Tents

Every year, about this time, I start to romanticize the camping experience. The tent, the open fire, roasting hot dogs on a freshly plucked stick. Bugs? What bugs?

Scary bathrooms? What scary bathrooms?

It's all roses for me in July.

Fall? When the yearly camping trip actually comes? That's when it gets realistic.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. It's still only July...

Here's what I wish camping was:

clayoquot

via {decorology}

sandra lane

paperbark camp

via {lolita}

adrian briscoe

gunya

mary janes farm

debi treloar

The Bachelorette a la Jill ~ Episode 9

First off, I missed blogging about last week's episode so can I get a big "YeeHAW!" from my girls out there to celebrate the rose-less-ness of Mr. Can't-Carry-A-Country-Tune? :) So happy.



Now that we've had a rip-roaring good time about Wes' departure, let's have a moment of silence for Reid.
I think they were a fantastic couple.
I think it's a little sad that Jill booted him because he couldn't get the right words out.
Ahem? People? Kiptyn was more outright with his refusal of an engagement than Reid was and he's still around...
I just don't know how I feel about this.


Now, for the final two.



Ed.
Good old Ed. Maybe I was wrong in my assumption that Jillian was just nursing her ego when he left. Maybe she did feel a lot for him.
Sweet that he brought his parents to Maui.
Sweet that he dropped the "L" word.
I'm just not sure I absolutely see everything that's going on between the two of them.
And that bit about the hotel room and romance and...well...I just don't know what to say about that.




And Kiptyn.
I think this one might be our winner. The only thing that may throw a wrench in the happy ending is him refusing to make lil Jill happy and pop the question (I think Ed would do it in a heartbeat).
They seemed like a good team on the ropes course.
We all know how she feels about kissing him...less is...less and more is waaay more.



The wind is a little gone out of my sail since she sent Reid home. Boo on that choice, Jillie. I'm not loving it.


What I am loving? Her clothes.
(Have I said that already?)
I'm going to have to do a Jillian Fashion post just to rehash all her fabulous outfits. Honestly, the girl is fierce.

Good Books

Parenting is not an easy task. Good parenting is in-the-trenches labor. Perfect parenting is impossible. (Hard for a perfectionist, like me, to grasp.)


I'm not looking to be a perfect parent or even a good parent by this society's standards; I'm looking to be a godly parent.

It helps so much to have the insight of those who have gone before me. Here are some of my favorite parenting resources with a Christian world-view.

For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaffer Macualay - a look at better education
The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian - in depth prayers to pray for your children
Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson - a must-read for any parents of boys.
The Ministry and Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson - inspiring reads about creating a nurturing home environment for your children
Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson - encouragement for loving mothers

I'd love to have a list from the mothers. What are your favorite, most impacting parenting books?

This Morning

Blueberry crumble (made with ungodly amounts of butter) and coffee.
A walk around the lake.
Bottled water.

Yay for July.

Berry Pickin'

We took our summery little selves Blueberry picking this week. The perfect day. Bits of cloud and bits of sun, sweet breezes and the shade of blueberry bushes.


My girl was having a fine time with her bucket and swingin' pony tail.


We even tried to dress like blueberries!

My Grandma Sunshine adored every little berry and gave plenty of lectures on the virtues of antioxidants. :)They are pretty gorgeous. And super delish.

I got a bit obsessed with popping those little globes off their branches and ended up with 12 pounds of berries! What's a girl to do with 12 lbs of blueberries?

I think I'll make blueberry sauce for pancakes. And I'm planning a blueberry crisp for after Sunday supper. Freeze the rest and create scones and pies and muffins come Fall?

What are your favorite blueberry recipes? Share!

Someday...

...I'm going to go to Italy and share pasta with my best girl.

photo: anna_lee

Red, White & Beautiful

photos from: eleganceisrefusal

Enjoy your 4th of July.
We will. :)

For more of my Red, White and Beautiful finds, click here.

Bosom Friend

I started today feeling useless and unappreciated (can you say, "pity party"?) and then I read my sister-in-law's blog.

You go read it too.

Now, wont that just pick ya right up out of a 'poor me' day and place you on the mountain top?

That Jamie really knows how to warm a girl's heart. Thank you, Jamie.

photo credit: debi treloar

Best Combos

Mrs. B. + Mr. B. + 6 years

We celebrated our 6 year anniversary on June 27th.
It was our first time at Ruth's Chris steakhouse and we enjoyed it big time.

Little girl piggies + Cold stream
Evie dips her precious feet into a stream at the Botanical Gardens.

French Toast + Blueberries

A breakfast inspired by leftover french bread and summer berry harvest.

Cute baby + Cute cry
Jamie, my sister in law, came for a visit. Her new baby went for his first swim.




Little boys + Climbing trees
Beck found an irresistible tree at the Botanical Gardens.





Little girls + Vibrant roses
Evie takes pleasure in the simple things.




John Legend + Piano + Mic
I took my sister to a John Legend concert for her birthday.
Was the most fabulous concert I've ever been to.

Nieces + Aunties
I asked Evie if she was going to be silly like her Auntie Alli when she grows up.

The answer was a definitive "Yes."

I have had a wonderful couple of weeks.

I feel so blessed.

What are your best combos?

