Camp

Oh man. I've been dreading writing this post because then it means that summer is almost over.

 As some of you may know, I went away for the summer to work at a summer camp. This journey has been filled with every emotion, some good and some bad, but I wouldn't trade this summer for anything. I got dirt in places dirt doesn't belong and I met bugs, no one should meet! I found friends that will never leave and learned things that shouldn't be taught in books. I missed home like crazy and I cried more then once. I laughed so much my face still hurts and I hugged so much my arms got longer. I learned that life is more then a desk and this computer and I found beauty in little things.

I did things that I didn't think I could do.

I slept under the stars, just me and a sleeping bag. I went 5 days without a shower. I lived in a tent for 3 months. I lived with bugs! I canoed (I thought I was to fat to canoe, but I'm not and I DID IT!). I got a bullseye at archery! I faced my fear of the dark. I caught a snake. I went skinny dipping with skinny people. I lived freely and didn't care what I looked like. 

Sleeping unit. The kids slept in cabins, we slept in tents!

The view from my tent.

campfires!

 I met some amaizing people this summer. I made some life long friends in the oddest of situations. I gave some good advice and learned to get along. I had a sholder to cry on and people lent me theirs a few times too. I made friends with people from around the world! I found solice and familiarity with these crazy people and I learned to let things go a little more everyday. This journey was made special by the people that I surrounded myself with and I feel privilaged to have had the chance to have them in my life, even  if just for a few months. 

counselor fashion show! I was a french tourist!

This summer has been so special in so many ways. Thank you to all the people that helped me through it and thanks to all the great people who were there along for this crazy ride. This opportunity was priceless and I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Except for maybe the food! The food was gross.This has defiantly been the most unique, fun, weird, hardest, rewarding jobs I've ever  had!

To the dreams of summer and the magic of camp, this summer will always be held close in my heart. To the keepers of time and the holders of memories, let this moment be remembered always. To the great people that graced it's dirt filled paths, thanks for making my life a little brighter.

Summer Camp and Cats From Outer Space!

With camp being less then a month away, I figured I'd fill you in on what I'm doing this summer...

I will be working for the Girl Scouts of Northern California at a summer camp. My position title is Program leader of visual arts. What that actually means is that I'm a supervisor of arts and crafts. I'm pretty stoked on being able to hang out with kids, craft and get paid for it! I will be in wrangling 8 to 16 children (depending on the week) and also 2 assistant program leaders. Most of the program leaders are younger (18 or 19) and have been campers at the camp before. This is my first year doing this, but I'm sure this won't be my last. 

I will be living in the woods from the beginning of June until the end of August. I will live in a tent. I was told that I could bunk with the girls, but from what I remember about camp, it's staying up late and giggling and I don't mind the girls doing that as long as they aren't super loud or crazy, but I would also like to sleep and have my own little space. So tent it is! My one requirement for my tent is that I can stand in it. I don't want to feel super cramped in whatever I'm living in for the summer, so I found a 6 person tent and it will be my little tent mansion! 

Here is my check list for camping supplies that I still need! 

I have some clothes shopping to do as well. Most of what I own is dresses and that won't work this summer. I got an awesome pair of water/walking hybrid shoe. I'm pretty excited to wear them all summer. I was looking at them online through REI and they were $85 bucks and then one day Jim and I were wondering Ross and I found a pair for $30 bucks and I knew that were to be mine!!!! I also have been looking at a pair of Blowfish shoes for my everyday around camp shoes. I also stocked up on fun t-shirts, I went on threadless and they were having a massive sale (all their t-shirts were 10 bucks) so I snagged 5. I am super excited about my celestial cat shirt and will soon be rockin' it all summer. I'll grab pictures. I need shorts super bad. I'm pretty sure that my typical summer outfit will be slip on canvas shoes, leggings, shorts on top, tank top, awesome t-shirt, and a cardigan.  

Here is the list of clothes I'll be bringing...

I'm also looking forward to being the hang out chick. I'm pretty sure that I'm the only married one there and one of the oldest, but that just means I'm gunna be the awesome fun chick that everyone wants to hang out with. A lot of girls are coming from out of the country, and making them feel welcome and included is something I'm normally good at. My house is usually the place were everyone hangs out at so I'm guessing that this summer will be no exception. We work 8 days on and then will get 2 days off and if you don't have anywhere to go you can stay at camp or go with a friend, so my house will hopefully be the party spot for crazy camp counselors just like me!

Well tomorrow is Saterdance, so put on you dance pants and get ready to shake it! I'll be back with a vlog for Sunday. Talk to y'all soon!

P.S. Here is Celestial cat!

MIxing Business and Pleasure! --OOTD--

     Ok, so I love a good craft. I mean what's not to love, turning boring ol' things into fun pieces of art to display/wear?! Well I've been making felt flowers for years. When I got married, all of the bridesmaids bouquets were made out of felt flowers and buttons (4 bouquets). After the wedding I went on felt strike and wanted nothing to to with felt or flowers or even crafting for that matter. Within the past couple of months I have started doing more and more projects and now with all this extra time on my hands (the doctors have me off work until Jan. 15th) I having been crafting my little heart out. I've been making felt bobbles, adorned with hand sewn beads. I'm loving the whole process of making them and beading all of the colorful felt accessories. I've been making hair doo-hickeys and rings, but plan on branching out and making all kinds of things once I can figure out what customers will like. An amazing friend and I are starting an etsy store. (I know, everyone and their mom has an etsy store, but this is my chance to make my little slice of the Internet that much fuller and well rounded... like me!) When we have the site fully set up I will make sure to share the link with everyone. 

     I went back to the doctor on Wednesday. It was as usual a guessing game. This time though the doctor seemed pretty certain that we are on the right path. Apparently the bone in my ear is grown into my ear drum and my inner ear is no longer vibrating. This could be something I was born with or some sort of trauma caused. If it was caused by trauma that could be what is causing my headaches and dizziness. The specialist (ear, nose and throat specialist) will be able to determine this and then tell me were to go. The boy and I have been researching this and it's called surfer's ear, and the treatment is surgery were they cut off your ear and chisel the bone away and then re-attach the ear. I'm hoping that it's an easy fix and  not surgery, but in all honesty I just want to know what's going on and for life to go back to normal-ish. 

     Other then my ongoing broken-ness and crafting, I've been baking alot. Miss kaelah beauregarde at little chief honeybee. has an awesome recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie! Also I found an awesome recipe for Cheese Cake Squares, it's like a mixture between lemon bars and cheese cake. I will be doing a tutorial on those tomorrow! They are so good and pretty easy. I will say the hardest part is mixing the cream cheese because my mixer broke (hint hint x-mas!), so I have an old school mixer that you hand crank, not electric at all. I'm getting pretty buff from this baking stuff though!

Navy flower with beads and vintage button

unedited- purple felt flower with opal beads and pink vintage button

OOTD-

Dress- Kohl's

Sweater and leggings- Target 

Boots- New Look

OUTTAKE!!!!!

     Ok Jim is getting restless and wants dinner so I'm off to make homemade mac'n'cheese and meatloaf burgers. Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving. Till tomorrow, fancy shmansy... tootels!