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a site by kitty + lee

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because, you’re worth it.

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Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, I walked in the door to an unexpected delight… the giving tree was lit up!

At first, I was a little confused because I knew I hadn’t turned it on while on lunch. But then when I turned around to see the beau’s face, I knew he was the sneaky sneak behind this gift.

And what may you ask was in that simple brown bag? The most darling little purple headband a gal could ask for! I had tried it on at a local boutique a week or so ago paired with my pigtails and I do believe the beau made a comment later that evening that it wasn’t perfect. I seem to think he told me that just so that I wouldn’t go back and purchase it… one will never know.

You spend one hour a day in your car.

You spend all day in your clothes.

Spend accordingly.

birthday cake for breakfy.

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See, a month from now the beau and I will be in Tennessee for Bonnaroo and with his birthday June 9th, I won’t be able to make him cake. Granted, I’m not a baker and can’t bake anything from scratch (believe me, I’ve tried), I still wanted to whip something up and celebrate while we were still in town. So what did I decide to do during the most busiest week ever? Bake him three mini birthday cakes exactly one month before the actual date! Well four, but one was trial and error.

I thought he was going to be headed back to work last night after dinner so when he decided to stick around to go to bed early, I had to come up with a slight white lie to disguise my intentions. I so sneakily told him it was for a co-worker who had taken the day off, on her birthday- which was all true- and that I was on cake duty; which I was not for obvious baking reasons. Well, after baking two of the cakes and trying to make my own buttercream frosting by hand without a blender, we were off to the market at ten o’clock in the evening to pick up a container of faux buttercream frosting. As I stood there questioning which flavour to decide on, I asked “what kind would you choose if this were your birthday cake?” Sneaky Jona.

So, I set my alarm for 4:45am to get up, cut the cakes, frost the cakes, stack ’em, place them oh-so-carefully on the Giving Tree, add the candles and run out the door for boxing at 6am.

On my way home, I texted him to get up and hop in the shower before me, knowing he’d make his way out to the living room for a glass of water or charge his cell phone. Ding ding ding! He sure did seem shocked that it was for him, a) because I lied and b) because he hadn’t heard me get up to finish the surprise before my usual workout.

For breakfast, I lit the candles, blasted The Beatles’ Birthday Song, and ate cake. And it was perfect.

To make these darling little cakes, clean out a tin can (yes, the ones beans and tomatoes come in) and butter and flour the inside. Personally, I used two 15 ouncers. *I do suggest having as many cans as you want cakes because it’s a hassle cleaning those buggers out! Fill them halfway and pop them into an oven at 325 for 25-30 minutes, testing to make sure they are cooked through. Once cooled off, use a knife around the edge of the  can to loosen the cake and pop ’em out. *I also suggest not using the pull tab topped cans because this creates an edge that prevents the cakes from popping out hassle free. I used a plier to push down the edging to prevent this from happening. Slice, frost and re-stack and wa-la. Insta-cute!

walk with me.

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Late Sunday evening after dinner at the beau’s parents’ house, we took a walk downtown so that I could settle down and prepare myself for rest. There’s something about wandering the quiet city after a rain shower, with perfect Spring-time temperatures.

At one point as we were walking the streets, hand in hand, in silence, I glanced over and caught myself thinking, “how could I be so happy?” Just six months ago I would have never pictured this scene or imagined sharing this moment with someone else. The catch is that I feel so comfortable about it. I had to quickly look away to hide the tears welling up in my blue eyes because I didn’t want to have to explain myself. And thinking about it now, I don’t think I have to… I’m pretty sure he feels the same way.

Side note: thank you thank you thank you! to everyone who sent me well wishes last week for a speedy recovery. I’m back; walking to work, boxing, and slowly easing myself into longer runs. All that encouragement and support really feels good to read. I really do have a great set of friends and fans.

good things.

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Spring is in full bloom and so is my daily inspiration. Here are a few things that I’ve added to my life that make me want to smile and enjoy the warming season. Splurge on yourself, you’re worth it.

  1. Sugar Rose Lip Care from Neiman Marcus– adds the perfect hint of pink to those kissers.
  2. Fresh bouquet of tulips for my vanity. I picked mine up on my walk home yesterday from Flowers by Pesha.
  3. Salt Waters. Let’s just say that when I have a little lady, we will match. Comfortable and affordable.
  4.  JCrew‘s Boatneck Colorblock tee. I’ve mentioned it once, I’ll mention it twice. It is my new favorite piece in my wardrobe.

Some other pink in my life this weekend will include:

  • painting my nails my favorite shade of ballet slippers
  • coloring eggs with my little sist-ah and mom the all natural way
  • bright pink sports bra as I conquer 14-16 miles

Current mood: good things happen to good people.

Happy Friday!

currently…

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Loving: As materialistic as it sounds, my new boatneck colorblock tee from JCrew. I saw it yesterday on Pinterest and immediately knew I had to have it. No one has it for sale online, including JCrew (sold out) but the local mall had just one left… in a size extra extra small. I had to have it, so I bought it. And wore it to bed. Today, it fits perfectly. It will forever be a wash-by-hand kind of tee. I’m also loving the new plants in my office, the weather and the fact that I get to see the beau this evening.

Thinking About: Where did I last see my check book? Not only do I have to balance this puppy, but I also need to pay my rent. It’s under that pile of clothes somewhere… it has to be! I’m also thinking about getting a second job because my loans are coming due in just a couple of months and I need the cash to contribute/pay them off! After contemplating ideas, I may go back to watching kiddos (not the kiddos) in my area. Place an add for evenings and weekends; every parent needs a break and I need that little reminder of why it’s best to be young at heart. And the cash, let’s not forget the cash.

Anticipating: This week I will be working out six days… six! Box, speedwork, box, run, box, and long run. I have my eye on that long run this weekend for two reasons: it will be my farthest run to date and will be my last long run before the procedure. I don’t know if I’ll have to skip a week, so that makes me anxious and excited to make this one really count. Also, my grandparents are back in town and I’ll be seeing them this weekend for the Easter holiday.

Listening To: The sounds of the city: the birds outside my bedroom window, the dogs in the alley, and cars passing by. It’s a quiet lunch and it’s just the way I like it. Oh, and Kitty Kitty Cocoa Puff is fussing because I moved him off the bed and didn’t say hello first. Sometimes I rush home to watch something on Hulu but I sit in front of a computer all day and sometimes my eyes just need a rest. But here I am typing…

Eating: I just finished a glass of fresh grapefruit juice (yes, I juiced it by hand) and am boiling two eggs. A salad is made with some sunflower seeds and a lemon-balsamic vinegar dressing sans oil, because I’m all out.

Wishing: I didn’t have to do speedwork this evening on the treadmill. I also wish and hope that I have time this evening to run to the market because I have these tiny little treats I’d love to make. I wish people would pay their balances so that I wouldn’t have to call them so frequently, but I guess then they wouldn’t need me. Darn.

How about you? What are you currently up to on this beautiful Spring day?