Hello! How was your weekend? Like the past few weekends, we had a good mix of productivity and laziness. The weekend weather felt like a glimpse of summer, for sure!
I was looking through my recipe box, which I don’t do very often, and I stumbled upon a meal I hadn’t made in awhile. It’s so easy, delicious, and a family favorite.
Ingredients:
6 boneless pork chops
Salt and pepper
Chopped onion (about half a small onion…or more if you prefer!)
1 jar Marinara sauce
0rzo pasta
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Sprinkle the onions over the top of the pork chops.
Pour Marinara sauce over the pork chops and onions.
Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
When ready to eat, cook Orzo pasta according to package directions.
Place pasta on plate (or in bowl), the scoop out desired amount of pork chops and sauce. (*Note- meat is so tender that it will fall apart.)
Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese (and some chopped fresh basil if you have some)
Enjoy!
I’d forgotten how easy and delicious this dinner is! We even had leftovers the next night!
We have one more full week of distance learning! #praisehands So…I’m go get my mind right for this week!
Resharing this post from May and linking up with Tanya for her monthly Amazon post.
Well, we made it to another Friday! Seriously, the weeks are running together. I’ve just realized howclose we are to Memorial Day Weekend, and we only have one more full week of distance learning. I’m so ready to have passed the 4th grade again, y’all! 😉
Amazon is my lifeline…always has been, always will be. I used to rely on Amazon whenI didn’t have time to run around to a million places looking for stocking stuffers or art supplies. Now, I rely on it because I can’t leave the house!
Also, I love seeing what other people order from Amazon, so I thought I’d share some recent purchases.
(Pictures are linked)
Blankets
I swear I’m finished talking about the Sunroom Refresh 2.0, but with the refresh came my desire to purchase a couple new throw blankets. In all honesty, we’ve had some throws for quite some time, and I made a pile of bedding and older throws to donate.
Y’all, this leopard print one ($17) is out of my comfort zone of style, but I wanted something a little different, and this has delivered. It’s super soft and cozy…so much so, Hadley has stolen it every night to sleep with in her bed.
This “slate” colored waffle fleece blanket ($17) is more in my color palette. Again, it’s a perfect way to keep warm while reading a book or watching tv.
Clothes
I think I’ve mentioned these pajama shorts ($12.50) before, and I ordered another pair. Again, it was kind of time to purge some of my older pajamas and start fresh. So, I have these Amazon Essentials shorts in aqua and grey heather stripe, and they are perfect for spring and summer.
I’ve talked about these Soulomelody tops in the past. I have a couple long sleeve tops as well as one short sleeved tee. So, I bought the tank ($15) in gray and love it. I’ve worn it on a bike ride but also with jeans and a cardigan. There are lots of options between the long sleeve, the short sleeve, and the tank versions.
Books and Games
Hayden’s teacher has been doing a read aloud of the first Harry Potter book in the afternoons. They read a chapter a day together. They finished the first book on yesterday, and he was so excited to start the second book that he asked me to order it. I don’t buy many books online, but with the $6 price tag, I went ahead and purchased it for him.
One of my favorite authors came out with a new book, so I pre-ordered it on Amazon. It arrived a couple of weeks later, and I can’t wait to read it.
I saw this game mentioned in one of Andrea‘s posts, and we’ve enjoyed playing it. The game is a combination of math and strategy, and it’s been good to throw into the mix of games and puzzles we’ve been doing to pass the time.
Household Items
We’ve had our outside patio furniture forever. We used it in our screened in porch at our old house, and now have the love seat on our patio. For years, I’ve hauled the cushions in if it looked like rain, but last summer I bought this cover. It’s perfect and has space for me to put the chair cushions under it as well. That being said, the one I bought last summer, was #Homered. So, I’m trying again, and, at under $20, if it can last me through the summer (by not being #Homered), I will be happy! Again, the quality is great…Homer is the issue 😉
Lastly, after completing our mini gallery wall for our master bedroom refresh, I thought it needed one more touch. The mini boxwood wreaths provided color and filled the space nicely!
So, there you have it! Just a few things I’ve ordered off of Amazon recently. Are you an Amazon person? What are some of your favorite Amazon finds?
I hope you have a great weekend! The weather looks to be nice today and tomorrow…but the rain chances come back in full force on Sunday. I know where I will be…snuggled up in one of those Amazon blankets while reading a book in the sunroom!
Well, the weeks are starting to run together, and I usually don’t know what day it is, but I thought I’d write a post about our Life…lately.
I’m forever grateful for my “mom friend” group and our ongoing texts. It’s nice to know we aren’t alone when our kids are overwhelming us, we need a break, or we just don’t want to think about 4th grade math anymore! Even better is when we make time for a Zoom meet up which we did last Saturday; it was good for the soul.
