Rooted

A quick update before camp starts this afternoon:

My cabin assignment for week 6 is to be a Rooted counselor. Rooted is a 2 week overnight program, the first half just regular "camp" and the second week, a type of discipleship program. I was very surprised to get this cabin for my first week, but I know the Lord has placed me where will be best! As we get closer to opening the gates, my heart gets more and more pumped to meet my girls! Prayers for me for wisdom, strength, joy, and creating intentional relationships with my girls are most needed. Also pray for the other Rooted counselor, Penguins, that we together might give these girls a glimpse of the kingdom of Heaven by our words and actions.

I am beyond excited to get my first cabin and I cannot wait to tell you guys about my first two weeks.

Because I am Rooted, I will not have a night off on Saturday like a normal cabin. So, if I don't respond to a text or Facebook or any other form of communication, that is why! Of course, I would love to write and receive some letters these next two weeks. Just a hint :)

Onto the beginning of my journey!

Pine Cove Ranch

I promise I will write back. See ya in 6 weeks!

What I'm Diggin'

Here are a few things I am loving around the interwebs this week!

I am in love with this stenciled cake. It's simple yet so wonderful! A slew of us will be turning 21 in my college house over the next few months. How fun would it be to start a birthday tradition with a fun cake like this?

I am so very excited about the Fourth this year. I have seen so many fun 4th of July food ideas around the internet, but this one might be my favorite. Maybe it's the red sprinkles? Or how simple it would be to recreate this idea. Pair it with a neighborhood parade and you've got yourself one festive holiday!

Oh my hippo. I want this beauty and I want it now. It's pretty weird and pretty quirky, but I think this little lady looks pretty glamourous atop her marble pedestal, don't you?

I have always liked interesting ways to preserve vacation memories. I am very fond of this idea because of how much it resembles a scientific specimen chart. Now, I just need more adventures! 

Oh, Wes Anderson. Some of my favorite movies come from this director (such as The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox). I am longing to see Moonrise Kingdom, but Tyler isn't really the epicenter for all things cinema, so here's to waiting for the DVD!

One more day until the weekend! I am having a garage sale tomorrow morning. It'll be interesting, that's for sure. Have a great Thursday afternoon!

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Beignets, Beads, and Bourbon Street

Here's a picture recap of our trip to NOLA! I only have the pictures from Sunday. Emily should be putting up more pictures later! We had such a great time in the Big Easy exploring as a big family. It was short, but it sure was sweet!

The Big Easy

This weekend I am in New Orleans with my family (including Em+Shep+Aaron). We are going to have a good ol' time eating beignets, antique browsing, city exploring, and lots more eating!

Have a wonderful weekend! I will leave you with a few pictures from our exploring last night.

Wednesday Wishlist: Summer Outdoor Essentials

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Here's my [small] list of my favorite summer outdoor gear. Some of these things have made my wishlist, some are things I already own and love. The first item on my list is my dream bike, a Trek Lexa bike. One day! Chacos are definitely my footwear of choice. You can splash through water, hike mountains, or just wear them day to day. They really are my very favorite shoe I own, and I think you could guess that by how much I wear them. Moosejaw has this Patagonia sling in their Rewards program. I have enough rewards points to get it, but haven't taken the plunge. It's light and easily squishes into any bag. It would be perfect for camp this summer with all the little things I will have to lug around. And then we have my namesake, my favorite, my baggies. These are my favorite article of clothing ever, and they come in lots of fun patterns, too! (Psst-- I never spend more than $20 on a pair of baggies... if you know where to look, you can find them cheap!) I like them so much because of their length (Nike shorts seem so short to me) and because they dry instantly. Despite my entire family thinking they are goofy, they are my number one clothing necessity. Lastly is the trusty Timex watch. I choose the Timex Expedition collection because you can easily change out the watch band. (I've worn a Chums watch band for many years, but I hear Kavu bands are great, too!) I have worn my watch since 10th grade and cannot imagine not having one on my wrist. It's another big necessity. 

