The Sleep Book

Dr Seuss wrote a book called the Sleep Book, and while its not one of his better known works, in our opinion here in the Nourse home, its his best work. This book is requested night after night, is packed in the suitcase with us for trips, and I even recorded myself reading it (among others) for Hannah while I was in Argentina. It never gets old. When she was younger, I thought it was written with a magical number of words, because she always fell asleep... we never finished the book together.  I had to read the end for myself, and I did, because it's that witty and delightful! Now she stays awake, reciting the story (word for word) and counting sleepers. I'll miss this book when she no longer needs to read it!

Embrace the camera: photo booth

My favorite shots for Embrace the Camera are the ones that happen spontaneously...like this one.  Outside after dinner, we were playing around and just grabbed the camera. Awesome. Go check out some more with Emily at the Anderson Crew! Then grab your camera and link up too!

What I Wore: August 8

I know last week I was just wondering how it could be August already, and here I am back to school already! (For meetings, at least!) But, it has made What I Wore fun to write this week, as it was fun getting dressed for work this week! 

Striped cardigan: Ross
Red Chevron Tank: Ross
Jeans: Charlotte Russe
Sandals: Ssekos, from Noonday Collection
Coral necklace: Gift from Panama
Red tagua seed bracelet: Noonday Collection
Red snap-on watch: Target
Bone carved earrings from Noonday Collection

 Denim top: Buffalo Exchange
Inca Steps Necklace: Noonday Collection
I'm actually also wearing Packaged Pretty Earrings, but they are pretty invisible in this picture.
Initially, I wasn't sure if these earrings were my style, but I ended up LOVING the square shape, and the colorful paper beads match everything!

Striped top: (never met a stripe I didn't like) Loft
There's a teal cami under there, but it did not show in the photo.
Jeans: Same ones from Charlotte Russe. Love that cropped length!
Sandals: Ssekos with gold ties.
Dainty Everyday Necklace from Noonday Collection
Beaded Statement Bracelet, also from Noonday Collection. These accessories are really bringing any outfit to life, makes getting dressed so FUN!
I'm also wearing those Packaged Pretty Earrings again. I told you they go with everything!

Ok, if you're counting this week and wondering why there's only 3, I missed a few days. It was a busy week! Check out the others over at the Pleated Poppy! I'm always inspired, every Wednesday!

Friday night...unexpectedly sweet.

We had plans to be at the Great Park's first giant dance party of the summer tonight...a salsa dance party...and then, at the end of a long day, I got a headache. A massive kind of headache, that made me just want to crawl into a quiet place. But, sometimes, there is no quiet place for mommy in the house. As hard as daddy was trying to distract her and do something fun (like swim) Hannah really just wanted to whine at me a little more. And all I wanted to do was dance. Except my head was already thumping, and I was totally out of energy for the night. I was so sad...so very sad and disappointed with myself for missing out. And I was still trying to hide from all noises because of my headache. So when they turned on the Olympics in my quiet place and Hannah started to whine about milk, I got up, got her the milk, and then headed to the living room where the TV is broken, sat in my favorite red chair by the fireplace, cuddled up with a favorite quilt, and grabbed that copy of Bossypants I thought I would have finished over spring break and I had me some dulce de leche ice cream. Pretty soon, Hannah wanders out, tells me she's "done watching bobbyball... I want a blanket too" and then curls up and dozes off in the chair next to me. Sweet. My headache is gone now. But I think I'll end the day here, on a good note. Here's a little photo of my Friday night bliss. Good night!

Embrace the Camera: Me and my love

This picture was one of the favorite emails I got while I was in Argentina. Subject line read: "GREAT picture of us. You look SO GOOD!" This meant so much to me... at the time, I was wearing crusty paint jeans for the third day in a row, and I did not feel beautiful. Actually, I wasn't even thinking about feeling beautiful at the time, I was there to serve, but knowing that Micah thought that across the world blessed my heart in a way that I cannot describe... feeling so treasured there after a long day in my crusty jeans!
Husbands, if your wife's love language is Words of Affirmation, she never gets tired of hearing sweet things like this!

