Down Time.

Sometimes a girl 

Just needs some down time. 

After a much more adventurous weekend than I'm used to {staying out until one on friday!} I'm very pleased to just be laying in yoga pants, cuddling with Shang, catching up on some laundry and watching Lizzie Bennet Diaries {and maybe some chris crocker... i'm a heathen}. 

In much other news, I'm trying out a new font. Tell me what you think, and while you're at it you can take a survey all about what you think about Ivory Giraffes! I really want this blog to be something that other people enjoy as much as I do, and if you would take a minute or two to just give me some insight into what you want to read it'd be great! I don't want this to be a blog where it's all about me, with no interaction from you the readers. It's high time that I start reaching out to everyone else, so let's start a discussion! Be as harsh as you think you need to be! 

You Look Beautiful Tonight

This weekend was basically just a blast. I started working (No kidding. This is actually a wonderful thing), went camping on Friday, worked some more, went to the local graduation, spent some much-needed time with the boy, and spent a day walking around Mackinaw City with Tanner and Noey.

To elaborate on the whole graduation part, it was an interesting experience. I've only ever been two high school graduations and both were at very large schools. I've mentioned time and time again how small of a place I live in, and the school is no exception. It was a pretty interesting ceremony and I'm glad I went. I was telling Tanner that although I would never want to change my home schooled education, it's sort of sad in a way to see a lot of friends up there receiving their diplomas together while you sit and watch. I can't imagine how it would be for some of the people who actually had attended that school and had to leave for various reasons. 

I was really quite glad I got to see my good, old friend, Ben graduate. That kid has been in my life for, well, forever. And I'm so proud of the person he's become. Congrats, Ben! After all the world has thrown at both of us, we're still standing. As individuals, and best of all, as friends. And, not only are we standing, we're thriving. 

What I Did || Country Livin'

May I just say right off the bat that I loved this past weekend? It was warm. (In the 50's!) It was beautiful, and I got to spend a lot of it with my boy. Wonderful. 

Sunday after church I saw my cousin at the one and only Bliss Store and he told me about his Uncle Phil going out to tap trees for Maple Syrup. Well, I obviously had to run home, put on my Hello Kitty Rainboots, turn on Ugly Truck 3 and get over to Uncle Phil's house! 




The only bummer was that I had to leave after about an hour to head off to Bible Study. It was actually a really good study from a Nooma video, called Bullhorn. Rob Bell spoke about how there are always going to be people putting a bad spin on the Christian faith, like the Bullhorn guy who was standing in the middle of a crowd telling people they were all going to hell. Sure, he may of had good intentions, but wrong is wrong regardless of the intentions. But because the youth group was going to do the evening service at church, all of us Bible study kids stayed to watch practice and then go to the service. Half way through the practice, though, Hunter, Michelli, and I decided to take a little walk. Have I ever mentioned that Hunter can take really amazing photographs? Cause he can. 

After the evening service I went to take the lovely Michelli home, but... my dear old truck got stuck in calf deep mud. Eventually after calling my Uncle to come help me we got 'er out. 


All in all, it was a wonderful Sunday (and weekend!) full of happiness and fun. 

This Weekend I...

Read "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green... okay, to be honest I read it in roughly six hours on Friday night. It could very well possibly be my new favorite book, and I highly recommend it! Ah. So highly. 
Went Square Dancing (again) and of course had a blast. Most of the time I sit and watch, but finally my cousin Brad asked me to dance and I had to oblige. 
Cuddled with my boy. That was probably my favorite part (or was it the book???). I sorta kind really super like that kid. Okay, to be honest I love him. 

born & raised in a summer haze

Uncle Phil

Brad{ford}

Sorry for my paleness.

Little Tanner

Bonfires in Bliss during the winter is very fun, I tell you. All you city slickers will never be able to fully enjoy bonfires like we do out here in the boondocks. Bonfires where you have to put your SUV into four wheel drive just to get back there, & you still run the risk of getting stuck. 

This weekend ended up to be pretty great. Bonfire on Friday night, & a whole day with Hunter on Saturday. I love having him & me time. We watched movies, cuddled, played some chess, & some volleyball. One thing I forget to do when I'm with him is take pictures. I'm much too busy having fun. Maybe next time.