Posted in Family

Twenty Years

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Today is a big day in the White house…Today, marks twenty years of marriage for Trav and me. Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun…and are on the go non-stop!

It’s cliche and just like with other milestones, I feel like we blinked and went from this…

…to this…

Travis is definitely my person. He’s the yin to my yang and the calm in the storm for me.

I always say that we aren’t perfect, but we’re perfect for each other. (I say the same thing about parenting — )

I saw this graphic…and thought it was a fun…

Well, that’s a neat perspective!

While some years have been harder than others, we’ve continued to put in the work and show up for each other. And, some years have been easy too! We’ve made so many memories that I treasure dearly.

Looking back at 20 years…here’s a few things by the numbers…

  • We’ve been together 24 years and married 20.
  • We’ve lived in two states (Missouri and Kentucky), but we’ve only lived in KY while married.
  • We’ve lived in three houses….and we’ve been in our current home for over ten years; I assume we’ll be here for quite some time.
  • We’ve had four cars between the two of us…Well, actually five since Trav got a new one last summer.
  • We’ve had three dogs throughout our marriage. Shiloh was our first pup that we got after we were married a year. She was a Boxer, and we got her another Boxer friend, Scout, a couple of years later. Of course, now we have Homer.
  • As far as work goes, he’s worked at two farms, and I’ve worked at two schools in the past twenty years. Like with our house, I don’t see us making any changes to where we work. Honestly, both places for both of us have been just what we need to grow professionally through the years.
  • We’ve had six surgeries between us, but thankfully nothing has been too serious…the most recent was Trav’s heart ablation, and yes, that one was a bit more nerve wracking compared to his previous knee surgeries.
  • We’ve been blessed to go on countless vacations.
  • And, I’d say the most important number and the best part is that he’s been my partner in raising two wonderful kids:

We’re certainly blessed.

To quote the queen Ina Garten…

The definition of a good marriage is that each person thinks they got the better deal.”

I pray for many more years of health and happiness for the both of us!

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was…long. I’m not sure I recommend having both kids’ wisdom teeth out at the same time again. haha

Hayden has bounced back quickly, and Hadley is taking a longer time to recover. She ended up dehydrated, so she’s had that to deal with along with the fact that her teeth were impacted, so she’s more swollen and uncomfortable. She’s still eating soft foods while Hayden’s back to eating pizza. Anyway, I’m a bit late getting this post out, but here we go…

Usually, I share my Monday Memes post on the last Monday of the month. Well, next Monday is the last Monday of the month, but it’s also the last day of the month, so I’ll share my Monthly Moments post then.

Speaking of time flying…June needs to slow down!

This was me yesterday…I needed to get out of the house…and I told Hadley the same. She sat on the front porch for a bit last night to get out of her bed and get some fresh air.

Thankfully, we’ve been busy, so my kids haven’t been bored…but I remember feeling like I had to keep them so busy in the summer when they were little. I’m sure some can relate to this one.

I’m still in summer mode, but this made me LOL.

WHY did this one have me rolling? Like literally LOL…

This! OMG! There’s a little fair that pops up by the mall every year, and when I see people on the roller coasters, I’m like “no, ma’am!”

Not sure I’ve related to a meme more:

Honestly, I need to get out and socialize more at this point. haha This is so funny though…

Yes! I feel so accomplished when I put away the shirts and sweatshirts that I toss on the one chair in our bedroom. It’s a dumping ground throughout the week, and then it’s such a nice feeling to have it tidy and picked up.

Our first big heat wave of the summer hits this week! …the week I finally have time to go to the pool. We’ll make it happen though.

I hope these memes start your week off with a laugh!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#263}

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Even though this was a solid summer week, I still felt like there was too much going on! It’s nice to have the time to cross some things off my list, but I think I tried to be too productive this week. The weather isn’t helping either….it’s been very rainy, so I haven’t even had a pool day! I’m not trying to complain…just keeping it real that even weeks in the summer can be meh!…but better than setting a 5:50 alarm.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Well, my first favorite for the week is sharing a little KC recap from our visit last week.

