*aesthetic outburst*! i win!

I just won my first ever giveaway! I couldn't ask for a more exciting blog to win it from, either. I'm a huge fan of Abbey Hendrickson's Aesthetic Outburst, and now I'll have one of her very own handmade pieces for my home.  I'll soon be adding to my kitchen this, um, thing. Do you think it's a gravy boat? I don't really eat a lot of gravy, but I think it'll work just fine for other delicious sauces. Whatever it is, I don't have anything like it in my cabinets, and I look forward to receiving this happy bundle in the mail.

Thanks, Abbey!

the burning house

it's a pretty simple question, really. If your home was on fire, and you only had only a few moments to get out, which of your most cherished possessions would you grab? Often a question on personality surveys or online dating websites, it's something that people put much thought into. The Burning House is a website that asks you with this very question while challenging you to photograph these things in an aesthetically pleasing way.

I know when my brother found himself in smoke-filled bedroom as a teenager, he only had enough time to get himself out safely, and this is probably the reality most of the time. But it's a novel concept—essentially asking you "What do you hold most dear"? As I was scrolling through the submissions, I laughed because a good percentage of them included an iPhone. When I first started entertaining this idea, second on the list only to my pugs was my iPhone, and then followed closely by my laptop! We are a technology-dependant people aren't we? Also, notice they nearly all include shoes? intriguing...

Here's a couple of my favorites, but be sure to check out the website for more pictures and the sentimental explanations behind all these objects.

listening to :: coconut records, davy

I'm kind of crazy about this "Microphone" video from Coconut Records. I love everything from the snoring little smash-faced dog in the beginning, to the catchy lyrics, to Jason Schwartzman's antics. I love it so much I bought the album (Davy), and in turn, love that, too.

sunday snack :: chicken "noodle" soup

Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food. The other awesome thing about it is that almost everybody loves it, making this an easy to prepare crowd pleaser. Most canned chicken noodle soups and those served in restaurants contain obscene amounts of sodium and other unhealthy things like MSG. Making your own eliminates your risk of ingesting these not so friendly components.

I've always wanted to make my own chicken noodles soup, and today I finally did. I made a couple of healthy swaps to the traditional soup to meet my neurotic nutritional needs. The result is a flavorful, fresh soup with a ton of protein and fiber. Sodium is a major concern for me, so I used organic LOW SODIUM CHICKEN STOCK. I loaded it up with lots and lots of fresh VEGGIES for fiber. Then, the biggest twist you will notice is that I swapped those carby noodles for BEAN SPROUTS. Sprouts are rich in fiber, protein and Vitamins C and B, all while introducing a satisfying crunch to your soup. I don't think anyone will miss those noodles...

If you try this recipe out, I recommend experimenting with the veggies. Have fun tailoring it to your own likes and dislikes!

Ingredients:
yields 4 servings

1-1/2 quart low sodium chicken stock
2 large chicken breasts, cooked & shredded (I poached chicken for dinner the day before, and set 2 pieces aside for this soup)
10 baby carrots, roughly chopped (or one large carrot, whatever you have on hand)
4 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, diced
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1-1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup fresh of thawed corn
1-1/2 cup fresh or thawed peas
1 cup sprouts
dash of tobasco for "kick" (optional)

• In a large pot, bring chicken stock to a boil and add carrots, celery, onion, parsley and black pepper.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes until the veggies are soft.
• Stir in the shredded chicken and continue simmering for another 30 minutes.
• Add peas, corn and bean sprouts. Simmer for a minute or two, just to warm them up.
• Serve to a very thankful friend or family member who could use a little bit of comforting!

approximate nutritional breakdown (per serving):

calories - 325,  fat - 5.5g,  saturated fat - 1.4g,  sodium - 422mg,  carbohydrates - 29.4g,  fiber - 5g,  protein - 40g

I got the original inspiration for the recipe from Can You Stay for Dinner?.

spray-painted absolutely perfect

I'm not sure I've ever met an 80 degree day that I didn't like. These such days are becoming more and more frequent, and I've made it my mission to get out and make the most of them. Rodger and I headed out on our bikes this morning—our only goals were to hit up the Market for lunch and to get some exercise.

Twenty miles and one serious, patchy sunburn later, I had contentedly tired legs and an iPhone full of snapshots. There aren't a lot of absolutely perfect days in a lifetime, but today most assuredly falls into that category for me. The sun was hot but not scorching, and every person we passed had the same, satisfied smile on their face. Heck, it even smelled amazing. The air was all honeysuckles and onion grass.

In addition to perfect spring days, I have a soft spot for graffiti (when it's not some haphazard tag marring an innocent local business or home). I definitely got a healthy fix of it today, and my new Hipstamatic Watts lens was perfect for drinking in all those breathtaking colors. I thought maybe you'd enjoy a peek at some of these shots?


Hello hot pink, I love you.

poofballs at the market (and my bike).

Appropriate that I found this on the day of the predicted "rapture". hehe.

These colors here could comprise the color palette of my life. So pretty!

I nearly wrecked my bike when I saw this. Yes, it is a knitting Beaver (we were in Beavercreek, get it?). Best. Graffiti. EVER.

Like all other things, semi-permanence...

alphanumeric awesomeness!

My husband has no idea what crazy, crafty possibilities he has unleashed with his purchase of this alphanumeric number set.

He thinks he bought them for some mundane task like labeling his tools. What he doesn't know is he has actually, unwittingly purchased me the ultimate little craft tool.

Maybe I'll use them to make something like this?

:: BHLDN :: 

Or this?

:: bunny tales :: 

Or perhaps something along these lines?

