Happy things and a mini bucket

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Today two blogs I adore happened to write about the little things that make us happy (read the posts here and here). Such a fun way to start the day! I especially like Kelle's idea to write a mini bucket list for the week.
So, I'm following their lead and making my own lists.

Things that make me happy

* Mikey's laugh (especially when he shows those dimples and teeth!)

* Clean sheets

* Making plans with Tim - for a meal, a trip, buying a home, anything really

* Funny texts from my sibs

* Watching Michael wolf down his dinner when he's hungry
* Going somewhere new
* Telling stories with old friends

Mini bucket list for this week

* Plan our Father's Day getaway - make hotel reservation.

* Take Michael to the little zoo up the street and let him pet whatever he can.

* Try something new with my camera every day.

* Send a surprise care package to a friend

What makes you happy, friends? What are you looking forward to this week?

xoxo

Rooms I love

dehn bloom design via pink wallpaper

Isn't this little corner fantastic? 

The windows! The sun! That desk!

It's like it was made for quiet and sipping coffee and getting creative. 

I hope you are re-energized and ready to tackle another week, friends!

Happy Monday! xoxo

Happy Friday

Good morning, friends!
Today I am super excited to be guest blogging at one of my very favorite blogs You Are My Fave
while Melanie is spending some time with her precious new baby. Head over and check out my post here!
(Succulents and a tiny cow will be involved.)

As if that isn't exciting enough, Michael also seems to be feeling better today.
Hooray for a healthy baby running around the apartment eating cheerios and stopping to dance when he likes what he hears!! 
It's such a relief to have our happy guy feeling like himself again. I see a good weekend on the horizon...

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1  While we were in Hartford taking care of some things, we took a trip to my favorite old pet store. Michael loved it!

2  Waiting for our table and...

3  ...the best pizza I've ever had! If you ever find yourself in Farmington, CT go eat here. You won't be disappointed.

4  Back in Boston on Saturday, taking a walk in the park.

5  Flowers from my loves. I only wish I had gotten a picture of Michael's sweet smile when he first handed them to me. By the time I got my phone that moment had passed and he just wanted to destroy them.

6  Bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and fried egg sandwich. It is just as good as it sounds.

(Paula Deen would have you put cream cheese on it too, but that just seems unhealthy ;) 

7  My sweet husband cooked this delicious brunch on Sunday. Yes that's more bacon. Happy Mother's Day to me.

8  If you ever want to have a perfect picnic in Boston, first go get sandwiches at Monica's Mercato in the North End...

9  ...then walk over to Christopher Columbus Park, find a bench, and share your yummy sandwich with your toddler while he points out all the boats, seagulls, puppies, and other babies.

10  I think he would have climbed right down into a boat if we would have let him.

11  A walk through the North End.

12  On Monday Michael woke up with a high fever, and we spent the day in our pjs trying to feel better.

13  I though he was rallying on Tuesday. Actually, he is just tough and given the right toys (remote control and cell phone) will play right through a 103 fever.

14  Wednesday. Rainy. Sitting in the car while Michael sleeps off a long, rough doctor's visit.

15  Fever cheeks. Poor baby.

Link up at Life Rearranged and play along! 

(Find me on Instagram at mtchristi)

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I hope you have a wonderful weekend, friends!

xoxo

Rooms I love

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via

via

Three bright and beautiful kitchens for you today. Because I can't pick just one. 

Aren't they lovely?

Picture me {im}perfectly

I have a few things to share today. First, have you read any of the posts in the "Things I'm Afraid to Tell You" campaign?  

It is meant to be a viral blogging campaign about transparency, and I have to say the honesty has been so refreshing. I am so vulnerable to the trap of thinking that other women have it all together. Even though I know it's impossible to have it all together, and I know that in every person's life choices are made and priorities are chosen, there are times when I read those gorgeous blogs and marvel at the 'perfection' of it all. And then I inevitably wonder why I can't do it all as well as they do.

I just wanted to take a minute to applaud the women who participated and opened up about their imperfections, their fears, their insecurities, and so on. (A few posts from some of my favorites here, here, and here.) Their readerships are, ahem, quite a bit larger than mine and many of them make their living by blogging about the beautiful, the glamorous, the stylish parts of life.  It takes guts to be honest when you know more than just your family and a few trusted friends are reading - and when the brand that you have built for years is at stake. But these women have chosen to be genuine in the interest of empowering their readers and erasing the myth of perfection. Thank you, ladies, and well done. Your honesty has only increased my respect for you!

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Next, I am so excited about this weekly exercise of participating in 'Picture me {im}perfectly' - the process of examining myself and sharing about the not-so-perfect aspects of my life is humbling and it is making me more mindful of how I live my life every minute. This week's post came to me a few days ago when I had lost my temper with my sweet husband and my one year old son several times in one evening. I was sitting in a dark, quiet room nursing Michael before bed when these words came to mind: 

Love is patient, love is kind...it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Let me be clear - I wasn't sitting there meditating on scripture. I was sitting there stewing and being selfish. But God, in his grace, has a way of reminding me what is right (when I am quiet enough to listen). And I've had this verse on my heart ever since. 

Patience is very hard for me. I have to work at it, and I think I always will.

But, then, that's part of love too - love always perseveres.

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And finally, just a few pictures from this past weekend. 

The sun came out, and we took advantage. Saturday we took a long walk and played in the park. 

On Mother's Day we spent the afternoon picnicking and playing in Boston.

It was a really fantastic weekend with my guys.

I love them so.

Have a great day, friends! xoxo

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16. sunny days in the park

17. extra snuggle time when Michael is sick

18. skype dates with family who are far away

spotted on pinterest, via sunset

Now, doesn't this look fun?!

I wouldn't mind waking up here one bit.

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14. my loving husband

15. doctors and medicine when we need it

InstaFriday

Happy Friday! We're making a trip back to Hartford today to tie up a few loose ends. 

While I pack up, enjoy a few Instagrams from our week - and link up with Jeannett to play along!

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Michael is busy playing about 99% of the time. 

When he does slow down a bit, he loves to hug. So, I was thrilled 

to catch one of these rare and precious moments on camera.
(Looking at these breaks my heart a little. What am I going to do when he doesn't want to hug anymore?)

On Saturday we packed up the stroller and headed to the New England Aquarium. 

It was awesome! The highlights were the huge fishes and turtles in the Giant Ocean Tank, 

and the sharks and rays splashing around in the touch tank. 

Michael tried desperately to reach in but I wouldn't let him! 

We've become experts at keeping busy indoors on rainy days. We read, we lay in the tent and sing, we make a game out of doing laundry, we build towers and knock them down, we count and do ABCs. And when all else fails, I let Mikey go nuts with the tent. He loves to pick it up and flip it over, Incredible Hulk style. Already with the testosterone.

Three blessings that bring me more joy than I ever expected: watching Michael devour a meal when he's hungry, 

seeing how happy he gets over the little things like a new ball, and watching Tim and Michael play together. 

Makes my heart so very happy.

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Have a happy Mother's Day, friends!
I'll meet you back here on Monday.

xoxo
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11. new pjs
12. clean water and good food
13. the peace that comes from prayer