July: A Recap

Hello, remember me? I realize I have been very absent on my blog this month. July has been incredibly busy for me. I finally got a job, and for someone who has never really had a 'real' job, it feels like I've been working a lot. I feel very accomplished now, and I am finally making money to compensate for my out of control shopping addiction. It's only getting worse though... In addition to getting job, I have also been busy planning a bachelorette party for my sister since my other sister and I are the Maid/Matron of Honor. The party was this past Saturday, and it was so much fun! I didn't get very many pictures (a grand total of two haha) because I was busy hosting, and was too lazy to get my camera out at times. It was just one of those days where I let everyone else be the photographers. 

My sisters and I at the Bachelorette party

I guess the highlight of most Julys is the fact that it is the month I was born. I turned the big two-oh this month, and I am no longer a teenager. It's weird. I've been alive for two decades. I don't feel like I'm old enough to be 20, and I certainly don't look it. It seems like such a mature age. Something I don't think I can live up to. The only person I've ever really known to have the same birthday as me is Selena Gomez, and while I like her well enough, I'm much more excited to say that I now share it with the newest member of the royal family (I was a little disappointed in the name they chose though). I had a wonderful birthday with my family eating delicious food. honestly I really didn't do much that day besides make everyone wear party hats haha. 

Probably the most exciting thing this month however was probably - and you may think I'm a little crazy for saying this - but yes, it was seeing One Direction live. What better way to spend my last days of being a teenager? I don't like to label things, but if it came down to it I would probably have to call myself a Directioner. Not one of the crazy ones though! I did not toss my bra onstage, attempt to sneak onto their tour bus, or disguise myself to get backstage. The boys were amazing though. They sounded great live, and yes, I could actually hear them above all the screaming. They were of course their usual charming selves, and it's still weird to think that it was actually them. The real deal. I wasn't staring at them on my computer screen or a magazine cover, or hearing their voices on the radio. I was actually in the same room as them. Surreal. I'm probably more in love with Niall after hearing his dreamy Irish accent and contagious laugh magnified through the sound system, and it really is a shame we'll never meet. I'm positive we'd get on swimmingly! For real though. 

I like to think Niall was waving at me... a girl can dream right? When we do become friends I'll kindly ask him to not wear white on the next tour so his beautiful face is not washed out in every picture ;) 

I'm sad July is almost over because that means I have to move back to school in less than a month. Say What? Where has the summer gone? I'm not ready to go back to doing homework, worrying about things, and being on a schedule. I also can't believe it's almost been a year since I left for my adventure abroad. I honestly think about my time in England every day. I miss it so incredibly much! All the memories are still so fresh in my mind. If I smell or see certain things the nostalgia and memories will come flooding back. It's crazy how our sense of smell is so strongly linked to certain places or feelings. 

I hope you had a great July as well! 

P.S. Christmas is less than half a year away! Is it weird that I'm already super excited? You're right. Too soon, too soon. 

Keep Smiling,

More Vacation Snaps

Keep Smiling, 

Back from a Relaxing Week at the Lake

I got back from my weeklong vacation up north yesterday, and I am still pretty exhausted. It's weird how laying about in he sun for a week can have that affect on you. I had a great time with my family and the various visitors we had during the week. It's always a great time, and many memories were made. I ate way too much food, and got way too much sun, but it was all worth it. (I definitely need to get back into the swing of exercising though. Especially since the bridesmaid dresses for my sister's wedding should be arriving any day now. I'm scared to try mine on!)

We take the same vacation every two years on the week of the Fourth of July. My family has a timeshare on the lake, and we like to bring our boat with us. This was the first time ever that we've been able to get the boat out every day. The weather was amazing! Sunny and not too hot. Although the water was a tad bit cold for swimming, but once you got used to it it was fine. The lake is so big that it never really warms up like most others. The size of the lake is the main reason I love it so much. It's the biggest lake we've ever had our boat on. I can't even see the other side when I'm looking across it, which makes it feel more ocean-like. It's just a blue horizon. The great thing about being there for Independence Day is that the fireworks look great from on the water. Plus, there are always multiple displays all around the lake. It's pretty amazing. 

I of course took tons of photos, so here's a better look of my week. I'll have to do a part two with the rest of the photos I wanted to post. 

Keep Smiling, 

What's In My Beach Bag ~ Summer Essentials

Since I'm on vacation for a week, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do this post. During the summer, I like to keep a bag with all my sun/summer things because a lot of times we'll plan on taking out boat to the lake, and it can be very last minute. These are the things I like to have along with me. Although I did forget to include whatever book I'm reading. I like to bring some good reading material with me to the beach/lake/pool. 

My light blue backpack is from Target. I got it this spring after putting it off for so long. I finally gave in. It's a good size, and I like the hands-free aspect a backpack entails. It's especially nice while trying to get a boat into and out of the water. You need both hands for that. My big white sun hat is from JC Penny last year. The brim is rather large, but for someone who burns super easily (It's ridiculous), it's nice to have something shading my face and neck. 

I keep a lot of these smaller items in this Burt's Bees pouch along with extra hair ties and bobby pins. I mentioned above that I am very prone to sunburn so I have a bottle of spf 50 lotion, but I also have some spray on sun screen in spf 30. I'm really excited to use this because it combines my three favorite things in a sun screen: the fact that's it's the sport performance makes it less likely to sweat off, the fact that it sprays, much easier to apply in my opinion, and I'm really excited for the whole 'cool zone' effect. Sounds refreshing. I may actually enjoy reapplying! I have another sun block in spf 30, I think this one is better for applying to the face. The next thing I have it the St. Ives Eye and Face Stress Gel. This has cucumber (and aloe I believe) and it's really nice to put on if your face gets burned, or if you're me, your nose gets burned to a crisp. The Curel lotion is for my face. I have dry skin, and he sun block is not good for it. Also, swimming washes away any face lotion I may have applied earlier in the day. I always like to have a backup. The same goes for deodorant. Pretty self explanitory. Although I would NOT recommend this scent. Makes you smell worse in my opinion, which is why I only use it as a backup. I didn't want to waste it by throwing it away. The last things I keep are hand sanitizer, ibuprofen (I'm prone to  headaches in the heat), some body spray, and of course lip balm with spf 15. 

 If you're going swimming, you obviously need a towel. I also like to bring a sarong to cover up with and protect my skin from the sun. It's also nice to use as a blanket since it tends to get breezy on the boat. I just use this tie-dye one my aunt brought back for me from Africa. 

The last things I bring along are my iPod, sunglasses, and water. It's always a good idea to stay hydrated especially in the sun. 

Keep Smiling,