The Monday After a Summer Weekend

Although my sleeping routines [of tossing and turning in bed once Nick is off to work at 3:30am and waking in a zombie state promptly at 6:00am] is becoming a bit annoying and unavoidable - I'm going to write it off this morning to this weekend's fun filled festivities and sunshine!! 

 Nicholas and I went to Denver to stay the weekend at his mom's to celebrate our technically little brother Adam's hs graduation party! Phew that was a long weekend title! But it was an absolute blast and it was finally Colorado summer warm, the whole Italiano family got together and I was reminded how loving, crazy, and entertaining they are. 

[ After Friday's fancy inspirations I knew I had to wear my new Lucky shorts (thanks Mom!) with a simply black + white combo. I was having too much fun to snap a better outfit picture, but I completed the shorts + tank with simple black two strap sandals (what else do I wear?) Next time I can't forget to ad a belt, like I did this weekend imo. check out these other black + white outfit creations by these fashionable ladies

{ava grace's closet} {bon bon rose girls} {get your pretty on} ]

these guys, having too much fun. including Oliver .. :) happy as a clam!

 

 

Happy Graduation Adam! 

On Sunday morning Nick and I were just a tad groggy and let his Maam cook her delicious eggs for breakfast. Once we got back into town just before noon, a spurt of energy hit us and we decided to take care of a couple more to-do's on our list to jazz up our patio. 

 

We headed into old town and ended up wandering around Ace Hardware and the rest of downtown for a couple of hours. We found a great gift for a special someone coming up and my husband took me out for a sandwich and ice cream. Just like the rest of the weekend, it was a perfect afternoon so I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

Tomorrow is my birthday and as hard as I'm trying to be excited about it because I absofreakinglutely love birthdays and cakes and love filled cards, the fact is I am fighting it with my whole body to be here. Not that I can do anything to stop it. I know I'm a little unhappy with "timing" in my life at the moment and a birthday that pushes me just a little past the quarter life mark is not really welcomed. That naive 19yo is nagging "I expected a little more from you by now". But my very content and positive self is reassuring "I don't want my life's timeline to reflect 'everybody else's'. Then it wouldn't be 'my life'." And the fact that I feel literally at a stand still today with minimum productivity I've decided to just close my eyes, let the day come and go and cook myself and Nicholas my favorite dinner. And when I decide what that will be I'm sure I'll let you know. 

For now I'm going to say goodbye to this great weekend, accept the fact that it is somehow June 2013, and  do something about my coffee cup that is still next to my keyboard. Happy Monday. 

As of Late

hello and holy wow it's been a year. not quite but close enough. and shameful all together. it's going to be a bit of a journey reconnecting with this blog. But I have missed it and look forward to sharing with you dearly. 

And as of late, despite life's trivial curve balls, I've found myself having pretty fantastic days. One after the other. Simple, satisfying, productive, beautiful, just wonderful, days. And today was certainly one of those wunderbaren Tage. After I enjoyed a girl's day with my sister in Denver and Nick some good ol' guy time with his dad for the first half of the weekend, I came home and enjoyed Sunday morning breakfast with the boys, took a walk, and did some home improvement on our humble abode with Nicholas. 

I took an okay close up of a budding tree. 

The Pineapple Express came through Foco.

Baby pine cones. 

Simple, yet lovely. But Nick and I were so proud of our plant job we stood in the kitchen all late afternoon staring out the patio door while we cooked pizza + salad for dinner. I was pretty darn content. And as of late, I consider that a pretty amazing day. 

What comes after June?

The month that makes you forget what day of the week it is, because the days are long, hot, and juicy with summer. I am having a hard time making myself believe that August is only days away. Especially after having said hello to this evening, with a delicious pot of Jambalaya rice cooked with Italian sausage fresh from Sunflower market, a perfect after-dinner walk in the 70 degree weather (thank you rain gods!) watching the sun go down, gushing about how much we just freaking love this city and absolutely everything about it. This has been one of the greatest summers I have had in a long time. And it was spent doing nothing much else but enjoying Fort Collins with bike rides, patio lunches, concerts, camping, fishing, and the occasional afternoon by the pool. I guess I shouldn't jump the gun just yet - August is just as much of a summer month as July, but it brings back to school and better yet - back to school festivals in this beautiful city. Such as New West Fest and Tour de Fat which I am soo looking forward to. Nevertheless, all of a sudden it will be September and as much as I will be sad to see this summer go, it is always followed by my favorite season :) So I can never stay sad for long. 


