Summer is here....it's official!

Most people say that Memorial Day is the unoffical start of summer, well for us it is the annual church Street Fair.  Festivals and fairs are one of my favorite things about summer but we usually stick to only two or three of them. I wish we could go to more....the music, the laughter, the smells....aaahhh.

Summer officially starts for us with the street fair at one of the local churches.  This is the church of my husband's family and many years ago, this is where we had our first "date".  Well, I guess it wasn't really a date but this is the first place we "hung out" at back when we were 18 and thought we were so grown up.   I laugh watching the teenagers there now and wonder if I was ever that ridiculous....yep.....I was.

Fast forward 15 years and now we are taking our kids there to enjoy the rides, games and fair food....hello funnel cake!  It's really a special thing to both of us to be able to bring our kids here and always sparks memories of our fist summer together.  Not to mention we also got married at this church so there's a lot of our history there.  I love being able to enjoy something from my past with my kids now, it's a cool feeling.  Who knows, maybe we'll even be taking our grandkids one day!

What are your summer kickoff traditions?

Favorite Things Friday

A few things I'm loving these days....

1. My Bodycology fragrance mist in Coconut Lime.  My husband says I smell like a Pina Colada.  I can think of worse things...I bought this on a clearance shelf at Wal-Mart ~ love it!  Light and fresh!

2.  My new Target Mossimo sandals.  I wear them constantly now.  They seem to go with everything and are so comfy!

3. This Feta and Poppyseed Salad....perfect for spring.  Mixed greens, feta cheese, sunflower seeds, raisins, and poppyseed dressing.  Can you say delicious!?!

4.  This song by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  I love the raw sound of her voice.

5.  Handpicked flowers from my boys.  Buttercups and columbine...they bring such cheer to the house and a bright smile to my face.

6.  These pretty little lace mirrors from  Sunny Inspirations on Etsy.
I may be getting quite a few of these to have on hand for gifts.  Love them!  So dainty and perfect for your purse.

7.  This T-Shirt from Neena Creates on Etsy.
I love the romance of all her items...check out her shop!

What are you loving?

Finding Joy

The jury's still out.....

So here's my new hair...hmmm...just not sure.

Haven't decided what I think yet. Those of you that know me know my hair is usually some version of "short" or "even shorter" but now I am trying to grow my hair out long.  Yep, I'm one of those gals that is never completely happy with my hair.  It's just so thin and lifeless.  In a way I am resolved to it I guess.   I usually keep it short to maximize the "lift" but I recently decided to give longer hair a try again.   Knowing that my hair would just hang sadly, I thought a body wave may help give me bit more volume.  Enough to pull off a longer style.  I delayed a haircut for 6 months just to get it this long so I could get the body wave!  It's far from long yet but it really couldn't wait any longer.

These styles are more along the lines of what I'm going for but I'm starting to think the only way to get this kind of hair is to have a personal stylist work some magic while I sit in a elevated chair for hours sipping coffee and reading a magazine like the celebs!

The length will come in due time (if I can be that patient!) but how to get these lovely relaxed waves....hmmm.  Mine are tighter and more frizzy looking.  Through no fault of my stylist however.  I was thankfully forewarned that I would need to go for a tighter curl if I wanted it to last longer than a week.  No way am I going every other week to get this look.  I'd have to get a second job!  What I am loving about it is the ease to style it...just scrunch and go!

 So, any tips out there on how to get less frizzy curls?  Maybe a styling tip or a particular hair product?  

New to the Shop - Carnelian Candy

 Beads always remind me of candy for some reason.  

When a new shipment arrives, I'm like a kid in a candy store and all those bright colors look so delicious.  The carnelian and coral I used in this pair is no exception.  I could just gobble them up!

Carnelian Candy

Have a SWEET day!

In our house...

Not surprisingly, I have been inspired by Rachael's blog "finding joy".  She wrote this lovely post and I instantly wanted to do the same.  Listing things out is a great way to find the joy in your everyday life and I think it is fun for readers to get a peek inside....so here's mine....

