so great.

stacy newgent is one of the most fabulous photographers i've EVER run across -- and i just discovered her this week! i could have spent hours on her blog and website. doesn't the above photo just make your day?! p.s. the ice cream below is also a photo of hers.

when i relax.

so, when i finally crash and rest, i love a good tv episode. earlier, i told you about my love for brothers & sisters. two other shows have creeped into my favs: i'm absolutely loving parenthood and friday night lights. i also told you ryan & i loved working our way through all of west wing and entourage -- and season 6 of entourage is about to hit netflix! even more exciting, this preview for season 7 is ridiculous. what are you watching these days? (today is a books and movies day i guess ;)

early morning walk.

this morning was so unexpectedly wonderful. and it all began yesterday afternoon. i was flying to nyc for a speech i had this morning -- and -- my flight was cancelled. of course. so they re-book me and now i'm not even supposed to land at la guardia until midnight. then, i get a text from my sweet friend saying she's en route from san fran (where she lives) to nyc. (what?! me too!!) we had no idea we were both going to be there for the same 24 hours. and she has a hotel room at the W. ok, awesome. so we decide we'll wake up at 6 a.m. (after going to bed at close to 2 a.m.) and go for a walk around nyc with lattes before work. it was the perfect start to the week.

from lizzie.

my MOH for life, lizzie, is absolutely hilarious. one of the greatest things is i get emails, every day, like the one below. her commentary on life could make her millions one day... some background: lizzie is in nursing school and doing a summer fellowship in the pediatric ER, cooking dinners is an age old struggle, and nate is her wonderful boyfriend:

Click to read more ...

happy father's day, daddio!

daddio, you're the best.

velveteen rabbit.

i just rediscovered this quote from velveteen rabbit:

"you become. It takes a long time. that's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. but these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

when i was going through a particularly tough time in my life, a dear friend called to tell me two things: that she loved me and that i would have more texture now and that's a good thing. this quote says much the same. hope this encourages you.

world cup.

i don't know about you, but i'm getting pretty excited about the world cup. these posters, a collaboration of espn and the ny ad agency wieden + kennedy are fabulous. the three above, south africa, usa, and denmark (yes!) are my favorites. p.s. my excitement for the world cup can only be explained if you know my cousins and brother, thanks guys for putting up with me.

summer goals.

i have fallen hard for this new blog, 'summer goals.' the images are incredible. above are three i'd love to do this summer. definitely need to experience my first bonfire on the beach since we live so close! train rides are the best. especially with ryan and being this carefree. and the last photo has me dreaming of culver, the best lake ever in northern indiana. what are your summer goals?

penguin.

i knew i could make you smile. precious photo here.

apple tea.

i hadn't been feeling that awesome on sunday, and read this about apple tea and thought i'd give it a shot. i loved it. it couldn't be easier: cut up 3-4 apples, put them in a large pot with two quarts of water and two flakes (yes, flakes) of salt. let it simmer for an hour, then strain off the liquid. i put an organic cinnamon stick in too.

more broadly, i had a real wake up call about making sure i really scale back on caffeine (it's become a coping mechanism) and making sure our meals are jam packed with fresh things. i know we both will feel better, stay healthier and more balanced if we do. and there's so, so much in season right now! for recipes, i found a bunch on green kitchen stories and am excited to try them this week.

what do you do when you are trying to rebalance?