How was your week? We made the most of ours…the kids had workouts a couple days this week,we embraced the cooler temps, saw a movie, ran some errands, and squeezed some pool time in.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Last weekend, Hadley went to the lake with some friends. Most summers, these girls go together and spend some time on the lake…unfortunately, there was some rain off and on last Saturday, but they made the most of it.
Umm…how cute is Hadley’s set? She showed it to me, and I had a gift card, so I got it for her. Once it arrived, and she tried it on, we both gave it two thumbs up.
She said, “Mom… it comes in lots of colors if you want one!” I love that she knows I loved a good set 😂
It’s no secret that I don’t change up my nail color much…I usually do OPI’s Bubble Bath or Funny Bunny. My sister-in-law mentioned “Bubble Bunny” as a combo of the two, and this is the second time I’ve gotten it. It might just be my new “go to.”
After writing last week’s Hodgepodge post, I realized I hadn’t made this fave dessert in a while. It made it on Tuesday, and it hit the spot!
I only have two episodes left of Little House on the Prairie, and I don’t want it to end. Surely there will be another season?!
One of the movies I’ve been wanting to watch since I saw it was on Netflix is People We Meet on Vacation….but first I wanted to read the book. I read the book the end of June/early July, and I loved it!!
Since Tuesday was an overcast and somewhat rainy day, I decided to watch the movie. I couldn’t have loved it more. It was quite a bit like the book, and I couldn’t have loved the actors who played Poppy and Alex more. It’s definitely a movie I’d watch again.
On Monday, Travis was available for lunch, so the kids and I met him at one of our favorite local spots. It’s not fancy, but it was nice to meet and have lunch together. Those types of things definitely don’t happen during the school year.
The Odyssey movie was high on my list to see, and imagine my surprise when my family wanted to see it too. Shockingly, the kids only kind of remember reading it as freshmen…but it’s one of my favorite things to teach in English 1. It’s crazy to think how many times I’ve taught it through the years.
I was a little worried about the movie being three hours long…and our 7:00 time to see it on Wednesday, but it exceeded ALL of my expectations.
I think Matt Damon deserves on Oscar! I loved how the plot was woven together between the Trojan War, the suitors/Penelope/Telemachus at home in Ithaca as well as Odysseus trying to get his men home. It was absolutely amazing, and it didn’t feel like a three hour movie. Everyone in my crew enjoyed it too.
To offset some of the TV and movie viewing I did this week, I did spend time outside in the beautiful weather…and I also read this book in 24 hours. I’ll recap it in my July book post, but it was so good!
Favorite Mom Meme:
LOL…why?! (Also, if I don’t respond to their texts quickly, I hear all about it. haha)
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
This pic from 2018 was in my Instagram memories…Hayden used to fall asleep reading all the time.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one…
How is your week going? The storms on Tuesday weren’t as bad as predicted in our area, so that was a sigh of relief. Yesterday and today have fall like temps in the upper 70’s to low 80’s with no humidity. I could take this type of weather year round!
In Monday’s post, I shared a few school supplies I’ve picked up for myself so far, and today I’m sharing some other faves.
As a high school teacher, I don’t really have to buy much to start the school year…especially compared to elementary teachers. I always buy a planner, pens, calendar, and then freshen up some supplies like markers and pencils.
Admittedly, last year, I purchased quite a few things because I moved to a much bigger room, and had to start over in some respects, and just wanted to freshen up some supplies after a few years.
This year, so far, I’ve purchased:
This “clipfolio” that has the clip board on the outside and then dividers and a notepad on the inside as well as the pens at Aldi.
This is the planner I’m going to try this school year…
The past few years, I’ve gotten my desk calendar at Target, and that’s where I found one again this year. It’s literally been this same pattern the past few years, and it works for me.
I went to link the rest of these supplies, and realized I can just link my “School Faves” list from my Amazon Storefront…everything is already linked there.
I reordered these numbers again this year. I put them on my tables, and use the numbers to assign seats. They stayed on just fine…except for when students peeled them off…hence why some numbers need replaced.
This clock was a fun addition to my classroom last year.
I’m not sure how I lived without my rolling podium before last year. I even rolled it out into the hall for my hall duty when needed.
I purchased these binders the past couple of years. Two years ago, I used one for each of the four English 1 units, and then last year, I did the same for the four English 2 units I teach.
The binders have definitely helped keep me organized.
Of course, with binders, you need dividers!
These scallop magnetic borders were perfect for my whiteboard. I used them as a way to divide up my really big whiteboard into sections for announcements, different classes, etc.
I used these magnetic whiteboard strips in a variety of ways but mostly for my different classes.
