Okay…the intro to this song is the best ever. Listen to it for one second….

And moving on.
Bringin’ it today…

Enjoyin’…

Ballet Conquered.
Word is, when Brett took her last week while I was gone, she had a 9/10 ratio of huddling-in-her-daddy’s-lap/participating-in-class. So, this week called for much jubilation when she walked in, smiled and enthusiastically took part. And by jubilation, I mean I could not contain this half-hour combination of spontaneously combusting in weird bursts of nervous laughter and this pool of tears that was welling uncontrollably.

And this heel-tapping thing kills me…

And I’m wondering if it will wear off by like, the tenth class, or if I’m always going to be cry-laughing outside the glass wondow watchin’ my girl from the mama chairs.

Therapy.
It isn’t ideal and it is, in the beginning, a bit overwhelming. But somewhere along the line, it becomes a new normal. And it is what it is, so we make the best of it.

Physical therapy comes to our house once a week, and we’ve been outsourcing some speech therapy now for almost a month and are lucky that it’s only a few minutes from our home. Nella’s rock-starrin’ her way through it, and I use it as another opportunity to do what I do in the mama chairs outside ballet…I beam.

Creativity Combusts.

It’s happening…this new tide of creativity that is unearthing itself after a bit of a creative drought. If I’m not creating something or at least thinking of something to create, I starve. So it is…this soul-feeding satisfaction of doing something creative.

Even if it’s cupcakes with the best buttercream frosting recipe this side of the Mason Dixon line. And by best buttercream frosting, I mean I baked ’em, frosted ’em, ate two of ’em with a glass of milk and then sat on a stool against my counter spooning the bowl remains cursing my friend Dede for passing the recipe. I finally had to squeeze dish soap in the bowl so I would stop. Buying storebought frosting after being introduced to this mutha would be blasphemy. And it’s easy: 3 c. powdered sugar, 1/3 c. butter, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1-2 tbsp. half & half. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

…and creativity continues with something little for my house. It’s been a while since I added character to our spaces, and these new shelves make me happy.

And my $15 Ebay vintage camera find. Love, love, love this baby.

And what is it about the littlest new treasure for your home that makes you want to clean it? That, I love.

…and finally, creative brain went to bed happy last night after major fun photo shoot. I’ve taken a professional break from photography because I can’t keep up with it right now with everything else going on…mainly spending the time I want with the girls. But, I still have this pulsing need to fulfil this love of taking pictures. And a little-turned-big love in my life gave me another opportunity to do so last night. My friend Laura’s beautiful girl Kaity is off to Savannah College of Art and Design later this month…and we commemorated her bon voyage with a living room make-over session and a post-rain trip to the park for these pics…

Love her necklace! Lisa Leonard Designs.

Before and After Editing: We completely faked Fall with dialing the green hues to yellower ones in Lightroom…a bit unnatural, but I wanted the effect. I’m from Michigan and my pre-fall withdrawl is beginning to haunt me. We added fill light. Dropped the clarity and added it back to specific areas with adjustment brush. Added contrast with adjustment brush as well. Oversaturated the blue suitcase. Reduced Noise. And Voila.

And Kaity’s an amazing photographer already.

Her heart and soulful charisma are just as beautiful as her outward freestyle beauty…she’s goin’ places. xoxo, Kaitybug.

Nella’s First Bike Ride.

It was a drizzly, sticky afternoon and we had every good reason to stay inside, but my pretty pink Schwinn was calling. We answered, buckling up little bodies in the bike buggy and pedaling into the heavy, wet air. Five minutes into it, I forgot all about the humidity because every time I turned around there were two little grins and the quiet reassurance that this is what they needed…and so did I.

Impromptu Catamaran Cruise.

You know, when your friend calls and says, “Hey, you guys want to join us for a catamaran cruise tomorrow?” and you make her repeat it because you’re pretty sure she just said “join us for a catamaran cruise tomorrow” and catamaran cruises aren’t exactly something you do every day and surely you misunderstood her. But you didn’t. And you’re really glad when you agree to go.

Turns out The Sweet Liberty catamaran is only twenty minutes away, makes cruises every day and costs less than going out to dinner. And is totally freaking worth the thirty bucks. Because really, we’re not catamaran people. We’re like the prop-dinghy people that get paid to scrape the barnacles off the catamaran.

I felt so fabulous and lucky and movie-starrish to be stretched out on a catamaran under billowy clouds shielding prismatic sun rays on a plain-old week day that I called my dad from the starboard deck just to say, “Hey, Guess where I am right now? No, really…guess. I’m on a catamaran. In the ocean. On a Tuesday.” And I’m just wondering how many times I can say catamaran in this post. Catamaran, catamaran, catamaran.

I’m pretty sure there are no cars in heaven. Just catamarans.

My girl was delighted. And that triples my delight.

And I can’t believe I just found out about this. Because next time we spend money on a date, I’m totally picking a catamaran cruise over dinner. Locals…it’s worth it. You can pack your own cooler, drinks, food…and there’s a perfect little nook for babies to stretch out and catch shut-eye in the sun.

What’s up, Cash?

Oh, I love my salty sea-kissed town.

And, being that it is now September, I will shamelessly bring on Autumn, scattering the northern delights of my Michigan into my sunny, palm-fenced pad.

But, for now, there’s a giveaway winner. A Willowbean petal-knot dress custom-made to your liking will be given to…

Commenter #988!

M Monkey: Your blog is a constant reminder for me to take more pictures with friends! Thank you. Congratulations, M Monkey! E-mail your info please to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net.

Catamaran, Catamaran, Catamaran!