Lately

photos from the last two weeks or so.

new toy, banana bread, textbook

tree grew into the fence, huxley, stray cat

first cheesecake! one of my favorite cat shots, chipotle

birthday batman viewing (loved it), card, darwin and school things, kitty prints

Joe (Kyle brought this home for me haha), D, H, spaghetti squash

 Summer Swap package, baby bird wasn't taught to fly away it seems, Hux, bracelets 

working on kitchen shelving unit, feeding the locals, cold treats for Olympic opening ceremonies viewing

Don't forget to enter the Olympics giveaway! Have a good weekend.

-Mrs. M

A Giveaway! {Closed}

Congrats, Rachel! You won! Email me your address! 

sarah.f.mcpherson@gmail.com 

Thanks for participating, everyone! :)

I don't know about you, but I love the Olympics! I'm not a big watcher of sports year round, but the Olympics draw me in and make me a fan of just about everything (so glad golf didn't make the cut, though). I love the history of the games- going back to ancient Greece, and how the Olympics bring the world together (however temporary it may be). I remember being a big fan of "the Thorpedo" back in Sydney 2000; the 2004 Athens games inspired me to write my college application essay about the Olympics, and the final hockey match in Vancouver 2010 (USA vs Canada) was simply stunning. I will probably tear up at the opening ceremonies tonight, no lie.

all photos via

I wanted to do my first ever giveaway this summer; I thought first of doing one for my birthday, but the Olympics is way more fun and a better theme to create a specific giveaway around. If you're an Olympics fan, or even not, I hope you like what I've got for you! Here's what you could win: (one winner gets all)

 (plus a t-shirt not pictured!)

1. London coin purse- to represent the host country.

2. $10 Subway gift card- to eat like a champ, like Michael Phelps or Apolo Anton Ohno in those commercials.  

3. USA 1984 mug

4. 60 Straws in the Olympic ring colors.

5. Gold and Silver nail polish.

6. Candle- representing the Olympic flame (you don't have to keep yours burning, though)

7. T-Shirt size M (on its way to me so it is not pictured above).

To Enter:

Required:
Follow From the Desk via GFC and leave a comment sharing what your favorite Olympic event is (winter or summer)!

Extra Entries (leave a comment for each):
Tweet about the giveaway (include your twitter handle in your comment and tag me @mrssmcp)

Blog about the giveaway (include link in your comment)

Winner will be randomly chosen on Friday August 3rd via Random.org. Entries must be in by midnight August 3rd, CST.  

Good luck and thank you for participating!
Enjoy the games!

-Mrs. M

All I Can Come up with Today

-Mrs. M

Turning Twenty Four

My birthday was pretty low key. We went to IHOP for breakfast as we both got up really early. Then we came home and tried to figure out more about the situation with the dogs next door. There are 2 pups (less than a year old) that live next door; they were puppies right around when we moved in. They always bark and run to us when we take out the garbage, and they enjoy watching the cats when they're out back. They are friendly, obviously starved for attention and not trained. The last I saw of anyone being at the house was Thursday evening, and I hadn't seen the dogs food/water bowls filled, or a car at the house all weekend. The dogs got out a couple times and Kyle and I brought them back to their yard. Sunday morning I went to the door and knocked to no response, and noticed pamphlets and a door hanger still there that we got at our house a few days ago; clearly nobody had been there, and nobody was looking after the dogs. So I cried and was furious, and we gave them water. Later I went to the store and got them food and fed them and filled up their water again. I decided to Monday morning call the animal shelter (closed on Sunday) or police, but this morning there is no sign of the pups next door, and no sign of anyone at the house. The gates are closed, so I'm not sure what is going on, but did someone really come get them in the middle of the night? I hope they are somewhere being taken care of, though. :/ If they return I will proceed to look into their care. 

