Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

With the warmth and plenty of sunshine, southern California has been experiencing this week, it has got me thinking about gardening and what I would love to do with our small backyard. However, I will be the first to admit I do not possess a green thumb. Most plants that I come in contact with do not live very long and quickly die. I swear I water them every other day (ok in reality probably every other week), I swear I put them in the sunshine (ok maybe either they get too much sun or not enough sun). So if any of you have some green thumb tips, I do seriously need some, thanks!

If I did have a green thumb, these are some backyard projects I would be working on stat!

First, this incredible hanging herb garden with a shoe holder, in fact I think I must do this even with my lack of a green thumb.

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

And then because I still have two more pallets in my backyard even after Sean made the wine rack, I need to start working on this lovely project.

Source: brownpaper--packages.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

It would be fun to lay my own cement and make a beautiful walkway

Source: home-solutions.hsn.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

Since I love eating strawberries, I put them on my yogurt each morning, I would need to build this strawberry tower so I could walk out into my backyard each morning for fresh berries.

Source: chesapeakecrafts.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

Actually I would love to tear down the ugly brick wall we have surrounding our AC unit and replace the bricks with the pallets and a planter box to make the area more pretty

Source: camelotartcreations.blogspot.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

Maybe I can add some color to our fence with these potted flowers

Source: shannoneileenblog.typepad.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

Of course a backyard isn't complete without a fire pit especially for making s'mores!

Source: images.landscapingnetwork.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Special Treat!

I have a special surprise for you all today. One of my bucket list items is to visit NY during Christmas. To skate on the ice rink in Rockefeller Center, see the huge Christmas tree, catch a Rockettes show and just absorb the sights and sounds of a NY Christmas. Well today, my good friend, Laura, (I have mentioned her before,  see photo below of us many Christmases ago), is going to talk about my bucket list wish in actuality.

She lived there for two years during her Masters. I asked her to write a post for you all today about her experiences in NY during Christmas. Take it away my good friend!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Laura, I am a longtime friend of Megs and a faithful follower of her blog. I was excited when Meg asked me to contribute to her Christmas in NYC post, because there is so much to share. I recently moved back to California after going to grad school in New York at NYU (and am currently job hunting any fellow social workers out there, hint hint!).

I was in a 2-year Masters program in NYC, so I got to spend 2 Christmas seasons in the city! When I wasn’t studying, I was able to enjoy all that the city has to offer. The first thing I thought of when Meg mentioned Christmas in New York was something very cool I got to do last December. My boyfriend, (aka my Adam…get it..ha!) was given tickets to the tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center! It is basically a party that is thrown each year by Tishman Speyer, who owns Rockefeller Center. I didn’t really know exactly what this would entail, but I knew that I wouldn’t have to stand outside in the cold for hours to see the lighting of the tree, so that was a start. When we got there I was completely shocked because not only were we taken downstairs where there was a nice dinner and drinks, but there was also a door that led to the ice rink! When I saw this I freaked out, because I hadn’t even imagined that we would be able to go out onto the ice in front of the tree, and be able to watch the singers who were performing for the NBC special. This night was definitely special for Adam, a new comedian and I, the social work grad student because clearly those two professions don’t bring in a load of cash for fancy events, hehe. We had dinner, went out and watched some of the performers including Josh Groban & Mariah Carey and then went inside for dessert and to warm up. Then we got to see the lighting of the tree! Here are a few photos from the night:

There are so many other things to do and see in New York around Christmas time. Obviously SHOPPING! And walking up and down 5^th avenue to look at the famous window displays is another touristy attraction. Side note and speaking of shopping, New York is a great excuse for these:

 Hunters! The boot socks are a must, and can save you in the cold. My Adam (hehe) gave these to me for Christmas last year, and I’m glad I got some use out of them before moving back.

I also have many memories of walking in Central Park in all of the seasons, but winter in the park is magical. Everywhere you turn there is a photo to be taken, or something new to see. You can also spot kids with their families sledding, which is so cute. Here are 2 of my favorite photos that I took in Central park during the winter:

Wollman Rink-seen in many movies like Serendipity, Home Alone 2, August Rush

The Mall- also in many movies, and beautiful each time of year. When I moved to NYC, my mom told me to take a photo of a certain spot each season. I chose this spot and framed them all and gave it to her last Christmas. It was a hit and I have done them for gifts, so feel free to email me if you are in the market!

New York is a great place to visit. It is definitely different than any other place I have visited and can’t wait to go back. It is also a difficult place to live at times, and I missed my family and friends a ton while I lived there. I learned that you can live in one of the most exciting places in the world, but if you don’t have your loved ones to share it with, it isn’t as perfect as you might think. I was a great adventure though!

I will leave you with a few more photos. Definitely go visit, and if you need any food or travel tips feel free to email me at LStunden@yahoo.com

 An example of why Christmas in New York might not be always as glamorous as it sounds. Imagine shoveling your car out of that before work! Yikes!

Thanks again Laura for your post! All her images are her own so no stealing unless permission is given first. Also have you entered the giveaway for the rosette necklace in either teal or red made by the beautiful Jamie? You have until Friday to enter. Also after a few comments about yesterday's post, I need to clarify, Sean and I do not lead a bible study each week. That particular week our leader asked us to take over for the day. Hopefully sometime in the future, we can lead a bible study together, which would be awesome but for now, we were leading just that week :-)

i've been so stupid...

