The sky wasn't quite blue or grey -- it was more of a soft violet, lighter in the west, darker in the east. I sat on the front step, the cement still warm, and studied the quiet world. The regal sycamores in the yard became mere silhouettes, their strong leafy branches jutting out against the night. I moved to the soft grass with Sarge, our Lab, laid comfortably next to me as the violet sky faded into indigo, bringing out the first stars. I stared up, marveling as more stars appeared, twinkling and shimmering in the velvety blackness. Simply spending time alone, without any distractions, seems to be a cure for anything, from soothing frazzled nerves to curing writer's block. I do some of my best thinking while outside, pondering life and philosophical questions, like trying to solve the mystery of why bagels have holes in them. Ahem.

While I love it, blogging is hard. There are the emails to deal with, the questions, feeling you need to post consistently, worrying about stats. This is my dream, but sometimes it becomes overwhelming.
This weekend, I simply took a break and focused on something else. Instead, I read (and read), spent time with friends and family, played cards, stayed up late, laughed, loved, and just lived. In a world that's built around technology, simply living is hard at times.

In the summer, every weekend is a three day weekend (or four or five or six or seven day for that matter). While the words Monday and weekend seem to be an oxymoron, today proved that the two can indeed live in unison. Yes, today was just an extension of Saturday and Sunday.

Today was thrifting. The rewarding feeling of finding a gem after digging through ordinary, boring rock makes me smile. And buying pillow cases just because you like the fabric, well, that's lovely too.

Today was blue skies, dotted with fluffy castles of cloud, the simplicity of kitchen utensils, and a turquoise typewriter, found while thrifting. I wish I could have taken that lovely home with me, but alas, the price was a bit too steep. Back to hunting I go.

Today was ice cream sundaes, tall glasses filled with the creamy confection and piled high with strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

My mother prepared, I photographed. I declared that I would hire a chef just to photograph his creations, until my brother scoffed and said it would be creepy. I must confess I agreed.

I promise it looked a bit less disheveled and more put together earlier in the day ;)

Today was lace braided into my hair. It may have to do with the fact that I started out my day by listening to my Frank Sinatra pandora station (anyone else they could live in the nineteen forties and fifties?), but I was feeling decidedly vintage today.

And now it's August. This summer has felt so very long but short at the same time. I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures and wriggling into jeans again, but right now, I wouldn't trade these summer skies and quiet days for anything. Everything seems to be falling into place again, leaving me content and full of life. This right here? It's my favorite part of summer.

How was your weekend?

-carlotta

When I was younger (read: seven), I'd always have a notebook open while listening to a new CD. The name of each song would get a line in the notebook and I'd rate the music with tally marks -- five for a good song, three for okay, and one for a bad song. If I were to apply that same method to yesterday, it'd have ten strokes. Any day that involves shopping, cheesecake, time relaxing at the pool, friends, and gorgeous light deserves lots of tally marks.

While I may not rate days with marks anymore, I still record them in my journal. Just a spiral bound notebook, it's a place where I can record my days and the happy things that make a day go from good to making me want to scream "I love life" from the rooftops. I don't want to take for granted these precious, fleeting moments. Flipping through my journal and looking at past entries allows me to reminisce and relive the moments again.
"Summer evenings are one of my very very very favorite things. Yes, they're hot, but there's such a wonderful sense of peace and lightheartedness as you talk to neighbors outside while little ones run through the sprinklers", I wrote a few days ago. There are other happy, favorite bits, like an inspiring piano lesson, curling up on my brother's bed early in the morning while talking, and fresh cinnamon rolls.

We're in a severe drought at the moment. Rain is rare, and even when the heavens decide to send down droplets, it's usually not more than a light drizzle that lasts for five minutes. The lack of rain pared with scorching heat has left plants parched, and the grass is speckled with more brown than green. Going into survival mode, the trees have already started losing their leaves. I don't want summer to end, but I confess I'll breathe a sigh of relief once the temperatures have lowered and rain has returned (not to mention fall will bring some exciting things, like my older sister Alina, who's visiting in September. Squee!).

But even though everything's a bit brown, the light has been swoon-worthy recently. It illuminates the tiniest details of everything and bathes the world in a soft, golden glow.
In the daily list of favorites in my journal, the light has been included. After all, to a photographer, light is everything.

Going to the pool has been another frequent activity -- I alternated between floating around in the (warm) water and playing with MeMe and Lilly yesterday. Lilly learned how to swim this summer and she reminds me of Curious George as she glides and slithers through the water like a fish. Eyes wide open, hair hanging suspended in the water, and cheeks puffed out, it's a sight that makes me want to get a disposable underwater camera to capture it.

And as for working out? Sore is a word that accurately sums it all up. But it's a good, accomplished, blissful kind of sore; it tells me that I'm getting stronger. It's been another thing I've chronicled in my journal, another happy thing.

