Black & White Wednesday

Last weekend my boyfriend Trevor came to visit!

His flight got in really late and then we were up even later driving to the lake where my family was camping.

Saturday morning we woke up and made some breakfast and then packed up the boat and headed to the lake. The weather was really nice all weekend. The lake was a little rough though so we headed to a little cove and found a nice beach to have lunch on.

When we got back from the lake we decided to go explore on our bikes. The only problem... we didn't want to ride uphill. So we loaded the bicycles in the back of my dads truck and he drove us a couple miles up a windy road. The area we went camping at is really pretty. I just love all the trees and lots of flowers were blooming on the side of the road. I stopped many times on my bike ride to take pictures :)

I won't see Trevor again for a few more weeks when we go on another camping trip :(

I'm so excited for the camping trip though!

Happy Wednesday!

For more black & white photos follow along at...

Sewing Project #2

My mom is going to a wedding shower this weekend and we decided to make these easy cute kitchen towels for part of our gift. 

Home-made gifts are so much better anyways! :)

I plan on making a lot more of these because they were so easy and fun to make! 

In the near future, I will post a tutorial on how to make them, but for now I'll just share some pictures!

"T"

Guess who's coming to visit this weekend!

So excited! 

We've got a fun weekend of camping and boating planned with the family!

Five years ago today Trevor asked me to be his girlfriend! Best decision I've ever made!

I love you so much Trevor! Thank you for putting up with me and being so good to me!

Sewing Project #1

 A couple months back I went to a huge sale at Johanna's and purchased some sewing patterns. I didn't realize until I opened the pattern's how complicated this was going to be. I am never buying the McCall's brand again! Thank goodness I had my awesome talented mommy to help me!

In high school I took a sewing class but we never really learned how to follow a pattern and all the sewing lingo. I'm not wondering what I did learn in that class... lol

I've come to realize that the only real way to learn this skill is to practice!

 

 After I finished this strenuous project I felt very accomplished! I am very happy with the outcome! 

From now on though, I'm gonna stick to some simpler projects. 

 The inside is lined with the printed fabric. 

 It's hard to tell from the picture, but the part in between the straps is actually a pocket.

 

Project #2 Coming soon!

Wordless "Video" Wednesday

Black & White Wednesday - - Redwood Forest

This post is long past due! 

After Graduation, in June... my family took the long way home for a mini-vacation. 

My sister and I had never been to the Redwood Forest and I had always wanted to, so we went!

The drive was long and windy, but the scenery was amazing! 

For our highly touristy Redwood adventure, we stopped at the Trees of Mystery. 

 Featuring a 49 ft. Paul Bunyan and a 35 ft. Ox named Babe the Blue Ox

This guy actually talks to you! He will comment on your clothes, answer your questions, and even wink at you! He was teasing my sister about her camo and ugg boots! Pretty funny!

This place was actually really cool. You begin the tour by hiking along the trail and looking at all the unique and very large trees (warning: lots of pictures to follow)

This tree is called the Brotherhood tree. It is 297 ft tall and 19 ft in diameter. It is called the Brotherhood tree to represent all races, creeds, and colors!

 A family group picture at the top of the lookout!

I love the lighting in this picture. The whole forest was just so beautiful. Rays of sunlight were beaming through the world's tallest trees! 

 Ashley jumping!

 After you finish the short hike, there is a gondola that takes you up up up for a great view of the ocean and the forest.

This is a picture of the world's largest family tree. Twelve living trees in one tree with only one trunk. Pretty amazing!

At the end of the tour, there is a awesome American Indian museum and cute little gift shop. 

So glad I got to experience the amazing Redwood Forest! 

To see more Black & White Wednesday posts, follow along at The Long Road to China

A visit to California

Last weekend I flew to California to visit Trevor and his family.

It has been so long since I had been there (the last time was May), and it was so nice to go back!

On Friday we relaxed by the pool and I got to meet Trevor's cousins from Michigan. 

We just hung out in the sun and got to know each other a little better, and of course cupcakes were involved :) 

On Sunday, Trevor took me golfing! I had never been golfing before and had always secretly wanted to try even though I knew I'd be pretty bad. 

Good thing I had a great teacher! :)

On the first hole I actually did pretty good! But from there on out it was touch and go... I'd get a few goods hits and then other times it would take me a million tries to hit the ball off the tee! I'm thinking golf may not be my sport.... One hole I actually did better than Trevor though and hit the ball on the green in two hits! Some nearby golfers applauded  from afar :) 

The last hole was the worst... I think I was just tired from being outside in the hot sun for so long. I just could not hit the ball off the tee, so I kicked it... and then I threw it :)

Although I may not be great at golf me and Trevor had a really good time together and I hope we can do it again someday soon! 

Starting a new hobby....

My mom's graduation present to me was a new sewing machine! A few weeks ago we went to the store to pick one out. I already knew which one I wanted... one just like my grandma's because it is easy to use and works good. 

In high school I took a sewing class and I've done some sewing with my mom and grandma, but I still have a lot to learn. Both my mom and grandma are awesome sewers (is that a word?). In high school my mom sewed all of her own clothes and she never wore the same outfit to school. Ever. 

I hope that this new hobby of sewing can help me start an Etsy business or just allow me to make homemade items such as curtains and aprons. 

For my first project, I bought some cute fabric and a pattern to make a purse/bag. 

 I also bought this fabric because I thought it was super cute :)

I'm sure I'll find something to make out of it!

 

Hopefully in a few weeks I'll do a post about my first sewing project on my new sewing machine!

Black & White Wednesday

The past couple weeks have been so busy. Hopefully I can find time later this week to blog about our camping trip to the dunes. For now, all I have to share is this picture from my mom's garden. My mom loves to garden and all of her flowers are blooming. It's really pretty. I thought this one looked really good in black and white, so I thought I'd share it with ya'll. Hope you have a great Wednesday!

To see more Black & White photos follow along at The Long Road to China

A new routine

I started working a week after graduation which means I didn't get much a of summer vacation.

I'm starting to get into a new routine. Wake up at 7. Go to work by 8. Come home around 3 or 4.

It is a lot different from the school routine. During school, I often had break in between classes or I could sleep in. Not anymore. I guess that is apart of growing up.

A couple days ago I made a commitment. I signed up for a gym membership! With all this good home cookin' I've been eating, I'm afraid my size may increase. So I must stay in shape!

The difficult part about moving back home is that I am further away from Trevor. On Saturday he is coming to visit and I'm so excited. He will be here for a whole week!