Dear blog of mine,

(I took this one.)

I miss you.

I really do.

I miss writing random things.

I miss taking photos to post here. (sand+camera = disaster, thus not very many photos this summer)

I miss making lists (although I still do that sometimes).

I miss sharing my adventures (and I AM still having them).

I miss seeing comments.

I just miss you.

But...
in just 10 short, too short days (gasp...sob...) I shall return.

We will be reunited and together again.

My creative outlet shall return and I'll continue my posting of random TV shows, pictures from my cell phone and music I'm enjoying (Battlestar Season 4 soundtrack is currently "in transit" via UPS...eeeek!).

See you soon!

xoxo,
Cottage Girl

Week 7

It's our last full week.

Our last Sunday through Saturday week.

I'm starting to do that panic of "it won't be like this ever, ever again and I don't think I'll survive."

It's ugly.

It's tragic.

Then I remember that this is just another part of camping ministry.

It changes EVERY year.

I make new friends and they leave.

I make new friends and sometimes they come back next summer.

I make new friends and sometimes they turn into life long friends and their distance from me doesn't matter.

God still has lots of things to do here in the next two weeks.

For those things, I'm very excited.

It's just those darn goodbyes haunting me in the future....I hate goodbyes...


ps...

(500) Days of Summer was adorable. You should see it.


pss....I know some of you are are one of those "life long friends" I met at camp. And I miss each one of you and am sending you a great big hug through your screen. HI!

9

1. This movie



I'm going to see it with some awesome girl friends this weekend. Eeeeeek! Been waiting SO LONG!

2. Season 7 Spike. My favorite vampire. Forget that Edward Cullen...


3. Harry Potter Number 7.
I know several people didn't like it. And, yes, LOTS was left out and changed. However, I just love the movies. They aren't the books and you just have to remember that.


4. Small beach towns in California.
I'm dying to fall in love with a few this October.


5. Finding out that Ira Glass loved The OC....


....and told all of America on the episode "What I Learned from TV"(start at 33:25).


6. Kids who play "Harry Potter" with sticks for magic wands.
These are two of our campers last week. They were off to rescue Hermione in the nature trail.


7. Momma and baby ducks.
Seeing them is one of the best parts of my day. They are growing up SO fast!


8. This girl.
She makes my days so much brighter.



9. This book that I'm quite engrossed in at the moment.



XOXO,
Cottage Girl

Week 6

begins today.
3 camp weeks left.
how does it go by so fast?

Smoothie night 09 was a hit

Smoothie night is the party that we Cottage dwellers throw for our summer staff each year. We make and serve smoothies and play fun music to dance to.

This year's theme was GOTHIC. I love seeing how people interpret the limited theme idea we give them. One of my favorite parts of the night is everyone's reaction to me and my roomie's crazy outfits. We like to go all out.




His costume was one of my favorites. Complete with a perfect vampire cape with huge collar. I've known him since he was 11 years old. Now he works here and makes me laugh every day.



I could write posts upon posts about this one. She is my partner-in-crime at the water front. LOVE her. God is doing amazing things in her life this summer. We have so much fun together.



Ah, a random smattering of various people.



My roomie decided she wanted one slow dance with a boy. It turned into a group affair. His sign on his back says "This is all the black clothing I own." (Makes you miss him, doesn't Bro?!!)


I LOVED their outfits. This awesome girl is going to be living here in our little "commune" this year. Soooo excited!! And he is one of the sweetest, kindest guys I've ever met.



And then there are these two fun girls. One is gracious taking my place in the office this summer so I can play on the beach. And the other...she was a camper my first few years here at camp. Now I'm so lucky to call her one of my dear friends. They had the best fake eyelashes ever.


We all danced and danced. Hate that I have to wait a whole year until it comes around again. There's nothing better than a good costume party, I say.

have photos...will tell stories

(photo found here)

I've been taking lots of pictures this week.
Just don't have time to actually get them off the camera.
So, photos and stories to come...


ps...for the bro and my sis....found this the other night and was having MAJOR flashbacks. I know you will understand the significance of this episode. Wanted to share that bit of 80's TV with you.

Music: The Val Nebbia Band

Got to see Val in concert yesterday. Everyone should hear her live. Each time I get to go, I get chills and just sit in wonder at her talent.

You were amazing, Val! The concert was amazing.

11 things

1. Books.

One for making a skirt


One for pondering life. I think there will be a separate post about this one. SO GOOD.



2. Good TV. This was a delightful season.

3. Opposite Way from Leeland. The album of choice this week.

4. Quicksliver mystery. Someone left me a gift card in my mail box. Was it you? Thank you!



5. New music I can't wait for.

6. Up. I laughed, I cried (3 times), I stared at the animation wonder. You have to see it in 3D. It's like the movie screen was a window into a whole new world. I LOVED it.



7. I get to spend every day here.

8. Fun journals from Elsie. I couldn't help myself. I had to order them.

9. Sneak peaks of Gossip Girl season 3. Let's not make fun, ok? It's Chuck Bass. CHUCK BASS.



10. These tights.

11. This photo. A perfect reminder of camping trips with my own family our "aunt and uncle and cousins."

One of those days

(photo found here)

I realized as I sat at snack shop tonight eating my soft dough pretzel with cheese at 9:45pm that today was "one of those days." I don't think it hit me till tonight. Here is the list of things that transpired...