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary

Speak in a summer tone

Pause in the after glow

Tenderly whisper my name

Tell me once again why I am your bride

So I can fly

So I can fly

Pause in your busy day

Look extra long my way

Wink at me across the room

Kiss me longer

Touch my arm when I am by your side

So I can fly

So I can fly

Oh how the little things

Strengthen my tiny wings

Help me to take on the world

When you love me there's nothing I wouldn't try

I might even fly

I might even fly

I might even fly

Lyrics to Fly by Sara Groves
Mrs. B. sang this to Mr. B. at the altar on their wedding day.

The Bachelorette a la Jill ~ Episode 6

Ohhhh...oh oh oh.

I don't want to dignify him with naming him on my blog. So I will just say "him" and you will know which him I'm referring to.

He's nasty. He's greasy. He's a liar. And...he's still on the show. Sick.

Note Jill's perfect feet in this photo.

Was anyone else as grossed out by Tanner and his foot fetish as I was? I mean seriously...it was getting disturbing. Glad he's out.

Robb getting dumped at the side of the tracks was a bit much. They're really going for dramatic exits this season, huh?
Poor guy. He wasn't ready though.

Jake was a gem. She let him go. But I kinda don't blame her. There was NO chemistry there. She just didn't have the hots for him.

Bottom line: you've gotta have the hots for someone if they're gonna be sleepin' in your bed and you're going to be doing their stinky laundry every day. You just do. It's a must.

Jesse is cute. He's cute cute cute cute cute.

Cute.

The Hots? They're there.

Mike is great.

He's funny and sweet and would treat her like a complete princess if he ever got the chance.
I absolutely believed him about not having to have every girl and being ready to settle down. It's possible, people, a 25 year old can have a family and be content! Gasp!

The Hots? Not convinced yet.

Kiptyn is still wonderful and unless something completely strange happens in his home town I'm pretty sure he'll be heading to Spain with Jill.

The Hots? There. In record proportions.

Reid is nice. He says interesting things and he's got an intriguing way about him but I'm not sure I'm convinced about their "rightness" for one another.
The Hots? SemiHot.

Let's talk about the boots on this show. The boots tonight were ah-stinkin-mazing. I mean really...I think I might have a boot fetish rivaling Tanner right now. Those red numbers were to-die-for!

How about the previews for the next couple of weeks? D R A M A.

Questions for you (that you are required to answer):
Are you glad Mr. Perfect returned (in a uniform, no less) to tell Jill about him? (I am!!)
Who are the 3 Jill will take to Spain? (Kiptyn, Jesse & Mike)
Are they alluding to what I think they're alluding to with the "failure" on the over night date? (How intrusive and classless can you get?!?!)
Who is the returning Bachelor that got down on his knee? (Ed?)

Episode 5

Potty Pros

Both of my kids are potty trained. Potty. Trained.

Do you know what this means? They both ("both" meaning Beck and Evie) wear cotton undies with Disney characters on them and do not soil them.

I thought the day would never come. Remember this post? And this one? And this?

(Note: much of the success of Evie's training is due to Gramma Lynda's miraculous potty training abilities and her visit at the beginning of June while Mr. B. and I visited Paradise. Thank you, Gram!)

Just A Little Bit of Lovely

Chris Everard

Have a gorgeous, Summer Friday.

Mother In Law

Just wanted to make a little post to say:

I love my Mother in Law

I do! I really do!

:)

The Bachelorette a la Jill ~ Episode 5

Jill isn't failing to deliver on the drama or the fashion. Love her for that. :)

Ed - I was surprised at her reaction to his exit from the show. I wonder...was she more upset that he left b/c she was so into him or more upset because he left her for work? Weigh in...whatcha think? I'm curious.

Jake - I think he'll be going soon. He's got the 'too perfect' vibe (according to her) and she's not digging it. I, personally, strived to get a man as close to perfect as I could find. Nothin' wrong w/ perfect, friends. Nothing at all.

But I can see what she means...not sure there's much chemistry there.

Michael - So so cute. Funny, sweet, heart-on-sleeve. The only question is if she feels "oh-la-la" with him. She's been doing a record amount of smooching on this show and not much of it has been with him. No question he got the best date though...I looooove the zipline. ;)

Reid - Nice. Tries a bit too hard. But nice. That's all.

Robby - I don't get it.

Tanner P. - Icky and a bit of a drama queen with all the "I know something you don't know, but I'm not gonna name names." Boo on him.

Wes - He's a stink-bomb. A complete and utter stink-bomb. And he can't sing. Worth a hoot. So there, fame seeker. Humpf!

Kiptyn - Yay! A keeper. She can't keep her pretty little Canadian lips off him. You know that "talking stain" commercial? Their chemistry reminds me of that...they're talking and they might be saying great things, but there's something so distracting going on in the meantime...

Chemistry off the wall there. And, he seems like a fairly nice fellow, so I approve.

Jesse - This is an unforeseen, precious connection. Did you see his relief and (practically) adoration when she said she wasn't requiring someone to move to Canada for her? He was ready to give her a ring right there.

I like him. I just do.



Here's what I want to know:

~ Did she really have the hots for Ed as much as she let on? (or was it more of a hurt pride issue?)

~ Does Wes have a girlfriend? Do you think he's slimy and disgusting too? Would you ever buy an album?

~ Do you think Tanner should reveal to her the identity of the 'boyfriend in question'?

(My answer: YES! If any of these guys really care for her as a friend at the very least, they should let her know if one of her 'boyfriends' is a liar. It's just courtesy. Yes, it's his business. He's a turkey for not telling her. A foot-loving, skinny-faced, buggy-eyed turkey.)

~ Last but not least: Who's your favorite bachelor?