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.

the cure

It's a strange juxtaposition... The floors are still sandy but the house smells like apples, cinnamon, and cloves. Pumpkins sit perched on tabletops while beach towels tumble in the dryer. The sun hangs high, brave in the sky right now, but I already know she'll go to bed a little earlier today than yesterday. 

Isn't that the way it goes?

The calendar says summer for another week or so, but my heart? It's ready for harvest. This is our fallen existence. A heavenly creature landlocked on earth, a spiritual being trudging through the monotony that is this physical life. It's not all bad. The joy of fellowship, His revealed truth, the blessings of a truly beautiful existence. 

But all too often I catch myself clawing selfishly, longingly for what lies ahead just beyond my reach: certainty, an explanation, answers. The day I look back and say, "It all makes sense! The struggle, the pain, the joy, the victories, the defeats." Other times I find myself holding on white-knuckled to the things of the past: comfort and the familiar. The terrifying unknown terrorizes me. My dreams taunt me with what might have been, the things I let slip through my fingers like sand upon the shore, too numerous to count.

I'm a kid at summer camp. A girl in a foreign county with no luggage of her own.  

But He calls to me. Like a crying baby, He hushes me in the stillness of the night. He knows my wistful spirit, my homesick heart. He breathed life into these bones, for such a time as this. And it hits me, maybe my comfort isn't His top priority. Maybe I'll never be fully comfortable in a place that isn't my home. And maybe, probably I'm not supposed to be. 

Maybe the nagging, the longing isn't for anything seen, it's the unseen. Maybe the desires of my heart were for Him all along, I just didn't realize it. It only makes sense that the cure for our ailing hearts would be found in the One who formed them. 

Anchor of my soul- you sustain. 

Oh July

July is the oldest sister, established and stable.

She's fiercly independent, but painfully nostalgic...

Naturally nurturing and overly empathetic.

High standards and expectations, she can't help but be disappointed at times. 

She's cutoff jeans and a hand-me-down ring.

A calculated risk, understated elegance, saving grace.

At times predictable, but the kind of girl you can count on.

Tears of pride pooling in her smiling eyes

Wise beyond her years, but the first to admit... 

She's got a lot to learn.

Sometimes she lets her heart get in the way.

Oh June

June, June... we thought you'd never make it. 
She's fashionably late, always the life of the party. 
Warm, suntanned skin that only you can feel the burn of fresh sun. 
She's old enough to know better, but too young to care. 
She's vibrant, but temperamental 
Cautious with others & reckless with herself. 
Unfinished business, unsolved mysteries
life's great intermission
She's sunshiney days and dark, stormy nights. 
She's the first cold beer, condensation running down the glass
Flighty and fleeting, here today and gone tomorrow. 
Always leaving you breathless in only the best way.

Peach Tea Shiner

Things have been pretty boozy around here lately. Not to sound like a total lush, but yesterday I accidentally said "ABC Store" in conversation instead of "ATM." In my defense, the recent spike in my alcohol consumption (see what I did there?) is entirely work-related... well, almost entirely. I've been working on a new drink list for the restaurant, a much greater undertaking than I originally expected. Don't get me wrong, the entire process has been delicious, and you won't find this girl complaining about a cocktail here and there (the things I do for the sake of research and development... #dedicatedemployee) One of my most favorite libations we've created so far? Our Peach Tea Shiner. And since I love you so... here's an exclusive sneak-peek! 

Peach Tea Shiner:
1.5 oz North Carolina moonshine
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
Top with Southern sweet tea. We are serving it on the rocks in a highball glass, but a mason jar would be just darling too. 

The new drink list should be making an appearance next week (Lord willing...) be sure to swing by RuckerJohns & taste one of these delicious concoctions. 

fall swaps

It's not quite fall yet. In fact, I very much fell in love with late summer this same time last year. The mild days, empty beaches... I don't hate it. But, as we do with anything, I find myself constantly looking forward whatever is next, the sweet season lingering just beyond the horizon (only a few more days!) 

On Thursday I'm off to Florida, visiting my BFF and working in the office a few days, but I think the timing of the Autumnal Equinox couldn't be more perfect! I'm considering this trip my last hurrah of summer... short dresses and bold colors, and then when I get back I can fully embrace the new season. These are the swaps I fully intend to make, as the air gets a little cooler, crisper and the leaves begin to change. 

I'll trade...

Coral for Cranberry. My go-to color for summer will be replaced by a warmer, richer, yet equally vibrant hue. I have big plans for this top by Cynthia Rowley. Big plans, I tell you.  

Sandals for Moccasins. I love my gold, strappy sandals, but moccasins are made for jumping in leaves. Minnetonka is the only way to go. 

A True Ab-Original for Skinny Dip'n in Lake Michigan. My nail polish all summer long is bright and punchy, and though I'm not quite ready for the dark, moody shades of winter, I'm ready to embrace shimmery, muted neutrals. 

