what a difference...

He picks us up.

Dollar plants, sitting parched in garden store bins.

Wilted and lifeless, He takes us home.

Easing us out of our plastic containers,

carefully tearing us from the things that hold us back.

He breaks up our roots; awakening, stirring...

pouring leftover soil into hand me down pots.

Chipped and tarnished: in broken vessels He places this:

hope.

Summer is rough.

Oppressive heat chokes the life out of us.

Torrential downpours leave us battered and bruised.

Deadly pestilence eating away...

But we are not destroyed.

All along- He is watering and feeding,

pruning and nurturing the life He sustains.

‘til one day you look and suddenly see:

growth.

What a difference a season makes.

Snow Day

There's something magical about snow at the beach. Dunes are the only hills to be found for miles and boogie boards are used as makeshift sleds. Tow ropes and knee boards are retrieved from our winterized boats and we pull them behind trucks. The streets take the place of the waterways, and in the midst of all this winter we find comfort in a familiar feeling. We pour salt on our walkways and the taste transports us back to the sea. The sting of rosy, windburned cheeks in January is reminiscent of July's sunburned skin. Neighbors gather around the fire instead of the grill, and our children build snowmen with buckets and shovels that are still a little sandy from their last trip to the beach. More than anything, the sense of community that we all thought went into hibernation comes out to play, if only for a few fleeting hours. The sun sets, albeit much earlier than the days of summer, we say goodbye and retreat back into our cozy homes with a sense of satisfaction that we haven’t felt since late September. In all the snow and ice, we find within our tiny town a private island, the spirit of summer, and the promise of warmer days just beyond the horizon… 

This is what fall looks like...

All of the sudden the weather got perfect. I mean really, painfully perfect. I found myself exclaiming, "It's so nice out..." every time I went outside. The skies are sunny and blue, the temperatures are mild... these are the kind of days that make you thankful to be alive. So I've been filling my time with lots of lovely little things that make my heart full. This is what fall looks like (around here)

Crafting (I made this!)

Arguably too much Octoberfest (and a few extra pounds to show for it)

So naturally I went with OPI's "Every Month is Oktoberfect" for my mani/pedi

(the perfect moody, vampish purple with flecks of orangey red)

Family dinners (al fresco, followed by fireside smores)

picnic lunch catch-up with an old friend after 3 years apart 

A (not-so) spooky read, fitting for the month

sweet potato pancakes at brunch (al fresco) with my sweet girlfriends

a pretty convincing breakfast invite from my daddy

Long runs outside (in hopes of offsetting all the Sam Seasonal...)

The perfect running buddy (and equally perfect view)

Halloween costumes for pups (and the funniest snap chat from my brother)

doing some decorating with baby pumpkins 

driving around with the top down and embracing the crazy hair that ensues

Beaufort, boats, more beer (this time Blue Moon, dockside)

cozy cooking (dutch oven ziti, shrimp scampi)

burning my seasonal Christmas candles 

In case you didn't notice, I've been doing everything I can outside.* I swear the fresh air is therapeutic. Making some (tough) decisions, but reminding myself not to take things (especially myself) too seriously. Trying to embrace it all- the work, the struggle, the climb uphill and the subsequent coast back down. 

*If I were to come up with a witty title for this post it might be faAL FRESCO... punny, right?

Gardens in the City of Roses

While we were in Portland, we decided to check out the International Rose Test Garden. We mainly had a little time to kill and a lot of brunch calories to burn, so with full bellies and a caffeine boost, we made our way out of downtown one hazy morning. The garden was about 2 miles from our hotel, but the walk was so enjoyable.

When we finally reached the garden, it was like something out of a fairytale. Rows and rows of roses. And the smell! Utterly amazing. The pictures don't do it justice. I found myself repeatedly exclaiming "This is so crazy!" 

Next we made our way over to the Japanese Gardens. Practically the polar opposite of the rose garden, but equally beautiful and so incredibly peaceful.

Now & Later

I'll admit to having shopaholic tendencies, but I must say I'm very practical about it. I tend to stay away from pieces that are overly trendy and items them I can't wear a a few different ways. On second thought... that's not entirely true. I shop for bargains on pieces like this. I'm always willing to spend a little more on the things I know I can wear year-round though, like this fabulous scarf top from the current CAbi collection. I wore it all February with rockin' red pants and ankle boots. 

