personal map art

Map art is huge right now. 

I don't know what it is, but I think it's a combo of the instant vintage feel even a new map offers, and the personalization and meaning it lends when you pick a map of a place near and dear to your heart.

I bought a little paper atlas in the dollar section at Target {love that section} a few months ago with the intention of using it for a DIY art project. I finally got around to doing it earlier this week. 

I decided to keep it simple by cutting out Wisconsin and putting a little red heart over our city. The city where we just so happened to meet, fall in love, and marry. What's more beautiful and personal than that?

xoxo,

Ashley

pizza and games with friends

Last night we had some lovely friends over for a get together. 

There was wine, beer, pizza, games, and laughter a plenty. 

There might have also been a spontaneous 2 mile walk to a gas station. Might have been. 

Suffice it to say it was one of the best nights us old married folks have had in a while. And, we have the hangovers to prove it.

xoxo,

Ashley

my happy

1. TJ's Cookie Butter. All I can say now is "I get it". It really is that good. Think Nutella good. Yea, I went there.  2. Morgan saying "bleh, bleh, bleh" when someone sneezes. His super cute version of "bless you".  3. Frank hanging safety fencing around the balcony so mama can relax a teensy bit more when we bring Morgan out there.  4. Morgan hopping on his tractor naked as soon as he hops out of the bath. Never fails.  5. Road trip to Milwaukee with just Morgan and my brother yesterday.  6. Surpassing the 15 pound mark! Yep, I'm down 16 pounds since mid January! :) Sure, that might not sound like a lot, but slow and steady is the way to go to keep it off!  7. Finding the traveling love journal in Morgan's carseat when headed to work on Friday. Best way to start the day!  8. Looking forward to getting my craft on later today. I think the front door is well over due for a spring wreath. Yea...we should probably take down the one with the reindeer on it, don't cha think? 9. That 15 minutes the house stays clean. I love a clean house, wish it were easier to keep it that way.  10. This song. Love it. Who can't relate to those lyrics? "When I lose my smile...When my thoughts get jumbled...When the air and BS get too thick...Can’t take a breath without getting sick...I’ve had enough with this concrete jungle..."

xoxo,

Ashley

Still trying to figure out whose kid this is...

He's super cute though, I think we'll keep him.

xoxo,

Ashley

1st BIG haircut

Today was a momentous occasion. Today we decided to cut THE HAIR. 

Yes, THE HAIR. 

See, we've been talking about it forever, and I knew it was getting a little more on the scraggly side, but I just couldn't bear the thought of it. So I put it off. And off. But, today we ran to Target for diapers before planning to head to the mall for Frank to get a haircut and as we were pushing him in the shopping cart and I looked down at the hot mess that his hair was with the remnants of lunch clinging to it, I suddenly decided that it was indeed time. 

And then immediately I got hit with the worst case of butterflies ever and teary eyed. I don't know what it is about THE HAIR, but it's got a serious hold on us.

So we swung back home to pick up the camera, and headed to the mall for both the boys to get their hair cut. He did such a good job, and he looks so. freakin. cute. I don't even know what I was worried about. Frank on the other hand, the man who was teasing me about my emotions prior to the cut, has been moping around the house the rest of the evening. He's seriously missing THE HAIR. It's been all we've talked about the rest of the day.

You still with me? 

Ready for the million and one pics we took to remember the occasion?

Anticipation!

Clippers! EEK!

Aww!

Lucky boy was blessed with a cow lick in the exact same spot as daddy!

Momma and the big boy!

Family pic!

Whoever would have thought I would one day be more nervous to cut someone else's hair more than my own? That boy makes my heart swell.

xoxo,

Ashley

a story in photos

After a walk in the heat the other day Morgan and daddy played on the floor while mama whipped up dinner in the kitchen across from them. Daddy feigned sleep and Morgan...

Dude, you fell asleep on me.

This should get him up...

Dude, you still alive?

Moral of the story? Always have your camera within an arms reach. Especially when cooking dinner.

xoxo,

Ashley

10 reasons why today was awesome

- Frank let me sleep in until 10am. I'm not even kidding. Apparently I needed it. 

- I started week 4 of couch to 5k. It kicked my ass. I'm now looking forward to kicking it's ass in the days to come. 

- We went for another picnic in the park. I forgot Morgan eats his PB & J's inside out. Thank God for baby wipes. 

- The boys went to the library and for a walk so I could clean the house up. It's a lot easier to do without toddler under foot. 

- I cleaned the house to the Tom Petty Pandora station, with the windows open, and with lilac and vanilla candles burning. Cleaning isn't my favorite, but if it has to be done, this is the way to do it. 

- I got some goodies at the thrift store. I'm definitely becoming a thrift store junky. It's such a high.

- We had a yummy "mexican lasagna" for dinner. I'm stuffed. 

- I got a sweet voice mail from my BFF {sad I missed the call though - stupid phone}. 

- The sun is setting, the baby's sleeping, and there's a cool breeze coming through the sliding glass door. 

- There's a lone Wheat Monkey in the fridge calling my name. 

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

Ashley

last night

We bought this new "bistro" set for our balcony yesterday. 

It gives us that perfect little {ever elusive for an apartment dweller} outdoor living space I've been wanting.

The colored lights are still up from Christmas. We'll just call them party lights now though, kay?

The beer is Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery "Wheat Monkey". Probably my favorite beer of all time. It's amazing. And tastes like summer.

xoxo,

Ashley

p.s. The soy dogs were tasty. A pleasant surprise. Just the first of many Wheat Monkey and soy dog nights to come. 

it's a picnic in the park

Today was a gorgeous day. 62 and sunny. Just the right amount of breeze. Just gorgeous.

We deemed the day worthy of the first picnic of the year, dusting off the new picnic basket and heading out. 

What do you take on a vegan picnic you ask? Freckled lemonade, fresh berries, BBQ kettle chips, and veggie wraps {ham for the omnivore among us}, and oreos! It was deelicious. 

 

Unfortunately the ground is still a little moist so we didn't get to sprawl out on a sheet, but the picnic table was just as nice. 

Morgan had a blast. It turns out eating isn't his favorite thing to do, no eating outside is! That's my boy.

We played on the playground after lunch. Once again my little people watcher was fascinated by all the other kids. The slide and climbing walls were hits too. 

Ahhh, it was so fabulous. Seriously kids, that fresh air, it's like Prozac I tell ya! 

Now it's time for dinner on the grill and my first soy dog experience!

xoxo,

Ashley