Today is just the kind of day that makes me appreciate everything I have come to have in my life. Mainly due to my own choices, my journey hasn't always been the easiest. But on this day, I can embrace my mistakes, look at my life and say "If I had to go through all of that just to get to this place...I'd do it all again in a heartbeat." I hope that this wall print gives you a little hope if you are going through a tough time or a little reassurance if you are in a good place.

I also hope you have a beautiful Tuesday and love life!

After recently finishing the oh-so-addicting Fifty Shades trilogy, I was beginning to question my moral compass and decided I'd better read something a little...umm..."nicer." Luckily, my dear friend, Madeline (aka Mad Dogg), showed up to our Friday afternoon pedicure with a book for me by Beth Hoffman entitled Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. At times this spirited Southern tale was a little heartbreaking but mostly it was sweet and just made me smile. There were so many beautifully written words of wisdom, I began jotting them down on my book mark. Today, I couldn't help but share one of my favorites in the wall print above.


So, if you are also looking to "stow your twitchy palm" or if you just like good literature, you may want to consider reading about young CeeCee and her quest to find peace after the loss of her mother. You won't regret it.

Wishing you many bright tomorrows and a happy Wednesday!

This week I discovered something a little bit awesome. And no, it is not that my dog, Scooby, can spin in a circle while holding his own back leg in his mouth. Although that was very impressive. I actually came across a website where you can design an original font using your own handwriting. Um...amazing? Absolutely. Being that I am 100% captivated by the world of typeface, this struck me as nothing short of majestic. In the above wall print I've actually done the design using my own font: Kater Potater. (Yes, that is how I write. And yes, I realize it resembles the work of a 4th grader. Okay, 2nd grader.)  If you would like to write ransom note in my honor or if you just think kater potater is a cool name, you can download it and install it on your computer for free at www.dafont.com.

If you are interested in creating your own truly harmonious and faithfully original typeface, you can do so here: www.writing-fonts.com
It is free to design and preview your font and takes about 30 minutes. If you are happy with the results, you can purchase it for under ten bucks. If you decide to do so, please post a comment below and please give your font a brilliantly charming name. I have over 4000 fonts on my computer. Approximately 27.3% of them were downloaded simply because I liked the name. (For example: Airplanes In The Night Sky and Dingle Berries...)

I hope you have a wonderfully original Wednesday!

Side Note: A Brief History of The Name Kater Potater
Kater is a nickname given to me by Grandpa Norb. Currently, this is the name by which my husband and most of his friends call me. It always makes me smile, as I love my grandfather dearly. A potater rhymes with the word kater. It is also a form of the word potato, which is a hearty vegetable. The end.

Creative inspiration can come from all sources. Sometimes you've just gotta get away...and eat some dust. This weekend I was lucky enough to tag along with some of the baddest riders The Midwest has ever seen: The Central Minnesota All Terrain Cycle Outlaws. The seven of us road tripped to Leader, MN - which is about a 2.5 hours NW of Minneapolis. I'm pretty confident it is not on most maps, which is possibly the best part about the whole experience. 

The crew consisted of:
JB aka Goose - CMATCO President
Sean - CMATCO Vice President
Andy - The Tour Guide
Jake - The Godfather
Julian - The Apprentice
Melanie - Captain of The Commander
Me - Co-Pilate (mainly I just drank beer & took pictures)

You are welcome to view the photos I've taken in the slideshow below.
Warning: This slideshow is set to audio.

As requested, you may download the CMATCO photos below and use them as you wish. 

Next to the DVD player in my bedroom, you can always find the following movies: Shrek 2, Some Like It Hot, Twilight (don't judge), and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I keep them nearby in the off chance that I have a bad day and need to find my happy place. 9 out of 10 times, I will chose to watch the lovely Audrey Hepburn. She is the epitome of elegance, style and grace.

Audrey has many lovely quotes and I have pulled out one of my favorites for the above design. The quote in its entirety reads, "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles."

I am currently finishing up a book based on her life, entitled Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn. Her story really is fascinating and the book is reminding me of why I love so many of her films.  If you have never viewed a movie staring Miss Hepburn, please do so. If you aren't sure where to begin, I have devised the following flow chart to point you in the right direction. 

In truth, I have secretly tested this chart on my husband and it failed miserably. In his defense, there are not boobies or explosives in the first 5 minuets of any Audrey film, so I can see why he feels they are "sort of slow moving..." 
{Love you just the same, JB}

"For beautiful eyes, look for good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."        - Audrey Hepburn

After reading some wonderful notes from family and friends, I am feeling particularly blessed today. It is an amazing sensation to have those dear to you recognize your efforts. So to those of you (and you know who you are) who have sent me happy thoughts and kind words of encouragement, I would like to say thank you! To the rest of you, I would like to say get bent. Joking. 

In the spirit of good Karma, I would like to give some much deserved love to a very talented young lady. She is one of the happiest people I have had the pleasure of knowing and she inspires me to be a better person. Her name is Miss Alisha Lynn and she is the artist behind the kick-ass (pardon my French) photographs featured today.

I recently had the opportunity to work with Alisha on a special project (www.alishalynnphotography.com) and I can tell you that she may be a smiley little sprite, but she has served our beautiful country for 9 years. So don't mess with her. (wink wink...but seriously.)

Please take a moment to scroll down & enjoy some of her wonderfully fun photography. You can view even more of her amazingness at www.alishalynnphoto.com or www.alishalynnphotography.com. 

My hope is that you will also pass along a little love to someone today.
Say good words, think good thoughts, do good deeds. That's Karma, baby!

It is monday. Yes. Monday. And it certainly feels like it. I may still be recovering from my girls night out on Friday. Going to a Miranda concert is not for sissies.** I can attest to this, as I have seen her 3 times since September. (Obsessed? probably.)

My husband (JB) and I surround ourselves with only the best of the best at having a good time. This always leads to beautiful adventures and (quite often) a healthy dose of shinangens. That being said, what a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet. Did I make that saying up? No. Do I think it is awesome? Yes. Did I whip up that wonderfully bright Spring inspired wall print? Yes. And I hope it brings a little ray of sunshine onto your Monday! 

**Please note that my friends and I feel it is appropriate to refer to Miranda Lambert as simply Miranda. We have never met her and are fully aware that this is weird.