Our blocks on certain days are by color, and I used the corresponding colors for my whiteboard.
With students using Chromebooks, I have a few of these power strips in my classroom.
In my new room, I have two bulletin boards, and I needed something to add to one of them. Are you even an English teacher if you don’t have parts of speech posters?
I have a file holder on my desk where I keep rosters, seating charts, meeting notes, etc. For those things, I like to have sturdier folders…but of course they have to be cute. This set fits the bill.
One of the best things I bought for my classroom last year was this mesh organizer. It comes in a variety of colors, and I purchased two of them. Since I have six classes, I needed six trays, and I use those trays to hold the papers for each class that I’m going to use for instruction.
One of my friends had these light covers in her room, and I added them to mine. Since my room has windows, I actually only turn on half of my lights most of the time, so these covers keep them somewhat dim.
These are another fave purchase. I have no clue where my paperclips go, but I love how colorful these are.
Last spring, I lost one of my two board erasers, and I decided to buy these magnetic ones. This purchase is definitely another fave. These aren’t going anywhere!
I’ve had the same lunch tote for years. After a couple of years of use that included some spills, it was time for a new one. So, I purchased the exact same one again. I also take this tote when we go on road trips…it’s perfect for snacks. I event take it into hotel rooms if we stay overnight just because it’s easy to carry and bring a few snacks in with us.
My Storefront has some other school supplies linked, but these are some of my faves and most frequently used.
It’s time to start thinking about school sooner rather than later…
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We’re bracing for bad weather around here…high wind and rain with the possibility of hail and tornado watches.
I don’t know about you, but I love reading day in the life posts. I think it’s always so interesting to see what others are up to.
I captured last Thursday…July 16th…it was a pretty average summer day, but I had fun keeping track.
I woke up around 8:00 which has been the norm these days.
As I’ve shared, I’ve prioritized reading for a few minutes before getting out of bed and starting my day. This has been a great new habit for me! I started a new book (and I finished it yesterday…I think it’s Carley Fortune’s best yet!)
After I got up, I found my “best friends” in the fridge…I love these eye patches, and they’ve been a part of my routine for quite some time. They are cooling and comfy and just a great way to reduce under eye puffiness to start my day.
Then, it was time for breakfast. Travis is “pushing” creatine on all of us, and I finally caved. I always try to drink water before coffee in the morning anyway, so now I’m having it with my breakfast.
My breakfast buddy…literally always begging for a bite no matter what we’re eating.
I read most blogs on my phone, and I read quite a few, including Shay’s post about her favorite Elin Hilderbrand books.
Then, it was time for my iced coffee…in my new watermelon icon glass that I found at Target a couple of days before.
I played my morning Bejeweled Blitz…
Then, it was time to get ready for the day. As I shared yesterday, I love my new little lamp on my bathroom counter. I kept it easy with skincare, light makeup, and I of course brushed my teeth.
Of course I made my bed!
I got dressed in my “momiform” which is usually leggings and a t-shirt. (Bonus – I didn’t have to do my hair on this day because it still looked so nice after my hair day the day before!)
I prepped for my outing to the post office. I’ve shared many times how much I love Shop Style Your Senses, and they have a BST (buy, sell, trade) group on Facebook. I’ve had tons of luck selling things to make room for new items.
Before going to the post office, I always write a sticky note with the name and address for each item, so I can be efficient with my drop offs…but also because I don’t want to ship the wrong item to the wrong person.
I picked up a Dunkin coffee which is a rarity for me, but I figured I had a few errands, so I treated myself.
Hayden had the kids’ car, so Hadley was with me, and I dropped her off at her hair appointment.
Then, I headed to Walmart for a return. I was going to walk around, but I decided I didn’t need anything, so it was a quick trip.
While running my errands, I listened to the Read with Jenna episode of her podcast where she interviewed Jennifer Garner and Elin Hilderbrand.
I went home for a bit, and I watered the flowers. Travis has entrusted me with this task on his new landscaping…I don’t want to mess it up!
I stopped by Starbucks to pick up a drink for Hadley.
Then, back to the hair salon I went…I read for a bit while waiting for Hadley to finish up.
This was Hadley’s first time getting a few highlights, and I was excited to see the finished result.
Ta-da!! So pretty. She was really overdue for a haircut.
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One errand I didn’t get to before picking Hadley up was running to the post office, so I did that once Hadley was finished. While I did that, she placed a Chick-fil-a order that Hayden picked up for all of us after his workout.
I got a pic of Hadley when we got home. She loves her hair, but she really loved that she got a good haircut…She usually only gets two to three trims a year, and somehow we were far overdue for her.
