Still Catching Up...Summer is Awesome!!!

So much randomness & happiness in the little things up in this post.

Check out this gorgeous view of the sunset behind the mountains...from my laundry room window. Such a beauty to take in...as I'm folding towels. Ha!

This makes me laugh. Every time.

#themomlife

I'm kinda obsessed with these frames right now. Funky, yet classy & so bright & fun! And we all know how I LOVE photos!

These two. Buds. Stinkin' adorable together!

They crack me up!

Inspired by the season, I went for some neon jams! So in love with this combo! Island Energy clear Jamberries over neon polish! Crazy fun!

This beauty opened up, and makes me smile every time I walk by her.

Summer should be super crazy fun. All the way down to the ice in our drinks. $3 in ice cube trays, and they went nuts. It doesn't take much to make something magical for little ones. When do we lose that ability to find joy in such little things?!

I have a friend that is the most kind, loving, giving person in the entire world. I mean it. She never, ever stops giving of herself, her time, her energy, her love, her commitment, her all...to everyone around her. She amazes me every day. She listens with her whole heart and naturally goes out of her way to make sure others feel special. It's a rare quality to find someone so willing to give in every capacity. I don't do our friendship justice. I truly don't. And just when I think she can't possibly do any more or make me feel any more loved, she surprises me with a vintage camper treat! To see the world with such giving eyes! Such an inspiration that one! She makes me want to love deeper...give better every day.

On a totally different note. Seriously. How the heck does this child do this to clothes every day?! It's a good thing I have such an awesome view out my laundry room window.

Ummm. Mangoritas are delicious. Like amazingly tropically summery delicious. And Settlers. Well Settlers is just awesome every time. The two together is the perfect end to a summer's day.

On a quilt. Under a tree. With good friends. And fresh air.

This is how summer days should be spent.

And building sand forts by a creek. It was pretty much a perfect day...

Everything is this picture makes me giddy. Purple toes. A flip flop tan. Neon summer jams. On the patio. Polka dot straws. Iced coffee.

Ahhhhh summer.

Homemade cinnamon sugar tortilla chips...

And homemade fruit salsa!

I ate till my stomach hurt. True story.

Mmmmmm

Carpe Caffeine.

True that.

Latern lights in the play structure. Why yes! That sounds crazy fun!

Have an awesome week!

Stop and look at the sunset as you fold towels.

Pause to look at the roses when you leave the house.

Enjoy the little things...like fun ice!

Give till your friends feel embraced by love every day!

Let your kids let their clothes crazy dirty. (This one was hard for me. But I'm there now.)

Play board games till all hours of the night with good friends.

Lay on a quilt under a tree and watch the clouds float by.

Eat till your stomach hurts.

Decorate like it's a party every day.

#becausesummer

#andbecauselifeisbeautiful

 

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Sorella Weekend 2015

Is there anything better than a summer girls weekend?!

Holla!

Time dedicated to just being with people you love and admire.

It's good for the soul I tell ya!

Girlfriend and I roadtripped out to Oklahoma for the big weekend! She was the best roadtripper! Going for 5 hour stretches without stopping & no complaints! Say what?!

And she rocked that hat & her sunglasses the whole trip there. Just love her spirit and personality!

Our first road trip selfie.

Naturally, we stopped at every state sign on the way there! Because that's what you do on a girls road trip! You embrace the road trip!

In New Mexico we had some random strangers on the side of the road take our pic...probably not the smartest idea...but we are still alive to blog about it so they were good people. Whew.

After that we used the selfie stick for our pics...

Let me tell you, we knew we were in Oklahoma when we got out of the van and the thick air smacked us in the face & Ab's hat almost blew away.

We picked up Ab's paper doll friend at a gas station along the way...because you had to be a paying customer to use their restroom...ha!

We arrived a day early since our drive was sooooo long.

Ab got in some swimming. And we caught frogs.

