Flowers, For Me?

Paul has been working a lot of overtime the past few weeks, which puts him home much
later in the day than I'm used to. Last week was a stressful week at work for me
(and for him) and with Paul coming home later, it kind of bummed me out.
Today, he was supposed to be getting off work at 6 (starting at 6am mind you),
and so my plan was to run all of the errands I needed to do, in time for his
homecoming. Well... at 3ish, I was in the kitchen doing some dishes
when unbeknown-st to me, the front door opens and in comes walking
my darling husband with a lovely bouquet of flowers, just for me.
Yellow ranunculas and wax flowers.. I just love them. I could not have
been more thrilled at that moment. He told me that he had canceled his overtime
that morning and wanted to surprise me tonight. We ran our errands together
and then treated me to sushi (my favorite!) and Golden Spoon. Now we are back home
and are about to start a new (for us) episode of Heroes. And I am really happy.
I just love this man.

Spring Time

I love spring time and all of the blooming flowers that it brings. Our peach
and apricot trees have budded and blossomed in our backyard, along with
the pink and red camellia trees on the side of our house. It makes life
feel new again and with the new season brings a new list of goals,
hopes and dreams. For this season, I pray for..
...a refreshed attitude and frame of mind.
...a simpler, less materialist life.
...more late night drives with my husband.
...a thankful attitude for the jobs we possess.
...more of Jesus everyday.
...our time to be spent reading and creating new things.
...lots of deliciously cooked dinners.
...a clean house. :)
...more walks in our neighborhood and naps in the park.
...lots love and time to be shared with our family and friends.

(photo via waterproofvalentines)

What songs can do..

Music has an intense ability to make me feel and think deeply.
This has been one of my favorite songs since the moment I first heard it..
and listening to it today is endlessly satisfying.

The weekend is almost here, I can feel it.

Israeli Cous Cous with Leeks and Tomatoes

This has quickly become my "go to" meal when I don't have a lot of time and it also has become one of our favorite dinners. It's really easy to make and super good for you. I concocted this one night in my kitchen a while back and have been able to successfully recreate it. :)

Israeli Cous Cous with Leeks and Tomatoes

• 1 Leek, finely chopped
• 2 cups of grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 of a lemon
• 2 cups Israeli Cous Cous (I buy mine from Trader Joes)
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper
  

Cook cous cous to package instructions and set aside. Coat the bottom of a saute pan with olive oil and heat over medium low heat. Saute leeks until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add tomatoes and lemon juice and cook over medium low heat for 1-2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and add it to the cous cous. Fluff with a fork and mix it together. And that's it. I like to top it with freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

I hope you enjoy it. :)

P.s. I hate this heat.. and I know it hasn't even begun!

Eagle vs. Shark

"I guess I've got to keep creating

or I'll just die."

I completely agree.

Our carrots are in love.

Upland has started up their farmer's market again and this past Thursday was the first night. We made a date night out of it and had a really nice time. I wrote about Farm Fresh To You a couple posts back and about how we get a shipment every other Friday morning. Well, we realized that it doesn't last us the full two weeks so we had to stock up on some veggies. We bought some really beautiful asparagus, swiss chard, red lettuce, cherry tomatoes (the farmer told us that they never had to plant these on his farm, they just grow wild and they are delicious) and carrots. Paul wanted to pick out the carrots because he is the one who eats the bulk of them and when he came back, he had two big bunches with their pretty greens still attached. He showed me one of the bunches and said that he had picked it because of the two carrots that had grown together to look like a heart. I thought it was too cute and I just had to take a picture, and here I am sharing it with you all. It made me really happy. :)

I trust that you are all having a nice weekend and I hope you are enjoying the rain and the sunshine.

Pretty Day

This day has been really nice. Not for any particular reason, just because.
This video definitely adds to the niceness. Happy Tuesday.

(via Daydream Lily)

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Nelson

Seriously stunning.

Paul and I had the pleasure of standing next to our dear friends while they got married this past Saturday, and it was a perfect. Brittany Ann was a vision of beauty and grace and I caught myself (and everyone else) staring at her several times throughout the day. Steven was handsome and calm and when I asked him what he thought, he said, "I didn't know she could get any more beautiful"... so true. The day was stormy outside which made it all the more romantic and close-knit inside the church and reception. We ate, we drank, we laughed and we danced until they kicked us out and my feet are still sore (seriously). Brittany even had the DJ play mine and Paul's first dance song from our wedding to recognize our one year anniversary, she's so sweet. It was lovely! Right now, Brittany and Steven are in Santa Barbara, enjoying their honeymoon. Congratulations to our newly married friends! We love you. :)