The kids and I headed that way last Wednesday and then came home on Sunday. Honestly, we didn’t do much, but in the best way possible. When my kids were little, I felt like I always had to plan more and keep them entertained. Now, we bopped back and forth between my parent’s houses, had lunch and dinner with my Gma, Hayden played golf, Hadley worked out with my mom and her group, and we went to the Royals game. It’s always nice to see family, and I really love getting back to KC when we can.

We went to the Royals game on Friday night with my mom. Right when we walked in, there was a dug out for a photo op and then our seats were near the signature suites…and I recognized lots of signatures.

Hayden was so excited to go to Friday night’s game because Alex Gordon, one of his favorite players, was being inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. The game didn’t start until 7:10, but we got there at 5:40 when the gates opened to ensure we got an Alex Gordon bobble head.

One happy camper:

I was always a big Alex Gordon fan too…not many players play their entire career for the Royals, and he just seems like a really good guy…not to mention a multi Gold Glove winner!

The induction ceremony was fun to watch with the former players and Alex’s speech.

Our seats were undercover on the second level and a great spot to watch the game.

Unfortunately, the Royals didn’t win, but there are always fireworks on Friday nights in the summer.

So pretty!

I made the Krusteaz cinnamon coffee cake the last time my dad visited, and he’s now obsessed with it. He also didn’t know you can buy the foil baking pans, and I think his life is now changed forever. haha

We took some on the road with us when we left Sunday morning.

Once we got back in town, one of the things on our “to do” list was picking up the bowl that Hadley painted. She went to a local pottery painting place with a couple of friends the week before we left.

I had no clue what to expect, and her bowl is stunning. She says it’s her ice cream bowl!

Since we got home so late on Sunday night, we had to delay celebrating Trav for Father’s Day until Monday night. I told both kids not to make any plans! Earlier in the day, Hadley drove me on a couple of errands, and we decided instead of a cookie cake, we’d pick up some Crumbl cookies.

So, we had dinner, and then the kids gave him their cards and the cookies. My brother has this propane fire table, and we’ve used it the past couple of times we’ve gone to his house. We have a fire pit out back, but it’s wood burning and is definitely showing its age. When I saw this one at my brother’s, I thought it would look great on our back patio and be easier to use than dealing with a fire burning pit. Anyway, now, T-rav just has to put it together. haha!

Favorite Mom Meme:

Why is this one so true?? haha

Screenshot

Bonus Fave: FBF

Going to the Royals game on our KC visit reminded me of the first time we took the kids to a Royals game. It was 2016…and the Royals had won the World Series in 2015. They were really excited to go to their first MLB game, and Kaufman Stadium had lots of kids’ activities and memorabilia to keep them busy.

Even though we live 600 miles away, I’m thankful that my kids are #raisedroyal

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

I hope to get back in the blogging groove next week…with memes, books and more!

Please send some good vibes our way this morning…both kids are having their wisdom teeth extracted today. Send me any tips…So far, I’ve borrowed and bought ice packs and we’ve stocked up on applesauce and chicken noodle soup.

Have a great weekend!

Posted in This and That

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Did you catch my post yesterday? I was late hitting publish, but I always love sharing my Prime Purchases…just as much as seeing what others purchase as well!

It’s been a few weeks, but I’m linking up with Joyce for her weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge post.

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)…what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?

When I was a kid, I loved running around the neighborhood and playing with friends. We didn’t belong to a pool, but there was one in the neighborhood that we’d occasionally go to, and we’d go to my grandparents’ club as well.

We spent a lot of time at the Lake of the Ozarks which was always fun! I remember thinking it was so neat taking a “bath” in the lake. My grandpa would put shampoo in his hair and jump in! We always had fun on the boat as well as swimming and fishing….and playing cards.

A couple of summers ago, we took the kids and met up with one of my college friends at her family’s house at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we all had a great time.

