in good company

This past week has been a dream.
Whenever my parents/family/friends come into town, it always feels a little like we're just playing house. Our life here goes on pause for a little while, and everything is off kilter in a fun and happy way.
We go out to eat almost every night, showcasing our favorite local eats, we drive around town, we go see movies and have breakfast and drink coffee... and our mini apartment becomes a fort with spare beds and dishes and suitcases. It's chaotic and wonderful.

Dress: Ruche (similar), Blazer: LOFT, Shoes: Blowfish,
Ring: Vintage, Bangle: Cookie Lee

It definitely makes it really hard on us when they leave, though. Everything is quiet and clean and we sit around going, okay...so how does this go again?



























I wore this outfit to work last week. I love this dress. It's beachy, or maybe carnival-y, and I always tend to reach for it when I'm feeling happy and colorful. It's definitely a summertime dress (although I did wear it for my October birthday this past year, because I was feeling happy and colorful then, too.)
The ring is one I stumbled upon in my little ring box; my mom gave it to me a while ago, along with some other jewelry she's had for a while. I enjoy wearing jewelry that used to be hers, because it feels like it still is hers and I'm just borrowing it, and maybe someday I'll let my daughter borrow it, too.



This may be the hardest year we've had to face in Virginia and being away from home, but there's also so much to look forward to. I have a pretty good feeling that when we move back to Arizona after Dusty graduates and takes the bar, all of this will feel like a dream. A really wonderful dream that we'll never get to return to -- so every day is going to be wonderful.

I wish there was a way to know you're in the good ol days,

before you've actually left them.

-Andy Bernard, The Office

Tonight we're off to another great dinner spot, The Dahlia, and then we're off to Cleveland for the weekend.

I'll continue living in a dream until Monday - but I'll try and find some way to feel happy and colorful once they leave, too.

all the king's horses

I'm currently wearing pink tights.
I've spent the entire morning doubting myself and telling myself that no, the janitor wasn't judging me, he was just doing his job.
In my pink tights search, I ran into some serious problems. As in, I couldn't find any.
I searched 4 or 5 stores, and since there are no Forever 21s in Lynchburg (what kind of college town is this?), I felt kind of desolate.
I even almost went into Hot Topic, but save for the few adolescently turmoiled years in junior high, I'm never quite willing to be at a Hot-Topic-level in my life. No judgment here, though, for those of you who did go in there yesterday. You looked happy, kind of.

Target was the only choice, and the only choice they had was Pepto-Bismol.
It didn't actually say Pepto-Bismol on the label, but I went ahead and added it.
I almost grabbed the "wine" colored dark purpleish tights instead, but I knew in my soul I would never be satisfied accepting a challenge by skirting off into the purple zone. Nay, I had to bismol-it-up.

Please come by and ridicule me. The photos will be up tomorrow.

For now, enjoy yesterday's outfit! Devoid of any upset-stomache-medicine hues.

Dress: Ruche (similar)(remixed), Top: Modcloth, Belt: Gifted via LOFT (shop!)
Boots: Gifted via Zulily, Tights: Target

For those of you who don't know, my mom is a super amazing horse trainer.
My parent's house is located in Arizona, sitting on a good handful of acres and housing happy horses and other small animals. It was a joy to grow up there. It's still a joy to go back!
She built a business at home, calling it Grianna Stables. It has blessed countless people, including me!
She's a hard worker, a brilliant friend, a fantastic teacher and a wicked wit.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't buy this top just because it reminded me of her.

Somehow, my siblings and I weren't bitten by the horse bug.
We all split into various trails of passions and interests, and I think my mom was left a little bit baffled.
I'm kind of baffled, too, looking back. It makes me wonder and worry, a little, about what my kids will love and not love. It's easy to think about sharing my favorite books and music interests with my future daughter, but what if she hates the Beatles and wants nothing to do with leopard print and spicy food!?
My mom has been so gracious. And in turn, she has been blessed with a business that is overflowing with passionate women who love horses, love to ride, and love her. 
And I'm pretty confident that she will be followed around by little cowboy and cowgirl grandchildren who think she's the best thing in the world.

This weird little garden is hidden away on campus, across from the big house.
I find it both charming and strange, the home of stone sheep and cement benches and various shrubbery.

These pictures continually cause me to slap myself over that impulsive bang-cutting of 2012.
They can't grow out soon enough.

The Kiss of the Sun for Pardon
The Song of the Birds for Mirth
One is Nearer God's Heart in a
Garden than Anywhere Else on Earth

Until the next pink-tights-time we meet,

Cait