A Smile While Studying

This was the view yesterday from my homework station (a.k.a.: what used to be the dining room table).


Can you guess what my favorite thing in this photo is?

Organizational Behavior Humor

Yesterday was the last day of my summer school business class. To celebrate, I thought I'd share a few comics from my textbook that I found humorous.

A Big Thanks

When I started this blog, I never imagined it would bring so many wonderful people into my life. One of those wonderful people is Monica over at Life on the Hilltop. (If you don't read her blog, you best start!)

About a month ago, I won Ms. Hilltopper's book giveaway. I was beyond excited because as you all know, I adore books (plus, who doesn't like winning?). Last week, I received my new book . . .


and a bunch of other unexpected goodies!

I received Lucas Pelucas candy (had my first one today - interesting and tasty!) and bubblegum. Monica obviously knows me well and sent the good stuff - SuperBubble and DubbleBubble. There are even flavors I've never had before: Sour Cherry and Pink Lemonade. Can't wait to try them!


How cute is this box? Not only is this palm-sized container ridiculously adorable, but it came filled with one of my favorite things of all time - buttons! I couldn't help but giggle with excitement over this little treat.


How beautiful is this handkerchief? I'm in love with it! I can hardly believe it's mine! I'm going to display it in my scrapbooking room.



Thank you, Monica, for all these splendid gifts! I'm so very lucky to have a blog friend like you!

Working on Her Tan

Thursday 13: Sounds That Make My Ears Happy

1. Crickets chirping
2. Birds singing
3. Pencils writing
4. Fingers typing on a keyboard
5. A crackling fire
6. Rain hitting a windshield
7. Popcorn popping
8. Coffee brewing
9. Horses clopping
10. Thunder
11. Cars driving on gravel
12. Trains
13. High heels walking on a hard surface


More Thursday 13!

No Longer a Spring Chicken

All-nighters are for 19 year-olds, not 29 year-olds.


Summer school: 1
Holly: 0

Three Years Old

Happy Birthday my dear blog! It's been a great three years and I look forward to many more with you! I love having you around to capture those memories that I might have otherwise forgotten and I'm so very thankful for the blog friends that you have brought into my life.

Sunday Smile

Presenting Holly and Mitch Simpson:

*To see inspiration for my husband's outfit, click here, here , here, here, here, here, here, or here.*

Snapshot Saturday: A Perfect Place to Sit

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
~Jane Austen~

A One-Track Mind, Part 2

Shortly after rising this morning, Crickett headed downstairs to continue her mouse shenanigans from last night. After I ate my breakfast, I went downstairs to lift her up to the window to show her once again that the little guy was gone.

OH. THE. HORROR.

As I held Crickett close to the window and started to say "Puppers, he's gone," I saw two beady eyes looking back at me. I screeched like a banshee and raced up the stairs. Heart pounding, knees shaking, I hysterically explained to Mitch that there was a mouse. He calmly acknowledged that there was indeed a mouse and even noted that it was a different one from last night; this one was smaller and even "kind of cute." I would have to say FALSE! to that sentiment. Silly hubby even suggested I take a photo. NO THANKS!

In order to get Crickett to understand that the mouse was going away, Mitch and I took her outside, let her look into the window well, had her watch Mitch catch the little critter, and then took her with to the field down the street so she could watch it run away. This seems to have done the trick because she hasn't gone down to the window since.

I'm now scared to go by the windows in my basement and I will not be hanging out in my backyard ever again. I think it's time to move. Where don't mice live?

A One-Track Mind

Last night, Mitch discovered a mouse in one of our window wells. I wasn't home to see what my dear husband described as a "moving rock with beady little eyes," and I've never been happier to have had to work. I'm plenty disgusted just thinking about the little creature being in our yard and that close to our house, I can't imagine what I would have done had I been home. Anyhoo, I digress.

Mitch mistakingly showed Crickett the trapped mouse and she became completely infatuated. Even after Mitch caught the mouse and released it in a nearby field, Crickett continued to watch the window, believing the little guy to still be in the well.


Crickett refused to come upstairs. She would not budge from her spot by the window for anything. She just sat and sat at her post, whining.


Mitch and I both held her up to the window to show her that the mouse was gone, but she didn't believe us. We took her outside so she could look down into the window well, but that didn't work either. The phrase, "out of sight, out of mind" definitely didn't apply in this situation.


