AHHH, hello loves!! This is Hailey (hope you still remember me hehe…) and I am SO HAPPY to be back in the blogoshpere after taking a break these past couple months. No, my break from blogging was not planned, but it was a decision that I am quite glad I made. I got some much needed time, still I apologize to all my blogging friends for just falling off the face of the earth haha!

At the beginning of this year, I was really on an inspiration and motivation burnout, stress started to take over and there had (and still has)been so much going on, that I really needed to step away and focus on different things. I have been experiencing so much change and it was so hard to keep up with everything, I was overwhelmed. I needed to take a step back, slow my mind down, and see what I really needed to set my gaze upon.

I am in a season of growth and discovery. It has been and has continued to be a painful and confusing journey that I am walking through, but it has been one of healing and restoration. I am learning what it means to let go, and let God. I have lost what feels like so much, yet through that there is so much more I have gained. My God has been faithful, He has placed in my heart a new perspective and through Him I have begun to experience real peace. He has been my guide and my comfort. He has given me so much, He has truly been so good. Every day I am continuing to seek Him out and what He has called me to. I have grown in my faith, in my trust, and in my own confidence. He is walking alongside me in this season, I can hear God speaking to me that this is my season of revival. He is restoring, healing, and doing just what he promised He would do, if I would just begin to turn my heart over to Him. And of course, I did just that.

Eventually I will post something explaining more in depth of what i’ve been up to since March, so much has happened and I’ve been altogether going through so much growth. New feelings, new friendships, opportunities, ideas, etc. Through this journey I have been on recently I have been leaning further into my Jesus and depending on Him, which has been such a beautiful thing. I am experiencing stronger gratitude, joy, and shifts in perspective. God has been working within me and renewing my heart. He has revealed to me many things about both Him and myself. He has been my guide, comfort, wisdom, and reminder throughout this walk I’m on with Him. I rejoice in the fact that I am becoming closer to Him than I have ever been before. I am learning to count my blessings and hold to Him when things start to shake. He has been a great Teacher & Father to me. I see myself as a flower, and Him as the gardener. I have been put through sunshine and rain (get where the blog name comes from?) but it has put me through so much growth and change for the better. He continues to watch over me, love me, to care for me while I bloom beautifully into the woman He has created me to be. I can say that I am truly a pretty different person than I was only a year ago.

So here I am again with a soul refreshed and a heart being restored. Hello again, I hope you are doing well, I have missed you so 😉 (that was by far one of the most sporadic, spontaneous intros I have ever wrote… and I love it, okay moving on!)

Well my goodness I forgot how much I love doing this! Today I am very excited to share with you my big ole’ summer 2021 bucket list! *yayyyyy* After being gone for this long, I thought this would make a nice post to return with, and this just makes me so excited and happy that it’s SUMMER!! Ahhh ice cream, flip flops, sunshine, flowers blossoming, evening walks, all of it. I just love visualizing everything, and I look forward to checking off all that I can on this year’s bucket list! (and this isn’t all there is… I add more and more ideas to my list as the season goes on ;D) Feel free to draw inspiration from any of these, and let me know what you look most forward to this summer or what you have on your own bucket list!

I believe that this will be a beautiful season.

Hailey’s 2021 Summer Bucket List: 🌼

(more still in the process of being added 😉 )

• drink plenty of water daily
• spend lots of time outside (soak in the sunshine!)
• go thrifting
• watch a thunderstorm
• work towards clearer skin
• go swimming/to a pool party
• eat ice cream
• get a good natural tan
• ride a roller coaster
• skateboard
• take morning/evening walks
• stargaze and cloud-watch
• play in the rain
• climb a tree
• collect and press flowers and leaves
• have a picnic
• journal and scrapbook
• grow the blog
• get more plants
• eat a delicious burger or sandwich
• watch fireworks
• have an outdoor bible study/time with Jesus
• road-trips
• swingsets
• bonfire with s’mores
• cookout
• eat lots of fruit
• drive with the windows down
• bike rides
• kickball
• go out with friends
• rock my summer wardrobe
• trampoline games
• body paint/henna tattoos
• write encouraging notes & leave them for a stranger
• earn and save some cash
• write pen pal letters
• make a new friend
• make a chalk masterpiece
• play hide n’ seek
• take lots of pictures
• walk a nature trail
• DIY face masks
• spa day and do nails
• write a fan letter
• take chances and try new things
• paint something
• eat salads
• go to the movie theater
• see a rainbow
• make a fort
• go roller skating
• go to a concert
• catch fireflies
• turn old jeans into shorts
• play basketball
• make flower crowns
• teach Tank (my doggo) new tricks
• jump rope
• play on a big playground
• add to my rock and crystal collection
• have a sleepover
• root beer floats
• grow out my hair
• bookstore and library trips
• take Harry (my ferret) on a walk or trip
• game night
• pet goats
• make bracelets and jewelry
• get chick-fil-a
• have a jam session
• watch bumblebees
• see a blue jay and a hummingbird
• set up morning and nighttime routines
• fruit smoothies
• recycle something
• give lots of gifts and hugs
• random acts of kindness
• cookies and milk
• rock the flip flops
• run barefoot
• plant flowers
• invite friends and family over
• DIY perfume
• learn a new skill
• do outreach/volunteer work
• go to the lake
• see a butterfly
• smell something sweet
• make guacamole
• read, read, read!
• experiment in cosmetics
• grow in my faith
• photograph lightning
• learn to play a new song
• dance party
• collect more stickers
• go to Plato’s Closet
• stay positive and confident
• see a dog in sunglasses
• compliment a stranger
• try boba/bubble tea
• decorate sunglasses
• cuddle with the pets
• call a friend or family member
• have a yard sale
• keep up with writing
• make an awesome summer playlist
• doodle on a band-aid
• pull an all-nighter
• pick berries
• cold brew coffee
• late night dinner
• gluten free cookie dough
• technology breaks
• ice cream sundaes
• collect seashells
• shopping day
• see a waterfall
• FaceTime photoshoot
• make ATC’s (artist trading cards)
• lemonade & sweet tea
• go to a baseball or soccer game
• play with bubbles
• chips and dip
• zoo trip
• candy store
• pick eachother’s outfits with someone
• try new hairstyles
• donuts and milk
• wear pretty dresses & skirts
• outdoor movie
• makeovers
• pray always and constantly
• see a turtle
• choreograph a song
• stay cute 😉
• do something silly late at night
• blow dandelion fluff
• eat out for breakfast/eat out in general
• take a trip to an outdoor market/festival
• snow cones, popsicles, & slushies
• afternoon naps
• run in a field
• rock messy hair, don’t care
• live a beautiful summer ❤

Ahhh there’s many reasons summer is my favorite season (hey that rhymes) and I hope you can see them all. Summer reminds me of joy, growth, and beauty. I feel like this season will be full of those things.There is so much planned for this summer and I honestly cannot contain the joy and excitement it brings me!! (I have a pool party with my friends this evening actually, so you can imagine my excitement for that!)This summer is a wonderful gift, and I intend to use it the very best I can 🙂

Thank you very much for checking out my latest post ;D I have alot more upcoming stuff planned here on Sunshine & Rain that I am quite excited for! Including photo dumps, favorites of the month, bullet journal spreads, new poetry/short writings, weekly favorite moments, Igniting Inspiration, maybe even a room tour and much more 🙂 The Sunshine & Rain site is also under construction so you may notice some change in themes; I’ve been updating and switching some things around and I am very much looking forward to it being finished!

I am so delighted to be back and writing again. I hope you are doing wonderfully, and have a day as lovely as you 😉 ❤

Later tater!