Goodbye my lover. Goodbye my friend. You have been the one. You have been the one for me.

And there it goes... goodbye summer! Goodbye freedom! I got 2 very much needed weeks off school for summer. The Mister had 4. He needed them more and man, oh man am I sad to see them go. The two main things we did to celebrate summer included spending a week up in Southern Oregon visiting family and gallivanting, and going to see Lost Boys in Santa Cruz (where the above picture was taken.) Other than that we lazed around in our underwear, bbq'd, watched a lot of tv and ate a lot of popcorn. I'm sad to see it go... How long is it until Christmas?

Help me prolong my summer by sharing yours. What are your plans?

Send your gypsy feet pics to wandering_shoes@live.com

Hello. My name is...

I don't remember ever being so excited that all I could do was scream. This was a first for me. The shriek that came out my throat when I saw Paul Bunyan and Babe surprised me and scared hubster to death. If I've said it once I'll say it a hundred times more but seeing things is my favourite. I love it so much that I might list "seeing" as a hobby. I don't see how "seeing" is any less of a hobby than say, walking or running.

Hello. My name is Laura and I love to see stuff!

What have you seen recently?

Level up!

You know those accomplishments that take you to different stages in your life? Things like, the first time you wear big kid underwear and kept it dry, the first time you rode a bike without stabilisers or swam without arm bands? Your first bra, your first pair of high heels, the first time you drive a car etc... ? Today I discovered that owning a barb-e-cue and being "allowed" to light it and own it and cook on it and everything involved with that makes me feel like I'm grown up. Never mind that I've been married for 6 years and we've been paying our own bills and just bought our first mattress (we moved up two levels in ONE week!) and stuff... We didn't need to ask for permission!

Today I've grown up... a little.
What an adventure!

"Life is only as good as the memories you make..."

It was just a few weeks ago we were queueing up to rinse the sand off our feet at Cannon Beach, Oregon and now the leaves on the trees are turning red and getting ready to drop from their branches. There's a lot of change going on in my life this Autumn.

What about you?

Isn't Autumn great?

"Life is only as good as the memories you make..."

I'm back!
Here's what happened:

We picnicked

We took our time

We sang in the car... a lot

We visited the Oregon Coast

We roasted hot dogs for dinner
We splashed in the Pacific Ocean
We became even more best friends

We had our 1st leisurely roadtrip together
We stopped in Astoria and became Goonies
We had our first camping trip/glamping trip

We stopped a billion times just because we could

We ate some free cheese at the Tillamook Cheese Factory

And that was all in ONE day!

AND Lover got accepted to school in California! The next adventure begins!

Last Tuesday is the day I'll think about whenever I think of summer '09.
Thank you Mr A.

Summer, I'm not cheating on you but...

Summer,
It's not you, it's me.
Let's break up and be done... for now.
You tried your best but we just weren't meant to be.
I should have tried harder but I can't go back in time to fix that.
You just want what's best for me, I know that.
Next year we'll try again.
I have a good feeling about next year.
I just need time to straighten some things out.
Until then, don't give up on me.
I love the idea of you and me, Summer.
We've worked so well together in the past.
Thanks for keeping me company and trying to cheer me up by bronzing my skin.

Until we meet again.
Your admirer,

Laura xx

Goodbye July

Dear July,

You were ok. I would just like to August to be better and quite frankly, it shouldn't be too hard. You kind of tortured me this year. It's possible you'll be my favourite next year though. I'll always have high hopes for you, July. Just don't get sassy again. It isn't cute.

Love,
Laura xx

Gypsying:

See where Megan's Gypsy Feet have taken her in a summer past over on Team Boo. Also check out one of my recent adventures over there too.

Traveling through postcards.

Things are just falling off my summer list these days! I love making a billion little goals and achieving them!

Send a postcard to a friend. Easy.
AKA
Make a friend really excited when she collects the mail. Brilliant!

Have a great weekend!

"In the long run we have found silent films are full of sound..."

The perfect Sunday evening activity for two twenty-something-year olds.
The chalks were a gift to help me score one more thing off my summer list.
My first time chalking a pavement turned out to be one of the most relaxing activities ever.

I recommend it.

PS. Next time I'll introduce myself ;)

More of my Gypsying here.

Our Gypsy Feet guest here.

An Experiment in Awesome:

Jasmine of An Experiment in Poverty is one of my favourite bloggers. I think she's great and I'm so excited that she's joining in the Gypsying! Thanks Jasmine! -Laura

summers in southern california start late. it's our penance for having brilliant weather for the rest of the year.

some might say that the beginning of summer is the fourth of july, but i don't think summer starts until the orange county fair begins.

every year, i go right before the sun sets.

every year, i eat way too much greasy food (have YOU ever tried australian battered potatoes with nacho cheese and ranch?? 'cause they're delicious.).

every year, i spend way too much money on sketchy rides that were delivered to the fairgrounds in boxes.

every year, i laugh at the poor fools who have willingly submitted themselves to the power of the hypnotist.

and every year, i have the most amazing time.

there's something for everyone at the fair. it gives everyone the chance to remember what it feels like to be a child. and isn't that what summer's all about? trying to capture the essence of childhood summers long gone, but never forgotten.

The apple of my cyber eye...

