through the lense

1.Reading nook.

2. Shaking my groove thing at Melissa's masquerade party. 

3. Saturday Sunrise

4.&5. Start of the fall festive frenzies in our home.

6.&7. My boys

8. Yummy strawberry shortcake pop 

9.&10. Lunch with the mama

11.&12. Pawnshop loves 

13.&14. Becks birthday woop woop

15. Scrumptious wild berry pie

Making your own happy

This season in life has been a strange one; I seem to find more joy in the little things in life then looking toward my future or goals. Lately when I look towards the future it overwhelms me, like the walls are closing in and all the air is being sucked out of my lungs. The thought of how many years I have left in school (its a lot) can make me feel so defeated or the fact that I may be independent in most areas of my life but I still have days when I need my mom to tuck my hair behind my ear, give me a kiss on the forehead and tell me it will all be ok. In these moments I find myself looking to the little ways I find joy in life. Like walking into a bookstore knowing you are surrounded by thousands of stories just waiting for you to join them. (Yes im a bookworm.) Or cooking from scratch, I have truly found a love in cooking. What I wouldn't love more than to fill my home with loved ones and cook up a storm for them.  I find joy in getting out of the house and going for a walk or a long drive no destination, no music, no talking just me and the world. I believe most people go through these fazes in life and this is just one im passing through, that’s what I tell myself, im not suck here, we'll be through soon, were just passing through. And when that doesn't work I turn on the music really loud and have my own private dance party, I just dance it all out. What are your little happiness? 

xoxo

If you really knew me...

If you really knew me

You would know that I almost always have a book on me, I love reading. When I am reading a suspenseful part in a book, I cant take it. I have to know whats going to happen, so I flip to the back of the book and read the last chapter. I know ridiculous, but I cant stop myself, I have to know that everything will be ok. 

If you really knew me

You would know that I'm more likely to crack a joke or tell a funny story then to share something that I hold close to my heart. It takes me a little while to share that part of myself with people, but I do enjoy those intimate conversations most, I feel they bond you together in a powerful way that makes any kind of relationship stronger.
 

If you really knew me
 

You would know that I hold family in a special place in my heart. I feel that it is the most precious bond between people. I love hearing family stories over and over again, even if they're not about my family. People will tell me all about their kids and life growing up and funny stories and I soak it all in because I find something so beautiful in their words.

If you really knew me

You would know that fall is my favorite season, I thrive in fall. As the temperature drops and the earth releases new smells, its as if a different part of me comes to life. I love the smell of apples and cinnamon and the feel of a soft scarf laced around my neck. I drink hot tea and strew fall decorations about the house, Welcoming the change in season.

If you really knew me

You would know that I dont like people to see me cry. I dont like them to see me hurting, these are the real tears I'm talking about because I cry a lot. I cry at commercials and movies and for other people when their hurting. I dont care when people see those, I mean the ones that are riddled with pain. The ones that cause your body to shake and for you to gasp for air from the pain in your chest, those are the tears that I like no one to see.

If you really knew me

You would know that I'm glad I shared a little vulnerability with you today. 

xoxo

Ill jump if you will

Saturday a group of us got together and went up to Sedona for a good hike and some cliff jumping. It was a great hike.  By the time we got to the water, we were all hot and ready to get wet. Dawn and I hiked most of the way in together and by the time we got there, she convinced me to jump off a cliff into the water with her.  I was like ok just a little one. When it was our turn to jump we grabbed hands counted to three and threw our bodies off the side of a cliff. Yea we're pretty cool.  Getting out was a little more difficult then getting in, but our friend Daniel was very kind and grabbed our hands and lifted us up out. Hey its good to have friends in high places. The rest of our day was spent indulging in picnic foods singing songs and swimming. The hike back was much more strenuous considering we used our energy swimming and cheering at the top of our lungs for the next person to jump.  That being said, I wouldn't change anything, not even my sunburned body. Yea I really need to listen to people and use more sunscreen, stop thinking I'm super women just cause I threw my body off a cliff and lived. I am blessed for all the new friendships I made and spending time in the outdoors. 

xoxo 

what a bottle of yoohoo can do for you

As I was driving home this evening, seething with irritation of how the day had turned out, my dashboard so kindly enlightened me that I indeed needed gas. I whipped into the local Chevron and started filling my tank, I knew I needed to change my attitude but was having a hard time shaking off my funk. I ran into the convenience store and was looking for something fun to drink and found my answer in a bottle of yoohoo. Its amazing what a bottle of yoohoo and a prayer can do for a girl, by the time I finished pumping my gas and was started on the drive home I felt like a whole new person. The chocolate milk reminded me of summers growing up with my two brothers, we used to play outside and rush inside for a quick drink just to charge right back out again. Its funny how we remember things and they create links to memories for us. When I got home I knew there was only one thing I wanted to go with this little treat and that was a grilled cheese sandwich. So thats what I did, I made myself a grilled cheese drank my yoohoo and popped Little women into the vhs player. Yes we still have one of them and it works just fine and dandy. Little women is one of those movies that just puts my world into perspective for me. It reminds me of how close my cousins and I are. We used to play in the attic with old prom dresses, acting out stories and coming up with commentary. I see them as some of the brightest memories in my childhood, I feel the bond to my cousins is more of the sisterly nature then that of distant relatives. We would spend every other weekend together filled with sleepovers and Shirley Temple. (our favorite movies as kids.) Its so amazing how a bad day can be changed into such a wonderful evening in one trip to a gas station. 

xoxo

let it rain...

It has been raining in Arizona, this is a big deal out here because it hardly ever happens. Last Friday is when it all started, the clouds rolled in and the sky opened up and started pouring out buckets of the stuff. Parts of the roads have been flooded, but ill take it, I'm just so happy to finally be having some precipitation around here. On this glorious Friday that the heavens opened up, I was at my friend J's house and we did what any person who hasn't seen rain in a long time would. We made hot tea grabbed a blanket and watched it come down from the porch. It was relaxing sitting there sipping tea, watching the rain, smelling the sent the dry desert earth getting what it so desperately needed and all the while being snuggled up in a blanket protecting you from the chill in the air. However short this weather may last I am still excited every time I feel a raindrop sprinkle down my way. 

Independence Day