{someday cottage}

 as i sit here on this may morning, nickle creek playing, i am day dreaming of a porch, the creak of the screen door as i walk outside.  the cool air caresses my face as the wind gently blows.  i dream of a rocking chair with a steaming cup of coffee.  back and forth.  back and forth.  here there are no cares in the world. the birds' song fills my ears with delight.  they sing to one another.  the crickets, the tree frogs, all that's alive in nature joins in with the cottage song.  as i sit alone with my thoughts, i relish in the peace of the moment. the smell of the earth blows by and i breathe it in full.  breathing in and out, allowing the air to completely fill my lungs, reminding me i'm alive... it's a little slice of heaven.

the sheets are white and crisp in this cottage and the beds are many. life lives here. family and friends are welcome and many come.  they're happily invited to enjoy and experience the wilderness that surrounds.  the lovely creation that captivates. 

love is found in this cottage.  

there's laughter, yet sometimes tears, as life is experienced, discussed, and lived.  there are children playing here. in the tall grass.  the unseen creek.  the girls giggle with laughter and the sound of their joy is intoxicating. the boys explore in search of all the wild animals and the many, many adventures they can find.  

the bright warm sun shines in the windows by day and the stars and moon by night. when day has gone there is a warm fire burning in the fireplace. smoke slowly rises from the chimney.  chatter fills the kitchen as a delicious dinner is prepared with love and care.  games are played, words are exchanged... love is found in this cottage.  

the floor boards are worn from the many feet that have walked across them and they creak as they go.  the character of this cottage is pure joy.  if the walls could talk, oh the stories they could tell of the life that's been shared here.  stories of family, of romance, of babies snuggled, of friendship.  stories that are so full of life they overflow and become part of this cottage.

love is found in this cottage.

this is the cottage i'm dreaming of...

 

 (this beautiful painting is by katie daisy which you can buy here.  she inspires me.)

{happy.day.dreaming}

aw

{noah & allie}

just because it makes my heart happy

{instagramage :: summer 2011 wrap up}

 summer is coming to a close folks and we've got hurricanes and earthquakes to escort it out!  i'm excited because hot is not even the way to describe what this summer has been here in NC... more like sweltering!  i'm ready for fall and for a new season in this life, in more ways than one.  i don't want to wish the time away so today i'm taking the time to look back over the great times i've captured via instagram this summer and cultivating gratitude for all the amazing blessings in my life!

: kayaking and picnicking on beech mountain : many dinners with friends : snugly puppies  :

: beautiful summer skies : crafty craftiness : rediscovering pencils and graph paper :

: coffee mornings in my kitchen : music that sings to my soul and sunsets that do the same :

 

: golden tans and hippie sun dresses : banana chocolate pancakes on saturday mornings :

: coffee : virginia creeper trail with the whole fam : goodies from anthropologie sales : 

: seeing my work in print : fun treats from etsy : nights out in NoDa : clouds and storms :

 : lots o' spray paint : movies in the park : flowers from friends who care :

: Truth, Truth, and more Truth that my heart REALLY needed to hear and believe :

: red, red wine : new chacos : radtastic parental units : and so much more!! :

thanks summer 2011!  you were an interesting, yet blessed one for sure!

dear fall, 

all i have is one challenge for you.  

{BRING IT}

i double dog dare you...

aw

{sista.love}

a few photos.

via 6 year old niece #1

do we look alike or what??  twins?  nope.  8 years apart? ... yep.

aw

{happiness}

i love love. yep.

i long to fall hard into it.

this video of love makes me giddy with happiness
and  insanely hopeful all at the same time.
this cute couple exudes such a fun, playful, and happy side of love.

i know these long lonely times i've seen will only
make the love that i know i'll find that much sweeter.

mucho thanks to florence & her machine for the song "dog days are over"
it totally makes me want to dance my little heart out... and fall in love.

{enjoy}

{Mountain Khakis Sweepstakes}

ummm who wouldn't want to win?

free vacay?  free gear? sign me up!

i don't even fly fish & i entered.

click HERE to enter

{good luck}

i'll be back tomorrow with some more blogging goodness!

the "old" lady iphone :)

{happy.wednesday}

i can do anything great!

you might have seen this floating around the good ol' world wide web,

if you follow me on twitter, or if we're friends on facebook,

but it's just too good not to share again!

we should all start our days this way!!

{how.fab.is.that}

thanks to julie at joy's hope for redecorating her coffee nook and sharing her lovely options for her new decor.  i was immeditately in love with this one and am now the proud owner of this lovely "strong coffee" print from how fab .  e is probably wondering how many coffee or blog prints i'm going to hang in our house :)

i just couldn't resist.  it was calling to me :)  now to find a frame to spray paint...

ohh ... & the best part?  my fab print came with this awesomeness

"uses include: unexpected run-ins with the ex, hiding from your boss, dodging paparazzi"

seriously? ... how fab is that!

{happy.friday}

i mean i guess you get what you ask for, right?

this cracks me up.  i want one :)

seen on double takes

say hey (i love you)

just a little something to get you

moving on this lovely friday!

