The turn of the season always makes me excited. The time change never seems to come soon enough but this year it definitely snuck up on me. (Something about having a little baby to take care of). Since the days are longer and the sun is brighter I yearn for spring.

This spring I plan to...

1] Make all foods fresh. Think quinoa, pomegranate, feta salad & burrata, blackberry, apple salad. Mmmm. 

2] Drink more. More water. More iced tea. Maybe even a cold prosecco here and there now that I'm not preggers anymore.  

3] Turn the TV off and listen to music more.

4] Make a round of the house in the morning and open the windows to let the light and air in. 

5] Nap outside with my little boy nestled in beside me. 

6] Have a "welcome spring and warm weather" get together.

7] Venture to the dessert for some relaxation and soaking in the sun.

8] Dive into some of my Pinterest boards and start making things I've been inspired by.

9] Go for longer walks. Morning walks. Lunchtime walks. Sunset walks. I want them all. 

10] Bask in the gratitude that all things are made new again. The darkness fades. The snow melts. The sun burns stronger. The seedlings bloom.

Do tell...what do you have in mind for the new season?

first day of summer 2012

Today is the first day of summer and I can't believe that it is already June 20th! It seems like just yesterday was Easter. We've been having the very typical June gloom in Southern California and haven't had a summer-feeling beach day yet. Hopefully they are around the corner but I don't think we're going to see it for a while still. I am looking forward to warm picnic lunches outside, long walks, warm days, BBQs, and playing in the sand. 

A Grace Kelly inspired First Day of Summer from last year. 

things to look forward to...

[artwork and layout for by way of ney]

it's friday and fall?

Wait a minute! It's already Friday? How'd that happen? Oh, and what's that? It's fall already too? Holy moly!

[layout for by way of ney]

hey summer, how'd we do?

"To see the summer sky is (was) poetry..." -Emily Dickinson

Remember this post about my top ten summer plans. Well, today, the last official day of summer, I looked back over it and I think I did quite well.

I wanted travel...I got a trip to Florida to lay in the sun, a trip to San Francisco, Napa & Sonoma to enjoy friends and wine, and a trip to Vegas to celebrate the ending of singleness for a great friend. 

[south beach]

[san fran and wine country]

[vegas water show]

I wanted to cook more dinners outside on the grill...I got a few home cooked ones in but also ate outdoors a lot when we went out. 

I wanted to learn to do things that were new to me...I got LOTS of that, especially learning to be patient while waiting out the bigger plan for our life. 

I wanted to finish projects I had laying around...I finished little ones and bigger ones. 

[old luggage I cleaned up and refinished]

[seashells from our honeymoon in Fiji that I finally framed]

I wanted more time outside...I got it but not quite to the level I wanted. My plan to horse back ride has yet to happen. 

I wanted to take day trips to Santa Barbara and San Diego...that didn't happen. 

I wanted to master a light signature cocktail...I found a few that I like to rotate. 

[blueberry spritzer]

I wanted to wear big sun hats while I basked in the sun...I did. 

I wanted to read the books off my list...I read Two Kisses for Maddy at the beginning of summer and The Help at the end. 

[tear jerker]

I wanted us to find a new place to make our home...we found a new place that we LOVE and actually feels more like a home instead of just another place to be for now.

So basically 8 and a half of my top ten were accomplished. That makes me feel pretty darn good about this last season and about floating gracefully through the next one. Did you get to everything you wanted to this summer?

5 things: sun

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

With Labor Day around the corner I thought I'd share some of my must haves for long days in the sun and sand. My weekend will be filled with sunshine, heat and girlfriends. I'll be in Las Vegas, for a bachelorette of a dear friend. What are your plans for the long weekend?

MUST HAVES:

1] sun bum zinc oxide: I have looked for years and years for a clear formula zinc oxide to use on my face, hands, lips, and scars to prevent any sun damage. I finally found this one on my early summer trip to Miami and have loved it all summer. It smells like you want sunscreen to smell, clean and tropical.

2] a BIG summer tote that I can throw everything in: water, magazines, sunscreen, my camera snacks, hats, towels...

3] shisedo ultimate skin protection cream: This one does it's job! A major sun block out that I use on areas prone to burn (my face and shoulders). While it protects all day it also doesn't make my sensitive skin breakout. I am proud to say that for the first time in a long time I didn't get one burn on my face this summer.

4] a BIG beach towel. The bigger the better with this one. It's no fun to spend your day trying to stay on your towel. A blanket size is best!

5] hats! hats! hats!: a big hat does wonders to keep my face safe from the sun. I love this panama hat that my dad brought home for me. You can find one here.

