“Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. 
Inhabit your moments. Don't rent them out to tomorrow.” —Jerry Spinelli

One of my favorite ways to unwind and have fun is to spend a day with my cousin Lorinda. We finish each other's sentences, we know when the other needs to eat or have more coffee, if we're shopping we know exactly what the other will love. There is no better thing than a best friend/cousin (frousin!).

Our new shoes. Lovely, lovely. Last week I went to Sole Obsession and went a little nuts. I got the cute little black Merrells and I picked up the green and gold J-41s (now Jambu) because she has been wanting them for a long time. (I also picked up a couple pair of flip-flops...necessary you know).

No day would be complete without a trip to Starbucks. We had too much fun with the self-portraits...there are a few that we have promised never to show another living soul (of course).

And finally. The important stuff. Cake. Lemon-blueberry chiffon. It was heavenly...We ate that piece in less than 8 minutes (how we know this is not important, what is important is that we do know how fast we ate it...).

So very thankful for this girl, my cousin, my best friend.

I love spending time with Lorinda. Celebrating our family, our friendship. She loves me for who I am - my faults, my fears, my idiosyncrasies - and she knows them all...

Life is good.

“Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” -Abraham Lincoln

I was on facebook earlier and my friend Shanan had listed 10 reasons why she loves today. It was just the thing I needed to read as I was just taking a little break from cleaning the bathroom and hating every moment...

I have so much to be thankful for every day. Usually I am pretty good at this, the thankful thing. I try to incorporate a feeling of gratitude into my heart everyday. Some days, some moments, I forget or it just is harder. So, I took a moment and looked around...Today and everyday are filled with blessings.

I spent this morning with my friends Tracey and Pete. They are a great couple...I so enjoy them and their family. I told them I was moving in...they didn't offer up a room so I came home (and cleaned the bathroom - blah!). By the way, if you haven't visited Pete's site, Liberty Bands, you should. I wrote about it here.

On Friday (my 35th birthday!), my friend Tami, aka the lady in the stone house, brought me a few goodies...including this bicycle basket (says, "life is good, enjoy the little things") and the darling Eiffel Tower plate filled with cookies. She knows just what I'll love. So much thanks to her!

Friday night I found myself at NY Pizza enjoying a few martinis with the husband. Love that place. Love that guy.

blueberry drop! like a lemon drop, but blueberry! lovely.
I had one of each!

A few of the blessings in my life. Fun, thoughtful friends. Family. Martinis. I've got it all...I'm a lucky girl at 35!

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." - Lewis Carroll

I've been on a little blogging break this week (I hope I'm back now!).

Some things I love right now (and luckily got to experience this week! WoooHooo!):

cupcakes (especially Trophy cupcakes).
I believe cupcakes are the best cakes...small, tasty, mmmm...yum.
A new little cupcake shop opened in town which is where
Lorinda (cousin in picture 3) and I will be
celebrating next week for my birthday.

my friends and being goofy. Even better being goofy with friends!

my cousin. You know I love her. And Starbucks.
Cousin + Starbucks = Perfection.

A new book by an awesome author. Love a new book.

Have a fantastic weekend. Do something fun. I am working on looking at my one little word for this year - refocusing and reflecting and possibly preparing a list of 35 things to do before I'm 36 (I love reading the posts at Hula Seventy about her lists and I thought maybe...). Lots of stuff running through my brain...just need to channel it (good luck to me!).

Festival of Flags

Troy participated in the Festival of Flags at one of the local cemeteries, Greenacres. He was invited to wear and bring his WWII Marines paraphernalia to share with the visitors. He loves nothing more than to share his passion with others. I took a quick trip out there to see him this afternoon and, of course, take some pictures.

I love this one. It was my photo of the day over on my photo blog.
The flag display is very impressive. Flags line both sides of all the roads with in the cemetery. There were a lot of people today. There was a nice Memorial Day ceremony complete with a 21 gun salute, bagpipers, and the county youth jazz band.

Troy at his "post" with a jeep named Valerie. The Jeep is not his (although I can see one in his future or maybe a tank...you never can tell) it came from the Heritage Flight Museum (maybe they tried to fly the Jeep I don't know...).

Another of Troy and his tent...

My Grandpa Bud is buried at Greenacres and I was actually able to find his stone this time. Maybe I will share my tear-filled story about "losing" his grave at another time - today I was just happy to find it. I miss my Grandpa.
Happy Memorial Day!

ready...

I don't know about you (well...I think I probably do) but I am ready for some May weather. This weather is really bringing me down. There I said it. I am not feeling normal, at least normal for me - whatever that may be. I really think I need a few days of warm and sunshine...a few days that I can count on. Let me tell you the students do also...the whole feeling at school is one of discontent.

Luckily I have friends, like Cheryl here, who I can be a bit goofy with and forget that the weather is toying with my emotions. The air freshener says "and to think I am only using 1/10 of my brain..." I thought it was cute...

Happy Thursday!

so happy together...

Troy and I spent the day together - running errands, having lunch, then spending some time at Village Books and Old Town going through some antique stores. I picked up a book at Village Books - using my birthday discount and a few "new" Fiesta Ware items at the antique stores.

Caught reading.

Love this.

A pick up the camera and snap pic. I like it though. Doesn't he look happy?

Happy Saturday!