Right now, I do actually kind of like that we all get a chance to do what we want in the summer. There is a kind of rhythm and routine in that the kids still have workouts, we’ll go to the pool, we eat lunch out sometimes…but then Hayden will go to the lake with friends for a couple of days, Hadley loves camp, I love pool time, and Trav likes hanging out outside. Of course, we do things together, but I’ve tried to embrace letting the kids do what makes them happy since we’re so busy during the school year. So far this summer, we’ve had lots of family dinners together which has been nice.

I do miss when the kids were little…and honestly, we spent a lot of time at home or in the neighborhood. We’d walk to the play ground, do a craft at home, go to story time at the library, they took naps, and it was just nice being a “stay at home mom” for a couple of months.

Last summer, I shared a few “Throwback Thursday” posts that I really enjoyed writing.

Maybe I’ll bring that series back!

2. Something you’ll celebrate this summer?

T-rav and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage next week!

3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like?

I think summer tastes like watermelon, smells like coconut and citrus, and apparently, summer sounds like cicadas!! Yikes!

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day…what’s the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today?

I bought a new Barrington bag a few months ago. I’d had my other one for at least five years, and it was showing its age.

Today, it’s not really a splurge, but it’s a “splurge” in that I’m taking the time for myself…I’m going to Reformer Pilates class and getting my monthly facial today. It’s a “self-care” kind of day.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.

Here are a few funny summer memes:

Screenshot

6. Insert random thought here.

Hayden’s 6am cross country practices/conditioning started this week. I’m grateful Trav is taking the morning shift! Crazy to think that next summer…I guess he can drive himself!

Hadley is getting her PE credit out of the way by taking online gym last week and this week. Every day, she’s had some kind of physical activity and then a research/writing portion due. So far, they’ve done a fitness test, worked on volleyball, badminton, and soccer skills and practiced CPR. It’s been interesting to say the least. haha!

That being said, apparently she prefers this way to sweating during the school year.

Have a great Wednesday.

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Well, this post is over a week late per my typical blogging schedule, but it’s summer and I’m out of whack! haha

One of my favorite posts to write every is month is this Prime Purchases post, so please forgive my tardiness.

Here are some purchases over the past six weeks or so…

Well, I’ve mentioned time and time again how much I love these Cushionaire sandals, and I’ve had this pair for four years. Well, I’d worn them to the ground, and I did buy a new pair…and my feet have never been happier! (I do size up one full size in this sandal)

While in South Carolina for spring break, I lost one of my Air Pods! It was the craziest thing…I’d come in from the beach and was washing my hands. I looked in the mirror and saw my Air Pod fall out of my ear…but I couldn’t find it anywhere! I was so annoyed not being able to find it.

My mom had given me the Air Pods for Christmas probably four years ago, so I’d had them for a bit. I’d toyed with the idea of getting a new pair but held off. After about a month, I realized how much I missed having wireless headphones/ear buds for walks and listening to books. You know I’m an audio book girl now!

Anyway, a quick search on Amazon, and I found these. Now, I did a double take when I saw the price mark down….over $100 to nearly $25, but I ordered them…and they have been great! The price doesn’t seem to have gone back up, so who knows, but after using them every day for the past month, I love them…and they’ll certainly do the trick for the time being. They have the noise canceling feature which is mind blowing to me as I didn’t have that with my Air Pods. The charge seems to last without issue and they do come with s/m/l silicone ear pieces if you need to change out. Whatever it came with has worked for me. There are a few colors, and I went with the pretty “azure” color.

Anyway, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with this purchase!

We have a couple of spots in our house where a lamp would be perfect, but we don’t have an outlet. Tina (@to_mimishousewego) has shared this lamp quite a few times, and I finally bought it.

I really like it! It was taller than I was expecting, but it fits where I was hoping it would on this table at the end of the hall. I use it most every night for a few hours. It has three settings, and I’ve been charging it about once a week. It’s been a great option for what I was wanting.

I bought Hadley this tennis skirt in case she needed a back up one for her summer job. It’s teen girl approved.

