Moldy Bagels and Long Runs (Oh, and I love my mom)

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Good Morning :)

What would you like for breakfast?

Perhaps a tasty bagel?

Would you like the moldy one? Or the other moldy one?

Fine, be a snob.

Okay, so the above photo is definitely something I don't love.  Here are some things that I do love:

1. My Trip to Hobby Lobby

I went for the first time on Saturday.  That place is my equivalent of a playground.  I could live there.  I wouldn't even need a bed because I would never sleep.  I would just make things.  All. Day. Long.

I loved this dress form but, because my mission was to purchase a cupcake stand and I had only brought enough cash to cover my intended purchase (probably a good thing, given how easily I could spend money in there), a quick iPhone photo had to satisfy my longing for it.  Sigh.  

I did, however, complete my cupcake-stand-mission...

The above photo is from my sister's High School graduation party on Saturday.  Her first initial is "A."  I realize it looks a little crooked in this photo - don't worry, we fixed it before any guests showed up!

2. Finishing a great run 

I love when I finish a run that felt short and exciting but was actually over 6 miles.  No, it doesn't happen that way all the time.  But when it does, I swear the rest of my day is 10 shades brighter.

3. My mom

Her birthday was yesterday.  She's a special lady :)  Apparently, when I was little, I couldn't even go to sleepovers without bringing along a photo of my mom.  I was that kid.  Recently, while cleaning, I stumbled upon a box of old mementos.  Best find?  My first grade daily journal.  Seriously.  Here are a few snapshots so that you can laugh at me for a while.  

"I love you mom you are Speshl why are you Speshl Just because i love you mom."

"My mom is special. because she tacs care of Me and loves Me alot.  Why dus she love Me Just Because."

"I love you mom!"

I wont my mom She is speshl. She is TheBest."

See what I mean?  OBSESSED.

So if you happen to see a Hobby Lobby, treadmill, or my mom today - tell them I love them!

P.S. My cousin Maggie just started a Tumblr.  She's got a lot of beautiful photos and insight.  Check her out here.

Claude, The Lovable Monster

Tweet this! My dear boyfriend lives in Northwest Ohio. After learning about the Five Love Languages, we learned that his love language is touch. Cute, right? Also a dilemma -- because he lives 5 hours away. My love language, if you were wondering, was actually a tie between gifts and words of affirmation.

So, a few weeks before his birthday, I started thinking... how can I give him a gift that can kind of work as touch, too? [Begin brainstorming session here...] [Do the noodle dance.]

Ding ding ding, Eureka! A stuffed animal! But I couldn't buy one - because I like making my gifts. Also, I'm poor. I didn't want to make a pony or a teddy bear -- because he's a boy and, if I was going to give him a stuffed animal, it might as well be boyish. Finally, it dawned on me: A monster!

Thus, the dream of Claude was born. I poked around my room, found some old pillow cases and a button, and started cutting away...

Well, to be exact, first I drew a horned, one-eyed monster on a piece of paper, cut it out, and traced it onto the pillow case - then I began cutting away at the fabric. Will post a "How-To" shortly!

But for now... Meet Claude.

Actually, his full name is Claude Jacques Cousteau. Yes, he is an explorer. Yes, he has donned a mustache at times.

He enjoys reading books by the pool. (He's reading Percy Jackson, by the way. Just in case you were wondering what monsters read in their spare time.)

See ya later!

Psssst! Remember the five love languages? Do you communicate primarily through touch, gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, or quality time? Want to find out? Take the test by following the link below!