in the kitchen.

Today I discovered that it only takes 4 easy steps to make one delicious summer treat and so 

I made...

1. My choice of fruit: 1 large banana; 1/2 cup of blueberries; 1 cup of strawberries

2. Add 1 cup of ice before adding 1 1/2 cups of vanilla ice cream
3. Add fruit and lastly 1/2 cup skim milk
4. Turn it into pink bubbly yumminess. 




It was a very low key day for N and I - and HALLELUJAH we even had rain almost all afternoon. Our summer schedule has been pretty non stop with camping trips, school, work, and the occasional day of cleaning, laundry, errands... that we gave ourselves a well deserved day off from all of it.
Because however, we were in desperate need for groceries, I slipped into my go to outfit for this summer of maxi skirt, tank + sandals and headed to sunflower market to stock our fridge with fresh goodies! (Hence my smoothie inspiration for today) I have to admit to you guys that if I ran into myself in public today, I probably would've wanted to smack myself..but it was a day of "I don't care" - today while making my grocery trip I wore my ear buds and jammed to my own tunes the entire time! Usually I can't stand when people do something like that, shop with their headphones, but I was in a mood and I ain't gonna lie the seclusion felt aaawesome! Sometimes, ye just don't wanna talk to anyone. And today was that day. I do have to make a point to ad that I only took my public rudeness so far - I removed them completely before heading to the register. Talking on your phone or having headphones in at a register  - absolutely not cool.

Tomorrow I say Hola Monday! as my work week begins and the daily life goes on. In the meantime we are checking the news every couple hours for fire updates and praying the weather reports forecast more rain! Colorado is one big fiery mess and it's very sad to watch thousands of people lose their homes and beautiful countryside burn to ash. Counting our blessings,

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xo . jess

Camp Jack.

Happy Monday, all! Making a quick stop to share with you pictures from the coolest place I've ever camped in Colorado this morning. 

On Saturday we packed up our supplies and headed to Estes Park to meet up with friends. From town it was a short trip with a little 4 wheeling through the Rockies to get to Camp Jack - a site one of my friends has been coming to for years. On our way out of town, we get to see the High Park Fire from a different angle. 

 And while we were making our way to our site, we caught glimpses of a wild fire that had just begun breaking out in Estes Park. As you can tell with not a cloud in the sky and the tripple digit temperature..we're all doing the rain dance!

Welcome to camp jack - an area right on the top of a ridge overlooking Estes Park - the prettiest site I've ever been to. Setting up camp, enjoying the view, cooking dinner, enjoying the shade we were getting at this time of day, and climbing rocks...

 

When you're that high up, you get some spectacular views.

Settling in our front row seats to watch the sunset. 

Somewhat crummy picture but I thought the smoke settling in the valley was so cool. 

It was humbling to try and escape town from the fire and smoke, only to have it break out in several other areas in Colorado over the weekend. We're lucky to be able to still enjoy some summer fun, while so many others are having to leave their homes, have lost their homes, and are fighting to keep their belongings safe..we are up to 12 fires burning - what a crazy summer we are having here! 

Very glad we had a chance to spend time with our friends this weekend. I kicked myself the entire time for having left my camera at home - but N's did a pretty good job as back up ^^ plus we were busy having such a great time that we slacked getting some shots of ourselves. Good thing we definitely plan on repeating this trip before the end of the summer! 

If you enjoy 4 wheeling and true tent camping - look up Camp Jack in Estes Park! 

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Make it a great Monday!

xo . jess

fill in the blank Friday.

see Lauren to play.

this week's blank: summer. 

Thank goodness for a clear day with a break from a smoke filled city, because it was hot hot hot. And the forecast for the next 7 days? 98+ degrees. Summer is here - and I love it! Especially because it gives me chance to wear some of my favorite thrifted summer dresses. 

I call it my Edelweiss dress. The pattern flowers remind me of them. 

With the smoke filled air, it's been strictly glasses only. Contacts, yeah right. 

We're off to the mountains to camp with friends and get some (hopefully) fresh air! I can't wait to get to spend time with friends I haven't seen in quite some time. In other news, N let me try something new with his hair yesterday. 

I think it's pretty spiffy :) He's coming around, to my version of the moahawk. 

 Hope you all get to enjoy a great weekend. 

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xo . jess

proud mommy.