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I love previous years that include church and brunch out at a restaurant. This Mother’s Day was good, of course…but it was different.
I slept in and then the kids really slept in, so that was a great treat for all of us 😉
We got dressed and snapped a photo before heading to a local nursery to get my Mother’s Day ferns for our porch. It was the first time we’ve all been in the car together in months. Thankfully, the nursery wasn’t crowded and we were there and back in 30 minutes. It was still nice to get dressed and out of the house for a minute as a family.
I see this graphic every year, and I always think of how true it is. I know what it’s like to struggle to with infertility and yearn to be a mom. I know what loss feels like after a miscarriage. I know friends who’ve lost their mothers recently. I never really realized until trying to become a mom how painful this day can be for others for a variety of reasons. So, while I cherish my time with my kids, I often think of others who may be hurting as well.
Hadley’s teacher gave the class a template they could fill out about the TOP 10 reasons they love their mom. Then, they could show it on Google Slides or have someone print it out for them. Travis printed Hadley’s for me. My favorite one was that I “have potential and confience.” haha
I love a sweetly signed card, and they certainly delivered.
Also, Hayden presented me with his 40 drawing for my 40 years of age with references to things that have happened over the 40 years that would be special to me. He included family names, sporting events (Royals World Series win and Chiefs Super Bowl win!), wedding anniversary date, wine ;), blogger (which made me smile!), and much more. He was so proud of himself! (*Side note- I was fussing at him to go to bed Saturday night…come to find out, he was working on the 40 drawing).
Both of the kids are so sweet…but they still usually end up fighting on Mother’s Day. #keepingmehumble
For fun…a little flashback. Mother’s Day 2010. My first Mother’s Day as a mom. (Side note, y’all—my forehead looks perfect. ZERO wrinkles…and I look way more tired now!) 😉
We’ve been hanging out with Homer. I really do think he loves us being at home so much!
I’ve never been a binge watcher, but I’m getting the hang of it. I started watching Little Fires Everywhere, Dead to Me, and Outer Banks. I watched 4 episodes of Defending Jacob between Friday night and Saturday morning! I’m on the wait list at the library for the book.
We’ve been spending so much time in the sunroom now that we cleared out the sectional that was in there. I know I’ve referenced the new furniture and set up a couple times this week, but this is the final layout. We brought up the television stand that I painted a couple of years ago from the basement, put our living room tv out there (and bought a new tv for the living room), and have really been enjoying the space. We’ve hung out as a family watching tv, having dinner, or playing a game more time in the past week than we have for the five years we’ve lived here.
Crazy story about selling the sectional. I posted it on Facebook Marketplace and had multiple offers and over asking price within minutes. I even had a lady ask me what I’d take for the Target rug I had out there! I was going to buy a new rug anyway, so that made me feel less guilty about another new purchase 😉 We bought the new furniture last Monday afternoon, the sectional and rug were picked up by Monday night, the new furniture assembled by Travis on Tuesday (and I purchased the new Target rug Tuesday too), and the television situation was in place by Friday.
I’m still thanking the quarantine life for giving us the time and energy to get this space figured out!
Pictionary for Game Night
I’ve been making an effort to pick back up with my walking. When everything shut down, I made a point to walk each day and did so for about a month. Then, I kind of lost the motivation. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’ve heard that seeing the sun and getting some Vitamin D in the first 30 minutes of your day can improve a person’s mood and positively impact mental health, so I’m trying to walk each weekday morning until the end of the month (and maybe longer–but wanted to set a small goal)
Yesterday’s morning walk was rainy
When we the weather has been nice, the kids have been playing outside…and they even let me snap this pic of them. They are getting big on me!
Also, we’ve been celebrating the kids’ teachers this week for Teacher Appreciation Week. Monday, they each sent their teacher an email about their favorite things they’ve learned this year. Wednesday was “chalk the walk” with a note to their teacher. It was raining, so chalkboards in the house would have to do. The kids have again been blessed with awesome teachers this year…who’ve gone above and beyond during these weeks of distance learning. I know Hayden and Hadley miss seeing their teachers and their classmates.
That’s a little look at our life…lately. Here are other posts from this week:
Hello and Happy Wednesday. It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so it’s time for Shay and Erika’s fun Let’s Look link up. This month’s topic is Let’s Look at Your Weekend. I remember when I wrote my April Let’s Lookpost about Easter at My House, I wondered if, in May, weekends would still look like the week days….And…I guess they do…(minus the distance learning!).
An average Friday in the spring would have me running a couple of errands after school, going out to eat for dinner (or getting carryout), enjoying a glass of wine, and settling in for the weekend.
