Can't sleep so I'm dreaming...

It's 12:45am and for some reason I can't sleep. I woke up at 6:15, had a busy day at work,  played sand volleyball, went to the grocery store, watched some Netflix... And I'm still not tired. Since I am not actually able to dream in my sleep right now, I thought I'd tell you a few things I've been dreaming about lately.

Becoming an expert calligrapher. There are quite a few how tos out there - I just need to sit down and try it!

Traveling the world. I've had some friends do some traveling outside the country, and I'll be honest... I'm jealous. (I don't let myself look at the travel page on Pinterest because it just takes me to envious places I don't need to be.) But I've been dreaming about traveling or having a job that allows me a little bit of travel. Maybe someday...

Planning a wedding. No... not my own. (I'll start thinking about that when/if there's a man in my life... But not yet.) My brother Cory and his now fiancé Erica just got engaged - it's been fun talking to them about their ideas for their wedding.

Buying a house. Another thing that I'm no where close to. But a girl can dream... Like how about this house? It's only a 9 minute drive away from where I currently am standing (ok, I'm actually laying down on my bed hoping the sound of my own typing will lull me to sleep.)

Skipping to the fall. This week we had a "cold front" come through which brought us to the 70s. The weather has been perfect. Not that I want to skip ahead in life - but I've been dreaming of October and  November when the weather consistently is like this, the leaves start to change, pumpkin spice lattes are back... Oh how I love the fall.

Staying home and trying out recipes all day. I'm sure this would get old real quick... but the idea seems pretty fun to me right now. I would probably start with this recipe for Cinnamon Toast Crunch Macarons.

Alright... that's enough dreaming for now. I best get to bed.

Summer Bucket List Update.

(Hardly any fireworks left... but people were stilling coming at 8:00pm last night.)

Today is July 5th which means I officially survived the 4th of July season. My church helped run a fireworks stand to raise money for the building we are trying to buy and I have spent many hours out in the tent the last week and a half. I don't have a whole lot to say currently since my life bas been a bit consumed with sparklers and bottle rockets as of late. So I thought I'd give you a little update on my summer bucket list.

1. Ride bikes. I "rode bikes" with my friend Megan and her daughter Eden a couple of weeks ago. I'm still not sure if I am just crazy out of shape or it's the old bike that I was borrowing's fault, but the bike ride was a tough one so we had to cut it short. I'm going to need to get back out there.
2. Play sand volleyball. Pretty much done this every Tuesday night this summer and I love it.
3. Make homemade ice cream at least once.
4. Perfect pies - I have this idea to make a pie a week so I can get really good by the end of the summer… we’ll see if that happens… I've made two pies and a batch of hand pies. I for sure haven't made one a week and I definitely haven't perfected pies.

(Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Hand Pies... not bad.)

5. Go cliff jumping.
6. Play capture the flag.
7. Go to the lake.
8. Have a party on my deck.
9. Go mini golfing.
10. Fly a kite.
11. Stargaze.
12. Learn to play at least one song on the guitar.
13. Read a book… entirely in my hammock. Started to do this - read one chapter. I need to get back out there.

(Currently reading The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller.)

14. Babysit for my friends. I did this for one of my friends' daughters. I need to continue though!
15. Jump off a diving board.
16. Go on lots and lots of walks. My friend Bailey has been my walking buddy this summer and it's been great.

(Cody, Kei, Bailey and I on a walk. I love these people.)

17. Sleep a night in my hammock. 
18. Go somewhere pretty at dusk and take cool pictures.
19. Go visit Valeria and Jonathan at their new house. This one was one of the add on items and I'm determined to make it happen.
20. Go check out this pretty bridge in Independence. ...

So there's this bridge in Independence. It's in a really commercial area surrounded by Pizza Ranch, Cheddar's, Bass Pro Shop, Hobby Lobby... There is a lake in the middle of all of that and there is a cute bridge to cross it that has some pretty Christmas lights on it. I've always wanted to walk across it at night. Last night after I got home from working the fireworks tent all day, a friend who I had told about this dream of mine, texted me asking if I wanted to go for a drive. I thought we were just driving to see fireworks but all of a sudden we are at this bridge! Confession: the bridge wasn't quite as magical close up as I had dreamed it being - but my friend is pretty much the coolest guy ever for helping me cross it off my list. 

(The beautiful bridge in the middle of commercialism.)

Hope you all had a great 4th of July!