Also teen girl approved (but not limited to teen girl!) are these pjs. Last summer, I got Hadley this pair in gray, and she’s worn them a ton…so much so that she requested another pair…in navy. These are truly her favorite pjs!

Screenshot

Hayden wins for most shoes in our house…but of course, they are mostly tennis/running shoes! Trav bought him this expandable shelf for his closet, and it’s been the perfect solution to keeping his shoes organized and off the floor.

I shared that Hadley went to a music festival a couple of weeks ago, and this brave girl…

…broke in these boots at the festival. She wore them for over eight hours and has no complaints.

I’ve had this swim cover up for at least three years. I have it in light blue and navy. Well, when I saw the price was less than $10, I purchased another one. After three years, my navy one had shrunk a bit…I think it got put in the dryer once, which I don’t recommend.

Me in Mexico a couple of summers ago wearing the blue one. Truly, it’s light-weight, stylish and so cute!

Every few years, I replace some of my most used utensils. For Christmas, one of my suggestions to my mother-in-law for me was a new small pair of tongs…and I love them. We have a large set of tongs but at some point, Trav held them too close to the grill and they melted a bit. Anyway, long story short, I threw them away and ordered this set.

Speaking of Trav, he misplaced his phone charger, so I ordered this two pack, so he’d quit using my charger. haha

Hayden still loves playing golf…and when not on a golf course, he spends a lot of time “playing” in the front and back yard. Trav bought him these foam golf balls, and they’ve been the real MVP of the summer!

Hayden took some with him when we went to KC last week, and they were perfect for him to chip around in my mom and dad’s backyards.

That being said, I told him if the neighbors look at him in panic, they might not understand that he is hitting foam golf balls! One of my dad’s neighbors retrieved one from her planter that Hayden hit into her backyard. Oh my!

The past couple of times I’ve gone to KC and stayed at my dad’s, I’ve wished he had a comforter for the guest bed instead of just a quilt. I like a comforter/more weight when I sleep. I’d made a note to see what I could find before our summer visit, and this comforter is perfect!

I had it sent straight to his house before our arrival and was pleasantly surprised with the quality and comfort. I chose a neutral color, but there are so many color ways.

Before we know it, Amazon will be hosting their Prime Days in July…but who wants to think about July?!

{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#262}

Hello and happy Friday!!

How was your week? I hope it was a good one. We had another week that included a little bit of everything…family time, workouts, pool time, productivity and more.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

I’m actually keeping this favorites post pretty short and sweet.

The #1 favorite from the week was celebrating our niece/cousin at her wedding on Saturday. She got married at the botanical gardens in Louisville.

Saturday’s evening forecast called for rain, and we were all holding our breath. It started to sprinkle right as we took our seats, but it cleared up for a bit and then rained once we were inside for the reception.

Rows 3-5 ready for the wedding to begin.

As we entered the reception, this was by the door:

Travis and I were on there too…20 years of marriage…

They had a Polaroid camera for their guest book. We got a fun pic, and Hadley signed the book for us.

When there was a slight break in the rain, we stepped outside for a family photo. Honestly, it was sprinkling, but I wanted to make the photo happen while Hayden had on his jacket! haha

Oh I wish the sun had been out as the cocktail hour was to be outside, but obviously it all worked out as they had a backup plan.

The centerpieces were simple and lovely. The cousins were at table 4 and the aunts/uncles at table 5.

We were only missing one cousin. These kids are all growing up on us!

Truth be told, it’s been a minute since I’ve been to a wedding with a full reception and dance floor. Well, as soon as the music started, most of the guests were out there….and as soon as they broke out the glow sticks, it kicked the fun up a notch. I’d say if you are throwing a wedding, foam glow sticks are where it’s at!

Also, if you need a pair of heels, I’ve had these for three years. I’ve worn them quite a few times, but I truly put them to the test on Saturday night…wearing them for almost eight hours! My feet lasted the entire night in them (I sized up half a size), and I didn’t even put on my back up flat sandals! Just sayin’!

