Sam

My best friend.
My therapist to listen to all my problems.
My pillow.
My warmth on chilly nights.
My laughter.
The root of an unclean house.
My protector on dark nights when I am home alone.
The addition to our family Christmas cards.
My portrait model that never whines or complains about smiling too much.
My spoiled rotten baby.

Sammy, I love you ole boy. You make Mama proud.

Apologies

I am sorry that I have been absent for the last week or so... but I have a lot to catch you all up on later.

And here's a preview:

(prom!)

Have a happy rest of the week and weekend.
-suzyQ

Magic is...

family dinners crammed into our busy schedules

shouts of the neighborhood boys enjoying this "summer preview" weather, even though it is way past bedtimes

late nights, followed by getting into bed with the warmth of a sleeping sibling on the sheets

having the sun as an alarm clock...peeking under the curtains with the warmth of a new day

quiet early mornings after good sleep

a smile from across the lunchroom

overcoming a tough week, followed by a weekend of pancakes, sunshine, and green grass

coming home after a long trip, the smell of home as you open the door

building sandcastles, sandy fingernails, and digging for seashells with the late day's sun on your arms

Digging up

Because my mind is still on spring break mode, I decided to go deep into my archives and dig up an old favorite post that I feel didn't get its time in the spotlight... I am also celebrating my 101st post! So I am sorry if you have seen this post before, but it is one of my all-time favorites...

Chicago, Chicago

We drove 14 hours- all five of us packed in one car, luggage and all. The best trip of my life.

Chicago.

Car horns. Busy sidewalks. Suited-up men talking on their Blackberrys. Brief cases. Shopping bags. Taxis. Gum on my shoes. My mother freaking out as we cross the busy street- holding each of our hands. Wind-soo much wind. The Magnificent Mile. The Sears Tower. Navy Pier. Lattes. Darling boutiques. Wonderful dining on every corner. The feeling of excitement the city brings to me. Mine and my sister's plans to move up to Chicago as soon as we graduate college. New clothes, and much bragging to look forward to when we got back home.
...
Yes, I am a small-town girl who dreams of an internship at a major advertising firm in New York. Who dreams of being able to go shopping on a whim. Who dreams of going out and actually having a place to go. Who will be on top of every new city trend out there... and the list goes on.

But for now, I am perfectly content with my sleepy street, 30 classmates, neighborhood parties, and the sound of crickets as I fall asleep.

I will save the city for later.

Springy Easter

I think this one and the first one are my favorites..

These are various pictures from my lovely Easter weekend. Don't they just gleam "spring"?!
I hope you all had a beautiful Easter as well, and I hope that feeling carries you through this week..

(I am on Spring Break, so mine will be perfect!)

Much love,
suzyQ

"Jesus died for all the children, all the children of the world..."

(this one is my favorite.... the boys definitely look very enthused)

On Sunday our "Cherub Choir" sang an Easter song for the service.
And I tell ya, they are adorable. Especially the girls who try to sing over the others the whole time.. But seeing children in the worshiping atmosphere is pretty touching.

I'll even bet the adults get a lot more emotional during their songs than they do when we "grown ups" sing...

hope you have a merry rest of the week.

People watcher

I am definitely an avid people watcher. I love watching busy moms juggling the stroller, blackberry, and a coffee all at once, while trying to tie the toddler's shoe. Or the man with the cigarette hanging out the window and listening to Willie Nelson on the car radio. There's also the spandex-suited dog walker in the park whose dog is a little too hyper to be anywhere near humans. But my favorite, however, is watching the mannerisms of young children just trying to grow up.

My brother, for example, sticks out his tongue on one side of his mouth while in deep concentration during homework sessions. He also likes to flick his head in order to "swoosh" his hair to one side of his head... this is what all the cool older kids do. (as it turns out, it looks like the kid just has an annoying twitch...)


Are you a people watcher?
(secretly, i worry what the heck people see when they look at me...)

she dances

My sister is an athletic goddess. She can try her hand at any sport and succeed. She is also popular... not because of shallow junior high reasons, but because she is a good friend and a compassionate soul. She currently has a six-pack, even though she barely weighs 100 pounds. She has blonde hair and freckles (what better combination?) She is artistic, musical, responsible, intelligent.... the list keeps going.

but, oh wow... she can dance.

Ohhh yes

I am a little late on these, but I just thought they were too darn cute to pass up...

and thank you everyone for being so patient with me, but I really needed the time off...
having said that,


i'm back.


hope your weekend is super lucky.

love you guys,
suzyQ

Dear You

My lovely readers,
I don't know what has come over me. I am an anxiety-ridden fool walking around like a robot zombie. I have had no urge to even touch my blog (I know that comes as a surprise, seeing as I have had soooo many exciting posts lately...). The constant going and going... and going in my life recently has completely drained me of any emotion except stress and sleepiness. All I want to do is reach for my much-mentioned soft bathrobe and a hot drink and watch these next few weeks pass by. I am just tired. I just need a break. So I am going to go into a semi blog hibernation for a week or so to finish up the pile of projects on my list(s). And as soon as I am back into Blogville, my old self will return and the (pathetic) self pity will be kicked outta here. Hopefully some inspiration for this space will overcome me in the meantime. I love you all, and I promise... I will be back...
soon.

Much Love,
suz

P.S. It snowed on half of this southern state the other day! what happened to the lovely 74 degree weather? I have spring fever!

Snowy Remnants

Sunday afternoons warm my soul.

30 miles. 74 degrees. Rolled down windows and warm air. Full bellies and bright faces. Train, Uncle Kracker, Five for Fighting, and Rob Thomas on the radio with out-of-key voices joining in. Cell phone pictures that are dear to my heart.

