Buzzing and Blooming

These photos are from a recent walk in the arboretum and ravines near my apartment. Summer is really here and it just makes me so happy. Everything outdoors seems to be either buzzing, singing, or blossoming! Does it get any better than this? I don't think so.

I'm getting ready to go out for another round of pub trivia. Hmmmm...what to wear?! I really need to go thrifting for some summer clothes soon. I have no shortage of oversized sweaters, but that just won't do in this daily 80 degree humidity. I struggle with putting together good outfits in the heat!

Anyway, off I go. It's almost the weekend, and I hope your week is going swimmingly!

<3

Say No To Cabin Fever

I love comfy couches and Netflix as much as the next person, but I can only handle sitting still like that for short lengths of time. I get cabin fever if I'm cooped up for longer than a day. (More like apartment fever, I suppose- I wish I lived in a cabin!)

There are so many ways to get out and about, and I truly never tire of discovering new ones. It seems like most people have their own unique "go-to" ideas that are made possible by warm weather and the summer's sunshine. What are your favorite things to do to get out of the house?

Here are just a few things I've done to cure my restless soul syndrome these past few days:   

Holland State Park is one of my favorite places in West Michigan. Although this park is just a simple Lake Michigan beach (I usually prefer my beaches to be accompanied by trails), I love the river that runs alongside it and watching sailboats drift in and out of the marina. Plus there are tons of options for ice cream on the drive in- an absolute necessity for any beach day!

The lilacs are blooming behind our apartment! I was so excited when I noticed them that I grabbed a pair of scissors and ran outside to go on a wildflower hunt. Even just a small walk during the day can really brighten my mood and make me feel more connected to the world around me.

My favorite apartment fever cure is simple: look up events happening nearby, fill up the gas tank, and go! That's what got us to the Fruitport "Old Fashioned Days" celebration last night. There was a small zoo, a carnival, live music, and fireworks show at dusk! We had so much fun eating corn dogs, petting exotic animals, and sitting by the lake watching the fireworks (which are possibly my favorite thing in the world). 

You've probably noticed by now, but I really love beaches. I never feel more complete than I do when I'm by the water, specifically near the truly Great Lakes. This photo was taken on Friday at the Grand Haven State Park, another one of my favorite places in West Michigan. Sadly, the water was too cold for swimming just yet, but summer is finally here and I'm sure it will warm up soon!

Illustrations That Tickled My Fancy This Week

My parents are both artists and thanks to them I've grown up with an intense appreciation for all art forms. Over the years, I've developed a love for illustration. I like to play around with it myself sometimes (I'm sure I'll post something of mine at some point), but I am constantly baffled by the amazing talents of others. Here are just a few illustrations that I've stumbled across and fell in love with this week:

This collection by Rebecca Mock has been floating around the web as of late, and if you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely check it out. It's so clever and beautifully done! Each piece is equally mesmerizing and serene- I just think it's such a wonderful concept!

I found this illustration on Pinterest and it took me awhile to track down it's origin. It's by the artist Adrian Tomine, who you may recognize from familiar New Yorker covers (click the link for examples). Something about his style just makes me want to stare for awhile- it's as vivid as actually going people-watching.

I cannot get over Emma Dibben's delicate style. It was hard to choose just one piece to show you, but as a fan of baking and desserts, I think I can safely say that this is my favorite. I wish all of my kitchen ingredients could look like something from her illustrations!

I love this illustration so much, but I'm still struggling to track down it's origins. I believe it's from a book called Chii Sakobee, but I can't find much information on it through the American web, aside from the foreign site I linked to. I'll put a reward on it- all my love and something special (to be determined) if you can tell me more about this book!

A Blogger's Dozen on Hello, Scarlett

I'm so excited to announce that my recipe for strawberry tarts has been featured over on Hello, Scarlett! I'm a huge fan of Emory's lovely blog and I was so happy when she asked me to participate in her A Blogger's Dozen series. Head on over to Hello, Scarlett to read more, then stick around awhile and take a look at Emory's inspiring lifestyle-
I just know you'll love it!

