bad cop, no donut

{via}

Most of you are aware today is National Donut Day!!!  And if you didn't know, now you know.  So, this is the perfect excuse to go grab a sugary, sprinkle topped doughy piece of heaven and not feel so guilty about it.  Go ahead, take your pick!

{via}

Or maybe you feel so fancy, you could make your own batch!?!

{via}

Or perhaps donut holes are more your speed???

{via}

Don't be rude, share with a friend or two!

{via}

And at the end of the day when you might be feeling guilty for all the yummy goodness you just consumed, I say throw on your swimsuit and hit up the pool!  Celebrate.

{via}

Happy weekend to all!  Except for that bad cop that gave me a ticket....bad cop, no donut!!!!

duckin' and divin' and still livin'

Well hellllllooooo lil neglected blog o mine!  Oh, how I have missed you!?! 

There have been many happenings going on since I last touched base.  Life continues to throw blows my way, so I just keep duckin' and divin'.....and of course, I keep on jivin'!  hehe.

Sit back, relax and grab a cup o da good stuff.  I am playing catch up on my life via pictures.

Granted.  Lots of stuff happened between each of the next few pictures, but these are the highlights.

{Annual Bluebonnet Picture ~ 2013}

 

{like mentioned above, lots of silly stuff in between!}

 

What stands out the most is how quickly my baby is turning into a little girl.  A very sweet, lovable, and funny little girl.  Life is a continuous beautiful cycle...though not always easy to understand.  She helps me stay focused on the positive, not feed into the negative.

 

Speaking of this continuous beautiful cycle of life...I recently met my most precious nephew, Brylan.

 

{nothing beats a newborn's feet}



 

And my spunky niece is thrilled to be a big sister now.  Something Layla still keeps asking to be...

{silly and smart!! she's got it all.}

 

As most of you know, Texas gets hot quick, we rarely have a "winter."  So we have already found the time to sneak in a beach visit and say a friendly hello to the Galveston Pleasure Pier, which is ahhh-ma-zing!  Love it, ready to go back. 

 

 

 

{Mother's Day 2013 ~ both decked out in Matilda Jane}

 

And if the proof isn't in the pudding, aka my pictures, to prove how fast Layla is growing up....I present to you....

 

 

Layla ~ the Kindergarten Graduate

 

Yeah, crazy!!!!  I have a first grader on my hands. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful beginning to your summer.  I am planning to be 'round more often.  So, stop on by.

 

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child. 

 

~ George Santayana

Engagement Photo Session - Austin, Texas

I need to play catch up on my neglected blog....I have a slew of going-ons in our life to tell you all about!!! 

But, right now, I want to show off some of the engagement pictures I captured in Austin, Texas at the beginning of March.  This couple is adorable and these pictures came so easy for them....not alot of work on my part.  That spells L.O.V.E. to me!!!! 

Enjoy!!!  And please.....I'd love any and all feedback....the negative and the positive.  I am still learning and I'd love to hear your opinions. 

I'll always remember... I'll never forget, how you took my breath away, the first time we met. No matter what happens... no matter what we do, I'll always remember the first time I saw you.

I am loving everything about these!

First things, first!  My dad came through surgery well.  He is still recovering in the hospital, but the scary stuff is over.  I hope.  I pray.  Thank you all for your sweet comments, prayers and the like.  

This spring-like weather in Houston has me longing for spring time looks....and this combo below completely does it for me.  Now if only I could attach my head to all that. 

{via}

And it would be fun to make a pretty head wreath....since I have moved onto spring anyway! 

{via}

We went roller skating last weekend....and it has me wanting more!!!!  And those leopard skates would be nice too. 

{via}

It is only February, yet Layla is already deciding where she would like her AUGUST birthday party.  Which leads me to start day dreaming...

{via}

I am really loving these cupcakes!!!!  *day dreaming*

{via}

{via}

Sorry. I get carried away easily. 

{via}

{via}

Because I am random.  And nothing about that is changing...

work shake up

Oh 2013....bringing on the anxiety already?!?  There is a shake up going on at my work this week and I am asking for prayers, good vibes and thoughts for me.  I will update later.  Oh, and if I could turn the below image into my full time working environment ...that'd be great!  Could you work on that for me???

{via}

Because I like to live free, with no worries.  Which in reality is not possible.  But I just truly want a drama free work environment and in life I really focus on that!  This is out of my hands at work.....

{via}

So today, my plan of action is as follows: 

{via}

....life had taught me undeniably 

that surrender, in its place, 

was as honorable as resistance, 

especially if one had no choice. 

