Awe-inspiring

photos by Bryant Austin

Bryant Austin creates life-sized images of whales.  I would absolutely love to see these photographs in person....

Welcome home, Capt Fisher!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

An interview one of my college girlfriends, Karen, did with the Today Show regarding her homecoming from Afghanistan and how happy her dog, Molly, was to see her.  So touching and heartwarming...our four-legged friends are such a blessing...

"I'm not much of a dancer."

Pulp Fiction (1994) via this tumblr

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jin Juhua kisses her husband Zhong Weiqiao at a gathering of 60 couples who have been married to each other for over five decades, in Kaihua village of Zhuji city, Zhejiang province, China, on Feb. 14. Jin and Zhong have been married for more than 60 years.  photo via MSNBC photo gallery

Yes, I realize that it's almost 10 days past the 14th of February, but shouldn't Valentine's Day be celebrated EVERYDAY versus being confined to just one particular day out of the entire year?  (Plus, I've been terrible about updating this blog so I'm only now getting around to posting at all, let alone a Valentine's Day post!) 

And a few more lovely stories and photos that made my heart smile...

There's no one else I'd rather spend my next 50+ Valentine's Days with than my handsome hubby.  I love you, Bru.

It's all about choices...

image via dazeychic

"...Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”  ~ Victor Frankl from "Man's Search for Meaning"

Sanity is overrated, anyway...

photo via Northbrook Park District

Today's StoryPeople story of the day reminded me of when I first started dating the handsome hubby and he was coaching a kids soccer team on GTMO...

"There are a hundred good reasons why no sane person would ever coach soccer, he told me on the drive home, but I forget most of them when I'm on my meds & we laughed wildly in the bright spring air."

An excuse to eat more cupcakes? Count me in!

photo via The Bespoken:  For Gentleman

It's no secret that I have an incredible sweet tooth.  So when I saw this article about less sinful cupcakes, I had to share! 

Eve Turow came up with some recipes for cupcakes that have improved nutritional benefits so that you don't have to feel TOO guilty for indulging.  She used non-traditional ingredients such as beans, pumpkin, and yogurt to up the health-value of the treats without sacrificing flavor. 

I'm dying to try the chocolate espresso, the red velvet, and the pumpkin recipes...although I suppose I'll have to hold off until next year when I get back home.  If anyone decides to take one of these recipes for a spin, let me know what you think!