And since it is almost a month to the day since my last post, I am more mad with myself for the fact that while I neglected my blog for a good 4 weeks I was quite the busy bee with things to share that I was just to lazy or unmotivated to post. While July was busy flying by I was cooking new things, experimenting with delicious summer salads (oh yes - the kitchen is quickly becoming my new favorite place), wearing my still growing hippie locks in either a braid or el natural (not doing anything with your hair can be quite the penny saver - who knew!?), reading (!!) rocking out at the Foster the People concert (greatest night of the summer!!) and keeping it consistent with the camping. But I could shut up about it and just show you. Here's my July round up people. Next time I take half the summer off from blogging I'll leave an "out of the office" love note. Happy Hump day! 


xo . jess

Raindance!

Yesterday we were blessed with a day of rain! Hopefully that will have put an end to the still smoking remains of the Hewlett fire that burnt all of last week just a few minutes west of town. Although we desperately needed it, I was sooo looking forward to parking my lazy ass by the pool and working on my afternoon buzz with N. And a tan too, of course. 

But since the weather had other plans, we took a raincheck for Saturday, took care of a much needed Goodwill trip (my car couldn't fit more junk to in its trunk ;) .... << aaah clevaa :P ) and snapped this little gem while running to the car in the rain. Excuse my creepy awkward "quicksmile". 

Since there really isn't much for entertainment when everything is wet outside, we kept it relaxed and made for an easy going Wednesday. For dinner I let N talk to me into making my specialty - grilled cheese & tomato soup - and although I was whiny at first, I came around and remembered how yummy they are if I make em juuust right. 

And because the new light bulb for our tv still hadn't been delivered, we took to the board games. Where I proceeded to hand out some serious Yahtzee ass kicking. Check out the YATHZEE  via first roll of the 2nd round there  ^ and a large street in one roll down here. who's your daddy?

To soothe N's pain of defeat, I was a good wife and sunk it with a generous helping of cookies & milk. If it's game night, we go all out. Just ask our friends Ty & Heidi :)

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend everyone! Happy Memorial Day 

---

xo . jess

let's take a walk.

Happy May 1st lovelies. While I'm still trying to wrap my head around how it could possibly be May, let alone my birthday in a little over a month. There's one big giant countdown to a quarter century birthday around the corner, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that, just yet, soo we're going to move on from that kind of talk for now :)

One of the things N and I love to do most together is go on walks with our (this year) 6 year old Golden Retriever, Oliver. We were so excited to discover that we have a sweet set of trails just a few steps behind our place. Although Oli will chase after the occasional squirrel when he thinks we aren't looking, he loves to explore the trails off his leash. He does pretty good - yet I'm still a cranky German when it comes to people who let their psycho dogs run around without supervision. Ruude! :)

Most days our walks aren't very long, but every once in awhile we'll decide we want to take the long day if the weather and sunshine are extra sweet ♥ In order to really understand why we love these walks so much, I'd have to tell you that it's my favorite time of day with N. Because I will never get tired of the way he drapes his arms lazily over my shoulder like we're middle school boyfriend & girlfriend. 

I'd have to tell you that those walks are what get me through life's stress & strain, and keep me grounded and focused on the things I want :) and even better, what my husband and I want. 

I'd have to tell you, that it's the best dose of Vitamin D you can have. 

But..then I would seriously bore you to death and I wouldn't really blame you - so to be sure to avoid it I'm just going to show you these from one of those favorite sunshine walks of ours. 

The doctor called. Sunshine walks are highly recommended. 

Just keeping you informed. 

xo . jess