Life Lately & Summer Style

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Last week was a busy one. In fact, the entire month of June has flown by in a hurry. Even though the recent solstice technically ushered in the new season, I can't help but feel like the beginning of July means that summer is halfway over (blame it on the years I spent in and teaching school I guess). I feel a sense of urgency to enjoy the warm weather to its fullest, especially because the thought of having an active little toddler in the cold weather months is a looming fear. Thus, I've been jam-packing my days with outdoor activities, trying to soak up every moment with baby girl. 

Additionally, I've been spending a lot of time orchestrating a day camp for all of the Cub Scouts in my ward. I was recently called to be the Cub Scout Master, and my first event was one of the biggest of the year. Preparation for the event had me mostly wading through all of the red tape... so. much. paperwork. Once I had crossed all the t's and dotted all of the i's, however, I was able to go to camp with the boys-- that was the fun part! Sam was kind enough to take the day off from work to watch Klair so that I could go. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the camp, and had fun experiencing it with them. I really do have a great group of scouts and leaders to work with. 

These things coupled with family, friends, and the typical demands of daily life have made it hard to accomplish everything on my to-do list. My house--particularly the laundry--has suffered. I know Sam has felt similarly. He has been so busy with work, music, and life... we've both felt stretched thin. Thus, we decided to spend the rest of our weekend (after camp) enjoying our little family. Saturday we spent a lovely, simple day at home playing with Klair. I love our down time together. Nothing makes me happier than those precious moments. That night Sam asked his (kind) parents to watch Klair, and we went out for a classic date--dinner and a movie. He took me to my favorite sushi restaurant. It took me 4 years, but I finally convinced Sam that sushi is awesome. Granted, he only gets the deep fried stuff, but he loves it--which is a huge accomplishment considering he was vehemently opposed to it when we first wed. I am beyond thrilled to finally be able to enjoy my favorite cuisine together. 

Next, we went to see the new X-Men movie. I'm a pretty big nerd, and anything comic book/sci fi/fantasy speaks to me. Sam also scheduled some time to take the photos above. I love that he has such a passion for photography. It really lends itself well to this whole blogging thing, and it's fun that our hobbies/interests align so nicely. Oh, and somehow we squeezed a trip to Target into our date night too (we always seem to find our way to that magical store) where we bought Klair some toys and a purse that I knew she "needed" as soon as I saw them. I'm kind of a sucker for that girl. 

Sunday we went to church, took a nap, attended our good friend's daughter's birthday party, and had dinner with my family. The weather was perfect, and the day was nothing short of wonderful. 

When I was younger, I used to measure the enjoyment of my time by how fast paced and exciting it was. As I've grown older, I have found that I enjoy the simple things most. Sam and I are alike in this regard. Don't get me wrong, I love an adventure as much as the next girl--but there is nowhere in the world that I would rather be than laying in our grass with my little family as Klair excitedly points out every bird that flies by. Or, watching my husband read a book for the ten thousandth time to our daughter--both possessing the same enthusiasm they had the first time they read it. It's these moments that most would deem ordinary, woven into the fabric of our story, that I'm drawn to. And, when all is said and done and we stand back to view the tapestry of our life in its entirety, I have a sneaking suspicion that these are the moments that will prove to be the most vibrant and beautiful. 

"It Feels Like one of Those Nights to Dress up Like Hipsters..."

Yep, I listen to Taylor Swift. I give the girl mad props for her wildly successful career and the fact that she manages her own affairs. It makes the feminist in me smile. Plus, her songs are kind of annoyingly catchy...and fun to sing along to. The type that get stuck in your head when you're getting ready for a date night with your husband and realize that the outfit you've put together, paired with your big plastic glasses looks sort of...well, hipster. I wanted to try out the "mixing print" trend, so I wore this rather loud, statement piece of a dress with a subtle, polka-dot peter pan collar. I then paired this combo with leggings, black booties, and big old glasses and I was ready for a night out. 

A few weeks ago Sam and I decided to start planning weekly dates for each other (a fact that I discussed at length here). I coordinated the first with a long boarding adventure night, we took a week off to use our weekly babysit to have a celebratory dinner with my best friend who just got engaged, and then it was Sam's turn to plan. He took me to a concert--something I'm very fond of.  His good friend (singer of the amazing band Ayin) was playing a benefit show for a family who lost their husband/father, so we kicked the night off there with some good friends. Then, we took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and walked around the city--arm in arm and taking it all in. Our last activity involved frozen yogurt.  I was one happy girl. 

