A visitation

Today was a good day!

We met up with relatives and ate lunch, then stopped by my great grandpa's apartment.

You'd think an old person's living space would be strange and awkward to be in.

Fortunately though, it was quite charming.

In fact, I loved it.

I am not afraid to grow old.

 A pair of doves took turns watching over a couple of eggs in the hanging pot outside. 

Just one of the many perks of living on the ground floor.

This is my favorite picture.

After that we visited the Loch Raven Reservoir.

All in all, it was a full but relaxed day.

This is turning out to be a pretty nice trip!

(fingers crossed) ;)

Until tomorrow.

xoxo,

Danielle

North Carolina

Hey :)

Yesterday my family and I stopped in North Carolina on our way to Maryland.

We met up with my great aunt and uncle... on their farm!

It was actually really neat.

^ Aunt Jody, Dad, and Uncle Bob

Today we arrived safely at our hotel in Maryland and are setting up nicely for the next 10 days.

Until tomorrow, my friends.

xoxo,

Danielle

Packing

Hi :)

I hope your weekend was lovely!

Mine was filled with plans for the trip to Maryland.

I have been packing non-stop since the middle of Sunday.

You'd think it would be easy to pack for a 10-day trip up North, but there is so much to do!

Fortunately I'm almost done.

It's a good thing, too, because we leave tomorrow morning.

Since a trip straight to Maryland would take about ten hours, we'll stay in North Carolina for a little bit before continuing our journey.

A few things that have kept me sane...

Frank Sinatra

Coldplay

Dean Martin

this blog <3

tea, of course

realizing that I love the majority of my closet

knowing that my Jane Austen novels will keep me from going bonkers if I ever find myself with nothing to do

the thought of taking pictures of MD and sharing them with all of you wonderful people

Also, my aunt and I have been planning a tea for my 17th birthday party.

It's going to be delightful!

Until I can take and upload pictures of our travels (I hope to do so daily), I leave you with this thought.

"Adventure awaits."

We shall see.

xoxo,

Danielle

Friday faves

Happy Friday :)

Here are my favorites from this week.

Descriptions will be short and sweet!

(all pics found on Pinterest)

1.) It's a baby llama! As I've said before, I have no idea why I like llamas. I was first introduced to the idea of keeping them as pets when I watched Napoleon Dynamite.

2.) The print is quite small, but it says 'So many books to read'. It's quite true. There never seems to be enough time in the world. It does help though that sequels are rarely as good as the first book. With that in mind, I don't always feel the need to continue a series. 

3.) How cute is this?? If a kid went trick-or-treating in this outfit and happened upon my doorstep, I would give him my whole bag of candy. 

4.) These dresses are so gorgeous. :) Lately I've been attracted to sparkly and/or glittery things more than usual.

5.) Again, sparkles are very obsession-worthy these days.

6.) Guys, it's a polka dot house. Need I say more?

7.) Pancakes are my all time favorite food. I like the chocolate chip ones that my mom makes, but plain ones are even more delicious. It's kind of backwards, but it's true.

8.) I hardly ever say 'hello'. Normally I use 'hey' and 'hi' and 'aloha'. Sometimes I say 'bonjour', but that's very rare. 

9.) This looks just like my grandma's cat! She's the total opposite of my cat, who is all white and never presses her paws against the window like a cutie.

10.) PB&J. :) It was kind of a small part of The Office, but do you remember when Kevin said that Jim and Pam would be good together, like PB&J? Pam Beesley and Jim? Yeah, I now think of that every time I see the sandwich. 

And that, my friends, is how you end Friday Faves. (with The Office references)

In other news...

I volunteered at Vacation Bible School this week! 

I thought for sure it would be boring, but it was actually really fun. 

I got to see my friend Rachel and my aunt every day :)

Plus, I got tons of community service hours.

Also, I got to see Kaitlyn S. the other day!

We hung out in Downtown Winter Garden (my favorite town ever), and ate at the cutest French cafè. 

It was a good day.

Other than that though, I haven't really done much.

(except watch The Office)

....which I'm actually going to do right now.

Until Monday.

Have a fantastic weekend :)

xoxo,

Danielle

Colds, tea, and Vogue.

I know, I know...

It's Wednesday, which marks the 5th day that I have avoided updating my blog.

It seem harsh, but I am sick. 

Don't worry, it's just a stuffy nose and a small cough.

Nothing a gallon or two of tea can't cure.

Speaking of tea: 

Has anyone else realized that Publix is having a sale on Tazo iced tea?

It's like Heaven in my fridge right now.

Normally I don't drink my tea with even a little sweetener, but when it's two for a dollar and pre-made, I'm not likely to say no.

While I was studiously buying every bottle of black tea I could find, I decided to pick up this month's issue of Vogue as well. Sure, they're printing July's issue already, but I'll need to read something on our trip to Maryland. 

^ Nailed it. :)

I've got this modeling thing down.

Anyway, I suppose I'd better do something productive.

Until next time :)

xoxo,

Danielle

Friday faves

Happy Friday :)

I don't have a lot of time, but here are my faves!

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

1. For some strange reason, I very much like balloons. I told my friend a while ago that I want lots of them at my birthday party so that I can let them go, kind of like a ceremony. It doesn't make sense, but it would be cool to take pictures of it. 

2. This is too sweet! I knew I liked swans.

3. The smell of the ocean is the best. (aside from the smell of blueberries, that is.)

4. "I don't care if Sunday's blue. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday too. Thursday I don't care about you. It's Friday, I'm in love!" I love this song. I don't hear it on the radio that often, but it's better that way. It's never overplayed.

5. Italy and Paris are currently competing for the title of The Place I Want to Go Most. They're both gorgeous, but Italy is probably even more relaxed than Paris. Shopping in Paris would take a lot of energy, after all. However, I would gladly expend it.

I suppose that's all I have time for.

This is a terribly late post, you see. 

I am happy to say that I was quite busy today. :)

May your weekend be filled with greatness.

xoxo,

Danielle

'tis Thursday

Bonjour :)

Honestly I don't have anything important to say right now, but I thought I'd blog anyway.

A few things I'm interested in:

(source)

This, my friends, is blueberries and cream cheese on french toast.

I have got to make this ASAP.

How did I live this long without knowing it existed?

Just the picture is making me more hungry than usual.

Ryan Gosling.

I need not say more.

Guys, this is going in my house.

Or some variety of it, anyway.

I will also do this with the rain boots I will buy and, eventually, grow out of.

I love this photo!

You have no idea how badly I want to go on a road trip.

(no, the upcoming trip to Maryland doesn't count. Being packed into a car with eight million suitcases and your whole family is not a road trip; it may or may not become a form of mild to severe torture.)

Mustache wrapping paper. 

I mentally freaked out when I saw this.

I don't find mustaches particularly attractive on people, but by themselves... I suppose they're quite charming.

It's similar to the way I like llamas.

I don't know why I like them, but I do.

Very much.

I am not a poet

The Office

Pineapple

I like this tattoo very much. 

It's a paper crown.

I've wanted to make one for a while, but I haven't had the motivation.

Mine won't be half as fancy as this one, but it will make me feel better on bad days. :)

This is real, people. 

It is, as the French call it, Lac Rose (officially: Lake Retba). 

The water is turned pink by a totally harmless bacteria, and the high salt content of the lake allows you to float effortlessly. :)

Loafers :)

Well, I guess that's all. 

I hope your Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were fabulous.

Until tomorrow, then.

xoxo,

Danielle