I love this little girl's passion for the things that are important to her.

Thursday 13: TV Shows I Loved When I Was Younger

1. Blossom (How cool were her outfits?!)

2. Boy Meets World

3. Doogie Howser, M.D.

4. Family Matters

5. Fresh Prince of Bel Air

6. Full House (I thought DJ was the prettiest girl alive!)

7. Growing Pains

8. Just the Ten of Us

9. Rescue 911

10. Saved by the Bell

11. Step by Step

12. Who's the Boss

13. The Wonder Years

*Just a few others I can't help but mention: ALF, Empty Nest, Head of the Class, Mr. Belvedere, My Two Dads, Perfect Strangers*

More Thursday 13!

What am I Going to do With Him?

"Where are you going?" I asked my husband as he put on his flip-flops and opened the patio door.

"Out to count the fence panels," he responded.

Insert an "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" face from me here.

"I'm just curious - I've always wondered" he defended.


So what did my husband just finish up doing? That's right, walking around the perimeter of our backyard, counting the dog-ear panels of our fence.

There are 576, in case you're wondering.

Oh the laugher that ensues over my husband's antics!

Reading Recommendation

Dear blog friends,

I need your help.

One of my goals this year is to read a "classic" novel. Not only have I been having a hard time deciding which one to read, but once I've made a decision I don't like my choice and the vicious cycle starts all over again. I started The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and On the Road by Jack Kerouac, but neither held my attention so they got tossed aside. I'm contemplating The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - is that considered a "classic"? So, here's your assignment dear friends: recommend a piece of classic literature that you've enjoyed. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions!

Thank you.

Holly


*Apparently I feel like writing letters this week.*

Not Working Out

Dear Mom,

I discovered on Friday that this "getting domesticated in my 29th year" thing is probably not going to work out.

Mitch came home from work and told me that the daisies you and dad had given me for my birthday weren't looking so good. In fact, I think he used the word dying (yikes!). Outside I saw flowers that looked very little like the ones you had brought over only two days earlier. Where there were once perky petals on happy stems, I now had two pots of drooping, depressed perennials.


It's a good thing I have a domesticated husband (thanks Mom & Dad W!) who had not only bought a watering can the day before (I never would have thought of that, especially not at a store that sells chocolate), but actually did the watering for his tragic wife.


Don't worry, mom, the flowers are doing much better now thanks to Mitch; he'll be looking out for them. As for me? I'll continue to busy myself with taking photos of him doing the things I should be doing.

Love,

Holly

P.S. Mitch needs to borrow some thread so he can sew buttons onto a few of my shirts.

Snapshot Saturday: Raindrops on the Deck

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?
~Rose Kennedy~

Friday Fill-In #179

1. My grandparents' farm is my favorite place to travel to.

2. When I think about my childhood, I often remember summer nights in the neighborhood, my friends and I riding around on our bikes and our parents standing at the mailbox talking.

3. A favorite book makes for a good friend.

4. The wind in the trees, the rain on my skin, splashing in the puddles.

5. Planning a vacation is so exciting!

6. My best friend knows how to make me laugh even when I don't want to.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with my husband, tomorrow my plans include homework and Sunday I want to get out and take some photos!

More Friday Fill-Ins!

29

Yesterday I turned 29. My last year in the 20's. It's hard to believe that next year a three will be the first number in my age. It's crazy how quickly time flies. I'm not worried about getting older, though; every year gets better and better. I am truly blessed.

I had a very nice birthday. I spent the afternoon relaxing with Mitch and Crickett, had dinner with my family and the in-laws, and then had everyone over for cake (and present time, of course).

My parents gave me Shasta daisies. My mom did all the dirty work which was great so now all I have to do now is keep them alive (keep your fingers crossed for me!). These flowers are suppose to attract butterflies, so hopefully I'll see some pretty little flutterers around soon! Our front steps look so homey now - I can't wait to get more flowers and plants going around the house.


My in-laws gave me an apple tree. Mitch and I planted it several weeks ago and it's budding like crazy; we cannot wait to have apples in a couple of years!


And just to show you how domesticated I'm going to be in my 29th year, here is a photo of the cheesecake I made for my birthday! It may not look super pretty, but it tasted just about as good as my mom makes.


Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for me!