Tanks for Undone Oxfords. To quote my brother (directly) "When the sun's out, the guns are out." I'm not going to comment on his affinity for the tank mank top, but I will say I've exercised my right to bare arms all summer. Now I'm ready to ease into cooler weather with classic oxfords, buttoned up just enough with sleeves haphazardly rolled.

(via)

Leather for Suede: I love leather year-round. (Sorry PETA people) But now that suede is finally seasonally appropriate, I can't wait to incorporate it into some of my favorite looks. 

(I'm lookin at you, MacAlister Wedges!)

Iced Lattes for Chai Lattes: I've never been much of a Chai girl (I swear espresso runs through my veins,) but the spicy aroma is hard to resist this time of year. 

So tell me, how do you plan on embracing autumn?

magic

We have always been the kind of family who gathers around the table, not the television, so it's only logical that one of the things I look forward to most about summertime is evening dinners on the back porch. When you live at the beach, you have no shortage of visitors during the warmer months. We like to take full advantage of the balmy breezes, the longer days, and the carefree attitude only summertime can bring. It's all about mismatched linens, flickering tea-lights, and the warm honey color the sky turns as the sun begs to stay and play for just a few more minutes. 


Of course it's a beautiful sight to see, but all the other senses get wrapped up in the experience too. It's the smell saltwater, jasmine, and beef tenderloin sizzling away on the grill. It's the thumping sound of beanbags hitting the cornhole boards in the side yard, and the music that plays softly in the background is only half as sweet as the sound of laughter that rings out from the kitchen. It's the sting of fresh sun on your shoulders and the old, familiar rub of sand between your toes. From the first bite of crusty, French bread to the last sip of wine that still dances on your tongue, it is magical, it is heavenly, it is home. More than anything, though, it's the lingering after the meal has ended. All the plates have been cleared, but nobody is ready to leave. The warmth that you feel has nothing to do with sunburn or wine: it's love.

Snapshots... last day of summer

The house is extra quiet this morning, as Janie and CJ headed back to school bright and early. The excitement of the first day of school is always a little bittersweet, and although I know it will be a wonderfully exciting year for them, it is sad to see my buddies leave (and even sadder to see them growing up so quickly.) We spent yesterday having a proper "last day of summer,"  filled to the brim with all the foolishness that entails. 

We took the pups for a nice, long walk. They seemed to enjoy it, but they were clamoring for water as soon as we got back.

On a whim, I purchased a seafoam green beach cruiser (it seemed like the appropriate thing to do.) We had a time fitting it in my car and CJ dubbed it "the reject bike." I find it quite nice, though.

 Of course we stopped for ice cream...

and let our silliness get the best of us!

Happy first day of 8th and 10th grade, kittens! You are smart and silly, strong and kind. But most of all, you are His and you are mine. I couldn't ask for better people to spend my summer with.

reprieve

Saturday afternoon I loaded up and headed west to Salisbury, NC. It was so nice to put things on hold for a few days and just enjoy the little things in life, like sunshine on my shoulders, wine on the back porch, and evenings filled with laughter. 


The 9 hours in the car and 2 days of r&r gave me a much needed dose of perspective. This past month I have felt so much pressure to busy myself with resumes and applications and interviews, but this trip was the perfect reminder of what is truly important to me. My self-worth will never be tied up in a career or a salary. So for now, the job hunt is on hold, and my priorities for this summer include spending countless hours on the beach with my brother and sister, mastering the art of homemade ice cream, traveling as much as possible, chasing dreams beyond 9-5, and opening myself up to whatever God has in store for me. Because life is too short, kittens.

Favorite parts of the trip include...

1. Bouquets of blooms from street stands and front yards alike

2. Forgetting to take my camera. Not. (But that explains why all the pictures look so shoddy.)

3. Trip to Ikea (and a mutual agreement that antique furniture is superior to this factory-manufactured, cookie cutter, modern stuff you see everywhere today)

4. A delicious lunch uptown at Aria- Taylor's shrimp orzo was perfection and definitely worth re-creating (add that to my list of summer goals)

5. Riding bikes to get ice cream (oh, add a bike to my wish list)

6. Getting two flavors in one scoop. (T- vanilla and moose tracks, Me- Dutch chocolate almond and pecan praline) 

7. Almost mastering the chocolate soufflé

8. Hearing Taylor's parents' engagement story (and other fun family memories)

9. Seeing some of our closest friends

10. Planning our next adventure!

chasing pavements

Top down. Music up.

Clubmasters and denim-cutoffs.

Belting Adele on back-roads and busy intersections alike. 

Sisterly trip to our local thrift store.

Donated bags and bags of clothes.

Found a few treasures.

My fave?

Vintage Timex watch.

Perfectly broken-in brown leather.

& fits my tiny wrist just perfectly. 

This is summer.

heat wave

Summer has arrived and the heat is here to stay. The first true heat wave of the season always seems especially brutal...

