I’m officially at the part of summer where I really need the weeks to slow down. I still have things to cross off my list, and I guess I will need to start reading school emails soon.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
I’m really loving this romper from SSYS. I love that it’s forgiving, has a flutter sleeve and is easy to dress up or down. I wore it last week when we went out to dinner.
The runners had to “carb load” before the Bluegrass 10k on the 4th of July, and we went to a fun pasta place. If gnocchi is on the menu, I usually order it! This definitely hit the spot.
I had some pool time over the 4th, and that was nice and relaxing.
Fireworks are always a fave, and the ones at our usual spot were 10/10 this year!
Hadley arriving home from camp is always a fave, but this year, given the devastation and loss of lives in Texas, I was just ready for her to be home. I think she was ready too. She had fun, but I know she was happy to sleep in her own bed.
Last weekend, I took a stroll through my favorite book. I went there to buy Kristy Woodson Harvey’s newest book since it’s on my summer reading list.
While I was there, I picked up a birthday gift for my Gma. Also, I spotted a few cute finds like this “book lovers journal”…
…and these cute playing cards that look like the book check out cards from the library. I resisted the urge to buy both.
Travis and I have been watching The Waterfront. To me, it’s Outer Banks meets Ozark, and we’ve really enjoyed it.
On Monday, we celebrated Trav’s birthday. We went out to dinner, gave him a few gifts, and had some Bundt cakes for dessert. Since Hadley was gone, and then Hayden went to camp, Monday was the one day we could all have dinner together…and it was Trav’s actual birthday.
The past few days, Trav and I have been in Michigan. We wanted to take some time away to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and neither of us have been to Michigan. I’m sure I will do a recap, but here are a few favorite photos from our few days here:
Hello and happy Wednesday! This week is just moving right along!
Well, the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, so I’m recapping how we spent the 4th.
The 4th of July used to mean the kids matching in red, white and blue, sparklers and red, white and blue waffles for breakfast. Now, apparently the 4th of July means an early alarm to watch family run a 10K. haha!
Anyway, we had a great day, and I think it was even better since the 4th was on a Friday.
Trav, Hayden and our nephew were up at 5:30, and I got up around 6:00. The Bluegrass 10K started at 7:30.
The guys were ready to run! Trav didn’t run as he wanted to bike it to support our nephew who was hoping to win and beat the course record. My other nephew was running the one mile, so Trav got him situated as well after the 10K.
Anyway, here they are outside of an Irish bar on the 4th of July ready to run 6.2 miles!
I went to my spot to cheer them on, and Jacob did win! He didn’t get the course record, but he wasn’t too far off. He earned a little money all before 8:30 am!
Hayden ran with my brother-in-law for the first three miles, and then finished up on his own. He runs faster every year, and seems to have a good time!
After the one mile run and awards, we went to brunch. If French toast or huevos rancheros are on the menu, I have a tough time deciding which one to have! I went with the eggs, and it was delish.
That afternoon, my sister-in-law invited me over to her mom’s pool. Our club pool is so crowded on the 4th that I typically steer clear! So, this nice and quiet pool was a great way to spend a couple of hours. We floated around, and even the kids weren’t there!
I took a nap when I got home, and then Trav grilled hot dogs. We kept it simple with fruit and waffle fries. It was a good meal for the 4th.
Then, we headed to our regular spot for fireworks. They go off right at 10:00, so we found a spot around 9:30. Trav’s brother, his son and wife joined us too.
It’s always an awesome display, and then we’re home a little after 10:30.
Meanwhile, Hadley was at camp having a great time. She loves camp, but this year I think she did get a bit homesick. Overall, I know she made great memories, and I appreciate her friends who are there for her when she needs them.
She did say that she missed the fireworks in our typical location…they are hard to beat!
Saturday evening, Trav and I went to the pool, and they still had the cute balloon backdrop up. Our pool does go all out with fun activities and decorations for the club members.
It was a nice holiday with just enough festive fun.
Hello and happy Tuesday! It’s also the start of Amazon Prime days.
Last month, I was “late” sharing my Prime Purchases, so I’m getting back on track sharing them today…close to the first of the month.
Before I move on with the post, I do want to acknowledge the destruction and devastation in Texas. I can’t imagine what those families and sweet campers must be feeling. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Hadley’s camp bus pulled up late Sunday night. While she wasn’t in Texas, it’s hard having your kids away from home, in another state, when such a sad situation is unfolding. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Camp Mystic community and their families.
