walk

I took the Monday after the Pittsburgh 13.1 off.  I had a feeling I would be pretty beat up and knew it would not be a good day to be with my girlfriends.  I knew I needed to get the blood pumping through my legs to recover a little faster, so the husband (Mondays are his Sundays) and I took a walk to our local library.  

We live in Ambridge, PA, a suburb NW of Pittsburgh.  It once thrived as a steel town in the 50s, 60s, and 70s until the mills were closed in the early 80s.  While there is much character and history to this small town, most of the storefronts are bare and/or boarded up.   However, there are many streets and homes hidden from the main drag that are well cared for.  Those hidden streets are what make the walk through to town more enjoyable.  

Grape vines on the side of the Rapp House in Old Economy Village. 

The Laughlin Memorial Library is small but I love it's architecture.  So much character. 

There are also a few antique shops along the way that are always fun to walk through when you aren't with your husband have the time.  

As much as the city of Ambridge has deteriorated over the years, there is character.  With a local coffee shop a block from our house and yoga study opening in the heart of the town,  I have a feeling things are slowly starting to turn around though.  

Where are you from?

What are you favorite things about the city you live in?

Do you explore your city often?

Linking up with Shanna, Julie, and Melyssa today!

catching up {+ FBF cohost}

I know I have been absent around here for the past 2 weeks.  Instead of blogging I have been watching The Good Wife, doing laundry, catching up on photos, and watching more of The Good Wife.  Anyway, I finally got around to uploading my photos from our trip to Asheville, NC over the long holiday weekend.  Below is one of my favorites I took while walking around the Asheville Botanical Gardens. 

The boys were sitting in the sun while I walked around to grab some shots.  There was a significant patch of these beautiful and brilliant flowers so I spent the next five minutes photographing them.  While I think most consider these little guys weeds, I find them to  be beautiful.  The green and bright yellow scream Spring.  I really like the bokeh affect of the different colors as well.  

What are some of your favorite moments you captured during the week?

Linking up with Aimee and Jess today.  

An InLinkz Link-up

sunday funday {in photos}

husband and i needed to get rid of some recycling so we

headed to our favorite area in the city to do that and to grab some snacks 

and go for a hike on a gorgeous, but unseasonably chilly, sunday.  

here are the photos. 

sunday stroll {entertainment}

It was chilly this weekend, so I spent most of my time
inside watching the Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family
both Saturday and Sunday.  That may seem really lame to you
Muggles, but it personally made my weekend.
However, husband did come downstairs and make me get off the couch
yesterday for a nice long walk through Sewickley on our last day of house-sitting
to catch some rays and get some fresh air.
Here are a few of my moments I captured while on said walk.

This is my second favorite street in Sewickley.  I was happy to capture a rare moment without Sunday drivers or cars parked on the street. 

Husband catching up after his detour to go to the little boys room. 

Clouds when we reached the top. 

 
My sisters's friend's family lives here.  I love the driveway leading down to the house in rain, snow, fall, spring/summer or sun.  It is always beautiful.

I was kinda bummed I left my camera behind.  Good thing I literally always have my iPhone on me though.

Now for some music to hopefully brighten up your day.
I am always excited when a favorite releases new music.
Phoenix released their first album since 2009 last month.
To say I am excited is an understatement.  I hope you enjoy
as much as I do:) 

Phoenix - "Entertainment" 

Headline from this day on
Why you keep pretending that you wanna let go?
Do. Do you wanna let go?
Loud volume turn to low low low low low low

What you want and what you do to me
I’ll take the trouble that you have in mind

Entertainment
Show them what you do with me
When everyone here knows better
What I once refused to be
Is everything they long together
I’d rather be alone

I love, I love, I love, I notice
I heard it all before I died
Before I knew you
Once upon a time would take too long, long, long, long, long, long

What you want and what you do to me
I’ll take the trouble that you have in mind

Entertainment
Show them what you do with me
When everyone here knows better
What I once refused to be
Is everything they long together
I’d rather be alone

linking up with:

       

Chapel Hill, NC through the lens of my phone

It is the start to a new week yet again.  I am still recovering from a wonderful weekend in Chapel Hill, NC with my in-laws, husband and the rest of his extended family.  We drove down Friday (breaking up the trip) and got back yesterday.  It's amazing how much driving can wear you out!