I'm really glad that we are taking time to get a babysitter and spending some one on one time together. It definitely takes more effort, but it's also definitely worth it!

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Date Night Style

Sam and I have been so busy lately, between Klair, work,  blogging, and a to-do list that seems to grow exponentially. We definitely love each other. There's no question about that. Yet, as time goes on, it gets harder to set aside the time to really stay connected. What once was easy when we were young, penniless, and kid-free with, you know, work that stayed at work... is now a bit more complicated by the demands of a growing family and responsibilities.We have to put forth more of an effort to focus on us. 

As this roller coaster of life keeps speeding up at every turn, it's easy to simply go along for the ride without really noticing much about the journey. It takes a conscious effort to slow things down, to admire my blessings, and to appreciate the man who holds my heart. 

We've made pledges in the past to go out once a week, but this falls to the wayside too easily. We've decided to recommit ourselves because we both want it, and need it. Our time together is a precious commodity. Last weekend we were feeling a bit overwhelmed by the day-to-day, so I called Sam's parents on a whim and asked if they could watch Klair. They kindly obliged, and we jumped at the opportunity to spend some time alone.  

Since it was my idea to go out, I did all the planning. I wanted to do something he loves, and also mix things up a little from our usual "dinner and a movie" routine. (Don't get me wrong I love movies, but it's fun to try something new.) Sam loves a good burger so went to Red Robin (they have awesome gluten-free buns) and did a little shopping afterward for a few wardrobe pieces he has been needing. He also took some time to practice his budding photography talents, and captured a few photos of me in this casual date night attire. (I'm so fortunate to have a husband who will not only take photos for my blog, but actually enjoys doing it!) Then, we went down by a local lake that's paved with surrounding trails for some longboarding and scootering. 

We only have one of each, so we took turns on them. 

And, for the night, we felt like kids again. 

After the fun was over we hurried back to his parents house and fought over who got to hold Klair first. I guess a little freedom is nice, but Klair is better. 

I mean, who wouldn't start to miss this face after just a few hours? 

For this outfit I wanted to find a balance between comfort and style. Afterall, longboarding was on the agenda so a pencil skirt was out of the question. I went with my favorite stretchy black denim and chambray. Also, I love the look of layered necklaces and have wanted to try it for awhile now. I'm usually quite reserved with my jewelry, only wearing a little at a time, but I went all out and had fun mixing things up a bit.  Also, as far as hairstyles go, this messy top knot was great for our adventurous night. 

I'm looking forward to our next weekly date. This time Sam said he will be doing all the planning. We're both rather competitive, so I'm excited to see how he outdoes me...

What are some fun/creative date night activities you've done? What are some methods you've implemented to focus on each other? 

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Chambray | Tribal Print Shirt | Belt | Black Denim | Leaf Necklace | Disc Necklace | Amber Necklace | Earrings | Turquoise Bracelet | Turquoise Ring | Boots | Sunglasses (here & here)

Fancy Work Holiday Party

I'm aware that the holidays are over, but Sam's company decided to throw their annual party last Friday. I suppose they were trying to avoid all of the hype and jam-packed calendars in the weeks preceding Christmas. And honestly, I don't mind. It's nice to have something to look forward to in January, and I won't complain about any occasion that gives me the opportunity to dress up!

My best friend offered to babysit, and after going through my neurotic-mom list of everything I could think of that she might need, we were off on our little adventure. But, not before taking a few photos of course. How could I resist getting a few pictures of this guy in a bow-tie? Handsome, handsome husband.

The party was held downtown in a nice hotel. The theme was Casino Night and they gave us all chips to play that we could later exchange for raffle tickets. I've never gambled before so I was pretty clueless. After wandering around for a bit Sam and I found ourselves at a blackjack table, and we ended up spending the majority of our time there. It was easy to learn, and even though Sam didn't do too well I cleaned up quite nicely to even us out. We also found ourselves on the dancing, which was a very pleasant surprise. My husband isn't usually too keen on dancing, but he was such a good sport. And, I must say, he really worked that dance floor. It was hilarious and so much fun!

Ahh a much needed night out with the husband! I love being able to get out and go on dates. Any opportunity to feel less mom-like, pretty, relaxed, and maybe even a little silly is very appreciated.