This picture was taken the very day I decided to create my Gypsy Feet baby.
It was taken this time last summer when I was addicted to Rocky Mountain Carmel Apples.
Yump.
Such a yummy treat.
The fact it's an apple covered in layers of carmel and chocolate and snickers and marshmallows and happiness almost makes it feel like a healthy snack... almost...

PS. We were nominated for Most Inspiring Blog on Blog Luxe! Go vote. Use the buttons on the top right hand side :)

Summer Lovin'

My mum is a tanorexic. I've never been one for sweating but over the last couple of years I've become addicted to sunshine. Washingtonians mislead me. It rains. Yes. But the sun shines a lot and hard in the summer!

I love the look of my skin when it has a little rosey glow. A little pink on my face makes me so gleeful.

Feeling sunshine like this and being addicted to it like my mum is, is quite new to me and I luuuuuurv it!

"Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up. These are the best days of our lives."

I often get glum at the thought of being an adult. I'm shocked everytime I realise I'm not 17 anymore. The truth is I'm just not done with silliness. I think it was Megan who was telling me about her dilema in that sense too and how in the good book it says not to cling to childish things but go on your way and grow up. (That was you, right Meg?) We were talking about how hard that was. We also worked out that it didn't nessessarily mean 'stop having fun' or 'no more rolling in the mud/dressing up like superheroes!'... well, it might mean that last one a little BUT it doesn't mean 'Stop having fun!' It means to every thing there's a time and a season - also in the good book ;) Be silly but not all the time. Be sensible when you're meant to be.

I did my second 2 Silly Girls shoot of the summer this past week and was feeling a little glum not to have Megan there - leaving our university town, with a husband means I'm for sure not 17 anymore. The pictures turned out great though and everyone had fun. Basically the whole 2 Silly Girls mission was accomplished. I need to do more of these. 

I think everyone loves being silly. When it rains I can't be the only person over the age of 7 who wants to be outside in my swim suit splashing in puddles, right?

Is there something silly you always want to do but brush it off because you're an adult now?
Are you still silly? How? Got a Top Ten list of silliness? Share it!

My top 10 list of favorite silly moments/things to do:
1. Dress up.
2. Play hide and seek.
3. Say "cheeeeeese!" when I'm getting my picture taken.
4. Use too much bubbles in the bath.

5. Blow bubbles.

6. Stick things to husband's back and see how long it takes for him to realise.

7. Wear glitter. A lot.

8. Sit on my mum's lap.

9. Make screeching sounds as we go around a corner in the car really fast.

10. Remembering silliness and laughing over and over and over about it.

Mostly, being silly means that someone else is being silly too which is my overall fave.

I spy with my little eye...

I don't have a drivers license. That means my adventures can be quite limited and not very spur of the moment. Husband works disgusting hours which means after work he's in no mood for driving or walking or moving.

If I'm lucky and he has a Saturday off he sometimes surprises me with an adventure he's been planning all week. I love to see things. I'm the kid with her face pressed against the glass on a road trip. Trying to see everything. Always pointing to things we pass for husband to look at who always very kindly reminds me that he can look - which he would love to do - and we can die OR he can keep his eyes on the road and we can live. Even if I chose the first option it's too late because of his scripted answer. Life is good though.

Last Saturday he planned a trip to somewhere neither of us had been before. The Arboretum. The day was perfectly sunny. The flowers were beautiful. My hand holding partner was happy. I was happy. The water feature only added to my delight.

Who is your adventure partner? What's the best unplanned adventure you've been on? Is there a place you've been meaning to visit but haven't found time? - I challenge you to go! And send us a picture ;)

bare footsies

to me summer means exploring with bare feet.

hiking and camping and fishing, oh my!

these feet are officially ready for summer and all that it entails.

Follow the golden stripe road.

Almost two years ago I finished my masters degree. A couple of months before that I was a bridesmaid for my cousin. She's been more like a sister than a cousin and I've always said that not many people have known their best friend for their entire life.

There's not one second of my life that the cousin of mine hasn't been alive for and that I've not known her during.

Instead of giving us jewellery that we would never wear, our bridesmaid gifts were personal to us. I received these golden shoes. GOLDEN STRIPPED SHOES.

Weeks later, I was overwhelmed with the summer events – the stress, the busy-ness, the impending future – and I went to a graveyard that I had previously found in a park behind my house in Dundee.

On top of a really steep hill hidden under the trees I sat in a spot of sunlight that was breaking through the leaves. It was one of the most peaceful times in my life – being completely alone, but feeling like there was a thick peaceful happiness; stillness; and spiritual calm. The graves round about were mixed in age. Some had messages of love, some told the basics, others were steeped in icons and emblems from a life now gone. There was love and grief mixed in this completely desolate area. And the sun was perfect.

The summer is coming back, and it's time for a little more golden sparkle in my life.

I freakin LOVE summer!

Prickly green grass.
My favorite spot on the lawn.
Sunbeams tickling my skin.
Toasty red skin.
Dancing light on the inside of my eyelids.
Salty drops of glittery moisture on my skin.
Hair being bleached by the sunshine.
Rustling leaves.
Cloudless sky.
Flip flop tan lines.

Summer, I love you.

What are your favorite things to do outside in the summertime?

summer love

“My feet shall run because of you, My feet, dance because of you, My heart shall beat because of you, My eyes, see because of you, My mind, thinks because of you, And I shall love because of you”