Random Simple Pleasures {12th ed.}

Simple Pleasure #12 ~ Scenic Dog Walks
I love living in a neighborhood with so many different dog walk routes! It never gets boring that way :) We have a couple of small parks close by so the dogs can run around mid walk. There is also a really big beautiful park within walking distance that has trails and awesome trees that just scream "hey come over here and read under me all day!!" My favorite route takes us by a beautiful view of the downtown St. Paul city skyline and then down a path towards the best park.

click on it, it's even prettier when it's big!

Happy tired dogs and happy exercised me...awesome!

In lieu of a Happy Monday post...

...Im going to share what I did this weekend that made me very happy :)

Our awesome neighbor, Roma's art show
It was so fun to go to an art show downtown and see a friend's art displayed!

Farmer's market and drinks with a great friend
There is just something special about old friends, we have shared life experiences since 5th grade and will continue to until we are old ladies!  
 

Drag show at the Gay 90s!!
Everyone needs to experience a good drag show at least once in their lives :)

That was my holiday weekend, pretty great! Im rested up now and ready to start internship finally tomorrow! I hope you all had a great weekend as well, any fun stories?

Quotation Wednesday {32nd ed.}

Beauty comes from within...that seems to be a theme in my quotation choices huh? Well it's true!

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."-Kahlil Gibran

More Gaga love

Did you see this performance? I wish I could write something eloquent about how amazing it is but all I can think is....wow!

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Lady Gaga

I am absolutely in awe! I think she is phenomenal, I adore that everything she does is 150% and is meant to convey a message. She is an advocate, a beautifully self-assured woman, and an astonishing artist!! .....that is just my humble opinion though, any thoughts? "She comes out of the bathroom dripping wet and she's still got the heels on!" ;)

Happy Monday {46th ed.}

Happy Monday Everyone! Here is what is making me smile...

These Lollipops
Aren't they pretty? Plus, watermelon pink peppercorn? Yum :) There is a red wine one that I just may have to try.

see more here

Bright Chandeliers

Fun! 

more pics here

This picture

I love unique photography, plus this is just so true...we are all a little crazy! This woman takes some really awesome pictures, I love the story she can tell with just a photograph.

Beautiful Owl

Isn't this guy gorgeous?! I love close up pictures of animal faces.

Ahh, that is all for me this week, what is making you smile?

Quotation Wednesday {31st ed.}

This quote is beautiful and so wonderfully true. In everything, inner beauty and strength shine through, even more so when life is difficult. I particularly love that it is Elizabeth Kubler-Ross that said it, the "death woman" writing so eloquently on inner beauty, awesome.

"People are like stained glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is light
from within."
-Kubler-Ross

Happy Monday {45th ed.}

Happy Monday Everyone!! Here is what is making me smile...

Reading under trees
Is there any better way to spend an afternoon? This tree is so gorgeous, I want it in my yard!

source

Rainbow cake in a jar

Yum! Actually everything from this "food in a jar" post looks awesome.

Mismatched chairs

Maybe it is because it reminds me of Monica's house on Friends, but I really love the look of mismatched kitchen chairs. I just think it is so warm and welcoming :)

This bed

No words, just awesome!

Also, finally meeting Mel and A this weekend, yay! :) and the fact that the bat that was our "houseguest" for the past 2 days is finally gone (thanks to Roma, the neighbor/bat whisperer extraordinaire!). What is making you smile this week?

Quotation Wednesday {30th ed.}

Do you believe in magic? I used to think that if I can't see proof of it's existence and understand it, it could not exist. Now, I truly believe in the possibility of everything! Ghosts, angels, wizards, the possibility that trees have feelings, aliens living in a secret government hideout, whatever! Who are we as egocentric human beings to say that nothing exists unless we have discovered it? The world is a much more interesting and fun place when you never know what magical creature is just around the corner...

Sorry, I don't know the source,
apparently its from the show One Tree Hill...?

Happy Monday {44th ed.}

Happy Monday Everyone! Here is what is making me smile...

