Summer season Issues (5.24.22)
The Grownup Pool
Pool season arrived this weekend!! I feel our temps reached 95 levels. It was HOT! I took myself as much as the ACAC rooftop deck after class on Saturday and breathed in a lot happiness. I hadn’t been up there in YEARS and it’s such an ideal setting!
The Household Pool
Later that day, we went to our summer season pool for a mushy opening and reside music. The water wasn’t even chilly, and all of us obtained in!
Our pool re-did its rickety play construction into this beautiful tree home. We can be spending loads of time there this 12 months!!
Splash Pad
We’ve additionally been hitting the splash pads earlier than the swimming pools open for good. Though B prefers the new playground aspect!
Beautycounter’s Summer season Sale Is Nearly Over
The Beautycounter sale is ending quickly. If you wish to attempt some reef-safe zinc-based sunscreen, brighten your pores and skin for summer season, or overhaul your complexion with the getting older line, Countertime, now’s the time to get 15-20% off your whole order! (There’s additionally a fantastic journey set that’s cheaper to make use of for summer season journey and check drive it out!)
Did you hear Madewell is 25% off all week/weekend too?! I may need to move over there!
Summer season Berries & Pastries
One in all Thomas’s shoppers gifted us a field of Marie Bette pastries. We cherished all of them weekend!
Smoothie bowls are additionally on the summer season menu!
Summery Wines
My buddy Erin owns Dogwood & Thistle together with her hubby the winemaker. The Sauv Blanc was wonderful on the Wool Manufacturing facility wine tasting final week!
Our solar is gone immediately, however I hope it’s again tomorrow!
Mom’s Day {5.10.22}
Hello!!!!!!!!!! We had a chilly and cloudy weekend right here that was brightened by Mom’s Day!!
Mom’s Day Picnic
Birch’s faculty had its first in-person occasion (EVER for me!) with a Mom’s Day picnic! It was so candy to see him play together with his buddies and meet a few of the different moms. (I do know some buddies and a few moms from passing however not all!)
Crew Momentum!!
Our workforce received our division championship!! It was a little bit of a miracle provided that we needed to play lady down as a result of a final minute absence on our workforce. However we pulled off a 3-0 win with numerous good passing!
Mom’s Day at The Quirk Rooftop
At Mazen’s request, we went again to the Quirk Rooftop for dinner. It was too chilly and windy to take a seat exterior, however the ambiance on the within is tremendous good too! Nona and Grandpa joined us as properly.
Essentially the most scrumptious cocktail: The Driftwood. It had grilled pineapple, bourbon, bitters, and easy syrup.
We shared a cheese board, shishito peppers, salad and pizzas. Plus apple crisp! Scrumptious! (Mazen was unhappy they took the nachos off the menu 🙁 )
Daddy’s New Toy
Father’s Day and Mom’s Day should have gotten combined up as a result of Thomas obtained himself a brand new toy that the boys are very enthusiastic about! (Impressed by him watching the Formulation 1 present on Netflix….!)
Life These days {5.3.22}
It’s been a minute since I did a Actual Speak publish!
I mentioned I wasn’t going to let these actual time posts drag me down when life was busy, and clearly issues have been busy. I’m nonetheless catching up from my journey to Washington with Beautycounter, and got here dwelling to a bunch of errands (2x dentist appts, haircuts, and so forth.). I hate operating errands as a result of they make my day so inefficient! I feel batching them into one lengthy “errand day” is probably the most perfect.
Rewinding again a number of weeks….
Tom Tom Pageant
Just a few weeks in the past Charlottesville celebrated its founder with the Tom Tom Pageant. For 2 days our downtown pedestrian mall become a block get together with occasions, reside music, and open containers allowed (!) Having completed my 10 day quarantine, it was like a rebirth into the group I like.
SO many individuals had been out and about!
Mugs + Smooves!
Sunny Days Forward
The boys picked the coldest day of spring to have a water balloon struggle.
Downtown Shenanigans
That is my new favourite nook of the mall! The hidden fountain is so cool, and each Farmacy and Ooey Gooey Crispy are so good!
Mother and father Staycation
Nona and Grandpa hosted the boys for a sleepover final weekend and we had the WHOLE HOUSE TO OURSELVES! We went out for dinner at Tavola (long-time!!) after which got here dwelling to put in a brand new Simplisafe doorbell – lol.
We spent the subsequent morning brainstorming methods to alter our home. Extra to return on that quickly!
Walkathon
Cheers to Mazen for operating 27 laps in his faculty’s Walkathon!
Haircut Pleasure
I adore it when the boys get trims, and but with their faculty schedules it’s so arduous to search out the time. Therefore why Mazen’s hair regarded like this lately:
Right here’s the throughout…our compromise was tremendous quick again and tremendous lengthy bangs!
And the after!
Birch is subsequent.
Spring Purchasing
I did some spring procuring and am obsessive about these new Lou + Grey Poplin Pants!! Love the material and reduce. They’re additionally 30% off! I additionally purchased these related model pants from Madewell. These are each like a dressier model of the joggers I reside in.
