mind * body * soul

Today I'm taking Sheila's challenge over at The Failte House 

and I've created my Mind Body Soul Chart.  

My chart carries me to the end of 2012 and it is all about being your best self.  

I love me some self-improvement and I love me some goal-setting.  Here's a look at my chart.  

For more information check out this post or head over to

  The Failte House to see Sheila share more charts!

monday loves

A little indulgence for your Monday pleasure...

here are some things I'm loving lately

gold étagères

via

respecting my huz

via

leather pants they will be in my closet this season

via

perseverance

via

bright maxis to take you into colder weather

via

front doors with character

via

honey brownish-blondish hair color

{1} {2} {3} {4}

green smoothies

via

deep kisses

via

Do these every year. Over and over and over.

Happy Friday! xox

guest on The Failte House

Happy Wednesday lovelies!  Today I am honored to be guest posting over for Sheila at The Failte House.  I'm talking life, love and all about living in the present.  

CHECK IT OUT HERE.

sharing happiness

photo taken by furnished photography

The older I get, the more truth I find in this quote.  What does anything matter if you have no one to share it with?  I say nothing.  So find your loved ones and hold em close.  Life is too short to go it alone.

back to school

back to school by deniselopatka featuring vintage eyewear

My late morning coffees and reading on the porch till noon are officially over.  It's back to school for all the teachers and kiddos in Wilmington.  Although I can't help but secretly love this time of year.  It brings back some nostalgic thoughts of my childhood - back to school shopping.  I will forever treasure those excursions where I would beg my mom for the coolest neon pens all the while imagining what cool notes they would make to my friends and how I would pass them in class.  Then came the outfits.  Oh the outfits.  With my mom's assistance I would undoubtedly have the first two weeks of outfits picked out to the tee (to increase sleeping time duh), and played with my hair until I knew exactly what I wanted it to do.  Back to school symbolizes a fresh start.  A new beginning.  New teachers that aren't annoyed with you yet.  New experiences to share with your best friends.  I think that is why I love this time so much.  Sure, now I'm not in school, in fact I'm on the other side of it, but it still brings hope.  Hope for a great year and a fresh dedication to hard work.  I don't know about you but I never refer to time by the calendar year or formal seasons.  No.  I will always think in semesters, spring breaks and summer vacations.  So here's to my new beginning... and it's back to school for me.

yay for bangs

well i did it.  i got me some bangs.  love em.  and so does sevilla.  and matt.  which i was surprised.  usually when i do anything other than long and straight to my hair, matt lies through his teeth to tell me he likes it.  but he really liked the bangs!  with that, im off to enjoy my last weekend before school starts back!  happy friday xox

ode to matthew

Matthew Warren Lopatka,

How did I ever get so lucky?  Honestly.  You deserve a medal of some-sort for the past few weeks.  You have carried me out of my sadness and heartbreak and made me laugh when I didn't think I could.  You have made my life richer with each day and my love stronger with each kiss.  I didn’t think I could possibly love you any more than I did yesterday, but of course today proves me wrong.  My heart is so full and I love you.  Thank you for your patience and your smile.

Love, Denise

 

myrtle beach days

This past weekend my family and I escaped for a much needed getaway to the Beach Music Capitol.  We went to Myrtle Beach and frolicked with my nephews in water parks and salty air.  Unfortunately, I'm still getting used to bringing my big camera around so I only brought it out on Saturday night.  We went to the best seafood restaurant ever and then walked across the street to an arcade.  

Here are some memories.

"Myrtle Beach days, we'll have some fun in the waves.  I don't care what the West Coast says, cause I love those Myrtle Beach, love those Myrtle Beach days."

-The Fantastic Shakers

hubs and brother-in-law

wade

chase

sweet parents

sissy, charlie, hubs