Week 4: Self Portrait

{ Project 52 Week 4: Self Portrait }

Well here it is, my flaky self portrait. Not exactly a dream theme for this gal who turned one year older last week. Why is it when you have a birthday in your presence you look in the mirror and notice more wrinkles, more gray hairs and more sagging skin? It's just not fair! And then to top it off, a self portrait...oh no! But if you're at all like me and not crazy about having your photo taken, you should read this wonderful post on why you should put yourself in front of the camera from time to time.

This hat and my mom are actually the star of the show though!

I love this hat!!! I'd been admiring similar hats on Etsy and came close to buying one for myself last winter. When I mentioned it to my mom recently she whipped up this hat in the matter of a few hours one afternoon and surprised me with it for my birthday last week. I was beyond thrilled! And what makes this hat even more adorable is that the flower is held on with a button and she made two flowers so I can swap them out! Along with this gray flower in the photo, she made one in the same color as the hat {khaki}. Isn't that the best idea! My mom is so talented and creative. She knits, crochets, quilts, sews, scrapbooks, you name it, she's an amazingly artistic and clever person! I tell her she should open an Etsy shop of her own to sell her beautiful creations. I think she'd be a great success!

Week 3: I Dreamed A Dream

{ Project 52 Week 3: I Dreamed A Dream }

While watching the movie Tangled with my sons this week for the first time I was inspired by the message of {following your dreams}. Perfect timing! 

I couldn't wait for the bright-eyed Rapunzel to fulfill her dream of seeing the floating lights that appeared in the sky every year on her birthday. At last free from the tower, she wasn't going to let anything get in her way. She was feisty yet vulnerable. Once Rapunzel knew she would reach her dream she struggled, in one moment she worried that the floating lights might not be everything she'd dreamed, then the next moment she asked, what if they were everything she'd dreamed, then what next? I loved Flynn's comforting response, "That's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream." 

So here's to achieving dreams and then finding new ones! 

The branches above, covered in a wintery mix of ice and sparkles, remind me of the beautiful and magical lights in the floating lanterns scene when Rapunzel finally accomplished her dream. 

Hello Monday!

Hello feeling refreshed after some alone time over the weekend.

Hello feeling caught up after some serious organizing.

Hello starting our week with no school for the boys for 2 days.

Hello passing our time with a movie at the theater, arts & crafts and lots of playtime.

Hello confusing MN winter weather, one moment it's bitter cold, the next it's snowing the next it's sunny and melting away.

These photos were taken last winter on a little family ice fishing getaway at my in-laws cabin. 

The frost was covering all the front porch windows. It was so pretty!

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Week 2: Made With Love

{ Project 52 Week 2: Made With Love }

My youngest son loves loves loves when I sit down and play with him. Most of the time we play games, puzzles, "guys" and lately lots of legos. He's so happy when I join in and build masterpieces right along with him. 

This is a cozy little house I "made with love" for him this week.

I love the constructing part of playing with legos, my son loves the pretending part. We build houses and cars and then our lego guys go visit each other. Our creations usually only stay intact for a short time though, because let's face it, it's so much more fun to demolish something, isn't it!!! Especially when you're preschool age! It's usually some wacky lego guy driving one of his lego cars that loses control and crashes or some mean old lego monster that stomps down onto our little lego homes. But that's totally ok. It just gives me a reason to come up with another {always color coordinated} lego work of art. So much fun!

Hello Monday!

Hello extra early morning for an extra early appointment.

Hello yummy mocha after the extra early morning.

Hello near record breaking high temps in MN early this week.

Hello sun with melting snow and ice.

Hello reality when frigid temps arrive in MN later this week.

Hello hats and mittens and scarfs.

{ linking up with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday }

Week 1: Resolution - So Much Hope Inside

{ Project 52 Week 1: Resolution }

I'm kicking off the new year with 2 new projects. First, I'm thrilled with the opportunity to participate in a fun project called Project 52 created by Life with My 3 Boybarians. It's a weekly photo challenge with an assigned theme each week. 

{ This weeks theme: Resolution }

My resolution and hope for the new year is to stop hiding in my shell. 

I'm going to shed the protective exterior and frumpy-ness. 

I'm going to open my mind and achieve new ambitions. 

I'm going to feel the sun on my shoulders. 

I'm going to reach the hope inside.

In combination with Project 52, I've decided to challenge myself with a personal project. It's an exciting idea I've tossed around for a bit called: A Year In Lyrics. Words inspire me. For years I've said that my favorite book is the Thesaurus. Boring and weird, I know, but that's me! My thought is that lyrics, whether a chorus or a fleeting phrase, make an impression on our spirit. Sometimes bringing feelings to life that we couldn't ourselves find the words to express. Thus, I plan to feature photos randomly throughout the year inspired by lyrics that touch me. Possibly combining A Year In Lyrics with Project 52 from time to time, like I did this week. I hope that I can find it within myself to contribute to both of these projects all year and not flake out and give up. I'm going to do my best...here's to hoping anyway!

{ A Year In Lyrics: So Much Hope Inside - from 'She's a Butterfly' by Martina McBride }

Hello Twenty Twelve!

Hello twenty twelve! 

Hello fresh new year. 

Hello winter {finally arriving to MN}. 

 Hello setting goals and accomplishing them. 

Hello bright beginnings. 

Hello to feeling energized. 

Cheers to a year full of possibilities!

I'm ready!!!

{So excited to be linking up for the first time with the lovely Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday.}