…meanwhile…teen boys at a wedding reception…swiping the napkin rings and stacking them.

It was such a beautiful wedding celebrating the lovely couple.

I did make it to the pool on Tuesday, and the weather was amazing…the sun was out, but it wasn’t too hot. I finished my first book of the summer pool side. What’s better than that?!

I can now cross One Golden Summer off my summer reading list.

I also finally made it to a Pilates class that my friend teaches. I was able to go to so many classes in January/February when we had snow days, but the times don’t really work out otherwise. So, this summer, I’m hoping to go at least two days a week.

The kids and I arrived in KC on Wednesday to visit family for a few days. This is a part of summer that we look forward to every year. I’m sure I’ll share a recap once we get back.

Favorite Mom Meme:

These kids stay hungry!

Weekly Recap:

I had hoped to write more posts this week…I still haven’t shared my monthly Amazon post, but no two days were alike this week!

I hope you have a great weekend! We have a couple more days in KC and then we’ll celebrate Trav for Father’s Day when we get home.

Posted in Let's look, Travel

Let’s Look

Hello and happy Wednesday! How is the week treating you?! So far, so good for us. We’re still recovering from a busy weekend and now getting things accomplished that we didn’t have time for over the weekend.

It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s edition of Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at

  • Low level goals for 2025 in January
  • How you work on your marriage in February
  • How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
  • Maintaining friendships in April
  • Our wellness routine in May

This month we’re looking at travel bucket lists.

When I saw this topic, I immediately remembered a post I wrote a few years ago where I recapped some of our favorite vacation spots.

In that post, I included this “bucket list”:

  • New York – I’d shared that we had a full trip planned in 2020 for spring break only to have to cancel it due to Covid. Trav and I have been to New York (before we met), so it’s been a while ago, obviously. We just thought it would be a fun spot to take the kids especially now that they are older. We have some possible short term plans for NYC.
  • DC was also on that list. Again, not necessarily a bucket list item in that it’s a luxurious spot, but just an important place that we felt like the kids would enjoy. Well, we can check that box, because, as you know, we went to DC for spring break 2024. Truly, though, I’d love to go back. There’s so much we didn’t get to see.
  • Pacific NW – This is another box we’ve checked since I wrote that post. Last summer, we went to Oregon mainly for the Olympic track trials, but we did so much more than that. We started in Oregon and ended our PNW trip in Washington.
  • Mexico was also on the list. Trav and I went there twenty years ago for our honeymoon, and then we took the kids there the summer after 6th grade. Mexico did not disappoint. The travel to get there was pretty easy, the all inclusive resort was nice, and we had plenty of time to relax.

So, still on the list are:

  • Hawaii – and while this destination remains on my list, it’s probably the one I would rank as the lowest priority.
  • Nantucket – Maybe one day!
  • Europe – London, Paris, Italy, Greece
  • BVI – The British Virgin Islands look like a lovely place to relax!
  • One addition – I’m intrigued by Costa Rica, so I will add that to the list.

Something about summer always makes me think about travel. We really don’t have any major travel plans this summer, and honestly, that’s ok too! I appreciate the time at home just as much as the time away at this point in my life.

What a blessing it’s been to check some of these destinations off our list.

Posted in Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: June 2025

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was busy with a capital B! We were in Louisville for our niece’s wedding. It was great to see family and celebrate the lovely couple, but we are worn out!

Ok, June…slow on down! It’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting the Share Our Lives link up with some of my favorite bloggers.

So far this year, we’ve discussed…

  • Saving time on chores in January
  • Tips for falling asleep in February
  • Day in the life, an average day in March
  • Creative outlets/free time in April
  • How do you spend your birthday in May

This month’s topic is unique things about where you live.

I really love where we live. I’ve shared before that growing up, I never thought I’d live anywhere besides KC, but now I’ve been in Lexington for over twenty years! That’s definitely hard to believe.

