Hey there, blogland! I've been away a lot this summer but I'm glad to have taken the time off and glad to be back. This summer, I spent a lot of time out having fun with the kids, playing in the pool, picking tomatoes from the garden. They started school earlier this month and I've been loving the quiet time at home, organizing my craft supplies and thinking a lot about my wardrobe, which has been super comfy/casual lately.

Today Pj was off work and we were bumming around the house all morning. He was feeling a little "meh" so I proposed a nice long walk on Main Street since it was such a pretty day. The street is lined with little specialty gift shops, restaurants, antique shops and spots of historical interest. Its so beautiful. I love to walk along the cobblestone street and enjoy the clattering of restaurant dishes being stacked, the wild mixed herb scent from the spice shop, people walking dogs and babies bumping in their strollers on the uneven sidewalk. I always catch a funhouse reflection of myself in the ripply glass windows. Gnarled tree roots, clawing through the brick often trip me up so I never wear heels.



Parallel to main street and a block over is a pretty park next to the Missouri river. This park hosts festivals all year and our family picnics on weekend mornings. We stopped under a beautiful old cottonwood tree and played with the leaves that already started to fall. In the spring this tree drops puffs of cotton that float down slowly and coat everything in white fluff. Its like snow in the springtime, I love it!





I wore this dress on the blog once before, years ago. I made it to wear for Easter. Its been in my basement storage for a long time and I decided to pull it out and tweak it a bit. I removed the sleeves and lowered the neckline for a more summery, casual feel. The skirt is full enough for a petticoat but on relaxed days like this, I like to skip those and just enjoy the light, soft feel of the fabric. Its so comfy now, I'll probably wear it with a cardigan  and boots this fall.