I ate my lunch while working on safety training videos.
Then, I worked on one of my summer projects which is taking photos of the kids’ elementary artwork and then making a book for each of them. This was some of Hadley’s work…
My sister-in-law invited me over to her mom’s pool, so I took advantage of that offer. It’s so peaceful there.
I stayed at the pool for a couple of hours, and once I got home, I decided to freshen up the flowers on our coffee table. I walked to the front yard and clipped a few limelights off the bush.
Another “ta-da” moment!
Is there anything better than afternoon shower? That’s one of the things I love about summer…getting evening things taken care of in the afternoons! (You might remember last year when I shared this single suction cup soap dish, but just a couple of weeks ago, I upgraded to a double decker one. I rearranged some things in my shower, and I have limited shelf space, so I appreciate the double one.)
Homer knows that I often relax for a bit in the afternoon and read…or maybe even nap. He likes to lounge with me.
I read more of my book…
Then, we had leftovers for dinner.
I worked on my Friday blog post for a bit.
Then, I watched an episode of Five Star Weekend. I finished it this past weekend and loved it so much.
Then, I was convinced to go with some teens to DQ…I’d like to think they enjoy my company, but I think they might have just wanted me to pay?!
Once we were home, it was PM skincare time…
Travis tends to head to bed before I do in the summer, and that was the case on Thursday night. I tidied up the house, finished my Friday blog post, and then it was time for me to brush my teeth and get into bed. I read for a bit and went to sleep around 11:00 which seems to be the norm right now.
So that was my Thursday. It was still a full day, but overall, I found some relaxation time which was nice!
How was your weekend? Honestly, I was home quite a bit this weekend, but it was much needed to have some downtime, but to also be productive around the house. The kids were busy, but what’s new?
I’m sharing my monthly weekly report.
I put my own twist on the usual set up of: reading, eating, prioritizing, obsessing, recommending, and treating.
Reading:
Is it even summer if Carley Fortune hasn’t released a book? I’m plowing through Our Perfect Storm. I started it Friday, and I think I’ll finish it today!
Once I finish it, I will only have one book left on my 2026 Summer Reading List…Down with the Shipmans.
Eating:
I know I’ve shared how I love summer “snack plates” for lunch in the summer, but this has been the summer of breakfast. For years, I did intermittent fasting, and really only had coffee in the morning. This year, I’ve started to have a bit of breakfast, but this summer, I’ve taken the time to have a “proper” breakfast which typically includes carb, protein, fruit. It’s just been nice to have the breakfast time. Again, I think finding that I’m having more time on my hands because the kids get themselves where they need to be or are sleeping in even means I have time for breakfast!
Enjoying:
Y’all, if you have Netflix, you must watch Little House on the Prairie. Honestly, it wasn’t even on my radar, and then I watched one episode on Saturday, and I’m hooked! I’ve watched the first four now.
Prioritizing:
With the end of my summer break drawing near, I’m definitely prioritizing pool and reading time. As I’ve shared, I’m either at our pool or my sister-in-law’s mom’s pool at her house. It hasn’t been super sunny the past couple of weeks, but even an hour at the pool or in the pool has been nice.
I’m also prioritizingitems on my “summer to do list…” which has included taking photos of the kids’ elementary art and uploading those to a photo book. During the elementary years, I saved their art, and each kid has a “K-2nd” and “3rd-5th” “scrapbook case” in pink and blue.
To be honest, those four cases don’t take up a ton of space, but I still thought a book would be a good idea.
Friday and Saturday I worked on and finished both kids’ K-2nd books. They are hardcover, 8×8 and I used their kindergarten photos for the covers. Maybe this week I can get the 3rd-5th books finished. They also have a few pieces of artwork from middle school, and I’ll just include those at the back of the 3rd-5th books.
Obsessing and ordering:
Y’all, the joy this little rechargeable lamp is bringing me is next level. haha
It’s water waterproof, so it can go in the shower or outside, but I just have it on my bathroom counter. I turn it on in the morning or night when needed…when I take a shower, do my skincare, etc. It will come in handy in the early morning hours when school starts, and I don’t want to turn on the bathroom light and wake up Travis when I get up at 5:50.
I’m ordering/buying school supplies. As much as I drag my feet about going back to school, I do enjoy buying school supplies.
I went to Aldi a couple of weeks ago, and I got this “clipfolio” with a clipboard on the front and a pad of paper inside. It will be perfect to take to meetings. I couldn’t resist the pens either!
I’m trying this planner this year. It’s not necessarily a teacher planner, but I like the size of it, and that it’s not too complicated. (It comes in a smaller size too)
The past few years, I’ve gotten my desk calendar at Target, and that’s where I got one this year. Truly, it’s been this same style for the past few years. It’s a 15 month calendar –not sure why a calendar would start in April, but I just need it for August-May!