Most Saturdays would include neighbor kids playing, a baseball game or two…
dance for Hadley…
Meal planning and placing a Clicklist order for the week’s groceries…
followed by dinner out and some time on our patio…and maybe even hanging out with our neighbors. #Imissmyneighbors
Sunday would start with church, followed by grocery pickup, household chores and laundry…
and if time allowed, (and no baseball games) a trip to the pool (in late May-early September)
After the pool, we’d come home for dinner, showers, and prepping for the week ahead.
Weekends during social distancing/quarantine include some of the same. Of course, kids’ activities are put on hold, and I don’t run errands like I used to…but…
My people still need to eat, and thankfully Clicklist seems to now be at a reasonable turn around time! We are supporting local restaurants and picking up carry out, rather than eating there, on Friday and Saturday evenings.
While it’s not the same, Hayden and Travis play ball in the backyard while Hadley takes a few online dance classes a week.
Now, I have more time to watch some of the shows that have been on my list to watch like Little Fires Everywhere as well as other shows on Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV.
I have a bit more time to read…although, for some reason, I’ve been watching more shows recently…
We have made time for weekly (or more!) family bike rides.
I’m continuing to make an effort to workout almost daily. In some regards, I was better at working out when I had to plan every second of my day. I’m not always as successful when I think I can get the workout in at any time.
I still do better if I can knock my workout out early, and now “early” can be 7:30 rather than 5:30 am. I’ve seen some discussion on how seeing the sunshine and getting some Vitamin D in the first 30 minutes of your day can help your mood and mental health. I’ve made a goal to walk every weekday morning from now until the end of the month/school year. Monday and Tuesday mornings this week, I had over 4,500 steps before 8:00 am and then still got in my regular workout for the day.
Yes, I still love my ear buds. I’m the last person on Earth who doesn’t own air pods.
We’ve had more time for house projects such as the master bedroom refresh…
And, Travis, who does love to do yard work, has had the kids helping him mulch and plant flowers. With sports on hold, the kids are very available to help him with yard work…which they are super pumped about 😉
So while our action packed weekends seem to be a thing of the past for now, we’ve definitely gotten the feel for a slower paced weekend. We spend time as a family, we cross some things off our to do lists, we support our local restaurants, we enjoy the fresh air, and we find the time to do some of the things we don’t have time for when we are scheduled hour by hour even on the weekends. (Y’all, we also find the need to spend some quiet time apart as we are around each other so much…sometimes we need a break!)
Of course, laundry stops for no one and nothing…so it continues to be a constant in our my life too! Interestingly, for not leaving the house, Hadley has way too many dirty clothes and Hayden doesn’t have nearly enough!
There’s a peek at our weekends past and weekends present. I have a feeling we will be back to being over-scheduled before we know it, so I guess we should enjoy this slower paced time right now.
In June, we’ll look at your carry on bag.
Here’s a recap of my previous Let’s Look posts for 2020.
Well, the next stop (and almost the last!) on my Home Updates series, is the master bedroom. We definitely didn’t do anything to this room—not even a fresh coat of paint, in the five years we’ve lived here, until recently.
About two years ago, we met with a contractor about an addition for the back of the house. Essentially, the current master would become half a closet and half a bigger bathroom. The addition would be the master bedroom living space. While I’d love a bigger bedroom, the “need” was more for a bigger closet (#firstworldproblems) and then the kids would each have their own bathroom. Right now, they share the world’s smallest bathroom which is also the guest bathroom when we have people over. (Remember when having people over was a thing?!) Travis currently uses the basement bathroom and closet as his. To be honest, with an addition, I don’t even know if that would change 😉 We’ve made do with the space we have.
Also, as I’ve mentioned, I’m a home body. I’d love nothing more than a bedroom that’s more than a bedroom…I’d love space for a chair, so I could read a book, or a place where we could comfortably watch a movie, etc.
That being said, especially in these uncertain times, it’s difficult to think about spending such a large amount of money, so we’ve just decided to sit tight for now with those bigger decisions.
So, step one in our master update was when I finally ordered the wallpaper from Wallpops. Then, Travis and Hadley painted the bedroom Repose Gray which is what we have in our family room and office areas. I found a quilt and bedspread I loved at Target, but after a few weeks, I realized the quilt wasn’t going to work in the long term as far as being dog and kid proof, so I moved it to the basement guest bed and purchased a quilt from Wayfair that I’d saved a long time ago. Also, we finally hung the kids’ artwork up that I’d framed at least a year and a half ago! Lastly, it was fun to “shop my own home,” and I moved a few decorations into the bedroom that were in other parts of our house.