[Top: CAbi Pants: J. Crew Boots: Target (I know, right?!)]

Now that the weather has warmed up, I'm channeling more of a boho beach babe vibe. Did I mention that the front of this shirt is the most creamy, delicious silk? Yeah. To die.

[Top: CAbi Shorts: Forever 21 Shoes: Zigi Soho]

How are you transitioning some of your favorite pieces into the warmer months?

Is it normal?

Is it normal...

to love this Robyn Pandora station as much as I do? 

for your DSLR to collect dust while your iPhone camera roll is full?

how much I love clothes and hate laundry?

for Fabolous lyrics to resonate the same way Austen and Hemingway and Fitzgerald speak to your soul? And to honestly believe "You Be Killem 'Em" is about you? "Enough class for wine, still handle Patron..." um helloooo... #itsyagurl

Things have been kind of crazy lately. Busy. Weird. Fun. I feel like I've been going non-stop and it has left me feeling a little compromised, creatively speaking. It hasn't been all work, I assure you. There has been a lot of fun (at times a bit too much fun...) These past few weeks I haven't really made time for getting organized, centered, and focused and it's catching up with me. This weekend will be a bit of a much-needed slow down. But just to fill you in, here's what you missed...

I talked about this poem here, and then planted my own (mini) garden...

[basil, something pink, parsley]

And sure as the devil, flowers came just days later. Life's funny like that. It has a way of surprising you, really catching you off guard. And even when it's not what you were expecting or what you thought you wanted, it reminds you not to give up on what you really want, what your heart believes you deserve. It won't steer you wrong. I've spent so much of my life thinking expectations are a bad thing. Shakespeare even said, "Expectation is the root of all heartache." But I'm realizing that isn't entirely true. Expectations are the natural byproduct of standards, and having standards is never a bad thing. If something or someone isn't living up to your standards, don't waste your time.  

2 consecutive Wednesday nights on the patio at RuckerJohns... live music, yummy food, and fun friends. Perfection.

And speaking of friends, this little angel made her way back for a visit.

This boy graduated! I wore Michael Kors... to die, righttt? 

And I've been working on my tan... beach with girlfriends, pool with the sweet baby pup... I'm and equal opportunity sunbather.

And in an attempt to get my butt in gear (and because it was the free App of the week from Starbucks) I downloaded Clear. List-makers, enjoy. Not only is it great for managing tasks, to do lists, and reminders, but it gives you these fun little quotes... and I'm a total quote junkie. 

hiii&imissedyou

"Lucy, you've got some splainin to do..."

I know, Ricky, I know. 

Things have been an absolute whirlwind. Condensed version? New job, new house, new new new. It's been an adjustment. It's fun and exciting and there's so much to do and to share. I know I've been holding out on you, but between my trip to San Diego, remodeling and furnishing  a 3-bedroom townhouse, and a new business endeavor... I'm coming up for air. 

This week has been rough. Oh gosh, it's only Tuesday. Ok, this week got off to a rough start. I don't want to go into too much detail, but when I went to bed last night I was feeling overwhelmed and angsty. But God reminded me, through a poem I first read in middle school, that things are going to be ok. God is funny like that, using poems to speak to you, and I'm not just talking the Psalms (though He does that too, you know.) He is the God of the universe, He is the God of poetry, His mercies are new every morning. I am thankful. 

"If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you  

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,  

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;  

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;  

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;  

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;  

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,  

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,  

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,  

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,  

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

And, just to be fair, a photo catch-all...

 gorgeous San Diego sunset

and hotel room scribblings

 the most fun, inspirational group of women

 new keys! paints swatches & a sweet housewarming gift (side note: the number of bottles of wine I received as housewarming gifts... alarming. I don't hate it.)

sneak peek at my new room! the inspiration was "Eloise at the Plaza" meets Trinidad James "All Gold Everything" because I'm cool like that. 

Aaaand increasing frustrations finally coming to a close yesterday. So relieved and thankful.