Beaches, birthdays & all kinds of reasons to celebrate

Weekend at Hampton Beach..

Birthday parties and celebrations for the baby sister..

Awesome motivators, walks by the lake, lovely little critters,
and large jars of ice cold water while enjoying the sun.

 //

Abridged version of how I have spent the past two weeks. Been so busy enjoying new friends and gorgeous weather. I never want this summer to end..

Day off

Enjoying..

.. this view from my blanket.

My Summer Go To's

As summer rolls on in, my favorite summer accessories and items are starting to make an appearance. With hot weather, picnics and sunshine finally here, I can't help but want to share with you some of my favorite (and easy) summer go to's.

1 // short hair for easy styling. I hate having sweaty hair on my neck so this hair length is so perfect!

Also -- makes using dry shampoo a hell-of-a-lot easier!

2 // fun beer bottle bracelets for picnics and campfires! Love my dollar store finds!

3 // hot pink shorts and the best sandals I've ever purchased. A great way to dress an outfit up without heels.  Like anyone would not want to wear heels..

4 // lemonade chapstick - with SPF of course!

5 // bright colored cross bag with enough card slots that you don't need to try to stuff a wallet in there! I'm not a big orange person, but the pink and orange together.. obsessed.

6 // pearly pink nail polish. And the fact that I only have to do one coat.. perfect for when I don't have a lot of time.

7 // leather belt watch. A great small internet shop find, which I bought not because I needed to know the time.. 

What are your easy and fun summer go to's?!

At the lake

Hello + happy Monday everyone. I'm looking forward to getting back into my regular schedule. I have loved every second of being a maid of honor, but it has been a crazy couple of months.

And now I'm back.

Last Thursday my mom and I spent a couple of hours at the lake. As a kid we would spend long afternoons swimming and fishing here. I haven't been back in some time and it was nice to sit and think about how much fun my sister and I used to have in that water. Every summer we would go camping there for a week or so and in the morning, my dad would take us out in the boat to pick blueberries for mom's pancakes. I still remember exactly where to find the blueberry bushes along the lake.

Have the most lovely day ever friends.

this could be serious

I am developing a very intense and exclusive relationship with the summer nights around here. I could sit on my front steps, drooling like a fool + stare into the sky's eyes  f o r e v e r. How could you not fall in love?

Feeling very blessed and fortunate today.

weekend bucket list

I'm linking up with Joelle over at Something Charming!

What's on your weekend bucket list? Do share!

my favorite summer recipe

Variations: ADD CHOCOLATE

This is one of the best summer snacks & a really great way to save the bananas from going bad!
Share your favorite recipes below & enjoy your frozen bananas.

so to the beach we went

Yesterday miraculously, my mother, sister and I all had the day off. So we packed the car and went up to Hampton for the day. So lovely. The cool breeze + the hot sun + practically empty beach. It was a great way to welcome the summer sun. I've never seen the water so blue and clear. I can't wait to go back..

Weekly Gratitude

{click above to join!}

Thank you summer breezes for bringing fresh air into my house.

Thank you, thank you, thank you friends & family for coming to my Pampered Chef party yesterday! So many laughs - and so many great (free) products! And a big thanks to my cousin/P.C. consultant for putting on such a great show! 

(If you live in the Western MA area and want to have a Pampered Chef party.. I'll put you in touch with her! There are so many great benefits to being a host! Like getting $200 worth of free products!!)

Thank you sister for having a Birthday to celebrate. I just love getting together with my family and goofing around!

Thank you Amber for being our cute little munchkin.

And for beating up the DVD player with your ferocious paws.

And for giving the squirrels that hang upside down from our bird feeder, the look of death.

Thank you best friends. For being best friends.

Thank you mom.. for being awesome. Always!

Thank you PYO Fruit Farm up the street, for growing the most delicious peaches ever.. 

Even if they are kind of ridiculously expensive.

Thank you weeeeeekends for allowing boyfriend and I to spend some sort of meaningful time together.

pinterest

Happy Weekend everyone!

Be sure to link up with Love, Life, Lace for your Weekly Gratitude Posts!

Our Weekend - in photos

{Annual Family Picnic} = Two hour drive for food, bocce tournament, sun, more food, family portraits & all the fun in the world.

{Two photos below}: Our team - the daughters and boyfriends - getting ready to play the most competitive and important bocce tournament e v e r. Our team came in second place - after we beat one of the best teams my parents, grandmother and aunt.. the one's who taught us to play!

We went to the Beach!

And it was f a b u l o u s.

See..

{If you squint really hard, with only one eye, you can see me.. right....}

{beautiful sky on the long ride home..}

I'm hoping to go back again a few times before the wonderful summer air disappears.

Happy Weeeeeeee-kend.