Recommending:
I’m definitely recommendingall things Five Star Weekend!
I read the book a couple of years ago while in Del Mar, California, and it’s still one of my favorite Elin Hilderbrand novels!
The series on Peacock was OUTSTANDING! I finished it over the weekend, and it couldn’t have been better. Jennifer Garner can do no wrong. I just love anything she’s in…and the supporting cast was top tier!
Last week, I listened to Jenna’s podcast interview with Elin and Jennifer, and it was great. I loved hearing the behind the scenes stuff, and then towards the end, they were all talking about their favorite books, and it was just the best.
Trying:
…not to panic about the end of summer break. Ugh! I still have a couple weeks, but this Friday I have a professional development day all day, and it will be fine, but it just means I need to start really thinking about school.
I’m also trying to get through the annual safety training videos. This task requires more and more each year. I usually complete them while I’m eating breakfast or lunch and chip away at the modules other times. They add more and more every year..this year, there’s SIXTEEN total HOURS of modules…and this year one additional one is playground safety. Not that it was difficult, but WHY does a high school teacher need to complete a module on play ground safety?!
I hope you have a great Monday! Feel free to share with me what you’re reading, eating, enjoying, prioritizing, ordering, recommending, and trying…
How was your week? We’re clinging to summer break around here!
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are a few favorites from the week:
It’s not until early to mid-July before our limelight hydrangeas start blooming…but when they do, I snip a few each week for a fresh bouquet for the coffee table.
I finally made it to two of Hayden’s basketball games. It was fun to watch him coach a couple of games; he does a good job with his team. He did tell me he wishes they listened to him better. See, he’s learning a lot from this experience. haha!
I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things, and here are a couple of new favorites I picked up…
I’ve never seen the “Beach Day” scented candle before, and it’s lovely. These lobster candies caught my eye, and I picked up a couple of bags. They are a fun treat.
If I’m listening to something, it’s usually a book, but I got on a podcast kick on the plane ride home from Florida a couple of weeks ago. Open Book with Jenna is a new fave. She interviews so many amazing authors. I enjoyed this podcast with Shelby Van Pelt as she talked about the writing process for Remarkably Bright Creatures as well as the Netflix adaptation.
Speaking of “adaptations,” I’m loving The Five Star Weekend as much as I loved the book. I’ve watched a couple episodes a day this week, and I don’t want it to end.
This was my “view” one morning this week, and it was a favorite because I realized it was a little “snap shot” of what I love about summer mornings. I put flowers in a vase and I was making muffins. I’ve always kept my baking cups in a mason jar.
I’m not trying to get a big head about it, but I’m an Antique Candle Co fall candle tester! Well, I had to pay for these samples…but I’m still excited to scan the QR code and share my thoughts on the four scents they sent.
I’ve shared that this summer I’ve tried to make a commitment to start my days reading for a few minutes before getting out of bed. I want to do this before scrolling my phone, and I’m loving this morning habit. Homer stays in bed as long as I do most mornings (He’s hard to see in the pic, but he’s there!)
I bumped into a friend at Target the other day, and she said she had peaches in her car for me. She’d just purchased them from the peach truck, and this is the haul she gave us:
How thoughtful!
While at Target, I was tempted by another icon glass…the watermelon. How could I say no?
On my “to do” list for this summer is to take photos of the kids’ elementary artwork and create a keepsake book, so I can toss most of the artwork. I have a storage bin for each kid for kindergarten-2nd grade and then another for each one for 3rd-5th grade. Of course, this is taking longer than I thought, but I almost have Hadley’s K-2nd book finished.
Looking through the artwork was a trip down memory lane…
And I found this photo of Hayden. I think this photo was from 3rd grade, and I can’t remember all the details, but there were animals coming to school for a presentation, and I refused to send Hayden to school with $20 to pet a turtle. There was a presentation, but then they could take photos with certain animals…or something like that.
Anyway, this photo was in his backpack when he got home from school…he’d taken his own money. LOL!
Hadley had a hair appointment yesterday, and her hair turned out so pretty! She was way overdue for a trim…I think the last time she got one was December, and she wanted a few highlights in her hair. I’ve held off, but figured going into junior year, she could add a bit of dimension to her hair. I had a hair appointment Wednesday, and she had one with my hair girl yesterday. We’ve been high maintenance this week!
Favorite Mom Meme:
The way this made me LOL…
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday.
