Yesterday I helped deliver food from the food pantry to some families who are down on their luck. The neighborhoods were full of homes with chipped, peeling paint, broken windows, and sagging roofs, a stark difference from the clean comfort I'm used to. We complained about the heat -- 112 degrees isn't exactly cool -- but we knew that when we got home, we'd be greeted by chilled air from the air conditioning. Some of these people didn't have that luxury. There is so much that they need and don't have; it made me wish I could do more than just bring food. But I suppose it's in small steps that they'll be able to get back on their feet.
The heat has demolished the tomato and squash plants, but the basil, sage, and arugula have thrived. Aromatic and fresh, there's truly nothing better than herbs from the garden.
In the blogging community, it's easy to become jealous of someone else's life, sometimes to the point of being completely consumed with wishing you had that person's life. But I'm striving to be content with what I do have. Even if life is quiet at the moment, I know it'll become a whirlwind in a few short weeks.
Yes, life hasn't been very exciting as of late, but that's okay. I'm learning to embrace the lazy summer days as much as a days of traveling and seeing new things. Items are slowly being checked off my to do list with Mumford & Sons pandora station in the background (pure brilliance) and I'm reveling in the little things like coffee alongside yogurt.
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| left: old glasses found while cleaning out my dresser (oh dear) right: pinning on my (real) inspiration board |
How are you spending the last few weeks of summer?
-carlotta
p.s. there are a few more spots left for august sponsorship! pastor's girl's ponderings is a wonderful place to advertise your shop/blog. email me if you're interested :)
I love that app! I discovered it recently too and use it five times a week.
ReplyDeleteOh Carlotta, I adore your posts. Your photography is always perfection! If you don't mind my asking, what is the picture that you put over mentioning the blogging community?
ReplyDeleteWith the rest of my summer? Room makeover (and paint is involved. Oh dear...), trying my hand at some new recipes, planning my sweet sixteen, and relishing the last few weeks of summer bliss.
Have a great rest of your week, dear!
--Maggie
www.foreverfindingmybliss.com
Wow working out eh? Awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat photography Carlotta. Your blog is luv-er-ly.
Have a great weekend.
-Katie
Carlotta, you are just beautiful. Your heart, as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have been listening to the Mumford & Sons Pandora station and am loving it. :)
I just published a post like this a few hours ago -- just relaxing and enjoying the last few weeks of summer.
ReplyDeleteWith school supplies now being advertised, I'm trying to soak up the summer, every bit of it.
Oh how I wish summer could last forever...
I always how simple but, beautiful your photos are! :D
ReplyDeleteIn our sea of love
Carlotta, this sounds sappy, but every post you write inspires me. Your photography, your ideas, your creativity. You give me inspiration and ideas everyday. So, thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteokay, so that capture of bugs..water..i have no idea what it is, but it is breathtaking!!
ReplyDeletei love those glasses. don't you just adore finding old things you never knew you had? c;
i'm off to the beach for my last taste of summer. hoping yours is just as sweet.
I absolutely LOVE that first photo. So beautiful. Would love for you to come join a new photo challenge I've put together with some friends called Still Life Standouts. Your shots would be perfect! And I think I'll have to start working on a real life inspiration board. Love that idea!
ReplyDeleteaw. :) my summer. i'm spending my last bit with swimming as much as possible, and two trips to the water park. we finally got some rain today, so its cloudy and muggy with thunder far away. It feels quite summerish. I'm not ready for it to end.
ReplyDeleteLaura
www.luluanddumps.blogspot.com
www.happyrainbows98.blogspot.com
Good graciousness, how do you exercise in 112 degree heat? I play high school soccer and we started conditioning in the middle of June (when it was about 70 degrees), and I feel baked in 90 degrees! I admire your heat tolerability! :)
ReplyDeleteCarlotta, in that picture of you, you look like Barbie! :) Pretty smile. :)
ReplyDeleteEliza
This may sound weird, but you really do. You look just like a Barbie doll. :) And I mean that as a compliment! :)
ReplyDeleteEliza
Love reading about your beautiful life. But, oi, I don't think I could live in that weather. It's 73 over here and that alone makes biking a bit less enjoyable. Yep. 73 is more than hot enough.
