it's the season for cookouts

This is the one I went to LAST week. I have some more pictures from last night's cookout that I might post, too. I'm seriously starting to think that we are quite the popular couple, making our way through the cookout scene. I know, I know, I shouldn't let it go to my head...

they're called me&mountains

A couple of pictures of my boy's band. He's the blurry one in the background at the keyboards.

my mom!

new lens! new lens!

I now know the magic of a 50mm lens, and it's the best $117 I have ever spent!

we fancified our old locker

I've had this locker for years. I bought it to go in the entry of the loft that my mom and I shared. It was perfect for keeping coats, scarves and hats in. When my husband and I bought our house, we moved the locker into my art room where it sat looking all old and dejected because I never used it. Truth be told, it looked kind of nasty outside of the loft.

So I did what I always do when faced with an ugly old piece of furniture. I broke out the spray paint! I turned that dingy old locker into an organized, pretty, glorious example of a wrapping storage area. I'm pretty darn proud of it.

I store scissors and tape and other wrapping sundries in those top Ikea drawers. the hanging canvas bags contain gift bags of various sizes. I keep boxes in the bottom.

I keep tissue paper in those plastic magazine organizers on the right side.
We drilled these little hooks into the side to make this handy little ribbon holder.

To think I almost scrapped it!

i live for long weekends (and awesome friends)

ohio pug rescue reunion

Both of our pugs are rescue dogs. We got our first one, Gomez, directly from the Ohio Pug Rescue. Every year we pack up the pugs and head to Columbus for an annual rescue dog reunion. There's lots of contests, dog costumes, and of course, more pugs than seems possible. 

This year, Cooper defended his title as Ohio's Tallest Pug (he's a beast, and this just proves it). Then in a move that surprised no one, Gomez became King of the Pugs. Seriously. He's been strutting around the house ever since. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of him in his crown, as it was at the end of the day, and I had already packed up the camera. Actually, I'm not going to display any pictures of my dogs, as I see them every day, and they didn't really do anything cuter than usual yesterday.

Yes, it's a Mer-Pug.

Nadine's ready for her close-up!
Prison Pug.

baby ducks! and a gnome named Norbert

I never thought I'd grow up to be the kind of person that would put a gnome in her garden. Actually, I never thought I'd grow up to have a garden—not that it's an impressive one or anything... But it's spring. The flowers are blooming, the duckies are procreating, and I'm placing lawn ornaments around my house. It's amazing what a little dose of 80 degree weather will do for your spirits.

Urban Nights

maybe you can see why i love him so

He's known to all the kids in the neighborhood as "that guy who plays guitar on the porch". Yeah, I'm married to a local celebrity.

mother's-day-birthday-fun-day-EXTRAVAGANZA

This weekend my family marked not only Mother's Day, but four birthdays as well. Go ahead, bask in the loving glow.

grandma.the best stuff on earth
and this is Daddy's receding hairlinethe birthday boys
the moms!
yours truly and the lady that made it all possible. Love you, Mom!

Austin in the details