Hayden has this picture framed in his room. Travis helped coach Hayden’s basketball teams during the elementary years, and I remember snapping this photo. The way Hayden is listening to Trav with his little hands together and his little sweet face…a fave memory for sure.
Hayden pointing in his coaching photo reminded me of this one…
Weekly Recap:
I had a few posts this week in case you missed one:
Is there anything cuter than babies looking festive for the 4th of July?!
We went to KC around this time, and the kids were decked out in their red, white and blue.
Here they are at my Gma’s house (their great-grandma) wearing their cute bibs. No drooling on the furniture. haha!
Quality time in the pack-n-play. I really think we only packed one for this trip…
Even when they grew out of the swaddles, they still liked to have their legs wrapped up.
Hayden and Travis reading the newspaper at Major’s house. As you can see, we did bring the bouncer/Exersaucer, and Hadley passed the time that way.
Time with all the KC family…GG, Major, Gma, and my aunt.
I love these black and white photos. Play time on the blanket…and toys at Gma’s house.
On the drive home from KC, we stayed the night at a hotel which was a first. Near the restaurant was a Chili’s or Applebees, and I think this was the kids’ first time sitting in restaurant high chairs!
Looking so big sitting up in the hotel bed. Little did they know that we still had over five hours left in our drive home. The drive from Lexington to KC is around nine hours, and when the kids were little, it would sometimes take 12! So, this pit-stop was a good call on our way home.
Back home hanging out in Hayden’s crib.
Post bath time – looking cozy!
Awe!
At the end of July, Trav and I went to Folly Beach/Charleston, SC to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary. The kids stayed home with family, but of course, we missed them.
I’m sure we did more in July including back yard pool time and walks around the neighborhood, but I clearly took less pictures in July!
It’s been a while since I’ve done so, but today I’m linking up with Joyce for this week’s edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge.
Here are my answers to her prompts this week:
1. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen. Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.
To be honest, I don’t feel guilty relaxing in January or July! haha
That being said, I guess I’d answer that I feel less guilty in July. I have the downtime in the summer, and this has been the first summer I’ve truly had slower mornings not having to drive kids anywhere. I do try and break up my morning by having breakfast and coffee and reading blogs for a bit, and then I do some things around the house or workout.
I tend to watch Jenna and Sheinelle and then carry on with my day.
That being said, I love a snowy day in January, and as I’ve mentioned January is one of my favorite months. It just feels like a deep breath after the hustle and bustle of December.
2. What’s a telltale sign you’re upset?
I usually get quiet if I’m upset. That probably hasn’t always been the case, but more so as I’ve gotten older. Then, I tend to make my feelings known.
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3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposefully used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?
Oh, AI ….as a teacher, it’s been a very tricky thing to navigate. To be honest, I’m not super “tech savvy,” so I’m still figuring it out. In the Google waffle, students have access to Gemini. To me, if we’re putting Gemini in the Google waffle, that means students are going to use it. That being said, it’s still a gray area in some regards. Obviously, I have conversations with students about doing their own work, and there are some AI checkers/trackers that I’ve used when I’ve suspected students have used AI. I don’t love that it’s another thing that teachers have become responsible for…teaching students how to use it responsibly when I really wish they wouldn’t use it at all. To be clear, I don’t ever tell my students to use it, but I know it has a time and place these days.
I really haven’t used it much, and I’m probably missing out. I know AI can help create lesson plans, and I’ve done a bit of that, but not too much.
One benefit is when Trav used it to get ideas for the landscaping…that sure was handy!
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Again, I guess it’s the time we’re living in, but I do worry that kids aren’t going to grow up using their own creativity and thinking skills.
4. You’re invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?
If I was bringing a dessert, I’d bring this graham cracker pudding dessert. I got the recipe from Trav’s mom years ago, and it’s a fave!
5. It wouldn’t be summer without_______________.
Well, the list could go on and on with this prompt! My first thought was “watermelon.” It’s just nice to have fresh watermelon for a few months a year, and it’s an easy side dish. That being said, my answer also could have been “It wouldn’t be summer without …” sleeping in or pool time.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I like watching sports, and I actually caught quite a few of the Wimbledon tennis matches, and Hayden and I watched the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game the past couple of nights.
I can’t believe the World Cup is almost over. I’m not a huge soccer fan, but will watch the World Cup games. It’s been fun to see the various locations in the US (including KC), Canada and Mexico being highlighted. It seems that it’s been a success. I’ve caught most games, and I’m sure I’ll tune in to the England vs. Argentina game today…and then the final on Sunday.
For not being very athletic, I’ve always enjoyed watching sports!
This month’s topic is…favorite room in your house.
