Several weeks ago, we were approaching one of the few times per year that we both had a handful of days off of work at the same time. Like the adults that we are (sigh), we had long since decided to stay in the city in lieu of a “real” vacation in an effort to get ahead on some household chores, run errands and basically be frugal. Yes, a STAYCATION – that loathsome term. Speaking of, the person responsible for coming up with that obnoxious pun deserves a raging case of shingles. But I digress.

Little did I know that this staying local idea was merely a ruse. Upon stumbling in after a long day of work, I had a card waiting for me on the counter. It contained a be-glittered seahorse motif which rather worried me as a style choice, until I opened it and pictures of a beautiful Caribbean resort went fluttering to the floor. My sweetness had actually planned a 6-day trip to the Bahamas and we left in 36 hours. Done and done. Best. Husband. Ever.

After too many months of slogging away at work and running to get to the weekends, it was time for a break. And the best part? We were out of the country where our mobile plans did not reach and therefore, we had a wonderful excuse to truly shut off. No phones. No texts. A few emails – come on, we couldn’t go completely cold-turkey… But the important thing? It was just him and just me.

I love that I still love him after all these years. And I admit that ever after 6 straight days of just each other for company, I could have gone for 6 more. He is truly my favorite. And let me just say, we are incredibly talented at sitting on the beach and doing nothing.

Oh, and did I mention the hotel restaurant had a self-serve soft serve machine? Heaven.

Along with the grey walls, I am loving the retro fridge (in teal!), Catholic-church-pew-style breakfast bar and wonderfully ornate vintage chandelier. Basically, my exact preference for pulling in all sorts of themes into my living spaces.

And don’t even get me started on the peacock.

[Image courtesy of The House Home]

And one that has stayed buried in my subconscious for quite awhile, until this evening when I decided to take a bath – one of my favorite things – in our urban-centric bathtub. Somehow, in our 300 odd square feet of living space, the builder was able to squeeze a bathtub into our apartment. One of my favorite features! Although I always seem to forget that in order to fit in any kind of “relaxing” pose, I have to bend myself into a Z. Literally. Because it is what you would call a 3/4 tub. I am finally starting to see the benefit of all those years of yoga… it has all been so I can take a soak, Abe-style.

But one day, I will have a bathroom like this…

… and it will be amazing. Pruning fingers and all.

{Image courtesy of All Things Soft and Beautiful}

[Image courtesy of Home Designing - where there are SO MANY library inspirations. Heaven!]

In fact, the ONE TIME in our entire relationship that my boy and I attempted a camping trip it was at the famed Joshua Tree State Park and it ended in tears. Hands that were so cold they turned into useless blocks of fleshy ice. And a long drive home in the middle of the night. Needless to say, he has not encouraged me to give it a go again. A common phrase in our household is “it’s ok, Love, you don’t have to like camping… hiking… being outside…”

But what if we are both wrong?

Because I could go camping here…

Oh wait. Did you think I meant camping as in SLEEPING IN A TENT?

You misunderstand. You see, at Lake Louisa in Alberta, Canada, this is considered “camping”…

Not a tent anywhere to be seen. Just the way I like it.

Anyone want to camp with me?

[Images courtesy of Beautiful Places to Visit]

I wasn’t able to get a great shot of her outfit that evening, so instead I tracked down her original inspiration online at Atlantic-Pacific. Can we just pause a moment and take in how absolutely incredible this skirt from Asos is? The construction is impecable, the color intoxicating and the overall look one to remember…

Trust me when I say that it is EVEN BETTER in person. Especially paired with a neon orange t-shirt and leopard print heels. Isn’t fashion just the best? Sigh…

[Images courtesy of Atlantic-Pacific]

The worst thing you can do in this situation, in fact, is to give him money – as I witnessed the other evening, at which point he belligerently tossed the coins back at the donor and demanded his milk instead. I suppose you might as well be specific in your requests. Right?

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. And not because my boy and I have ridiculously over the top celebrations, or splurge on elaborate gifts, or spend hours gazing at each other while Enya plays quietly in the background. It is simply a day to express the best of these human emotions we all have in our caches. As imperfect beings, we struggle with anger and aggression, cattiness and malaise. Pain and sorrow. But then there are the good parts like laughing and smiling. Being well in spirit and content with one another. And most importantly, love. The human capacity to love is a remarkable thing. And I will always welcome a day devoted entirely to flowers and hugging and cooking dinner together and generally remembering how wonderful love is.

Oh, and a day when wearing a neon hot pink t-shirt is entirely appropriate.

Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies. I am back, and I promise soon to share the project I have been working on that has kept me away for so long. Be well and loved. xoxo

Seriously, watching the two trumpeters bookend the group made me wish I hadn’t given up the instrument in eighth grade after knocking out my front tooth. (It was a rough time, trust me.) But friends, these musicians were INSANE. As in absolutely, positively astounding. Now, I realize I come from a musical family and grew up around very talented performers… but (don’t tell my grandmother) this group put everyone else I have ever met to shame.

And the best part? Seeing the pure, unsaturated JOY the group had while playing their music. Honestly, you could be the most devoted follower of Japanese techno dance beats, and you would have still sat in the audience riveted with a silly, lopsided grin stretching your face.

I can’t say enough how blessed I felt to have the opportunity to attend. It was a very merry way to celebrate Christmas. Oh, and in my next life? I will be as good of a piano player as Lee Musiker. I swear that man had about ten invisible hands. That’s the only way to explain the the music he made.

(And sorry, no pictures. I played by the rules and refrained from capturing a secret photo of the performance. Unlike the elderly gentleman in front of us who not only snapped his FLASH in the middle of a song, but then proceeded to WIND HIS DISPOSABLE CAMERA during a pause in the melody. Twist, twist, twist, twist, twist, SNAP!)

But… I have been feeling festive and in the mood to be inspired, so I looked no further than my overly talented sister-in-law (yes, OVERLY TALENTED because I feel that it isn’t fair that one person should contain so much creativity!) and her latest Christmas decorations for a local business in her town.

Who would have thought to use cotton? Oh wait, Shanon did. Can you please move in with me and make my home magical too?

(Image borrowed from the every inspiring Bittersweet Floral)