A Fresh Brewed Morning

I can't remember when I started drinking coffee, I remember always loving the smell but I can't remember when I started to like it. I grew up watching my mom drinking it and I would try it and hate it so I am sure it was an acquired taste. But now coffee means so much more to me it's the part of my day when everything is calm and peaceful and I have the opportunity to be still and listen to what God wants me to hear. I also still have the chance to make the day special and do anything I want. I don't always wake up in time to enjoy it like I want during the week (even though I try and my day is always better when I do) I do however look forward to it on Saturday and Sunday. 

Even when I get it out of the Starbucks dispenser at work it still gives me comfort. I read this book once called A Fresh Brewed Life and it explains so much of how I feel. Coffee does wake up my soul or rather how I use the time drinking it.

I keep my coffee"tools" pretty and easy to use because they make me happy.

I scoop the beautiful smiling grinds out with a sweet measuring spoon I got as a gift from a friend. Right now we like Snicker Doodle flavor Superman says it reminds him of my mom's house. 

I put it into my friend the "machine" she will also grind the beans which we do occasionally but it is very noisy...hello sweet friend. Then she beeps at me it's a very dainty girly beep, this literally excites me.

And there it is, the steam that comes off the cup even when it's hot outside is like a big hug to say Good Morning Lauren I hope you slept well.

The dogs watch because they know what comes next...

We head outside. Usually I sit here under the fan but when the weather is particularly nice or I want to get more of a breeze I will head out here.

And if I am lucky enough to not be super lazy I have gotten up in time to see the sunrise. I read somewhere once that it is so much better for your body to rise with the sun something about our internal clocks and our stress levels. I know it always makes me feel better. 

Barbie assumes her spot and I get to have quite time with my Father. I breath in and out and I try to clear my head from all the things that can make you crazy in this world. I start by telling him everything I am thankful for. There is something about being outside each morning that makes me feel closer to him and when I miss it I can tell my day doesn't have the same peace. I also oddly enough feel closer to my mom and my Grandma not sure why but I do :).

Then someones walks down our street and the dogs defend our yard and all is right in my small world.

If it gets too warm I move back up under the porch (I hate how hot it gets here in summer) But I am loving my huge new fan it blows my fern around and makes me feel like I am somewhere tropical.

Polo jumps up for a snuggle and then we head inside. Super Man has come to learn that I need this time in the morning especially on the weekends. I love to share it with him as well but sometimes I sit too long for his liking. So I come inside to this...

Which means "I am ready for you to cook me breakfast now." He pretty much cooks me breakfast all week since we have been on the 12 week workout plane. So I am happy to cook for him on the weekends, if he lets me ;). 

I hope there is something in your morning that gives you peace and comfort!

 

My Favorite Day in Paris

This was my first time to Paris and I will be back. I quickly feel in love with the walk-able city. Everything they say is true except the people aren't rude! It was simply wonderful and dreamy.

Everyday in Paris was really my fav but this one stood out. It was our 5 year anniversary and we had one thing we planned to do, the rest of the day we just wanted to get lost and see what we found.

We picked a walking tour from TripAdvisor and it was just what we wanted!

We started out with some cafe au lait that I was basically addicted to

I love how they serve coffee always with a saucer and spoon. So many times in the US I get coffee no saucer...where do I put my spoon? So I usually end up putting it on a napkin (annoying)

Then we walked over through the Luxembourg garden and saw some lovelies along the way

This is what I love about walking around Paris everything is so colorful, fun and fresh

It was still chilly while we were there so no sail boats to push around but everyone was still out and about.

The garden was lovely even though not in full bloom.

I took this one because these boys were out of school, sagging their pants, listening to their headphones and being genuinely typical...it's funny to see some things are the same in all countries. 

We made our way out of the garden and stumbled into Angelina's which was on my list to find so I was giddy when we turned the corner and there it was. We got right in with no waiting and snuggled into our cozy table surrounded by people having a bite to eat. We immediately ordered the African hot chocolate. They serve it with a pile of whip cream (the good thick dreamy kind) I could hardly contain myself...seriously it's so good it's almost naughty!

