Music is my life...

Today's prompt from the lovely Jenni (who I will be reunited with in a week!) asked us to write about and share five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Where do I even begin? Music has always been a big part of my life and I knew it always would be, but I never could have known that I would marry a musician (although it makes total sense now).

Music means the world to me. It brightens my day, makes me dance, makes me cry, brings back old memories...it heals me. So how can I choose just five that speak to me or bring back memories? Well, here goes nothing...

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros 

Duh. I mean, I pretty much named my whole blog after this song. I can still listen to this one on repeat and it never gets old. You can't listen to this song without dancing around the room like a fool.

    

 Today by Joshua Radin
This song reminds me of when I first started dating Dave and my trips down to Texas to see him. Joshua Radin was a current obsession at the time and I would listen to this song while I was out on a run (while Dave was at work) and just smile and be so thankful I finally found him. "You looked right through me when there was no one else. I sat beside beside you and became myself...today."     
   

Let the Time Roll By by Onward Soldiers 

I've put this song on my blog before, it's the perfect Friday afternoon song and it puts me in the best mood every time. I also adore the lyrics, “Oh my love, if tommorow never comes can we make the best of what we have today?”        
 

Slow Pony Home by The Weepies
This song floods my memories with our time spent in Maryland. Dave and I lived near Baltimore when we first got married and I got hold of this album...it was probably the only thing in my car CD player the entire year we were there.

We Shall Be Free by Garth Brooks
If the lyrics of this song don't speak to you, you might not be human. I love Garth Brooks through and through, but this song is definitely up near the top of my list. And when he sang this one in concert? Waterworks.

First Time by Dave Owens 

I snuck that one in on you, didn't I? This song brings back so many memories. I have loved this song from the first time (pun intended) that I heard it, but now it holds a very special place in my heart because we played this one while we lit our unity candle at our wedding.

Current Favorites ≫≫



 Below my Feet by Mumford and Sons
 This song really speaks to me. It makes me close my eyes, sway back and forth, and just give thanks for the beautiful life we've been given.

 Anything by Lana Del Ray (obsessed doesn't even cover it), Leona Naess, the entire soundtrack to the movie Once, Of Mice and Men...and the list goes on.

I'd LOVE to hear what some of your choices would be! New music is my favorite...

Summer lovin'.

I love everything about summer time...the hot heat (yes, I do realize I'm about to move to Alaska), the cold food/drinks, the pool, the clothes...all of it. So today I wanted to share a few of my summer captures (so far) and what summer means to me...

cool treats

pretty flowers

snacks by the pool

summer beer

time with friends and family

...that's what summer means to me, what about you?

Dallas Mini Photo Session Day ↠

Dallas I'm coming for you! I can't wait for a short, fun, crazy trip to see good friends and do a few shoots. There are details on the Dreaming Willow Photography blog about the mini sessions for those in Dallas. I would love to see you there!

You can find all of the details here.

A look back ↠

Today's Blog Every Day in May post is supposed to be our favorite posts in our archives. I love looking back (although sometimes it makes me cringe) and seeing how far I've come with this whole blogging adventure...

Here are my favorite posts I found in the archives ↠

All we need ≫≫ probably my favorite post to date, and what made me realize I have a story to tell.

Living in the Moment ≫≫ I strive to live by this on a daily basise.

Me ≫≫ my post about my thoughts on being adopted, and why it's the best thing that ever happened to me.

First Vlog ≫≫ because I love that vlogs show you more of a person's personality...although I feel like I was a weirdo in this video because I was SO dang nervous! I'll be doing another very soon.

Dear Husband ≫≫ Don't read if you can't stand too much cheesy sweetness.

Favorite Recipes ≫≫ Homemade Nut Butter // Vegan Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze // Whole Wheat Lemon Poppyseed Muffins // Pumpkin Latte // Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

Favorite Outfit Posts  ≫≫ World Market Style // Stitch and Stone // Ninja Kicks

...I'd love to read a favorite post from your archives! Leave a link in the comments and I'll make sure to check it out!

Flashback Friday ↠ Two Favorite Pictures.

I have always been an avid reader and I know for that I need to thank those special people in my life that constantly read to me, bought me countless books, and encouraged my passion for the written word in any way they could. That's why, for today's Blog Every Day in May prompt, when Jenni asked us to talk about a favorite picture of ourselves and why we liked it, I instantly knew which pictures I would choose.

These two pictures have always been a favorite of mine and no matter how many times we move, they end up front and center on my desk every time. The first picture I couldn't find the digital copy (I blame the fact that all of my belongings are in boxes about to be shipped to Alaska), so you'll have to deal with the picture of a picture version. They're both so old that the quality isn't the best, but that doesn't matter to me, I love them both dearly...

My Grandpa reading to me ↠



My Great Grandpa Pop (my Grandpa's Dad) reading to me ↠

Do you have a favorite photo of yourself? If so, I'd love to see it! If your joining in today's link up, feel free to leave your link in the comments so I can see yours! Happy Friday loves!

