Bopril

For the Teachers

Wow. That's all I've got after watching this video. He says it all -- and I? I simply nod in agreement and hope to impart even a fraction of that passion in my own life and work.

Mom, this one's for you -- and all the other teachers out there who give and give and give so that their students -- our children -- are better equipped to deal with the world around them -- who encourage and challenge and comfort so that our next generation will be a better one. My hat's off to you.

Hat Tip

Lately, I can focus on nothing but craving warmer weather, fresh flowers, open windows and countless hours wiled away outdoors. Dog parks and bike rides and runs along the water -- pinot grigio and roof decks and reading under the sun -- well, you get the picture, yes?

And in our family, spring means one other thing -- event, really -- as well...DERBY!

We are already looking forward to our annual Brock family tradition in the blue grass state. And that means, of course, that I've been giving thought to my attire for the occasion. Because Derby? Is ALL about the hats. And let's be honest -- that is just plain fun.

The options are endless really...

You could opt for the classic Chanel (tres chic dahling):

Or perhaps the aptly named Southern Belle (insert batting eyelashes here):

Or a new spin on "The Rachel (oh, how I adore this one):"

And of course, you could always, always decide to just go all out:

It seems that I'm pulled by rich chocolately/coppery browns this year -- but time will tell. I can hardly wait to see what the ladies of Kentucky come up with this year.

Giddy up ya'll! 

   

Storyblogs

I read a lot of blogs. My feed reader is always overflowing, and I spend countless hours lost in the words and lives and stories of others.

I laugh, I cry, I nod in agreement, I shake my head in opposition -- but mostly, I just appreciate the forum, the dialog -- the community.

The blogosphere has done amazing things in the last few years -- there have been scandals and controversy, sure -- but with any new thing, especially if it is great -- that is to be expected. At the end of the day though, when you know where to look -- you will find amongst the clever URL's and fancy web design and catchy titles -- mind-blowing talent, heartbreaking stories, uplifting and life changing experience -- all in a simple click - click - click.

I'm thinking tonight of one in particular -- I've been following this story for well over a year now and I'm constantly amazed at the sheer strength of this man -- his will to go on and his beautiful quest to make a life for his daughter in the wake of unspeakable tragedy.

Read this. It will rock your world and blow your mind, just as it did for me. Just as it has done time and again -- post after post, all these months. 

Happy birthday, sweet Madeline -- and happy Love Thursday, one and all. Grab your loved ones and squeeze tight tonight, won't you?

Just A Minute

Living mindfully is hard. It requires discipline and practice and focus. You have to really want to maximize the moments and not live for the future -- always looking forward to an upcoming vacation, the end of a long work week, yet another day...

We take our minutes for granted, because after all -- it is only a minute. What can possibly happen in a minute? What value can a minute hold? 

I have just one minute. Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon it, can't refuse it -- don't see it, didn't choose it.

I'll give account if I abuse it, suffer if I lose it.

Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.

It is called "God's Minute" and it is from a closing speech from a presenter at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. And it makes me think.

What will you do with your next minute? 

Mansions and Boats and Sun -- Yep, I Think I Will

I love homes. I guess I always have -- I can remember noticing them, taking in their details, even as a kid. I've spent a lot of time over the years putting together the various features of my "dream home," changing them often as new trends pop up and new surfaces and designs and schemes pique my interest.

I notice houses everywhere -- I love to walk the fur-babes along my favorite neighborhood streets and gaze at the houses I love, imagining the families inside -- the life they've built in the comfort of a gorgeous brick house or a third floor walk-up or a mid-unit condo. I can get lost in this activity, and I never tire of seeking out new neighborhoods, finding houses to tour, gazing at homes built from scratch and with love.

HGTV is a favorite indulgence -- I love "Design to Sell," and "House Hunters," and any other show that provides the opportunity to peek in the windows of the myriad places people call home.

Needless to say, traveling to new cities dials this up a notch and checking out a place's architectural style is one of my favorite vacation past times.

On our recent trip to Florida, my house-seeing hobby got a most strenuous workout. To say the homes in Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton are gorgeous doesn't skim the surface. They are sprawling, opulent, amazing, fascinating, awe-inducing testaments to affluence and architecture -- good taste and top-notch design. Our mouths were gaping open for much of the time that we toured the "neighborhoods" by boat. Lucky for you, we were armed with our camera. Please to enjoy the tour from your front row seat!

