Snapshots | School Days

Is it terrible that the only posts I manage to bring you these days are ranting and ravings about what I've been up to? With an instagram or two thrown in? At least I managed to combine this week's snapshots into a collage.

These days I'm really lovingthese downward perspective photos. Okay, excuse that poor explanation but really, I like taking a photo like this each day - a little diary of the weather, my outfit, my surroundings. I think it's going to be my new thing because, well, selfies? So not my thing.

Is that okay? Or are you tired of my feet already?

In other news: I finally have emojis and I'm enjoying it. I don't know about you but I can definitely explain myself better with little icons of doughnuts, fist pumps, and cats with financial expressions. Last week, after years of broken screens, non-functioning home buttons and frustration, I finally upgraded to a new iPhone. Maybe it's the improved camera, the new scenery, or even the sunny (104 degree!) weather, but I've been definitely snapping more photos these days.

I guess you could say I've been on a bit of a shopping spree this week, really - I finally purchased new glasses. (I'll share more about my Warby Parker experience, and my indecision, when they arrive!) Throw in some Clearance tees from Target, a sequin bombshell of a dress and some Turkey Hill iced tea and you've got my week.

Don't forget, Google Reader is going away this weekend! As of Monday, Friend Connect will exist no longer. I encourage you to subscribe to Sunlight and Air using your favorite blog reader. You can find me on bloglovin' here.

Ten on Tuesday | at Target

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

I have a confession to make: I have spent the past few weeks throwing my entire closets worth of clothes on the floor in frustration. Poor Trevor has had to toss sweaters and leggings aside in an effort to find a pair of socks, Buddy has made himself comfortable in a nest of scarves and tank tops.

Moving from a place where it is winter nine months of the year to a place where it is sunny and seventy daily has meant a severe wardrobe challenge. While I should be wearing sandals and dresses, skirts and summer hats, my closet is only filled with sweaters, sweaters, boots, and more sweaters.

Last week I even spent three hours shopping. Three hours at four different stores.
If you know me, you know this is an accomplishment.

I went in hopes of finding some new tops suitable for graduate school classes and my project assistantships. Instead, I left with new black leggings, two skirts, two pairs of jeans, a pair of hot pink pants, and a pair of floral print leggings. While I may have gotten the deal of the century (I only spent $50!), my wardrobe is still suffering because, well, the sweater problem hasn't been solved.

If you know of any fabulous and summery tops for sale, help a girl out.
I'm dying over maxi skirts and cropped tops this season, but who isn't?

After my failed in-store shopping trip, I thought some online browsing was in order. While I was looking for tops, I got a little distracted and instead put together this Ten on Tuesday list for you. Everything pictured here is from Target with much of it sold in stores. Lately I've fallen in love with some many items pictured on other blogs.. only to realize that they are much out of my price range. I can't be the only one who can't afford a $350 tote, right? 

Oh, and confession number two? I still haven't bought sunglasses (though you can enter to win a pair here).

Other items on my wish list right now include wedge sandals, scarves in every color and some bold jewelry. Plus, I need a new bag to carry books and binders - after all, I'm starting school in three weeks. 

So tell me, what is your favorite trend this season? Any favorite stores or sales I should know about?

Recipe: Summer Sweet Tea

This is one of those recipes that’s really not a recipe. I often find myself stumbling upon posts like this on other blogs and saying “why did you bother writing that out, doesn’t everyone know how to make that?” Well, after expressing that opinion, I’ve learned that no, not everyone knows how to make simple syrup or perhaps coffee ice cubes. So, in the spirit of all things obvious (but still necessary), I wanted to share with you my way of making sweet tea - which, if you ask me, is the perfect summer drink.

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I’ve always been a fan of iced tea - my family could be the spokes family for the Rutter’s Dairy brand, I used to frequent McDonald’s to only purchase a $1 large sweet tea (since I’m allergic to everything else they offer), and I probably go through half a gallon of my own home brewed tea daily.

As I’m currently living with a limited income and budget, instead of heading to the grocery store for another container of Gold Peak Sweet Tea, I raided the pantry where I knew I had a box of decaffeinated black tea bags. (Another advantage to brewing my own tea at home is that I can avoid the caffeine. You know, doctors orders.) In an attempt to cut out refined sugars, I used Stevia in the Raw to make my tea but you can use regular sugar, or even Splenda - they all measure cup for cup. After some experimenting, this is the method that I find works best for me.

• Bring two cups of water to a rapid boil.
• In the mean time, take six tea bags and remove the paper tags and strings.
• After the water comes to a boil, shut off the heat and allow the water to stop boiling before adding tea bags - if you add bags to the water while it’s boiling, your tea may have a bitterness to it.
• Allow the tea bags to seep for 10 - 15 minutes, depending on your preference. (I like my tea strong.)
• After the time passes, use a fork to remove the tea bags.
• Add 3/4 cup of stevia, sugar or Splenda and mix until dissolved.
• Pour the concentrated tea into your favorite pitcher (I actually recycle an old Gold Peak bottle!) and add five cups of cold water - I find that cold water works better than ice for exact measurements. 
• Then, take a minute to mix your iced tea (or if using a bottle with a lid - just shake it), pour over a glass of ice and enjoy!