This month’s purchases are a mix of things for everyone in my family.
Trav is always on the kids about staying hydrated. Even in the summer, Hayden is still running most mornings, and Hadley has workouts and volleyball. He ordered these electrolytes packets, and then he put them in a mason jar with the other flavor that had arrived first. He reminds the kids to stop by “hydration station” which is what he calls the mason jar situation. haha
Travis also ordered himself a propane tank gauge…I guess he got tired of me being annoyed when he goes to grill and then realizes the tank is empty!
Hadley ordered this case for her Air Pods before she left for camp. She wanted to be able to clip them to her wristlet wallet.
Hadley’s had her eye on one of these open back tops, and she needed something blue for “red/white/blue” theme for July 4th at camp. Anyway, it’s a cute top and comes in lots of colors. I’ve washed it once, and did let it hang dry rather than put it in the dryer…just in case it were to shrink.
Hadley needed a second pair of sheets. She has one pair and a flannel pair, so now that it’s summer, it’s too hot for the flannel pair. Anyway, I chose the light blue set to match her bedding, but they come in lots of colors and patterns.
Hayden’s phone charger broke, so I ordered this two pack. Now we have a back up charger if needed. I bought the white set, but I like that there are some color options; I’ve thought about getting Hadley the pink set, so they don’t get their chargers mixed up and then fight about it…ugh.
I hadn’t bought a new swimsuit this year, but I had this one saved in one of my Amazon lists. I’ve been going to the pool much more frequently lately, so I did order this one and it’s the CUPSHE brand. I originally saved it because it has the thin straps and most of my swimsuits have thicker straps. Anyway, I’ve already worn in a few times, and the straps are adjustable.
After the kids had their wisdom teeth extracted, I wanted a night light in the hall just so it’s easier to see if any of us got up in the nighttime. I guess that applies to all nights, but I was just thinking in case they got up as they usually sleep through the night…and into lunchtime. haha
I bought the “warm light” set, but there are a few colors tones.
Lastly, my dad wanted a new folding chair for his back porch, and this one was his request. We have two folding chairs that rock, so I can appreciate why this would be a top request for him. He takes his bird watching and cigar smoking on his back porch very seriously!
With Prime Days starting today, I know there will be lots of posts in the blog world and on social media. I may share some of my faves on Instagram as the week goes on, but I don’t have a Prime Days post planned. I have a short list, but it’s mostly for school. I have my eye on this rolling desk to use as a podium in the front of my classroom, this digital clock and some power strips. I will say, I’ve really thought about purchasing a walking pad for home (not for school!), and I’d say Prime Days would be the time to do it. I have three saved, but this one has the most reviews. If you have any walking pad recs, I’ll take them!
As always, I appreciate when you use my links to shop. I’m always grateful to earn a bit on Amazon every month, and that’s because of you!
We’ve had a great week of summer, and it was nice to not have too much our agenda. With today being a holiday, I’m not sure who all is blogging, but I can’t miss a Friday Favorites post with Andrea and Erika.
Here are some favorites from the week:
We have two hydrangea bushes in our yard, one in the back and one in the front. The backyard one rarely seems to bloom, but the one in the front yard is so pretty.
Trav told me I should snip a few blooms, so I can enjoy them in the house, and that’s just what I did. The pink is so pretty, and hydrangeas are one of my fave flowers.
Speaking of flowers, this lovely bouquet arrived, and these flowers are oh so pretty.
So pretty that I bumped the hydrangeas to another spot, so I can enjoy these in the family room..
We had one more update to the hall bathroom. This picture of the kids in the bathtub is one of my faves. We had it in a simple black frame, and once we put the bathroom back together, I wasn’t sure what do to with the photo. Trav even told me I had to find a place for it in the new bathroom because it’s just a favorite of ours. So, I found this pretty gold frame at Michael’s and we hung it this week. It’s the perfect finishing touch to this small blank wall.
Hadley and I had a couple of errands on Monday, and she likes driving me around. We tried a new coffee shop, and the first iced coffee that I saw on the menu was “the teacher.” It has vanilla, lavender, and honey, so I knew I’d like it…and I did! It hit the spot on a hot afternoon.
