Will I see you in September?

This is our last post of August, and in a way our last post of summer.  September just says "fall" to me, even if it stays summertime warm for a few more weeks.

It's also a big moment for us; by Monday, L will officially be in Minneapolis, and S is already settling into her new life in Chicago.  But even in the midst of all the excitement, it's hard not to mourn the loss of a fantastic summer. 

Our up north cottage growing up was decorated in blue and yellow, and we have always associated the color combo with summer.  This Anthropologie skirt fit the bill perfectly for a casual dinner out at the end of a lovely summer.

So, to send off August, here's a song for you.  See you in September.

Behind the Scenes at a Target Photo Shoot

Back in December, I got some extraordinary news.  I won a contest from my internship at Target Headquarters (by the way, have I shared this video that Target did, featuring Ryan?  How cute is that?).

Now that the above final product is out, I can finally show some behind the scenes stuff!  I was in the Target Back to College 2012 catalogue, and it was an amazing experience.

For the other models in the catalogue, this was just another day on the job.  But for me, I was out-of-my-mind excited; a New York photo shoot in a Chelsea Market studio, with a photographer who shoots Jcrew catalogues?!  I'm still out-of-my-mind excited, I guess :) 

The set: much smaller than I expected!

They had the shot I was intended for all planned out, and everything was ready to go.

As the shoot was a whole 2 days after my college graduation, I was thrilled to see that they had Michigan gear all ready for me :)

If I could live in this Chelsea Market studio in New York's Meatpacking District forever, all of my design dreams would instantly come true.

Racks of sample clothing kept me entertained for hours.

In hair and makeup

I'm so used to being behind the camera, but I must admit, I liked this angle too!

Guess who isn't a model??  Hint: Look at the heights... haha.

The hair/makeup/stylist/stylist assistant hovering between shots is a real thing!

The finished product:

I feel super lucky to have gotten to take part is something so out of the ordinary for me.  It was so much fun, and I definitely wouldn't mind doing that every day :) 

breathe deep.

You have no idea how much strength it took not to title this post some awful pun about thyme.  I know, I know... so predictable.  Especially for a punster such as myself.

L and I were doing some cooking at our family cottage (paella, anyone?), and needed some fresh herbs from our small but mighty herb garden.  We took a second to pause, breathe in really really deep, and appreciate the beauty of thyme (the herb... no, it was not an intentional pun).

Take this as a reminder to pause today, breathe deep, and enjoy the smells of summer while they last.  Maybe you will be enjoying some fresh herbs too, or maybe it's the smell of freshly cut grass, the beach, summer cooking, your warm weather perfume choice, or even the smell of humid air that hangs on through the end of August.  Summer is winding down- even more reason to take every moment to enjoy it!

(p.s. isn't the photo of our puppy, Amber, smelling the thyme the most precious thing you've ever seen? We melted into puddles when she did it :)

Lake House Tour: Part 2

Part 2 of our lake house renovation tour!  Like I mentioned yesterday, we are still in the process of decorating (e.g. all the pictures aren't up yet) but we are already enjoying it immensely!

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Remember this? 

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We added the porch above onto previously existing but never used deck space.  The tan room (in progress) is also a new addition.  Getting rid of the 70s wood panelling does wonders, don't you think?

Many of the details we have worked on have been DIY projects, like the dried flower garland, vintage Michigan postcards in place of a headboard, making throw pillows out of old tshirts, and the living room gallery wall shown yesterday.

So that's our big project!  We can't wait to enjoy it for years to come.

Lake House Tour: Part 1

Finally - the reveal from our huge project of the summer (well, past year)!  We are so excited to share with you our family's new lake house in Michigan.  We recently moved to our late grandmother's cottage to upsize, but we had to make a few changes first.  We're still in the process, so please don't mind the random boxes and things :)  Our cottage life is simple and family-oriented, and this house was re-designed to reflect that.  Check it out! 

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(We expanded the entryway and added brick.  And got rid of snow :)

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Renovating is hard work, but it's very rewarding!  We are loving our new family retreat.  Stay tuned for part 2!