Do you journal?

Happy weekend, friends!

-carlotta

p.s. guest posting over here!

I've started working out every day this week. Before, exercising was a sporadic, whenever-I-think-of-it thing, but thanks to the Nike Training Club app, which is free and amazing, this may turn into something consistent (hold me accountable, y'all). Each time I want to give up, I visualize toned arms, a trim stomach, and keep on going. Bit by bit, I'm slowly advancing towards my goal. It's the small steps that ultimately end in a big accomplishment.

Yesterday I helped deliver food from the food pantry to some families who are down on their luck. The neighborhoods were full of homes with chipped, peeling paint, broken windows, and sagging roofs, a stark difference from the clean comfort I'm used to. We complained about the heat -- 112 degrees isn't exactly cool -- but we knew that when we got home, we'd be greeted by chilled air from the air conditioning. Some of these people didn't have that luxury. There is so much that they need and don't have; it made me wish I could do more than just bring food. But I suppose it's in small steps that they'll be able to get back on their feet.

The heat has demolished the tomato and squash plants, but the basil, sage, and arugula have thrived. Aromatic and fresh, there's truly nothing better than herbs from the garden.

In the blogging community, it's easy to become jealous of someone else's life, sometimes to the point of being completely consumed with wishing you had that person's life. But I'm striving to be content with what I do have. Even if life is quiet at the moment, I know it'll become a whirlwind in a few short weeks.

Yes, life hasn't been very exciting as of late, but that's okay. I'm learning to embrace the lazy summer days as much as a days of traveling and seeing new things. Items are slowly being checked off my to do list with Mumford & Sons pandora station in the background (pure brilliance) and I'm reveling in the little things like coffee alongside yogurt.

left: old glasses found while cleaning out my dresser (oh dear) right: pinning on my (real) inspiration board

After all, it's these little things that accomplish something big, no?

How are you spending the last few weeks of summer?

-carlotta

p.s. there are a few more spots left for august sponsorship! pastor's girl's ponderings is a wonderful place to advertise your shop/blog. email me if you're interested :)

It's nearing a month since my return from New Mexico and I miss it. In hindsight, living out of a suitcase, bugs, and dirt all seem so minor compared to the greatness of our trip. I miss the wide, wide open spaces, the brilliant cerulean skies, the time away from electronics, the closeness we had as a family. My traveling for the summer has come to a close, and while I'm glad to have a period of rest, I'm already itching to get going again. Traveling is in my blood; I love experiencing new things, seeing different landscape, and photographing along the way.

But I'm now home for the rest of summer and it has its perks as well. There's no sense in wishing for what can't come back -- I'm trying to focus on my favorite things here instead. After all, only a month remains of this glorious season; I may as well take advantage of it.

Favorites:

Experiencing the glory of cool, gentle rain. Yes, its duration was short, but it succeeded in dropping the temperature below 100 degrees for the first time in nearly a month. As I stepped outside, that delicious earthy smell of water hitting the hot pavement wafted to my nose and droplets splattered on me as I rejoiced.

necklace: store unknown (from germany) / shirt: target / skirt: forever 21 / shoes: target

 All things nautical. This may not be anything new, but I've fallen even more deeply in love, if that's possible. I naturally gravitate toward stripes -- which probably explains why much of my wardrobe consists of the pattern. When I went for to Forever 21 for the first time a few weeks ago (how have I never been there before? I wanted everything.), my purchases were all nautical related. Nautical Anonymous, anyone?

Knitting. It may be sweltering outside, but it's never too early to start for fall and winter. Call me crazy, but I love it. I find the repetition soothing and it gives my hands something to do while watching movies. There's something so satisfying in wearing things you've made with your own hands -- and so I knit.

Food photography. It's something that's not quite so easy to do while traveling. In the past few months, it's grown from simply a hobby to a passion. I'm not sure what it is, but there's nothing I love more that styling and photographing food.

Writing. And not just writing with pixels on a screen, but real writing, with a pencil and a notebook. In these past few years, I've noticed that it's become harder for me to form words physically instead of on a screen. I've begun writing blog posts on the lines of a spiral bound notebook and then transferred it onto the computer. Yes, it may be more work, but it's worth it in the end.

Going on walks around the neighborhood in the evenings. I walked with MeMe last night; the air, slightly cooled, wasn't as oppressing as  earlier in the day and the steady rhythm of our feet on the pavement was comforting as we talked. We stopped to pet the cat that always runs to greet us -- aptly nicknamed "the friendly cat" for obvious reasons  -- and the cat's purrs mixed with the soft hum of the cicadas in the trees. Oh how I love summer evenings.

Doilies hung on the backdoor. I adore doilies -- they're so dainty and add a touch of pretty to otherwise ordinary spaces.

What are some favorites of yours at the moment?

Happy Monday!

-carlotta

p.s. guest posting over here today!