Hadley left for camp this week, and I sure am missing her. Look at this cute group of “Lucky Charms.” She will be home on Sunday, and we can’t wait to see her!
I was highly influenced by Amy when she shared her Aerie finds. Cornflower blue is my favorite color recently, so I just knew I needed to snag this sweatshirt. Aerie was having a sale, so I snagged the shorts too! I probably could have sized down in both, but I rolled the shorts once, and they fit perfectly and I liked the length that way. And, as you know, I love an over-sized sweatshirt, so I’m keeping both as is.
Yay! for pool time this week. I went to our pool a couple of days, and then Hayden and I went to my sister-in-law’s mom’s pool at her house to swim one afternoon. The temps have been hot, but not too bad…and even better when we’re just floating in the pool.
I shared a few July book trackers on Instagram. I love when others use them to share what they’re reading. They are saved to an Insta highlight, and feel free to tag me if you use them.
Favorite Foods:
Is she a food blogger now? I had a few recipes that I really liked this week.
Sunday, I wasn’t sure what to make the rest of the week, so I placed a quick Kroger delivery to get us through the weekend. I decided to try a slow cooker recipe I’d seen on Tik Tok. (@therapybysourdough)
In your slow cooker, put 6-8 chicken thighs. Then, add 5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of garlic powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons of seasoning salt, and 2 table spoons of brown sugar.
Cook on low for four hours. Then, I steamed frozen broccoli in the microwave and when it was time to eat, I added the broccoli to the slow cooker. I microwaved Trader Joe’s Jasmine rice, and served dinner on the cooked rice.
This was easy and delish, and I will definitely make it again!
Then, as I was making my grocery list for the rest of the week, I was scrolling Pinterest and saw this recipe that I used to make all the time a few years ago. It’s perfect for low carb days that I try to do on Mondays and Tuesdays.
I made a batch and had some for lunch both of those days with this chips and and apple and peanut butter. Homer really wanted some too!
Lastly, I was trying to find an easy meal to make on Wednesday, and I stumbled upon these meatball subs. I just knew Hayden and Trav would love them, and they were a hit! I ended up buying mini hoagies which held three meatballs…perfect! These will also be added into the dinner rotation!
Favorite Mom Meme:
I will actually miss this once all the teens are driving…
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
Well, you knew I would have to share a few 4th of July throwback photos.
I love the 4th of July, and miss the days of the kids dressing in red, white and blue. Heck, at this point, I miss the kids just being home on the 4th. Hadley tends to be at camp most of the time on the 4th.
Weekly Recap:
I had a few posts this week! Also, if you read my SSYS post on Wednesday, I’ve updated it to include a few favorites if you’re interested in trying out that online shop.
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a This or That post. Usually, I find them on Pinterest or Instagram, but the one I’m sharing today is one that I created. I guess with the calendar flipping to July this week, I’m really trying to focus on all of the goodness of summer.
Here’s my Summer This or That:
Pool or beach: Well, really my answer is that I love both. Obviously, I love whenever we can get to the beach, but I get to the pool as much as possible in the summer.
Sundress or Shorts: I’m definitely more of a dress girl. That being said, Amy influenced me, and I’m loving my new shorts from Aerie. I’ve also been wearing these shorts from Target this summer.
S’mores or ice cream sandwich: To me, nothing says “summer” more than a s’mores.
Sleep in or wake up early: I’m still a pretty early riser, but I love not setting an alarm and sleeping in a bit. During the school year, I get up at 5:50, so in the summer, if I can sleep until 7:30, that’s really sleeping in for me. That being said, I’ve made a run at 9:00 and even 9:30 a time or two this summer; it’s been glorious.
June or July: I love the month of June. It’s just the best with the start of summer and typically when we go on vacation. That being said, I love the 4th of July…but then I start thinking about school a bit which is no fun! Notice I didn’t include August as a choice…that’s my least favorite month of the year!
Sunrise or sunset: I’m a sunset girl for sure. I love beach sunsets, but I’ve seen a few pretty moments this summer too…just looking out from my front porch.
Hot coffee or iced coffee: I still love hot coffee in the morning, but over the past year or so, I will occasionally get an iced coffee from Starbucks. My fave is the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. I also love iced coffee when we’re in warm locations like on vacation…plus, it’s fun to try new coffee shops.
Carnival rides or carnival food: I’m not much of a carnival gal, but I do love a funnel cake!
