Moments

I know this has made it's way around a bit, but I just can't get enough of it. Such a precious, sweet little moment.
{Scott Avett & Eleanor Avett}


Things like this {and this precious little thing} really make me look forward to a little one.
xoxo

Happiness is...

buttons (and childhood memories).

When I was a little girl I used to play in my mother's sewing box while she mended the knees of jeans and restitched buttons on our coats. My favorite part of the box was the seemingly hundreds of tiny slots containing the buttons, all arranged by color and size. I would sit by the sewing machine and help sort the buttons when they got mixed up.

What is making you happy on this Monday?

xoxo

images via we heart it

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

when i grow up

the other day as i was leaving for an important meeting, i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror near our front door. dressed in my most professional {read: conservative} attire with my hair piled on top of my head, i almost looked like a different person. it was hard to believe that the person in the mirror who looked so polished, professional, and put-together was the same one who used to work at urban outfitters and wear holey diesel jeans and chuck taylors every day.

image courtesy of laura burlton

when i was little my desired career path changed on a weekly basis depending on what i was surrounded by. at some point in my childhood i wanted to be....

1. a dolphin
2. a marine biologist {i figured if i couldn't be a dolphin, this was the next best thing.}
3. the owner of an ice cream shop
4. a ballerina
5. a doctor {i went back to this one many times}
6. the owner of a bookstore


it's funny to think sometimes how we have ended up where we are, especially when we never thought that it is where we would be.

what did/do you want to be when you grow up?
xoxo


copyright Hiking in Stilettos

weekend {highlights}

a peek at some of my favorite weekend moments:

finding this book of stories at an antique store
i still have a copy from my childhood,
filled with memories of my mother reading fairy tales and nursery rhymes.
i look forward to sharing it with a dear friend and her daughter.


a trail run with husband in preparation for this race
one+ hour, four puddles, and countless spider webs later,
we emerged from the trails muddy and tired,
but smiling.


a visit to piedmont park to see joe purdy,
a concert series i plan to frequent next summer.
joe {yes. we're on a first name basis now. and no i didn't take him a cupcake.}

was phenomenal,
and the ambiance at park tavern was quite lovely.
white lanterns adorned the tents,
and a cool breeze from the cloudy, rainy day
made the last of the summer heat quite comfortable.



here's looking forward to another weekend
full of wonderful moments.
i wish you all a lovely weekend ahead.

xoxo

for you locals wanting more information
on unplugged in the park, visit the event website

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

things i learned at camp {part 1}

well my lovelies, i am back from camp.
it was an interesting week, and i am exhausted,
but i am very glad to be home.
{i will post some pictures later, after they are developed.
i was scared of losing my camera, so i went 1990s style and used a disposable.}


here are a few frivolous things i learned during my stay at camp twin lakes:

how to do the "stanky leg"{it's a dance, don't worry}
that ponies really like for you to pet their noses
that lake kayaking is much easier than river kayaking
how to shoot a bow and arrow {although i only hit the target once}
that i despise taking a shower wearing flip flops
how to make dining hall food taste better
that oatmeal with strawberries is my new favorite breakfast


although this past week was bereft of the comforts of home, it was for a really great cause.
see, camp twin lakes isn't like any other camp.
it is specially designed for children with various challenges,
from cancer and blood disorders {camp rainbow}
to downs syndrome and other complications {camp infinity}
to heart transplants {camp braveheart} and brain injuries {camp hardgrove}
and many many many more.
my campers, for example, were all sickle cell patients,
and our camp was called camp new hope.
{each group of children has their own camp name}

i don't want to get too into the details,
but i do want to say that seeing a little girl being taken out of her wheel chair, strapped into a sling harness, and pulled two stories into the air to go down the zip line was about the most heart-wrenching thing i have ever seen.
she was ecstatic
even writing about it brings tears to my eyes.

without the facility at camp twin lakes, this child {and so many others} would never have had the opportunity to do the things that the average child does at camp.
the grounds are designed to accommodate any medical equipment,
and the medical lodge has the capability to provide any type of treatment necessary,
from chemotherapy to blood transfusions to dialysis,
so that these children can have a typical camp experience
while still maintaining their health care.


for more info on camp twin lakes, visit their website.
there are so many ways to get involved,
from volunteering as a counselor
{there are weekend, day, and week-long camps}
to a simple monetary donation.
i know that i will continue to support camp twin lakes with both my time and money.
it is truly an inspiring place.


xoxo



copyright Hiking in Stilettos