Before:
As I’ve been doing, these are just the listing photos from when we bought the home. But…I’m also sharing how our room looked before painting, new bedding, etc.
Of note, for the first five years, our bed was positioned with the headboard against the other wall…like how the previous owners had their bed. In December, we moved it how it currently is to make more space when you enter the bedroom, and to make it easier to watch tv!
We used Repose Gray in the bedroom since we knew we liked the color and didn’t have to worry about multiple trips to Lowes or Home Depot for paint samples during this time.
Travis did the edging while Hadley was a big help rolling the paint on the main parts of the wall.
After:
After painting, we took some time to lay out the pictures. Any time I do a gallery wall, I trace the frames on paper, and tape the paper up on the walls to move around and get proper placement. The frames are from Michaels and then for a pop of color, I added the 11 inch boxwood wreaths that I ordered off Amazon.
New bedding + my weighted blanket 😉
I searched Target online before going to one of the Targets in town. I didn’t want to be in Target too long, so I did my research beforehand. I saw Magnolia’s Hearth and Hand comforter and knew that’s what I wanted for our bedding.
I loved the raw edges on the shams, and I wanted a solid comforter that was heavy but not too heavy.
While at Target, I saw the matching quilt, and it’s what I originally bought to go with the comforter.
While Travis liked the original quilt, he did ask me if I thought we should have more color. (How dare him question my taste?) 😂 and then after only a week or so, the kids + Homer started to snag the stitching on the quilt.
So–I remembered a quilt I had saved, seriously over a year ago, on Wayfair. They had it in stock and on sale, so I ordered it. It did add the pop of color we needed, and it’s a quilt that will hold up like the one we used to have on our bed.
I get some grief for sticking with my gray/cream/teal color palette, but it makes it easy to rearrange, use things in other rooms, swap bedding, etc. The basement bedding comforter is gray and teal, and the original quilt works perfectly on the guest bed.
I was able to keep my striped Euro decorative pillows, but added in the Hearth and Hand lumbar pillow as well. Travis really understands my need for so many cozy pillows. #nohedoesnt
The kids’ artwork and some of my favorite family pics from when the kids were 10 months old.
With the pictures gone from the dresser, I moved the wooden trivet that I had in the kitchen to the dresser along with a lantern that I had been using on our chest of drawers. Also, I moved some of my favorite books with Hobby Lobby corbels to the left side of the dresser. Those used to be on top of the cabinet in our office.
It felt good to shop my home for what I needed for the space.
So, that’s a look on our master bedroom refresh. Maybe one day it will be a whole renovation, but for now, this will do.
If we decide tomorrow to go for the addition, we’ve only spent about $250 updating this space. It’s amazing what fresh paint, some new bedding, and a focal wall will do to make a space feel more at home.
Here are the links to my previous house update posts. We’ve sure come a long way!
Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday! This weekend, we had a good mix of being lazy, being outside, and being productive. Now, it’s time to start a new week!
I love this little link up that Lauren, Ashley and others do, so I thought I’d join them again this month. Check out the other ladies’ posts too!
This month’s focus is on our fitness routine. I do try to stay active and do a pretty good job working out about five days a week. My struggle has always been more with balancing that with making good choices with eating! I do know that through the years, I’ve learned how important it is for me not only physically, but mentally, for me to get a workout in…even if it’s just a walk around the block.
For the past few years, I’ve implemented intermittent fasting into my daily life. For the past two years, I’ve pretty regularly followed the LEAN program with Amanda Nighbert. Basically, besides intermittent fasting, the program encourages carb cycling, workouts, and tracking the macros of the food you eat.
What I love about the program is that most workouts can be completed at home although I do like to go to the gym to use the elliptical or stationary bike when that’s an option. Most of the workouts are 30-40 minutes, so when I’m in my usual school year groove, I get up at least two mornings a week to workout. I’m not one who can get up early every morning and my husband often runs in the morning, so I have to coordinate with that. The workouts focus on arms, legs, full body, and HIIT (with some other options thrown in).
working out at home
During this time of quarantine, she’s been sharing weekly challenges which I love…and gives me an extra brief workout for the day.
Of course, with the extra time, we’ve been bike riding a lot as a family, and I’ve tried to take a walk most days as well.
Also, to change up my routine recently, I’ve busted out my Beach body 21 Day Fit DVDs. I really do love these workouts…again, they are around 30 minutes, can be completed at home, and really give you a good workout.
Admittedly, I’ve struggled a bit with staying on top of my diet and workouts during this quarantine period. Some weeks, I’m more motivated than other weeks. After giving myself grace for a few weeks, I started back tracking my macros because you can’t out run a bad diet! Also, I’ve still been having back issues which has limited some of the workouts I can do. That’s what actually made me turn to the DVDs because I love the Pilates and Yoga videos that are included. I’m back to giving myself grace, but also trying to keep moving even if it’s just a 30 minutes walk some days.
