Simple joys of childhood

My lovely friends, all this talk about childhood this week has made me so nostalgic! But the most thrilling, huge-grin-inducing moments of childhood? All the memories you carry with you into adulthood. I’ve carried my fair share of memories with me, and I’d love to share my favorites with you…
Eating yummy foods (and sneaking it!)…

…playing outside…
…and of course taking naps with my favorite stuffed animal by my side.

Sigh…does it get any better than that? Do you have a favorite memory from childhood? What do you remember the most? If you have kids, what do you hope they remember when they grow up? xoxo

[Top photo by Novel Photographie]

Simple Joys.

Isn’t it funny that when you’ve been away from home, even if it’s only for a few days, you realize all the simple joys of home that you once took for granted? While I’m recovering at home (I start work, slowly, on Monday), I’ve been enjoying all the little things like long, warm showers and my mom’s famous almond cookies.

What are some of your favorite simple joys, friends? xoxo

[Photo via Most Beautiful Darling]

Simple Joys: Apple + Raspberry Orchards.

I’m such a Midwestern gal. When I was little, I even thought John Mellencamp was singing Small Town about me – that’s how much I love living in the Heartland. So it was no surprise how much I enjoyed a little trip to Honey Hill Orchard over the weekend (that’s my Mom looking around in that first photo…). We used to come here every fall when I was younger, but I hadn’t been back in years. Needless to say, I made up for lost times. We petted the farm animals. Picked the juiciest, most delicious raspberries.

I picked the forbidden fruit. I zipped through an incredibly calm hay maze, and I grew even calmer once I inhaled those whiffs of cider and donuts.

Oh, and I even drove a tractor…well, sort of. :)

The weather was beautiful. The perfect mix of post-summer and pre-fall sunshine and warmth. And you don’t even have to ask, friends…I ate one of their delicious donuts for dessert that night!

Isn’t there something magical about orchards this time of year? Are you excited for fall? xoxo

P.S. As you can probably tell, I’m in the process of organizing my long list of lovely links. So pardon the dust around these parts for the next few days. :)