This post is sponsored in partnership with Breyers® in celebration of simple family moments this summer.

So here’s the deal: It’s no secret I love a good holiday. I take Christmas to the moon, start hanging spider webs early October and googled “ruffled romantic blouse” in search of the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit this year. But it doesn’t exactly have to be a big to-do to get me excited. Those simple little celebrations buried in everyday life are just as special–if not more–and summer seems to be the perfect time to throw a little confetti for occasions that would otherwise go under the radar. And because Breyers® uses the best simple ingredients—cream, milk, sugar and vanilla–to make their vanilla ice cream, they know a little something about the goodness that comes from simplicity and they’re teaming up with us to celebrate.

Our Summer Bucket List is one way that we celebrate the simple things of summer, and we purposely compose it not with big things that we’re doing over the season but with little actions that celebrate the simple things of the season like catching lightening bugs, making cucumber salad, wearing sundresses and picking wildflowers. Another fun way to celebrate the simple things of summer is to dig up the old obscure holiday calendar and make it a point to celebrate things you didn’t know had a holiday assigned to it. Like International Hammock Day, for instance (it’s a real thing!) or, say, National Coloring Book Day (also real–go buy some crayons! Color and drink coffee all day!).

One little holiday that fits perfectly with the way we do summer is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, coming next week, nestled in a month dedicated to celebrating ice cream every day. That’s right–July’s National Ice Cream Month. And the best part? You don’t need much to join in the celebration because summer’s about keeping it simple.

Want in on this simple summer bucket list celebration? Here’s all you need–a bowl, a spoon and some Breyers® Natural Vanilla ice cream made with simple, high-quality ingredients–fresh cream, sugar, milk and vanilla.

We paired our ice cream with fresh picked strawberries last week…

…but it’s perfect enough to stand on its own.

To keep it even simpler, Breyers® guarantees their natural vanilla has no artificial growth hormones* . They can’t guarantee you won’t get a milk mustache though.

These simple little pleasures and the way they shine is my very favorite thing about summer. Everything seems sweeter when we’ve slowed down enough to notice and enjoy it all–from a scoop of sweet vanilla ice cream enjoyed outside after dinner to those summer-scented clothes drying on the line.

Nella’s definitely flying her ice cream flag the highest this month. Ice cream is her love language.

From the simple joys of ice cream to more simple joys of summer…

Afternoon croquet, anyone?

*Suppliers of other ingredients such as cookies, candies & sauces may not be able to make this pledge. The FDA states that no significant difference has been shown between dairy derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST treated cows.

So, it’s almost 2:00, and the rules of blogging say only post in the morning, but there are no rules in summer; so here I am, sitting at a picnic table with a wifi signal that can’t compete with the strength of nature, and I am posting mid-afternoon because I feel like it. As much as things slow down in the summer, I still love blogging up here. I have some fun summer partnerships that I love working on, and in between, I’ll drop in to stamp my Michigan-loving heart in this place and store memories and feelings that inspire me all year long. I hope you love the Michigan posts, but I’m okay if you’re all, “WE GET IT! You love Michigan.”

A few years ago, in a little Northern Michigan shop coincidentally, I found a photography coffee table book entitled Summertime (it’s less than half of what I paid right now on Amazon) that inspired me so much–gave me the most nostalgic feeling every time I opened it and ignited not only my creativity but my awareness of how many little things I love about summer from the sight of laundry drying on the line to the way it feels to slip in to a body of cold water on a hot day. That feeling is the sole inspiration behind all my photo-taking up here. And when we get home, we’ll bind it in a little book that will stay out all year, reminding us that though we also love the hustle and motivation behind our busy everyday life, the fuel lies in the moments when we drink up the simple pleasures.

We spend most of our days outside this month–on the dock…

…and in Poppa’s gardens.

Summer Bucket List Check: Catch a frog…toad will do.

A butterfly outside the butterfly house:

My dad has two bunnies this year, but a sweet neighbor who knew we are visiting had some baby bunnies she brought by the other day for the kids to hold.

Nella’s wand is having the best summer ever. She lost a tooth last week and was anxious to spend her dollar the tooth fairy left her (outside a fairy door on an outside tree as Nella made it known she was not interested in her coming near her pillow while she was sleeping). There aren’t many choices for shopping up here besides the Ace Hardware and a small town Merchandise Mart that’s kind of a cross between a Big Lots/Value City/Dollar Store/residential garage sale. I took the little ones to the Merchandise Mart, and they thought it was Disney World. We left not only with a new ribbon wand (!!), but a red cowboy hat, 2 light-up mohawk wigs, three bouncy balls, some outdated bath toys and a ballerina necklace.

One of my favorite things in the whole world is to come down to the lake after the sun has set and swim by myself as the moon gets higher and the world gets quiet. Sometimes there are tagalongs.

Another check off our bucket list was strawberry picking. We returned to AJ’s Farm in Lashine, Michigan this year at the tail end of picking season and still found lots of perfect berries to pick.

Nella ate every single one she picked, per usual.

We ended with some raspberries and saskatoons and brought them all home to make a pie that night.

