Do you ever look back and long for the days that life was so much simpler? You didn’t care a thing about what people thought. You weren’t worried about money or material objects. You didn’t even think about what you’d be eating for supper.

There was a time when I didn’t have a care in the world and, unfortunately, that was too long ago.

We’re visiting my cousin and her family this week and she has a little girl who is 5 months older than Hudson. Because of distance they haven’t been able to hang out very often, but we’re working on that this week.

Today, we decided to entertain them by letting them play outside in their diapers so they could run through the sprinkler.

But somehow Hudson got really interested in carrying around a toy golf club. I’m confident that none of the golf courses in Columbia would let Hudson play in this attire.

But his daddy is just happy to see him holding a club at all. A diaper, water shoes, a striped hat, sunscreen, and a plastic golf club. What more can a boy need?

These two were so proud of their golf clubs and hats and just ran around the yard for a long time before they ran through the sprinkler.

They were so cute as they followed each other and babbled to each other about their plans for their playtime.

It reminded me of the summers I spent growing up in Louisiana. We’d sit outside and eat Popsicles in the driveway in our swimsuits. If the Popsicles melted all over us it wouldn’t ruin our clothes.

We left our doors unlocked and we all walked back and forth between each other’s houses. We could ride off on our bike or hop in my brothers Power Wheels truck and head down to the neighbor’s house without telling anyone where we’d gone.

And instead of a Slip ‘n Slide, we’d hose down the slide on the swing set and slide down in into the plastic baby pool.

We’d wait for the ice cream truck to roll by and then ride our bikes around the neighborhood– pretending that the screws on the handlebars were actually radio dials. Then we’d sing “Please Don’t Go Girl” by New Kids on the Block and pretend we were singing along to the radio.

It didn’t matter if we rode our bikes in our bathing suits because we were all skinny!

On rainy days we’d build forts and tents out of blankets and chairs and stay under there all day long.

We didn’t have special toys or fancy gadgets, but we used what we had and we used our imagination. And I think that’s underrated.

Today I’m addicted to my Blackberry and am constantly checking Twitter and my email. And occasionally Facebook.

I worry my head off about what people think of me and if I did enough or said enough or offered enough. I get stressed over the smallest things and none of that even matters.

It was so nice to step outside today and watch a kid be a kid and just enjoy the fact that he was  free enough to roam around the yard in his underoos without a care in the world.

Thunder thighs?  Who cares.

There are sprinklers to run through and bubbles to catch.

What do your simple summertime memories look like?

I didn’t take too many pictures at BlogHer 2010 in NYC, but I took a few. I’ll try to use those pictures to go with my recap. In a nutshell, we had a lot of fun, ate well, were entertained, learned a few things, and tried to figure out the ways of the BlogHer conference. If we choose to go to San Diego in 2011 we may actually know what we’re getting into. I hope a lot of you will come next year, too!

For a full play-by-play recap of how I spent my time at BlogHer, visit Make Mine a Mojito. I think Mojito Maven and I only left each other’s side for about 2 hours the whole time, so her trip recap is pretty stinkin’ accurate for my recap, too! Thanks, MM.

What I learned at BlogHer10:

• My blog is just a little peon in a great big world of blogs. I met a ton of great women and hate to list them all by name because then I’d be more likely to forget someone and embarrass myself.
• Even though my blog is a little peon, I absolutely love all of you that read.
• Writing my blog is a source of entertainment for me and I read blogs for entertainment. Some blogs are much more serious and much funnier than mine is. And I love that with so many different blogs, we can all still be supportive.
• I can have a really great time with two girls I’ve only spent a few days with… and another that I’ve spent lots of time with, especially recently.

• I blog for me and not because I feel like I need to for anyone else. The writing is therapeutic and is hopefully getting better over time.
• Business cards aren’t ridiculous, as I once said, but absolutely useful and I might even say necessary. Also, Penny Lane Designs is amazing for making business cards for me. And so is Lulu!
• When I travel, I don’t shop, but instead spend money on amazing food.

• The Jimmy Dean Sausage sunshine man is pretty cool in person.

• Tamra Barney is very skinny and pretty. Except her face was kind of frozen. She was really friendly, though!

• It’s still fun to get on a bus to go on a field trip. Probably because the field trip was to the Garment District. Blog post on this coming later.

• I’m not too old to play Just Dance on the Wii, pet Marmaduke, or wear a McDonald’s bag on my head.

• I don’t like being away from my family and it’s going to be a really long time before I leave them again. Now that I’m home I can’t stop staring at Hudson and being thankful that he is such a great little boy.

• My mom is absolutely selfless and so great for staying at the house with Hudson so he could be in his comfort zone. And she was so sweet to constantly send me pictures.

I’m already looking forward to San Diego in 2011 and I really hope that lots of you will come. We’re already planning to make a family vacation out of it!

It’s another blog sale! Please read all of the directions on this post. I’m turning the comments off and if you are interested in purchasing an item, please email emilyblogsale@gmail.com and she’ll take care of the purchase process!

Shipping costs $5.

My sweet friend, Emily, has some beautiful clothes that she wants to sell. She has already donated a lot of things from her closet, but these are the items she wanted to sell. I’m going to help Emily sell her gorgeous clothes.

SOLD Charsa, size 2
– Beautiful pool blue silk shantung dress with sweetheart neckline and pleated skirt
– This dress is so sweet and pretty, perfect for summer weddings and showers
– Paid $320, never worn
– Asking $120

Amsale, size 4
– Midnight blue, silk taffeta
– Boning and double zipper inside (for extra support, and so you don’t need a bra)
– Paid $310, worn once
– Asking $170

SOLD Anna Sui for Anthropologie dress, size 2 & Guinivere bolero, size M (fits like a small/ medium)

– Ivory cotton dress with embroidered bodice and hem, with (separate but matching) Guinivere bolero
– Perfect for a spring or summer party, great for showers
– Paid $300 ($200 for dress, $100 for bolero)
– Asking $80 for the pair

Lilly Pulitzer, size 4
– Pink and ivory damask shift with embroidered scallop hem
– Very versatile party dress
– Paid $250
– Asking $75

SOLD Melissa Sweet, size 4
– Chocolate silk crinkle skirt with ivory cotton lace bodice
– Sweetheart neckline; silk crinkle sash for bow in front or back (optional); cotton lace straps (optional)
– Paid $300, never worn
– Asking $120

SOLD Nanette Lepore, size 2
– White eyelet cap sleeve dress with optional bow belt
– Perfect for bridal events or summer parties
– Paid $300, worn once
– Asking $150

SOLD Plenty frock! by Tracy Reese (from Anthropologie), size 2
– Gold brocade sleeveless dress with bow and jeweled buttons
– Perfect for weddings and holiday parties
– Paid $300, worn once
– Asking $150

*Please direct all inquiries to emilyblogsale@gmail.com. Shipping costs $5.