ruffled blue

dressing for weddings in the summer can be pretty tricky. it's crazy hot so you want to wear as light and minimal of clothing as possible but, you don't want to look like you are going to the lake. i found this dress by accident a couple of years ago and fell in love with the sweet ruffling throughout. plus, i'm always a sucker for anything in blue. flash forward to last weekend, i was trying to figure out what to wear to an out of town wedding when i came across this beauty. it was just what the doctor ordered and fit in perfectly with the attire at the event. its only negative: since it is linen, it's prone to wrinkles but, that is the least of my worries in 97 degree heat ;)

lately

[my sweet boy]

so, you may or may not have noticed i've been a little in and out on posting lately. not too long ago, we said farewell to one of our family members, bear (pictured above). and while i know that it is just the way life works to lose loved ones, it was very hard for me. bear had been in my life since i was eleven and had been the first animal companion i had felt such an affinity for. not to say i haven't loved any dogs i've had prior to him or since then but, he was the first. when i learned it was time, T and i drove home that very weekend to spend time with him and say goodbye. as painful as it was, it will probably be a weekend i will treasure always. since then, i've come to feel more peace with his passing but, not without quality time with those who are nearest and dearest to me. i managed to snap a few photos of those sweeter moments and i hope you enjoy. 

[a delicious family dinner]

[summer-themed dessert to celebrate jana's birthday]

[my two bests]

[my sweet boba who stayed close to me to make me feel better]

[great laughs]

[shuffleboard - one of my favorite bar games]

[one of my closest at a local favorite]

[the boys back together]

[elation from a fun nighttime bike ride]

[getting lost on purpose with my boys]

[got air?]

[this one gave lots of kisses in between naps to make me feel better]

[late night fire pit sitting]

[lots of pool lounging with friends]

[adorable moments from T's nephew]

[surprising great friends]

[mini adventures with my momma]

cositas

[fresh peaches...a thing of beauty]

have you ever found yourself so elated at great news that hasn't directly happened to you? this frequently happens to me when i hear great news about loved ones and this past weekend was a dozy. while on their adventure-filled weekend in oregon, my two darlings, laun & andrew, got engaged! ever since i got the ecstatic phone call from them, i have been grinning from ear to ear. so, alex and i concocted a plan to surprise them at the airport when they returned to congratulate them in person. and while we were all so exhausted (the flight came in pretty late), we couldn't pass up the opportunity to show them just how much we loved them.  

[an impromptu date with my baldy]

[polka dot toes]

[the most dapper gin bottle]

[two of my favorites got engaged]

[a surprise for the newly engaged lovebirds]

patterns

i'm sure when you see this, you're thinking, that girl has lost it. either oklahoma has spontaneously been hit with fall-like weather (which has happened before...it is oklahoma) or, she doesn't realize what season it is. neither are correct. in fact, it was a muggy rainy morning followed by sweltering humidity in the afternoon. but, my office gets pretty chilly to compensate for the outside temps...so, this is my way to meet in the middle with a funky mash-up of patterns to add a little extra pizzazz.

red, white & blue

hope everyone had a great time celebrating on the 4th! T and i hosted a small get together at our place complete with T's amazing mojitos, grilling up some tasty burgers and brats, several rounds of corn hole, and a backyard pup party. it was perfect, start to finish, and is probably my favorite moment from this summer :)

[i whipped up T's favorite - ny cheesecake with fresh berries]

what made it even more special was that brian came to visit for the weekend! it was so fun to have him back with the gang and we already miss him. 

[i got to snack on one of my favorites]

some of the guys biked up to grab a couple of cigars to celebrate they were all back together. bruce, the pug, of course joined in since he loves riding in the basket. meanwhile, l&a put together a new cocktail they made for the occasion - champagne bomb pops. (one of my favorite popsicles from when i was a kiddo)

[so delicious]

[boba trying to hog the pool]

and while it may not look it, the weather was sticky hot so, T filled up the pup pool so all the dogs could keep cool. they had so much fun getting insanely muddy, marking everything in sight, chewing on sticks and chasing each other...all 6 of them :)

[matching hats]

[we tried to keep gambit close since he didn't quite get corn hole...he kept trying to run off with the bean bags!]

before we all headed out to watch the big fireworks show, we played with sparklers but, not before nehemiah came up with a really great idea. at friendsgiving, we typically state what we are thankful for but, he had the idea that when we are all able to be together (whatever the time of year), we should keep that tradition. so, after he amazingly said what he was thankful for, we all went around doing the same. it was such a sweet moment, and one i will treasure always.