~ Maya Angelou

Your Spirit Remains

Your spirit remains 

though we had to bid you adieu.

Your spirit remains 

I still feel so very close to you. 

Your spirit remains

though your sweet soul left this Earth. 

Your spirit remains 

though your body rests beneath sacred dirt. 

Your spirit remains 

in our hearts, in our tears and in the raindrops aplenty.

{image via}

Your spirit remains 

through the colors of the rainbows He has sent thee. 

Your spirit remains 

in the blue sky, the misty air and the rolling hills. 

Your spirit remains

as it always will. 

By Melissa Faifer 

For Johnnie "Honey" Lockhart 

10/31/1920 ~ 10/12/2012

Juny....today and always.

Today marks the third year I have, we have, had to live without my dear friend, Juny.  The years pass, but the pain of his loss never fades.  Missing you always, Juny.

Justice for Juny

And two years ago today, another sweet and bright spirit went away...thinking of you today as well, Cheryl. 

I guess by now I should know enough about loss to realize that 

you never really stop missing someone-you just learn to live around 

the huge gaping hole of their absence.

~ Alyson Noel, Evermore 

{via}

after the rain comes....

The Houston area has been inundated with rain in the last 10+ days.  It is suppose to let up this weekend.  But that is all yet to be seen.

It is hard to complain about this rain given the fact that we have survived, or barely survived, a drought over the last year or more.  So I don't complain.  And I know the farmers sure won't. 

Although, the 100+ home owners in my "neck of the woods", Cypress, Texas that had 5 feet of water in their homes probably are.  I know I would be.  It is hard to find middle ground in this area of the nation.  It is either dry as a bone.  Or wetter than a navy seal veteran.  :) 

I saw and captured two rainbows this week.  And they always make me smile.  {and whip out the camera always sitting nearby} 

This one was snapped by my home, in the 'burbs....

After rain there's a rainbow, after a storm there's calm, after the night there's a morning, and after a ending there's a new beginning. 

....and this shone right above downtown where I work.  Can you see it? 

For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial.

slacking and lacking....but now it's time for super DOOPER sunshine!!!

Yes, yes I know....if anyone is still reading here, I am honestly amazed.  To say that I have been slacking in the blogging arena, is a pretty gross understatement.  And lacking in visting my favorite blogs and leaving comments like I usually do.  No good excuse there.  I, myself, am just lacking. 

But, Super Sunshine Summer has kicked me in the arse and got me back to writing.  Even if it isn't anything that interests you much....I am back!

{via}

Me!?!  I feel okay.  I still struggle daily with physical pain.  But, I push through and try to enjoy life as much as I can.  No one is promised tomorrow.  And Summer helps me remember, we are in charge of our own attitude in life.  We can sulk.  Or we can SHINE!  I CHOOSE TO SHINE!!!!

Summer shines in an unbelievable way.  The disease she is fighting would bring most to their knees.  Make most stop a lot of things they do.  Not her, she pushes through.  And through it all, she comes up with the SUNSHINE PROJECT, which I am taking part in for the first time.  Summer....this one is for you! 

Join in and link up!  Basically, you post a picture, a story, anything that brings SUNSHINE to your world.  I can do that. 

And I will start with a silly little word and phrase that my almost FIVE year old said to me the other night right before bed.  Ya'll will most definitely not thinking it is as funny as we did...but it is something I never want to forget and since my Lindsay said, "you need to blog that, for real!" I will!!! 

Layla:  "Mommy?"

Mommy:  "Yes, baby girl...."

Layla:  "WHEN I WAS TWO, I POOPED IN MY DOOPER!"

Us:  *Bust.Out.Laughing!!!!!*

{we giggle alot!}

{Naturally Beautiful shirt via Cotton Laundry which also brings the sunshine!}

Girlfriend, meant to say diaper, but got tongue tied and DOOPER came out!  One of our favorite sayings now.  SUNSHINE!!!

We recently returned from a week long trip to Oklahoma for Layla to visit her SEVEN cousins and for Richard to see his brother and sister.  SUNSHINE!!!

I will post in more detail about that later, because BOY! there is alot to say...and lots of kids, so I will space that one out.  But I did snag a few heart warming pictures that scream SUNSHINE!!

On our way back to Houston I needed to stop and visit with my Honey in San Antonio.  Life is precious, and this sweet soul is slowly withering away.  It breaks my heart. I wish life wasn't cruel like that, but I can always count on her to....bring the SUNSHINE!!!!!

Have a sunshine-y weekend.  Hope to see you 'round these here parts a lil more often.  Cheers!