Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer

Today marks the official end of summer. I love summer (minus the heat) and fall and am glad that my two favourite seasons piggyback each other. There are aspects of each of the four seasons that I love, but these two seasons make me happiest.

This year, a lot of people that I know have been so excited for fall to make it's arrival. While I am excited for this new season, I feel like I am holding onto the last few moments of summer like a small child trying to extend the last few minutes before bed time. It was an incredibly full and fun summer, which is probably why I am not wanting it to end. As I think back on this summer, my heart is full of joy. It was one of the best I can remember in recent years.

Looking back at my to do list for the summer, I realize that I only accomplished about half of the items that I had hoped to and yet I feel no sense of regret for not getting to those activities, rather I have a huge feeling of gratitude as this summer brought about several things that I would have never expected. So, in a way, I am starting to prepare myself for fall. For the new and unexpected surprises that will come that I couldn't even begin to encapsulate on a list. And while I'm at it, I'm going to enjoy my pumpkin chai while listening to my traditional fall playlist... 

Weekend in Photos: Summer at Last

This weekend was super cruisy and tranquilo, the perfect start to summer!

Hanging out and watching The Next Food Network Star / 

Early evening walks & spotting the cutest cat / Sleeping in late / 

Verdana doors wide open with the cool breeze / Kitty cuddles / 

Reading all day and finishing an entire book in one weekend / 

Dinner with family and friends outside under the Super Moon / Staying up too late reading / 

Church & blessing sweet baby Novelle /  Iced Chai from Starbucks / Naps / 

Late night Dairy Queen run 

Summer, sweet summer

It's so hard to believe that summer is finally here! The first six months of 2013 flew by at lightning speed! Before I know it, summer will be over, so I thought I'd put together a list of things I want to do this year!

1. Go on a picnic!

2. Swim in the ocean at least once (I live in OC, spend my days in HB, and yet this hardly ever happens)!

3. Go to at least one concert (This is a summer tradition. So far, I'm seeing John Mayer in Denver with my sister and her boyfriend)!

4. Make peach cobbler!

5. Use my dSLR more often! 

6. Have lots of adventures (I'm headed to Denver and Minnesota next month)!

7. Go to a baseball game!

8. Write more on this blog!

9. Visit with my friend Kaila while she's home from Iowa for the summer!

10. Make some non-traditional s'mores in the fire pit!

11. Walk Balboa Island

12. Finish watching Ben Hur with my Dad!

13. Go thrifting more often! 

14. Take more video on my phone!

15. Get slurpees on  7-11!

16.  See more movies at the theatre!

17. Walk the wetlands

18. Go to the swap meet