What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm taking part in a bloghop I've never done before...it's called "What I'm Loving Wednesday," and it's hosted by Jamie at This Kind of Love.  Looks like fun!

Here are some of the things I'm loving lately:

1) The amazing fall colors here in Northern Illinois.  Sadly, many of the leaves have already departed, but there are still some to enjoy, and I've been madly snapping pictures to try to preserve the beauty.  Above is a collage of some of the favorites I took.

Here's a larger view of one of my favorites, taken on Calvin Park Boulevard in Rockford, IL.

2) Autumn decorating.  Below is an idea I got from Pinterest...I think it turned out pretty well!

3) The Nexus 7 mini-tablet that I won!

It's like a small iPad, basically.  One of the things I'm loving most about it is that I've loaded the Kindle app on it, so I can use it as an e-reader.  Yay!

I didn't even know I was "entered" to win this.  I won it from our local newspaper, the Rockford Register Star, just because I followed them and re-tweeted them in September.  What a happy surprise when I got an e-mail saying I had won it!

4) Modern Technology.  Thanks to that, while my husband has been away on a trip that took him to see our children and granchildren in Texas, I immediately got to enjoy images like this:

and this...

5) MyFitnessPal.com Thanks to this wonderful site, I've been rejuvenated in my health and fitness efforts!  It's keeping me accountable in a way I haven't been for a long time.  I'm excited about my progress.

Go here to participate in What I'm Loving Wednesday!

My Life Lately on Instagram

I've been loving Instagram lately.  It satisfies the frustrated, uneducated photographer in me!  When I see something I like, I just take a picture of it and put it on Instagram.  I love the filter options that can make your picture look really cool.

I'm sharing some of the pics I've taken lately.  The fall colors are starting to come out in their glory here in Northwest Illinois...above is a pic I snapped on a beautiful street in our town called Calvin Park Boulevard.

I turned a new page in my Shelly Reeves Smith planner yesterday and thought it was so pretty, I took a pic.

Sitting waiting for a table at a restaurant after church on Sunday, I looked up at my husband and thought, "How handsome!"

This is me on the same day.  I'm wearing the Soft Surroundings top that I'm giving away...more on that in a moment!

A group of my former co-workers from the radio station that was sold to a big corporation got together for lunch recently.  It was so much fun!

Yes, I take pictures of mundane things around my house! I'm obsessed with all things Paris, and I think this is the prettiest bottle of handsoap ever! (I got it at TJMaxx).  Beside it is a mini Eiffel Tower I got at Hobby Lobby.  One of my bathrooms is all pink and black, all France.

There's something I just love about old-fashioned lamp posts.  This is one on Calvin Park Boulevard.

Do you like Instagram?  Do you use it often? Let me know!

Just four days left to get in on my give-away of this beautiful top from Soft Surroundings!  Go here to enter!

Oh, How Pinteresting! 10/5/11

I'm linking up to The Vintage Apple today for Oh, How Pinteresting! It's basically an assortment of cool things I've found on Pinterest recently.

Source: flickr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

How beautiful is this picture, taken in Utrecht, the Netherlands?

Source: alifemorefabulous.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I adore baths anyway, but if I had one like this, I might never get out of it!

Source: cameramind.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Mary Poppins! Is this not the cutest idea for a costume?

Source: tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

A lovely idea for a pumpkin display

Source: 500px.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I have no idea where this is, but what a charming little structure!

Source: bellacosas.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Funny and SO true!

You can follow me on Pinterest here!

And link up to the Vintage Apple here:

Life Made Lovely: Lovely Fall Photos

photo by Mike Shaw via


It's November...and here in Northern Illinois, that means it won't be too long before the trees will be stripped bare of all their beautiful leaves. So for Life Made Lovely, I thought I would share some more beautiful autumn pictures from various sources and various places around the world. Enjoy!

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These European castles take my breath away...I'd love to visit them someday!

I actually took this one in my own neighborhood, Autumn 2009. Last fall was an especially brilliant autumn here in Northern Illinois!

Another one in my own neighborhood, autumn 2009

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So, take a deep breath. We're about to plunge into one of the busiest, craziest, and potentially most wonderful times of the year!

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Click on the icon to participate in Life Made Lovely!

Autumn Loveliness

...Participating in Life Made Lovely Monday a day late...

This picture of my front yard was actually taken last year. The fall colors have not been as brilliant this year in Northern Illinois as they were last year.

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I think this autumn picture of an estate in Norway is just gorgeous.

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This is a cottage in England.

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To me, this picture of my little grandson, Payton and Josiah, is the loveliest autumn picture of all!

Click on the icon to find out more about Life Made Lovely Monday!

My September Favorites, Audio-Style!

Listen to my 10-minute podcast to hear about some of the things I loved most during September!