I wanna make this!

Stuffed animal heads on a wall is a very unhappy thing... but I would proudly display this paper mache masterpiece as a trophy head!

Here's how the artist made it- so glad she shared! Now I can try to copy... Might not attempt Giraffe though...
http://ultimatepapermache.com/cheap-art/paper-mache-giraffe2


In fact, all of these projects are great!  http://ultimatepapermache.com/tutorials

Wall Art

Not a whole lot is making me feel happy these days, but this painting did...

Fly Your Colors

These flags are happy flags! I dream of having a big outdoor party and stringing these from tree to tree.  I bet they would look quite festive indoors as well.  Maybe one of these days, when I get around to figuring out my sewing machine (again) I will make a string of them. They don't look too complicated- that's part of their charm! Easy, effortless, fun and happy!

New Zealand- Where I want to be!

I have never been to New Zealand, but I look at pictures of it all the time! I want to go!!! It looks breathtaking- magical! And...it's the homeland of my favorite novelty folk duo! 

Library Ladders & Chairs

These are the latest additions to my long list of wants.  

Hike #2- Eaton Canyon

For our second hike, Matt took us to Eaton Canyon, which is just a little bit North of Pasadena in a town aptly named Altadena.  The vegetation was similar to that of Griffith Park: mostly brush and shrubs with some interesting cactus here and there.  We didn't see many critters this time apart from a few lizards.  There were lots of bird sounds, but not too many visible birds (I am a little slow with the binoculars- by the time I get them out and adjust them and find the spot where I heard the call, the bird is usually long gone).

Mattt and I took the horse trail up towards Henniger Flats.  The total hike is 4 miles one way- but we did not go all the way there this time- we went about half way.  The horse trail is nothing but up.  It switches back and forth over the hill with no flat shady parts to catch your breath.  A good workout!  The view from the the top of the horse trail was pretty good- but since were not too familiar with that area, we weren't sure what we were looking at.  We think maybe it was Burbank.  We connected back with the main trail and took it back down.  It was so great seeing folks out and about with their dogs (there were a couple of yellow labs that Matt and I fell in love with).  

Next time, we want to take the opposite trail to the waterfall.  We saw pictures of it in the visitor's center and it looks well worth the trek! Here's the highlights of hike # 2:

Pretty Aprons

Nothing makes me want to embrace my inner domestic goddess more than one of these frilly frocks from Anthropologie.  I am lucky enough to have one of my very own. My BFF Becca got me one for my last birthday.  (Thanks Becca!) It calls me to the kitchen, especially to bake! Which I am hooping to so more of as soon as the weather cools down a little bit. (The kitties get grouchy when we make the house too warm! So does Matt.)  My next baking venture is going to be a fluffy lemon bunt cake with a simple homemade icing drizzle.  Yum.  I better up my hikes to two times a week ;) Maybe I'll try my hand at making a pretty apron myself (you can never have too many, right?).  Of course, I'll have to try to figure out my sewing maching again (another shout out to Becca...want another student to tutor??) 

I'm on Etsy!

I love Etsy so much that I decided to list a few of my own items for sale.  For now, I am sticking to prints of my favorite photos... but maybe I'll be branching out in the future.

If you'd like to check it out, here's the link!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamsHappyThings

Forbidden Journey

ALRIGHT! I want to go so bad I can hardly stand it. Mugglenet just reported that lines are shorter now and the park is running smoother than the first opening months... Who's coming with?? 

Herb Gardens

I really want to grow an herb garden. Not only are herbs beautiful and aromatic...but you can eat them! I think, once I have proven to myself that I can maintain a thriving magical terrarium, airplant & mini-catcus garden AND revive the small ivy and fern I have, I will reward myself with an herb garden of my very own.  I shall name it: mint, basil, rosemary, cilantro and thyme. 

Oh! An outdoor herb garden planted in the real live earth!

A potted herb garden would be fantastic just as well!

Twinkle Lights!

Whimsical.  Romantic.  Festive.  Fun.  Magical.  Nostalgic.  Beautiful.  Simple. Timeless.

Everything is better with twinkle lights.  

Stick Bouquet

While hiking in Griffith Park, I admired the beauty of the dried flowers and sticks- its sounds strange, but the colors and textures or the various died blooms were amazing! I collected a few and brought them home with me (which I have learned now, I don't think I was supposed to do... does it make it better that they were all broken on the ground?) I made a beautiful stick bouquet!

Hike # 1 -- Griffith Park

Matt and I have decided to go on a hike together once a week... to reconnect with nature, to each other, (me with my skinny jeans...).  The first hike was on September 5th--Griffith Park.  Here are the highlights!

Porch Swings

Ahhhh.  These images evoke feeling of serenity and happiness.  I remember swinging on my Grandparent's porch swing when I was little.  I swung so much (and not so serenely) that my Grandpa had to put a board behind the swing to keep me from going to high and flying off the porch! These days, I'd like a place like one of these to read, drink some wine, or doze off... or swing way higher than I should...

Classic

Bed swing!

The Burrow Song!

Yes, I know Matt wrote this in January, but I still listen to it, or visit the YouTube video about once a week. Not only is it written and performed by my favorite guy, for me, but it is about my favorite place!! So, just in case you haven't yet heard it- or you need to hear it again- here it is!

Or watch it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJq-hM14Kxw