This girl needs to live in the country and catch frogs every day!

We won't talk about how she tried to scale an electric barb wire fence sopping wet from the pool when she took off after the sunset.

She was pretty ticked when she kissed that frog and nothing happened...

So she kissed it again...

I told her to wait 20 years...her Prince Charming had to grow up.

After Abby didn't electrocute herself, we swam some more...

but with wine this time.

I loved just chilling poolside, with the wind on my face...wine in my hand.

Friday everyone arrived, and the party really got started...

Custom summer sorella cookies! Be.still.my.heart!

This girl and those freckles and that strawberry blonde hair.

The picture of summer!

I never said she was a lady though...

She likes her "chicken in the bone".

Matching sunglasses were in order for the weekend.

And yellow was simply perfect!

Pretty much love everything about this pic.

Alice made homemade peach cobbler from scratch. Amazing.

And homemade cherry pie from scratch.

We ate well.

Love these ladies so much. I mean it. They are so freakin' special each & every one of them!

Isla Rai is being raised up right fo sho.

We took a few Isla Rai pics...

 

We went out for sushi. I had fried rice. Ha!

We met up with a good friend that moved to Oklahoma.

And these girls were reunited for a brief visit. So sweet.

And we played some Settlers of course!

Make time for the important people in your life. Drive hours upon hours to see them. Be silly with them! Embarrass them with selfie sticks! They are so totally worth it!

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Catching Up Summer Edition

I have been a blog bum. I know. It happens.

Just been taking in the lazy days of summer...

And it's been wonderful. Summer is my favorite. It's the time of year I just get to be with my kids. No rushed schedules or homework. Just us...chilling...enjoying being together. It's magical.

Girlfriend learned how to ride her bike without training wheels a while ago...it was the starting on her own & braking that gave her trouble. But like her mama, she is one determined little girl. 20 minutes of focused concentration, and she had it.

Nothing can stop her now. I love watching her pedal so hard...the wind in her hair & her handlebar tassels blowing as she zooms past. She's a little speed racer, and the world is her oyster.

I remember that feeling as a kid. When you could outrace anyone and save the world in your mind. It was awesome. I love seeing my kids get to experience that independence and thrill.

It's what summer is about...

And sharing our joys with good friends...like enjoying some lemonade and popsicles on the patio...it's just better with a good buddy...

Building forts outside in the summer is pretty cool too...Hanging out with little brothers in forts you built outside is even better! These two are thick as thieves. Best friends. Partners in crime. It's a bond like no other. They will not leave each other behind. It makes my heart happy.

Reading together in the play structure, out in the fresh air, with birds chirping and the sun shining is pretty awesome too. Life is just better outside.

Making homemade popsicles was a big event!

Who knew that puréed strawberries could be so exciting?! But I guess when you make it yourself, it becomes magical. No sugar. Just strawberries. Although I thought we were going to have a revolt when they heard they had to wait till the next day to eat them...

But riding our bikes calmed down the natives. Whew. Thank goodness.

I love this boy in that shirt. And that helmet. And those little flip flops. So tough for such a sweet, sensitive little guy.

Ahhhhh...the happiness of eating a popsicle you made yourself! They scarfed those babies down! I really gotta freeze puréed fruit on a stick more often.

What do you do when it rains all afternoon...? You put together ten thousand puzzles with kids till you want to poke your eyes out. Then you side step in your kitchen all afternoon...

Checking out the pumpkin patch and digging for worms and rolly pollies are daily occurances around these parts.

Brody picked out some new jams for me the other week. It was a fun combo.

My roses bring me so much joy. They are just so bright and happy. I could have like 50 rose bushes!

I mean look at this gorgeous thing! Seriously plant rose bushes in your yard for instant happiness. They won't disappoint.

Peace out. Till next time...when I tell you about the time I drove across four states with Ab for a girls weekend to hang out with my sorellas! Holla!

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