While cuddling in California...

I wore this.

Dress, Belt, Scarf: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

[Realizing I could stand to learn how to accessorize.]

Every piece in this outfit is a new favorite. The dress? I love that I can dress it up with heels - or - I could throw on Toms with it and make it a little more casual. The scarf? I love the colors in it - and - I love that the pattern is perfect for mixing with stripes. The belt? Well, who doesn't love a good skinny belt? I was super excited about adding a few little versatile pieces to my [slowly growing] wardrobe. 

Want in on a nerdy little secret about me? I have this section in my closet. The back section. It's not huge, but it's got two or three pieces of clothing that Levi has never seen. I keep them there for special date nights or you know, trips to California and I spring them on him when he least expects it. It may be a vain little streak in me, but I LOVE hearing his "Ooh! Where'd you get that?? I haven't seen that yet, have I??" reactions. There's really very little that that boy doesn't know about me so I suppose I just itch occasionally to throw that little element of mystery into our relationship. I mean really, the CIA should hire me.

Honeymooning.

Kiddddinnnggg.

Just vacationing.

But man. I tell you what. Every trip feels like a honeymoon when you got a stud like this holding your hand through it.

We just got home from California! It was a little spur of the moment. I mean, we've been talking about going for a while, but we weren't exactly sure when we would exactly until Levi finished up some work for the weekend and said "Let's just go!" and we dropped everything but our pants and ran. We went to Huntington - where he lived for a couple months back in the lame before-me-days. I had him show me where he lived, and where he went when he needed time to himself, where he surfed [or "tried" says he], where he hung out, where he got his groceries. You know that Rascal Flatts song, Take Me There? It was in my head all weekend long. Learning about him is one of my favorite things in the world. The fact that I'm the girl he chooses to share every part of his life with is still so unreal to me. Getting to grow a little closer, share a little more, getting to put another few little pieces into the puzzle that make up him, sigh. It was a pretty perfect weekend.

  

Our spot on the beach. Safe distance from Creeper at tower #16 [whose boyfriend looked none to pleased at his man's wandering eyes] and just enough space between us and the kite surfer at  #20 that we could watch him fly...but still turn around and make out without being completely inappropriate.

 Seriously.

Could you have kept your hands off of him?

French toast for dinner.

Today when we got home from running some errands, this little guy was hanging out front waiting to greet us. We named him Bartholemew of course [After the last toad that we had come visit, who was named after the toad before that, who was named after who-knows-what.]. The poor little guy had a little bit of a gimpy leg so we held him for an extra long time [because I'm sure that made him feel better]. As soon as I jumped out of the truck shouting "Barth!" Levi started talking about reasons we could probably keep him. That boy has a heart of gold I tell you. A heart. Of. Gold.

Are we dreaming in black and white?

I haven't felt very good for a few days and I'm not yet back to my photo-happy self so today I think I'll just write a little bit. I think I'll just write a little about my life. About the things Levi and I talk about. About the song I'm listening to right now. About living YOUR life. And maybe a little about faith.

I feel like so many people in this world dream in black and white. I did. For a really long time. I still do at times, to be honest. Do you know what I mean by black and white? I mean I feel like a lot of people go their whole lives planning vacations around the weather. I feel like a lot of people throw away every one of the goody trays they get at Christmas. I feel like a lot of people say they "love the beach" but they've never swam in the ocean. [I am so to blame!] I mean when we think about our lives are we just watching the hours go by or are we living in every minute?

[ANECDOTE ALERT]

I was at my grandma's today for a "girls lunch" with my sister and cousin and aunt - all of us that live in the area. Anyway. My grandma had a friend selling chocolate in bulk and we all went around the table signing up for our 5 lbs. of mini chips or kisses or m&m's. It was fun but as I was walking out the door, I changed my mind. I crossed off my order, said, "You know, I think it's probably better if I have to go to the store when I want chocolate chip cookies - makes me think a little longer about it!" and I left. Now that I'm home, and have been of course, taking it easy, I'm wondering...Why? Why not let yourself make cookies when you want em?

