New Zealand with Dawn:)

When Becky told me that she would be going on vacation and asked to me to guest post I was so excited! Of course it got me thinking about how much I love vacation.

I mean, who doesn't love vacation? There is the excitement of taking a break from every day life, sleeping in, spending time with family and friends and one of my favorite past-times... eating.

I suspect vacationing with Becky would be a treat in itself.

Perhaps one of my favorite parts of vacation is the exploring. Oh how I love to explore. It doesn't matter if it's somewhere I've been before or some place new. There are places to go and people to see. These photos are from a little exploring we did on a drive from one town to another in New Zealand.

While driving down the road we noticed a little sign that said Thunder Creek Falls. I can't resist signs like this if we have the time to stop along the way. As we followed the trail thru the trees we could hear the water getting louder.

The anticipation is all part of the fun. What we found was worth the stop. Back home you just don't see waterfalls every day.

Around some trees and down a few steps and we were on the river's edge. I hopped along the rocks to get a look around. What is it about being in nature that is both powerful and calming?

B shoots me a look that says, "Be careful and watch your step." or "Do I need to be down there with you?" or "I just know you are going to fall in." I smile in a way that tells him I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm not sure he believes me.

Fresh, clear water cascades down the front and I'm standing in the mist from the falls. Just thinking back I can still smell it. It's invigorating.

I'm pretty sure the smell and the mist were the invigorating parts. It would have nothing to do with the fact that I did slip off a rock and land in the water. But it was only one leg in and I popped up really quickly. After realizing that B missed it, I shook my leg vigorously, dried myself with a leaf (which does absolutely nothing, FYI) and pretended it never happened.
B, are you reading this?

Further down I can see a patch of calm water. Doesn't it look perfect to take a swim in? This photo has not been edited... the water is just that blue. Gorgeous.

Along the banks are trees and rocks covered in moss. There is life everywhere and I wonder how much I can't even see.

At 30 years old I still completely believe in fairy tales. Being surrounded by so much nature, so untouched by the world around it, always feels a bit magical.

I imagine these little nooks and crannies to be the homes of fairies and other fun creatures.

Now that I think about it, perhaps I shouldn't tell people I just met that I think I might be surrounded by fairies.

Are you going to have me committed? As I wander back I think to myself that the only thing that would make this better is cupcakes. This would be the perfect place to enjoy a cupcake. It's always a good time for a cupcake. I'll have to include treats in my exploration kit. My kit consists of the essentials: camera, extra memory card, extra battery, lip balm, book, snacks, empty wrappers, pen, paper, sunscreen and lip gloss. You know, everything I would need to survive in the wilderness.

One last peek and we're ready to head into town.

"Be an explorer. The universe is filled with wonder and magical things. " - Flavia

What do you love about vacation?

Written by my favorite foodie and travel extraordinaire Dawn from Spontaneous Clapping:) Thank you for sharing a bit of paradise with us.

This is the last of the guest blogger posts. I am so honored that you girls took the time to post for me while I was gone. Now I have a piece of your lives on my blog forever:) How cool is that?!

Oh and reminder ladies...make sure to sign up for the Island give-away. I'll be back really soon!!!!

Have a blessed day.

Tara's coastal cottage

Well hello there Becky’s lovely readers.

Becky asked me to pop on over here and write a silly guest post while she is sun tanning in Hawaii. I asked her instead if she could fit me in her pocket and take me with her, but alas she said no with a giggle, and so I am here keeping her readers entertained while she is away.

Let me introduce myself, my name is Tara aka blondie’n’sc {she smiles and gives a little wave} I live on a completely different coast then Becky but because of our blogs we have been able to connect and build a friendship.

One thing Becky and I have in common is a love of color, family and home! In a blog world that seems to be going neutral, Becky and I have maintained a love affair with color!!

So she asked me to show snippets of my house…ekk…really I thought!
But because I love her so much I obliged and so without further A-do…

Welcome to my little cottage on the coast!

Oh and don’t mind the kitty, he’s friendly and loves to be my model…

My little house is a hodge podge of styles, from farmhouse to vintage to eclectic.
Or maybe it is just a mess, I am not really sure!

I adore treasures from the past.

And love to add a bit ‘o whimsy here and there.

I recently became a collector or a hoarder if you ask my love, the pool man.
There are collections of things I love all over my nest.
From vintage suitcases, to old clocks to white mixed dish sets….

I am lucky enough to live with a man that doesn’t care what I do to the house as long as he can have his toys in the garage.

And I am happy as long as those toys stay in the garage!

I do have one rug rat…my punk, that litters the house with color as well…as in Tonka trucks and motorcycles.

Together we live in a place we are proud to call home.

We spend a lot of time in our nest….

It is the center of our family….

Where dinners are cooked or ordered in…

Where our baby has learned to walk and learned to talk…

Where the pool man and I fell in love…

And where we spend each night together loving on one another.

As the saying goes…

“There is no place like home…. A colorful home that is!”

Ok, ok you got me I may have added the last bit…
{Giggle}

Blessing from my little family to yours!

