a breath of fresh air {image heavy}

exhale.Everyone, I'd like you to give my Mister a round of applause. No really, I'm serious here. I am breathing easy on this Monday morning because I spent my Sunday on a most fabulous date! Yes, my Mister took me on an early birthday date to Grounds for Sculpture. We attended The Epicurean Palatte; a day long food and wine tasting which was a benefit for this most amazing sculpture park. So please, click the "play" button + enjoy my new most favourite feel good song while taking in this image heavy post, full of all of the fun we had on our most wonderful "me + you" day!

Usually, this is a place I love to bring the littles to; seeing as that it is one of the biggest + most beautiful outdoor museums I have ever seen. The manicured pathways lead you through gardens and towards sculptures, each more fascinating than the one before. And when you are not there for an event, there is a gourmet-esque cafe where you can pick up a picnic basket {complete with a bottle of wine}, and park yourself + your tribe wherever you please to enjoy a little R+R. I apologize for my shameless plug, but this place is my Disney World.

Aside from Friday's bit of drama, it has been a long couple of weeks in general. Adjusting to a school routine with the kiddos + being a working mama. I must confess, the first semester as a college professor is a hell of alot of work! I was not all that upset to be heading off without the kiddos come Sunday morning...selfishly, I was looking foward to a little grown up hand holding. I needed this day more than anyone could have imagined. To walk out of doors, to loose yourself in the art and to become absorbed in some uninterrupted adult conversation...and the delicious fare didn't hurt either!
And yes, I have a birthday comming up....a significant one. I've always hated talking about my age, hating it when people would say, "oh, your so young!", like it was some disease. While I've gotten over the age thing, I'm still not a big "surprise party" kind of girl... atleast not when they are for me! This day, however, was a dream. We met a bunch of fun people, we got to visit our special "secret hammock" at the park...someone asked me if I was a celebrity and I think I just might end up having my photo on the park's website for this event...I signed a waiver for it anyway, so we'll see?! I am so unbelievably lucky to have such a wonderful man who knows me well enough to plan such a lovely and most perfect day full of people, food and a whole lot of little silly moments...

A simple change of scenery can be such a breath of fresh air. Life is moving at such a fast pace that I don't have one second to spare for things that are negative. Today is a new day, this is a new week. As I sit here tonight writing this post; listening to this song, looking at these photos, seeing my littles sleeping on the couch...I realize that this is all that really matters. The joy and over all "feel good" is so powerful it makes my heart hurt...and I wish everyone could feel it...not the hurt, but the happy! With my birthday around the corner, I can't help but daydream about all of the wonderful things I want to to with my littles and with my best friend over this next decade of my life; over the entire rest of my life for that matter. I had such a wonderful date day with my Mister...and if I could make a wish for my birthday, I'd wish that everyone would plan a grown up day with the special someone in their lives. My birthday is not until October 8th, so you'll have some time...but I'd love to know, what will you do on your date?

xo.