Mexico Trip: Day 1

So excited to finally share some pictures from my recent vacation in Mexico! The first day was pretty jam packed and I was running between flights and planes between 3 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. I was so exhausted that I managed to snap only a few pics before I finally got to the hotel. The difference in weather is quite shocking; when I stepped on the plane in Dallas it was cloudy and cool and when I stepped off it was hot and humid with no breeze. Definitely tropical!

xoxo, Nat

Currently.

It's been a while since I posted so I thought it would be nice to break the ice with a "currently" post, which I haven't done in quite a long time.

watching:
Old Disney and Pixar Movies. I'm a sucker for old Disney Classics! I also want to watch "Cloverfield" this summer, so lets see if I do end up watching that after all.

reading:
Lots of books! I'm rereading the Secret Life of Bees, read The Night Circus, and excited to get started on The Fault in Our Stars which looks really good.

baking:
a few simple cakes when its not too hot. (I know I'm kinda crazy for even considering baking in this weather!) I've been trying out a few popsicle recipes this summer and delighted with the outcomes! My favorites so far were the Coconut pops and Mango & Chile.

collecting:
Old film cameras. I've been scouring the flea markets for some pretty old ones and perhaps some polaroid film if I get lucky.

thinking about:
some good ways to re-boot this blog a bit and bring it back to life! I'm also craving a coffee from Starbucks (since my blogging break, I've become a coffee drinker). I'd also like to thank the lovely ladies who left such kind comments on my last post -- the support and encouragement was amazing!

excited about:
a trip to Mexico which I'll be going on in a few short weeks! I couldn't be more thrilled! It's my first trip there and I'm sure I'll snap lots and lots of pictures during my stay.

xoxo, Nat

Saturday.

I really really like warm weekends. Weekends full of new places, cute old towns, and nice weather (which I was lucky enough to get this time around). I still can't believe summer is less than a month away, and counting down the days until it arrives.

On a side note: It's Ella's birthday tomorrow! Is it weird to think that I'm so excited for a cat's first birthday? Yeah, I'm a bit odd that way :P

xoxo, Nat

Farmer's Market

One of my favorite things about the summer season is going to a farmer's market late in the afternoon  on a weekend with locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables available at your fingertips. Seeing all the yummy food there is kind of thrilling and it's always fun to branch out of your comfort zone a bit to decide on what you're having for lunch (nan bread please!). And right as I was leaving, I was super tempted to pick up a big bag of  fresh kettle popcorn, but resisted with all the willpower I had left! Some things are just so hard to say no to.

Three words to describe my weekend?
Warm. Local. Strawberries.

xoxo, Nat

From the weekend.

After all these wet, dreary months it's hard to remember what a nice sunny day looks like! I took advantage of the beautiful weather, and went out into town snapping photos, looking at the beautiful flowers growing on the side of the sidewalk, and chowing down the best portobello mushroom burger I think I'll ever have. I also finished my latest book read The Age of Miracles (more on that later) and purchased a few new books at a second-hand book shop.

What's not to like about pretty spring days?

xoxo, Nat

My weekend in 3 words.

 Ella.

 Outdoors.

Painting.

xoxo, Nat

Shop on the side of the road.

I love unexpected adventures! Last weekend, taking a short drive, I saw this adorable little shop on the side of the road and decided to check it out. That was the best idea ever! This side shop had quite an array of things : carved woodland critters, lots of handmade clay pots, and some little potted plants. After browsing, I ended up buying a few clay pots (no surprise)

I guess that just about sums up that little venture doesn't it?

xoxo, Nat

Currently...

I've seen a few "Currently" posts sprinkled throughout the blogosphere, I couldn't resist writing one myself!

watching:
Once Upon a Time. I just love love love love love this show! Why? Because it's so original and has a lot of plot twists, which keep things interesting. (This is not your typical fairytale show about princesses singing and cheesy plots -- at all)

reading:
no books at the moment! I just finished reading my latest book read, so now I'm still looking for a new one. I'm still deciding between The Night Circus and The Age of Miracles. What do you think?

baking:
chocolate chip cookies! I just love these classic cookies - too yummy to resist.

collecting:
yarn. For my granny square quilt in-progress. I had to buy this jumbo bag just to hold them all! Overkill maybe?

thinking about:
how I seem to have a huge thinking block when I'm writing this post! Typing my thoughts out on "digital paper" shouldn't be this hard! I think I need a hot cup of tea... or is it coffee? Wait, no. I don't even like coffee! (not without lots of creamer anyway).

excited about:
using my fisheye camera! I won it in Jules' giveaway and I can't wait to take more snapshots! I ordered film not that long ago, and snapped some snapshots on the trip. Yay for film cameras!

xoxo, Nat

Snow Trip Snapshots

It's so nice to be back here at the blog again! I'd like to thank my four awesome guest posters: Maria, Chelsea, Lou, and Ciera! You guys rock!

I had a lovely time up in the mountains and I must say, 4 days without internet and wifi really forces you to relax. Since this was a family trip, I guess you could say that was a good thing!

Checking out my boots before taking a small trek in the snow.

 Enjoying some warm (but just a wee bit toasted) waffles for breakfast.

A peek into one of the quaint little bedrooms in the cabin...

A little warm raspberry-honey tea takes you a long way after a cold day in the snow! Enjoying a nice cup of it near a fireplace while it's snowing is picture-perfect.

 I took this pretty scenic snapshot as we headed home, and I must say, I think I'll really miss being in the midst of a heavy snowfall in a nice warm cabin. It was nice to unplug for a bit, and I finally finished my current book read, The Secret Life of Bees (which was really good by the way). This little vacation was a great way to "pause" things for a bit and really brainstorm what's up next here at Modern Buttercup. I'm thrilled for the changes ahead!

xoxo, Nat

An artsy afternoon

Doing art is one of my favorite things to do on a nice afternoon. Put on a soothing playlist, get out art supplies, grab a cup of hot chocolate and you're set for the perfect afternoon. This followed by baking a cake can't be beat! I'm looking forward to trying a sponge cake next time...

For tomorrow, here's what I have in mind: some thrifting, working on my One Word project, and making some yummy pasta. I might even squeeze in some organizing!

xoxo

Nat

An idle weekend

Saturday and Sunday were pretty mellow, unplanned to say the least. Take a peek at one lazy Sunday through the lens:

Morning :: Raindrops greeted me in the morning, making little clinking sounds as they hit the pavement. I poured myself a cup of water and filled it with ice, hoping it would wake me up a bit. And trust me-- it did!

Mid-morning :: Got to plan out the week's blog posts and start allotting time to put together a few!

Afternoon :: My little blog-planning session was cut short when I saw these little eyes staring at me, waiting to play. Who could resist such a cute little face? Well obviously, I can't :)

Evening :: Sat down for a bit and read some of my Frankie magazine. It's issue 50, so I'm a bit behind on reading the latest one. I hope to finish it soon!

Late evening / night :: Worked on my crocheting; I finally learned the basic stitches and began on my very first project -- a granny square! So excited!!

xoxo, Nat