So, that’s a peek at my workout routine. I really do love the schedule of it and all the factors combined help me be successful.
Next month’s topic is: Fun Facts!
I hope you have a great week! We only have two more full weeks of distance learning. I think we can do it!
Hello and Happy Friday! We’ve had a pretty good week around here, but I can’t get over the weather. Mother Nature needs to get her act together! We have freeze warnings the next couple of mornings. Anyway, we’ve continued in our distance learning and work from home groove, but we are always ready for the weekend!
I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites, so check out their posts too!
FAVORITE PIC:
Last week, Hadley had my phone for a bit. Later, I found this pic plus a few more. She’s so funny…and why does she look 16 in this photo?!?
FAVORITE KID QUOTE:
Hayden was petting Homer and said, “Mom, Homer is like the grown up that lives with his parents but doesn’t pay any rent?!” It was just such a random comment. I don’t even know what he meant by it but it made me laugh.
FAVORITE KID ACTIVITY:
While the kids have probably been on technology too much or played too many hours of Xbox, I feel like this week they spent some more time outdoors again. Recently, Hadley built a fort in the basement and spent some time hanging out in it. Then, this week, both kids started building an outside fort in the space between our house and the neighbor’s fence. It’s been fun to see their creativity, and it’s always nice when they get along!
FAVORITE CLOTHING ITEM:
We’ve still had cooler weather which I love because I’m a big fan of sweatshirts! So, lots of shorts or leggings with sweatshirts as my momiform.
I wear this Target sweatshirt on repeat; I have it in both blush and camo.
I am also still loving these Hanes sweatshirts from Amazon. They are comfy, and you can’t beat the price. I have it in light pink, black, and this blue color.
Recently, I’ve purchased this style of Amazon Essentials lounge shirt and shorts to use as spring/summer pjs. They are comfy and cute.
FAVORITE FOOD:
This week, I made two recipes that I haven’t made in awhile…Pizza Pork Chops over Orzo and Shay’s Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Mushrooms over Rice. Everyone loved them; I need to bring them back into the rotation.
Pizza Pork Chops over orzo
FAVORITE MOMENT(S):
I mentioned in a recent post that while we updated our sunroom a few years ago when we moved in with a fresh coat of paint and new flooring, we still don’t use it much.
This week, we went ahead and made some moves on making this space more functional for our family. I’m talking we went from 0 to 100 in a day! I had my eye on this set after seeing it recommended by Jen Reed as she has it in her outdoor space. It was out of stock at our Walmart, but Travis stopped by on Monday, and they had one! Then, I put our sectional for sale on Facebook Market Place and had multiple offers over asking price within minutes! Another person even asked to buy the rug I had which I wasn’t necessarily planning on selling. Both the couch and the rug were gone by Monday evening! So, Travis put the new furniture together on Tuesday, and we’ve been enjoying it ever since.
It’s still not 100% finished, but the new furniture and new rug certainly have made this our Updated Sunroom 2.0!
As you can see, I’ve been playing with the room arrangement. We are planning on putting a tv in here, so I think the arrangement below may work best even though I prefer the chairs on either side of the rug.
I received a fun surprise on Tuesday. My mom asked my brother to pick up some flowers for me for Teacher Appreciation Week as well as flowers for my sister-in-law as it’s also Nurses Appreciation Week too.
I added them to the sunroom table.
FAVORITE MOM MEME:
I have always been strict about bedtime (lights out by (9pm) and wake up time (don’t leave your bedroom before 8am) with my kids…but I feel like we are regressing. I remember when they were three and would egg each other on and have lots of energy at bedtime. That’s how it’s been lately. I guess maybe they aren’t burning as much energy during the day to be completely exhausted at bedtime.
Bonus: Flashback Friday:
I remember taking this pic Derby Day 2011. The twins on horsies coming down the hall.
Also, I took a trip down memory lane recapping our best family vacay to date. After finishing the post, I realized, I think it was my favorite post to write on the blog so far.
I hope you have a great weekend! Also, Happy Mother’s Day weekend which is obviously a time to celebrate moms, but through the years, I’ve also realized this day is a tough day for some. Prayers for those who have recently lost a mother and for those who are struggling to start a family. The time will come, continue to be brave, and know the journey is worth it in the end. And for new moms—cherish this time…the years sure do fly by!
Recently, Lauren shared her “Today in my mind I’m in…” post about her honeymoon in Hawaii. I loved this idea. After having to cancel our spring break NYC trip and having no clue what we can plan for the summer, I thought I’d look back on our best trip as a family…June 2018 when we spent our time in Arizona and California…also known as #Whitesgowest (Travis thought of the hashtag and was very proud of himself!)
