simple.

“Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life -- not by our standard of living;

by our measure of giving -- not by our measure of wealth;

by our simple goodness -- not by our seeming greatness.”

- William Ward

Wanting to get away, back the basics... very soon... & do absolutely, simply nothing with my love.

pillow talk.

I don't know where I would put these... but these are genious.
Maybe if I had a couch in my office...? Then again, that could be a bad idea.

from My Suite Stuff.

dish.

Dish: The new fun, hip LC Lauren Conrad brand will launch exclusivly to Kohl's in October in over 300 stores! I don't ever watch her shows, but I have a girl cruch on her solely due to her sense of style and how she makes everything look chic, yet casual... this news makes me uber excited.

I found this interview:

Style Guy: What is the inspiration behind your collection?

Lauren Conrad: The inspiration behind my new line for Kohl's is the relaxed but chic California lifestyle. Basically items that are cute, comfortable and can go from day to night.

SG: Who approached who? Did you go to Kohl's, did Kohl's come to you?

LC: It was mutual. I had been looking into major retailers for quite some time and I think they were looking into me. We met in Milwaukee and the rest is history.

SG: What are your thoughts on discount shopping?

LC: I think everyone likes to get great items at a "bargain". It really isn't discount shopping, it is smart shopping.

SG: How do you shop to be economical and frugal?

LC: I think you buy staple pieces in basic colors so you can wear them over and over and make the outfit look different by changing accessories.

SG: As a young entrepreneur, what are your focuses while starting a new venture in these economic times?

LC: My focus is and always has been to provide clothes that I would wear myself. Stuff that can take you from day to night and can be dressed up or down. Staples every girl should have in their closets.

SG: As a role model for young girls-- what are your summer style tips?

LC: Dress for your body type and never wear something you don't feel comfortable in.

Can-NOT wait to see her stuff...

interview from here.

dreamy.

This Lizzie Fortunato headband is so dreamy, its called, "If You're Going to San Francisco." However, it is $230. waahh waahh waaaaaaaaaah.

If anyone wins the lottery, think of me.

from looc boutique.

trunk show.

This magazine tear stares at me in my office daily... I tore it out of W in 2005 & have brought it along with me in all my various endevors since then. It's a "Trunk Show" photoshoot and on this particular page, Lagerfeild designed both the elephants' tweed suits so they could both wear Chanel. It was probably the most cleverly executed, whimsical editorial I have ever seen... therefore, I stare at it for inspiration a lot, only to end up wishing I was outside, or at the circus, or better yet, on a safari. I just adore it.

dedicated to the Lodge.

Today is Dia Del Oso at Baylor University (founded in 1845)... a day where everyone gets off class for no reason and celebrates "the day of the bear." I wish big-girl life had random, no reason days off.

Its days like this where I wish I had a day off. I miss the sunshine, games, dunking booths, bounce houses, BBQ's, friends, swimming, and running a muck without a care in the world.

I miss this Lodgers. I love real life, but today, I do wish I was back at good ol BU playing.

happy.

house swings and gwyneth make me giddy. thats all.

photos via here.

survey says...

For their 75th anniversary issue, Glamour polled 16,000 women about body image and related issues. This poll was a follow-up on a groundbreaking survey the mag undertook back in 1984, and covered much of the same ground.The results tell us - among other things - that 40 percent of of women are still unhappy with our bodies for a variety of reasons.

Then, there was this follow up comment in this months issue:

It's much less socially acceptable for those of us who love our bodies to express it than it is for women with body image issues to do so. It's easy for female friends to commiserate about their body image issues. If a girl wants to diet, though she probably doesn't need to, her friends will sympathize and support her. If a girl genuinely loves herself the way she is, she is probably viewed with spite, derision, or at least suspicion - just like the suspicion that you have about the amount of positive survey respondents... But I guarantee there are more body-loving women around you than you realize, and they keep it to themselves because they feel the negative body image crowd will view it as bragging or doesn't want to hear it.