Well, I hope this isn’t cheating, but my first thought was our front porch…Obviously, it’s not a room…but let’s go with that it’s my favorite space…
Besides the living room, I’d say I spend a lot of time on the front porch. It’s covered, so it’s nice to be able to use it even if it’s raining.
I sit on the front porch far more than I do the back patio, and I love drinking my coffee and reading out there.
It’s also a fun space to decorate seasonally with changing out the door hanger, door mat, and garden flag.
I also love the flowers and ferns for spring/summer and then you know I love to add a pumpkin or twelve along with some mums in the fall!
Fall is a favorite time for sure.
Now, of course I have to go off script and share a couple other fave spots…that are actually rooms.
I have a love/hate relationship with our family room because it’s just so narrow. The seating is in a row with a chair/ottoman, couch and another chair/ottoman. I wish it allowed for more conversational sitting…and maybe we’ll figure that out one day. That being said, we’re still in here quite a bit, so I like to make it cozy/comfortable.
Truth be told, it’s Homer’s world and we’re just living in it, so this is what the couch often looks like…
Since he sheds and we don’t want him scratching up the couch too much, we usually have a fitted sheet or blanket on it. We try to make it look nice if we know someone is coming over, otherwise, this is our real life with Homer. haha
I also love a mix of old and new with the trunk and even the table in the front hall.
The trunk is from my dad’s side of the family, and I think it was my great grandmother’s. I bought the mirror from Wayfair a few years ago, and I love it. On the trunk, I have a few odds and ends like a rechargeable lamp, but I also have pictures of my grandparents, and a candlestick made by my great great grandfather on my mom’s side. The stone in the middle is a lithograph stone from my great grandfather’s printing business.
The front hall table is another favorite spot. I’d like to replace it at some point, but it was one of the first pieces Trav and I bought when we got our first home, and it’s been in every home since. Quite a few years ago, I painted it and changed out the hardware, and I still like it. I also like that it’s a spot to decorate with photos, candles, and seasonal decor.
I think both the trunk and the hall entry table provide snap shots of what’s important to me…a mix of old and new, family photos, books, and fresh flowers.
In the living room, the tray is one I’ve had for years, and it includes many of my fave things…flowers, candles, and photos.
It’s been a little over a year, but our hall bath still brings a smile to my face. That update was a long time coming, and I’m so glad we finally did it.
Lastly, as I mentioned in a couple posts last week, we finally found a new rug and new bar stools for the island which have been a long time coming. This little refresh has been just the update we needed. We walk through the kitchen a lot, and it’s funny how the softness of the rug gets me every time. Also, I prefer a stool with a back, so I never sat at the island. Now, I’ve sat there a few times to have my breakfast or work on my computer.
I can’t wait to read about the favorite rooms others share. I’m always interested in homes, home decor, and favorite spaces of others!
I know I’m going to sound like a broken record over the next few weeks, but summer needs to slow down! I still have a few weeks before I go back to school, but I do feel like I should probably start checking my school email…haha!
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Since last week’s Friday Favorites post was a recap of our few days in Siesta Key, my favorites list is a bit longer with some faves over the past couple of weeks.
While we were on vacation, it was our 21st wedding anniversary. Once we got home, my mom had sent us a gift…she’d been at a market and spotted a water color painting of the church where we got married in KC! So cool.
Out of town cousins were in town, and the kids had lots of time hanging with them. It’s wild that they are old enough to hang out and not need us…they all hop in the car together and are out on their own. We did crash their “pool party” last Friday night!
On the 4th, the kids were in and out of the house, but we did grill out and then I caught some of the fireworks show in NYC. I love the 4th of July, and in some ways, I’m sad that it’s not the same as when the kids were little. I almost didn’t even go watch fireworks at our local traditional spot, but Hadley wanted to go as did Trav.
The fireworks show was spectacular, so I’m glad we went!
We’d borrowed a few sparklers from Trav’s brother, and Hadley had fun with those when we got home.
After celebrating America’s 250th birthday, it was time to celebrate Trav’s birthday…on Tuesday!
As a family, we went out to dinner…to a pizza/pasta place we’d never been to. It was delish.
Once my nephew was finished with baseball, my brother’s family came over for ice cream cake. Happy birthday, T-rav!
That evening, the sky was so pretty….the pic doesn’t even do it justice.
Fave beverages:
I went to Trader Joe’s last weekend, and I saw this sparkling watermelon juice, and it’s delish.
Amy shared about this flavor of Chobani creamer, and I found it at my Kroger a couple of weeks ago. I just cracked it open, and I like it! I still think S’mores is my favorite, but this flavor is #2, and I will definitely buy it again. It’s great for summer.