Day by day Harvest Topped with Gratisfied Granola Clusters
100% combo. Get 15% off of Gratisfied with the code KATHEATS! And get $25 off Day by day Harvest with this hyperlink.
Birch On Birch
Pics from Easter {4.19.22}
We had a phenomenal Easter in Charlottesville! The climate was on level (despite the fact that it sleeted the subsequent day!) and whereas we weren’t feeling all that nice, we did our greatest to have a good time.
In case you missed it on Instagram, each boys got here down with covid signs. They’re each on the mend now, nevertheless it was a bit rocky for a number of days there. Easter was Mazen’s worst day (he wakened with a fever) and he wasn’t very pleased about it!
Basket Hunt
The Easter Bunny wrote them a pleasant word and introduced them loads of cheery up goodies. Do you know the EB outlets native at Alakazam? Find it irresistible when toy shops are a one-stop store!
As per Youthful household custom, the EB hid their baskets so the boys needed to hunt for them within the morning. Birch’s was within the nook of the visitor room, and Mazen’s was properly hidden behind a body within the basement fire!
Egg Hunt
Thomas and I crammed eggs the evening earlier than for an egg hunt in our yard. So unhappy to overlook all the general public ones this 12 months, particularly as a result of egg searching is Birch’s year-round favourite pastime!
Gown is the Somerset by Anthro through my Nuuly subscription and I’m in love with how snug it’s. Pockets too!
Gussie wished to point out that he hunted for his bone and located it within the tall grass!
We ended the vacation with our favourite household dinner: taco evening!
Hope you all had a phenomenal weekend! Can’t anticipate extra heat ones to return.
I’ve Waited A Lengthy Time For This {4.13.22}
What’s well worth the wait? A beautiful day within the mid-80s!!! Lastly we are able to put on shorts and tanks with out feeling chilly.
What’s not well worth the wait?
Getting covid.
Yep, it lastly reached our family. Do I seem like I’ve a fever and physique aches on this pic? Most likely not as a result of sunshine and recent air actually helped. Birch and I ate our lunches exterior, picnic model.
Up to now I’ve been the one one with signs, and it was only one dangerous day of feeling sick and has become a head chilly. TGF vaccines.
Actually the toughest half has been parenting by way of all of it. Want I may curl up and watch Netflix, however as an alternative I used to be pushing a scooter across the block : / I’m attempting to smile by way of all of it, however not having the ability to relaxation a lot has been actually arduous.
I’m attempting to avoid Mazen and Thomas as a lot as I can, however you understand you possibly can’t separate a lot from a 3 12 months previous : )
We don’t know the place I obtained it. Our greatest guess is consuming inside a restaurant on BHI, both from our server or a droplet within the air. This factor is SO contagious!
Because of my superb mom in legislation for dropping off meals this week <3 Revolutionary Soup + the Adam’s Apple sandwich.
Birch can be out of faculty for a looooong time since he’s not but vaccinated, so we did some portray classes yesterday. He’s very gifted!
And that’s that.
I Am Ending The Weblog {4.1.22}
Mates, it’s been a extremely beautiful 15 years. However the time has come to shut up store.
April fools!!
It’s fool-able as a result of it’s plausible, proper? 15 years!!
To not fear – I’m not going anyplace besides…
We’re heading to Bald Head Island for Spring Break!
Thomas, Birch and I are heading down this morning for the week. Yep, meaning Mazen is lacking, which is tremendous unhappy as a result of he LOVES BHI!
Nonetheless he’s going to the one place that may be extra thrilling for an almost-10-year-old: Disneyland! He’s in California with Matt and Katie for the week.
I can’t wait to listen to what he thinks of my favourite journey there – Indiana Jones. I went with my California cousins proper after it opened within the 90s and it was tremendous cool.
My First Go to To Disney
We went to Disney World for the primary time after I was in 4th grade.
Someday round when the style regarded like this:
My favourite Disney World journey is (was) Alien Encounter. I’m devastated that I simply Googled it and it closed in 2003!! I cherished how scary it was to really feel the alien round you at midnight. I additionally love House Mountain and the E.T. journey over at Common too. (I assume I actually like area issues!?) And Pirates and Small World. Classics!
We went again to Disney after I was in center faculty.
The style then was extra like this:
Disney Suggestions
We might like to take each children to Disney World within the subsequent 12 months or so. I get so overwhelmed pondering of all the small print of planning and crowds and value, nevertheless it’s one thing that we undoubtedly need to do. Thomas has by no means been!
I can’t resolve if we need to do a shorter journey and simply skim the floor or go all in, see all of the parks, and keep for every week. I get exhausted simply occupied with theme parks for greater than two days in a row. Please share your suggestions!
Clearly now we have to take Birch to Pirates of the Caribbean! And I haven’t been to Common since Harry Potter World was constructed – is it as magical because it appears?
