ooh! piece of candy!: 06/01/2010

Jun 30, 2010

bit by bit

I just love it when I get something fun in the mail!

Today, I recieved my Etsy order from NebraskaSky.

A few weeks back I bought this print from evajuliet.

That one is going above my nightstand in our bedroom makeover and the Studebaker photo is going over Andy's nightstand.

So bit by bit I'm gathering everything I'll need to put the room together. It will take time but eventually I'll have the finished product to show you!

xoxo-Kimberly

Jun 29, 2010

Smitten Kitchen

If you haven't ever visited Smitten Kitchen and you love to cook, then you need to get over there right now!

Some recipes I'm dying to try:

Shaved Asparagus Pizza

Tangy Spiced Brisket

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pie

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Carmelized Onion & Goat Cheese Cornbread

Chocolate Souffle' Cupcakes with Mint Cream

Warm Butternut Squash & Chickpea Salad

Are you drooling now? I know I am! I shouldn't have written this post before eating lunch. My hot pocket suddenly doesn't look quite gourmet enough.

What recipes are you dying to try out?

When you do, I'll gladly taste test it for you!

xoxo-Kimberly

Jun 28, 2010

Today I was Fabulous

Today I..

Ignored the urge to give in to road rage

Did a favor for someone just because I could

Refused to let someone else's words bring me down

Told someone I loved them

Ate ~~far too many~~ just enough treats

Looked in the mirror and loved what I saw

Focused on the positive

My goal is to be fabulous every day this week. Maybe you can try it with me.

xoxo-Kimberly

today and tonight

A little color for your day and some candlelight for your evening...

xxx

xoxo-Kimberly

Jun 27, 2010

Changes we didn't even notice...

Last week Andy and I pondered the reason we hadn't been hiking as much at all in the last year. When we were first dating, we went hiking quite a bit. At least once a week we would meet up at a new trail head and have fun exploring it together.

However, the year since we moved in together, the hiking dates had disappeared. Then it dawned on me. Hiking had been an excuse to spend time together. Now that we live together, we don't need excuses anymore. We're always together.

I started thinking about the other things that had changed since I moved in. Andy doesn't get up to meet me at the top of the stairs with a hug and a kiss when I walk in the front door.

I don't fix my makeup and put on a skirt before he walks in the front door.

He doesn't open the car door for me unless we're going on a 'real' date. I don't change into high heels unless we're going on a 'real' date.

There's farting and burping and morning breath and days where we snap at each other.

I don't get butterflies in my stomach when I see I've got a text from him and he doesn't get that goofy grin from ear to ear when I walk in the room.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows at this stage. Then 'newness' of the relationship has long since worn off and we're in that 'comfortable' stage.

But that's okay.

Because there's new things that we didn't have when we were just newly dating.

We talk and communicate better. We understand each other better. We're secure in our relationship and know that we can work through any trials together.

We get to fix dinner together and work in the yard together. We sleep in together on the weekend and read together before going to bed for the night.

I know I don't need skirts and makeup for him to think I'm beautiful. He knows that he doesn't always have to open doors and act like Don Juan for me to think he's amazing.

So things aren't the way they were when we were in those first stages of dating. Things are different....but better.

And what's even better is that we've realized that hiking isn't just an excuse to spend time together. It's something we really enjoy doing together and have now planned to make time for again.

This morning we were back on the trail and it was awesome!

Especially the view...

Oops- I mean this view...

xoxo-Kimberly

PS- Notice the new wedding date countdown widget I added to the side bar? Yep- the date is official- June 25, 2011!

Jun 25, 2010

The Perfect Private Retreat

I am loving this story I saw in the New York Times today.

This tiny cottage was renovated by Sandra Foster from an old hunting cabin for only $3000.

Ms. Foster did all the work herself to fulfill her dream of having the perfect private retreat.

Wouldn't you love a place like this to escape to after a long day?

I sure would!

xoxo-Kimberly

Friday Photo

One of these would surely set my weekend off on the right foot!

xoxo-Kimberly

source unknown

Jun 24, 2010

It's TIME to see things differently

Did you know that the Greek's had two words for time? Chronos and Kairos.

Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time, while Kairos refers to the time in between- the time in which special things happen. Kairos is a word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment.)

Chronos- The Greek God of Time

How many of us live only for Chronos time? I have to admit that I am guilty of this- feeling that life is just a continual race against the clock?

In my head I have this long time line on which are certain events that I expect to happen at certain times. When life interfers and throws my time line out of wack, I'm consumed with anxiety and wrought with feelings of failure and despair.

Now, if I were to throw Chrono time out the window and embrace Kairos time, I have a hunch that I would be feeling a lot more harmonious inside. Why?

Because Kairos reflects the ability to adapt to and take advantage of changing, contingent circumstances.

Wow. Now, that is cool.

Kairos also means "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved."

Again- very cool. How many times have I mistaken those "passing instants" of opportunity to be nothing more than large bumps in the road?

Would you wallow in the loss you just experienced (seeing it as just a setback or inconvenience) and miss that "passing instant?" Or would you look around and try to figure out what new door has just opened for you?

I've said several times that life should be about enjoying the journey. However, as long I continue to allow Chrono time to govern my life, I will struggle to live by that.

I'm not saying that we should throw all chronological time out the window. It's important to have some sort of life plan for yourself. But it's also important to recognize that it's okay for your plan to get a little mixed up from time to time. It's okay for things to happen differently or out of order, as long as you are making the choices that you feel are right for yourself.

When you can get to that point, you can allow Kairos time to give you all sorts of special moments that, when grasped onto, can lead to even greater things.

Just something to think about.

xoxo-Kimberly

Jun 22, 2010

Bunting

I've got bunting on the brain.

Bernina was having a sale the other day. 25% off! I couldn't resist picking up some of my favorite fabrics so I could start my own pretty little bunting project!