1. I saw the mammoth water moccasin (aka poisonous snake) that has taken up residence on our beach. It's enormous. And poisonous. And just plain scary.

2. I dropped one of our Aqua Finns while I was helping lug it up the beach. My flip flop got stuck in the sand and I dropped the boat. It slid down my knee and now I have a VERY colorful bruise covering half of my knee. Complete with a big huge red scrape next to the blue and purple. Just lovely.

3. The banana boat rope snapped and came off while the kids were riding today. Off to the marine store to buy another one tomorrow. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

4. The tube/rope connector completely came apart and we had to bring the kids back on the boat. No more tubing for the rest of the night. Again, no one was hurt.

5. The boat lift became a giant tangle of metal rope and refused to raise or lower correctly. It took 4 of us to figure it out. And it's still not completely fixed because the boat is completely crooked on the lift. And we have metal splinters from the rope.


Funny thing is that it was really a good day. The weather was perfect again. The kids are having fun. And we finish tomorrow night with an entire day off on Saturday! Plus I got to chat with lots of friends. And the fact that no one was hurt....well, I just believe that the Lord's hand of protection over us. It could have been a MUCH worse day.

I'm ready for another day like this...

...the kind where we are all together.
And not 1,000's of miles apart.

She's one of the best people in the whole world

Happy Birthday, S!

I wish I was there to give you a great big hug and climb on the couch and listen to you tell me a story or two. You are such a wonderful, beautiful, amazing, caring, funny, loving, fun person whom I am so blessed to know and be friends with.
Even if I never use the degree I got at Liberty, I will never count those dollars I spent wasted because I was blessed enough to get to know you there. Can you believe it's been almost 14 years since we met? Oh, to go back to those days of long talks in the Marriott and 2 am chats in your room or mine or major meltdowns over boys and English class and just life in general. I sure do miss those days!
I'm praying for you, my super cool friend. I know that God has such great things in store for you. I love, love, love you! Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th, everyone!

I'm actually off for most of the day.
First time in 11 years!
I don't even know what to do with myself.

My summer *must* list....part 1

(photo found here)

Sunscreen {It's the bases for my survival. I use this mostly because it's so easy to apply. I also use our large and growing stash of lost and found sunscreen at the beach as well. This one has been my favorite out of those.}

Maybelline Great Last Mascara {It's just the best for hot, sweaty days}

Max Factor Erase Cover Stick {Found years ago by way of In Style's Best Beauty Buys. This stuff is magic in a tube}

Dr. Bonner's Magic Soap {Loves. The scents are so light and fresh. Sweet Almond, at the moment. I used Bath and Body works tonight just for a change and realized how fake and strong their scents are. Yuck!}

Burts Bees Soy and Pomegranate Volumizing Shampoo {A new love. It's the first shampoo that really, truly volumizes. Plus fewer yucky chemicals and it smells divine}

Bug spray {Using this at the moment only because it's all we have at the beach. I think this works a little better. The mosquitoes literally SWARM by the 100's. It's horrible.}

Lip balm {I have a sickness called chapstick addiction. Always have. At the moment I have about 6 tubes with 2 more brand new ones just in case. My all time fave is Lip Smackers Watermelon. I also love Dr. Bonner's Lemon Lime. However, my lips got sunburned for the first time ever this year and I've been using this to try and heal and keep them safe during my long hours in the sun.}

Burts Bees Honey and Orange Wax lotion {It's my favorite lotion at the moment. Light, but highly moisturizing. And it smells like a summer's day.}

Thyme's Kimono Rose {I've never been a perfume girl, but when I found this stuff I changed my mind. Another light scent. And the roller ball is perfect for airplane carry-on's. I also have Red Cherie.}

Cedarwood Papaya Soap from Wash the Day Away {This soap changed my life. Well, that and turning 30. After YEARS of searching, I have found something that help my overly oily skin. I can't sing it's praises enough!}


I realize how silly it seems to use all-natural things like soap and lip balm and shampoo and then pile on the chemicals with sunscreen and bug spray. I do have several options to try for all-natural bug spray, but sunscreen is just something that I'm going to have to use. I'm in the sun way too much to chance a horrible sunburn.

Part 2 coming soon....

My summer *must* list

I'm outside more waking hours of the day than I am inside. Yes, it's true. People have actually said to me, "wow, you are tan." Now, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but for me? Well, let's just say that the words "Cottage Girl" and "tan" don't usually go into the same sentence.

I have a deep love of warm weather, as well. Most of you DO probably know this because of the large amounts of complaining I do during the winter months.
Sorry.
I just HATE the cold.
But the warm, sunny summer days....oh, my. We are MFEO (made for each other).

During the last few days, I've been compiling a list (my list obsession is dire, I tell you) in my head of the things that are a *must*. Things that make my life a little easier or livable or are just necessary for my very survival.
This least may seem very borrrriinnngggg. Sorry again. I must type my mental lists or I will go crazy. It's a fact. I will lay awake at night thinking about the list and adding to it or subtracting unnecessary items past the stroke of midnight. It's a sickness. A life long sickness. Help me, please.

Here goes....

Wait.
This post is already so long.
I'll post the actually list later.
Of course that just means I'll be up late again tonight crossing of things.
Curses....