to celebrate a 30th

my husband is turning 30 in just a few short days.
last night i gave him an early birthday card.
letting him in on a secret that i have been keeping for months.

i've planned a little getaway to celebrate. we leave tomorrow morning.
he won't find out where we're going til we arrive at the gate.
until then, the possibilities are endless.
planning this trip {& keeping it a secret} has been a labor of love.
but i did it all because i love him & i want to show him just how much.
cross your little fingers:

that this surprise goes off without a hitch & that it's well received.
that we have a ball, celebrate & enjoy this birthday for all it's worth.
and that, when all is said & done, when chris asks, "how much do you love me?"
i can say, "remember your 30th birthday...."

15 things to do this spring

i put together a pretty killer to-do list for this past winter.
i achieved roughly 7.5 out of 15 of them.
let's see if i can do any better this spring. 15 more.

1. help my mom plan her upcoming summer wedding!
2. resist the urge to buy 14 new swimsuits this season.
3. continue my streak of working out {a whole} three times a week.
4. read a book, on a blanket, under the shade of a tree.
5. plant flowers in our garden that i can cut & bring indoors.

6. drive to/from work with the windows down & enjoy the fresh air.
7. flawlessly execute the plans that are in motion for husbands 30th birthday.
8. cheer on the butler bulldogs & uc bearcats in the ncaa tournament!
9. grow my calligraphy business by offering a new product, perhaps.
10. eat at more local restaurants instead of the larger chains.
11. continue to take pride in my appearance.
12. send more handwritten correspondence.
13. as it gets warmer, wear more dresses.
14. turn off the tv & enjoy the nice evenings outside. with a glass of wine.
15. donate winter clothes not worn in 2+ years to charity before next winter.

spring is sure to follow

this week holds {what i hope is} the last threat of snowfall.
this makes me very happy.
don't get me wrong, there are times that i enjoy a snowfall:
usually the first white & fluffy snow of the year is always magical
& i welcome snow around the holidays with open arms.
but that's about where my love for the white precipitation ends.

& so, as much as i love cuddling up with a thick blanket, i am ready for spring.
warmth. hours upon hours of daylight. fresh grass. dinner cooked on the grill.
the beginning of lake season. open toe shoes. capri's. margaritas. new-ness.

i did pretty well on my list of 15 things to do this winter .
perhaps i'll make a spring list.
photo via the brides cafe

a hundred hearts

the last few weeks i've unplugged myself from my computer {after work}.
i blogged & twittered less & put my blackberry {& love for people.com} aside.
i relaxed more, read locally published magazines & worked out 3 times a week.

more importantly, i spent more time with my husband.

it's been fabulous. just doing more "little" things together.
joining him on a run, meeting for dinner after a long day of work,
being present {not on a computer} when watching our fave thurs night shows,
giving {& getting} more hugs and making more attempts to laugh a little more.

and i feel as though my heart has grown by a 100, just recently. love.
art by sarah and bendrix via turn up the rad