For the Love of Old (music that is)

So, I have a new obsession with something old...records! My parents have had a couple of boxes of their old records just sadly stored away in the garage for years and I recently bought a record player so that I could enjoy them (I have very similar music taste to my mother when she was my age). I am absolutely loving it! The sound quality is beautiful and even the well warn and slightly warped records add what to me is a lovely scratch (the true sound of authenticity).

I'm still in the process of going through the records, so many are collaborations between people who were part of major bands before they got really famous and I must admit I do not know names very well, but I'm learning. In my pursuit of this new obsession I have discovered the most amazing little record shop, right here in Visalia. Velouria Records is owned by a woman who has an obvious and true passion for the music that stocks her bins. I'm making this place a habit :) visit Velouria here

Staying in the theme of wonderful music, I'm also reading a new book, The Ballad of Bob Dylan by Daniel Mark Epstein. I have always loved Dylan's music and been intrigued by his story, and reading it written by someone who writes as lyrically as Epstein makes my intrigue even greater.My past experience with biographies has made me leery of them, but this novel has made me eat my words.

On a completely unrelated topic, look at what the sunset looked like today:

Ah-freaking-mazing!! On that note...have a blessed night and day tomorrow!!

Summer has come!

The heat of summer has begun, and although I am not too happy about it, the garden sure is. So I thought I would give a little picture update as to how everything is doing.

 My succulents are even starting to grow little babies. I love these plants! What else in life requires so little care yet grows and maintains its beauty so wonderfully!?!

 I am so intrigued by the eggplant stems and flowers, they have an almost alien-like appearance.

 This little baby is one of our heirloom tomatoes that I am so excited for!! A little longer in this upper 90s heat and we will have hundreds on tomatoes ready to pick (and I'm not kidding, all of the tomato plants are full of green tomatoes just waiting to rippen)

 How great will it be to walk out to the garden for fresh herb     

when we are cooking!?!

The beds are filling out so much! We may have to change our layout next year, I have a feeling that once the cantaloupe grows in this front bed will be a tad-bit tight.

This next picture is obviously not of my garden, but my bedroom. I just put my pictures back up so I thought I would share them with you all. They are all photos that I have taken around my parents yard and the succulents were from the location of one of my best friend's wedding. It is so easy to make your own art! I just had these blown up (for super cheap) and framed them (which again can be done on the cheap, think thrift stores).

 Today's plan to cope with the heat:

Iced tea and pineapple, yum! Even the dog is joining in on the cool down, after a short time playing outside she is happily chomping down on a nice, cold piece of ice (her favorite on a hot day). Hope your summer stays cool and fun!

Nature, shopping, good friends, and a much anticipated blessing!

The past couple of days have held such great things! One of my best friends came down yesterday and we took a little photography/hiking adventure out to the Kaweah Oaks Preserve, a beautiful conservation area of fields, trees, berry bushes, rushing streams, as well as a roaming group of cattle whose company we shared for a time. 

 L capturing some of the beautiful surroundings.

 I want to find my way into this glorious tree/vine combination, it looks like it contains a beautiful little world of its own. Reminds me of one of my favorite childhood movies, Ferngully.

 The wild berries were delicious, we were a bit sad that more weren't ready to pick.

I got to spend a lovely day with L exploring the beauty of nature, revisiting an old high school lunch time haunt, and catching up over tea and a scrumptious lavender cookie. And while we wandered around shops in the small town down the road I got a much anticipated phone call about a job opportunity and I'm stoked to say that I start next week!!

As a self-congratulatory gift I went shopping at Anthropologie today (gotta have a nice new top for my first day, right!?!) and definitely spent a little more than anticipated, but I would say without a doubt that it was completely worth it. Here are some of my wonderful finds that can all be found at Anthropologie:

 I love this top, because even though it is very flattering and flow-y looking, it is fitted perfectly to the body.

 I don't wear hats very often, but I think it is because I haven't found one this cute!! I've already planned outfits around it.

 Have you ever seen the Beekman Boys on Planet Green? Well, it is one of my favorite shows and their farm is absolutely inspirational to me, so when I found their soaps at Anthro I just had to have them!! I bought Spring and Summer and they smell divine!