The lake is calling…Happy Summering. xo

This post is sponsored by Marshalls.

Remember that mystery trip I told you about? The one I was all packed for but didn’t know the destination? Holy Beignets, was it fun. And yes, I just gave it away. In celebration of what Marshalls is known for–not knowing exactly what you’re going to get when you walk in but always finding something good–I took that surprise element to a new level, using the surprises I found at Marshalls to pack for my surprise trip. Everything I packed, brought and wore for this trip I found at Marshalls–clothes, hat, sunglasses, backpack, suitcase, shoes, travel snacks, purse…everything. And with that little push to be adventurous–I mean, I said yes to a mystery destination after all–I found myself inspired to be a little more adventurous with everything else on this trip too from what I wore (bathing suit as top) to what I ate (I tried alligator cheesecake!).

My best friend is good at saying yes to adventure, so Heidi came with me for the fun which began with getting dropped off at the airport early in the morning with a sealed envelope. After finding a good spot in the terminal to open our surprise, we ripped that baby open to pull out the “You’re Going to New Orleans!” sign…followed by schoolgirl giddy jumping and squealing. I tend to return to things I know and love in life–places I’ve been to that I want to return to, meals on menus that I’ve tried and trust. I love that this destination was picked for me.

Now I know what an incredibly colorful, musical, resilient, cultural, beautiful city New Orleans is.

Where do I begin? When in doubt, start with beignets. Oh my Lord, the beignets! We knew this city was known for its food, and we wanted to experience as much of it as we could. Marshalls teamed up with Pack Up + Go which did an incredible job at guiding us through the city and providing all the tips from locals of what we needed to experience. I have a friend in New Orleans as well who was texting me throughout the trip, “MUST EAT AT PARKWAY! Order the shrimp po’boy! You HAVE to go to Jacques-imo’s! Get the alligator cheesecake!” And all those wonderful New Orleans tips from Instagram followers–one of my favorite things about Instagram. The most repeated advice? Get your butt to Cafe Dumonde for one of the most famous beignets in the world. We walked there late at night (they’re open 24/7!), and I swear, I SAW GOD.

I was born again that night.

And, why yes–we had beignets again the next day (tried Cafe Beignet the second day–also out-of-this-world delicious, but we liked Cafe Dumonde better–softer, squishier).

(Favorite sunnies for the summer & the best lightweight shirt –it was hot!–Marshalls.)

Other favorite food places we tried:

Jacques-Imo’s–out of the French Quarter and right next to a local favorite jazz bar, The Maple Leaf which was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Parkway Tavern–also off the beaten path a bit, but worth it. Shrimp Po’boy, cold root beer in a long neck bottle. Heaven.

The Carousel Bar where we stayed, Hotel Monteleone (the bar slowly turns!):

Pat O’Brien’s Piano Bar in the French Quarter.

Breakfast at The Ruby Slipper, named for “There’s No Place Like Home”–what it felt like for locals to finally return after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:

Not shown in photos–The Gumbo Shop which served up the most delicious trio of red beans & rice, crawfish etouffee and shrimp gumbo. Basically, we just ate our way through the city.

I felt like I belonged in that city with this dress I fell in love with. When it got especially hot, I tied the bottom up …

I mean, everyone else was showing leg. When in Rome.

What did we do on our visit? We walked. We never stopped walking, exploring the streets, taking in the sights, pausing only to pop in a shop, grab a drink at a colorful bar or listen to the music of the street performers.

I almost wore a little heel, inspired by the city’s “Go big or go home” vibe, but the sane part of me whispered, “Girl, you crazy.” So glad I listened.

Comfy espadrilles for the win.

We were mesmerized by the architecture and stories hidden in the Garden District. There wasn’t a single house, corner, gate that didn’t make you want to stop and take a picture.

Many of the houses have plaques displayed in the front, detailing when the house was built, who owned it and the families who’ve lived there. So many stories.

We stopped to talk to neighborhood residents, our favorite a kind gentleman named Warren who proudly showed his house, told us where Beyonce’ and Sandra Bullock own homes and invited us to come to his church (“get there early or you won’t get a seat.”)

The historic St. Charles streetcar, the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world:

And, oh yeah–I stopped in a little vintage shop and picked up a fascinator to wear around town because…Choose Surprise. 

Every bit of this trip was so much fun, and I’m inspired so much more to create more little surprises in life for myself and those I love.

(…and so thankful for a friend who was an absolute blast to share this trip with. My “Let’s GO! DO! SEE!” adventure match.)

When Marshalls first reached out to me, I was thrilled to work with them on this partnership because–well sure, fun trip!–but I’ve been a Marshalls shopper all my life and what they were highlighting on this trip–the excitement of surprise–is exactly what I love about them. There’s a Marshalls right near where I work out, and I frequently run in on my way home for a quick look, simply because I love that there’s new surprises each time. I’ve found so many of my favorite designers and brands at Marshalls for a fraction of what they normally sell, and heading into this trip was even more fun knowing I was perfectly prepared, thanks to Marshalls.

That backpack though. That baby’s going to carry me right through the rest of our summer adventures and then some.

Finding more ways to find, choose and love surprises this summer…