This is a confessional post all, get ready for some real, honest and true feelings. Long before I started this blog, I was unhappy, mainly because of my job. When I first started it was everything, but I also didn't have a lot of friends, that's just the way things were. It was that weird, awkward post college time when most people moved away. Anyways but I truly loved my job, and just for protection's sake I won't reveal where I work, hope none of you are disappointed. Then about 2 years after I started, that love feeling just dropped. It didn't drop slow, it hit the hate level HARD. I didn't have the luxury of finding a new job though, I was in grad school at the time so it was very convenient to continue that at my current job. I was crying out to God, asking Him why I didn't like my job, and to help me.

And here I am 5 years after I started my job, still there, still wanting a way out, asking God to provide something all the time, asking Him to provide me encouragement until that new job comes along. Well Friday comes and within 3 days of sending in a resume, I am set up with an interview. Now whether God provides this as my new job, it doesn't matter that much to me right now. I am just focused on this interview and asking Him to help with me that, going step by step, not getting ahead of myself. But you know the encouragement that I was praying for was there all the time, I didn't realize it at the time, but He was providing the encouragement. Through this blog, which gave me excitement that I have been lacking recently, through all of you fellow bloggers who are so sweet in your comments, through my friends and the plethora that God has provided. I'll even say some of the blog giveaways that I have won are encouragement, just something sweet to help me during the rough times. Through my husband who is always there for me, and of course coming home every day to the two sweetest dogs, the frustrations just melt away. I feel a dissatisfaction sitting at a job for 40 hours a week feeling like my life is wasting away and getting to that point in my job where I was settling. I was settling at 27! How scary is that!

I have been kicking myself since Friday because I have been so stupid, not seeing that God has been providing the encouragement that I have been asking for. God always answers prayer in one of three ways, yes, no or wait. Regardless of his answer, He ALWAYS has a reason for how He answers my prayers.

Today I am just reflecting on that fact that again God has shown me I am not in control ever, even though I pretend that I am. I'll leave you with this: On Friday during my morning run, I was asking God that I would receive an email that day from the person I sent my resume, to get acknowledgement of my resume. Guess what? He answered, I got an email. Then several hours later, a phone call from the HR department to set up an interview. Fortunately, I have this extra day in the weekend to prepare, but I am still in awe that God answered my specific prayer request. Recently, I wrote a guest post over at Ashley's blog, Diary of a Reporter on how I know God listens to His children.  I have an additional item to add to that growing list!

Thank you all for listening, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday spending it with your friends and family, enjoying the bbqs, pool parties and the end of wearing white, although I will continue to!

Dessert plates

It is no secret that I love to bake and desserts are especially my favorite! I sometimes dream of opening up my own little bakery, baking all day and baking the desserts that I love the most. It would be a variety of baked goods, I wouldn't focus on just one particular item like cupcakes or macarons but a whole variety of items!
After all variety is the spice of life isn't it? ;-)

My bakery shop would be a sit down place, to enjoy your dessert, chat with your friends and just take a moment to yourself with a wonderful dessert. One thing I want in my shop is very cute dessert plates. You know you want a slice of lemon meringue pie or you want a mint chip brownie and it is served to you on a colorful dessert plate. I might even change the plates according to the season. Here is a small sampling of some very fun plates I found that I would love to have in my dream bakery, maybe one day :-).
I would even change out my plates according to the season.

These would be the summer plates.

For autumn desserts like apple strudel and pumpkin pie, I would love to serve them on plates like these.

For winter time, desserts like Christmas cookies, gingerbread would be served on these plates

For spring time desserts, strawberry tarts, peach pie, these would be the plates

Wonderful weekend

Hi everyone, 

Thank you all for your lovely comments yesterday about our anniversary, it is crazy how much you can grow in one year especially in the first year of marriage. Like I mentioned I found it is truly possible to fall more in love with your best friend each day and I feel so fortunate to have found that with my husband and to have found the kind of love I have always dreamed of, however, my head is not in a cloud. I fully know that there will be tough times and it isn't all roses and teddy bears, but we can endure all things with God at the center of our marriage. I will recap our anniversary weekend events in another post but quickly I want a vote. I need one more dress for our cruise and would love all of your opinion. Which of the following four are your favorite? Just leave me a comment letting me know. Thanks!

Option 1

Option 2

 Option 3

Option 4

All these lovely dresses can be found at Forever 21

Backyard inspirations

My Sean has been working long and hard in our small backyard recently, especially to use it for the warm summer nights, to eat outside while we bbq and have friends over to mingle outside in the warm summer nights. I have ideas for this small backyard but he has other ideas. Knowing what could happen in the backyard, I feel inspired to find great gardening and landscape, the pretty cute table and two chairs that would belong more at an outside bistro than my backyard. Anyways I am excited to say the least! Wishing that money and time weren't a hindrance, I am inspired by the following images.

But I wouldn't keep those chairs, I would promptly replace that bistro set with this set: How inviting does it look, and doesn't it scream come sit on me with your iced tea or lemonade and enjoy these hot summer months!

(come sit and enjoy)

 Or I might choose this patio furniture

I apologize for the tangent I was diverting onto, but here are some more gorgeous photos of what I wish my backyard could look like.

Of course a great backyard must always have a hammock, which is a place for me to lie down, take a nap in the sun, or read a great book, and that is my idea of a PERFECT summer afternoon! What are your favorite summertime activities? What fun summer thing do you wish would last year round?