Working away on new items for the fall season...

{8.29 to 8.30}

summer days

So fluffy! So very hot. Poor Ladybug. Summer has officially arrived.

 Out early this morning with four red balloons and my camera for a sweet family photo shoot...

it overflowed with pure happiness and playfulness despite the heat and a 
few grumpy "four and a half year-old" moments.

{8.27 to 8.28}
...

so happy

that minco makes these pretty bracelets and that I have one of my very own and since receiving it from
Mom have worn it every day...xo


and that i love doodle came up with this clever art and now it is hanging in my home, in a room that doesn't need to be mentioned on the blog...ever...ha ha

to do . . .

. . . paint the front door in sweet tea, you'll love it even if you did only choose the paint for its name

. . . hand wash the polka dots and florals you brought home from Florence

. . . sort supplies, begin all those projects on your list and add the new ideas you've been dreaming up

{8.23 to 8.25}
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hooray!

I got an iPhone.
Please tell me your favorite apps, right now I only have instagram.

(Thank you Mom + Dad. Not only am I another year older but my whole world was different when I woke up this morning. xo)

...

...that's me!

tiny stars...

...a blue balloon, many cupcakes, a sparkling clean car, movie night, pajamas well after noon and my birthday isn't even until tomorrow, yay!

{8.18 to 8.20}
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xoxo

Aunt Chris, Uncle Tim, cousins Timmy and Missy 1973

at Campbell's Pottery 2006

Kadee and Aunt Chris on our moving day 1981

Today is my sweet and beautiful Aunt Chris' birthday. Just to hear her voice and giggle makes my heart sing. Her love is generous and warm, if you are lucky enough to be in her life you know you are loved. When we travel to Pennsylvania we sleep in her home and it feels like home. She even has Little Debbies and Hank's peanut butter frozen custard for you if you let her know you are coming for a visit. 

Happy Birthday Aunt Chris, I hope you had a wonderful day! I love and miss you oh so very much! xo

steal my sunshine

When my mom was a little girl growing up in Pennsylvania she would spend many summers in Florida soaking in the sunshine, a lot of sun. As she grew up she didn't seek out the sun, but rather was wary of the harsh rays due to the terrible sunburns she got on her fair skin as a newlywed laying out on her apartment building rooftop watching airplanes fly into the San Diego Airport.

She raised her girls to wear sunscreen and hats. We do. We try. No suntanning around here.

A little while ago a tiny pearly white bump appeared beneath her right eye. The dermatologist identified it as basal cell carcinoma. This type of cancer can grow roots beneath the skin and cause much damage, being so close to her eye it was scary.

After several appointments, one to get the cancer completely removed and to see if it had spread (it had not!) and then to get it stitched up just right so that once the scar healed it wouldn't cause her lower lid to droop. 

I am happy to say that today we finally saw the eye that had been hidden beneath a half a potato sized patch and it is bruised from all it has been through, and I could only find one single lower lash left, but there isn't a droop and the doctor said it should continue to heal just fine.

Tears of happiness and relief from her perfectly fine tear duct, too.

She will have to be watchful for more, as will I for my fair skin, blue eyes and light hair.

Funny how much you learn and appreciate about the amazing human body when something like this comes along. How very grateful I was to see both of Mom's eyes looking at me today, I could see that she will rest much easier tonight, the whole family will...we just love her so much. xo

{8.15 to 8.16}
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happiness...

fresh green beans for dinner from an amazing garden (not mine!)

building lego houses with my nephews

our sixth anniversary

{8.12 to 8.14}
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drinking espressos in...

Italy is more beautiful and warm and full of art and life than anyone can tell you. From the moment we
flew into Italy I felt as if Case and I had entered a real-life postcard.

The art and churches are plentiful here, we soaked it all in, climbed all the steps and marveled at Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's The Birth of Venus...truly magnificent.

Gelato in every color and flavor was enjoyed daily, one day we had it twice!

the view from Piazzo Michelangelo

sunset and people watching on the Ponte Vecchio

Within Siena's medieval walls is a world of tiny passageways, brickwork, pizza with french fries on top, history, contrada pride, leather wallets, ricciarelli cookies and music late into the night.

Oh to have a picture of our faces when we first saw glimpses of Cinque Terre from the train!


custard filled pastries, sunshine, raviolis, wild berries, stairs (lots of 'em), duomos, late night dinners

bruschetta, grape orchards, giant ants, shady woods, tiny bridges, olive oil, breathtaking views...Tuscany

A perfectly lovely day trip to lovely Lucca.


A cappuccino from Il Ciocco before seeing the leaning tower from the train and flying home.


Stones and sea glass collected from the Mediterranean Sea and a leather purse as soft as butter and as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside, little bits of Italy that I took home with me...then I'll know it wasn't only a dream...

{7.24 to 8.11}

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home

waking up to blueberry pancakes from Case this morning

Home sweet home after two weeks away! I flew for over twelve hours, got my passport stamped and had a different gelato flavor almost everyday, can't wait to share the images...
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