It was a beautiful weekend!  We went down for husband's cousin's wedding.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  A perfect 75 degrees with NO humidity.  That rarely happens in NC after April 1.  As I mentioned in Friday's post I had never ventured to Chapel Hill.  I was just excited to spend a weekend in the south surrounded by southern accents and boys dressed in pink shirts, khakis and boat shoes;)  This weekend was the first time I spent a longer period of time with husband's extended family.  And for the first time, I knew what it was like to be in husband's shoes when we spend time with my extended family - overwhelming! (in case you didn't know/I haven't already mentioned, I am pretty close with my extended family and make it a point to see them at least once a year.  We are kinda obsessed with one another and I wouldn't have it any other way).  Husband's extended family is the opposite and they rarely see each other (they are kinda spread out all over the place).  But everyone was so sweet and nice!  I hope to see them all again if we are able to make a trip to Denver for the next family wedding.

Of course I had my camera with me but wanted to share the photos I took with my phone while the trip is still relatively fresh in my mind.  Who knows when I'll get the time to sift through the different photos I got!

We stayed at The Carolina Inn right in the heart of the city.  Gorgeous hotel!  The wedding and reception was actually held there as well.  

Post lunch walk around the city.  I love pillars!  So southern. 

Sunday morning brunch.  Loved the windows and tall ceiling.  

Entrance to the Cocker Arboretum. We spent about 45 minutes walking the grounds and reading the descriptions of the different plants and trees.  This kinda reminds me of The Secret Garden.  If I had more time I would have brought my book here, found an empty bench and read while I enjoying the fresh air and greenery. 

Fresh air view from the back of the hotel. The Cornmans and I sat outside to enjoy the beautiful North Carolina afternoon while husband slept. 

View while waiting for the Bride to walk down the aisle.  

View from our hotel window

I absolutely fell in love with the Bride's dress.  Isn't it/she just GORGEOUS?!?  I think it may be my favorite wedding dress yet (and I have seen a lot of wedding dresses)! 

It was so great to finally meet everyone this weekend.  Thank you for including me and being so welcoming, Cornmans!  Hopefully see you again in August.  

Friday Photo Dump

Heading to Chapel Hill, NC for the weekend with my in-laws and husband for a wedding.  Never been to Chapel Hill so I'm excited to get a chance to see the area.  Change of scenery is always welcome!

Other than that, I don't really have too much to post at this time.  So, thought I'd just dump share my iPhone photos with you from over the past few weeks...

Saying good-bye 

Hope everyone had a great week!  HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!  

STL for Easter: Tower Grove Park

As I shared before I spent my long Easter weekend with my family in St. Louis.  On Saturday morning my sister, Cam, and I went with my mom to a garage sale, where she had already been that morning, to pick up her new finds.  On the way home my mom drove through an area of the city I had not yet visited:  Tower Grove Park.  One of my favorite things about STL, at least the area my parents live in, are the gorgeous parks.  The first thing to grab my attention while driving through the park were the different pavilions.  Never seen anything like it before:

These two were my favorite.  I could have spent the whole day walking through the park getting photos of each pavilion.  But I could tell Cam was starting to get a little sick of me yelling "STOP" so I could get out of the car to take another picture of something else. 

What I also enjoyed about Tower Grove was how it made you feel as though you are hidden away and not in the middle of a big city.  A great place to get lost for a while in a good book while resting on a blanket after a nice stroll.  

And in case you cannot tell, I kinda have a thing for benches.  I love the black bench under the trees.  Cant you just see an old man reading the newspaper with his cane propped up against the bench while he reads?  Very Finding Neverland.  

This reminded me of the last scene in Pride & Prejudice (the one with Keira Knightly) where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are looking longingly into each others eyes talking about their love for one another.  

When I visit again I am going to have to spend more time here.  Give me nature and my camera and I am content for hours.  

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  And a Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers and future Mothers out there!