photography

I had these ladies on for a Cartagena debut Saturday night. At the last minute I pulled them off and put them back in their safe red duster bag. I had a mini shoe anxiety attack in which I envisioned their pretty red soles being brutalized by the rough Cartagena streets.

celebrating seven

It's hard to believe it has been seven years.
Each one has been full of memories...
family, friends, vacations, weddings, work, moves, Bella, and adventure.

Gifting is a difficult task in Cartagena, so we made it easy on ourselves this year and purchased a joint gift.
My grandparents refinish antiques and over the past 7 years, we have gotten quite a few pieces from them, dressers, a wardrobe, and a hutch. We love the look and warmness they bring to our home.
{when we had them displayed in a home}

We're not exactly sure what we will use this piece for {maybe a bar?}, but we look forward to displaying it in our home someday* as a reminder of lucky number seven.

*sadly, for now, it will sit in our storage unit among our other beautiful pieces

We decided to begin our celebration on Saturday.
I made red velvet small cakes/large cupcakes and for dinner we went to a new {to us} seafood restaurant on the bay for a lovely dinner.



On the big day of celebration, I was surprised with flowers before we made our way to dinner where we toasted to the love we've shared for seven years and all that is to come.

seven

seven years ago today...

five things

{one}
I've been searching high & low for a laundry basket since we arrived in Cartagena. I've never come across one. From time to time I am reminded about how convenient a laundry basket would be.
A glimpse into the mind of an ama de casa.

{two}
I got to hang out with this babe at the pool.


{three}
I also landed a babysitting gig three times a week while Mama Alice goes to pilates.


{four}
We moved to Texas at the end of October 2007. I haven't lived through a proper winter since then. Watching the news lately, I have been questioning my ability to do so ever again.

I shared this information with a friend, facing the bitter cold temps, who informed me that it gets more difficult as we get older...
"you feel it in your bones"

She very well may have sealed my fate.

{five}
My parents were in Florida this week.
I received this picture.
Upon seeing it, I felt pure joy.

Immediately followed by jealousy.

field trips

Last week I began an 8 week photography class on-line.
I'm excited to learn a bit more and to have something productive to do the next two months.

The other good thing about participating in a photography class?
It involves field trips,
which gets me out of the house.







Plus I get to partake in an after school snack.

Who doesn't like that?

perks

Matt had to work all weekend so I stayed busy cleaning, baking, and embroidering.

A very domestic weekend.


Saturday night we went out for ceviche.
This may be the only food I will miss when we leave Colombia.
It doesn't really even count, since you can get ceviche just about anywhere.


In between my domestic duties, I watched a full out marathon of Downton Abbey: Season 1 and enjoyed every second of it.
One of the perks of being an 'ama de casa'...
guiltless television marathons.

five things

{1}
I started another photography class this week.


{2}
I have a confession.
I can't poach an egg. 
It's hard.
So when I saw this egg poacher last week at the mall, I thought my ama de casa dilemma was solved.

Wrong.
It wasn't much help.

{3}
Last night Matt and I tried Mashed Cauliflower.
Try it.
We were quite pleasantly surprised.

{4}
I really like slippers. It very well may have something to do with the type of footwear I choose,
{i don't always prioritize comfort}
but slippers feel great and make me happy.
For my birthday my sister gifted me with a pair of Minnetonka slippers.

Obsessed.
Wear them constantly and if it wasn't 85 degrees outside, I would probably try to leave the house in them.
They make me ponder buying moccasin boots.
Which makes me ponder if I could pull off moccasin boots.

{5}
We grew up as Royals baseball fans and even bigger fans of third-baseman, George Brett, my father's all time favorite player.
My dad and Tyler had a chance to attend a function in which George was speaking.
Unfortunately, the event was scheduled the same day that it decided to snow in Knoxville.
If you've ever lived in or visited a Southern city that gets snow... it is madness. Everything shuts down, people burrow in their homes, and those on the road have no idea how to drive.
Fortunately, the snow didn't stop them and they made a little dream come true.