:: art mind ::

Let the creativity begin! Thanks, Hubbs!

stella for adidas spring/summer 2011

My friends and family know that I'm pretty enthusiastic about working out. Well, actually, these friends and family might argue that I'm a bit of a zealot—and they might be right. This fact has definitely made sitting still one of the hardest parts about recovering from surgery!

Today was exciting for me because it was the first day that I was really able to exercise. So I hit the gym for a little bit of cardio. And it was good. In honor of my triumphant return to the gym, I did a little bit of online window shopping. This Stella McCartney collection for Adidas is a bit out of my price range, but I really admire it, and can definitely pull some serious inspiration from it. Don't you think? 

bloglovin

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egg-centric

Maybe it's getting kinda nutty around here in the Smith household. Yes, I've started labeling my hardboiled eggs with cute little faces rather than just a boring old X or dot. Then I've decided they're too cute not to be photographed. Thank goodness I'm almost fully recovered from my surgery, because if I had to be pent up in my house for much longer, there's no telling what lengths I might go to for amusement. pug-sized bow ties for the dogs, perhaps?

inspired by :: olly moss

I'm loving this video about Olly Moss's Recent Art Show Opening. He's a seriously talented guy, who seems like he's really getting his due. Check out his website if you feel like being blown away!

Olly Moss Art Show @ Gallery 1988 from Threadless.com on Vimeo.

quotabili-tee :: going to a wedding

This weekend is going to be great! The sun is shining, I'm finally feeling pretty good, and I have a big wedding to attend. Maybe you remember Pete & Erin from the engagement shoot I did for them a little while back? Well, tomorrow is their big day!

Those two share a love I have seen in so few people. They are the kind of couple you wouldn't hesitate to hop in the car for a road trip with, because you know you'll have an amazing time with them. They are so respectful to each other, they don't bicker (in front of company anyway), and they really know how to laugh together. I love going to weddings, but I enjoy it even more when I know just how insanely in love the couple is. Congratulations in advance, you guys! I can't wait to be a witness to your day.

I chose this t-shirt for this post because it has the sweetest sentiment on it. Heavy content for a t-shirt, but appropriate for the topic of eternal love.

You are the sun,

I'll be the moon

Just let your light come

shining through

And when night comes,

Just like the moon.

I'll shine the light

right back to you.

:: american eagle ::

float away with me

I always feel like my fine art work gets neglected because it's so easy to plop down in front of my computer and generate design. I'm grateful for these modern conveniences, but I still think it's important to bust out the paintbrushes from time to time.

This is my most recent piece—created on canvas with paint and my own two hands. 

good day sunshine

I'm pretty sure it rained here the entire month of April (and some into May). It definitely brought the term "April Showers" to new extremes. This past weekend, however, the sun decided to make a much anticipated Spring debut. Never one to miss a photo op, I managed a couple of phone snaps of those May flowers and life on the sunnier side.

We have a whole bush of these in our front garden—through no doing of our own. Thank goodness for perennials!

Fresh cuts.

Our happy little gnome and some new transplants.

Mother's day blooms.

Gomez loves to sleep the day away in his private perch (our window sill).

amy butler's house

This big wide world is full of picture perfect homes. But rarely do I see a home where I know that in an instant I could move right in. Usually something is just not quite to my taste, or I would move something around just a little bit. Not so when I saw Apartment Therapy's extensive tour of designer Amy Butler's spacious home! My goodness. The colors and textures! The airiness! That KITCHEN! Holy moley Amy, if you're out there, please let me know should you decide to put that house on the market. I have no doubt that me, the Hubbs, and the pugs would live happily ever after here! 

Did I mention it's located in the middle of Ohio? I wouldn't even have to travel far. I'm in house love. Check out the tour for more drool-worthy images of things like her workspace, the entryway, and the lush back yard.

Some of her very own fabrics grace her couch. How cheery is that teal wall color?

I love these contrasting pillows...

The kind of kitchen dreams are made of!

Her man and my man should be best friends, because I can imagine Rodger feeling right at home in this awesome, masculine workspace.

guest posting for lady lee

I've been enjoying the writing of Candis Lee Jones for a while now. At her blog, Lady Lee in Process, she muses about all sorts of things like her sassy little dog, Scout, Her multi-talented husband, Drew Jones, and the preparation and arrival of her beautiful little baby, Westley. Although I've only met Mrs. Jones in real life once, I feel like I know her, and she is as sweet a person as they come.

Having a baby is a lot of work, I'm told. It's super tiring and sometimes you need a little help. So to ease her into the transition, she's having a couple of friends sit in and post for her. I offered to share a simple little craft project with her readers since, crafting I can do! I hope you mosey on over to her space and check out my very first guest post, and send us a little love.

mom's day

There's a lot of kids in the picture, but for the time being, I'd like you to focus on the little girl. There, that's my mom. Doesn't she look fabulous in her Easter best?

The little boys in the picture are her brothers—my three awesome uncles. I love how their outfits all coordinate with one another. I'm guessing my mom absolutely loved all her brothers, because there is hardly a picture where she's not surrounded by them!

I chose to post a childhood photo of my Mother because I think sometimes it's hard to picture our Mom as anything but our ultimate caregivers. I mean, that's all we've ever known her as. But really, she had quite a life before we ever came along. She had holidays and birthdays that didn't involve scouring the stores in search of the perfect gift for us. She laughed and cried and loved long before we were even a twinkle in her eye (it's tough to imagine, i know, but bear with me). She had a first kiss, first dance, first steps... and none of this involved us. In any way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, that even though Mother's Day is a celebration of our mothers, she's not just that. On this special day, try to focus on what Mom has done for you, as well as the wonderful, well-rounded woman she has become. A woman who is the sum of all her experience—with or without us—and who has turned out to be an outstanding human being and role model. Recognize that we're just lucky enough that she chose us.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Thanks for everything!