dream life.

I'm pretty sure that in my past life, I lived on a farm, went to rodeos all the time & drank sweet tea on my front porch while listening to country music.

Shocking, right?

But seriously... I love the idea of country living & I definitely think I could do it. Well, I could do it if accessibility to the city was super easy. Like, 10 minutes away easy. Haha. 

Anyway, this weekend I'm going to my first ever rodeo! I. Am. So. EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!! 

(Kaylee, if you're reading this - this is me, wanting to be just like you when I grow up ;) I'm secretly envious of your life, haha) 

**Cutie Pie

Ben Howard - If you're out there. Just know. You're killin me with the cuteness. 

Love his cover of Call Me, Maybe (I can actually listen to the whole song when he sings it). 

Look at his little smirks. *sigh

adventures.

I spend a lot of time thinking of all the places I've gone & all the places I want to go. 

Starting September 12th, I'll be going to school. It's been a long time coming & I'm so super excited to get this show on the road. 

I'll be going to the Euro Institute where they offer an amazing esthetics course! Ever since I could remember, I've loved making people pretty - doing their hair, makeup, etc. And so now - I'm going to school so that I can get paid to do all these fun things. Exciting, right? 

There has been a lot going on in my life recently. The good, the bad & the ugly. Lots of changes, lots of unknowns... you know, lots of scary stuff. But I've learned that once you start to see things from the grid of God's goodness (shout out to Marcy Willis), things really aren't that big of deals.

It's safe to say that I've grown up a lot in the past year. My head starts to hurt thinking about all that's happened - but nevertheless, grace & mercy (and a good case of put your big boy pants on & embrace the hardships) carry me through! 

xo.

update!

On August 25th I turned twenty - two ! The big 2-2!

And you better believe I started my day out with a bang - ran a 10k with my sis. No biggy. 

Right before I started I was nervous. Halfway through I thought to myself, "Why am I putting myself through this horrible pain?" And then at the end, I thought, "Yes! I'm ready to run another one!" (kind of) 

After our run, I got to have birthday breakfast with my friends (who are so super cool for coming to cheer us on at the finish line!!!!!!). And of course, as anyone should on their birthday, we ate at Portage Bay (an absolutely favorite of mine). 

...then we spent the day wandering around downtown. It was such a chill birthday and I loved every moment of it. 

and just a couple pictures of my weekend.

Seriously. Just stop and look at how beautiful my friends are. I mean, c'mon .... hot, hot, hawt. 

Oh, you know, just a spontaneous lunch trip to Bainbridge with these fun ladies!!! It was hilarious; as we're walking back onto the ferry to head home, a high school football pretty much cheered us onto the ferry. It was a fun little welcoming party! Us girls cheered back and made the most out of the experience in front of everyone on the ferry - it was great! :) 

I'm currently reading Almost Amish (by Nancy Sleeth) & let me tell you - the challenge to simplify my life is in full force. 

I just got the book today and I'm already close to finishing it. It's amazing. It's challenging. It's thought provoking. I don't want to be Amish - I don't believe that's my calling in life but I do believe I'm called to be simple. And that's exactly what this book talks about!

I'm sure once I finish this book I'll have more to say, but until this - remember, there is beauty in simplicity. 

how can you simplify? 

I love the Summer season. It's actually one of my favorites. 

BUT MY MOST FAVORITE 

is:

Fall.

And it's closely approaching. This morning when I was getting ready for work - I hadn't even looked outside yet but I felt fall. As I was getting dressed, fall clothes felt right. And all day today, I smelled fall in the air. 

Call me crazy {did you just start singing the song, cause I sure did), but I'm feeling like fall can come right now. I'm ready to bake with pumpkin & sweet potato... I'm ready to have chai lattes & pumpkin scones... I'm ready to wear boots and kick the leaves around.  

“Hope knows that if great trials are avoided great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted.” - Brennan Manning