Keeping cool..

Lately the weather has been scorching, today's promising a high of 108 degrees. Out our window, the day gives little warning of the sweltering heat it plans to unleash. A thin cloud covering mutes the intensity of the sunlight. But we feel the warmth already. We feel it within us, and without. Oliver drags me to the sliding glass doors, pointing and babbling toward his small plastic swimming pool. We must become creative with our heat coping methods. Even little Oliver senses that his pool will provide the cooling relief his sweaty little body craves. So we crank up our iTunes playlist and head out, still in our pjs, splashing ankle deep into the blue water.

We are having a backyard pool party today, just my son & me.

How will you turn the heat into a party today?

♥B

red, white & blue summertime

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..." penned Gershwin of this magical time of year with weather that makes me feel happy, alive, free.

Lately I've been feeling creative...

I created this simple bunting with thin cardboard, ribbon, paint, fabric scraps and markers.

I love using simple household items like empty boxes or old t-shirts to fashion whimsical decorations for our home. 

Last week, I found a beautiful pair of jeans while digging through a pile of clothes. They cost me just $0.25 and were in perfect condition except for being hemmed a little too short for my legs. I brought them home and used this tutorial to make this brilliant pair of skinnies.

Oliver & I have been enjoying the sunshine from our backyard, and also being patriotic with a little extra red and white and blue.

Happy Independence Day, 

& happy summer!

♥

fresh tomatoes

During these hot summer days, Oliver and I take refuge in our tiny apartment to stay cool. Oliver plays on his owl blanket in the living room while I wash dishes and tidy up our little home. 

This day Oliver's mood is happy so I am able to wash the tomatoes from my mother's garden and the fresh cilantro from the supermarket. 

My parents, Oliver's Abuelo (spanish for grandfather) and Nana, spent Sunday afternoon with us. Every time we see them, they feed us or shower us with fresh vegetables from their little backyard garden and fresh eggs from the chickens. 

Yesterday, Nana brought green zucchinis, red ripe tomatoes and some of the freshly baked zucchini bread that I have loved for as long as I can remember. 

While Oliver watches me from his blanket, I gather ingredients to make pico de gallo, a fresh chopped salsa with a name that literally means "rooster's beak". I enjoy mine with tortilla chips, on tacos, with my breakfast of eggs and tortillas, and with countless other dishes. Mine is much simpler than most because I don't have any onions or fresh jalapeños to add to it but it will still be tasty because of the juicy tomatoes. I dice tomatoes and chop cilantro. Then I add the juice from a lime, garlic, spicy hot sauce, and a little salt and pepper. 

 

The result is colorful and delicious and perfect for a summer snack.

~Bethany

lazy wednesday

Life seems to slow down during the summer...

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like people are happier in the summer. I see more people around our apartment complex and they stop and say hello to Oliver instead of hurrying past with only a brief nod. 

Oliver went in the pool for the first time last night. Not fully but he let Daddy carry him in the water and dip his feet in. We waited until about seven o'clock in the evening when the pool was empty and then brought Oliver out with his little baby sunglasses to keep him from having to squint his little eyes shut. He felt nervous at first but relaxed and seemed to enjoy the cool water splashing against his skin. 

Despite summertime's lazy haze, Oliver continues to grow. When I look at him, it's hard to believe that he is only six and a half weeks old. He is so full of life and that energy radiates from him like sunlight. He grunts and screams and smiles and finds all sorts of ways to communicate with us. I am learning to pay attention to his expressions and his moods. He is full of energy and wants to bounce and stand and move. 

And then he takes glorious naps while I rush around making lunch and washing dishes and showering and styling my hair and searching for something to wear that makes me feel like me again and whatever else I can manage to do until I  hear his cry and lift his cuddly warm body into my arms and enjoy his happy babyness all over again. 

This is our routine for now; simply enjoying each other's company during these lazy summer months. We let ourselves get lost in the magic that is summer's warmth and joy and a sense of peace...

t.g.i. finally f.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136:1 NLT

I absolutely love Fridays...

There is a feeling that it brings; a feeling unlike any other day of the week. It's a combination of anticipation and relief, sort of like the feeling you get on the last day of school. Yes, that's it. Fridays are like a mini last-day-of-school and I just love them. Oliver & I get to spend two full days with Poppa, and my sister Toya always visits us on Friday evenings which means Oliver gets lots of love from his sweet auntie. Yes, Fridays are always fabulous in our little world.

The weather today is pleasantly warm in comparison to the heat we endured this past week. The windows in our tiny apartment are open to welcome the light breeze and Oliver is curled up on my chest enjoying a nap, giving me lots of time to catch up with the blogging world.

This week, Nick let me enjoy a quick shopping trip to Macy's and I picked up a few fabulous finds. These O'neall Everytime denim Walkshorts are quickly becoming my new b.f.f.

They are super light unlike most denim, perfect for summer, and the vintage wash gives a subtle nod to stonewashed jeans without looking tacky and outdated. Originally priced at $39.50, they were marked down to $24.99 but rang up at $19.99 and with my coupon, I paid just $12.99 for this awesomeness.  I just love them.





In other news, Nicholas and I may be renting a house in a few months when our lease ends, fingers crossed for it to work out. I am beyond excited at the thought of having so much space for Oliver to grow and learn and play. I am trusting God to work everything out for the best and also feeling very blessed with my beautiful perfect little boy and my loving husband. I'm feeling hopeful for this summer and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

Happy Friday blog world :)

~B.