Day 31: Wrigley!

If there was ever any doubt that even our Wrigley was a true Cubs fan...

Day 30: Hola, Amiga!

Made a quick trip back to where I grew up...

First stop, my favorite Mexican restaurant. Vegetarian fajita quesadilla <3

I was a happy, happy girl.

Day 29: Mmmm

Happiness in a little box. . .

Day 28: Sign me up!

Do Square Dancers REALLY have more fun???

Where do I get lessons.....

Day 27: SUNSHINE!

It had been so long....You only made a short appearance and the snow took you away. But this morning. when you joined me on my journey to work. . . I loved you.

Day 26: Busy!

It's been super busy at work - getting ready for a meeting this Thursday. I really had no motivation to take a photo....but I love nail polish (my nails grow just a few months, or maybe weeks out of the year. ) I've been doing pretty good about letting them grow out now. Even if my fingernails aren't painted...my toenails always are.

So grabbed my camera...and these were the ones that were on my counter this evening. I have a drawer full upstairs. All of these are O.P.I. Some of my faves.

Yeah...this was exciting wasn't it?

Day 25: Ta-Da!

Bathroom - done! (I think....)

At least the shelf and mirror are back up.

Day 24: Tik Tok...

I wake up in the mornin' feelin' like PDiddy...oh wait, no I don't.

I do love clocks though. All types, shapes and sizes. 2 of the favorite ones in my house...

Day 23: Hook 'Em Horns

Derek said I have picked out "Texas Orange" for our bathroom.

So be it. . I love it.

First coat - DONE! (Second coat...tomorrow)

Day 22: Hysterical Laughter

I love to laugh. One of my favorite people to laugh with is one of my favorite people in the world. So Tina, love...this is for you. You know what it is - no one else has to. And this is the one shot that didn't involve hysterical laughter. . . so this is what you get, per your request.


The rest of you can be confused.

Day 21: Spoiled Rotten

We have a spoiled dog...

A big basket full of toys...

And the moment I put them all away...out they come!



But who can deny his cute face?

Day 20: Chalk it up....

I've always loved chalkboards. When we moved into our townhome, my mom & I found this at a home decor store (along with a million other things)

The random word. . . well, thats exactly what it is - just completely random. It said "Happy New Year" up until yesterday when Derek told me to write something else.

Day 19: Bling!

Accessories pretty much make or break ya. . .

Just a quick snapshot of my necklace I wore today...all jumbled up in a pile.

Day 18: Silly Husband

After buying paint and having the ORANGE PAINT can leak on my black and white purse - I was forced to switch purses. I told Derek that I really liked my black and white one because I could throw it over my head and wear it across...I like that a lot better, especially in the city.

The purse I switched to...You cannot do that. But he tried.

He makes me laugh.

Day 17: Because I Care. . .

Derek is a huge Notre Dame fan...

I....am not.

But look what my newest hoodie is. See the excitement on his face?

Oh the things I'll do for love...

Day 16: The Most Important Meal of the Day

Tried a new place today for breakfast (thank you, gift cards). I really love breakfast food. I'm pretty sure I could eat it all the time.

I forgot to take pictures of our actual food...

But trust me...it was yummy

Day 15: C is for Cookie...

Mmmm.

Enough Said.

Day 14: Non-Coffee Coffee :)

A couple years ago Yankee Candle discontinued their Hazelnut Coffee candle. . . . *sigh* It was my absolute favorite. Yankee sold a "cheaper" brand at Kohls and I found an acceptable substitute. However, Yankee Candle must have realized their mistake from long ago.

They brought it back!

:-) Happy Girl! I don't even like coffee...but the smell makes me happy.

Day 13: Red for a bit...

I painted my 1/2 bath a couple years ago. 3 walls were a "taupe-ish" color and one was called Drum Beat...which was a very dark red color. Everyone seemed to like it - I didn't like the finish of it, but I liked the colors and I liked my accents and decorations.

I've decided that I'm redoing the bathroom once again. The 3 walls will stay neutral. I will have to find new accessories. I'm getting rid of the red wall...and doing a dark burnt orange color. Dark Persimmon I think is what it's called.

But until then...the red bathroom remains.

Day 12: Puppy Love

My dog Wrigley makes me smile. I didnt try terribly hard this evening to get a great picture of him...he did everything from run away to look away to close his eyes.

He's my baby though, and I love him.

Day 11: Stuffs

Nothing entirely exciting....but I walked downstairs and looked around thinking "hmm picture of the day" and my little cabinet caught my eye.