After I licked my cup and some of his, we were rested and ready to continue we headed back out. On our way to Pont Des Arts we got a little side tracked...

grabbed a couple of sweet treats and found a great place to people watch  in the St. Germain area 

Even though it's chilly everyone still sits outside to people watch. All the chairs face the street and you sit side by side instead of across the table from one another. I loved it. We split a wonderful sandwich and some wine and passed a couple of hours perfectly content talking, watching the extremely fashion forward people and trying to decide who was a tourist and who wasn't. I lusted over some outfits and pointed out what items I needed :)

We asked our very handsome waiter to take a quick pic then we were ready for more walking.

We made it to the bridge and along the way there are street vendors selling what I am sure are not so original paintings, but we loved them and bought one for our bedroom. We like to purchase one item to use or display around the house from our trips. I will post it once I get it framed and hang it.

We locked our lock on the bridge

He threw in the key

We promised to be together forever...again. It was the single most silly yet absolutely romantic and fun thing we have ever done. Superman really got into it. He picked out the lock and if possible I love him even more for it.

We spent another hour or so just looking around the bridge at all of the locks and the awesome views. Then we headed down the way to Notre Dame. I could over load on pictures of this place so I chose the ones that made my heart go pity patter

The chandeliers

People's prayers

The windows and stone

After we were done looking over the oldest building either of us had ever seen we hopped on the metro and headed back to the hotel. Hotel Sezz (Fabulous)

Super Man picked out a great bottle of wine with the help of a charming shop owner he made best buds with. I grabbed my glass and hopped in the giant tub for a bubble bath 

while he went back out for some bread

After I rested and soaked we sat out on our little balcony with out feet dangling over the street below and watched the sun go down.

She is starting to twinkle

Day Full of F-Words

But not the kind you think...Freedom, Friends, Family, Food, Fireworks, Fish, Furry Friends, my day was pretty perfect! I have had some terrible fourth of July holiday's you know where you run around like a nut looking for the perfect spot to see the fireworks only to sit there for hours while everyone around you continues to get more and more intoxicated. Then your "cute white bottoms" that you had to wear are now see through because you are dripping in sweat (well this happens a lot here in Texas). I always have high hopes for this day. There is something magical about almost everyone in the country being off work at the same time, probably firing up some kind of grill and then my favorite part is how everyone seems to get quite and look up to the sky and think about how you used to watch them as kids...I still love the sound I think more than the color of the fireworks.

We started the day by taking the doggies for a patriotic walk while it was still cool

Then we headed over to a friends house to spend the evening...it was a beautiful day for a drive windows down sunroof open!

We toasted

We chased our friends babies around as they chased the dogs

We ate...look at that. It was like a little summer explosion in your mouth like pico and guacamole decided to play together and I liked it!

and ate some more...Buffalo Chicken Dip. It's like chicken wings except you takeaway the bones and add 20lbs of cheese a perfect swap in my book

Then we went outside... this is there back yard

I was in heaven, so pretty not sure how I would ever leave me home if this was my view

I found the perfect place to admire the view and slip into a small Buffalo Chicken Dip induced comma.

and I wasn't the only one

I could tell someone was eyeing me for my spot so I decided to share and go see what the boys were up to...fishin of-course. Well he is actually trying to feed the minnow some grass. This was by fare my favorite picture from the day

They got one, well actually the got about 8. There was a bit of friendly competition going on to keep it interesting.....hey is the minnow in there?

The pretty girls watched.

 Then we all got cleaned up and put the blanky in the yard...partially because it felt good and partially because we needed to lay flat due to too much food, You will get no complaints on this type of arrangement from me I am a huge yard napper. We laid out there and talked until it got dark and you could hear the fireworks going off around us. We reluctantly headed home. 

We stopped on the way just in time to catch a good 15 minutes of the show. Then we drove home and I thought the whole time how proud and thankful I am to live in this country and to be surrounded by my friends and their sweet families. Happy 4th everyone!

Hello

I hope to share all things that make me happy with you. A fresh start, pretty things, fun times.