An Adorable Market & My Weekend!

On the way home from the beach, before we reached Virginia, we stopped at the most amazing roadside market! The Grandy Greenhouse & Farm Market offered everything from melons to jams to peanuts.  I could have spent a lot (and eaten a lot!) if we had stayed much longer. We left with some strawberries, some peaches, a jar of strawberry preserves & a Cheerwine for the road :)

I've spent the weekend trying to readjust back home. Of course I still have lots (okay, maybe everything) to unpack but traveling is exhausting! I needed a day or two to recover... ;)

I got to watch Steven close game 2 on Saturday and then we headed home for the annual Summer Solstice Festival. This festival has a few vendors, mainly handmade items, a beer/wine garden, live music, a 5K race, a dog parade, wing eating contest and more! It's always a blast - and this year there wasn't any rain! It was wonderful.

Trying to zoom through the fence...

Cheers!

Now it's back to work & the real world for me! Hope y'all enjoyed the first official weekend of summer!

Friday's Fancies :: HELLO SUMMER!

Happy Friday & Happy SUMMER! & Happy Birthday, Dad! & Happy National Wear Your Lilly Day!
There are lots of reasons to celebrate today, which is good because today we leave the beach -- WOMP WOMP. This past week has flown by and I seriously feel like I just got here.  I ain't tan enough to go back home yet!! (is it just me or does tanning feel so much more legit at the beach? I feel so lame in my backyard...)   I'm excited to be back in the Friday's Fancies groove & share my summer faves :)

|one| I absolutely love my monogrammed hat from Crystal Faye! Mine is navy blue with white thread. I wore it this past week to go to Bodie Island Lighthouse! Crystal is such a sweet girl to work with, too! Team #shopcrystalfaye all the way! |two| My vineyard vines hat is my all time fave! I don't know what it is about it. I think I've just worn it in and it is so comfy! I have the exact style shown - color is: slate. |three| Where would I be without colorful chino shorts? 4" or 5" are my go-to length because they're perfect for me to wear to work! I love J. Crew and Old Navy. I just got a hot pink pair from J. Crew on sale -- only $15! Holla! |four| I am trying to get better about wearing sunglasses. My eye doctor somewhat scolded me for not ;) Although I don't have these Ray Bans, I would love a pair! |five| Is there a time of year more American than summertime? I think not. I am absolutely stoked for the 4th of July which is my second favorite holiday! This bow must be in my hair. Another cute one from Devon Alana! |six| No better way to kick off summer and make your tan pop than with a fresh mani! |seven| Just like life in general, summer is always better in Lilly. I am loving the Dock Hopper print! |eight| Of course, my Jacks are my go-to summer shoe! My platinum pair literally go with everything. I am going to wear them down til they're nothing! |nine| Summer purse essentials? Phone, wallet, KOOZIE! I was the koozie queen at the beach! Lilly koozie found here :) Also love these!! |ten| Last but not least, I spend many days during the summer in my classic norts. No matter how cute I want my outfit to be, you can never go wrong with norts & a comfy t-shirt! I swear by it!

Celebrate summer today & join in on the FF fun here at {long distance loving}!
Onward to Virginia! Back to the real world! :/ Have a great start to your weekend!

Joining the Fun & Spilling about L-O-V-E!

Two posts in one day. Double the fun! My earlier post is all about summer nails & this one is about my L-O-V-E life! I want to join in on the fun with A. Liz Adventures and some other blog gals.

Junior Prom   {1} Describe your dating life prior to finding your husband/boyfriend/fiance. Nothing serious at all! Steven & I started dating our junior year of high school and before that I didn't really date. The occasional "two-week-long-let's-walk-close-in-the-hall" sort of thing but nothing official. Steven was my first real boyfriend. First date. First kiss.  

Summer before college!
{2} Describe your husband/boyfriend/fiance in one word. How would he describe you in one word? My word for Steven: kind. {I often tell him he's too nice ;)} Steven's word for me: Indecisive and sassy (ha!)

August 2012
{3} You had a really silly fight. Embarrassing silly. What was it about? Probably about where to eat! We'll start driving and I always have to choose. Sometimes we end up sitting in the middle of the road because I can't decide and we both get frustrated. (probably because we're both really hungry! I guess he's right about me being indecisive...)

Summer 2012
{4} In three sentences (and only three!), describe where you both hope to be in 5 years. I hope for us to have good jobs. I hope for us to be engaged or married. I hope for us to be happy and living life with no regrets.  

Easter 2013

  {5} Tell us something about your husband/boyfriend/fiance we wouldn't know from reading your blog.  He's one of the kindest people in the world. He can (and will) literally talk to anyone. And he can talk about anything. He's always talking! He can't stand to see someone in public and just give a quick "hey!", it's always a stop and chat moment. He's extremely smart and knows so much about so many things. He always knows what's going on in the world and knows so much history. He's a huge sports guy and knows so many sports statistics...it amazes me! I try and test him and ask about football players and he can tell me their position and their team. Same with baseball. At the drop of a hat he would do anything for anyone, even if it were at his cost.  I could go on and on...!

May 2013
{6} What's one thing you never thought you'd do in front of your husband/boyfriend/fiance, but you did? Looking back, at the beginning of our relationship I would have never been my goofy self in front of him...and I can get very goofy! But now, he's seen the worst of it. Burps, creepy laughs, sweet dance moves, hillbilly impressions, unattractive selfies...and he still loves me.

