Green Lake, Good Books & the Cabin

     So it feels like I just got back from Hawaii ( uhhmm maybe it's because I just did not even a few weeks ago ; ) and yet I'm getting ready to go on vacation again!  I could learn to deal with this type of schedule : )   This time I will be heading up to my grandmother's cabin and the lake with some of my family.  It's been tradition to take this trip every summer since I was a baby and I don't think I'll ever be too old to visit the cabin.

I just got back from Barnes & Noble and now I'm all stocked up on good reads for vacation!  I walked in for one book and came out with THREE!!!  Typical, right? = )  But they were buy two get one free so...... I couldn't resist.

I ended up with these:

                      

A pretty picture from the Garnet Hill magazine that I thought highly appropriate for this topic! = )  If only I had looked like that when I shopped for my books.  Guess I was way cuter in my hot pink running shorts?!?!

Ready and waiting!

Hence, I cannot wait for leisure time at the lake and cracking open these books!

While I'm super excited to spend time with my family, I am rather bummed that I'll be missing Charles' Tae Kwon Do belt testing this weekend.  If I haven't mentioned it before, my boyfriend is a TKD instructor at a local school and I have yet to watch one of his belt testings.  Poor guy and he is sooo good to me!  

Anyone else taking any more trips over the summer?  Are you in the middle of a good read?

Notes & Quotes

I think letter writing is the best thing ever, but sadly a lost art.  It is wonderful having friends who really appreciate giving and receiving letters.  This girl is awesome at staying in touch after our college years and ~ oooh yeah that reminds me, I actually owe her one now! (although she says I don't really "owe" her one, I think I kinda do.)  

  I also really enjoy taking the quality time to make homemade cards.  Somehow making them yourself allows you to add personal touches and fills the note with alot of extra LOVE (and who doesn't like to receive that in the mail, I know I do! : )       

Below are some recent samples:

I also fill in my supply with store bought "thank you" notes to have on hand for when I need them.  It's important to have the right tools for the right job & and even better when they are CUTE : )

For all you incredible bloggers and letter writers out there, I'll leave you with an inspiring quote I happened upon over the weekend:

"Your blog is that intimate table in your home where memories are made and moments are captured amongst friends.  Your blog builds credibility by holding it dear and keeping it fresh with your work, your photographs, your stories, and your personality that is revealed with every post.  Don't give up on it by going to that "fast food" restaurant day in and day out." ~ Jodi Ohl

I think that quote speaks volumes and was a personal inspiration reminding me what blogging is really about.  A persons blog should really reminisce from the heart.

All that wonderfulness and deepness aside, I'm half way through all the letters I want to write this week.....better.  get.  writing! Oh great, I'm outta stamps.  Oh darn... I better go get some cute ones!!!  

10 years too old : )

Weekends are simply the next best thing to chocolate!  They are perfect for fitting in all those memorable summer activities.  Over the weekend I got together with a good friend from college.   She made AMAZING pizza for dinner and we sat and drank Wine while we caught up on each others lives from the past month.

The weekend was definitely a collage of memorable summer events as Saturday morning started off with a fun trip to Lush and ended with a Demi Lovato concert.  So you might be wondering, yeah, how was THAT concert???  Ha, ha, I had to laugh.  Guess I had just fallen in love with her song "Skyscraper" and was thinking the minute I saw her on the Ravinia schedule "of course I want to go see her in concert!!!" Upon getting there and being swarmed with a billion 13 and 16 year olds I quickly realized it would have been a better concert had I been 10 years younger.  Oh well, I did get a kick out of all the teenage girls flocking the stage and screaming literally the entire time!  Guess I won't forget that concert, but I think I'll also stick to Demi's music on the radio, it's just a tad better : )

Some of my new favorite LUSH products.  Holy cow does the Olive Branch Shower Gel smell out of this world!!! and the Brazened Honey face mask makes your skin glow (literally!)

Yes I'm a passionate person so sometimes I just need my calm.  I love vibrant everything because, really, who would like a boring life anyways, right? : )  This is Lush's new line of makeup, but I'm not sure if I like it yet.

I'm in LOVE with the Alkmaar body soap ~ it's the perfect creamy soap that also smells heavenly!

My baby sitter & I at Ravinia : )  Jeans - Gap, Polka-Dots from Madewell of course!

Sunday morning I spent time with my boyfriend.  He has been working long hours lately and I've kinda missed him ALOT.  We went to church and out for breakfast at my favorite organic coffee house.  The rest of the weekend was spent sitting poolside, reading blogging magazines & writing notes to friends and family!!!  Doesn't get much better than this!
Now I'm all calm, put together (or at least I think I am : ) and rejuvenated for the upcoming week.


Come on Monday, let's get this week started!!!  