ReplyDeleteWonderful beautiful life.
God bless!
I love Nike Fitness- it has the "fun" factor but it can still be an intense workout. I'm trying to be consistent with it....
ReplyDeleteYou're blog is adorable and I love all your pictures :) Great glasses! Nothing beats finding something you didn't even remember having!
ReplyDeletelove what you said about being jealous of other bloggers lives. I'm the first to admit I've been jealous too many times. Lovely pictures! Also, thank you for reminding me some people are not as fortunate as us. I can't imagine ever having to go to a food shelf, you know?
ReplyDeleteWell, I still have a month and a half of summer left, since I start school the day after Labor Day which is in September. So, I'm probably going to cook alot {I made this list with my best friend of things we're going to cook before school starts} and I'm going to work towards getting a DSLR camera and a vintage wardrobe and do alot more crafts. Maybe take up that inspiration board you have!
ReplyDelete-Jocee <3
Neat about the exercising! I've been running twice a day. Today I beat my best mile by 30 seconds (10:25 mins:). I got on the treadmill and then thought, I really don't want to do this, but hey, I beat my time!! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't even know when I start school...I wish summer would last longer. I've actually probably been wasting it. :(
oooh! i might want to try out that app. i've been "working out" a little bit, i've never been that athletic so I'm just doing the cheesy "ten minute workouts" on OnDemand.
ReplyDeletethanks for the reccomendation! ;)
Good for you, girly! I will definitely hold you to this - it is a great commitment. :)
ReplyDeleteQuirky glasses = love. period.
Bless you, dear!
~bree
I am definitely a sporadic 'whenever i think of it' workout person. So, I must get this app - Pronto. Those lovely flowers in the mason jar made me smile, as did the 'hello coffee' photo.
ReplyDeleteMy last few weeks of Summer will be slightly lazy, mixed with family gatherings & one last trip to the lake. Want to tag along? ;)
I can commiserate with the excess heat. =/ Ugh, I really don't do the heat well.
ReplyDeleteYou do have a beautiful life, and I love reading about it. But I love my own beautiful life, and I cherish what I have. <3
I adore Mumford & Sons, and I too, have been having a lazy summer(:
ReplyDelete<3Katie
http://katies-favorite-things.blogspot.com
Those pictures are amazing. Mm, and I know what you mean about finding satisfaction in life. The best way to do that is just find peace and joy in the Lord. He's breathtaking. :)
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for working out Carlotta! I don't have an iPod {well... I have a broken one} so I just rely on my willpower, which isn't always the best.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos.
You are right, small steps lead us to the big accomplishment! Way to go with the working out!
ReplyDeletethe pictures = absolutely gorgeous. :) I'm definitely going to get that app, because excercise could be described as my worst enemy right now, haha. Great post!
ReplyDeleteplease Pray for summer http://summer-summersstoryafamilysjourney.blogspot.com/ .Fair whale adayinacup.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteKeep on volunteering... Every little bit of help, every bit of God's love shown through your serving, makes a difference in the lives of those who have so little ...
ReplyDeleteworking out? ah, yes. something I should start doing.
ReplyDeletevolunteering? nothing better or more fufilling.
embracing summer? yes. yes. yes.
inspiring :)
I love those photos to death! They ao look professional!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to winter ending and can't wait for spring! (in Australia)
My family and I just got back from a holiday we've been on for the last 3 weeks! It feels so good to be home and back in the bloggin world!
~Holly
High-fives for exercise!!! Exercise will change your life. (Sorry, I come from a family of fitness freaks. I get a little excited). Keep it up! But please be sure to get some expert advice so you don't injure yourself! There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, too. :-)