Iris in bloom ↠

Purple irises were my Grandma's favorite flower, which always made them one of my favorites as well. She has some planted in their backyard and many trinkets and decorations that have purple irises all over them. I think of her every time I see one, and that makes them even more special now.

My Mom has a big batch of irises planted in her backyard and we have been waiting anxiously for them to bloom this summer, but they sure took their sweet time. It was well worth the wait. We didn't know what colors they were going to be, and they turned out to be the prettiest things...all purple irises with one white iris (that has purple on it). Beyond gorgeous.

It's sad they don't last longer, but we will be soaking up their beauty for as long as they're here. I can't wait to have a house of our own to plant some of these beauties in my own backyard.










Aren't they breath taking? My Mom's backyard is already an oasis and these just complete the scene. It's the perfect spot to take a break in the middle of the day and give my eyes a rest from this computer screen that I tend to stare at for far too long.

What about you, do you have a special flower that means something to you? I'd love to hear about it!

Makes me happy...

Today's challenge for Blog Every Day in May (which I'm making up my own rules for, obviously), Jenni asked us to share ten things that make us happy. I'm a pretty simple girl when it comes to these kinds of things and tend to be easily excited; so some of the things on my list are very fundamental, but make me oh so very happy.

≫≫ Sunshine. I've said it once, I'll say it a million times. The sunshine on my face makes me ridiculously happy.

≫≫ Hugs from my sweet nephews. And when my oldest nephew says, "Mawrie, you're pretty." with the most sincere look on his face. I melt.

≫≫ Flowers, whether they are inside my home, in my yard, or down the street...it doesn't matter. I just love the happiness they bring.

≫≫ Dancing in the kitchen with my love.

 

≫≫ A fresh cup of coffee or tea.

≫≫ Adventures. Road trips with Dave. Flying. Seeing new things...

≫≫ Reading a good book that you just can't put down.

≫≫ Catching up with a good friend, in person or on the phone it's just always great to hear a familiar voice and laugh at all the craziness of life.

≫≫ Making and giving my clients their packages of goodies. And seeing their faces when they see all of the pictures for the first time.

≫≫ Ending the day with a glass of wine or a cold beer.

...what are some things that make you happy?

The weekend in photographs ↠

Our weekend was filled with...

≫≫ Gorgeous blue skies.

≫≫ Quality time with my gorgeous Mama.

≫≫ Soaking up the sunshine.

≫≫ My wonderful family (love these three so much!).

≫≫ Finally upgrading to an iPhone 5(!!!!!!).

≫≫ And opening up the pool, but not swimming in it...50-some degrees is a little too bone chilling.

...what was your weekend filled with?

A moment to breathe...

That's all I have, a moment...I caught this while I took a moment to soak up some sun today. Even on the busiest of days I try to take at least one little break. This always involves some sunshine on my face, when it's available...

By the way, I just adore my new wedges from Target my Dad bought me and I've been waiting patiently for a chance to wear them...full outfit post will be coming soon!

Linking up with Jenni!

How to road trip across the country...

If you've followed for awhile, you know that Dave and I tend to go on a lot of loooooooong road trips. We do a lot of trips half way across the country since my family lives in Kansas and his is in Tennessee. I like to think I've gathered some tips along the way...

Here are a few things that will make your trip go a little smoother:

≫≫ Make a playlist. Always. Whether you load it on your iphone/ipod or make an oldschool mixtape (CD) doesn't matter, as long as you have something to listen to when you're in the middle of nowhere and there is nothing on the radio.

≫≫ Bring a blanket and a pillow (actually I'd recommend one of those neck rest things, that you see people using on planes). If you're like me and can't sleep if you're cold, you'll want that blanket...especially if your husband tends to freeze you out with the AC. This has saved me on so many trips when I need to sleep, I just throw on our heaviest blanket and I'm off.

≫≫ If you're like me and tend to turn into a crazy person when you're hungry, make sure you bring snacks. There might not always be a place to eat when it's time, or at least somewhere that sounds good to both of you. I always have a little bag full of healthy snacks like nuts, cereal, and granola bars.

≫≫ Get a car charger for your phone. You never know when you might need it, so for sanity and safety reasons you should always have a charger on long road trips! And while we're on the subject, Dave usually bumps up my data plan when we know we'll be traveling a lot...what can I say, I love social media.

≫≫ Bring a laptop (and a charger) with a few favorite movies. This will help you stay awake and it makes the trip SO much shorter. Trust me. Even the driver will be entertained just by listening to something other than the radio. Dave loves it and it really makes the trip fly by. 

≫≫ Download the right phone apps. Some of the apps I couldn't live without on long trips are Urbanspoon and Gas Buddy.

Some of these may be no-brainers, but even I tend to forget from time to time...do you have any road trip tips to share? Leave them in the comments!