There are times when Levi or I will be just a little distracted with something in our lives. Whether it's work, whether it's family, whether it's whatever. Usually we tell each other. Usually with a "BABBBEEE! I NEED SOME 'TENTION!" [Tention=Attention in our household.]. It almost always ends in a tickle fight, or a cuddle fest, or a night out, or something where we can just be together. Where we can remind each other to appreciate the fact that we get to be together. Just to be together. I am SO grateful for this! I am so glad he's there to remind me that life is good, if I ever forget and I'm so glad he's willing to be reminded as well.

I think that's the secret. For me, personally, I believe it's vital - yes, VITAL - to each and every one of us to be surrounded by people in our lives who will give us that reminder. There has to be those people around us that make us want to enjoy the moment. That make us WANT to live every one of those minutes. At least for me, that makes all the difference.

Let's make our lives what we want them to be, yeah? Let's make cookies every time we crave them and soak up the time we get on this earth. Personally, Levi is what fills MY dreams with color. From the first moment I got to share with him. He brightens every shade. He helps me make those minutes count. Every one of them. I love him just for that.

In the rain.

It's raining today. Yes, actually RAINING. Not only that, but it's been raining. For like the last three days. It's been incredible. I'm actually sitting on our porch right now. Sitting on the porch, blogging, pretending I'm not in Arizona. Weather like this makes me oh, so reminiscent. More on that later. Without further ado. Style blog number double oh eight. Right hurr.

Not my most "mature" outfit to date, but it was a lot of fun to wear! Plus the boy liked it. And we pretty much just go with whatever the boy says.

Top and tights are from F21 and the skirt and the shoes were both thrifted.

These clouds make me think Seattle. Driving down the five, sitting in the middle seat, cuddling up to the boy that I'm getting to know so well. Talking about sights we want to see, pictures we want to take, reasons we're falling in love. Laying in the grass under blankets, still so much electricity running between us. We're talking about all the excuses we can to postpone not being together. All the ways we could make "us" really work. We hold hands. We giggle. We ask people to take our pictures. We flirt. These cloudy days will forever be my favorite. They will always remind me of what started it all. The beginning. Our beginning. It was a cloudy day just like this one, when my life changed for the better.

Today I Love

Today I love that when I asked Levi the other day if he was okay with me never straightening my hair again, he looked at me blank and responded with an "Of course!" as if it was silly that I even asked. I love that that boy takes me as I am - frizzy unstyled hair and all. I love that the other day I froze some cookie dough in little balls so that I could pull them out and eat them whenever my little heart started craving, and I love that every time I do so now, Levi calls it a "Cookie Party" and absolutely INSISTS that I formally invite him to it. [I won't even go into the pitifully pained expression on his face the first time I didn't. I tried to explain that it wasn't really a party, and that if it had been he of course would have been number one on the guest list...but "how on earth could I have thought for even a second that it wasn't a party if there were cookies AND me involved"?? Lesson learned.] I love that while we're painting cabinets, he calls it a game and races constantly to catch up with me. I love how FUN that boy makes my life. I love surrounding myself with people who make me laugh. People I don't have to think around, if that makes sense. Do you know what I mean? It's just nice when you can let go with someone. When you can just be. No pressure. It's rewarding.

Want to know what else I love?

 

Isn't there something so magical about new boxes of crayons? It's like a blank canvas for me. Or opening a fresh tube of paint. Or sharpening a dull pencil. I'm a sucker for fresh starts I suppose. It's just so...you know. 

Inspiring.

PS: Blue green has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. Blue green, then Scarlet. What's yours?

Here's what I sweated in today.

YES. I am still trying to force Fall. Only today, instead of long sleeves with shorts - it's a tank top with a scarf. I'm a confused little child.

I also ventured into the world of jeans today. I am so excited for cooler weather.

Do you want a side-dish-story this morning? 

Every day, after Levi wakes up, he yawns a couple times. Then he spends several minutes stretching. Then goes to the bathroom. Then he wanders back out scratching his messy hair [and looking a little lost]. Once he gets his barrings again, he turns the light on to the very lowest setting. He hasn't picked up his glasses yet, so he kneels back down on the bed and puts his face about an inch away from mine to see if my eyes are still closed, whether they are or not, he always whispers:

"Are you still sleeping?"

I absolutely love this.