sweet summertime

I just recently realized I missed my two year blogiversary. And although it wasn't my first post, I think my love for Memorial Day is most abundant in one of my earliest posts. Between the start of summer, the amazing weather, the Indy 500, the cookouts and the pools opening, it is easily one of the most fun holidays.


I'm so excited for everything that is happening over this long weekend. It's going to be absolutely packed with time with my friends and family. I'm thinking this kick-start to summer is a precursor for what is to come.

Happy summer! Don't forget to eat a bratwurst in honor of the Indy 5. Mmm mmm!
PS: I don't think this picture really represents the Indy 500 or bratwursts, but isn't is so summer lovely? via Ruby PR.

The lady who lived in her shoes...

No one in the whole entire world makes more blanket statements than my brother Sam.

OK, that might be an exaggeration, but that's something he'd say. He's notorious for his over-the-top blanket statements. He believes that if you make a strong enough statement, no one will ever forget it. Therefore, he tends to make extreme proclamations, such as the fact that he hates onions, in every form, in everything, always. No one will ever serve him onions.

Although I don't typically engage in such extreme statements, we are related, and therefore, it happens from time to time.

Case in point: I have officially experienced my most favorite shoes in the world. No shoes will ever serve me quite as well. I will never love shoes like I've loved these puppies.

I walked around with my little heart broken for a few days because these sandals (I have silver and bronze) got holes in the bottom of them. I had been wearing them since April 2008, when I found the lovely gems at Target, two hours before semi-formal, and made a last minute purchase for $12.99 each.

Well, I dressed them up (weddings), dressed them down (casual dates), abused them (the bars), misused them (wore them to work), and finally, after the shoe re-solesman told me it was over, I admitted I had to say goodbye. They were beyond broken in, they were just broken.

However, last week, I experienced extreme joy when I found the new and improved version - again at Target. This time they were $19.99, but after the last two years I've had with their Isaac Mizrahi counterparts, I decided it was more than worth it.

I thought I had to say goodbye, but instead, I ended up finding a slightly better version. Isn't it amazing how things just work themselves out?

PS: I know it's completely shameful that I wore these shoes for song long, but I know you all won't judge me...

finn man

It's a phenomenon, really. Every time you show Finn a camera, he strikes a pose. Even if he's completely consumed by something else, if he notices you have a camera, he'll pause, look up, and smile. Because of this, we decided he should be entered to win the Parents magazine November cover contest. He's been selected as a finalist, so please vote for him!

Spring to summer weekend

Even though it's not yet Memorial Day, the events of this weekend (and the perfect weather) are making me think it's appropriate to act summerish.

I consider this to be the last weekend of spring and I fully intend to indulge. If you need me, I'll be outside. Happy weekend!

Photos: Dress, Design & Decor

Tuesday?

Whew! With everything that's going on here, I feel like I've had a whole week already. I can't believe it's only Tuesday.

Of course, it probably has to do with the excitement of the weekend to come, which includes Libby's bachelorette party.

I'm counting down the days until I'm reunited with some of my favorite people, all of whom are scattered across the country and engaged in their own adventures (they too, are probably wondering how it's possibly only Tuesday).

I'm thinking the weekend ahead might call for a new ensemble. The Carven Ruffle-skirt Taffeta Dress looks bachelorette-party-perfect to me.

Oh, if only I wore crew necks...

And had $595 to spare.

Photo: apartment #34

yummy

I'm wearing my J.Crew Chiffon Tiered Ruffle Skirt from last spring today, and it's always the insta-happy because the ruffles make me feel extra pretty. I love prancing around in it.

For some reason, when I wear it, it reminds me of a cupcake. Which reminds me of parties, specifically birthday parties. And this only enhances the happiness the skirt brings.

I'm pretty sure this Monique Lhuiller dress would have the same effect. One part cupcake, one part fairy tale...

planting seeds

"It's not what you don't have. It's what you do with what you do have." Kitty Bartholomew

I really can't say enough about Simply Yoga, the studio Jenny and I have been attending since February. After three months of one to two classes each week, I still leave exhausted every time, wondering if I'll be able to blow dry my hair the next day.

After such a positive experience, we decided to try a new studio. Why not be able to do more classes each week?

When I arrived at the new class, I knew it wasn't going to be quite the same. It didn't have that yoga smell (ah lavender), the lighting wasn't right, the room echoed...

But, I know different isn't always wrong. So I tried to maintain a positive attitude.

Unfortunately, things did not improve. The mats were smelly, there was no eye pillow (!), and it wasn't even a challenge.

I left feeling slightly downtrodden.

However, when I returned to Simply Yoga this week, it only made my regular class seem even more amazing. Did it always smell this nice? Are the eye pillows always so soothing? And am I always so sore the next two days?

It was a subtle reminder that, yes, sometimes, you should look into other options. But other times, it's important to be grateful for what you have. Whether it be a job, a house, or a friendship, do more with what you have, and focus less on what is missing. You never knew who might be envying exactly what you have. Besides, I've found that the grass is typically greenest right where you planted it.

Peanut butter pepper berry bar

"Sally: I'd like the chef salad, please, with the oil and vinegar on the side. And the apple pie a la mode. But I'd like the pie heated, and I don't want the ice cream on top, I want it on the side. And I'd like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream, but only if it's real. If it's out of a can, then nothing.
Waitress: Not even the pie?
Sally: No, then the pie, but not heated." When Harry Met Sally

My family always jokes that I'm the world's longest food orderer. I can never just order an item off the menu. I always have to remove this, add that, and swap something else.

I like to think it's because I know what I want in life, and I'm not afraid to ask. However, others might just call it pickiness.

Either way, I've recently found two Web sites that cater to people like me. The first is Chocomize, a site where you can design your own candy bars.

You choose from a base of dark, milk or white chocolate. Then you can pick from 100 ingredients - ranging from peanut butter chips to potato chips to chipotle peppers (no joke). They have almost everything you can think of.
The second site is My Mixed Nuts. It's the same concept as the candy bars, except with trail mix instead. If you're like me (picky and habitual) it's likely that your candy bar and trail mix might end up looking surprisingly similar...

Both of these sites make me think my idea for a create your own ice cream flavor site might be taken if I don't act quickly.

Coincidentally, the two ice cream flavors I've been dying to create are Ants on a Log and Trail Mix. Maybe I could join forces with My Mixed Nuts?

roughing it

When we were younger my dad had a pop-up camping trailer. It lived in our backyard for a number of years, until my mom decided it wasn't a very classy look (whaa?). Now one of his friends has it and, although we're technically still the proud owners, I think it may have rusted shut.

When we were little, though, sometimes we were allowed to camp in the backyard without parents. One time we got to camp with our cousins and the next morning my dad made the best blueberry pancakes. I still think all camping trips should end with a morning of blueberry pancakes.

Sweet dreams in the pop-up, combined with wonderful adventures of tent camping in my neighbor's backyard (where her mom would lay down featherbeds and haul out a TV - more like glamping), have left me with a soft spot for camping. There's something to be said for a cool summer night, a bonfire, a cocktail (or s'more, depending on the crowd), and a tent.

The weather we've been having lately has me itching to enjoy the outdoors. Although it's not really roughing it, ever since last summer I've been dying to try the Watershed Cabins in North Carolina. I've discussed the possibility of a long weekend there with so many people, but as I approach the summer, I decided it's time to make it happen. It's affordable and looks pretty fabulous. Won't you join me? I'll make you blueberry pancakes in the morning.