House Updates:
As I shared in Wednesday’s post, this summer we had a few “to do’s” that we really wanted to get crossed off our list: finish the landscaping out front, paint the primary bathroom, get a new driveway, find new rugs for kitchen and living room, and find new bar stools for the island. Well, we’ve been busy the past couple of weeks, and the only thing not accomplished now is finding a neutral rug for the living room.
While we were out of town, we had someone paint the bathroom, and we also got a new driveway. Adulting is so fun.
On to the actual “fun” stuff. I almost purchased a rug from Wayfair because they were having a sale, but then I remembered I’d saved this rug on the Walmart app after someone shared it. Well, there were a few in stock locally, so Trav and I went to pick it up on Sunday.
We got it laid out on Tuesday, and I love it. It’s an indoor/outdoor rug like what we had before, but the raised pattern is so soft, and the quality is amazing. It’s a 10/10.
A couple of months ago, I spotted some Pioneer Woman dishes at Walmart, but I didn’t get them. Then, a few weeks ago, I was back at Walmart, and the dishes were marked down, so I couldn’t resist! I bought eight dinner and salad plates as well as eight bowls. In our twenty years of marriage, this will be our third set of dishes….so I feel like this is justified, and each piece was $3-$5. (My Walmart didn’t have the set, but it’s only 12 pieces anyway)
Also of note, so far not a single person in my family has mentioned the new dishes 😂
Also, we still use some Pier One plates that we had on our gift registry, and I don’t think I will ever get rid of those.
You know I can’t say no to a hydrangea dish towel, and Drew Barrymore’s “Beautiful” brand never disappoints.
When I say we’ve been looking for new bar stools, I’m not exaggerating that we’ve been looking off and on for a couple of years. The other ones we’ve had for years were stools, and the fabric on top had seen better days. Most of our “issue” was we just never wanted to spend the money on new ones. I could always find a few I liked…and this time I did want to get a stool with a back. Patience paid off…I found these at World Market a couple of months ago, but Trav and I finally went last Friday when he was off work.
I still wasn’t 100% sure, but once we got them home, I knew we made the right choice.
I love them!
Sandals:
Well, you know since I cleaned out my closet and got rid of things, I couldn’t resist adding some sandals back to my closet. My sister-in-law had these, and my Target had one pair left in my size…I saw that as a sign. They are so comfy, and the “jelly” sandal rage is taking me back to being an 80’s baby growing up in the 90’s.
Book Trackers:
Like I do every month, I shared my book trackers on Instagram. They are are saved in a highlight, so just screen shot, use them, tag me and let me know what you’re reading!
Favorite Mom Meme:
Why do I relate to this so much?!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I’ve shared this pool photo in a previous Throwback Thursday post…
…and here the kids are in 2012. This just popped up in my Facebook memories. We got a lot of use out of that plastic pool!
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts this week in case you missed one:
Monday is our monthly Share Our Lives link up, and the topic is…favorite room in your house. We’d love to have your link up with us…I love seeing other people’s homes, so I can’t wait to read those posts!
Hardest thing we’ve ever done in April (I didn’t have a post, but I’d say the hardest (but most rewarding) thing I’ve ever done is raise these kids of mine!
What I’m making more time for in June (I missed this post, but in June I was probably making more time for getting my life together after the end of the school year…and rest!)
This month we’re looking at….our “summer selves” (how is it different?)
Well, “Summer Jen” isn’t too different than “Year Round Jen,” but being a teacher and having summers off does lend itself to me having some downtime which means life looks a little different.
1. No Alarms
The best thing about summer is not having to set an alarm. It’s not that I sleep in too late, but obviously it’s nice to not have to set an alarm at 5:50 AM. Most mornings, I’m up by 8:00. I’ve started most mornings by reading my Kindle rather than scrolling my phone.
During the school year, even on weekends, when I wake up, I get out of bed. This summer, I’ve made a point to lie in bed for a bit and read to start my day which has been so nice. There have even been a few mornings I’ve even fallen back to sleep.
While I don’t set 5:50 alarms right now, most mornings I have some kind of alarm set at 9:30 or 10 to wake the kids as one of them tends to have a scheduled workout most days a week.
2. Slow Mornings, Later Nights
As I’ve mentioned in the past, during the school year, I always get up before everyone else to have my quiet time before the day begins. One thing I love about summer is having slow mornings. I do try and have a plan for my day, but most mornings, I don’t have much planned until 10:00 or so. It’s nice to have time to sip my coffee, have a good breakfast, read, watch the Today Show and start chores around the house like the laundry.
