Miss {Bee}

Just "Bee"-in' Me.

Lately, I've been feeling very cared for and special - it's a great feeling and I'm savoring it because it has been a while. It's certainly a good way to end the summer. I start my fall classes online next week, and the one class I'm taking at a campus starts the first week of September. I'm ready for Autumn but also quite sad to see the Summer go. 

These last few weeks of Summer, I hope to be able to spend lots of time with my friends, my new love, and my family. The second weekend in September, I will be a maid of honor in a wedding.

It's all quite exciting, but hard to keep anxiety to a minimum! 

So I will just continue to "bee" me and enjoy the summer while it lasts, because there's a whole lot headed my way this Fall!

Oh, and in other news: I was totally spoiled by my mother, who bought me this Heidi Daus ring:

It's a bit gaudy for my usual taste, but it's a bumble bee so I'm totally into it. 

What are you up to these last few weeks of Summer?

xoxo

{Dog Days} of Summer

Oh, Summer...

The sun beating down, the waves crashing on the sand, barbecues, bonfires, pool parties, water balloon fights... Summer is here, and I don't want to waste what small amount of Summer we have left. 

I've been spending an hour or so every day lounging on the beach, reading, playing in the water, and relaxing. I've been making sure to find a small part of every day to relish in happiness. 

I've found love recently, and I honestly think it's because I've started to take the time to appreciate a small part of every day. When I take the time to appreciate the beauty around me, I'm reminded that I'm beautiful and worthy of love, and so are the many people around me.

If you aren't taking the time to appreciate your life every day, I highly suggest it. It's very much worth it.

xoxo

Beach {Bonfire}

A few weeks ago, I made a post about all of the things I hoped to do this summer, and having a beach bonfire was on this list. 

Well, we had a bonfire, and although there was only a few of us there, it was a lot of fun! We created the wonderfully delicious Reese's S'more above, and oh my gosh I will never go back to regular s'mores. The reese's s'more is just too good! 

Our bonfire was so big! It was really windy, so unfortunately it became extremely cold and we had to leave around nine. However, there will be more chances for bonfires this summer!

Have you ever had a beach bonfire?

What s'more creations have you made?

xoxo

Outfit Idea: {Bonfire}

Beach Bonfire

Anchor top / Long sleeve sweater / White racerback tank top / Striped racerback tank / LC Lauren Conrad bootcut jeans / LC Lauren Conrad skinny jeans / LC Lauren Conrad low rise jeans / LC Lauren Conrad boot cut jeans / Flojos oxford shoes / Blue beaded jewelry / Charm necklace, $32 / Nordstrom black hat / Passigatti beanie hat, $41

Tonight, I'm going to my first beach bonfire since moving to Santa Cruz last summer! I can't believe I haven't had a bonfire yet but I'm hoping tonight's goes well! It's going to be a pretty small group but I'm still very excited! I'm about to curl my hair (it holds! Even with wind! Amazing!) and then pick out a cute but (hopefully) warm outfit for tonight! 

Then it's time for firewood and s'mores!

xoxo

Summer {Bucket List}

1. Bonfire!

2. Make 2 new recipes from Pinterest!

3. Throw the most kick-butt bridal shower

4. Go to a concert!

5. Midnight movie premiere

6. Watch the sunrise

7. California State Fair

8. Lose 20 more pounds (I'm down 20 already!)

9. Have a picnic

10. Meet someone new!

Some of these came from my 101 things in 1,001 days challenge, and others are random, but I hope to be able to accomplish these all by September!

What's on your summer bucket list?

xoxo

June is here!

Hello, everyone! 

June is here, and with it comes summer! For most places, that means warm, summer weather, but here it fluctuates between foggy and grey, and hot and sunny. I love that we get such variety all year long. 

I love the feeling in the beginning of summer: hope and joy and readiness for the feel of the sun on our backs.

It's like anything can happen during summer. 

This summer, I have so many plans and it is certain to fly by! I just hope that I can slow down and enjoy it for a moment or two. I'll post a summer bucket list (many of which will come from my 101 things in 1,001 days challenge) soon!

Enjoy your summer!
What are your plans for this season?

xoxo

Summer Bucketlist 2013: End of Summer

I know, I know, the last day of Summer isn't technically until Saturday, so I'm a bit early to posting this. However, this weekend will involve figuring out where all of my classes are, buying last-minute school supplies, decorating for Autumn, and looking for part of my Halloween costume...  so it is unlikely that I will complete anything else on this list before the "technical" end of Summer. It has been a great season full of work, play, and walks on the beach!

So here it is, my bucket list with all that I've completed stricken out: 

• 
  
• Get a job
• 
  
• MEXICO!
• 
  
• move in to my new place

Swim with the dolphins

• 
  
• Bonfireeee! 
• 
  
• Swim in the ocean
• 
  
• Watch the sunrise 
• 
  
• And the sunset
• 
  
• Make sweet tea
• 
  
• Get a nice tan
• 
  
• Drive-in movies
• 
  
• Watch fireworks
• 
  
• Try a new recipe
• 
  
• Go camping 
• 
  
• Make butterbeer (added to my Autumn list!)
• 
  
• Disney Movie Marathon
• 
  
• Learn something new
• 
  
• Have a picnic 
• 
  
• Roadtrip!
• 
  
• Get a new tattoo (decided against this one until I have lost at least 30 pounds and have a bit more money!)
• 
  
• Go to the mystery spot
• 
  
• Water balloon fight
• 
  
• Visit Hearst Castle 
• 
  
• Girl’s Night Out
• 
  
• Go hiking
• 
  
• Take a ton of photos
• 
  
• Summer Scrapbook!
• 
  
• Save up money for Europe  (*not nearly enough, but it's a very small start!)
• 
  
• Get a passport
• 
  
• Go to a concert
• 
  
• PARTY! (:

What did you complete this Summer?

xoxo,

Caryn Elizabeth

Lighthouse Adventures

The Walton Lighthouse, Seabright Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

This past week, I had an afternoon off of work, and the sun was shining. My roommate and long-time best friend were faced with a dilemma: what do we do with all of this extra time?

She's really been eager to go to a lighthouse, any lighthouse, since we moved in, so we put ourselves in Siri's hands and went for an adventure! Siri did not know how to get to the lighthouse because there is no specific place to park for it. You have to park at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California, and take a long beach-hike to get there. It was quite the workout. But we made it! 

Walton Lighthouse, up close!

There were a bunch of warnings about dangerous waves and such, but the bay looked calm, so we walked up and took a bunch of cheesy tourist pictures, of course.

Posin' all tourist-like

We just had to! We couldn't resist! We also hugged the lighthouse. We looked ridiculous but it was so much fun.

"for the people and mariners of Santa Cruz"

It was a fun adventure, and I cannot wait to explore the other lighthouse in Santa Cruz! 

xoxo

Cupcake Adventure!

The best cupcake shop in the world. 

That is the exterior of the best, I mean best, cupcake shop. They have great and unique flavors, and everything is local and organic, which I love. 

I actually first found out about this shop at a bridal expo for my friend last year, and man, were we hooked. I then decided to take my roommate, who has a huge sweet tooth, here a few months ago. Whoops. Now she requests that we come here all the time! I love cupcakes but these are so rich that I have to be careful not to eat too many! 

We were downtown yesterday and just had to stop in for a bite:

I ordered the "Bramble" cupcake, which is Vanilla Butter Cake with Raspberry Rose and Cream frosting, and the "Chocolate Hibiscus," which is, you guessed it, a chocolate cake with hibiscus and cream frostings, topped with a blueberry! Delightful!

xoxo,
Caryn Elizabeth