This weekend was all about the great outdoors: the weather was blissfully warm with a delightful cool breeze. So naturally we moved our plans outdoors, especially on Saturday. We embraced our parent’s backyard, and squeezed every bit of outdoor enjoyment out of it as we could. There was cornhole on the lawn, basketball in the pool, appetizers on the table, catch and throw games on the diving board, etc. I always feel like, if I’m not outside during the summer, that I’m completely wasting the fact that I live in Southern California. Whether this consists of beach trips, bike rides, BBQ’s, what have you! And this was a quintessential SoCal weekend, so we had to harness it!

{Got an artistic start to the weekend with a painting class…with wine! Nothing like getting artsy while sipping wine!}

{Saturday BBQ activities…Skinny chocolate chip cookies (stay tuned!), homemade Roberts margaritas, corn hole, and evening appetizers…paradise.}

{The sky showed us some pretty amazing sunsets, and we were blessed with perfectly warm evenings, perfect for al fresco dining}

{Sunday Funday on Little Balboa Island…you just gotta jump in sometimes!}

My best friends were so sweet to get me some fabulous gifts for my 25th birthday….

Check out this adorable clutch…

this awesome Summer cookbook…

a soothing Champagne scented candle

Plus, my favorite party dress!

How do you enjoy the great outdoors?!