 as little pups months ago

Aside from that, Kyle and I went to see The Dark Knight Rises, which I enjoyed very much. We got to the mall shortly after 10, and apparently things don't open until 11 or 12, so we walked around, said hi to the security guard, noted the lady mall walking, and eventually got into the movie. Afterwards we went to get Kyle a new phone! He hasn't updated for five years (little flip phone), and was pretty resistant (scared) of getting a new one, but the long and boring gate guard shifts finally convinced him otherwise. Kyle fell asleep shortly after getting home and went to bed around 5, so I hung out with the cats for the evening and didn't really sleep. 

a couple gifts from husband. random picture of my feet and movie ticket!

one of the better meals I've had at IHOP

this exists. so that is awesome. 

made for much smaller people

empty mall. pet supplies

I asked Kyle to show me where all the crazy rules were in the Bible (via Kindle). behind the counter at Verizon

sleepy boys

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

-Mrs. M

Sunday Social: In My Bag

It's my birthday, and I've been half doing birthday things (movies, out for breakfast), and half taking care of the possibly abandoned and definitely neglected dogs next door, with a side of headache and stress, so it's has been quite the day. I'll post more about the pups and birthday later, but I found this Sunday Social linkup from Meghan, and it's really just what I need today. A carefree post about purses! :) 

Favorite handbag you've ever owned:
Hmm, I'm not sure! I really like the one I was using before my current one. I like bigger bags that fit over the shoulder (I don't understand carrying bags in your hand or around your forearm. not comfortable and I like having my hands free.). I also really grew to like the one from H&M that I got and used while in Finland (I didn't have room to bring it back with me). 


Dream handbag you lust over:
The one I got today for my birthday! I've been wanting it for months, for the start of grad school in August. It's the Kelly Moore Libby bag. (thanks husband!)

Daily essentials in your purse or work bag
iphone. wallet. chapstick. pen. notepad/paper. keys. tissues. 


What's in your purse(with pictures):
Today:

1. bag from spotted moth

2. Keys (yep that's a lego man keychain that has light up feet!)

3. wallet from urban outfitters

4. glasses

5. Marimekko notebook

6. tissues (just noticed they match my planner)

7. Kindle fire

8. Erin Condren planner

9. bag with: a couple chapsticks, lip gloss, lotion, medicine, bobby pins, hair tie, hand sanitizer, tide pen, mint strips

10. iphone 

also not pictured: pens!

For grad school: I haven't started yet, so this is really planning ahead; I'll probably do another post once school gets started!

1. notbooks, folders, papers, etc

2. bag with: a couple chapsticks, lip gloss, lotion, medicine, bobby pins, hair tie, hand sanitizer, tide pen, mint strips

3. keys

4. Erin Condren planner

5. Kindle Fire

6. Marimekko notepad and post-its

7. lots and lots of pens

8. wallet

9. water bottle

10. more matching tissues

11. iphone

12. glasses

also probably: a snack or lunch box, more school supplies, 5 hour energy

 One reason I love this bag is because of the movable organization on the inside. No more fumbling around looking for everything!

I hope everyone had a good weekend!


-Mrs. M

Saturday Cats Stray Edition

Thursday evening I was out back with D & H and I noticed a little kitty just outside our fence, sniffing around. Kyle and I have seen cats that we suspect are strays about the neighborhood, and judging by how thin this little lady was, I guessed it was one of them. It came to me as I called for it, so I went inside and grabbed a can of food. When I came back out I couldn't see her, but found her again wandering in the neighbors yard. She came to me again when I called and I held out the can of food through the fence. She followed me as I went to our side yard and set the can down; I also brought out a bowl of water. Kitty seemed friendly but I didn't touch it or let it in our backyard with the cats. I watched her eat the whole can of food right then. I imagine you're not supposed to feed strays, but I had to. After eating kitty wanted to come in the yard and was rubbing against the fence where I stood. I went in and got a bowl of dry food to leave out and she was gone when I got back, but the food was empty in the morning (save a few ants). Sigh. Also the neighbor dogs got loose two different times Kyle and I wrangled them back into their yard. Are we the only ones taking care of their animals on this street?! A couple weeks ago another dog got out and was running around our yard, barking at us, stepping on broken glass in the back alley. It makes me mad.

- Mrs. M