that it doesn't really matter. Even if I AM an ant, could I really ever be anything else? Is it worth the time and effort to extensively try to figure this out? Or is it a good possibility that it never will be figured out? Will we all just march in and out of our existence?

I plan on one day marching right out of mine... and hope that I have lived a long, happy, healthy life. I hope to spend it with the people I love the most (my husband, children, and family), and hope that I accomplish one thing during my existence: that they are without a doubt aware of how much I love them and how much they mean to me; so much so that my entire existence is devoted to them. That is the meaning to my life. They are why I WANT to be here more than anywhere else.... wherever that may be.

Dessert Addiction

Hi, my name is Ann, and I have an addiction. No, it is not smoking, drinking, or gambling. It is DESSERTS. Yes, chocolate, caramel, cookies, cakes, ice cream; you name it, I love it. Here is some eye candy for you....

(http://www.bakerella.com)

(http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Chocolate-Malt-Ice-Cream-Cake-Recipe)

(thecheesecakefactory.com)

YUM. Now excuse me while I go eat millions of calories ;)

Breathe

Today's world is so fast paced. Everything is going a hundred miles a minute and I feel like a frazzled woman standing on the train tracks trying to stop a locomotive. There are so many things to do. Clean the house, spend time with the kids, have one on one time with the husband, take care of the yard work, maintain a job, run errands, make doctors appointments, pay bills, do the grocery shopping, make dinner, and on and on and on. You get the idea. It makes me long for a simpler life. So I am writing this in hopes to remind myself to stop and smell the flowers. Watch the rain. Enjoy cuddling with my precious babies. Put my feet up, and just BE.

In Celebration of Earth Day.....

Hope you enjoy!

The little things

Each day I try to focus on a small moment that makes me happy. It might be cuddling with my children, laying in the grass with the sun on my face, or watching the satisfaction my toddler gets from a chocolate muffin. Whatever it is, those small daily moments make me happy. I recently heard a very inspiring quote: "Don't get caught up so much in making a living, that you forget to make a LIFE." (Unknown author) Love it.

Coupons.... need I say more?

Coupons seem to be one of the lastest fads. I will admit, I am partially on that bandwagon. For me, it is an addiction.... ugh. It is SO much fun to go to the store with a handful of coupons and walk out spending only a few dollars on several bags of items. But it is so annoying to go to 5 stores just to save money. I LOVE the daily deal sites online. LOVE them. I don't have to leave my house to get a great deal... AND I have all day to decide if it really IS a good deal for me or not. Also, I never leave the house to go to a store before googling to find out if there is a printable coupon. But for now, I think that is going to be the extent of my couponing... Are you into couponing?

Oooh, how great would it be to start a couponers anonymous? Talk about a successful business lol!

Currenty Loving...

This beauty.... which can be seen (and purchased) at:
http://www.starfish-project.com/engravedmiaosilverbangleconcave.aspx

Garden

To till or not to till.... to fertilize or not to fertilize.... mostly sunny, or full sun... peas or squash... upside down tomato plants, or potted tomato plants... There is so much thought to put into a simple garden! I can't wait to watch my lovely little plants grow though. Such a great way to feel connected to your food and the Earth. Looking forward to sunny days spent weeding; remind me I said that when I complain about it in the near future ;)

Introduction

Hi! Welcome to my blog! I am going to use this as an outlet for my thoughts, feelings, and objects of affection.... enjoy!