Thursday, December 11, 2014

thankful thursday


  • inspiration to actually map out my dreams
  • feeling giddy and getting a case of the giggles
  • beers with a friend
  • fish tacos
  • writing out my 4 month plan
  • snuggling with Benjamin
  • people who are realy listening when you talk
  • peel & eat shrimp
  • cheese tray & a glass of wine
  • sleeping in
  • sun salutation
  • wearing sparkly shoes
  • quiet mornings
  • planning out craft projects
  • getting a ton of stuff listed on ebay
  • late night happy hour with my bff
  • playing with friends from our homeschool group
  • sending a horse snap chat
  • trips to wally world
  • new gloves
  • vamps with my bff
  • my bff vs. tinder

peace, love, and t. swift,
erica


Saturday, November 29, 2014

thankful thursday



"If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining."

  • the most delicious trout with gnocchi, mushrooms, spinach, walnuts, and tomatoes
  • dinner with some of my favorite people
  • sleepover at mom's
  • waking up early & having an entire day o do as I please
  • creating my first vision board
  • taking pictures with Benjamin (see above!!!!!)
  • super hilarious vine videos
  • going to a night club and sitting on a white couch surrounded by flowy curtains - I felt just like Carrie Bradshaw
  • a sleepover with my ladies & all our conversations
  • hot coffee on a rainy morning
  • wearing bright orange wedge boots
  • fried mac & cheese, penne rustica, and salted caramel gelato
  • a hot detox bath while listening to Abraham Hicks
  • christmas music
  • Benjamin giving me 100+ hugs and telling me he loves me
  • beautiful, crunchy leaves under my feet
  • watching with awe as my passions are pulled together by the same force
  • watching Benjamin play & act out stories with other children at our children's theatre
  • skype - because it helps me foster my long distance friendship
  • planning my x-mas party


"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live only as you can."

peace, love, joy,
erica <3

Friday, November 21, 2014

thankful thursday




  • hugs
  • good books
  • lovely dreams
  • the vampire diaries
  • free information at my fingertips
  • new friends
  • birthday shopping
  • molina's for lunch
  • happy hour with most of my family
  • a theraputic glass of wine, or 3
  • friends who text back at 1am
  • advice on life and love from carrie bradshaw
  • doterra essential oils
  • gala darling and her radical self love
  • tiny beautiful things: advice on love and life from dear sugar
  • watching benjamin help a lady bug find her way outside safely
  • watching a documentary that changes the entire game
  • finding & (successfully) using a reusabe k-cup
  • inspirational youtube videos
  • yoga/meditation
  • a warm cup of coffee in cold hands
  • huge pinecones to decorate for fall/christmas
  • all the beautiful orange and yellow leaves
  • the option to choose joy
  • looking at home decor on pinterest
  • day dreaming
  • a very happy birthday weekend
  • catching up with old friends
  • mexican food and a margarita
  • catching up on one of my favorite vampire shows
  • coming across a new book by my favorite blog at the library by accident - and loving it
  • quiet mornings
  • the warm spot on the floor where the sun shines through the window
  • the feeling of happiness
  • a night full of laughter
peace, love, and postive thoughts!
<3 Erica

Saturday, November 1, 2014

happy halloween!



"Halloween, Halloween
Spooky, kooky Halloween
Kids in costumes, what a sight
On Halloween tonight

Big black cats
Vampire bats
Ghosts and goblins out tonight
Causing quite a fright"


i should confess. halloween is my favorite. it might have something to do with my complete vampire obsession but i just love it. the decor, the treats, the costumes.

wicked the musical is my newest obsession (hurry up january 30!) so it was a no brainer for me to dress up as elphaba. 
benjamin & i found this wolverine costume at goodwill & his love for Marvel was born. we're even having a super hero birthday party this month!


now when it comes to celebrating you have to do it right. so we made a table scape and a Jack Skellington cake. because, halloween.



the Jack cake was a simple DIY. I drew his body on card stock with a sharpie and his head is just a basic white cake decorated with cream cheese and chocolate frosting.

i hope your halloween was filled with many tricks and treats. 

