insert witty title [here]

i finally uploaded a few pictures to my computer. since i didn't have time to edit them yet, i'm just going to share one that i don't think i even need to mess with and is one i took recently of the peonies in our front yard (with my new lens of course!)

have a great memorial day weekend, friends!

a tribute to the indianapolis 500...

in honor of the running of this great event on sunday (and all the festivities leading up to it) i am going to tell you 500 things about myself - so you, my loyal readers, feel like you really know me better than anyone else.

i kid. but you know you kind of wanted to see me attempt to do it...

BUT i did want to do one last blog post for may...as my attempts this month have been shameful (but hey, i ran a half marathon and it was my birthday, so there!).

since may was packed with so many great things (the a large chunk discussed in my previous two blogs), i took many great pictures of cupcakes for one of my closest friends' bachelorette party, my super cute niece turning two and some house updates. unfortunately, since it was so packed, i have yet to do anything with those pictures still sitting on my camera.

so, in summary - i have great girlfriends who deserve to be celebrated, my niece has crazy wild curly hair and loves her pretty aunt kelly, our living room is getting a makeover and i'm not quite sure how i ever lived without my kitchen aid mixer. simply put, that machine mesmerizes me.




oh, and arosko, i will follow your inspiring posts soon and work on an update of our quickly growing garden!! you were right - those squash are crazy!

another year older...

well, it happened. i got another year older. and my husband threw me the perfect party...a low-key cookout/bonfire at our house with some of our closest friends. even though i love to make a big deal leading up to my birthday (yes, still), i actually really don't think that turning another year older needs a huge shin-dig anymore...though i "may or maynot" have used the line "but it is my birthday" a few too many times

eitherway, it was the perfect way to celebrate - and that ice cold beer sure tasted fantastic after those 13.1 miles! below are a few photos of the spread my husband created. it was his first time fully hosting something without my help (i promise, he wouldn't let me!) and i think he did a great job as a host, grill master, corn-hole pro and perfect husband!

in addition to the par-tay, i also got REALLY spoiled this year with presents and got several things on my wish list: a new macro lens (fun new shot sample instead of just a photo of the lens), kitchen aid mixer, mantle clock and even a new cupcake carrier and cookbook!

my second mini

for some unknown reason, i thought it would be a good idea to attempt my second half marathon on my 26th birthday - this time with a little more training than the zero effort that went into my first one...three years ago! i guess the only real positive to it being on my birthday was that i pressured my mom and sister (and niece and brother-in-law) to join my husband in watching me cross the finish line followed by brunch, of course.

despite the 40 degree temps and 25mph wind gusts in may, i made it through - and shaved off a chunk from my first time. now, at 2 hrs 10 min i am sooooo close to breaking the 2 hour mark i am contemplating doing the monumental half this november to see if i can do it. but don't quote me. the high of doing this may very well fade off by the end of the month.