How did you spend your first weekend in August?  Did you do anything new or exciting or simply take time for yourself?

a cup or two

This particular Friday needed a sort of.... "boost" of energy to make the day "extra productive" before the actual weekend rolled round.   Morning errands were accompanied by a splurge venti iced caramel Macchiato : )  Somehow it tasted even better with ALL that extra ice because it was 93 degrees out!  

Needless to say, the day was highly productive and ended on a happy note, as it should thanks to a quadruple shot....terrible I know : P

 This evening I reconnected with a good friend who I hadn't seen in a while.  She made the most amazing pesto pizza loaded with onions, feta, olive oil and tomatoes (just like in Italy)!!  Pictures to come on this in the real weekend update : )

Verily Magazine

 Last summer I was in a wedding in Kansas with the relationship editor of Verily Magazine!   It is a brand new magazine for women, fresh off the press.  I personally subscribed to the teaser issue...

You can also read the teaser issue online for free.  I highly recommend checking it out and let me know what you think.  I can't wait to sign up for the yearly subscription!

Verily is filled with fashion, relationship advice, food & reviews of great books and movies. 

Check out the lovely ladies who put this magazine together:

Out for drinks at Makers Mark House & Lounge with Ashley ~  relationship editor of Verily Magazine! (Ashley is the one in the middle)

Yummy Peach Martini ~ Can't go wrong with one of these : )

                                         Good luck, Verily on the success of your magazine!

 Have a great weekend everyone.

I hope you have something fun planned : ) 

Farmers Market & Food

Our downtown is way cute and although it's only a few minutes from home, I'm still discovering it's hidden secrets.  I was driving through town today and saw the farmers market tents which gave me the idea, "why not now? I've wanted to check it out for sooo long!" 

 I abruptly made the decision to quickly pull through a bank, grabbed some cash and headed for the tents.  Being the really hot day it was, we naturally stop at the lemonade stand right off. 

Fresh squeezed lime & lemonade from the local farmers market

We also bought some apple cider doughnuts from our favorite apple orchard who happened to be at the market ~ no coincidence of course.  The perfect treat to enjoy during the olympics tonight.  It's okay to splurge on sweets while watching people workout, right? : ) hee hee

Homemade mojitos, yummy....thanks Sam!

My mom is the best cook in the world, guess that comes with years & years in the kitchen!?!?  I learn so much from her and here is one of the sandwiches that she has perfected:

 incredible tasting tomatoes fresh from the market

Gotta love me some Trader Joes

You can NEVER have too much basil : ) or maybe you can

Finish product ~ is your mouth watering yet????

I love days where things like this happen on a whim.  They usually end up the best.  Nothing can beat a summer Caprese BLT.

Do you have any favorite dishes or summer activities?

P.S. Parcel

How could I have forgotten to mention that patience has paid off and a few parcels have arrived!

Dear Espresso, you're the BEST because as we know, of all first things first, coffee is an essential in my life  : )  I'm a huge fan of Nespresso as it is easy, quick, mess free, way cheaper than Starbucks (although I do enjoy going out and having someone else make my coffee from time to time) and it tastes Oh So Good.  Sooo, being first on the list, I made sure to stock up on Nespresso capsules for the rest of the summer.  My favorite summer drink lately has been an Iced Honey Latte... Yum.  Can't go wrong with honey from Maui.

Dear Madewell  I was thrilled with everything in your box!  Usually this doesn't happen....either the size is wrong or the article of clothing looks nothing like what you picked out online.  But this time was a triple score.  Not planning or realizing that I was going with a trend, I figured out post parcel that Polka Dots are in!  Yay for cute colors and fun polka dots.

Dear Dominion, aren't you glad that we have friends who introduced you to me?  You have been the best game ever since I learned how to play you over New Years.  I'm extra happy that the Seaside edition just arrived yesterday and I can't wait to teach my boyfriend how to play!

Gotta love a little green

Sparkles & Polka Dots

Weekend Plans

Happy Thursday homies!  We're getting pretty close to the weekend and I can't wait.  I have some pretty fun plans coming up;  a little dinner get together with friends, a Demi Lovato concert and another party with my boyfriend's friends.  Should be an amazing weekend.  Friends make life so sweet!

Here is a little Thursday tuneage:

This song is an all time favorite and one I use to sing to 3 little girls I babysat in college as I put them to sleep.   It was their favorite too!   I loved when they would beg me to sing "Red is the Rose".

Several people in the video are also some of my fellow classmates from college.  They graced us with song on more than one occasion : )

Picture Post

Just wanted to share some happy photos! : )

London Parks

                  

Venice

Naples, Florida

Hawaii : )

Venice

                

Galway, Ireland

Homemade grilled pizza...amazing!

                
                  

Minnesota

Roma!