Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

Bernat Casaro

Favorite Thing #4

Favorite Thing #4 - Back To School Season

Back To School

Even though I'm 25, graduated from high school and college, I still love when it's time for everyone to head back to school!  When I was in elementary school, I loved back-to-school shopping.  Call me crazy, but it was usually no later than July when I was already begging mom to take me to Target to start checking things off my list.  You would get new crayons that hadn't been flattened yet, vibrant new Crayola markers, fresh bottles of Elmer's glue and clean blank notebooks.  I'd come home, dump out all of my Target bags on my bedroom floor and organize it all in my backpack.  Something about starting fresh with all of your new supplies and heading off to the next grade was so exciting back then!

School Shopping

In the second grade, I had this little blue plastic Aladdin pencil case that I loved.  It had this distinct plastic-y smell.  Sometimes when I'm walking through the school supply section in Target, I'll get a whiff of that same plastic smell and it instantly takes me back to the second grade.  It's amazing how something that simple can bring back so many memories.

I also loved getting new textbooks.  I went to a small Catholic school and they would always make us wrap our textbooks with brown paper sacks at the beginning of each year to keep the books in the best condition.  We'd take out our markers and write "English" or "History" on the front of the brown paper and decorate them with hearts and stars.  Usually, the books would be well worn and weathered before we got a chance to use them.  But every once in awhile, we'd get to be the first group to use a brand new set of textbooks!  They would make that distinct cracking sound when you opened them and all the corners would be sharp and perfect.  I've always loved bringing textbooks home for the first time - even in college.  They made me feel smart and prepared just by having them.  

Textbooks

 Here in Tennessee, the ridiculously hot weather is finally starting to break.  I woke up this morning and to my surprise, it was only 70 degrees outside!  Since it's usually already 90 degrees at 8am, 70 degrees felt like Fall.  It reminded me of all the little kids stuffing their backpacks with brand new boxes of crayons and fresh sheets of paper, prepping themselves for their next big adventure.  While I'm certain my next new adventure won't involve backpacks and textbooks, I've got some pretty exciting plans waiting for me around the corner.  Details to follow...

Waiting For The Bus

Favorite Thing #3

 Favorite Thing #3 - Seeking Out Cold Drinks On A Hot Summer Day

Root Beer Float

There's nothing better than an ice cold drink on a steamy August afternoon!  Yesterday, my husband and I were out running errands.  We were thinking out loud about how nice an icy cold Orange Crush in a bottle sounded.  Later in the day, we were walking through our local Farmer's Market (another 'favorite thing' of mine!) when we saw that one of the booths had a huge cooler full of ice.  Hidden underneath all of those frozen cubes were dozens of pretty little bottles of Orange Crush!  We were so excited!  We popped open the cap and drank in the deliciousness!  Ahh!

Ice Cold Orange Crush!

So, whether I'm licking the salt off a frozen margarita, slurping up a perfectly blended smoothie or popping the cap off an old-fashioned Coke in a bottle...I'm a happy camper!

Sangria

Delicious Lemonade!

Cheesecake In A Mug

 Cheesecake In A Mug

This looks like heaven!  I think I'll curl up on the couch, put on a girly movie and make one of these tonight! 

Favorite Thing #2

Favorite Thing #2 - Vintage Luggage

I've always had an infatuation with all things vintage, but lately I've discovered a new love - vintage luggage! Here are some gorgeous vintage luggage pieces I found on etsy.com!

Back in the day, luggage came in so many different shapes and sizes - every piece was so unique!

I love the colors and the diagonal zipper!

I love anything avocado green. It's so retro, but feels so modern...if that makes sense!

I've decided that bowling bags are awesome! I must get one of these someday! I haven't decided what I'd use it for, but I'm sure I'll think of something...

Just beautiful! It makes me want to plan a trip just so I can use one of these retro luggage pieces!

Favorite Thing #1

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...brown paper packages tied up with strings...these are a few of my favorite things!"

There are so many little things in this world that I love, so I've decided to start making a list! I'm hoping to use it as a fun reminder of all the things in life there are to be happy about.

Favorite Thing #1: Eating Outside

Something about eating outside just makes me feel so alive! Spreading out on a blanket in the grass or cozying up with some friends on a picnic table and chowing down is one of life's simple pleasures!

My absolute favorite time to eat outside is just before dusk. You set up your food and get out the plates and drinks while it's still light outside, and slowly the sun sinks lower and lower. The crickets and cicadas sing louder and louder, and the lightning bugs come out one by one. By the time you're finished with your meal and done sipping that last little drop of chilled wine, you can enjoy an evening of hanging out under the stars. It doesn't get much better than that, folks!

My Vision Board

My Life Vision

I'm sure by now, most of you have heard of the concept of a vision board. It's basically a group of images you put together to represent the things you want out of life. The idea is that if these images are always staring you in the face, you'll be constantly reminded of your goals and will spend more time working toward achieving them. Some people will cut out magazine pictures and stick them on a cork board, while others will make a collage for their computer's wallpaper. Today I thought I'd share a few images from my vision board.

Your vision board can include whatever it is in your life you'd like to attract. Mine represents the lifestyle I want to have, the things I want to own and the way I want to feel everyday. This is my vision for myself and I hope to spend everyday working toward that end. This is my vision. What's yours?

I Want....

To have complete control over my schedule...

To spend a couple months each year truly experiencing life in a different country...

To live in a place that is sunny almost everyday...

To have the financial freedom to be able to buy new clothes whenever I want...

To live a lifestyle that allows me to spend more time outdoors than indoors...

To be able to travel whenever/wherever I want...

To have fresh flowers in my house at all times...

To have enough money to go to any restaurant I want as often as I want...

To live in a house that exudes calmness...

To spend as much time as possible being happy and showing love...

To have the energy to search for adventures everyday...

Most of all, I want to live the kind of life that allows me to look back and think...'Wow, that was awesome!'