things i love...




{we heart it}

craig . the fall . tea . olive (our dog baby) . walking . my sis, han . happy hour . sushi . my parents . our cottage . fires in the fireplace . good wine (and cheap wine if it tastes good) . jazz . philadelphia . old movies . boots . dessert . the house i grew up in . weekends away . pashminas, scarves and the like . france (ahh...paris...) . singing . traditions . cooking . the today show . earrings . yoga . writing . late nights with friends . laughing . champagne (and champagne cocktails...) . modern family . long showers . papa john's . playing the piano . wedding planning . dinners out . tomato & mayo sandwiches . anthropoligie . the rittenhouse . reading . dreaming about our future . homemade red sauce . house tours . tinto . entertaining . dresses . my engagement ring . muhlenberg . the holidays . talking about ideas . date nights . colby & duncan . the area where we live . lazy days .  my morning cereal . rainy days . blogging . the travel channel . vacations (both the planning & actual vacationing) . wine tastings . homemade bread . time at home . where i am right now in my life

rittenhouse square

xix restaurant

tinto

what do you love?

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bet you can't not smile : )

what can i say?  she's just the cutest!  and she makes me laugh (all the time).  i really can't look at her without smiling.  yes, that's right...i'm a proud (dog) mom.  my (dog) baby, olive, is just the sweetest.  craig, my fiance, and i adopted her last november, and she's been making us laugh ever since.

whenever she's outside, she just has boundless joy.  sometimes i watch her and am awed (and a little jealous) at how little it takes for her to have an absolute blast.  olive really knows how to make the most of simple pleasures.  a walk.  time spent outside.  watching a bird or squirrel.  greeting a loved one when they come home.  way to go olive.  you're totally zen and you don't even try to be.  you're really much more advanced than the rest of us : )

what you can't hear (because i dubbed over my voice with the cute music) is that during this entire video (yes, the entire 2 minutes) i'm asking olive to "roll over".  which, as you can see, she decides she'd rather not do...

here's hoping this video leaves you smiling : )

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Silver Lining

Ever have one of those days when you're feeling a little overwhelmed?  When everything seems to be hitting all at once and there don't seem to be enough hours in the day?  Well today was one of those days.  I was out of town over the weekend and came back to quite a bit of work, and (I must admit) I was allowing it to get the best of me.  I kept trudging forward, but my energy and enthusiasm were waining.  I was making cold calls for my business and wasn't making tremendous headway (or so it felt).

Yet, when these moments come, they are undoubtedly followed by something positive.  It never fails.  Just when all seems to be weighing on you, stopping you in your tracks, something comes through - no matter how small - that makes you feel better, pushes you further in the right direction or brings a smile to your face.  My last call today came through.  I found myself on the phone with someone who was genuinely pleased I had reached out to them.  They needed my assistance and I needed theirs.  Kismet.

Just as I was feeling downtrodden, I was handed my silver lining because I kept moving forward.  I didn't let my doubts get the best of me.  And because of that, I was given a chance to make something happen.  A chance to move forward in a positive direction that will better myself and my business.  Funny how one small positive thing can make everything come into perspective in a new, uplifting, empowering way.

Keep on keepin' on.  It'll pay off...I promise..

Inspirational Reading : )

Hello all!  I've compiled a list of a few of my favorite blogs that I follow.  Check them out - they offer some really great advice : )

• www.ThinkSimpleNow.com
• www.thechangeblog.com
• http://www.happiness-project.com/
• http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/author/kate-hanley

All the above blogs offer awesome tips about how to live a happier, healthier life.  I always look forward to seeing what they have to say.

Have any favorite blogs I should check out?  What do you think of the ones I listed?.