and now let the christmas music begin!
<3 erica

Thursday, October 30, 2014

thankful thursday

{comic con at the children's museum}

  • being able to introduce Benjamin to the orchastra
  • comic con at the children's museum. we got free comics & got to talk with batman, superman, and wonder woman
  • playing soccer at nana & randy's
  • Halloween - my favorite holiday appproaching at neck breaking speed
  • dancing about he house to Broadway Pandora with Benjamin singing at the top of his lungs
  • planning a super hero birthday party
  • visiting the renaissance faire
  • crashing dinner at my mom's
  • friends who make me laugh
  • grocery shopping with benjamin
  • staying up late with benjamin eating popcorn & watching batman
  • my morning cup of jo
  • spilling my guts to my bff
  • trips to the craft store
  • edmame
  • making paper bats
  • nice people
  • big fuzzy blankets
  • bear hugs from benjamin
  • glee sings the beatles





stay thankful my friends :)
<3 erica

Friday, October 24, 2014

Thankful Thursday

{from our trip to the goat farm}


  • paying off some debt!!
  • celebration dinner of surf & turf
  • playing with the Christmas decoratins at Lowes
  • going to bed early & sleeping almost 12 hours
  • late night Waffle House date with Boo
  • hot chocolate
  • a trip to Denver Downs - pig race, hay ride, pumpkin picking
  • a great big pumpkin sitting on my counter waiting to be carved
  • being really excited to start our Halloween countdown!
  • watching 5-6 large blue birds fly around my backyard
  • day date with hubs
  • a fresh mind set
  • making pumpkin potions with Benjamin & hearing his "evil scientist" laugh
  • dinner and a movie with my family - I work evening so we don't get to do that very often
  • the goodreads app - I love it
  • a new owl cup
  • visiting a goat farm - cheese, milk, fudge, soap! My personal heaven.
  • late night reading at the laundry mat
  • buying the small pumpkin pie creamer - cause that junk is nasty
  • taking Benjamin to chuck e cheese's for the first time (which by the way is giving away 50 free tickets to every child wearing a Halloween costume this month)
  • Benjamin waiting up for me after work so we could watch Scooby Doo Halloween
  • reading all about the Free to Be conference & making plans to go next year!!!




Here's to another week of counting our blessings! <3 Erica

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Thankful Thursday


  • white sauce
  • conversating with hubs
  • trips to the library
  • an exerpt from Gena Showalter's new book
  • deep, heart felt letters
  • a cup of coffee in a quiet house
  • Benjamin loving Glee & Wicked soundtracks
  • spending time with my BFF
  • seeing Dracula Untold & LOVING it!
  • delicious pizza & beer sampleing
  • late night sushi
  • new inspiration & ideas
  • food delivery
  • scoring a Scooby Doo game with a happy meal
  • and then discovering a Scooby Doo movie we haven't seen yet
  • starting a new crochet project while watching Junk Gypsy
  • making plans with Benjamin to watch the 13 days of Halloween
  • having nice dreams
  • being excited about an upcoming outing
  • taking a painting class with Mom & Randy
  • people at the laundry mat who let Benjamin turn on their wash
  • the "in love" feeling

<3 Erica


Friday, October 10, 2014

Thankful Thursday

{via society6}

  • deep talks with the hubs
  • new Vampire Diaries premiere
  • trying water colors for the very 1st time
  • hearing the rain beat up against the window
  • the smell of the heat turned on for the 1st time this season
  • finding a groupon for Clemson tickets and sending the hubs & my FIL
  • meetin up with them after the game & seeing/hearing their excitement as they told me how much fun they had
  • football party with Mom & Randy
  • walking around beautiful downtown
  • walking into my favorite local bookstore and finding the exact book I was looking for
  • the unschooling life podcast
  • happy Halloween decorating in almost every room of my house
  • eBay scores
  • watching the wind blow the leaves around
  • late night visits from friends
  • free crochet patterns
  • daydreams
  • deciding on a super hero theme for Benjamin's upcoming birthday

<3 Erica


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Thankful Thursday

{via HWTM}


  • having lots of food left over from my party = snacks for the week
  • a sweet, sweet husband who sat by the fire with me while I cried
  • podcasts that remind you how beautiful life and our relationships are
  • my mom bringing over mums, a pumpkin, and a bail of hay. Fall decor! Yay!
  • scoring a skeleton costume for $6 and hearing the joy in Benjamin's voice when I called to tell him about it
  • a great night at work
  • Halloween decorations
  • late night Glee Christmas episodes
  • drinks and snacks with my mom
  • coffee from an owl mug with saucer
  • late night book releases
  • Benjamin being really proud of himself after going #2 in the potty
  • cheese, really good cheese
  • gaining a deeper understanding of unschooling
  • reading that said midnigh release within 24 hours because yes! it was that good
  • popcorn & coffee for breakfast
  • making a vampire pumpkin
  • snuggling with Benjamin while looking at playground building plans

<3 Erica

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Thankful Thursday


  • cooler fall weather
  • having 2 hours to myself in the middle of the day
  • a nice unplanned dinner date with the hubs
  • documentaries that make you think
  • hubs telling me happy birthday at 12:01
  • Benjamin sleeping in his new bed AND loving it
  • birthday party crafts galore
  • to have my birthday fall so close to my favorite holiday
  • late night haircuts in my living room
  • making a vampire owl birthday cake
  • sushi for dinner
  • "vampire kiss" martini
  • a bonfire with dinner and smores to celebrate the 1st day of fall
  • showing my hubby some love with a fun fall printable
  • my Mom showing up with tons of groceries for the party
  • coffee and a movie with Benjamin
While this post is two days late, better late than never, right?

