Well, now that fall is officially upon us (Yay! It's my favorite season!) I thought it would be fun to do a big summer recap! I haven't been around here much this summer, but I've come to realize that, sometimes, that is okay. It just means that life has been happening and I've been trying to not miss it. Fall really is my favorite season, but I love them all because they each bring something different. For me, spring brings new beginnings, summer brings adventure, fall brings relaxation, and winter seems to bring closeness with its long, dark days and holidays. 

I'm really looking forward to fall this year, but before I talk about those things, let's recap summer! 

First, the beach. No summer is complete without an adventure to the beach. And there were several. I wish there had been more, but I greatly enjoyed the ones I was able to have. I bought a new bathing suit for the first time in forever, found a place with incredible shrimp pizza and mimosas, read some books, took some naps, had great beach hair, and only got sun-burnt once! 

Friends were also an important part of summer, as they are in all seasons of the year (and life). I got to see my best friend and her husband as they passed through Mobile one weekend. Road-tripped with my roomie to watch two dear friends get hitched. Reunited with a wonderful friend after three years of separation (and we live in the same state, that is horrible). And took a late night trip with friends to play putt-putt and stick our feet in the Gulf. I also dressed up like a cow for my first ever Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-a with a new important group of friends, my grow group from church. 

Adventures were had this summer. From hitting the beach to an evening of baseball. To visiting museums around the city. Watching friends compete in a dragon boat race. Showing friends around town. And Friday nights downtown at the ArtWalk. Not every day or weekend got filled, but the ones that did were fun and meaningful. 

The Fourth of July. My favorite holiday in my favorite month (which ironically is not in my favorite season). I love the fourth of July weekend because it literally screams summertime. I love it so much that it gets its own shout out. One of my good friends from college came down to visit me and it was her first time visiting Mobile. Of course we hit up the beach during the day and then hit up another beach that night where we watched Jaws. On the beach. It was awesome. Then we celebrated Independence Day by making our way through an entire battleship and submarine. We ended the night by watching fireworks over the battleship and driving home under a patriotic city skyline. 

Home. I didn't go home much this summer, but the times that I did were special, as they always are. My parents were even able to visit me a couple of times in Mobile and we have now created a tradition of ordering Chinese food when they are in town. I feel like this summer my relationship with my parents changed once again. I believe it's possible for your parents to also be your friends. Parents first and always, but also your friends, especially when you get older. I had this realization when my parents were sitting in my living room, at my dinner table, and I was serving them. I was able to welcome my parents into my home and serve them. I was able to give them a small portion of what they have given me many, many times over the years. 

Summer was full of wonderful adventures, but I'm just as excited for fall. I feel like fall brings about times of fun, but also relaxation. Things I love about fall: football, the fair, ability to wear scarves and cardigans again, falling leaves, music festivals, candles lit all the time, baking pies, and carving pumpkins. Things I'm looking forward to doing this fall: baking more, reading more, waking up earlier and enjoying slow mornings (not just on Saturdays), buying an actual alarm clock to wake up to and not my phone, writing more, and enjoying whatever other adventures the Lord decides to bring my way. 

To see more of my summer adventures, check out #PolishedArrowSummer on Instagram. 
What are you most looking forward to this fall? 

Keep following me into Fall! :) 

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Reading | Oh, friends. I love to read and I'm usually caught reading multiple books at one time. The one thing I haven't gotten into is listening to audiobooks, but maybe I'll start that for some of my morning drives. I'm just afraid that I'll get sucked into a story and then stay in my car all afternoon instead of actually going into work! Right now I'm reading Wild (almost finished finally), Multiply, Job: The Wisdom of the Cross, The Pursuit of God, and The Longest Ride (had to have some cheesiness in there somewhere! ha!). I'm not sure if I'm going to make my goal of 24 books in a year, but check out my BOOKSHELF to see what all is on the list. 

Making | Lots of pasta salad. We have been having lots of birthday parties at work and that is my go to right now. I also made a green bean casserole this past week for Bible study. Who says they are only for the holidays? I'm really craving some homemade biscuits though, so those will probably be made again in the very near future. 

Pinning | Lots of food related things. Apparently I only Pinterest when hungry...hmm. Speaking of food and biscuits, here is a recipe for homemade biscuits I'm wanting to try. 

Anticipating | Fall. Football. Flats. Falling leaves. Pumpkins (But not the Spice Latte kind). Apple picking (is it possible in the South?) Scarves. Cardigans. Cooler mornings and nights. September 23rd, the official beginning of all of these things. 

Loving | That this weekend is a long weekend and that it is going to be an enjoyable one. First, there is a party for a very sweet kiddo from work who is turning one. Second, I'll be heading to my parent's house for the second half of the long weekend (and it feels like forever and a day since I've been to visit my parents). Third, college football is back and that means Alabama Football watching parties with my best friend, Dad. Fourth, I will be enjoying my parent's back porch and reading all the books listed above. 

What are you currently up to?

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Linking up (a day late) with Jenna and Anne!