Now, before we could get to California, we had to first spend a few days in Arizona.
Hayden mentioned going to the Grand Canyon, and neither Travis nor I had ever been there. I’ve said it before, but I am grateful that Travis plans our trips because I feel like I plan every other second of our lives! I was down with the Grand Canyon idea, but was hesitant to spend a big chunk of vacation somewhere without an ocean. Travis was steps ahead of me and knew that San Diego, our all time favorite vacation spot, was an 8 hour drive from Sedona. So, we put the wheels in motion to start our trip in Arizona and spend the bulk of it in California.
To say the kids were excited for this trip, would be an understatement. To say I was nervous about being gone so long and it being just for four of us for the bulk of the vacay, would be an understatement! Turns out, we actually enjoy spending time together especially with sunshine and an ocean view.
Ready for Takeoff…
We left on a Monday afternoon and drove from Lexington to Cincinnati for a direct flight to Las Vegas.
Ready to fly!
Arizona & Grand Canyon
We landed in Las Vegas, rented a car and drove 4.5 hours to Sedona, AZ. Needless to say, we were happy when we arrived, just as the sun went down, at Amara Resort and Spa. We unpacked, and the kids swam while Travis got us a late night dinner. We stayed there Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.
Due to the time difference, even with a good night’s sleep, we were awake pretty early on Tuesday morning. So, we went ahead and decided to visit the Grand Canyon that day.
The kids were excited and ready to roll.
at the resort…
We stopped for breakfast and drove the almost two hours to the GC. Once we got there, we explored for quite some time. We’d follow the map, drive a bit, sight see, get back in the car, drive a bit more, etc. There was lots of “ooing” and “ahhing” and “Don’t take one more step closer!” during our adventure.
It was a hot day, but the views were breathtaking. Of course, the pics don’t do it justice!
Looks can be deceiving. If we backed up three feet, well–I do’nt want to think about it!
After a few hours, we drove to one of the visitor centers where the kids picked out a souvenir, and we picked up some lunch. They had a picnic area where we had lunch and then got ice cream. Then, it was time to drive the two hours back. I will say…there’s not much to look at on the drive to and from!
Once back at the resort, the kids swam (They love a good pool!), we relaxed and then went out to dinner.
On Wednesday, the kids hiked at Bell Rock with Travis while I had a massage at the resort.
Then, we went to nearby Slide Rock State Park where the kids and Travis were brave enough to slide down the rocks in the cold water. I swear I’m fun…but apparently not that fun!
Pool time, Bell Rock, and Slide Rock ParkThey were hesitant at first, but loved it once they got going.
After a couple of hours, we headed back to the resort where the kids swam, we hit up Happy Hour had dinner at one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever eaten at, and then headed to bed.
Snoopy Rock on the right
Thursday morning, we were up, ready for breakfast and then 8 hour drive to California!
San Diego Part 1
San Diego has my heart. We’ve been there quite a few times through the years, and I just love it. I would have gone to any part of California, but I was so pleased that San Diego made the most sense.
The kids were fine in the car. They are used to 9 hour road trips when we drive to Kansas City. Much like driving to get to the Grand Canyon, there wasn’t much to see. That being said, the terrain did change to sand dunes which was interesting. We drove through the border crossing which was also an interesting experience.
We arrived in La Jolla late afternoon and stayed at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Travis has lots of California friends due to being in the horse business, so they were able to tell us where to stay. While some of the rooms need updating, they were still nice and you couldn’t beat the location and being steps from the beach.
We were a little bummed that the weather was overcast for our first two days in San Diego, but, for me, the weather and view were perfect for reading, watching the kids play, and relaxing.
Upon arrival, the kids played on the beach and checked out the pool, before we walked to dinner at a delicious Mexican restaurant. Then, we headed back and went to bed.
I love this pic of Hadley…one of my favorites pics of the trip. First time seeing the Pacific Ocean and just taking it all in. Also, check out her natural highlights…what I wouldn’t give!
Fun at the pool…
On Friday, we spent much of the day on the beach. The kids went for a run with Travis while I continued reading and sipping my coffee. They bounced back and forth between the beach and the pool and even checked out the tennis courts until it was time to shower and go to dinner.
The “I love you so much” was a perfect spot to snap a pic before diiner.
Ready for dinner.
After dinner at a restaurant on the water, we stopped for ice cream (We eat lots of ice cream on vacation!) on our walk back to the beach club. Then, it was time for bed.
