Backyard

Since I've been so bored at home lately, I've been needing to remind myself why I love being here. My family and friends are, of course, the biggest factor, but it's the small things that I find come to mind. Palm trees wherever I look, Ruby's milkshakes in the middle of the week, Target runs with my mom on Sundays, letting my dog into the house when it's hot outside. And then there's living in the house I grew up in again. If you haven't been able to tell, most of my pictures lately have been taken in my backyard. Sure, it's partly because I'm not brave enough to take pictures on my own in public yet, but it's also because I just genuinely love it. Forget the countless birthday parties that have been thrown here or the family talks on warm summer nights that have taken place, it's really just a wonderful space. I actually had completely forgotten about my name in the cement (pictured below) that I wrote when I was 10 until I took these photos. This entire house has been producing moments like that for me lately.

You might also notice the new dress and shoes pictured. The dress was my other purchase at Buffalo Exchange last week and, even though it's slightly small in the bust, I love short sleeved dresses like this for summer. The shoes actually aren't new at all. I've accumulated a giant pile of clothes and shoes to get rid of over the past few years that hasn't shrunk as much as it should, and every time I come home, I sift through it to see if I've changed my mind about anything. These shoes were at the bottom of the pile, and I've decided that they're of much better use being worn. They're pretty old and I don't even remember where they're from, but that just makes them even better if you ask me.

I wore this dress last weekend to babysit my now 3-year-old nephew, Jackson. I have a niece and nephew back in Illinois as well (with another niece on the way!), so it's nice to have some adorable family members in my life wherever I am. 

Dress: Buffalo Exchange

Shoes: I think a random mall store years ago?

Necklace: Francesca's Collections (gift)

Belt: Thrifted