August Moments

This month has been a whirlwind of travels, sunshine, and family time. A week in Vermont with my family and a week in New York with Weston's family, both beautiful houses along lakes. Many pictures were taken. Many memories were made. I will be the first to admit I find myself so blown away by the beauty and gift that life is over and over again to the point where I wish there was a way I could bottle up all the details, moments, scents, sights. Anyone else guilty of documenting to a fault? I get so obsessed with how much I love moments of life and never want to forget them that I feel the need to photograph, video, journal every little moment to feel like I truly appreciated it. Ironically, just the opposite happens. My nature loving, constant, old fashioned husband (I swear he's an old man in a 24yr olds body sometimes and I love him for it) contines to teach me the value of just LIVING life and enjoying every moment with those you're with. No pressure, no camera angle or impressive adjective needed. It's challenging to us overdocumenters, but it's also freeing and refreshing. There is an intimacy in making memories that only you and those you're with know about. So join me in seizing the day with all six senses and that wonderful thing our brains do called making memories. 

  

xoxo,

Mrs. Moment lover

Staycation

Today, my sister and I went to a local community pool. Lucky for us they are such overachievers. We were pretty much on a Caribbean island. My favorite thing to do this summer has been making a conscious effort to open my eyes to the places around me that are worth exploring and enjoying!

Guest admission:$8

Slushy:$2.50

Gas: more money than it should be, but much less than plane ticket

A day getaway with my sister and nephew to a tropical faux resort: priceless 

xoxo,

Mrs. Backyard Adventures

Story Time

Once upon a time, a husband nicely reminded his wife she may not want to wear heels to walk around town. She wore them anyway, thinking she knew best and before long had horrible blisters. When the rain took their date night to a new destination , instead of saying "I told you so" the husband went into Old Navy to buy his wife flat shoes so she would be comfortable. She was hoping for a simple rubber pair of flip-flops, but instead he returned with a beautiful pair of leather sandals that he thoughtfully picked out just for her. That's when she realized she had, in fact, found the Prince Charming she always dreamed of but was once told she would never find. 

June Birchbox

This month was such a winner! Here's what I got...

1. The Half Up hair tool by Sarah Potempa
2. Laqa & Co Lip Lube in purple
3. Coola BB Cream with SPF 30
4. evologie "Stay Clear" cleanser
5. English Laundry perfume by Christopher Wicks

Whether or not I muster up the guts to wear purple lipstick in public....the bottom line is, it's so fun to try 'out of my ordinary' products every month! 

xoxo,
Mrs. Birchbox fan

Unplugged Thoughts

"I reserved a site without electricity, but there's a bathhouse closeby" my husband said with excitement. 

"But how are we going to charge our phones?!" I blurted out, cringing at how I sounded as it came out. 

It was going to be a weekend of camping adventure at a local state park. A few days of roughing it in the wilderness, sleeping in a tent (a wedding gift waiting to be used two years later) and cooking all of our meals over a campfire. 

Why was my first concern my connection to the world? My dependence on technology and more so, my addiction to feeling "connected" has become more apparent than ever. Apparetly this weekend was just what I needed. 

I did use my phone to take a few pictures, but we made a "rule" to not be on social media or check work emails. I'm won't pretend like it was easy, but wow, it was refreshing. 

We made unplugged memories that were just our own, surrounded by God's beautiful creation. It was just what I needed I more ways than I knew. 

It's a convenient thing to have a constant connection to friends and family through technology, to share exciting things in life, but I challenge you to set some time aside, even an hour or two, to 'unplug' yourself and enjoy silence & nature. Simplicity is an energizingly beautiful thing. 

Memorial Day weekend

Retail Bargain Shopping: it's possible!

Ann Taylor LOFT is my retail weakness. All my thrifting instincts seem to go out the window when I walk into that store. I want everything. I fell in love with this cream eyelet blazer the first time I laid eyes on it in the store window, only problem is, the pricetag read $138.00. Yikes. So I waited, and waited, and impatiently waited,almost giving up on the possibility of it being mine when it was only marked down to $129.99. 

Yesterday, I was told by a friend who knew about my obsession with it (yes that's how much I talked about it) that it was marked down to $79.99 and they were running a 40% off sale! So naturally I rushed to the mall after work and found the perfect fit. At the checkout I got suckered into opening their rewards card which earned me an additional 15% off, then an extra 10% for it being the first Tuesday of the month! (a rewards card perk). 

So my grand total was..... $36.71!!! In a way that is a splurge for me when I think about how much that would get me at a thrift shop, but over $100 of savings from the original price made it bearable. If there's anything I'll make an exception for when it comes to bargain shopping, it's wardrobe staples. I may wear this blazer every day this spring .

So there it is ladies! It is possible to bargain shop in classy, high quality retail stores! The secret...PATIENCE! It's the hardest thing, but as seasons change and new merchandise comes in, the new becomes old and prices are cut! Also, layering promotions and sales as much as possible whittles the price down. Happy shopping! 

xoxo, 

Mrs. Patient for a bargain