The best part of this recipe and the real reason I wanted to share it was to show you just much money you can save my making your own iced tea. This recipe only requires two ingredients - tea bags and sweetener. For my preparation, I purchased a box of 72 cup size Lipton Decaffeinated Tea Bags and a 9.7oz bag of Stevia in the Raw (which is the equivalent in sweetness to 5lb of sugar.) At my local grocery store, which here in Montana is Albertson’s, these two products cost me $4.95 and $7.95, respectively. (This recipe is even more affordable if you use sugar!) With those size packages, I was able to make twelve servings of this recipe. Considering that an equally-sized bottle of Gold Peak Sweet Tea is nearly $4, this recipe has saved me approximately $35! 

If you want to make your iced tea even more summery, feel free to add your own flavors such as mint leaves, honey, fresh chamomile, juice from fresh local berries (concentrated juices are okay, too!) or fresh squeezed citrus fruits like lemons or oranges! You can also make iced tea into the perfect summer party drink by adding a few shots of a light rum (Martha Stewart would suggest Bacardi 151). If using for a special occasion, I definitely recommend a pretty display - perhaps with mason jars as glasses - or you can simply decorate the glasses you already have with citrus slices, fresh sprigs of mint and classic striped paper straws in summer colors.

Not only is this recipe for the perfect summer drink, it’s also a great money saver (which is perfect when you’re trying to host guests) - and most importantly of all, it’s almost as simple as picking up a container of iced tea at the grocery store!

Homegrown

Though I don’t live at home any longer, I still enjoy the benefits of our family garden none the less. I’ve been meaning to share with you a zucchini lasagna recipe I made last week using only home grown zucchini and spinach but my time has been monopolized with photography jobs, working six days a week, and preparing for my trip.

Despite my busy to-do list, I snuck in a lot of time at my parents house this week since the north east's heat streak has kept my little city home at above 89 degrees (until today, when it finally cooled to a reasonable 83). Tonight, after sneaking in last minute first-year portraits for the daughter of a  high school friend, I came home to enjoy the air conditioning, a home cooked dinner and my favorite part, time with Aiden. (Though he’s now taken with singing clever songs about zombies.. Oh. My.)

Right before the sun finally set around 8:30, we snuck out into the garden for a few handfuls of sweet peas and blackberries. As usual, rows of corn have grown up to shadow the other crops which include eggplant, zucchini, leaf lettuce, cucumbers, and snap peas. Now, I’m snuggled up the living room with a hint of sunburn and apparently, a fever. If it weren’t for the Business and Society exam I need to finish by 8 a.m., perhaps I’d share that lasagna recipe... but for now, here’s a sneak peek to show you just how great a family garden can be. (Check back early this week for the recipe!)

Wednesday Wish List: Summer

I’m lusting over these new finds. What’s on your summer wish list?

bike / bag / Tom’s / sandals / sunglasses / perfume / iPhone case

Ten on Tuesday: Summer Lovin'

Today marks the first official day of summer. Though I've been celebrating a season filled with sunscreen, late nights, no classes and extra time with Ryan for almost the past two moments, I'd like to stop and give summer a warm welcome.

That's why today's Ten on Tuesday list is about the things I'm loving this summer.

1. It is officially the summer of nail polish. For some reason, I find myself much more motivated to paint my nails regularly once summer starts. Perhaps it is because of exposed toes in strappy sandals, or the extra free time. Either way, I'm loving all kinds of nail polish this summer but especially Sally Hansen's (Sally is my favorite brand!) crackle overcoat in Ink Splatter and Fractured Foil and Deborah Lippmann in just about any color but especially Across the Universe, Today Was A Fairytale and Some Enchanted Evening. I can't wait to own every color in both collections. If you want to own some Lippmann nail polish of your own, you can order it from What She Buys with free, same day, shipping (if you order by noon!).

2. For those of us with curly locks, summer can be a real issue with humid and chlorine filled days. Typically, I cut my hair short before the summer but this year, I am trying to donate 12 inches to Wigs for Kids on October 30th. Instead of complaining about my long hair, throwing it in a messy bun or letting it look terrible day after day - I wear it in a braid, constantly. Thanks to Pinterest, I'm always finding new fun braids to try. Some work, some don't. But you can always rely on a good french braid.

3. Jewelry is my favorite accessory and I've always loved finding unique pieces - a hobby I'm loving this summer. I love finding vintage and antique jewelry because it is typically well crafted and unique. This weekend, I picked up a few new interesting necklaces at Morning Star Market. The best part - they were only $1 each. I'm especially loving the coo-coo clock with salmon beads, obscure but cute.

