spatulas, superglue and spools

artisanic handicrafts, namely homemade paper cards and random craft projects, are two of my longtime favorite hobbies, but i have recently branched out into the worlds of both sewing and baking. experimenting in the kitchen is always an adventure (especially with our inferno of an oven), and after self-teaching myself how to operate my singer sewing machine (that's what you get for never having taken a home ec class), reflecting on what i have yielded is satisfaction enough (not to mention an excellent way to pass the time of missing a certain someone - i might add that i should really thank him for that electric drill he "got" for christmas!!)


glazed potato donuts

triple-chocolate cheesecake with chocolate ganache

antique doorknob-inspired bottle stopper...

...displays nicely atop wine


mike's valentine's day card

envelope pillows requested by my mom

reusable napkins (how eco-friendly)

accents i added to reusable napkin sets we already had using fabric scraps

accents i added to flour sack kitchen towels, also using fabric scraps

facelift

change is good, right? the marine corps mantra to "improvise, adapt and overcome" has become more of an utter actuality in our lives lately. i admit that i have not been processing life at full-throttle lately, but one pup in particular constantly reminds me to have faith and keep plugging along. i am a firm believer that canines are endowed with telepathic perception; shirley is a prime example, always extending a clumsy yet comforting paw out for me to lean on. that's my girl!


twinkle toes testing out the wet sand on her first beach walk after over a month hiatus


...too good to be true, shirls? i think not! you're good to go. just no slamming into walls again, okay?


chasing her stringbean shadow


nothing is better than a spring morning walk along the ocean shore

morale booster

the perfect way to spice up my day:


flowers for me, care of shirley. brilliant!