This is what happiness looks like.

Have a happy week.

Perfect

I have grown up in a wonderful world full of dinner parties, next-door cocktails, china plates, Sunday school dresses, neighborhood bike rides, white picket fences and golden retrievers. I have lived the Southern stereotypical lifestyle of knowing everyone in town and leaving doors unlocked… and I love it so dearly. I have always had a vision of my future: working in a successful marketing agency in a thriving city. Having the top-notch designer brands in clothing (something I have never had the luxury of experiencing.) My apartment being decorated to perfection and a place where clutter ceases to exist. Going out on the town at night where I would eventually meet the man of my dreams. We would date for approximately two years, get engaged, and then have the wedding of anyone’s expectations. We would then settle down into a small suburb where my small-town tendencies would fit in perfectly. Our house would be either white-washed brick or pale-yellow wood. And yes, a white picket fence would be in tact… complete with a terrier on the front steps. We would wait about a year before we had kids ( I would want the married-life experience, of course..) He would commute to work, and I would start a photography business from home once we started to have children. Our children would consist of two girls and one boy. They’d grow into successful adults and we would sit in our rocking chairs sipping tea, looking back on it all with so much pride… the perfect life.

But now I am trying to teach myself to let go of it all. Not to criticize people in my mind for not having my own fake ambitions of a “perfect” life. I am now learning to let my life fold out as I go. Not to care if I am living up to anyone’s darn expectations, but my own. Trying to learn who I am, not what I imagined I was. I am opening my mind to others’ ways of life, and looking at it with a positive frame of mind… attempting to engrain in my mind the importance of being happy. No matter what I do, who I end up with, where I am, whatever salary gets thrown my way… that is all that matters.

Ohhh I have a lot to learn and experience, and believe me, I know it.

Jumping out of my seat...

Because....








It SNOWED. In my town. 4 inches.
I spent yesterday in the snow, gleaming the whole time.
Yes, I have been the obnoxious kid screaming and giggling who ruins your peaceful Friday night.

But I have fallen completely head over heels.... and I love every bit of it.

Happy Snow Day everyone!

(will post more pictures soon)

-suzyQ

No words

Inspired by this post, today, I am going to let the image do all of the speaking to you...











Have a beautiful week.

How I love the Simple Things..

homemade chocolate truffles.
going to my siblings' basketball games (the cheerleader comes out in me.. loudly) - they are also much more athletic than I am..
my dad staying up til the wee hours of the night proofing and editing my history papers..with master quality.
pesto and basil slathered on wheat rolls.
soap operas with the girls.
the weekend is only... 3 days away now.
watching my brother save up to buy a "candy gram" at school for his new girlfriend.. it reads "Happy Valentine's Day! Me + You forever." I also might add that his beau is an older woman- she is in the 5th grade while he is the fourth. I always knew that boy was a lady's man.
my plush bathrobe that is currently covering my worn-out jammies.
trees outlined in a lovely sunset.
freshly cut grapefruit on an old wooden board.

I hope your life is generously filled with simple things that make you beam.

go here for more simple delight..

-suzyQ

My Sister

.... we might have just got in an argument over socks, but I have to admit, the blond bob, freckles, and braces are rather charming.


Have a great week, my friends.

-suzyQ

I'll go with love.

this picture used here as well.


the pain in Haiti- I'll go with love.
the look of a hurt soul- I'll go with love.
a trembling hand- I'll go with love.
a cry of help- I'll go with love.


the smile of a stranger- I'll go with love...

love isn't limited to hurt and sadness... I'll go with love- always.

won't you join me?

I crave

The sun.
its warmth.
flowers.
green.
fresh, new air.
Easter dresses...

spring, come soon, will you please?

-suzyQ

Unmasked

We were sitting next to him on the wooden pews. His face was hardened, almost unapproachable. He had his hands crossed in his lap while we quietly chatted with him... After some mumbled small talk, he bluntly said “ I have 26 brothers and sisters".. we were taken a little off guard. We just sat there waiting for him to continue; we had never even heard of anything like that before. “Yeah, my dad’s like that. I don’t know half of them. And it‘s not okay.”

Will was his name. Past the hard exterior, Will had a huge heart who loved his mama. He was a lover and a giver. He had an incredible faith that stood strong even through everything that had happened to him. He was good to his women and he knew "how to treat em right." He was very smart and had big dreams. He planned to break away from the mistakes of his family and move forward on his own.

Will didn’t try to impress us with a grand knowledge of all things pop culture or the latest trends.
He was just----

there… himself…unmasked.

excitement!

Susan of Just... a moment so kindly nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you so much Susan. I am so honored! Her blog is also totally amazing.

Now here are the 7 talented bloggers that I am passing it on to:

1. Claire
2. Nina
3. Liss
4. Dani
5. Kamana
6. Jen
7. Debbie

You guys all inspire me, and sorry if you have received this award before, but I couldn't think of a more deserving bunch.
Go here to read the "rules" if you wish to pass it on..

Now, part of the deal is for the recipient to name 7 things their readers might not know:
1. I am not a morning person.
2. Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress of all times.
3. Little Purple Cow is who got me into this whole blogging mess that I completely adore.
4. Yellow is my favorite color.
5. "Sappy" describes me very well.
6. Patience is something I need to achieve..
7. I am currently wearing green and white striped knee socks with a light-up Christmas tree at the top- on January 10th...

Thank you all for just being here.
Have a great week.

-suzyQ

crumbs will be abundant..

This weekend I am painting my face and grabbing a couple sugar cookies.

And there will definitely be messy hair and dirty fingernails..

Happy Weekend.

-suzyQ