a few of my favorite things: the summer edition

In lieu of the the summer ending (oh sad, sad day) I decided to make a list of all of my favorite things I have been blessed enough to enjoy this year.

In no particular order...

1. Breakfast. It is by far my favorite meal of the day, and in the summertime I have opportunities to eat the kinds of breakfast I really love - eggs (huevos), pancakes, crispy bacon, orange juice, mouth-watering fruit, YUM. There is no need for lunch when you get to enjoy the deliciousness that IS breakfast. Delish.

2. Hammocks. My oh my, have I realized how much I love a good hammock. They are perfect for so many of my favorite activities: reading a good book, dreaming, listening to music,  conversations, being outside... the list goes on. I actually just purchased an adorable sweet red hammock today, which I intend on spending every free moment in for the rest of my life, ever. 

3. Ocean. I don't even think I can describe my deep love for the ocean (pardon the pun). It's so refreshing and such a great reminder of how big God is and how small I am... the thundering crash of the waves, the wind in my hair, sand in between my toes, the sunshine, and not to mention some of my favorite people lounging in chairs beside me. 

4. Driving. This one may sound silly, but I love driving in the summer, but really only when it is sunny and clear. It's wonderful to be headed somewhere, whether to run an errand, visit a friend, or if it's the beginning of a trip, and not have to be in a rush. Most days I feel like I run around and drive like a maniac, trying to get from one place to the next in the most efficient way possible, usually speeding (sorry Mom and Dad). In the summer, life slows down just enough so that I actually enjoy these mini road trips, driving with the windows down and a little song-singing. You know the kind I mean... the belt-it-out-like-you're-Whitney music. 

{see what I mean... perfect}

5. Young Life camp. I could write a book on why I love this week so much, but I won't (at least not right now - more on this later). I get to spend a solid week with some of my favorite girls in the entire world. Not to mention, this year was extra special because my parents finally got to experience a week at Young Life camp! We did it all... zip-lining, playing volleyball, running around barefoot, screaming on the giant swing, eating and then eating some more, dancing, singing at the top of our lungs, exploring the woods via bicycles, dressing up like Duck Dynasty characters, playing "what are the odds...", smiling and laughing non-stop. It's truly the best week of my year, every year. So many of my sweet high school girls experience the most drastic life change - meeting Jesus, and I'm so thankful to be a small, small part of that, walking through life beside them and usually laughing the entire time. 

{all the gibbies. BG forever <3}

 {Duck Dynasty look-alikes}

 {half of my parental unit}

 {the entire crew... Illuminati}

 {riding the swing at night... we look GOOD}

 {the BG's dominate the monster hill} 

{50's night late night dance party. YES}

6. Stargazing. This is actually one of my favorite activities in life, in general. For some reason there is something beautiful and almost magical about sitting outside watching the sun go down and listening to the sounds of the night. Whether it's from my back porch, the roof, the beach, home, or a random city... I'm always amazed by the intricacies of the sky and especially the stars. Vincent Van Gogh said it perfectly... "Looking at the stars always makes me dream." Touche, sir. 

7. Dancing. Okay, now let's take a second here to pose a question. Is there anyone who doesn't love a good dance party? Probably not. But if so, they must be no fun at all. Dance parties are wonderful in all forms: impromptu at my house, Young Life camp style, or my personal favorite, weddings. I am by no means a great, or even good dancer, but I LOVE to dance, and love bustin' a move at weddings. They are so great. There aren't any (or at least very few) creepy dudes on the dance floor and it's perfectly acceptable to wear a dress and some heels, or go barefoot. Party on, party people. 

{sometimes you might literally burn up the dance floor and then the fire dept. has to show up}

8. Sleeping in. This could probably be combined with #1, breakfast because truly sleeping in and breakfast/brunch go hand-in-hand. I rarely sleep in during the school year, and if I do it means sleeping past my 6:00 am alarm to a lovely 7 or 8 am waking, but in the summer I am able to enjoy the glorious blessing of sleep. I have only recently come to enjoy this little gift as I have been so busy all summer, but I'm telling you, there are few things greater than waking up to the sunlight streaming in and not having to rush out of my nice, cozy bed. Oh, happy day.

9. Painting. My most recent obsession is beginning to take over my life. I have always loved to paint, but never really had the time to invest in it. Towards the end of the school year I finally allowed myself to start to do something I really love, just for me. My oh my, now it is all that I want to do. I love to create things and make new things, but never truly realized how much until this summer when I finally had some time. Just a peek of a few things I've done recently...

{so happy this moment was captured}

10. Europe. This one sure is hard to sum up in just a paragraph, but I will try (more to come later on my European adventures)! I had an incredible opportunity to travel to some amazing places including Italy, Turkey, Czech Republic and Germany. My sister and I got to spend a week together exploring Venice and Rome, and then met our parents and little brother in Istanbul. My all time favorite thing to do is explore new places and try new things - food, activities, everything, but add in the time I got to spend with my family and it just doesn't get any better. Between the Turkish baths, piranha pedicures, gondola rides, bike tours and boat tours, and Segway rides, I learned so many new things about myself, the world, and my place in it. Not to mention, the food was incredible! After eating pizza, pasta and gelato in Italy, baklava in Turkey, kebabs in the Czech Republic, and pretzels in Germany, it was hard to come home! This trip truly fueled my need and desire to travel and discover new places and people. I'm already looking forward to the adventures next summer will have. 

 {oh hey there Roma}

  {Hagia Sophia in Istanbul}

  {the familia in Prague}

  {bike tours in Berlin}

  {the hidden treasure of Europe, Prague}

  {Bridge of Sighs in Venice}

  {Venice... its beauty is unmatched}

  {Segway selfies}

  {the best pizza in the WORLD}

  {hey sister, sister}

{piranha pedicures... first and last time for that adventure}

Summer 2013, you've been pretty amazing and it will be a hard one to follow next year. But for now, I will relish the memories of the last two months and just be thankful.