It’s been a few years, but I wrote this Lexington Top 5 post, and the reasons/unique things about where I live still hold true.

I’ll take the time to update some of the pics for each category, but that post shares lots of great reasons why I love where I live.

1. Keeneland/Oaks/Derby

The Keeneland meets are in April and October. Oaks and Derby are the first week of May in Louisville.

2. Restaurants

There are still so many restaurants that we love and go to often or even new ones that we’ve tried and now go to regularly. In the past couple of years we’ve broadened our horizons, eating at Jeff Ruby’s, Frank and Dino’s, Italx, and Lost Palm.

3. Sports

We still go to UK games — football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball. Especially now that my kids are older, they tend to go with friends or with their school teams. I think it’s so wonderful to have a college team to cheer for even if I still don’t “bleed blue.”

4. Parks

There are still many parks and outdoor activities that we like to visit throughout the year.

One I didn’t mention last time is that the Red River Gorge isn’t too far away and a good spot for hiking…

…followed by pizza a Miguel’s.

5. Activities

I don’t have many changes/updates for activities as I think I shared a pretty broad list last time. There’s so much to do in and around Lex from season to season.

One activity that wasn’t in that post that we’ve now done a couple of times is canoe Elkhorn Creek which is a fun activity that will also wear your kids out. haha!

This was a fun post to (re)visit and update. Oh how the kids have grown in the past few years! We love where we live.

What’s one of the most unique things about where you live?

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Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids, School

Friday Favorites {#261}

Hello Friday but let’s slow down summer!

How was your week? Ours was really good. Some mornings, the kids have slept in; some mornings they’ve gone to sports performance training. We’ve been to the pool a bit. Hadley had a sitting job, volleyball, and pool time. Hayden has power washed for a few people, gone golfing, and continues to run. So, every day has been different, but we’re settling into a bit of a routine.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

With this first full week of summer under our belts, I have a lot of favorites to share:

Last Friday, we celebrated my niece’s birthday! She’s 8 and oh so cute. We had cake…

…and then kids swam in the pool for a bit. It was a lovely Friday night.

Saturday was the state track meet, and Hadley ran in the 4×200 relay and the 400m race. When the kids started this season, we truly had no clue what to expect. Of course, with every race, they do their best, but qualifying for state is different than qualifying in middle school. Hayden was a very supportive brother for both of Hadley’s races, and she also had a lot of family there cheering her on.

Her relay had a PR and placed 7th overall, and she ran a solid 400, placing 8th. She’d hoped to break 1:00 in the 400; she was close, but fell short of that. The top 8 receive medals, so I think earning a medal for both races eased her mind a bit. No matter what, it was such an amazing experience for her to run those races as a freshman coming out of one of the toughest regions. Hayden had an awesome season as well.

We were blessed with some amazing photos…a friend of my brother-in-law’s is a photographer for a local news outlet and took these photos of Hadley to share with us:

…and…one of the kids’ friends and teammates has some serious photography skills. She took these pics which I love.

Hadley with her bling:

It was a beautiful morning for a track meet…and then it was time for Railbird.

After the meet, we made a pit stop at Chipolte because my girl was hungry and she went home to shower and change for the Railbird music festival. She was gone from 3:00-11:00 hanging with friends and listening to some of her favorite country music artists.

Also, how brave is she? We ordered these boots last minute, and she wore them to the festival. Who breaks in new boots while on her feet for eight hours? This girl! haha

Oh the things we do when we’re young! Also, bonus — we wear the same shoe size!

Sunday was fun as we went to a graduation party…and the sweet graduate is headed to MIZZOU this fall. What a small world.

My mom came to visit, and we went to First Watch for breakfast before she headed out on Tuesday morning. The avocado toast I ordered was delish, but even better was the “Watermelon Wake Up” juice that I ordered. 10/10 recommend!

On Wednesday, Hayden caddied a round of golf for his friend who was playing in a tournament. It was a hot day, but I know he had so much fun.

