it all went so quickly

Oh, what a bittersweet moment that was watching Jay Leno say goodbye to the tonight show. I don't watch the show that much but I was drawn into watching his last show Friday night. I guess it was relating to him and all the goodbye's we have to experience in our own life. The first time I had to say goodbye was when my best friend moved when I was eight. I felt sick to my stomach for three months missing her so bad. Then there was walking to high school on my last day knowing all my friends would be headed in different directions and it would never be the same again. Dropping my daughter on her first day of kindergarten realizing her babyhood was behind her. Quitting a job I hated but crying in the parking lot as I left knowing how badly I would miss my friends I worked with. Taking my oldest daughter to college knowing she would never live full time in my house again. Attending my youngest child's graduation from high school knowing this was the last time I would be running around to school events. Helping my middle daughter clean her room and pack her bags the night before she got married. Which brings me to this week when my daughter, son in law and my sweet little grandson are moving. They are not moving far but having them 5 minutes away in the last two years meant I could see them whenever I wanted at a moments notice. So I thought of these times as I saw Jay Leno holding back tears, precious moments in my life, it all went so quickly........

sweet dreams

What creative design in these childrens rooms in Chicago Home and Garden. I not only love these rooms but the magazine is full of great design ideas!

kitchen color

When I see kitchen areas like these it makes me want to add more color to my current kitchen. Waking up to a kitchen like this would be delightful!
photo 1 photo 2 photo 3

in love

I am so in love with Alissa and Ryan's wedding via Design Sponge. It was held in Santa Barbara, one of my favorite cities at the San Ysidro Ranch, an ideal backdrop for a wedding. All the details from the beautiful table, hand painted menus, to the bench seating are picture perfect! The photography was by Jose Villa and you don't want to miss scrolling down his blog to see more stunning photos of this wedding here.

whimsical color

A pretty apartment found while pursuing Apartment Therapy. Love her pops of color against the white.

freedom is not free

Remembering and honoring our veterans on this Memorial Day.
image: here

by the seaside

Have a fun long weekend! I'm off to head down by the beach for biking, relaxing and a barbecue.
image: conde nast store

vintage beach engagement photos

Couples are getting so creative with their engagement shoots. How adorable is this via Green Wedding Shoes.
Photo's by the future groom: Tim Melideo

cookies and cream

I have been wanting to make homemade oreo cookies ever since I saw them in the April issue of Everyday Food. It was funny though I ended up making them with chocolate cream instead of vanilla cream because of my families intense love for all things chocolate. For the cookie I ended up using a recipe from the cookbook Retro Desserts I got off the Food Network. The chocolate cream recipe came from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. I looked at a lot of recipes for Oreo cookies and these were my favorites. They were a big hit with my family, so delicious and I loved the chocolate cookie part because it was not too sweet.

message rings

Ah, this is so sweet! Rings that leave an imprint of Marry Me or I Love You.
Rings via Design Sponge from Yoon Jung Yun

if we were together

Happy Birthday to my first sweet little girl Danielle! Seems like just yesterday you were this little. Now you are all grown up and working in Washington DC. If we were together I would make you a cake, cook your favorite dinner, watch you open your presents, visit, laugh and have a wonderful time with you. Enjoy your birthday with your friends and remember your mommy is loving and thinking about you always no matter how big you get!

touch of retro

These bathing suits from Norma Kamali via Cup of Jo are so stunning!

rooms for little ones

Love these darling kids rooms found on flickr.

flat fold high chair

I love this high chair we got for my grandson Noah at Babies are Us. As you can see in the photo's besides eating in it he loves to just kick back in it. When I went to pick one out for him I didn't want to spend a ton of money or get one that was huge and bulky. I was so surprised that the one I immediately liked was the least expensive and so lightweight. I thought that might create a problem but it has turned out to be very steady. I love the cute design and it folds flat to go in the car for travel. The price is amazing a only 39.99. The best part is now we can all sit down at the table and enjoy our family dinner!

always with me

I love this picture of me and my Mom when I was little. We have always been close since I was young. No matter what was going on in my life she has been there with love, support and advice when ever I needed it. During happy times she was there to share in my joy. When I had troubles and failings she helped me get through them and when others let me down she was always there. I love this quote by Washington Irving on this Mother's Day, which is exactly how I feel about my Mom.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

lovely wedding

Oh what a cute couple and such a dreamy dress! I love this time of year and all the beautiful weddings! I had so much fun doing my daughter's wedding and it always brings me back to that time.
photo's: Ashley Garmon via Once Wed

vintage wedding dress

What a enchanting vintage wedding dress via A Little Sussy and Stay Forever Sunday.

cinco de mayo

Today got me thinking about one of my favorite Mexican cookbooks which is Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless. I love Mexican food and his recipes have such great flavor. One other reason I like this book is after each recipe he has a paragraph of riffs, giving you more options. Out of the list of ingredients he gives you substitutions for certain food items in case you don't like one of his ingredients or he gives you a little variation on how to cook it. It gets you thinking about his recipes in a variety of ways and makes it a lot more interesting to cook.

life is good

This weekend we were shopping in REI for a new bike rack and I came across these products by Life Is Good. I had never seen this company before but came home and looked at their website. Tons of cute products. I was so in love I headed back to the store and got a sun tote and a back pack. We were headed to the beach this weekend so they came in handy and were so cute!

chocolate cupcakes with mascarpone cheese frosting

I love mascarpone cheese and have been wanting to make a frosting for cupcakes with it. This weekend I finally got around to doing that with a recipe from Giada from Everyday Italian. Her recipe called for it with banana muffins but I decided to make it with chocolate cupcakes instead. It was so good! Since I am not a big fan of buttercream, I'm so glad to have found this. It also tasted perfect atop the chocolate cupcakes!
image: flickr

morning bike date

I love the photo of this bike! It reminds me so much of my cruiser, just not quite as dreamy looking as this one. Everyone has been talking about bike dates and I have to join in. We have a bike trail right near our house. It used to be a train line so it is nice and flat which I like. I hate riding on the street, so the having the bike trail is perfect. I love how everyone is so friendly on the bike trail. It seems to put everyone in a good mood to go out and go for a ride. After we ride the trail we go to Panera Bread and have a breakfast souffle. It has to be one of the most delicious things that you can get at a chain restaurant. So yummy and a perfect end to a lovely morning date!
image: via decor8