Muwahhh….
Blondiensc

P.S. Hang in there Becky will be back soon!!
xo

Written by my sweet friend Tara. Isn't her house a-maz-ing??!!! Seriously it is so dreamy it makes me want to cry. Thank you girl for filling in:)

If you haven't already...go sign up for my Island give-away:)

Have a blessed day.

Shannan...Queen of Random

First, can you believe Becky asked me to guest post while she jets off to Hawaii? Neither can I! Thanks so much, Sweets!

Second, I only have 5 minutes? Well, I'd better get cracker-jackin'.

I warned Becks that my post would probably be random. It's just what I do. It's my niche - Randomness. The truth is, I sit down almost every single night and most of the time, whilst seating myself, I do not know what I'm about to say.

It simply overcomes me, this Randomness affliction.

It can't be helped.

So, since this is our first date and all, I thought I'd make a proper introduction.

This is where I live.
　

I'm a pretend Farmgirl with big Farmgirl pipe dreams.

I spent some time with Mary Jane today and now I'm pining for an outdoor bathtub. And I don't even like to take baths!


I've also got chickens on my list.

But for now, I'm growing some spinach, and I'm acquainting myself with the tremendous gratification that arrives right on the heels of the perennials.

Tell me, blind date, is it suspicious that I leapt right to my house and glossed over my actual self? Isn't that the reddest of all of the blind date red flags?

Don't you know it's what's inside that counts??

(And also, it's 11:10 pm and I'm eating chips and salsa like it's the right thing to do. My hair is in its requisite ponytail. And I haven't showered today. That last part is not commonplace, but I feel compelled to just come out with it. And what can I say? I was busy with teeth-related emergencies and garage sale preparations and pink-eye and grocery shopping. So sue me.)

These are my peeps.

They don't always look this confused.

This is my honey and oh, looky there! That's me, with my gangly arms wrapped around him. We were on vacation - what seems like the last vacation I'll ever take...

Sidenote: One's wingspan is supposed to be the same length as one's height, but as you can see, my arms are disproportionately long. For this reason, along with a few other oddities, the doctors thought I had a dread disease when I was in elementary school. Turns out, I'm just army.

Wouldn't it be odd if I up and posted a whole slew of vacation pics, from here on out? Would I get a second date? Because I have to tell you, it was a fun walk down memory lane, digging around for a picture of me and the Mister.

I like to call this one Wonky Eye.

And since I'm a firm believer in fairness, here's a memorable shot of my post-flight swollen cankles.


Word on the street is that this isn't entirely normal for a youngish gal such as myself...


But enough of vacation. The clock is ticking!




This is not my library. But I do really love books. And I also love antiques stores, so you can understand the appeal.

This is a regular-rotation dinner.

100% natural. I know. I'm such a food snob. {snicker}

And this is one of the things held in my heart, right now, as we speak.


No, I'm not holding grasshoppers. Not that I know of.


But I am holding the promise of Summer. The days marked by sunburned noses and dirty fingernails and watermelon for dinner. The nights documented by the prayers I whisper as I drift off. Prayers of thanks. Pleas for a heart transformed.


So, there you have it.



Call me!

Written by my favorite Queen of Random...Miss Shannan Martin of Flower Patch Farmgirl. Thank you...from one "pretend" farmgirl to another;)

Don't forget to sign up for the Island give-away:)

Have a blessed day.

Scrabble...Sasha style:)

When Becky asked me to guest post, of course I said, "Yes!" But then I realized that guest posting is incredibly similar to presenting a speech. (Except that picturing y'all at your keyboards in your underwear was actually quite unnerving, rather than calming.) So, after a half day of panicking and freaking out about what I should post on, Becky told me to just make something. Huh. Why didn't I think of that?




I'd had this project in mind for a while, and realized it would be the perfect, easy type of craft for a guest post. First, you'll need to gather some old scrabble tiles. (I found mine in an antique mall, and you can read about that adventure, over on my blog.) The only other item you will need for this project, is a roll of magnetic tape. (found at the craft store) Magnetic tape has quickly become my new little friend... It's the perfect width for a scrabble tile, but tears off just like tape!

You simply tear off the right amount of magnetic tape, and stick it onto the back of the scrabble tile. (If you mis-measure and it's a little longer than you need, simply trim it a bit, with an exacto-knife, once it's stuck down. That's the sort of thing that could keep me awake nights. Seriously. I'm not proud, I'm just saying.)

You can then use these tiles for all manner of gentle reminders.

In fact, you can use these tiles for evil...I'm sorry- my dog happened to walk past me as I was moving these words around. (A word of advice, don't get two "p's" and then no one will be able to spell out the word, "poop." Not that anyone in my household would try to do that.)

You can also use these tiles for good. Your choice. Of course, you'll need to get plenty of extra vowels, and two of the letter, "s" or else your messages will look like they came from your first grader.

Written by the incredibly witty and crafty Sasha Brodeur...aka Lemonade Makin' Mama:) Isn't she a goof:) Thank you girlie!

Ps....don't forget to enter my Island give-away.

Have a blessed day.