While Hayden was on the course, Hadley was driving me around town. She drove me to Hobby Lobby, so I could check out their bulletin board paper selection. So, because of Tik Tok, I’m just now realizing that Hobby Lobby has quite a few school/teaching supplies! This roll of cute polka dot paper is exactly the width of the bulletin board. My mind is blown. I’ve always used the rolls of paper that we have at school, and you end up having to overlap the paper. Please know, that the last time I put up a bulletin board was five years ago…and I won’t do another one for a few years. High school teachers are very different than elementary teachers. haha!

I’m changing rooms for the upcoming school year, and Travis helped me move my stuff on Tuesday. After Hobby Lobby, Hadley drove us to Chipolte (she loves a burrito!) and then to school where she helped me put up my new bulletin board. My August self will thank me later! That being said, I’m finished thinking about school for now!

I added a few June reading trackers to my Instagram highlight. Please feel free to use them and tag me. I love sharing what others are reading.

I was out front watering my ferns and flowers, and noticed that I have two pretty blooms on my hydrangea bush. Hydrangeas and peonies are my fave flowers in the summer.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Hello, summer!

Share Our Lives:

It’s hard to believe but we’re almost halfway through 2025…and we have another Share Our Lives link up…We’re sharing unique things about where you live. I can’t wait to read those posts.

Weekly Recap:

This was a fun week of blogging for me:

I hope you have a lovely June weekend.

Posted in This and That

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was non-stop with family things, friend things, and school things, so I’m late linking up with Joyce, but these are my summer hours, ok? haha

Anyway, let’s get to it…

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up?

I will start with the last question first…I always had great birthdays growing up! It seemed that we had family over to celebrate, and some years I’d have birthday parties with friends. I had a few parties at Show Biz Pizza, but there were even years where we had snow on my (January) birthday, so we went sledding down our front yard hill.

For my kids, I guess just because I love my birthday so much, and I have one day to celebrate both kids, I’ve always made a big deal about birthdays. For a few years, we’d have a family party for them and then when the kids got a bit older, we’d have a friends party and a separate family party. Some years I baked the kids’ cake(s), and then we moved to cookie cakes or Bundt cakes.

Some traditions included the “birthday” banner until they were 10. This was probably my first Pinterest craft, and I just kept it and changed out the number year to year.

Also until they were 10, I bought them birthday t-shirts. I think I’m practical enough to know when it’s time to let a tradition go…haha….but the t-shirt years were cute!

I still always hang streamers from their door, so they wake up to some fun! We’ve certainly eased back on some of the celebrating just as they’ve gotten older and busier, but I still think they feel very loved and celebrated.

As for mine and Trav’s birthdays, we feel the love too! There’s always cake, a gift or two, and we go out to dinner.

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses…what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct?

Listen, I’m not picky if someone wants to send me flowers…haha! I don’t know that I’ve ever received roses, but they have been in some bouquets. I definitely don’t see the world through rose colored glasses. I’m not jaded, but I’m definitely realistic/practical as to how I view the world.

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day…will you celebrate? What’s something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese?

Ohh…just last weekend, I made one of my favorite pasta salads. I took it to my brother’s house for dinner last week. My ten year old nephew wasn’t going to put any on his plate…but he did…and then went back for seconds! So, there you go –that’s all you need to know. 🙂

The link to the pasta salad (via Pinterest) doesn’t seem to work anymore, but it’s just…

  • Pasta
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Salad Supreme
  • Italian dressing
  • Mozzarella (So, there’s the cheese part to answer this question!)

4. ‘Tis the season…any weddings on your June calendar? What’s the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage?

This is a season of weddings for us. We have a niece getting married this weekend and a nephew getting married in July.

Travis and I will celebrated 20 years this month too!

The first word that comes to mind when I hear “marriage” is “partnership.” I really couldn’t do this life without T-rav!

5. What are you most looking forward to this June?

Summer! Pool time, family time, friend time, a wedding, and more.

6. Insert your random thought here.

For whatever reason, nothing random is coming to mind! That’s a first.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer day!