<3
Erica


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Thankful Thursday



  • sleeping for 12 hours
  • getting my car back!
  • holding hands with Benjamin until we both fall asleep
  • finishing my birthday invitations
  • having a good and busy night at work
  • using my hot glue gun
  • going to a beautiful baby shower put together by my BFF
  • getting a gorgeous hutch for my kitchen
  • staying up late chatting with my Mom
  • encouragement from a sweet friend
  • crashing Mom & Randy's football party
  • beginning to decorate for my upcoming vampire party
  • talks with the hubs
  • afternoon naps
  • being in party planning overdrive
  • finding a really cool 'Dracula's Pub' sign
  • enjoying a mini play with Benjamin
  • "The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."
  • dancing with Benjamin at Lowes
  • my local library
  • Benjamin walking back and forth with me while I cut the grass

<3 Erica

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Thankful Thursday


  • my sweet husband working really hard on my birthday invitations
  • the many hugs & kiss from Benjamin
  • Netflix - I'm glee-king super hard right now
  • tailgating at Clemson
  • long talks with my Mom
  • dancing at the Esso club
  • naps
  • tacos
  • decorating the house in lieu of the midnight release of Destiny 
  • my Mom volunteering to wash all our laundry after my washing machine broke down
  • inspiration - the BIG kind that gets you all fired up
  • coming across "Crafting a Business" at the library
  • brainstorming career ideas with my BFF until 4am

With Love,
Erica


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Thankful Thursday



Give thanks with a grateful heart.

  • late night conversations with my BFF
  • having a hard working hubby
  • a yummy lunch date with my Boo
  • a shopping adventure
  • getting my rings cleaned
  • finding the perfect "vials" for my invitations
  • new shoes
  • sushi date with friends
  • Benjamin letting me hold him like a baby
  • having a successful "first day" of "preschool"
  • feeling the love in the air
  • that feeling right after practicing yoga
  • successfully baking a cake from scratch
  • homeschool planning - it's tons of fun
  • getting excited about Halloween
  • dinner with lots of friends
  • putting out our Halloween decorations
I'm enjoying this practice. I'm looking forward to having a notebook full of gratitude :)
<3 Erica

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

a celebration

Last night at work I witnessed a family celebrating an engagement. Their smiles and laughter was contagious. A few times I even caught the young couple holding hands and casting sweet glances.

I was SO inspired by their excitement I decided to bake my hubbys favorite kind of cake from scratch and surprise him with it this evening after work.

As a woman of the South, Paula Deen's website is one of the first places I looked



Grandma Heirs' Carrot Cake

Ingredients
Butter, for pans
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 c vege oil
3 c grated carrots
1 1/2 c chopped pecans

Frosting Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) pkgs cream cheese at room temp
1 stick salted butter at room temp
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c pecans


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease, flour, and line pans with parchment paper.

In large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

Add eggs and vege oil using a hand mixer until well combined. Fold in carrots and pecans.

Pour into pans. Bake for approx 40 mins.

Cool for 5 mins, remove from pans, place on wax paper and allow to cool completely.

For the frosting:
Add all ingredients, except nuts, into medium bowl and beat until fluffy. Fold in nuts.

Frost and stack.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude.
It's not always an easy practice. But it's important, especially for me.
It improves our relationships, our health, and our emotions.
It's science.

I've had a heavy heart this afternoon. Working on my thankful list has helped. I'm looking forward to keeping a weekly "Thankful" list again.

  • being the little spoon
  • hot coffee on a sore throat
  • encouraging conversations with my BFF
  • inspirational movies
  • podcasts while cleaning
  • big fuzzy blankets
  • drinks with friends
  • getting back on the schedule at Flat Rock
  • owl mugs
  • warm spots on the carpet where the sun is shining in
  • finishing a crochet owl hat
  • a bright pink yoga mat
I encourage you to keep a gratitude journal, list, sticky note, whatever floats your boat. It can make a big difference in your day to day.