There were spanish-tile roofs and palm tree lined corner lots whose backyard was quite literally the water:

 

There were sprawling, modern structures with floor-to-ceiling windows that you can imagine provide a stunning panoramic view from every room in the house:

 

There were behemoths that I thought just might require a zip code of their own:

 

There were intricate details and impressive design:

 

There was impressive landscape design and outdoor space aplenty:

 

And there were unique structures that I wanted to immediately claim as my own:

 

I could go on forever, but I'm not going to, because you guys -- don't even get me started on the boats. Care to come over and ride around on my mini cruise ship anyone?? Behold:

See what I mean? Those are what I believe my brother would refer to as sick. Amazing. I just kept wondering to myself: what do these people do?! (And do they need my help?!)

In case you're wondering though, we did do more on our trip than lust after homes and boats. 

We enjoyed the amazing and much-missed company of good friends:

 

We talked. And talked, and talked and talked:

We imbibed while cruising the open sea (don't worry, with a driver):

We lounged in the sun, read books, ate good food, unplugged for a couple of days -- long story short, we had a hell of a time. And we're ready to go back. Can you blame us?

Thanks Beck & Jason - it was a blast. Pretty please can we have an encore quite soon? xoxo    

 
 

 
 

Weekendings: The Where the Heck Have I Been Edition

So...I've been a little silent. You've never heard that before around here, huh? Sorry, I've been busy, time has flown by, I haven't been particularly inspired, blah blahhbity blah. Moving on...!

We went to Florida - we soaked up glorious sun-drenched moments outside by the pool, on a boat and anywhere else we could gain access. We caught up with good friends, I played with my long neglected camera and picked up a book - for pleasure reading - for the first time in a very long while. We saw homes and boats that made us gasp in awe - no, really. We drank yummy wine and enjoyed dinners al fresco, prepared on the grill and devoured in the company of good people and great conversation. To say that I enjoyed every moment is a drastic understatement...to say that it went by way too fast doesn't even come close to reflecting reality. And to say it was precisely what I needed is the most important under-statement of all. Divine I tell you - photos forthcoming as I finally dumped them into my computer yesterday and now just need to spend some time with organization and editing.

More good news...we returned from Florida to sunshine in Chicago and a week full of very moderate temps - including a point on Friday where the thermostat read into the 70's. Insert joyful squealing and jumping up and down here.

But what is good news with a little not-so-good news, right? Just in time for the weekend, the beautiful sunny skies and glorious temperatures did an about face, dropped more than 30 degrees overnight and when we woke up on Saturday morning, we looked outside to find this:

We were not amused. There might have been swearing involved. Sorry, Mom.

We made the most of it at Casa Carretta; we snuggled in for a little reading time and while Hubby soaked up every bit of March Madness upstairs, I gave our In Demand channel a hefty workout downstairs. Please to enjoy a little photographic evidence:

Please ignore me altogether and focus on the adorable side-by-side fur babe snuggle action happening here. When it snows several inches in March and I'm holed up indoors, makeup application and hair drying are the first to go.

And, snow and wind and cold be damned, we took the boys to their first grooming appointment of  "spring" (Ha, Chicago how you taunt me). They're even more adorable than usual, no?

 
Enough with the snow - we want to show off our new haircuts on outdoor walks and romps at the park. Also: apologies for the poor iPhone quality photo here...  

And perhaps my favorite weekend activity in quite some time? We took "Flat Stanley" on adventures all over Chicago to help our nephew complete a project for school. I find this entire premise adorable and so charming, I can't even tell you. And best of all, as Hubby and I were running from one city landmark to another snapping photos, several people stopped to shout in recognition of the little dude. It was hilarious and we had way too much fun with it. I'm sure our sweet little nephew will be surprised to open the envelope and find a full on BOOK of Stanley's adventures with us, but what can I say? I'm into over-achievement. Come visit again, Flat Stanley. I'm already thinking of new places to take you.

And you?

I'll Have the Crashing Waves With a Side of Sunshine Please

The gray is unstoppable. It invades everything, coloring our moods a milky foggy white. It is worse than the biting cold, more dangerous than the whipping wind, harder to deal with than the pelting snow. When it arrives, it takes hold and refuses to let go for weeks and months at at time. The gray is stubborn you see, shunning sunlight and flowers, a balmy breeze and sun-drenched walks on city streets. It's goal...to never let in the light.

But Chicagoans adapt and with time, they outsmart the gray. They outsmart it by leaving. And it is about time that I join them.

On Thursday morning, I'm boarding a plane and heading for sunshine. I'm going to hear crashing waves and feel mist as it flies off the sides of the boat. I'm going to stand and sit and lie in the sun for as long as I possibly can. And Internet, I'm going to remember what the days are like when they are not gray.

 

And best of all? We're going to hang with these two. Beach side, yet again. Forward ho!