i lied!

I'm sorry dear friends-
i promised a semi thought provoking post last week and didn't deliver. what's worse is i didn't even manage a few silly or sweets post, i've just been silent.
my apologies.

Our anniversary was lovely and memorable. more on that to come.
My sweet nephew turned one year old, also lovely and memorable.
and i WON the Miss Mustard Seed design consult- thanks to ALL OF YOU!!
seriously friends, not only did you vote- you all left the most generous comments that made my cheeks pink.

For our anniversary we went to Porter's thanks to a gift card from Community Crossings ( a thank you for filling in during their worship minister's 6 week sabbatical) and saw two movie during the week (for $5 each which made it guilt free).
We saw Eclipse and Inception.
the acting in Eclipse was less painful than the first two and Inception was pretty brilliant.
both were enjoyable in their own way:O)
i told joel i was glad we could enjoy them both at about the same level.
Eclipse- entertaining but not life altering- i was glad he didn't wear a shirt that said Team Get a Life and he was glad that i don't own any posters of naked mythical creatures.

Inception- just really really well done- great concept, action, timing, acting, casting, effects. good conversation after the fact.

This was my first time at Porter's and it didn't disappoint. It was superb. We've never been on that nice of a date in 9 years and it could get quite addicting!
i won't talk you through the whole meal because it would take forever and be cruel. But i found a magical wine ( an argentinian bodega) that i can partake in with out coughing or having to mentally prompt my self to take another sip-- the other good news is that it's ridiculously expensive so i won't be tempted :O)
AND if you are there for a special occasion, get a bone in cut- it was mouth watering.

Our server was excellent and they gave us the back corner booth-- romantic plus it gave the allusion that if you got too close to us our security detail would come out of the shadows to block your path. we are just that important.

As my gift Joel promised to take dance lessons, any kind i choose, once things calm down a little. Can't tell you how long i've been wanting to do that!!!
My gift is private but it took LOTS of planning and effort and was appreciated appropriately.
i think his words were - Holy WOW.... and that's edited from his first thought, so he said.
one of our best anniversary's if not THE best.

Cash Lincoln Pye, my favorite nephew turned one in style.
with the theme "in the Land of Cash Lincoln" there were plenty of IL, Lincoln and pie themed elements. it was super cute, mom made another amazing cake and he was his normal hysterical self:


(the little quilt was part of my gift)


Since winning the consult i've been looking through catalogues, magazines, websites etc trying to figure out things that are actually with in reach for our room make over.
The feel i'm going for is a bit of a relaxed mix between ikea style and anthropologie style.
i found a rocker in last years Ikea catalogue that i love. i still want a rocker but not grandma's if i can help it.
at $165 it's not outrageous but it's not in the budget for sure.
so i craig's list searched it, just in case.
I FOUND IT.


for $50. not joking, i was so incredibly happy!
i emailed the gal as fast as i could to say i was sooooooo interested and get any details.
i held my breath waiting for the reply---- it was already sold and she forgot to take it off.
heartbreak!!!!
oh well. life goes on, but that was pretty bogus.

sweet Emory and way-too-tall-and-grown-up Leland in our little pool.



here's hoping it's not so long before we meet again-