San Diego Part 2
If you haven’t traveled with Travis White, then you don’t know that we like to change hotels during our trips 😉 By the time we booked the trip, he could only get two days at the beach club but then found two days at a hotel on the beach in Carlsbad.
So, Saturday morning, we loaded up the car, made a pit stop for lunch at the Taco Stand and arrived at Beach Terrace Inn in Carlsbad.
After we unpacked, we hung out on the beach where the sun finally out! Later, we walked to dinner at a pizza place in downtown Carlsbad and then headed back to the hotel to watch a few television shows and go to bed.
I heart the ocean
On Sunday, the weather was again perfect, so it was a beach day.
Now I’m wondering where these sunglasses are…
My kids have been to the beach often, but are used to the calm waves of the Gulf of Mexico when we go to Siesta Key. So, the waves of the Pacific Ocean gave them a run for their money. They enjoyed it anyway!
That Sunday was actually our 13th wedding anniversary. After some hours on the beach, we walked around town for a bit. The English teacher in me geeked out for a minute while seeing the Farenheit 451 Book Store. I went inside for a few minutes while Travis took the kids for ice cream.
Before dinner, we took some quick, informal family beach pics, watched the sunset, and then walked to dinner at Campfire Restaurant.
My 13th anniversary gift…Hayden didn’t argue about putting on a Polo and both let me take their pics as the sun set.I love these pics so much. Definitely shows how their relationship goes!
When we go on a beach vacation, we usually eat dinner early and head back to the beach for the sunset. Beach sunsets really are my fave. Our reservation was late, so we decided to watch the sunset first and then go to dinner.
Happy anniversary!
Campfire provided an awesome atmosphere, wonderful food, and amazing s’mores for dessert. Truly, it was an anniversary I will always remember spent at our favorite place (San Diego area) with our favorite little people.
Monday morning we had breakfast, hung out at the beach for a few hours (again, the weather was amazing) and then drove to…
Los Angeles
Travis has been blessed with some amazing business opportunities that have turned into friendships. While in Los Angeles, we stayed with one of Trav’s friends at their amazing house. They have young kids too, so our kids had fun playing with their boys while swimming in their pool.
Monday night, we went to the Dodgers game. Justify had won the Triple Crown of racing and Bob Baffert was at the game to throw out the first pitch which was an amazing coincidence!
Go Dodgers!
On Tuesday, we went to Rodeo drive and then to the Santa Monica Pier where there was a kids exhibit with activities.
The kids had fun at this exhibit.
Tuesday night we went out for a sushi dinner.
I knew we wouldn’t escape without going to the horse track! We went to Santa Anita Park, so Travis could watch some horses work out while also meeting up with friends/clients.
They love horses. What choice do they have? 😉
Then, we went to breakfast, checked out the Hollywood sign, said our goodbyes and then headed to Las Vegas which was a 4 hour drive.
Goodbye, Cali!
Las Vegas
After the drive, we checked in at Mandalay Bay, had a snack, took a nap (well, I did!), and then had a late dinner at Giada’s restaurant! I was so excited to eat there, and it was a perfect way to cap off our trip.
While we waited for our table, we took a few pics in her photo booth.
It’s hard to get everyone to look at the camera!
I ordered the scallops and risotto because I feel like that’s what Giada would have wanted me to order! 🙂
We had about 4 hours Thursday morning before our flight and kids voted to go to the pool. We went to the pool that has the lazy river and wave pool. It was perfect for them.
Of course, we soaked up all the sunshine and fruity drinks we could causing us to have to rush to pack up. Too long of a story, but while Travis returned the rental car, the kids and I ran Home Alone style through the airport. Travis was literally the last person on the plane with minutes to spare. I thought he was going to have to spend an extra night in Vegas with our car keys in his pocket as the kids and I would have been stuck in the Cinci airport. BUT…it all worked out.
Home
Thankfully, our flight from Las Vegas to Cinci was uneventful as was the drive back to Lexington. We arrived home around 10:00 pm only to realize we were locked out! haha
Our sitter/dog sitter saved the day about twenty minutes later with a key!
We were gone 11 days, and definitely needed that length of time to pace ourselves for both sightseeing and relaxing! We will forever treasure the memories of this vacation…and it all started with Hayden’s idea to see the Grand Canyon!
If you made it to the end, thanks for sticking with me through the details. When posts like these come up, it reminds me how much I wish I had started blogging sooner as to have all these memories and details in one place. (And to share with anyone who may be interested!)
Thanks for following along on our favorite vacation. I can’t believe that it’s been almost two years since we made that trek. #WhitesgoWest
Where’s your favorite place to vacation?? We usually stick to Florida or South Carolina, but this trip was definitely one worth taking!