This comment really made me think & I'm not quite sure what I think about it... I have found your self confidence is about your environment & surrounding yourself with the people who love you for you, ie your heart, mind, opinions, morals and beliefs. The uncommon friend. (Beth Moore & B.S. last night)

This does sadden me that this is somewhat a reality in our society... do you find this comment to be true?

photos via here.

survey found here.

finally.

Latest addition to the Frazier family coming late May!

We finally located a breeder and Vizsla momma we love with pretty lil puppies and one of her little female pups above will be ours very soon! They are 3 weeks old right now... and to top it off, they were born on our wedding day, March 29th.

She is meant to be a Frazier.

We can't wait... we already took a pretty run last night up to the library to rent a dog training dvd!

Welcome to the family little miss!

Vizsla info.

awesome.

I hope hope hope our kids are like this. awesome.

italy fund.

This little jar is gonna get us to Italy... we have been adding change to this jar since we got married... very gradually. All our spare change from pockets, cars, and couches gets added weekly... and slowly, but surely, its gonna get us there. Seriously.

Start collecting your quarters and picking up pennies... you won't miss it, but it will be a little sweet treat in a year or two!

new life.

The baby ducks across the street hatched and here they are! These sweet things are in the front yard every morning and are my favorite to watch. We are now just waiting on the eggs in our backyard to hatch... mama duck is sitting on them oh so patiently.

young ducks. new flowers. fresh fruit and veggies.

Spring is officially here... welcome pretties!

genius.

This is Awesome. Alicia Lynn Carrier.

Drawings for $10. You tell her what you want, she gets to make her living. I think I might be ordering something special to frame for the F casa this weekend.

ny.

sometimes i wish i was back in the NYC for good this time.

popovers.

I have never used my popover tin, so it is getting tested out and broken in this weekend for sure. Neiman's is famous for them and we have eaten our fair share of them over the years at work. With some strawberry butter and mimosas (and Ryan home!), I'll feel like I'm dining at the Zodiac on Saturday morn... I can't wait!

They are surprising easy, so I thought I'd share Kevin's recipe here.

OR another variation:

Popovers
INGREDIENTS

4 tbsp melted butter

6 eggs

2 cups milk

2 cups flour

Salt
DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butter and flour a popover pan or six 6-ounce custard cups.
Beat eggs slightly, and then beat in flour, milk, butter and salt until just smooth; being careful not to overbeat. Fill custard cups 1/2 full.
Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes more. Immediately remove from cups and serve warm.

escape.

I wish there was time to escape, truly escape, from the all the chaos of life and the distractions that come along, everyday. (ie. no cell phones, computers, chores, work, computers, tvs, etc.)

Just sitting and being with the hub.

that sounds delightful... maybe with a tall glass of pink lemonade.

picture via here.

cool concept.

I was so intrigued by this concept... and still genuinely impressed with New Yorkers, and moreover society. We are so self- consumed as human beings, but I love that this test proves that innately, we are built with good and pure intentions.

"Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal."

Read more here... and track the astounding progress he made...

queen of my heart.

i love oversize scaled items and love this art.

in my entry way? yes please.

color me pretty.

I am loving Pantone's myColormyIdea. We work with Pantone's daily hands on, but this is such an new, fun and inspirational section of thier website to try.

I have a mild obsession with color lately and so its fun to rumage through others thoughts and images.

Check it out and enjoy!

puuhlease.

I would like this cupcake decorating kit please... I would use it all the time. cross my heart.

giving tree.

I re-read the Giving Tree 4 times last night... I know everyone has read it, but it is quite possibly one of my favorite all time books. Shel Silverstein's masterpiece is now become a staple coffee table book at the Frazier household.

To give and give until you think you can give no more is absolutely beautiful to me. I saw it through my mother & father for 25 years, and now, as a wife, I get to see it through Ryan. It is the most sincere picture of love that I can possibly think of.

To love someone so much you would give it all. To love someone so much you think of them way before you would even fathom yourself. To recognize their needs before they even know they need them met...

“For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow.” - Antoine de Saint - Exupery

That my friends, is Christ's love... and that love embodied is just a little slice of heaven on earth that I have been so overwhelmingly showered with.

white.