In the summer, I don’t stay up too late. During the school year, I try to go to bed by 10 and asleep by 10:30. In the summer, I tend to stay up until 11…although it depends on the day! Travis and I usually watch a show or two at night, and then he reminds me he has to go to bed because he has to work the next day. Imagine having to worry about work the next day. haha!
Right now, we’ve been watching Lincoln Lawyer and Night Agent. It’s nice that we have a couple of shows that we watch together.
I also love a summer afternoon nap when I can. Is there anything better?!
3. To Do Lists
Well, you know I have a “to do” list year round, but I do tend to have a list of things to accomplish in the summer when I know I have more time to do so.
For example, this summer, I wanted to create my Amazon Storefront, and I did get that accomplished.
Screenshot
I also always take the time to clean out my closet and dresser as well as the hall and bathroom closets in the summer. I did that all last week, and it’s amazing how opening the door to a tidy closet has improved my mood. haha!
I also take the time to schedule appointments, clean up my Google drive, and even prep a bit for the upcoming school year.
Usually in the summer, we take the time to make a list of a few things we want to purchase or update in the house and try and prioritize those. This summer, we wanted to finally get new stools/chairs for our island, a new rug for under the kitchen table, paint my bathroom, and a few other odds and ends. In the past couple of weeks, we made progress on all of those things!
I almost bought a new rug over the weekend on Wayfair because they were having a 4th of July sale, but then I remembered that I’d saved this Walmart rug when someone shared it, and they had one in stock at one of our local Walmarts. Trav and I went and picked it up on Sunday, and we just put it down last night.
The rug we had under the table previously was one that Kristy Wicks shared, and it was from Home Depot. It was an indoor/outdoor rug, and I loved it. We had it for probably seven years, and just in the past few months it acquired a few stains (thanks to Homer) that we couldn’t get out). This “My Texas House” rug is a 10/10. It’s also indoor/outdoor, but the pattern is raised up and so soft.
The only thing missing is I’m still looking for a new rug for the living room. Honestly, this could also probably work in my living room. I’m so pleased with this purchase.
4. Pool Time
Of course with summer time comes pool time…and I always joke that I’m happier when I’m tan! I’ve had quite a few pool days this summer thanks to our pool and my sister-in-law’s mom’s pool.
When the kids were little, we used to spend hours at the pool.
One thing I do love now is I can kind of just come and go as I please. Sometimes I go to the pool for an hour and other days for longer. Of course, some days I stay home and am productive. haha
5. More TV Time
While I do have more time to read in the summer, I tend to also watch a lot (not too much!) of TV. It’s just a good time to get caught up on shows and watch some movies. This summer, I’ve gotten caught up on The Rookie, Abbott Elementary and a few other shows. I’ve also watched both seasons of Four Seasons, finished Love Story, watched two seasons of Lincoln Lawyer (with Trav), and I’m almost finished with season three of The Diplomat.
Soon, I want to watch The People You Meet on Vacation since I’ve finished the book. I also want to watch The Woman in Cabin 10 since I read that book years ago. I’m excited for The Five Star Weekend that will be out soon on Peacock…I loved that book.
6. Meal plan/grocery
Of course, my people still need to eat! But…I am more relaxed with meal planning and grocery shopping in the summer. I’m realizing that every week is different in regards to dinner because I never really know what the kids have going on. So, I just plan a couple meals knowing I can always go back to store if needed. During the school year, I feel like I have to maximize every minute of the weekend and have a solid plan. In the summer, I have more time to figure things out.
Also, Trav grills out a lot in the summer, so that means I don’t have to cook as much. I also love that seasonal fruit really counts as a side dish in the summer. There’s nothing better than some good watermelon on my plate!
I eat most lunches at home, and I usually eat leftovers or a “snack plate.”
The kids, on the other hand…are you even 16 if you don’t eat Chipolte or Chick-fil-A five times a week?! If that’s how they want to spend their money, that’s on them! I’m content with my snack plate!
7. Air dry & Minimal Makeup
In the summer, I rarely wear makeup unless we’re going out somewhere. I also rarely blow dry my hair. Not that I wear that much makeup during the school year, but in the summer, I usually wear mascara and maybe lip glass if I can find it. Usually, my hair is pulled back in a low bun or up in a claw clip and I like to wear hats in the summer, so that always gets me an extra day or two between hair washings.
This summer…
To be honest, this summer has been a bit different. I have found that I’ve had a bit more time on my hands, and I realized that it’s because I’m not driving the kids everywhere. They do that themselves. That being said, they still share a car, so sometimes, if they both have somewhere to be, sometimes I’m left without a car. I take that opportunity to do a work out, read, to be productive at home. The kids are still busy, and I still have things they need me for, but it’s just been different…and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
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