When your blog is a virtual scrapbook.

HERE IS WHERE I SHALL DUMP THINE OWN BELOVED IPHONE PHOTOS.

You know, for the sake of memories and the camera roll. But mostly because I have zero storage and I really want to download candy crush.

Do what you gotta do!

Life has been pretty, yeah, lately. Do you know that it's actually hard to go away for a month? It's not all sunshine and cupcakes. Getting back into the social scene has been a little harder than I expected. But that's okay, you know. I've got more time for blogging and editing and netflix and muffin baking. It's not all bad! But I miss going to chick fila 7 times a week.

And for the FIRST TIME this post has been condensed. Only because I wasn't sure how many grainy phone photos you could handle! If you can stomach them (and my face in every one!) then click the link below....and if you can't then well, I'll pray for you. ;)

(JK I GET IT. There's a reason I wish I looked like Blake Livley.)

SO IT'S SUMMER, YOU SAY.

I woke up yesterday morning at 9:30. I checked Instagram. I pinned puppy photos on Pinterest. I ate breakfast (which included 3 different forms of chocolate) and watched Sponge Bob. Then I didn't brush my hair or put makeup on and I certainly didn't bother to change out of my pajamas.

YOU GUYS SUMMER IS THE BEST.

Since I spent the first 5 weeks of my summer traveling, yesterday was my first official lazy summer day and wow. I'm never going back to school or getting a job or having a life. I'll be by the pool till I'm 90 if you need me.

In the spirit of summer, sweat and swimming, I decided to reincarnate the summer list. If I do decide to go back to school (or if my mom makes me. Darn!) then that means I've only got one month left to eat popsicles and do nothing all day.

Talk about a packed schedule.

So here's the list. It involves food and hopefully a tan. If not, there's always photoshop.

What's on your SUMMAH LIST BABY? I also forgot to add eat creamsicle popsicles but I have a strong feeling those will end up happening no matter what. But just in case!

and for a holy cannoli throwback which I am alllll about these days:
{2012 goals} {2013 goals} {2014 goals}

12:01 AM, JUNE 21ST 2015

THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT AND SUDDENLY,
 IT WAS SUMMER.

It wasn't a total Cinderella moment. Jeans and Sandals could hardly compete with a gown and glass slippers! We forgot a wine opener and cups but only managed to borrow one of the necessary items.

But then again.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be spending the first moments of summer with rose in hand and the shimmering Eiffel Tower before me.

YES YOU GUYS THE WINE WAS GOOD!!  No I didn't get drunk, though I was convinced the 5 sips I took were enough. And Don't worry (mom and grandma and baptist friends), I won't be sneaking wine here in America but when you're in a grocery store in Paris and you find a 2.99 bottle and you consider buying it... your answer should always be,  HECK YES.

All about (that) Amsterdam,

Categorize this one under "Note to Self". I really had a truly wonderful time in Amsterdam (which is why I CONTINUE to post about it. #Amsterdamneverdies). And on that note, Dutch sounds eerily close to english. I'd be 2 minutes into eavesdropping on a stylish couple's conversation before I realized it wasn't even in my language. Not sure what that says about me but I figured it would be fun to laugh at in 20 years.

(the only reason I have a blog! Think of all the fun we will have at my blog reading party in 2035. Don't worry, everyone is invited.)

Note to self because: these places are cool and I'd like to go back.

Carry on!

KITCH KITCHEN (which has nothing to do with kitchens...):
 I seriously loved this place. It was filled with party supplies, piñatas, picnic blankets and basically all those cute, candy colored things that you really DONT but yet somehow desperately need. (That's pretty much me in every store, but you get the idea.) I recommend sending the dudes you are traveling with somewhere else though because it's kind of a GIRLS ONLY store if you catch my drift.

DAILY CAFE IN HAARLEM;
Haarlem stole my heart for a variety of reasons but this place was one of them. You know cake is good and all but somehow cake in an aesthetically pleasing, Instagram worthy environment is at least 10 times better. I only took like 45 photos on this cafe run because you know, I try to be casual and blend in with the locals.

Mission accomplished.

AMSTERDAM TULIP MUSEUM
Ironically enough, I didn't actually go into the museum. We walked in the store, wandered around a bit and then I took flower photos (again, ALL I did the entire trip) and then we proceeded to the cheese museum next door. Only later, after googling and such, did I realize we never made it INTO the Museum! So Well played Tulip Museum but next time I'm coming for ya.

There you go! How to not go into a museum and all that jazz.

RIJKS and for once I spelled it right.

I had a little epiphany in the Rijksmuseum a few days ago. And while that epiphany is probably better suited for a journal or a diary or maybe a piece of paper to be crumpled and shoved under my bed (you should see the stash! Actually, you shouldn't.) But, it was an epiphany that made me happy and bubbly and left me that way for a few days...and it was nice to have that little epiphany to think about when the Flu came to say hi (bonjour actually!)

Also have you ever written about an epiphany because that word is addicting. Epiphany this, Epiphany that!

A MONDRIAN!!!! We almost didn't go to that wing, but, wow. Mondrian has been my favorite for forevvver. Now it's time to make this, because who doesn't want to eat their favorite piece of art?

As you can see, the Rijks was quite dreamy. Both from the perspective of taking in art and creating your own, if you could call it that. To each his own! Van Gogh painted a selfie for pete's sake! There's probably a hashtag on the back or something....time to go back to Amsterdam. You know, just to check.

(also for a million other reasons.)

DEAR J.CREW, I LOVE YOU.

I first heard (or rather read) of  J.Crew in a book seven summers ago. Borrowing it from the library countless times, I would pour over the pages that were lined with images of Michelle Obama. Of all people! "She's relatable, she's not different from you or me. After all, she wears J.Crew!"or so the book tried to convince me.

Though it wasn't successful in convincing me of Michelle's relatability, it did introduce me to J.Crew.

And oh, do I love J.Crew.

SIX SUMMER PIECES WE ALL PROBABLY NEED:

(read: definitely) 

1. THE DRESS FOR BRUNCH ON THE BEACH

You don't even have to ask for extra whipped cream on your french toast - this dress demands it.
(buy it here)

2. FARMERS MARKET WORTHY SHORTS

The only outfit you should be wearing when stocking up on freshly baked bread, essential oils and dreamcatchers.
(shorts)

3. THE ROAD TRIP PANT OF YOUR DREAMS

You may have been belting Madonna and eating cool ranch doritos for the past 8 hours, but your outfit says otherwise.
(pants)

4. THE "YOURE BASICALLY A MOVIE STAR" TOP

Accessorize with a box of twizzlers and a bag of buttery popcorn
(buy it here)

5. SNEAKS FOR SUNDAY STROLLS

The 21st century equivalent of double velcro easy steppers.
(shop similar)

6. A FRESH APPROACH TO PATRIOTISM.

Because who doesn't want to match the fireworks AND the salsa.
(similar top)

THE FRENCH SUMMER OF MY SOUL

There's a reason bliss and baguette begin with the same letter....

Cheers to summer days in France!