Happy Friday! 

<3

Freshwater and Forests

I hadn't originally planned on posting so many nature photos here in my little corner of the web, but it's become clear to me that there is really no other way to have this blog reflect my true self. Nature is such an important part of my life and is probably involved in over half of what I'd consider to be my happy murmurs. I know that living in Michigan has played an incredible role in my development as a person, and I couldn't have asked for a better playground growing up. Sand, rock, freshwater, and forests- these are the things that make me feel like a carefree child again. I continue to connect with the philosophies of naturalists like John Muir and Henry David Thoreau, and knowing that I've yet to the mountains and forests they loved so dearly gives me a deep fervor for my future. 

The simple adventures that can be had in nature are infinite, whether it be spotting a rare bird, uncovering a hidden trail, or finding a fossil along the beach, and each brings me the purest kind of happiness. Although I will eventually get around to crafting more exciting posts for the blog (I plan to have a DIY section in the near future!), I'm loving having a place to share my daily adventures and reflect on the beautiful places that I'm so lucky to have encountered. If even just one other person stops to admire the natural beauty that I've struggled (and probably failed) to capture in a photo, I feel like I've done something important. I'm going to save up for a real camera and hopefully that will increase the quality of my photos and make them easier to style and take, so that's something to look forward to! Here are a few pictures I've snapped haphazardly in the last couple days:

I went home for a few days to spend time with my family for Mother's Day (I'm heading back downstate tomorrow morning). We spent most of Sunday by Lake Huron with a lovely picnic at Cheboygan State Park and saw this ghostly ship in the distance.

I love foraging for wild edibles, so I was delighted to see these fresh wintergreen berries peeking out of the dried leaves that covered the forest floor! Now, if only I could find some morel mushrooms...

Sophie loves playing in the water and fetching sticks. She's great at fetching but not so great at bringing anything back- she loves to make you chase her while awkwardly carrying a giant stick in her mouth.

I get so excited whenever I encounter any form of wildlife. Words cannot express how much I love animals, and I do mean all animals- even snakes! Spiders give me the willies sometimes, but that's about it.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now- I hope you're having a wonderful week!

<3

Life Lately

This is one of my absolute favorite tops- I love the pattern and the silky material. It's usually my "business professional" shirt, so I wore it to my job interview earlier this morning. (Younkers)

I've been trying to get outside to enjoy this nice weather as much as possible. It's beginning to turn green down the Eastmanville Bayou trails- perhaps summer is on its way?

I love sitting in the grass by the pond outside of our apartment building. It's the perfect spot for painting and reading  The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno, a deeply tragic, beautiful, and witty tale of a grown man's memories. 

This beautiful tree near our building is finally in bloom. I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, but I love it. 

Summer is off to a slow start here, but I'm enjoying the relaxation time before classes pick up and I begin to tackle all of my summer goals (including creating posts that are much more exciting, I promise). For now, I just want to sit around and read, sleep, and eat. So I think I will.

Happy Friday! Does anyone have any fun weekend plans?

<3

May Flowers Wish List

I rarely even give things a second glance if they are lacking some kind of floral print, and yet here we are, looking at a wish list in May that lacks any hint of flowery design. This is certainly no insult to floral print, though, and it really just counts as a compliment towards these three lovely designs that I've had my eye on for awhile now:

• This Tiny Triangle Pendant from Moorea Seal is just one of the many creations I wish I could own from the shop. The rose gold is absolutely beautiful and it compliments the minimalist design perfectly.
• Dresses are clearly the most important item in a spring wardrobe, and I desperately wish this Merrily You Roll Along Dress from ModCloth could be a part of mine. I'd wear this adorable dress while riding my bicycle and everything would be merry and grand!
• I love the cut, pattern, and texture of this Multicolour Embroidered Aztec Bikini from Topshop. I'm trying to lose weight for bikini season (I gained more than I'd like to admit over the winter), and maybe this will be my personal reward for sticking to my goals!