So... Embrace the Camera is all about getting in front of the camera with our loved ones. I have to confess that for as much as I love Micah, we are almost never in front of the camera together! (So sad!) So, I have been making an intentional effort to stop for a photo with him more this year, for many reasons:
1) We've been together long enough that sometimes we look different (me more than Micah, he may look the same forever, actually) than the pictures we have on the walls. Of our wedding. Almost seven years ago.
2) He's my favorite person to look at. Why wouldn't I love more pictures of him?
3) Hannah loves to take our picture. (We just can NEVER EVER forget to make her wear the strap on her wrist. See entry from last week about broken camera. Sad day.)
4) Pictures that show how much we love each other are really valuable to us today, and even more valuable to our family someday. I had the great privilege of making a slideshow for the family when my grandma Sarah Ann passed away this past December. I can't tell you how sweet it was to see all those pictures of her and my grandpa holding each other so tight... and there were some from their newlywed days that were just too cute for words! Their marriage is a great example to me, my parents, our family... and inspires us all to one day have a love story like theirs! Photos are a great way to capture the moments along the way as we grow old together! (yes, Micah and I are getting old, I can say that)
But we're still young enough to have some fun. Here's a few of us hamming it up on a Saturday morning for Hannah:

Check out some of the other fun photos at Embrace the Camera with Emily and the Anderson Crew!

Wing in a Sling

(Singing) Quote of the Day from Hannah:
 "I've got my wing in a sling! I've got my wing in a sling! Just like Grandma..."
Micah and I stopped, and she had to explain to us: "Like Grandma's hurt arm." Thankfully, she didn't realize that we were trying to stifle giggles.
What will she say next?

What I Wore Wednesday: August 1

It is not August already. Tell me it's not August already!!!
Nope, it is... I was out early running this morning with my neighbor, and it's already HOT. It's August, for sure.
It's also Wednesday, so I am joining up with What I Wore Wednesday over at the Pleated Poppy again! Well, this is the second time. And this week is extra "special" because Hannah had an accident with my beloved little camera (with the self-timer)... and it bent the lens and died.  It was a sad day! But, I have to remind myself (over and over, because I miss it) that it is just a thing. Just a camera. First-world-problem. Let it go. So, these are grainier cell phone self-portraits... sorry, not even cool Instagram pictures, I know! Another first-world-problem. I need to stop that!

First up: I "sun-dressed up!" (pictured with Gus the Wonder Dog. He doesn't wear accessories. Ever.)
Chambray sundress: Target
Brightly-Lined Scarf: Noonday Collection. This is a favorite. The four colors make it so much more versatile than I ever expected (because I don't wear a lot of patterns) and it brings a lot of life to anything I wear it with!
Sseko Sandals with favorite red ties: Noonday Collection. 

Denim button-up top: Buffalo Exchange.
Black shorts: Old Navy. These are the perfect length, cut. Modest, but not campy. And they have a cute little drawstring tie at the top, which really "tied it together" with my sandals. (Stop me now, that pun was ridiculous!)
Sseko sandals with black ties: Noonday Collection. I love these shoes. Being able to switch the straps makes it seem like I have countless more options! See the challenge Sseko has going on this month: (30 Ties in 30 Days!) They are comfortable, you can wear them a different way every day if you like, and they don't flop, so you don't have to curl your toes at all to keep them on when you walk, and they're a lot stealthier than flopping around all day! Plus, those ties are too cute!

 Here's the running clothes I chose for this morning.
Do.not.wear.this.
Clearly, I still felt like I was in Argentina, where it is winter, because the running tights and long sleeved shirt were so not necessary. Too much in fact. I broke an amazing sweat this morning. But, after a hot shower and a hot cup of coffee, I felt unstoppable!

 All fresh and clean:
Gingham top: Target
Blue shorts: Old Navy (once I found shorts I liked there, I bought another pair). No ties on this pair though.
I am still wearing my Ssekos with brown straps, though!
Minted Necklace: Noonday Collection. Handmade paper beads from Uganda. I love the color of this necklace. It's like mint-chip ice cream.
Tagua seed bracelet: Noonday Collection
Gold earrings: gift from Meg!