{make.it.a.good.one}

aw

{i.love.handwritten.letters}

there's just something about sitting down and actually putting

the pen to the paper and writing to someone that i just love.

in our current electronic obssesed world that's consumed with email, smart phones, facebook, and text messaging, unless you journal or maybe use writing in your day to day work, writing has become almost outdated.  i have to admit that i'm guilty of relying on technology way too much for communication.  yes it's easy and yes convenient, but sometimes it's just not very personal. 

one of my favorite things to do, even though i don't do it often enough, is to sit down and write letters to people.  not emails.  not text messages.  letters.  there's just something priceless about recieveing a hand written note.  they make me smile, they make me feel special that someone thought enough about me to sit down and take the time out of their day to write me a letter.

i actually have a little secret letter project that i've been working on for about 3 years.  i can't get too detailed because it's secret, but about once a month i sit down & take the time to slow down long enough to put my thoughts on paper and write a letter. i hope one day they'll bring a smile to someone's face just like the cheesy grin i get on my face when i get one.

i challenge you all to write a letter this month.  find some paper that you love and think about someone maybe you haven't spoken to in a while or someone who could just really need an encouraging word.  maybe it's your mother, your father, a friend who you haven't seen in a while, or even that special someone in your life.  then find a quiet spot where you can focus solely on what you're writing without much distraction, and let your thoughts flow straight from your mind and your heart right onto the paper. 

send some personal, handwritten love today!

{happy.wednesday}

aw

more iphone fun

are you ready for another

installment of iphone fun?

(again.. my apologies to all you non iphoners,

but seriously...get one... you WON'T regret it!)

need a fun game to play during your holiday travels?

want to make that brain of yours a tad smarter? (maybe)

want to add words like "saucy" to your vocabulary?

::warning::

this game IS addicting!

i give you

{words with friends}

click here to get it for $free.99. 

or here for $1.99 to play without adds

come on in & join the fun! 

my username is :: livelaughloveaw

{happy.tuesday}

aw

happy 2nd bloggiversary!

{this week marks my 2nd bloggiversary}

and what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is my little way just to say thank you to everyone who stops by this little space.  this blog has taken so many twists and turns right along with my life over the last two years and i've loved every minute of it!!  so as a HUGE thank you to all my committed readers, i'm giving away a few of my favorite things from 2009 to say
 THANK YOU!!

1. one set of the BLUES Baggu X 3

2.  one 18oz Classic Kleen Kanteen in Tree Bark

3.  one *Shey*[B] ruffled black & white damask camera strap with padding

4.  one pair of orange glass drop earrings from Olivia Plum Jewelry

5.  one $15 gift certificate to the vintage pearl

and i've saved the BEST for last!!
6.  one pair of Mountain Khakis of your choice (womens, mens, or kids)


{how to win}
{and no, you don't have to be a blogger to win}


1 entry - leave a comment on this post letting me know which item (you can choose 1 item or all 6 if you'd like) that you would like to win and make sure to leave your email address so i can contact you. 
 if you have a blog let me know that too so i can come love on you!!


1 additional entry - come follow me on twitter @livelaughloveaw...  if we're already ready friends over there then TWEET AWAY! maybe something like this.."@livelaughloveaw is having an AH-mazing giveaway. come check it out! www.livelaughloveaw.blogspot.com"


you want 1 more entry??  - blog about it on your blog & let all your readers in on the fun!


that's it!  
GOOD LUCK & i'll be choosing the 
winners next wednesday morning, december 16th, 2009.


{happy.friday.and.much.love.to.you.all}
aw

look what i did!!

...with my iphone!!

first off my apologies for those of you who are not iphone users.

i've discovered the most amazing app on my iphone for my pictures.

...introducing photogene...

i downloaded it a while back, but never really messed with it until yesterday.

here are a few examples of what i was able to come up with.

here's neice#2 yesterday on her 2nd birthday!

isn't she stinkin' cute?!?! and i love how photogene

allowed me to brighten up her picture

here's the "danger" that awaits you in my kitchen.

oh all that yummy, chocolate goodness!! thank you target.

it's just calling out to you every time you walk by!

i'm sure there's a lot more with this app that i haven't

figured out yet, but i just thought it was too fun not to share!

enjoy & happy photo editing!!

{happy.tuesday}

...and my apologies for being away for a few days...

aw

yesterday miss lucy had a friend to play with at work.

meet willy!!

isn't he precious?? he is a co-workers new puppy.

he was so clumsy with his big paws. he kept running into everything.

hilarious!!

oh i could play with puppies everyday.

i was miffed that i didn't have my good camera because these

two playing would've made for a great photo shoot!

the iphone had to make do.

tonight i will most definitely be taking my camera to see these guys

oh i'm excited!! it's going to be the perfect evening here in nc to have

dinner with friends & then off to hear some good live music.

{happy.thursday}

aw

i am so blessed!! last night i got to spend the evening for a "see ya later" (not goodbye) get together for the lovely sincerely, b. i am so blessed to be able to call these amazing Godly women friends! they are the best & i don't get to see them enough. we ate yummy food, caught up on some newlyweds, baby news, life changes, travel, some great date stories, & laughed lots. it was such a fun evening!

in other news, my previously beige hallway leading upstairs (i forgot to take before pictures) is now mocha! i am in lOVE! i told e not to be alarmed if she finds me just standing in the hall. these pics don't do the color justice & at night it's such a comforting, cozy space. adding color to your home is probably one of the cheapest ways you can redecorate your home!

now i'm off to finish dinner & head to dance (tap & jazz. love it!)

september has been absolutely lovely so far!

thank you 70 degree weather!!

{happy wednesday}

aw

i know you're jealous...

so what happens when your teenage cousin asks in passing if you'll take her to see the jonas brother's for her birthday & you're like "sure... but i'm not paying for it" thinking it won't happen & she's just being a tween girl obsessed with the jonas brothers??

this is what happens... your aunt emails you & says "THANK YOU SO MUCH" & you are on you way with a bunch of screaming tween girls to see the jonas brothers in concert. yes folks, this is where i'm headed tonight! i mean they do have great hair... do they maybe have a single older brother???

ohhh i love my life. i know that these 3 boys are some serious teenage heart throbs right now, but other than that i have NO idea what i've just gotten myself into. maybe i'll revert back to being 15 again tonight & scream & giggle just for the sack of being silly :)

{happy friday}

aw

me & niece#1 had fun times with photobooth this morning...

fun times.