{the bloggy oscars}

I'm so excited and honored that one of my favorite bloggy friends (who lives all the way across the Atlantic Pond from me)  nominated little ol' me for, "The Versatile Blogger" award! 

This is so cool and so kind of The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife! She is absolutely fantastic! If you don't already follow her blog, you should change that! She's clever and funny and beautiful and not to mention she has been a loyal bloggy friend for a long long time. 

Thank you so much! 

much love <3

the art of 'just sitting'

{photobucket}

Phew! What a day!

Spent the morning in the office- the phone ringing off the hook and a lot of students visiting! I'm not complaining, it's actually kind of fun when it's busy. Time sure does fly.
Anyway, I jetted home onto my next task... clean house! I have been procrastinating like never before- so it was way over due for a freshen up and sparkle up over haul. Vacuum the rugs, dust the living room, change the sheets, launder the sheets and bath towels, sweep the kitchen floors, scrub and mop kitchen floor, wipe down counters, organize bedroom/office area ( we live in a small duplex-about 620sq.ft), so everything has to function double :), wipe from ceiling to floor in the bathroom, take out trash, wash rags.... woooo! it never ends! And now it's just about time for me to hit the road for Zumba class! I can't wait to get home and sit! Just sit!

Does anyone else appreciate the art of just sitting?!

breathe.

flowers!

Over the weekend I made a trip to the Original L.A. Flower Market.

I didn't have any idea what to pick up.... just was going to get what inspired me and spoke to me in that moment among hundreds and hundreds of flowers.

I wish I took more photos of the actual market. Next time I visit I'll make it a point to shoot some.

yellow! 

Don't ask me what the flowers are called: I have no idea. the flowers on the bottom just reminded me of sea anemone. The greenery looked like a miniature vertical version of lilly pads, and the yellow round flowers on top just screamed antenna...  definitely a funny bunch. I am quite happy with how it turned out altogether though. ^_^

I love that flower market..... it's set in the middle of down town Los Angeles on the border of the fashion district. It smells amazing and everyone seems to be in a joyful mood! It's a place full of inspiration, not to mention amazing prices for the amount you can purchase! 

I mean, you can get a rather large orchid plant with at least 8 blooms for ten bucks! Usually, a plant like that goes for $25-30! It is definitely worth the trip. 

The hubs and I  enjoyed rolling out of bed, grabbing a java from Starbucks, and cruising south to the market on a Saturday morning.  A wonderful way to start the day. :) 

I can't wait to go back!

for the love of {container gardens}

It's finally built! The Saturday Project done. check!

Next Step: Soil and Seeds! 

baby steps for now.....   actually, forget baby steps... this is the biggest step into gardening I have ever taken. I have taken the homegrown veggie movement koolaid and I wouldn't have it any other way! I can't wait to see where this journey in the dirt takes me. Who knows?! .... roasted organic carrots, summer arugula salads, refreshing sparkling refreshments with crushed mint, oh and basil.... the ideas are infinite!

step one- screw together the box and staple down heavy duty screen
hehe.... yellow finger nails

step two- screw in 2x4s to support the soil and screen

step three- flip box over and screw in corner blocks to seal the corners and for extra support
hehe... there's the hubs helping(top of photo)

step four- line the bottom with burlap to help keep the soil in the box but to let the water drain through too

step five- step back and enjoy!

Just have to fill it with soil and seeds!
I'm so excited!!

*Supplies*

~3inch wood screws or drywall screws
~drill
~staple gun
~(nail gun) optional
~patience

~two- 2x10 redwood boards

         cut- two- 5ft long

                 two-2ft long

~two- 2x4 redwood

         cut- 2 foot lengths

           9 (2 ft) 2x4s screwed into the box for the best support

~heavy duty plastic screen

                 found at HomeDepot where the chicken wire is sold

~burlap fabric- found in the gardening section at Home Depot, but you can also find it at fabric stores or even walmart. 

** tip: make sure you pre-drill holes using a drill-bit where you are going to screw.... it'll save you a lot of time.  Also, if you have a nail gun-- it makes things a lot easier since you can basically construct the box quick and then screw it all together. 

I LOVE MY WOODEN CONTAINER GARDEN! 

{thought-provoking thursdays}

"Religion is man searching for God; Christianity is God seeking man, manifesting Himself to him, drawing Himself unto him." 

- Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones, The Puritans: Their Origins and Their Successors 

Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones
December 20, 1899- March 1, 1981
-protestant minister, preacher, and medical doctor-

Aloha

Oahu, in 18 days! 

Oh, it's going to be so good to relax. Grab a lounge chair, a shaved ice, and a good book. I cannot wait!

springin' into the warmth

the supplies to build a 5x2 container garden

yellow ranunculus  

orange bistro table, aqua and yellow damask printed outdoor rug and a royal blue lantern

It's in the 70s here at the home of 'thoughts caught on a web" -- time to start eating dinner outdoors, BBQing, planting new flowers, sowing seeds, and just soaking up the sun. Here's a little peek into my little patio and container garden life..... it's just the beginning....

happy gardening patio-lounging couple 

for the love of {mail}

I came across this humorous interpretation of the postal service when driving down a curvy road. It's lilac season (well, toward the end of it now) so the hubs and I were headed north toward a ranch to pick up those pretty light purple and sweet-smelling flowers when we passed this! .... made me chuckle....

Air Mail

{peep!}

so cute! 

ohdeedoh

a2z

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you dislike: putting clothes away… don’t mind folding or doing the laundry….

D. Dogs: I want a Welsh Pembroke Corgi puppy so bad!!!!

E. Essential start to your day: Bold coffee

F. Favorite color: orange

G. Gold or silver: silver

H. Height: 5'6"

I. Instruments you play: piano and air guitar

J. Job title: receptionist at a graduate school / cleaning machine-expert of organization
K. Kids: eventually

L. Live: just north of Los Angeles CA

M. Mom’s name: Mom

N. Nicknames: V, peach, v-dizzle

O. Overnight hospital stays: never

P. Pet peeves: bad drivers on the freeway, an unmade bed, toilet paper rolls placed underneath style, being late

Q. Quote from a movie:
"You could always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you. I must say, the mind reels."- Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's

R. Righty or lefty: Right

S. Siblings: nunca

T. Time you wake up: 5:45AM..... no fun!

U. Underwear: every day

V. Vegetables you don’t like: beets!

W.What makes you run late: I'm never late but if I have to be late there has to be a good reason for it. I can't go against my own pet peeve- I would drive myself crazy!

X. X-rays you’ve had: both ankles, wrist, foot, teeth.... I have broken just a few bones :P

Y. Yummy food you make: Parmesan Chicken, Roasted Veggie Lasagna, Sole Meuniere

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Pandas

for the love of {wish lists}

These are a few of my favorite things....... 

corgi puppy

Le Creuset square grill skillet in flame

Le Creuset

shopping spree at Monsieur Marcels Gourmet Market

Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market

Thayer's sample pack

Thayer's Natural Remedies

the newest barefoot 

the barefoot contessa

Anthropologie candles

anthro

Ikebana flower arranging book

Tretorn Skerry boots

shop terrain

chalkboard jam pot 

shop terrain

shop terrain

distressed wooden cabinet

Terrarium 

Schwinn bicycle
schwinn bicycles