*I also like to bring along a light weight pashmina or scarf to drape over my shoulders after enough sun or over my face while I take a mid afternoon, summer nap in the sun. 

opportunity

When the season comes where we wonder what will come, my husband is always quick to remind me of the grace that is ever present in our lives and the opportunities that come along with it. Like the surfer he is, he equates it to waves. When you see the wave rolling in, you begin to paddle in preparation of the ride. The ride doesn't always turn out as you planned. Sometimes you catch the wave and can begin to enjoy the freedom as you stand as though floating on water. Sometimes the wave isn't the right one for you and you have to hold back and wait for the next one to come in. Either way, there is always another wave. 

the water rolls in...

the water rolls out.

in returns again...

and leaves again. 

*all photos taken for by way of ney on this trip

south beach in full...

Ok, so as promised, here is more from Miami. The highlights of some of my favorites things...

WALKING OUT TO THE BEACH...

[anthropologie tank, uo skirt, forever 21 sandals]

[me & my sister]

FLOATING IN THE SALTY WARM ATLANTIC... 

There is nothing quite like being able to swim in the Atlantic's salty water in Miami. Although I've been dipping into the Pacific since I've been home, it is just so much colder. 

EATING AT the Cafe at BOOK&BOOKS... 

WADING THROUGH THE ROOMS OF BOOKS...

[every magazine you'd want to read]

[a room of travel books that will make you check your passport's validity] 

[a beautiful book I found]

[and a favorite new poem]

You can't leave Book & Books without a pile of magazines or books or at least a list of books to buy when you get home so that you don't have to lug them home.

BREAKFAST AT THE RETRO RALEIGH...

[love this logo]

[lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh berries]

[classic eggs benedict]

[the "dining room" at the Raleigh]

[i want these backyard umbrellas]

[check out that fringe]

[i'm lusting after these chairs too!]

[Carly lounging in the hammock]


HOTEL HOPPING FROM THE DELANO...

[the sushi bar at the Delano]

TO THE SHORE CLUB...

[the lantern lit patio]

The hotels in Miami are amazing! It doesn't matter where we stay I always like doing a little hotel hopping. Each one is so different and so inspiring. There is always something that I want to implement in my house once I get home. Some are teeny boutique hotels that have been there forever, most are newly renovated, some are brand new (but not many). 

THE EVOLUTION FROM THE BEACH IN THE SUN...

 TO A STORM

Watching the way the beach goes from sunny and humid and packed with people and then empty and dark come afternoon is so intriguing. It's especially funny when you are on the beach and hear a rumble of thunder and watch everyone go running to get off the sand before the rain comes. Even the rain there doesn't bother me though because it is warm and fleeting. 

*all photos taken for by way of ney

seasonal desires...

[via weheartit]

This summer I want to:

1) Travel to where the water is warm, like bathtub warm. I think I'll get my fix while in South Beach. I leave this Sunday for Florida. There is just something that I get out of warm salty water that I just don't get in the chill-you-to-the-bone cold water that we still have here. My husband surfs, and surfs in the winter, so he thinks the water here has definitely warmed up but not for this girl! 

2) Cook more dinners on the grill and eat them outside! Grilled filets, grilled warm spinach salad, grilled peaches drizzled with balsamic... mmmm. 

3) Learn to do things that I'm not familiar with. I'm NOT good at this. I think it's been my lesson so far in 2011. I don't like doing things that I am not a "natural" at. Hence, I hated golfing in Anza Borrego over New Years. I'm hoping that this summer I may be able to be more patient with myself. Maybe I'll learn to crochet or knit.

4) Finish the projects that I've got around. I know I'm not the only one who does this. From home projects, to making jewelry, there are ideas that have been floating around the office and my pinterest boards. 

5) Do more outside; riding my bike, reading, hiking, maybe even a horse back ride. I've thinking about finding a place and doing this for the last couple of years. This summer might just be that time. 

6) Take day trips to places like Santa Barbara and San Diego. 

7) Master a light signature cocktail. I'm thinking something like a low calorie mojito.

8) Wear big sun hats because, they're adorable AND my face doesn't need the wrinkles.

9) Read the books I've been thinking about for a while. Mostly this one, from this guy.

10) Figure out a new place to make our home. This probably should have been number 1 but it will come when it is meant to. 

first day of summer

[Images of Grace Kelly via weheartit]

Today is the first official day of summer. June 21st is the Summer Solstice which means that it is the longest day of sunlight the whole year. I am hoping that means today will be sunny since we've had full on June gloom thus far. A few days that were warm & sunny in the midday but definitely doesn't feel like summer to me yet. These images of Grace Kelly feel just like what I want my summer to feel like. Clear waters, big sun hats, stripped beach towels, and sun with refuge in the shade.