fresh picked whimsy

Kate and Wills and George

I'm a sucker for a love story.  And i do think this is a true love story.  I hope they are happy like this forever.  Congrats to the happy little royal family.  Hip hip, hooray!

A happy family commemorative print is available in my shop now

prayers going up

God bless Oklahoma ♥

Here's the thing...

that's it. 

This horrible, cowardly act of hate has once again, brought out the love.  As i watch the devastating images on tv, my broken heart swells with pride and admiration for the outpooring of love and unity of strangers.  We've seen this before...on 9/11, in Oklahoma City, in Columbine, in Aurora, in Newtown... People moving into the danger to help others, strangers comforting one another, offering hope and...

Love.

God bless Boston

 

Feel the love...

Free PDF print from Sarah Jane Studios here

"The good outnumber you, and we always will" by Patton Oswalt, must read here

New York Yankees fans pay tribute to Boston victims, watch video here

 

sending my heART and love to Newtown

I love how social media makes this world a smaller place...allowing us to "meet" people, who by virtue of geography, we otherwise may never have crossed paths with. 

This time it was via Instagram that a mom of a couple of Sandy Hook School students reached out to me.  She asked me if i would be willing to donate my art to a brand new gallery in Newtown, CT called Healing Newtown...A place to heal through the arts.  It will provide a place for the community to come and reflect and enjoy the art that has been sent from all over the country and the world.  The space will also hold performances and workshops and art therapy classes for any and all who would like to participate.

Yes.  Absolutely.  My pleasure.  My honor.  With all my heart, yes!

Specifically, she asked for this painting, which she said spoke to her heart...

and so...my original painting is on it's way to Newton now...

with my love and prayers for healing...

 God bless you, Newtown.

♥ 

Thank you

to my father, Vincent Mercuri, Army...

to my father-in-law, Joseph McDonough, Army...

to my grandfather, James Munro, Army...

to my grandfather, Albert Mercuri, Navy...

and to all the service men and women who have served our great country, to those who are currently serving, and to those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, thank you from the bottom of my red, white and blue heart. 

My fellow Americans...

...and then take a moment to thank God for our Veterans and service men and women who have fought or currently fight to give you that right. 

God bless America!

Let the games begin!

The Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics is one week from today!  I LOVE watching the Olympics...my whole family loves watching.  In the US, it will be broadcast on several different channels at different times around the clock.  We can't wait!  We have Olympic fever.  Raise your hand if you do, too!  Of course we are Team USA, but we love following the personal, inspiring stories of the Olympians from around the world and cheering them on, as well.  I was inspired to make a few FREE Olympic printables.  You will always find them under the free stuff just for you button on the sidebar and you are welcome to print them and share them.  As always, they are for PERSONAL use only. 

The first one is for you to display your support for Team USA...Simply print it here and hang it for all to see...  {Did you know that there are 205 nations participating in the games?  I wish i could have made printables for all the countries.  Maybe i should start drawing now to be ready for the 2016 Olympics!?}

The second one is an illustrated American flag.  Print them here...

cut...

and tape the extra flap to a straw. 

Wave it proudly!

Lastly...award your champions with these fun Olympic medals.  Print them here and cut them out...

To make them a little more sturdy, i used a recycled thin cardboard box.

Glue them to the cardboard and cut out the medal again. 

Cut a small slit at the top of the medal the width of whatever ribbon you plan to use. 

Then, add the ribbon...

and you are ready for your own personal awards ceremony!

and DREAM BIG!!!!!!

 Download, print, share, pin and enjoy, friends! ♥

Is this March or July?

We are enjoying record breaking warmth here in Indy.  The continuation of the strangest winter weather ever.

And, since tomorrow is the first day of spring...i'm certain a snow storm is in our near future.  {kidding...i hope}  Although, i am dreading the day that is inevitably coming {as it always does in Indiana} when the temps drop back down and i have to tell griffin that he can't wear shorts.  Heaven, help me...that will be an ugly morning!

