Jams For A Summer's Night

So I've always made it apparent that I love music, and each summer I make a new playlist of songs that I've been jamming to in the car, with friends, at coffee shops, or wherever. This is a list of my more chill summer tunes that I find are nice for an evening drive, chilling under the stars, or having good conversation with a friend.  All the songs are really different, so have a listen if you wish. 

A Lovely Quote

That is all. 

The Dancers In My Head

Obviously God has placed a deep passion in me for music and lately the dancers in my head have been going crazy! Music is a bit of everything: a comfort, a release, a healing calm, a joyous chant, a dance, a contemplative thought.  I often wish I could burst out into a dance in the middle of the street.  And why not? What am I afraid of? Showing happiness? Concern for what people will think? God created that longing to move in my heart, so why do I bottle it up like someone trying to conceal a nervous tick? It may not turn out beautiful, but it's how I feel.  Choreography and movements are the emotions I cannot speak or lack in words.  I hear a chord strike and my head jolts, my body craves, shakes, and contorts.  I can't sit still.  My feet tap, my hair wants to flow, my shoulders contract, fingers make small gestures full of meaning.  It is all kinds of music to, not just one or another that warrants a worthy amount of dance.  I will resolve to dance: to allow myself to truly live and feel intricately.  

Hey Look What I Made: Stars & Stripes Shorts

A few months back my little and I decided to head to the Salvation army to get some old mom jeans to turn into some rad Fourth of July shorts. Needless to say, the trip to the dressing room was quite laughable as most of these jeans looked straight out of the 80s and 90s.  I settled for some high waisted, light wash denim for a mere $6.00.  Then we went to Hobby Lobby to get star stickers and Tulip fabric spray paint in red, white and blue. 

First, we folded the jeans in half and cut them to the desired length for shorts. We left a little room so the edges could fray. Next, we taped off all the edges of the shorts that we didn't want to get color on. We painted both sides of the shorts completely white.  Then on one side we laid painter's tape down for the stripes and proceeded to use the red spray paint to fill in the gaps. After that dried, we removed the painter's tape and voila! Stripes! On the other side, we laid down star stickers wherever we desired.  Then blue was sprayed all over this side.  Once it was dried we removed the stickers.  After the paint had dried a little, we took sandpaper sheets to the top to rough it up, give it a vintage look, and make it less stiff. We also washed it after it dried completely.  

I will say, our first mishap was trying to wash the shorts after we had done the first layer of white. Needless to say, somehow one side came completely off (I'm not sure we let it dry enough), and the other side was still perfectly white. Trial and error, I suppose. 

Many of my friends asked me how to do this after we posted pictures from our adventure in stars and stripes. Some of their photos turned out pretty cute as well.  Everyone's looked pretty different depending on their style of shorts, the paint they used, and which way they chose to put the stars and stripes. If you're feeling crafty for a patriotic event, I recommend these. They were easy to do and I got lots of compliments on them! :) Hope you all had a happy fourth! 

Darling Dolls: Men's Edition

Oh the hat and colours. 

Good hair. Nice choice in pattern.  Skinny jeans. Shoes. Jacket. Love. 

Cuffed jeans, boots, and a button down. (Not to mention the water behind him.)

I have no problem with men wearing scarves. And that is one nice coat.  Beanies are always welcome, and some guys just know how to pick jeans that look good on them. 

Okay, I could do without the cat and the haircut, but the tattoo is awesome, and I like it (sometimes) when guys wear v-necks that show their ink. 

I love cuffed jeans on guys and these kinds of shoes. 

Sunshine & Carousels: Summer

Last week I met with Miss Erin Wilson to take some more pictures for her summer line of headbands and hair accessories.  Thought I'd share a few of those photos with you. Go check out her shop! She started a new children's line too, and her daughter Penelope modeled all the pieces. The pictures are to die for! 

A Lovely Quote

We've been talking a lot in a Bible study I'm in about being content in the place that you are in life right now, and embracing every situation or opportunity that comes your way. Sometimes, it's just what you need to hear.