family night

for family home evening we can almost always be found at the park. 

pizza, diet coke and letting sam roam around the grass is our thing. 

these are from a few weeks ago but i just love these pictures of our little family. 

sam was not into the swings at first but warmed up quickly!

the fourth recap

ben and i enjoyed a wonderful fourth of july weekend! 

my second favorite holiday did not fail me. 

we enjoyed three, count them THREE, rounds of fireworks, the best tri-tip dinner this girl has ever tasted, swimming, a little slip n' slide action, quality time with ally girl, shopping, and lots&lots of sun. 

plus i got my ben all to myself on monday. 

so happy he didn't have to work.

all in favor of three-day-weekends every weekend?

thought so.

now for the pictures...

 {ben in all his glory}

{poor gavin was not having the water}

needless to say, it was a perfect weekend. 

but now that the holiday is over, it's time to get my buns graduated. 

two.more.weeks.

holy cow.

i am so excited. 

because ben and i will both be college graduates, we have found ourselves a new place of residence for the next couple of years. 

i cringe at the though of having to move a third time in the span of 6 months. 

but it will definitely be worth it. 

so, while my mind should be filled with all things school related, we have been busy devising up plans for our new little home. 

picking paint colors, cabinets and countertops can be a little overwhelming. 

but we are anxious to start this new chapter of our lives. 

these pictures have all made their way onto different inspiration boards for the new place.

i hope everyone had a wonderful and safe fourth of july holiday!

happy tuesday!

i love this

12 things to put you in an INSTANT good mood

-exercise: we've all heard it. this number ONE tip experts give for boosting your mood..fast. plus it gives you more energy. ben and i have been trying to go to the gym together daily and we get at least another hour out of our day.

-eat breakfast: it will prevent grumpiness and help you perform.

-speak up: being assertive enhances self confidence and shuts down feelings of helplessness.

-focus on making memories: researchers found that 57% of people reported they were happier when they spent money on an experience. 

-go outside: just five minutes of walking in the great outdoors has beneficial effects. i need it to be summer so we can go on BIKE RIDES.

-hug it out: it is critical that we have some sort of physical affection in your life.

-face your challenges: who would have thought? actually doing the things on your to-do list is beneficial. the more you put things off, the more anxious you are. no bueno.

-say something nice: compliment people! and do it a lot.

-be grateful: have an attitude of gratitude. and make sure that you write things down that you are grateful for.

-savor your snapshots: take the time to look at those photos you have on your refrigerator and taped to your computer.

-less white stuff: sugar and flour can lead to an energy and mood crash.

-remember to laugh: tell jokes, laugh at jokes, and laugh at yourself.