Sunglasses or hat: I chose hat for my answer, but I can’t leave home without sunglasses either. I’m a ball cap girl for sure…especially in the summer or on the weekend. My favorite pool/beach hat is now this one, and these are still my “go to” sunglasses.
Bikini or one piece: I’m a one piece girl all the way…always have been, always will be. I just ordered this one this month, and it’s been perfect. I love the thin straps and fun pattern. I always size up one in swimsuits.
Sandals or wedges: I’d fall over in wedges, so simple sandals are my fave. I wear the heck out of these rose gold ones (I size up one full size) along with my two pairs of thin strapped sandals from Target last year.
BBQ or bonfire: BBQ for sure. I don’t love how smoky bonfires are….a well-contained fire pit is ok with me. I’m so much fun. haha
Prime sale or other sales: Honestly, I know all the summer sales can be a lot and all you hear about. I do appreciate the Prime deals, and typically make a list of a few things to order, but I definitely don’t go overboard. I do have a list of a few items I’d like to get for my classroom.
Pineapple or watermelon: I love both, but I always think of watermelon in the summer time. It’s definitely a family favorite.
Reading list or play list: I love my summer reading list. I typically read a few other books, but my reading list guides what I request from the library or even what books I take on trips or poolside to read. That being said, with the kids driving me around this summer, we’ve been listening to their playlists which has been fun.
I’ll share this template on Instagram. If you want to share your answers, feel free to tag me!
How is the week treating you? I hope all is well. I’m excited for today’s post…that was supposed to post yesterday, but I set it for PM by accident! Welcome to my brain…
I like to share clothes that I love, and it’s no secret that I love the online boutiqueShop Style Your Senses.
I’ve been following Mallory and her team since the beginning…when it was just Mallory shipping items from her closet! Well, her business grew, and she has a wonderful team, an office, and a ware house full of wonderful clothing items.
As the years have gone on, they’ve created their own label pieces. These styles have been such a success that she hopes to move to only SSYS label pieces by fall. That’s mind blowing.
I’ve shared so many SSYS outfits in my posts through the years from athleisure to dresses to swim cover ups to sets and more.
I exclusively wear SSYS for my workouts, I wear so many pieces to school, I love the swim cover up, and when I pack a suitcase, I bet 75% of it is SSYS at this point.
One thing I really appreciate their label pieces that they’ve designed is that I feel like they understand women’s sizing. Recently, I’ve been on the hunt for a couple of dresses to wear to a wedding and have struck out in local boutiques. I’m a size large in SSYS label pieces, but when I try on a large in a boutique, often times, dresses don’t fit…mostly they will be tight in my chest area. On top of that, most boutiques don’t even have sizes larger than size large. It blows my mind that when these boutiques go to market, they don’t purchase or find items that will fit all shapes and sizes.
With SSYS, they do lots of try ons on the app, via lives try ons and on Instagram (@shopssys) and show various body types/sizing which I appreciate. You get to know the ladies trying on the clothes and can see how they fit on various women. I’m a tried and true size large for them. Some of their flowy tops, I could probably be a medium, but overall, I don’t mess around with the sizing. I feel good in their clothes and that’s what matters to me.
They are currently running a Share More, Earn More event this month which caught my eye.
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If you’ve never ordered from SSYS, now is the time. I’ve never tried to be a major influencer…this blog is for fun, but I think it’s so neat that I have the opportunity to share about a shop that I love, you get 25% off your first purchase using their app, and I can earn $20 for future purchases. It’s a win win for all.
I believe this is my link for your 25% off your first purchase or use the code: “HBHNTREF”
A few of my faves are the Gemma dress (I have in blue and black) and the Gwen. I bought one two summers ago and purchased another one this summer.
I have to Everyday Dress in black and pink.
I don’t think it’s in stock now, but..
the Lainey is this season’s iteration. I didn’t purchase only because I have two of the Everyday Dresses.
I own last season’s Taylor…
This season, they added the cute little ruffle detail!
Anything in their “air” fabric is amazing…and especially perfect in the summer. The fabric seems to have a cooling quality about it.
Any of the “tent tops” are my fave. In the past couple of years, I’ve ordered the black and light pink short sleeve shirts. This season, they have the short sleeve version, and I now own two of those.
The Get Ready Robe is very popular. I don’t have one yet, but I’m always tempted. It would be an easy item to start with based on sizing.