I've been a little shell-shocked this week, and the thought of spending excessive amounts of time outside is particularly daunting. In exchange for hours spent by the pool, I have been working (finally) and running those errands I have put off for far too long. In addition, I have been frequenting my local library so regularly that they are going to start calling me Matilda...

But at least I'me reading, right? I read The Giver last week (exceptional) and started reading Lipstick Jungle but returned it because it was du.mb. This is what I picked up yesterday...

Fahrenheit 451

Lolita
The Mermaid Chair

Have you read any of these? Or The Giver? Any thoughts? 

And in case you were wondering... No, I do not carry my books home in a little, red wagon Matilda style. This Moroccan basket does the trick just fine...

What are your favorite books? I would love some recommendations! (seeing as my next trip to the library will be in T-minus 12 hours if I continue at my current rate... yikes.) 

band it

I spent the past two days soaking up the sun. That's what you do when you're not really working and you have no responsibilities or obligations. As I was sitting on the beach today, Rob posted this song on my Facebook, and it seemed appropriate (and it will make reading this post 87% more enjoyable... statistically speaking)

Anyways, as a result of my labor, I have a tan that would make the general population mistake me for one lovely Latina (and undoubtedly make my dermatologist cringe...) I always put SPF 30 on my face though. All day, e'ry day. And I always protect my hair. If your colorist is as good as mine, or if your blonde-a-phobia* is as bad as mine, you should protect your tresses too. Here are a few of my favorite ways...

Halo Mist by Sebastian makes hair silky and shiny and added bonus: it has UV protection. I use it after blow drying and before hitting the beach/pool. (Warning: I only put it on the length of my hair, never the roots. Let's be real, after 48 hours these locks start lookin' greasier than the bottom of a Bojangles box, sans product.)

I absolutely love hats. A big, floppy hat is great because it gives added protection to the face. And I am currently craving a cute Panama hat like this on from J. Crew. 

Headbands/wraps are great because they are light and no-fuss. My aunt recently gave me one similar to this one, and I cannot stop wearing it! Headwraps are perfect because you can adjust them to your desired width, so even if you're not obsessed with protecting your hair color from the sun's damaging rays, they keep your hair out of your face!

Worst case scenario, I have been known to wrap shirts, towels, or other miscellaneous objects around my head. I mean let's face it, at the end of the day, it's all about the hair.




*blonde-a-phobia (noun) the fear of becoming blonde; not the actual fear of blondes. 

call me rita

Nothing says summer like a margarita. I think my taste for them is hereditary- all the women in my family love them. True story: on Seis de Mayo (you know, the day after Cinco de Mayo) my aunt sauntered into a 2 hour meeting... 2 hours late... and candidly explained that she drank one margarita the night before and woke up with a killer headache. She went on to assure her boss that she took a BC powder and was good to go. Now granted, she wasn't late because of the cheap tequila, rather she had mistaken the time of the meeting. And when she made the proclamation about the BC powder she didn't realize she was actually 2 hours late, she was just making small talk with her co-workers. That painful realization came approximately 45 minutes later. Talk about embarrassing...

The fun doesn't stop there. In my cousin's graduation toast, my grandma professed "Thank God for lipstick, men, and margaritas!" What can I say; I come from a long line of classy women.

The only foreseeable threat to the appeal of a mid-summer margarita is the potential damage to your perfect bikini body, right? Wrong. Enter: the SkinnyGirl Margarita. I mean you could try to make your own, but you just can’t beat the comfort/appeal of knowing that the only thing standing between you and citrusy, tequila goodness is a screw-cap. Now if you’re feeling fancy, you can add other things to kick it up a notch (How’s that for an old school Emeril reference? BAM!) 

Our favorite additions? Orange Liqueur (Grand Marnier is always good, and Patron’s version is exceptional!) a splash of Sprite Zero, and fresh berries make for a tasty treat when you get to the bottom of your glass!

[I like to rim my glass with a mix of salt and sugar (actually Truvia.) It is delicious and helps cut back on the sodium.]

[three generations of margaritas on the porch- the perfect way to end a beautiful, summer day!]

Naut-y

Since school is out and the warm weather seems to be here to stay, I think my obsession with all things nautical can finally be deemed appropriate. (Truth be told, I think living at the coast is the perfect excuse to gravitate toward nautical pieces year-round.) Knots, ropes, and stripes galore... these are a few of my current favorites.

 Perfect Fit Stripe Henley Tank from J. Crew

Forever 21's Striped Raglan Top (I have it in 2 colors (navy w/ white stripes & white w/ grey stripes) Lightweight but cozy... prefect for chilly summer evenings or early mornings on the dock!)

Spotted this adorable vintage scarf on Etsy

Sparkle & Fade Hi-Waisted Sailor Shorts

Kate Spade's Royal Plantation Quinn (the bold red and wicker... I die) 

And the perfect finishing touch... French Connection's Twist Chain Rope Necklace

Bon voyage!