Its almost time to get to officially wear white! South of the Mason & Dixon, traditionally, we wear white between Easter & Labor Day. (up North, they wait until Memorial Day!) I know a lot of people, including myself, don't understand or scoff at this rule and think it is another crazy idea Miss Emily Post thought of, and now everyone after our great- mothers followed suit for no apparent reason. (don't get me wrong, I don't ever break the rule... my office or mother would let me know quickly.)

I just typlically always would wait to bust out my white shoes and little cream dresses after easter only because it gets me excited for spring and something to look forward to... I love the fresh, clean feel of white...

However, after doing some reasearch, I found out the sweet reason of that we wait to wear white. We have been set free and washed clean from Christ's death and to symbolize our purity as a constant reminder of our salvation in Christ, we wear the holy, pure, color-less white.

I like that... and now I have even more reason to anxiously anticipate rotating the closet around.

Here's to 2 more days till we are washed clean and wearing our crisp whites...

Happy Easter everyone!

I'm sorry, I had to share this pic. I have saved this since 2003... and right about now seems like the perfect time to bust it out. Should not come as a surprise, its little marc again.

We're gonna make it after all...

I feel like Mary today... doesn't she just make you want to get out there and conquer the world? Thinking of MTM does 3 things for me:

1) Makes me love being a working woman.

2) Reminds me to appreciate that its a privalege to love, absolutely love, what I do for monies.

3) Most importantly, that I get to go home to where my real life is after 6 o'clock with the hub... where the true laughing, crying, sitting, being, dwelling, dreaming, loving, and enjoying really takes place in life.

and that my freinds, is what me makes me want to toss my hat up high...

(and leave work.)

sweet little escape.

this looks like an irresistable idea today:

escaping in a trailer on a road trip with my dear freinds. check.

stopping in parks to play outside barefoot. check.

listening / singing to chill music playing in the background. check.

sipping on some spiced tea. (or mojitos- you choose) check.

getting ready to jump in the lake for another lake swim. check.

doing absolutely nothing important or responsible today. check.

girls, who's with me?

i couldnt resist.
this is dedicated to my talented ballerina mother, who adores the two loves of ballet and children...
and whom i love very dearly.

dace.

Check out Dace.

I am crushing really hard for their new Spring 09 collection.

Every one of their garments just spells out spring to me.

monday: mustaches & jp quote

"Love is not and equation, it is not a contract, and it is not a happy ending. Love is the slate under the chalk, the ground that buildings rise, and the oxygen in the air. It is the place you come back to, no matter where your headed." - Jodi Piccoult

*For those who read way too much:
I just finished devouring JP's latest masterpiece,"Handle with Care." If you have not read any of Piccoult's books, I highly recommend. She has been one of my all- time favorite authors for the past 4 or 5 years, own all her books & talk about her way to much. She writes with such emotion & honesty, I am sucked in every time. The topics are a tad controversial, so be warned.

xoxo.

10 Things for the Weekend.

My lofty (we'll see if they get checked off) list of plans for the weekend:

1) Make more artichoke dip... it was sooo yummy last night, we finished the whole tray, along with this lasagna toss. I do recommend.

2) Bust back out my blazer...

Dear JCrew,

you can make a potato sack look awesome.

Sincerely,

Your obsessed admirer, Mel.

3) Continue my search for a mini lemon tree. (at a resonable cost.)

4) Make my chocolate chip bananna bread for our house guests!

5) Keep waiting for/checking on our baby ducklings in our backyard. The momma sits on the eggets and the daddy constantly swims circles in our pool on guard. I sorta love it.

6) I must admit, I can't wait to spring clean the Frazier home this weekend and play in my craft room, if it only looked like this... it is sick that I love to clean.

7) Attempt to hang a shelf in our dining room, like above, for our karafs and decanters.

8) Plant a few pots of cherry tomatos... I keep putting this off, & now they will not yield fruit until July, or so my gardening mentor Sarah Mac advises.

9) Ride my bike and hope someone answers my reply on freecycle.org for a used one that they might want to donate to lil ol' me.

10) Enjoy time with my hub whom I lub.