I know I'm only saying this because Oli is my dog, but he is quite possibly the cutest dog in the world. I had to save these shots of him from my birthday weekend for their own post, because they are just so darn cute. If you know Oli, he is obsessed with light spots, like ones you would make with a lazer point pen, but he is so obsessed with it, he'll notice them in everything. 

Don't even try and pick up your phone without him suddenly appearing and sitting right in front of you, or you'll notice him out of the corner of your eye, over in the corner staring intently at the wall where you created a light spot with your phone :) it's pathetic. 

So while I was sitting on the shore taking pictures of the boys fishing, I suddenly realized this guy was watching the ground next to me where I was 'shining a light'. Luckily for me it made him stay perfectly still for me to get some shots of him. 

I freaking love him :]

 

Have a great Thursday!

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xo . jess

my 25th.

Day One. 

A couple weeks ago we celebrated my 25th birthday with the second annual birthday camping trip. Last year we camped the Red Feather area with my mom, brother, N, and Vincent. This year we got to go with Vincent and sweet grandma Jan. Even Oli came along :) it was quite the weekend. 

Oli might be one of the greatest camping dogs around. He loves to be outside. Never barks at anything and loves to sit and look cute. Like this. 

The first day we were all feeling pretty positive about a small hike around Lake Parvin to a secluded spot where we could kill the afternoon and enjoy the sun fishing. I should forewarn you that you're about to see a whole other side of me a few pictures from now. I am starting to let N make a real mountain girl out of me and it just so happens that I have found a love for fishing. Such an old man sport :] I know. But I really love. Plus I kick butt at it :) ..keep reading..

The stylish Longos - N and his grandmother.  

Home Sweet Campground

Gettin' sexy time. The boys strapping on their waiters.

aaaaaaaahhhh..hello mother nature.

Day Two. 

Weather is just part of camping the Red Feather area. We've had some of the greatest and worst weather over the years we've been coming here. One year we got completely rained out while we were tent camping with friends. This year we'd have beautiful, hot, clearbluesky sunrises and sunshine from 7 - 10:30. Then the wind would kick up a bit and give us a cloud show into the afternoon until the thunderstorms or rain would kick in. Day two, however beautiful the pictures were that I got, was a real pain in the ass for the Longo boys and I. We are half guilty because we did doodle the morning around a bit too long and were then super ready and pumped to hike + fish to Bellaire ... but as we are trekking down the over a mile to this lake we  have this eery feeling about the clouds cruising along above us. 

We decide to ignore and continue hiking and begin fishing the second we get there. Meanwhile it has begun thundering and those still friendly looking clouds you see on the left are now grouping together like little buddies. I'm getting a little nervous as to why I'm still holding a skinny long pole in my hands, that I'm throwing through the air and then bobbing in water while it is still .. thundering. So the executive decision was made and we booked it out of there. No 15 seconds after I snapped the picture on the right we were greeted with hail as we were chucking our gear in the back of the truck and high tailing it out of there. 

It was a day of defeat and the final score was weather: 2 longo: 0. The first round we were camper locked by rain, hail, and thunder for a good couple hours - don't get me wrong it was kinda cool. And the second, from our point of view ambitious , attempt at getting to fish that day...repeated round one and we were rained out again. Defeated and with more exercise behind us (who plans for a day of cardio while on vacation!?) than we wanted that day..we called it a day, took refuge back at the campground where grandma and Oli cooked delicious chili for dinner :)

Day Three. 


New day and we were still as ambitious as day two. So we made sure we got an early start. And because N insisted on taking this picture of me, I promised I'd show at least of myself as "the fishing girl". So here you go, just one.

 

sexy isn't it.

Nick taking a break with beer + sunflower seeds. Hence the funny face :)

I insisted on a shortcut back to the trail that was really only meant for people 5'5''. I wish I had audio of these two to share with you as they were making their way out. ^

Zombies are real.

Day Four


Best day by far. :] It was my 25th birthday. We hiked again...and fished, again. But the weather was great it was sooo quiet...

...and I showed the boys how it's done with catching a total of 5 fish. It was kind of bad ass :)

 

Fire clouds in the distance..and grandma and Oli chillin in the shade. Loving life.

 The awkward pose while I was cooling off the dog.

I realized this time around how much I love the Red Feather area. If N fulfills his dreams of becoming a game warden..I don't think I'd make such a bad mountain woman after all. :] 

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xo . jess