July 2016 - finding adventure

Nashville, TN | the stillery & walk downtown

When you're in the car for over ten hours with a toddler it's nice for everyone to get out of the car every once in a while. It's especially nice when you're halfway point is Nashville.
We only seem to make quick visits to Nashville, but every trip we leave wanting a little more time.
This time we timed it up to stop for an early dinner and to stretch our legs, especially for the littlest one.

We decided on The Stillery for dinner. We had some great options, but the food here sounded the best. The pizza was delicious and what I didn't share with Ruby and Jordan, I finished myself. Almost an entire pie. We definitely recommend it if you're looking for good pizza. We enjoyed that it was right downtown so that we could take a walk about and listen to the live music that filled the streets.

Ruby loved looking into all the various shops, waving, and smiling to everyone.

Jordan wanted this particular photo, and I think it's hilarious. Ruby looks like she's singing along. haha

always holding on

forever grateful for the kindness of strangers and their offers to take our family portrait

This is my new favorite photo of Ruby, it shows her carefree spirit, running free with a big smile on her face.

Nashville, we can't wait to stop in again.

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, by katelyn

mini style

pretty headbands for baby + a giveaway!

Mondays over here often seem to be of the happy variety, or at least it's been true of this year. Most Mondays have been Jordan's day off, a new day after a long work weekend, or a start to a lighter rotation. I'm sure we will join the rest of the world and go back to hating on Mondays soon, as his schedule eases up a bit. And, oh, do I look forward to the day I can write about Monday woes after a long fun weekend. And you may just see that next week.

For now, we're soaking up our time at the cottage in the mountains.

To celebrate one of our last happy Mondays for now, I have some adorable photos of Ruby and a giveaway. I capture these sweet photos of Ruby before we left in her cute Miss Giggle Buns headbands.

She's looking so much like a toddler these days. I love these bow headbands, they're cute and girly without being too much.

This one will definitely be my favorite come fall. It covers her ears well, which will be great when it get cooler, and is soft and comfy. I love when style is also functional. It still light enough fabric, so she will definitely still be wearing this one this summer.

I love that her hair is getting long enough to get tangles. I know someday I will look back and not think this. But for now I'm enjoying brushing out her tangles. This was right after her nap and these headbands just arrived, so there was no time for brushing out tangles.

And yellow, always.

FOR THE GIVEAWAY...

Head on over to my instagram, @katelynmryan

follow along &

look at the instructions in the photo of ruby in their pink headband

good luck! :)

here's the link to the post HERE

--
Thank you, Miss Giggle Buns for sending over these headbands for Ruby!

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, by katelyn

cottage

a new season

Ruby in South Carolina last October, exactly 5 months old.

It doesn't feel quite real yet, but today we are in South Carolina. We got in late last night after driving all day. I woke up this morning, drank a cup of coffee, and we all headed straight to the lake. And I already learned how to surf on the wake. And the best thing is we get to do it all again this afternoon and the rest of the week.

I'm truly sorry for all the complaining you've hear over here this summer. It really has been a tough season and I am so ready for a new one to begin. As you all know, it's been a long time since we've had a real weekend. Jordan calculated on our way down, that in the past 60 days he's had only 6 days off, majority of them not falling on weekend days. The idea of having time with my sweet husband seems so foreign. So, I will surely be soaking in every single moment.

We also get some good time with Jordan's family. All of his siblings and their kiddos are here. Ruby loves time with her cousins and as she keeps growing it's fun to see her play with them. I brought some fun crafts for them and I even made family tshirts, they're awesome.

I'll remember to take my camera to the boat with me next time to get an updated photos of Ruby in her lifejacket! She's just a little bigger now, I miss those sweet cheeks!

Have a lovely weekend!

one other thing,

because it doesn't feel quite right sharing about all of the fun we're having while my heart is aching for a little one's life and her family. i hesitated to share this, because it's not mine to share. i'm finding it hard to write words that are vague, but also meaningful. if you think about it, pray. pray for restoration, for courage, and hope.

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, by katelyn

adventure

evening in denver, co

It's no surprise that one of our favorite things about Denver was the food. There are so many unique independent restaurants that offer up some delicious eats. Oh, and the beer. You can't go to Denver without stopping in one of their breweries. On this evening we did a little of both.

I'm so thankful that Jen took us to some of her favorite places, it could be very overwhelming to pick on your own. But, if you need some options, these two that we went to were excellent.

We started out with a drink at Joyride Taproom, they don't serve food, but there was a foodtruck offering up something delicious. It was right next to Sloan's Lake Park, so we headed here right after our walk around the lake.

Despite the look Ruby's giving off, they were very friendly and welcoming to our little one. She loved it, but did not like me stepping away to take this photo. Along with cute little babies, they also allowed dogs, to which Ruby thoroughly enjoyed.

I love this photo, she loves listening and talking to people. Our little social bug.

For dinner we checked out Avanti, which is basically a modern foodcourt. There were several great choices of food and drink. The location also offered a great patio and view of the city.

I know this doesn't look too appetizing in black and white, but it was delicious. Quiero Arepas was our pick of all the restaurants, offering up some quality Venezuelan arepas.