I willed myself out of buying these breezy and wonderful pants, but I am so in love with them that I have a feeling I will end up buying them soon!

Two amazing days are coming to an end and the weekend hasn't even begun! I'm going to try to make the most out of my few days before I start my new job, the hours are going to be a little tough to adjust to, but truly..who cares!! I have a job, with good pay and benefits, what more could I ask for!?!

Homegrown Goodness

One thing that I absolutely love is gardening and even though I don't have my own yard to turn into a veggie, herb and flower filled wonderland, my parents have been more than willing to let me inspire some of their landscaping adventures. Last year we put in a large raised bed and were so excited about our bounty of zucchini, tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos. In fact here is a picture of some of last years harvest:

I moved away for a while and my parents kept it going (when seasons allowed) and this year after moving back in I came home from a weekend away to two more raised beds! This years harvest has already produced a ridiculous amount of lettuce and now that lettuce season is over we have replaced it with herbs that I am so excited for! We have also planted 6 different types of tomatoes (given the amount that we had from 4 plants last year I have a feeling our diet will be tomato based for a while), zucchini, crook-neck squash, cucumbers, eggplant, snap peas, cantaloupe, jalapenos, peppers, green onions, radishes, and as I have mentioned, herbs (I think Parsley, Cilantro and Basil). 

 We spread marigolds around the plants to keep pests away.

I am most excited for the cucumber, we planted it last year but didn't give it enough room and the zucchini plant quickly killed it off, but this year it has more than ample space to produce my favorite veggie!

The garden is completely organic and so far the marigolds, ladybugs (you can buy them at most gardening stores), and neighborhood birds have been more than sufficient at keeping pests away. We planted them in organic compost and have had no issues with weeds or lack of nutrition.

It is such a rewarding feeling to grow your own food and it is also so cost effective, once ready for harvest this garden will keep our grocery bill way down!

My Heart Belongs to My Friends

One of my biggest loves ever: my friends!!

The quality of people I have in my life are few and far between in this world anymore. Friends that I have had for years who have loved and supported me through all life's ups and downs, who stick by my side even when I am lame and don't keep in touch. And newer friends, who meld into my life like they were always meant to be there. I must confess that I am not the best communicator sometimes and I slack when it comes to telling them all how much I love them and how much they mean to me. But here is to my amazing friends!!

My favorite beautiful souls!

l'amour de la famille

I am so blessed to be as close to my family as I am. I am currently living back at my parents, and while it isn't my ideal situation, knowing that I have parents who are happy to have their 23 year old daughter come home multiple times after college is quite comforting. My whole family, immediate and extended, is absolutely wonderful and the fact that we all get together at least once a year despite not living in close proximity is so nice. I lost my paternal Grandpa (we call him Poppy) a few weeks ago, knowing that it was coming gave me a lot of time to reflect on how fortunate I was to have him in my life as well as the rest of my family. So here is to Poppy and the rest of my amazing and supportive family, I love you all so much!!

 Wasn't style in the late 80's/early 90's just grand!

 He was the greatest Poppy anyone could have

Family and Friends celebrating my sister the Doctor of the family :)

The Gift of Sight

Find these great glasses for a great price and a great cause here

This is the pair I wear:

 Thompson Eyeglass Frame

I love this company for the same reason I love TOMS (I'm sure I'll talk about Toms soon), because for each pair that you buy they give a pair to someone in need. And think about it, to be able to play a role in giving the gift of sight to someone who doesn't have the resources to obtain glasses on their own is pretty darn amazing! It doesn't hurt that they don't break the bank either, just give them the specs of your prescription and it's only $95 for frame and lens'. Something even us without vision insurance can manage! And since it is an online company (and buying glasses without trying them on can be a scary experience) they will send you 5 pairs for free to try on, you have to send them back of course but then you get to order your favorite pair to wear always. I love when companies show that they have a heart, and while profit is always a focus for them it makes my heart feel good supporting them when they show that they are also focusing on using their blessings to bless others.

Warby Parker has also partnered up with one of my favorite organizations, Invisible Children, in creating their first sunglasses.

Not sure if I could pull them off (especially since I'd have to wear my eyeglasses underneath - yeah that would be hot) but I'm sure you can, take a look here