4. The summer heat always puts a damper on my appetite, but lately every meal has consisted of fresh organic vegetables and fruits. In addition to our own little garden (which is sprouting leaf lettuce much too quickly), we picked up baskets full of produce at market this week. I'm enjoying watermelon, cantaloupe, asparagus, snow peas, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, bing cherries, plums, blueberries and more this summer.

5. Pinterest is becoming my new summer obsession. For those of you who aren't familiar, Pinterest is like an online bulletin board. You can create different boards and then "pin" websites/photos/ideas from all over the internet to your boards of choice. Theres the option of following others boards, and browsing what pins are popular at the moment. It's a great source of inspiration for photography, fashion, interior design, wedding ideas and DIY projects. Every day I get one new project idea from this fabulous site - or more often, the fabulous iPhone app. Right now, Pinterest is by invitation only so if you'd like to try it out, leave a comment with your e-mail.

6. Tucked in between pins of dresses, shoes and interior design swatches - I've discovered my new favorite colors... Mustard Yellow & Turqouise Blue, together. I've always been a big fan of aqua and turqouise so that half of the combination comes as no surprise but lately, I've been drawn toward all things yellow. These colors can be paired with a slate gray for another dynamic. I can't wait to bring this combination into my photo packaging, fashion choices and more.

7. Nothing says summer like the smell of chlorine and sunscreen. I'm loving our season passes to the pool this summer. I've swam at boiling springs for, well, as long as I've lived in Wellsville but for the first time, we splurged on summer passes. I may be a little old for the public pool but with a six year old to entertain, it's great. Plus, he's learning to swim!

8. Speaking of the pool - I'm loving my newest swim suit from Target. It's a retro style bandeau top and bikini bottom. The design is simple and it's a single color - a shiny and deep slate blue. I've always dreamed of finding a bandeau swim suit that would work for me and finally, I have.

9. Target also blessed me with another summer favorite - a straw fedora. Even though this hate drives my boyfriend crazy, I wear it as often as possible. Somedays, I wear it better than others. In fact, the other day I looked like Jazon Mraz - and that is not a good thing. Later in the evening, I paired it with a vintage necklace, a cute dress and strappy sandals for a trip to the pool - much better.

10. And,  I am loving my job. Working at DAT has been an educational and fun experience. From processing photos to making phone calls, I've enjoyed every minute. While learning more about photography, I've also learned practical business knowledge and marketing skills. You can understand my excitement when I saw this yesterday:

For now, those are the things I'm loving for the summer! 

After tomorrow, I think "just installed central air" may top that whole list.

Balance

Today, I laid on Erika's bed, wrapped in a fleecy soft Disney Princess blanket, reading "Oh, The Places You'll Go" to my favorite three-year-old. And the words on the pages wrapped up the blog post I've been writing in my mind this week.

"So be sure when you step, 

Step with care and great tact. 

And remember that life's 

A Great Balancing Act." 

The past few years have taught me to balance, and to balance well. I juggle jobs, school work, a boyfriend, a brother, and the countless hobbies I've held. But this summer has brought a new balancing act, one that I've been holding together well. (In my opinion, that is.)

Sometimes things get out of balance, like last week's obsession with asparagus or the fact that I've had nothing but blueberries for dinner the past few days... but for the most part, I don't have to struggle to stay up right and in the middle. (The amount I've listened to Death Cab might be a little off center this week.. a bit unbalanced, perhaps.)

This week, balance meant:

Swimming pools.
Elementary school gyms.

ArtsFest.

Painting.

Family time.

Shopping.

Seeing Kasey. Twice.

Working at the Blue Heron.

Ending babysitting for the summer.

Driving. More than I'd like to.

Planning something big.

Checking the mail, a lot.

Three trips to Walmart.

Taking and processing photos.

French braiding my hair, everyday.

A lot of crackle nail polish.

Ordering Senior Portrait prints.

Mini-golfing.

Seeing my best friend.

Going on picnics.

Hanging out with the Allens.

Watching Aiden graduate Kindergarden.

Visiting Philly and the Beach, in a two day span.

And getting plenty of sleep between.

But next week, balance will mean something completely different. Balance will be days at the studio, no time with my girls, planning for meetings and High School graduations. The thing about life's balancing act is that it's always changing. Sometimes the balance is harder to keep. Sometimes, I don't mind being knocked off course while other days, like today, even a messy room, is too far of a deviation from the middle ground.

I'm working hard to add "relaxing" and "time alone" to the equation. I've always been fine with living life busy-as-can-be, filled to the brim with others, work and fun. In fact, the thought of doing nothing is enough to stress me out - apparently, that's unhealthy. Who knew? So between the donation letters, road trips and long shifts, I'm squeezing in sewing, reading and Law and Order: SVU. And maybe that has me feeling a little off balance but how's the book end?

"Kid, you'll move mountains."