One note is that if you do return what you order, you do receive store credit and not a refund to your original form of payment. I know that can be a deterrent for some, but it’s rare that I return anything from the shop…and of course, I know there’s always an order in my future if/when I do return something.
You won’t be disappointed if you decide to purchase! Bonus: their shipping is always free. They also have $10 expedited shipping.
Oh –and one more thing — once you order from the app, I assume you’ll have a referral code too. I’m not special …haha…this is a “Thank you” from SSYS to their customers, I think…so the more the merrier sharing their codes!
Why do the summer weekends tend to go by just as fast as the ones during the school year? Overall, we had a pretty chill weekend which was just what we all needed.
Today is the last day of June, so I’m sharing this month’s Monthly Moments.
Here’s a look back on June:
June was a weird month with the weather…we had some cool days and many rainy days as well. Then, it was hot…but also stormy. We were poolside when possible, and I will take what I can get.
Hayden played a few rounds of golf which is always fave…
Our niece got married in June, and we went to her wedding in Louisville.
It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, and we had lots of fun.
The kids and I traveled to Kansas City to see my family. We didn’t do a lot, but we did get to hang with family quite a bit which is the best part. We did go to the Royals game which was when Alex Gordon was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. We got an Alex Gordon bobble head and watched the fireworks.
Once we got home, we celebrated Trav (a day late) for Father’s Day. Crumbl Cookie, cards, and the “You are Special” red plate…what more could you ask for?!
About ten days ago, the kids got their wisdom teeth removed. Hayden bounced back quickly, and Hadley had a rough go of it with her teeth being impacted, and she ended up needing fluids for being dehydrated. Our friends dropped off dinner and a few goodies throughout that week.
Trav and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We went out for a sushi dinner and have plans to go out of town for a few days in July.
June has meant lots of yard work. Hayden and friends have been busy mowing yards, power washing and more. I’ve been admiring my hydrangeas as they’ve continued to bloom. They are my fave.
The June days sure were busy…the kids have worked a bit, had morning workouts, cross country conditioning and volleyball open gyms; I’ve had a couple of doctor appointments and have been able to go to Pilates 2-3 days a week.
I will say, it’s felt like no two days were the same…which also means I haven’t really felt in a groove. There’s definitely been some downtime, but not much! Maybe that extra downtime will come in July?
June was a great month, and it’s always one of my faves.
How was your week? We had a good one overall. It was one without too many extra activities or commitments. I can’t believe this is the last Friday in June!
This makes me want to both laugh and cry.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
No pic but I had pool time a couple times this week, both at our pool and my sister-in-law’s mom’s house. I hope to hit up the pool even more now that it feels like things have settled down a bit.
Anyway, another favorite was celebrating our anniversary on Tuesday. Trav and I were married on June 24, 2005.
Is it even a celebration without a card with bubble letters?
In a true picture of our life right now, we had dinner in between picking Hayden up from his workout and picking Hadley up from work.
We went out for sushi, and it hit the spot! It was a nice evening.
My friends have really shown up over the past week. It was just a hectic one with the kids’ wisdom teeth extractions and then a couple of other appointments.
I’d never even seen this book, and my friend dropped it off for me…
I can’t wait to read it!
Another friend, sent dinner on Saturday night along with some Gatorade for the kids, so I didn’t have to leave the house.
…and my sister-in-law sent some sweet treats too…
I appreciated the additional support while juggling a few extra things on my plate.
How cute is this mug?
Last week, Hadley and I were out and about, and I popped into a store I’d never been in….I was looking for a dress, but walked out with the cute mug.
Mugs don’t frustrate me…they are cute and one size fits all. The same can’t be said for dresses.
Homer continues to be the sweetest…and always seems to find the sunshine.
I purchased a few candles from Antique Candle Co. They had their spring and summer candles on sale, so I chose these three:
Almond Vanilla will be perfect for the fall; I’ve already lit Sun-Kissed Citrus, and it’s great for summer. Lavender Vanilla is one of my faves, and I will burn it next or save it for spring.
It had been a minute since I got out the celebratory red plate. The kids took turns using it for dinner to celebrate the end of freshman year…yes, a month ago! haha
They wrapped up the year with great grades and lots of track accolades.
Hadley had the plate before wisdom teeth extractions, and Hayden had it after!