I have a few Willow Tree figurines that I adore...plus there's pictures of my family and lots of me & Derek. That's all....just a few things I love.

Day 10: Groceries

I realize I said Day 8 yesterday....It wasn't...that was Day 9. Today is Day 10...we move on.

Today I went grocery shopping. I absolutely LOVE grocery shopping. Carts full of fresh produce and things waiting to be created. Today I specifically shopped to make a beef stew for Derek, a veggie lasagna for me and chicken corn chowder and a chicken and rice soup to follow this week. I love everything about grocery shopping except the paying of the bill...I even love unloading it and putting everything away. I should be a personal shopper in a supermarket...

Day 8: Fish and...Not Chicken Strips

I like to try new things. New experiences, new places, new friends, new clothes, new food.

For dinner tonight, I tried a crab and seafood stuffed flounder.

I've never been much of a fish eater - but branched out this past year...I really enjoyed this. Could have sworn Derek would order chicken strips...but he surprised me and ordered a maple and cherry glazed chicken. Still chicken, but he tried a bite of my food. I'm proud of you, Derek...since I know you'll read this.

Day 8: Paint!

Today we had a professional painter (Derek's 2nd cousin) come to paint our foyer. We weren't about to attempt to paint the 18 foot walls by ourselves. He amazed me with his giant ladder and constant moving from side to side. He got it done so fast and it looks so good!
The 2 side walls of the foyer are a lighter color and the front wall is darker.

Day 7: Warm & Fuzzy

Today the snow arrived in full force. My commute was oh ya know....only a little over 2 hours.
My feet were fine - they were cozy in my boots....

Today my boots make me smile. Warning: There may be a lot of future posts about shoes and such...


Thank you $29 boots I found on the clearance rack of Sports Authority. I love you.

Day 6: Music Sets the World in Motion

This is my iPod. She's hot pink (hard to tell in this picture) She's upgraded from my hot pink shuffle I got a couple years ago. I love that it has a video camera and I look forward to being able to at least take some small video with it. I sat in the break room during lunch today, listened to the radio (awesome) and read my book.

Music makes me happy. I think it takes you places. It can set a mood, create a moment, remind you of a memory. I think it's something people take for granted. I love songs with meaning. I love strong lyrics.
My friend has started a song of the day blog - kind of like my photo of the day but I think he thinks digging up old songs is way cooler - so I'll let him pretend it is.
You should check out his site too....I said so.

Day 5: Hot 'N Cold

Full blast, full heat. . .because when it feels like negativesomethingorother....you need it. I am thankful for the heat in my car.




Because...My bushes used to be under there....I don't remember the last time we saw them - and we're expected to get another 7-9 inches tomorrow night.

I am not thankful for snow at this moment, but I know if I moved somewhere without it - I'd probably miss it.

Day 4: Home

My front door...it may not be the biggest, fanciest or nicest home in the world - but it's mine...and it's ours. Behind this door is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. I come home everynight and am greeted with puppy kisses and a hug from my husband.

Bad days at work don't matter anymore.

And that wreath has got to come down....geesh, it's January.

Day 3: Mmmm

Banana bread and a glass of milk...

A smile in a snack :-)

Day 2 : ILL....INI

My family has left...my mom has been here for almost a full week helping us paint and rearrange our house.

Today we went to the United Center and watched my old hometown team (University of Illinois) play in my new hometown (Chicago)

We took my 13 year old cousin with us. First time for him ever being there...

But today, more than anything....I was thankful for my scarf. With temperatures feeling about negative 20 with the windchill....my scarf was my best friend.

simple pleasures, simple joys

I decided to start a little project...365 days of pictures. A new picture every single day for the year 2010. I'm pretty sure that I come close to taking a new photograph every single day...but this time I will focus on finding something that makes me smile, something that brings inspiration or something that makes me stop and think.
I'm pretty sure this will be a wide variety of photographs...all subjects, shapes and sizes.

Join me in my journey. It's going to be fun.

Obviously I created this on January 2nd...so we'll just have to go back a day. Yesterday we took my cousin Tina (my best friend) and her family into the city.

Kaitlyn got to visit American Girl

Zach got to go to ESPN Zone

Colten got to visit the Lego Store...

I remember visiting the city when I was younger...Seeing the buildings, stores and traffic through the eyes of a child is pretty incredible. It makes you want to slow down - remember to enjoy each and every moment.

On January 1, 2010...these 3 children made me smile. A million smiles with promises of more to come.