In our house...

: :  we have pajama days (like once a week pretty much).  No shower, no day clothes.  Just Pj's.  We do brush our teeth at least!

: :  we plan out our menu and post it on the fridge.  I've recently found out a lot of people are doing this too.  My husband and I have been doing it since we moved in together.  I can't imagine life without it.  It makes thing so much easier when coming home from a long day of work when you don't have to think about what to make for dinner!

: :  we love music.  Some of our family favorites are...

Jason Aldean (anything)

Jamey Johnson (In color)

Taylor Swift (Mean)

Travis Triit (It's a great day to be alive)

Zac Brown Band (anything)

Luke Bryan (Rain is a good thing)

Matt Maher (Hold us together)

Bob Marley (Three little birds)

Barenaked Ladies (Life in a nutshell)

Black Eyed Peas (I gotta feeling)

Counting Crows (Einstein on the beach)

: :  we say "I love you" umpteen times a day.

: :  we love jeep wranglers.  Have 3 of them.  Well, 1 real and 2 power wheels jeeps but they all get driven....a lot.  Long rides with the top down are THE BEST!

Our Jeep - affectionately named "Black Jack"

: :  we love outdoor activities, especially kayaking and camping.

Our kayaks hanging in our garage

: :  we'd rather play than clean and it shows.  Stuff strewn about everywhere.  A clean house only lasts about 4 hours or less, but that's ok.

My youngest playing with pill bugs in the back yard

: :  we live with a sweet poochie.  She is the most gentle and well behaved dog we know.  Perhaps it's from putting up with all the torture from my boys?  She is an angel for this alone.

Our sweet Sienna

: :  we do everything together. Well, as much as we can, which seems to be much more than most people.  Alone time is rare but I actually think this is a good thing.  We just like being together.


: :  we argue (just keeping it real) but we are quick to forgive


: :  we have spontaneous dance parties.  The goofier the dance the better.  Both my boys are AWESOME break-dancers.  Well, they think they're break-dancing but either way it is hilarious and adorable.

: :  we got love, trust, and giggles

: : we have faith....in God and in each other

What goes on in your house?

Taking the high road....

My sister bought my son a nightly devotional book this past Christmas and most of the time it seems like God is using it for me instead of my son.  I'm sure he is benefiting from it as well but it's crazy how many nights I'm reading it to him and the message seems made for me.  Last night was about how to love those that are hard to love.

"You have heard it said , "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:43-45 NIV

I recently had an experience with someone fairly close to me that was flat out rude and ridiculous given the circumstances.  But then again this person has always been like this, serving out backhanded compliments and just an overall attitude that nothing we do will ever be good enough.  It's getting harder and harder not to blow up at this person and just let it go.  I was even contemplating what I could say the nest time I saw them.  Thankfully though, I let off some steam to my Mom and then came this timely devotional.

Truth is we probably all have someone in our lives that's a little hard to love, and sometimes that may be an understatement!  God was gracious enough to remind me that the best way to deal with these people is to forgive them as fast as you can, move on, and pray for them.  Always pray for them.  This is a lot harder for me than it sounds but I will try Lord.  I will always try.

The Prayer

Heavenly Father, make me a kind person even to those who don't treat me kindly.  Let me forgive others, just as You have forgiven me. Amen.

So simple, but so badly needed.

New to the Shop - Royal Simplicity

I recently added a new necklace and bracelet design to my Etsy shop!

Meet Royal Simplicity!

Royal Simplicity Necklace

I'm a big fan of stones with varying tonal ranges.  

I think it makes the piece more versatile and complimentary to several wardrobe colors.

Royal Simplicity Bracelet

The Antique "New" Jade in this piece has tones ranging from warm tans and browns to light greens and aquas.  

Set off beautifully by a lovely vermeil clasp, this design is both simple and regal at the same time!
Gee, wonder how it got it's name? : )