I rarely buy clothes from Nordstrom, but I have purchased quite a few things through the years. Their Nordstrom sale wasn’t even on my radar, but I saw an ad on Instagram for these Wit and Wisdom flare frayed jeans…the “ab” solution fit..and the waist has good stretch. I have a pair of the “ab” solution jeans, so these caught my attention. Also, I like a cropped/shorter pair of jeans. Anyway, I purchased two pairs of these…deep sea grass and ecru, and I know I will get a lot of wear out of them…even wearing them to school.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Ok, this made me chuckle, but I can also relate. How do I have two kids driving me around town?! (BTW – I’m still getting used to this milestone!)
Weekly Recap:
I had a pretty full week of blogging. I had two posts yesterday because I got off on my blogging schedule…but here are my posts this week:
I got behind on my blogging this week and didn’t want to miss out on all the fun with Patty and Holly. Earlier today, I shared the books I read this month, and now I’m linking up with these ladies for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is….summer vacation guide.
1. Share your summer trips for 2025:
Well, we actually don’t have a big summer trip planned this year. I always thought we’d go somewhere every summer, and most summers we have…but this was one of those summers where time got away from us and the kids’ schedules plus a couple of family weddings have packed our summer calendars.
That being said, we went to KC for a few days and both kids go to camp in July. Also, Trav and I have plans to head to Michigan for a few days and explore a couple of Lake Michigan towns. I’m looking forward to it.
2. How do you manage the post-vacation laundry?
I fully embrace doing laundry wherever we are. We don’t stay in many hotels which means there’s typically laundry access when we stay at houses and condos. Most of the time, we mostly come home with clean clothes in our suitcases. Otherwise, once we unpack the car, if we do have dirty laundry, I toss it in the washer as soon as we get home. If we get home late, I set the washer for “delay wash” to get started the next morning.
3. Most memorable summer vacation?
I think we’ve gone on lots of great trips. Typically, we go to the beach in the summer and have made so many beach memories through the years.
That being said, last year’s vacation to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington, will be one we remember for quite some time. There was truly something for everyone, and we all loved it.
Mexico was also a great experience. It was easy to travel there, the resort was nice, it was all inclusive and checked all the boxes for us on a vacation.
4. Do you cook or eat out on vacation?
We typically eat out on vacation. Most of the time, we buy groceries to have food for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and then eat out for dinner. Depending on where we are or what we’re doing, we’ll keep it simple and order pizza to eat at the house or condo…especially if it means we get more beach time. When the kids were younger, we actually liked going to the beach early and then spending time at the pool or going out during the afternoon, grabbing an early dinner and then going back to the beach for a couple of hours and then sunset.
That seemed to work for us, but when traveling with others, it might not be their preference, I guess.
Of course, if we’re at the beach, we get seafood as much as possible. Trav and Hayden love oysters, and try to get those a couple of times at least.
5. Are you an over-packer, under-packers or just right packer?
Before I answer this question, I need you all to know that I’ve come a long way! haha
I used to pack the biggest suitcase possible and then bring a carry on bag. Then, I got a little better and started packing medium size (but still a bag that needs to be checked when flying) along with a carry-on bag. Now, I need it to be noted that I have traveled a couple of times with a small suitcase and carry-on bag.
I will say that I still firmly believe in packing cubes…for saving a bit of space, but even more so, for helping me stay organized.
Also, if we’re driving, I typically pack my medium suitcase along with a travel bag. There’s room in the trunk, so why not?!
When I leave the house with a suitcase, I’ve packed enough to be gone three days…but also ten days if needed. haha!
6. Beach, lake or mountains?
If we’re talking summer, our vacations are usually to the beach.
Through the years, we’ve also enjoyed other areas with mountains…
We all love the lake when we have the opportunity to go.
7. Road trip or fly?
We mostly road trip in the car. We have to be going pretty far for it to be worth it to fly.
8. Favorite vacation activities?
Again, it depends on what we’re doing. Honestly, I like to relax, so if we are at the beach, I want my toes in the sand and a book in my hand.
That being said, Hayden loves to golf. We all love to hike. Trav likes to try new breweries, so we definitely do more than just go to the beach.
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9. Best packing tips?
I always make a list and check it twice. I print a packing list for the kids if we’re going somewhere for a quite a few days. More recently, like when we went to KC for a few days, I just sent them a text with a list of the basics that they needed to pack.
