summer. everyday. simple.

This summer is flying by and I cannot believe in less than one month, this girl of mine will be starting Kindergarten. We have been cramming as much as we possibly can into these long summer days: swimming, exploring, playing, and just being in the moment, together. We've been loving on each other and loving on the beach, our favorite summer spot (our favorite spot in general really.)

Bathing suits are a summer staple as we spend just about everyday in them. 
Logan has about 10 bathing suits and she makes sure that she wears them all. 

We try our best to eat healthy throughout the week, but divulge in daily ice treats. Dirty feet are mandatory and formal bed times are non-existent. While we all know routine and structure is just around the corner, we're putting that out of our minds and enjoying August and all it has left to offer. 

This summer has been so sweet to us with warm sunny days and cool calm nights. We've had just enough rain to refill the pool just as it begins gets low, and to water the garden for squash and tomatoes to grow. We've picked the fuzziest peaches and ate the most delicious melons. We visited theme parks, boardwalks, and many different pools and beaches. We are filled to the brim with special memories from our summer, but my favorite are the ones where we stayed home; swimming, sharing lattes, rearranging the dollhouse, and paging through random magazines. 

Life is so much happier when you choose to find beauty in the every day, and eventually I have found, that you don't need to try anymore, it just happens.

Hope you are enjoying your summer. 
August is my favorite. 
Sun shining, children splashing, the freshest of fruits, sandy toes, messy buns, and so much more.
Happiness everywhere you look.

the best

Every so often I find myself experiencing the best "____" yet.
- The best weather.
- The best photo ^^^
- The greatest Christmas.
- The best beach experience.
- The sweetest time spent with friends.

Each happening beats the last.
Everything just gets better.

Or, is life just getting better?

I credit it to carrying with me a deeper appreciation for life in general.
Choosing experiences over things.
Living in the moment.

I always felt that it takes more energy to be mad or feel down
than it does to smile and be happy-- to let things go.

This way of thinking is one I hope to instill and nourish in my daughter--
my free spirited, earth loving, artistic, and kind babe.
She inspires me.

In our family, we strive for simplicity.
We appreciate life as a gift.
We find extraordinary in the ordinary.
We choose nature first.
We want less.

And in turn, we feel happier because of it.
And that for certain is the best.

little things / / from my phone

1.  real fruit snacks
2.  coffee filter snowflakes
3.  sunday morning iPad time
4.  v is for vulture (our letter of the week)
5.  tiny frozen drops on tiny frozen buds
6.  cream of wheat has become a staple breakfast
7.  pictures for santa
8.  semi-sweet dipped chocolate covered almonds is our go-to snack
9.  all that's left is this empty bottle
10.  masterpiece in-the-works

Lots of little themes going on this week..
See more photos on my instagram.




Linking up here.

little things-- from the phone

^ Seasoned olive oil and cauliflower soup for dipping some ciabatta loaf goodness.
^ Christmas cards and foam ornament gifts.
^ Sleeping beauty under the softest cozy.
^ Channeling my nephew's inner artist. By: Angelo, age 10
^ Fitting room fun with my guy. Regretful that we didn't bring the shirt home.
^ Discovered a new second hand book store. And it's hours.
^ Wrapping gifts while the little one sleeps.
^ Logan always makes a friend in the library. This one in particular was the same age, with the same    boots, and stripey legs like Lo.