These prints

I just found this shop on the suggested shops page on Etsy and everything is just so stinkin' cute!

what an adorable little owl family!

I love how she is hugging it :)

This....whatever it is!

I don't even know what this is really, but I want to spend all day on it reading and stargazing.

This jacket
I don't really know why I love it and I don't think I would like it on myself, but for some reason...?

via here

This dog

Yup, just makes me smile! :)

What else? The beautiful weather here in MN, the fact that our new duplex neighbor is awesome!!, and the fact that I have read on the porch every day since moving here...every single day!! What is making you smile this week?

Who doesn't want a secret hideout?!

(warning; if you are not a female this will probably be categorized under TMI!) 

So, when I get stressed out my period decides to go into hibernation. This wouldn't be bad except that during this time Im pretty sure it is actually just hiding out somewhere getting angry at me and plotting how to retaliate once my life evens out a tiny bit! Meaning that when it comes back it enters with a vengeance! During my "dissertation deadline meltdown / relationship falling apart and building back together / neighbors from hell torture" time period I think I went about 5 months without it and then had a super fun and extra long pms experience that made me understand why hormones make people do seriously crazy things! :(

Anyways, this is coming up because the moving experience brought hibernation back of course and now I am enjoying the benefits of that (insert sarcasm). Im crampy, tired, bloated, ravished yet nauseous, and crabby...fun! All I want to do is lie around and complain. Wouldn't that be much better done here?.....

Oh what I wouldn't give to be able to hibernate here (wherever this is) once a month! Is this not the most perfect grown up doll house you have ever seen?! (Ok, maybe a little less white though, yikes!)

Quotation Wednesday {29th ed.}

Yikes, Ive been so focused on my dissertation participant stress that I almost forgot about Quotation Wednesday! Anyways, here it is. I love how whimsical both the print and quote are for this one. Isn't it just adorably optimistic? I figured that I needed a little bit of that, so maybe you guys did to :)

via here

Happy Monday {43rd ed.}

Happy Monday everyone! Here is what is making me smile..

Purple Vespa
I know, I have said this before, but how stinkin' cute is this? I need one!

Mason Jar Herb Garden
I think I am going to try this, its adorable and a great idea!

via here

Muggle reading

Yes, I finally gave in and started reading the Harry Potter series...and Im hooked!! 

Damn, I wish I would have gotten this version of the series! I love the covers!

New places and people!

I finally met my blog friend Lisa yesterday and we walked over the Stone Arch Bridge to a cute little cafe. I love finding cute places in a new city and it was so much fun to meet a blogger friend in person :)

That is all for me this week. What is making you smile?

Quotation Wednesday {28th ed.}

Oh Mother Teresa, how amazing is she? I love this quote because I am such a huge fan of people who act with their whole heart. I instantly thought of children when I read this, how they treat a dandelion like a prized gem when they give it to you. When do we lose that? At what point to people judge gifts and acts by their monetary value rather than the true heart and emotion behind it? Lets all make a pact to put our heart and soul into even the small acts in our lives...and also to receive in the same manner. How beautiful this world could be!

"Do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa

Happy Monday {42nd ed.}

Happy Monday everyone!! Here is what is making me smile...

Book nooks
I want a house filled with cozy little book areas!

a slightly more grown up version :) ...

Super sexy shoes
Im madly in love with these!

via here

A modern teepee
I know, it would me more work than it is worth, there would be bugs, and rain, and yada yada...whatever, I love it and want to sleep and read in it all day long!!!

An adorable WA shout out
Isn't this cute? I love how simple a statement it makes :)

via this etsy shop

That, as well as discovering beautiful St. Paul is making me smile this week. What is making you happy?

Farmers Market!

Oh how I love farmer's markets! We gave the St. Paul one a try today and wow! Lets just say, it is giving Pikes Place a run for it's money :) Look at all this great stuff!

Cheap, fresh vegetables...

My personal favorite, the beautiful flower bouquets for $4....

Seriously, where else can you get this much fresh produce for only $20?!

(click on the picture, it looks even better blown up!)

Do you guys shop at farmer's markets? Which one is your favorite?