I use packing cubes, and Hadley uses one for her socks, swimsuits, underwear, etc…just to stay organized.
I also started to bring up a laundry basket and fill it with odds and ends as I think of them. For example, when we went to KC, I wanted to bring the Play Ninegame, so I put it in the laundry basket. As the couple days before going went on, I added in things like my tumbler, a few snacks, etc…just a way to hold things in one place when I think of random odds and ends.
10. Favorite road trip songs?
Well, we most likely have the car radio on Sirius Channel 56…The Highway when we’re in the car. That being said, when I can get away with it, I like to listen to an audio book. The kids will also connect to Apple Car Play and use their music lists for what we listen to on our drives.
I love writing these posts centered around summer and travel…I’m glad I threw this post together this evening. 🙂
Well, I don’t love that June is wrapping up, but I do always love sharing the books I read.
This month, I listened to two books and read one on my Kindle:
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{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
All the Summers in Between:
Summary:
When wealthy, impulsive summer girl Margot meets hardworking and steady local girl Thea in the summer of 1967, the unlikely pair become fast friends, working alongside one another in a record store and spending every spare moment together. But after an unspeakable incident on one devastating August night, they don’t see one another for ten years…until Margot suddenly reappears in Thea’s life, begging for help and harboring more than one dangerous secret. Thea can’t bring herself to refuse her beloved friend—but she also knows she can’t fully trust her either.
Unfulfilled as a housewife, Thea enjoys the dazzling sense of adventure Margot brings to her life, but will the truth of what happened to them that fateful summer ruin everything? Testing the boundaries of how far she’ll go for a friend, Thea is forced to reckon with her uncertain future while trying to decide if some friends are meant to remain in the past.
Quick Thoughts:
This was one of the two books that I listened to, and I loved this one. The two main characters, Thea and Margot, are very different which I think hooked me from the beginning. I also like when books bounce back and forth between time periods. The time span was only ten years in between 1967 and 1977, and that actually took me a second to pick up on since I was listening to it. Lots of life happened in those ten years, but I’m used to reading books that bounce between bigger periods of time.
This book was filled with friendship, summer, and mystery. The Hamptons setting was also a bonus point for me.
Rating:
One Golden Summer:
Summary:
Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.
Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.
Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.
Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.
Quick Thoughts:
This is the fourth Carley Fortune book that I’ve read. I looked back and I’ve read each of her books every summer since 2022.
One thing I liked about this book is that there were minimal characters to keep up with. The lake setting, like all her books, is perfect for summer. Charlie and Alice both seem similar, but they have their differences too…those tend to develop as the plot goes on. I thought it was sweet that Alice headed to the lake with her grandma and that she was a minor, but sweet character. There’s lots of romance with some R rated parts, but this was a great summer read.
Rating:
Bad Summer People:
Summary:
None of them would claim to be a particularly good person. But who among them is actually capable of murder?
Jen Weinstein and Lauren Parker rule the town of Salcombe, Fire Island every summer. They hold sway on the beach and the tennis court, and are adept at manipulating people to get what they want. Their husbands, Sam and Jason, have summered together on the island since childhood, despite lifelong grudges and numerous secrets. Their one single friend, Rachel Woolf, is looking to meet her match, whether he’s the tennis pro-or someone else’s husband. But even with plenty to gossip about, this season starts out as quietly as any other. Until a body is discovered, face down off the side of the boardwalk.
Quick Thoughts:
This was the other book that I listened to. My first thoughts were: these people are bad…privileged and bad. haha
There were quite a few characters to keep up with, but since I was listening to it, I think that’s why it was a bit of a pet peeve. The plot had a little bit of mystery and quite a few tennis references.
Rating:
I give it 4 stars for a summer book, but I’d probably rate it lower for just average reading.
Summer Reading Update:
Well, I’ve read one third of the books on my list! That’s pretty good…
Read:All the Summers in Between, One Golden Summer, Bad Summer People
Just started:Maine Characters and The Summer Book Club are on my Kindle, and I have The Comeback Summer downloaded to listen to on Libby.
Library wait-list:Summer Light on Nantucket, Seven Summers and Beach House Rules* (*I love KWH books, so I might buy this one is July)
This time last year, I’d read way more in June…but we’d also gone on our vacation to the PNW. Maybe July will be a bigger reading month for me.
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