Honestly, it feels like summer here.  We skipped right over spring {and winter, for that matter} and everything is in full bloom here!

We are probably a month ahead of schedule for trees budding and grass that needs mowing!

We {the neighbors} had an impromptu Margarita Friday in our hood because it was so gorgeous out!

Joy's hubby Casey came home from work and celebrated the sunshine in the driveway as we raised our glasses (and cameras). 

The boys and I ran to the grocery for dinner on the grill Saturday night. 

Griff was so disappointed when he learned that it's too early to find corn on the cob in the store yet!

We are completely caught up in March Madness...NCAA tourney time.  We each filled out our brackets.  I have no clue what i'm doing, of course.  Shocker...i'm in last place in the family.  Oh well.  We were so sad when our Boilermakers got knocked out by Kansas last night.  :(  Riley is the bracket keeper.  TV, smart phone, laptop...he runs the family NCAA control center...

That boy right there is having a birthday tomorrow.  He's requested Bagel Fair bagels for dinner and Triple Decker Brownies for dessert.  I better wrap this up and get baking!

Hope you're enjoying some sunshine today!

p.s.  Happy to report that thanks to my super hubs, the plumbing and vacuum have been fixed!!!  Onward and upward!

Welcome to Indianapolis...have a SUPER day!

 

{photo credit: Dave Duke}

All eyes are on Indy and we are so proud!  Even if we have to welcome the Patriots. It's good for our city.  So, we will offer our Hoosier Hospitality...even to the Patriots. :)

Indianapolis is all decked out and ready to show the nation the best Superbowl it's ever seen! 

{photo credit: IndyStarSports} 

Look at what they've done to the huge Dinos outside the Children's Museum!  So fun!...

Mark took the boys over the weekend downtown for the NFL Experience. 

It's an experience of a lifetime.  Indy may host the superbowl again sometime in the future, but most likely not during their childhood.  There is so much to see and do...

autograph session with Colts players... Riley was lucky enough to meet Colt's Joseph Addai while wearing his jersey...

the lines for the ziplines were hours long and it was freezing, so the boys opted not to wait.  But, it was cool to see...

It's so exciting to see all of the amazing results come alive from all of the hard work of the past few years.  We L♥ve Indy and we just know that our visitors will love it, too! 

GO GIANTS!!!!

can't get enough of this everyday love

Love that Rascal Flatts song.  It so fits the way i feel at this very moment.  Finding love and joy in everyday things.  Like my favorite faces in my kitchen...

 Sunny's fashion sense...

coffee and blog time most mornings...

plants that i have managed to keep alive in the winter!!!  My mom will be so happy!

Still having Legos messes...fully aware that these days are numbered...

this canvas painted by my uber-talented Katie and gifted to me for Christmas.  Makes me cry every time i read it...

in awe that Riley can solve these puzzle cubes in mere minutes...he is crazy smart like his Daddy.

having a lit prayer candle on my kitchen counter.  A way of praying that my mom and her mom taught me.  at home, it's the first thing i do when someone needs to be lifted in prayer.  I buy these inexpensive devotional candles in the mexican food aisle at my grocery store.  Some people think they are cheesy, but i LOVE them. 

trying to read a magazine and having Sunny lay his big head on my arm so i can't turn the pages...

i adore that Griffin has my grandfather's funeral program pinned to his wall over his bed.  We talk about Poppop all the time and miss him so much...

so happy for every extra day that i get with this sweet girl.  She's hanging in there.  Thank you for all of your messages.  Day by day.

Hooray for Friday!  Pizza night tonight with Mark's parents and then tomorrow my boys are all heading downtown Indy for the NFL Experience, which they are so excited about!  Our little big town, Indianapolis is in a Superbowl frenzy right now.  Hope to have pictures for you this week.  Other than that, our weekend looks pretty quiet and i love that!  Hope you have a great one! xo