A Chimichanga, Pinterest and Target... an assortment of all things good.

This Wednesday I enjoyed a fantastic lunch at the Farmer's Market with my beautiful friend Katye. As we were leaving she surprised me with a gift for Abiella.  I'll take a picture of Abi in it when she gets home... it's too cute for me to even try to tell you about it.  Seriously, it's amazing. (Sidenote: I ran into my old friend Emily as I was walking out... Katye + Emily + Abiella's gift + a super cheesy chimichanga = best lunch everrr!)

When I got home after lunch, my dad called and said the family was going to Target if I wanted to join... Appxomimately 1.2 seconds later I was back in my car headed west.  A large caramel macchiato, a few spring dresses, and a lot of fun later we were leaving Target and headed to Red Robin for a bite to eat... (Sidenote: Whoever decided to put coffee shops and pizza parlors in Target has a special place in my heart). By late afternoon I was heading home and back to work. I had a great time with my family and especially loved shopping with my sister!

Speaking of things that make me happy... have you seen these on pinterest?

source

  

  

and my favorite...

 

Oh pinterest, how I love thee.

Have a good one!

xoxo

mae mae

Just Because Ellen Makes Every Day Better...

Enjoy!

mae

5 things that rocked my world today.

1) Erin from Living in Yellow took over my blog for the day.  Click here to see gloriously awkward moments behind a typical "fashion post."Too good.

2) Meatloaf (as in THE MEATLOAF) released his new record, "Hell in a Handbasket" today... and Sean has 3 songs on it, including one written with the one and only Wade Bowen.  Needless to say we've got a lot of Meat playing in our house right now.  "Not a Dry Eye in the House"... "I Would Do Anything for Love"... come on... Rock ICON. You can read my husband's take on this glorious event HERE.

3) I got a ton of free books delivered TO MY DOOR... more on that later.  But let's just say I now own a vintage textbook called "The Complete Guide to Sewing" Reader's Digest style. It has vintage pictures and amazing colors. I'm seriously smitten.

4) I got wildflower seeds in my "distraction" gift today.  YES! I hereby declare that these will be planted by the end of the week! Thanks Mom!

5) Lastly, the weather was fantastic and I took a walk around my neighborhood in my mc hammer pants and 80's sunglasses... not on purpose... it's just what I happened to have on.  Perhaps working from home has had a slight impact on my wardrobe. 

Enjoy your evening folks... and if you're new 'round these parts introduce yourself.  I want to meet you :) 

P.S. I'm linking up with Living in Yellow
and


You should too :)

Getting Real with Erin from Living in Yellow

Hi Readers! Today I'm starting a new series called "Getting Real." This series is a place to share who we really are as women, give the reader a sneak peak into the nitty-gritty of our lives, lose the perfectly edited photos, and just "get real."  Every Tuesday for the next 4 weeks, one of my favorite bloggers will be contributing to this series.  Ahh!! 


The theme of the series can be summed up with this quote: 

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." Steven Furtick.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.  So... to kick off the series I'm truly honored to have the amazing Erin from Living in Yellow!!  I found Erin's blog a few months ago and I've been rolling in laughter ever since.  She is honest, funny, brilliant, beautiful, and real.  I couldn't be more honored to have her here!!

So without further ado... let's

Take it away, Erin....

*****

Holler.

My name is Erin and I write over at Living In Yellow.

A blog that is dedicated to nothing at all which keeps it pretty easy to write.

I'm all for easy.

Anyhow, I am so excited to be apart of Mae's series on "Getting Real"

I'd like to think I am one of those real kind of people.

What you see is what you get with me.

Which sometimes involves a girl with pee in her pants.

Or a girl that falls down a flight of stairs in Mexico and lands at the feet of

a mariachi band and donkey.

Or heck--a girl who think it's cool to accessorize a snuggie.

True Story.

Today I thought it would be fun to write about the truth behind "Fashion Posts"

You know the type.

Where you have to try on outfits and then have your significant other, dog, or neighbor take pictures of you trying to be all cute-like.

{refer to the first picture up top if you need an example..}

You guys.

I suck at this.

I mean sure, I've posed a few times or two without clothes which is no problem.

But with clothes on--that's another story.

{Mom, Dad, Great Aunt--that is a joke}

 I don't understand for the life of me how others excel in this area.

People can say that posing for pictures that are indicated strictly for blog purposes isn't it awkward.

They are lying.

It is awkward.

For instance, let's go back to that first picture I mentioned up above.

Sure, that one happened to turn out okay.

But what about these?

Not so much.

Oh, but there is more.

Let's take a stroll down

"I am the most hideous fashion blogger wannabe"

photo shoots shall we?

I know.

It's a miracle I've ever stepped in front of the camera again.

So anyhow, what I am getting at is--

Don't be a fashion blogger.

Unless you don't mind looking like an absolute fool in front of those you love the most.

In which case, do be a fashion blogger.

But realize--to make a picture look pretty, you've got to go through a lot of ugly.

Amen?

Amen.

Now come get your hot little buns over to my blog stat.

I can't wait to meet you.

********
Thanks Erin!
Do yourself a favor and go check out Erin's blog and be sure to read her about section. It's so good Giuliana Rancic tweeted about it.  True story.


See you tomorrow for our regularly scheduled programming and see you next Tuesday for the next segment of "Getting Real" with another fabulous blogger!!!!

63 distractions.

Saturday my mom called and asked if she could drop something by the house Sunday afternoon.  I had no idea what she was bringing… but when I answered the door yesterday I saw this:

I gasped.  It was a basket full of tiny bags with bright, big, colorful polka dots on them. There was something inside each of the bags, but I couldn’t tell what. I said, “What is this??” And she responded, “Distractions. One for each day until Abiella’s almost home.”

What?!?? 

Yes friends, it is a basket full of distractions.  Each bag (over 2 months worth) has a token of joy inside. I’m only allowed to open one a day.  So for the next few months I will grab my coffee, pick a bag at random and see what’s inside. The point is to have something to look forward to each day and to visually see (as the basket gets less and less full) that we really are getting closer to Abiella. 

Unbelievable.

This morning, I eagerly ran over to the basket and grabbed this one:

 

Inside I found a whistle and a little note.

 

I quickly ran to the sink, put water inside, and let the dogs in for a little fun.  Sure enough… their interest was peaked… very peaked.

(I’ve continued to wear the whistle and blow into it at random points during the day… Arthur (right) is exceptionally impressed.)

I can’t IMAGINE the time and energy that went into this gift. Now I can brainstorm what to do with the bags as I empty them! So many possibilities. 

 

Can you believe it?!

Best surprise ever!!!

Thanks Mama!!! 

So, so fun & soo special!!!

    

P.S. As the weeks progress I’ll let you in on my favorite “distraction” of each week.  This is going to be gooood..

P.P.S Tune in tomorrow for the beginning of a new series and a visit from one of my favorite bloggers: Erin, from Living in Yellow!!