This is my go-to outfit during the summers, so I thought I would share it with you guys, too!

Back in the Saddle

Last summer, I biked about 100 miles a week through Tyler streets. I tried to keep it up when school started, but failed miserably. The only riding I saw was to and from class every day. Well, I finally got a new helmet and tuned my bike up, and now I am back in the saddle! I am starting slow and steady (emphasis on the slow) and am definitely feeling the effects of not riding since school let out in May. But I am so excited. Biking really is one of my favorite things. Running has become a chore to me, but biking is something I look forward to doing every morning.

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As always, I have set some goals for myself. Within the year I hope to ride in a few tours, including Tyler's own Beauty and the Beast. I want to find a few to ride in around College Station, too. A century ride is also on the list, but that will take a lot of dedication. Eventually, I would love to ride in the MS150, but because I know I will have to do fundraising for other things (Wyldlife, possibly missions) I do not think I will be able to ride this year. Someday soon!

For now, I am focusing on my endurance and my form, and trying to get into a normal routine. Being gone at Pine Cove is going to throw me for a loop, but my goal for the year is to continue riding into the school year. Possible reward for this? Upgrading to a bike that is a WSD, specifically a bike I can grow into, not grow out of! I am excited at this possibility and have been researching to my heart's content.

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! Check back later for my Wednesday wishlist!

Handful of Sunshine

I love coming home for the summer because I get to enjoy my parent's immaculate gardens. We have enough zinnias in the front gardens to fill the vases in our house weekly, which is such a sweet treat. I don't think there is anything nicer than fresh flowers scattered throughout a home. These a just a few of the flowers I clipped this morning.

My favorite flowers are hydrangeas, peonies, and ranunculus. Unfortunately, only hydrangeas are grown in my mom's garden. What are you favorite flowers?

Desk Space, Revisited

A few months ago I shared with you guys my desire to find an old, weathered farm table to use as my desk in my room this upcoming year. Since then I have scoured countless antique stores, coming out empty handed due to limited availability or hefty price tags.

Here's the inspiration:

Two weekends ago my mom and I ventured out to Canton Trades Days (our favorite) in search of some good finds. I have a long list on my iPhone notes of all the things I am hunting for at flea markets, but a desk was at the top of the list. One of the first booths we walked up to (and these are the outdoor booths, mind you-- don't venture into the Arbors unless you are prepared to be bewildered by bedazzles!) had the most perfect green desk sitting in the grass. Too good to be true, right? Wrong-o. Walk up to it, price= $45. Three times less that the average tables I had been seeing. The vendor walks up to my mom within seconds and whispers he will take $30. I mean, really, I didn't even have to try for this one. It was perfect, and it was mine. (Other finds of the day: vintage strainer, a pair of sewing scissors, sewing shears, and a headband to replace a lost favorite.)

Isn't the patina beautiful? My dad and I spent a few hours a day or two ago sanding, cleaning, and strengthening the table by replacing screws and fixing stripped holes. (The back leaf is missing in this picture- it had been taken off to be worked on.) Sanding the top brought out a beautiful blue undercoat, which was a nice surprise.

I am excited to bring this into my new room once I move back into the College Station house.

Wishlist Wednesday: Chambray

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I am a big fan on the chambray trend. I think this dress is the perfect start to a comfy outfit. I wear a necklace similar to this almost daily, and it has become my outfit staple. Nothing beats a pair of bold sandals. These have been on my wishlist for ages, so here's to hoping their sale price will just keep decreasing! A headband would be the perfect addition to this outfit for messy-bun days. And what better to use than an Emi-Jay hair tie? I'm a big fan of how they look. Polish off your look (literally) with this season's biggest color, a minty seafoam green.

I can see this as the perfect excursion outfit. Excellent for the oversea adventures or the morning walks through the farmer's market.

Anything I am missing? What is your one wardrobe staple?