Recently, Andrea shared that she made a cookie cake for her son’s birthday. I like to bake, but have never baked a cookie cake. Y’all, we are cookie cake people. I usually order them from Great American Cookie which is in our mall. Cookie cakes for all special occasions. For my birthday, I always say, “All I want is a card and a cookie cake!”
Lately, I’ve had more time to bake, so most Sundays Hadley and I have baked a sweet treat for Sunday dessert. I thought it would be fun to make a cookie cake as our Sunday treat a couple of weeks ago.
I will keep this post simple as Andrea shared about baking her cookie cakes using this recipe, so that’s what I did too!
Ingredients:
3/4 c. room temperature, unsalted butter
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 large egg, plus 1 yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Hadley is always big help in the kitchen. Hayden mostly prefers to be the taste tester 😉
We did not do homemade buttercream icing…although, I do love a good buttercream icing. We just used vanilla icing and sprinkles we had on hand. Hadley did most of the decorating!
Also, of note, not sure if we did something “wrong,” but the cake did rise a bit in the middle. It wasn’t flat like a cookie cake. That being said, it tasted delicious. Like most desserts, it barely lasted two days in our house!
I do want to try the recipe again and press the batter down more before putting it in the over. Also, not sure if Hadley had too big a scoopful of baking soda causing it to rise a bit more than it should have or not? I fall somewhere between novice and expert baker 😉
Overall, the recipe was a success and tasted delish!
Have you found yourself baking more during this time? What are some of your favorite recipes to bake? I’m afraid “quarantine 15” may be real!
Hello and Happy Monday! We had a pretty good weekend around here, and I hope you did too. The weather was really great especially on Saturday. Even with the lovely weather, I was still in a funky mood. My allergies have really been bothering me, and I haven’t been sleeping very soundly, so I think that all caught up to me.The sunshine and Vitamin D did help a bit though. I’m sure this week will be better.
We continue to find joy in the little things, and that’s what this weekend was all about.
Friday morning, I decided to make the kids a breakfast charcuterie board. Shay shared one she made for her kids recently. I decided it was the ultimate challenge for me with it being Friday, and I was in need of getting to the grocery store. I had made muffins the night before, so that got me off to a good start while making the plate. Like with the snack trays I make for the kids, I offered food items I knew each kid would like, so nothing would go to waste. Hayden eats Cinnamon Toast Crunch on repeat, but doesn’t like bananas. Hadley loves the chocolate chip muffins as well as bananas. Of course, both of them love bacon…#duh
Friday afternoon and evening were so nice. Hayden played basketball in the driveway while I read. Then, Hadley joined him for a few minutes while Travis went to pick up pizza. We ate pizza on our back patio and then Travis built a fire, and the kids had s’mores. It was a nice evening at home.
Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. Hayden helped Travis do yard work, and Hadley helped him plant flowers. Then, we rode our bikes to celebrate cousin Neko’s 7th birthday. Even though it was a social distance birthday, it was still great to see them.
*Also, apparently I’ve given up on making my kids change their clothes. Hayden wore that Mahomes shirt Friday and Saturday! haha
Saturday should have been Derby Day. There are other tracks with horses racing, so Travis tuned in to some of those races while also watching some of the “virtual” Derby coverage.
Oaks through the years…
The kids and Travis stayed up late Saturday night completing a puzzle. I went to bed early. I was hoping some extra rest would help my sinus headache!
I finished watching The Morning Show yesterday. I’d been wanting to watch it since I’d heard about it back in the fall. As I mentioned in a previous post, Travis got the free week of Apple TV, so he could watch a Beastie Boys documentary….so I was tasked with binge watching all ten episodes of TMS this week. #Iwasupforthechallenge
When I first saw the cast lineup last fall, I initially thought it would be more of a comedy…but it’s definitely a drama series. Basically, Steve Carrell is Matt Lauer who is fired leaving his co-host, Jennifer Aniston, in search of a replacement (insert Reese Witherspoon). That being said, it was a pretty heavy series to watch, and it certainly focused on the topics of the work place environment, the abuse of power, and the misconduct that is covered up. Some of the minor characters made the show even more than the main cast, in my opinion. I believe there is a season 2 in the works, and I will definitely tune in when it premieres.
On Sunday, Hadley helped me make Shay’s Oreo Peanut Butter Ice Box Pie. It was absolutely delicious. For the month of May, I made a goal to give up sweets….except on any Sunday where we’ve made anything with the words “peanut butter,” “Oreo,” and “PIE!” It was a great way to cap off our weekend.
So, that’s what we were up to this weekend. I was very grateful for the beautiful weather and hope we have more of it this week. Now, it’s time to wake up two kids for week 5 (I think?!) of distance learning.
showmeandsweettea.com 