Two absolute favorites.

I could go on and on with a list of my favorite things/people/places/blahblahblah. Three definite words that would be located at the top of this list are 1. Balmain, and 2. Cameron Diaz. With her crazy personality and bubbly-ness, I would totally be friends with her. Put her in Balmain, and I'd be her best friend.

Ladder ball.

For the past four summers, Ladder or Blongo balls have been flying threw the air like it's no ones business. If you don't know what Ladder Ball is, click here for a quick catch up. If you are familiar with the game, perhaps you can understand where I'm coming from. When I see someone setting up the necessary components of the game, I am less than thrilled. Simply due to the fact that I am not skilled when it comes to throwing two balls conjoined by a thin rope, and in some bazaar way, getting the rope to wrap around any of the three horizontal poles. More often times than not, I am focusing on trying to avoid wrapping the thrown objects around a tree limb  or a passerby's neck or leg. But much like any other game, there are times when I have my MVP moments. I can really rack up the points one minute and then put people's lives in danger the next. I don't know what it is, but when the game first starts off I'm rolling my eyes, but without fail, half way through I am rolling up my sleeves, and out comes the competitiveness. 

{ladder ball mascot, bentley}

{game face - check}

{i'm pretty sure some threatening comments were being made by the opposing team}

I'm sure you're dying to know, we lost.

Falling in love.

I am an avid supporter of these looks. Everything from the above the knee socks, leather pieces, and quintessential sized bags. I've said it before, I absolutely love Summer, but the Fall trends have me looking forward to a 20 degree drop in temperature.

Photos via Shopbop.com

Life as of late.

I definitely do not have wifi and it's beginning to show. It has been trying to post this past week due to poor signal, but the clouds are gone and I have a small opportunity window, so here we go. Over the last week, you haven't missed much. A bunch of impulse purchases, jotting down and expanding on some big ideas, fashion inspiration searching, and one of my best friends turned 23! (happy birthday, Tara!). Oh, and please don't let me forget, a second shattered IPhone screen. Is anyone else feeling really busy lately? Although, now that I think of it, I would hate not to be busy, not to have ideas racing through my head, busy thinking of how different my life might be in a year, two years, ten years. So as I take a quick deep breathe, here's to us and our mess of beautifully busy lives.

The road less traveled.

There are so many items in my wardrobe that I barely take off the hangar or out of the box, even. In the winter, I was completely enamored with a pair of black platform booties from TopShop. I contemplated for weeks on whether or not to purchase them, until I thought, why not? So a week later they arrived on my doorstep, and I immediately started planning on where I'd wear them. It's been six months and my coveted booties have been worn once. It's difficult to wear these in a small town without feeling like Carrie Bradshaw - which I am slightly okay with. When playing around with my camera over this past weekend, I fell back in love with the platforms. I quickly decided that next outing, I am going to throw on an oversized tee and a simple mini skirt and let the shoes do the talking.

City of blinding lights.

There were times when I lived in the city, and all i could think about was going on vacation to some place very different, with green hills, and not another person for miles. Now that I am back in the small town that I grew up in, there are certain times when I really miss the chaos of my old home. Last July 4th, was the weekend I moved out of my Chelsea apartment. I flew in a few days before my dad and mom drove down to help with the big move, to surprise my boyfriend who was occupying the apartment for the duration of his summer classes, while I was home escaping the business of the city. Last year was my first time experiencing the fire works in New York, and I can honestly say that nothing compares. It wasn't the fireworks in particular that impressed me, but more the crowd and the vibe of the entire city. The west side highway shuts down, and thousands, and I do mean thousands of people are sitting for hours waiting for the booms and explosions (of the fireworks of course. Although for a while there was a suspicious whacko chanting and acting crazy, so at that point, nothing was off the table). Then the fireworks started. They lined the Hudson and were completely gorgeous. My favorite part of the entire evening though, was walking down the west side highway back to the apartment. I've driven down that road countless times, but to see the huge crowd of people occupying it, was so much fun. Oh, and we went to the zoo and saw the Roloffs from Little People Big World! I've had encounters with Uma, Katy Perry, and Lauren Conrad, and I've never been as star struck. This year will be hard to top the one prior, but I have a special visitor coming to spend yet another Fourth of July by my side, and I'm excited to see what adventures we stumble upon. Pictures to come. xx

Lake.

In a little over two weeks, I am taking the top off of my Jeep, and heading to the lake, puppy in tow. I am looking forward to a routine visits to Stonecat Cafe, and ordering warm roasted garlic and fresh goat cheese spread, participating in a scrabble smack down with my family, laying lazy on the dock and watching the water flow past, actually exploring the town just twenty minutes away, and just taking in each simple and diverting moment. What special moments do you look forward to each summer? xx

Photo via ShopBop