May 2013

Going on six years now. I'd say I'm a pretty lucky girl! ;)

Oh My Essie!

Nothing says summer like a fresh mani!
I have been loving Essie's spring, resort, neon & summer collections so much! I wish they weren't so darn expensive and I would buy them all. I've recently discovered that our Walgreens sells Essie...I thought only Target did! Score!
Here are 4 of my faves for summer:  

The "rock the boat" is actually a little more blue than it appears here.
I'm trying to branch out with my polish color. I'm very much a PINK girl, or I go with a classic french. I've done a lilac before and red, but I typically go for a bright pink/coral color. I need to just GO FOR IT and remember that if I hate it, that's why they made polish remover :)
What shade are you currently wearing? Please inspire me to branch out to blues/greens!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving that I'm still at the beach!   I'm loving that I'm not going to class tonight!  

  Feeling very lucky indeed.  
Have a sunny day!

Summer Reads!

Althoughhhhhhh I'm in grad school this summer & have plenty to do for that (boo!), I'm still dreaming/hoping of getting in some FUN reading. I am getting to do a little bit of that at the beach this week...hey, that's what vacation is for, right!?

Here's what's on my list currently...

Read any of them? I love getting on goodreads and seeing what everyone is reading! Although, I'm bad at updating mine. I need to do that. However I love looking at what people rate books...that's how I find a lot of my reads! I heard from several 6th graders that suggested The Fault in Our Stars so hopefully they don't let me down ;)
Let me know what you're reading so I can add to my list!

Beach Bum :: OBX

We're on day 4 of our beach week in Avon!

I am absolutely in heaven. If you've never been to the Outer Banks, you are missing out!

Sadie got to come and let me tell you...she is a beach dog! She would run up and down the beach all day long if we let her. She enjoys biting at the foam and running from waves!

Of course my week has been/will continue to be enjoyed in Lilly! Nothing says summertime better!

Our house has an ocean view which is absolutely wonderful! It takes 60 seconds to get your toes in the sand. Perfect!

Speaking of which...I need to go get my toes back in the sand!

I'll update more later!

Until then, if you know of any OBX hidden treasures that I should visit before I leave on Friday, let me know!

Have a great week!

National Running Day :: I'm Marathon-ing!

Not today, but in 163 days I will be a marathoner!
In honor of today being National Running Day, I thought I would share my fall plans with y'all.  I might add some other small local races for fun.
So far, I have these races lined up: June 22: Downtown Sundown 5K September 15: Hokie Half Marathon November 16: Richmond Marathon

My big brother surprised me by paying for my registration for "America's Friendliest Marathon" for graduation, and my Dad gifted me with a Garmin Forerunner 110, so I'm super pumped to get to training! Ideally I wish I were living in Richmond and could participate in their training group, but I'm confident that I'll be able to train just fine here on the hills of Blacksburg. Of course not without my trusty Hal Higdon training plan!
It's intimidating to think I'm going to run 22 miles and NOT have a cheering section, medal or free food to greet me at the end of that training run, but with each run I just think how worth it it will be to be able to make it to that finish line and the sense of accomplishment I will feel.
My older brother is running it as well, however I'm not sure if we'll try and stay together or not.  I think he's probably going to run faster than me!  I'm just trying to keep moving and finish :)
If anyone has ANY marathon training/racing advice, I would love it!
Now, get out there and run today! Even if you aren't a runner, 1 mile is better than nothing :)

Happy Running!

Prepping for Travel!

I have two trips coming up in the next two weeks that I am so pumped about! This Thursday-Sunday I'll be heading to Richmond with Steven for a super fun weekend! Of course we'll be hitting up Short Pump, but also will make it to a Flying Squirrels game, Busch Gardens and...the first annual bacon festival! That should definitely be an experience ;) Then, next Friday, I'm headed to the BEACH! I'll be relaxing on the North Carolina shore for one week. I absolutely cannot wait!

 Got all the goods! Sunscreen, a good book, eye protection, Jacks and pretty nails are all essential!   My iPad will be nice to entertain me on rainy days, or when I run out of books I have one on there! Plus, I'll have to keep up with my school work...WOMP!   Starbucks is needed in the car. Always.
Running shoes are coming with me since I'm training this summer for two big races in the fall!
I just got a new striped beach tote that I lovvvve...I'll be sure to share a picture of it!     What are some of your summer travel essentials?

Graduation!

Hey y'all! Recently I fell off of the face of the earth. But {hopefully} I'm back for good.  Recently I've graduated, started grad school 4 days later, finished up the elementary school year, and am ready for my one week off! I'm looking forward to a trip to Richmond next week and the BEACH in 2 weeks!! :)   First off, to catch up on graduation: May 17th was absolutely perfect! Besides the extreme weather (scorching hot during outdoor ceremony and then pouring rain as we ran to the car) I couldn't have asked for a better day. I feel so proud to have graduated from the best university on earth!  

We had a "reception" at my house afterwards - food catered by the DELICIOUS Hethwood Market, a cake from Our Daily Bread and delicious Sweet Little Jo truffles from my girl Sara! They were seriously to die for.   One of my big gifts was an iPad from Mama! I am loving it! I would love any app suggestions!  
So thankful to all of my friends and family who celebrated with me near & far!