This week I’ll be on Island Time
However this 12 months, we’ll be stress-free by the marsh and hanging out with my dad and mom for the week.
I’m planning on doing a mid-week weblog publish with some images, however in any other case can be taking the week off of standard posting.
Have a fantastic spring break!
Actual Speak { 3.22.22 }
Spring Swing!
I’ve spring issues to share immediately!
First, my mother’s birthday was Sunday – the primary day of spring! HBD Mother! We’ve been having fun with numerous hotter climate, and I hope it’s right here to remain.
My favourite days of the 12 months are heat (however not sizzling or chilly) days the place we are able to throw open all of the home windows in the home. That’s till it’s so windy that crops are blowing over!! #fail
Irish Soda Bread
Additionally my favourite bread of the 12 months from Nice Harvest! I picked up two loaves earlier than St. Patty’s Day and frozen one to have it final past. SO GOOD toasted to a crisp with butter!
Spring Sports activities
Mazen began golf classes yesterday! Thomas purchased him some new golf equipment to suit his top since he’s older ones had been a number of years previous.
We aren’t positive if Birch will be capable of use all of Mazen’s previous golf equipment as a result of Birch is left handed! (Like me!) Ought to we train him to golf rightie? Most lefties (like me) are pretty ambidextrous in terms of sports activities, so I feel he may simply study. However we clearly need him to be snug!
Porch Eating
With hotter climate comes eating exterior and chilly smoothies! Love the Day by day Harvest Acai and Cherry (it’s my favourite taste) with granola on prime. Loved within the solar!
Caraway Dwelling + Asparagus
We wanted new sheet pans and I purchased us these baking sheets from Caraway Dwelling for Christmas. This isn’t sponsored! They’re the BEST SHEET PANS EVER. Caked on meals actually wipes off. I purchased one medium and one giant. The big has handles on the aspect that I like for simple lifting. They’re severely superior. I hope they keep wanting this good!
The spring asparagus cooked with roasted potatoes, salmon and a tremendous ranchy bitter cream sauce. { All Blue Apron }
Our Little Blue Truck
Birch and I stroll previous our buddy’s home each morning on the way in which to highschool. He has a blue truck that he makes use of to ship Meals On Wheels. Birch at all times feedback that it’s THE Little Blue Truck. We took our buddy Birch’s e book to learn, and that afternoon he had one thing for Birch – the springtime model of the e book! So candy of him, and Birch was thrilled.
Actual Speak { 3.16.22 }
I mentioned I wasn’t coming again this week, however I’m energized! Popping in to share some pics from our household fishing journey yesterday.
I really feel so grateful that 1) We each have jobs that enable us to do issues with the children within the afternoons and a pair of) the climate is lastly getting heat!
Mazen and Thomas had been satisfied the fish had been nonetheless hibernating (do they try this??)
I used to be satisfied the snakes had been coming OUT of hibernation after we needed to stroll alongside the shoreline to get to the boat! YIKES. I had a extremely scary expertise at a summer season camp after I was younger had been supposedly innocent water snakes had been coming as much as my canoe and attacking it. It was very odd, and I don’t know what prompted them to do that. So I made a decision to remain on the dock!
Birch was satisfied they’d catch a fish. He was proper!
We’re so fortunate to have fisherboys within the household.
We fish on the pond subsequent to Thomas’s dad and mom’ home, so we introduced dinner to prepare dinner for them afterwards. I scooted as much as the home to make it whereas the boys completed up. This was a Blue Apron focaccia pizza with Italian sausage and salad on the aspect. It was completely delish!!
Hope you’re having fun with these fast posts!
New Actual Speak Collection { 3.15.22 }
I’ve been pondering of including a fourth publish every week the place I simply sit down to write down what’s on my thoughts. Similar to within the olden days!
It’s so arduous to consider I used to publish TWENTY ONE weblog posts every week!
I at all times inform folks that it was simple to do as a result of my content material (what I ate) auto generated and I simply wrote fluff round it. Seems individuals used to actually love fluff! Do you continue to?
KERF can be 15 this 12 months!
Over the previous 12 months or so, I’ve gotten into a extremely fantastic stream of working forward. I LOVE working forward.
I feel I’ve shared earlier than that after I was in faculty I’d ask for the studying listing over the summer season so I may get a head begin on the stack of books assigned for the course. This meant I had extra flexibility in my semester – largely for play! (nerd alert)
I completely hate procrastination, and I’ve at all times wanted flexibility to reduce nervousness and strain on myself. I don’t work properly underneath strain.
The unending weblog calendar has at all times been and love-hate for me. I like creating posts, however I don’t love the sensation of having to create posts endlessly. Working forward has taken a few of that stress away.
Working forward on weblog posts has taken a lot of the strain off of my weeks.
My digital assistant, Hillary, and I’ve a content material planning system contained in the productiveness app Asana. We geek out over its group on a regular basis.
For the previous 12 months or so, I’ve been specializing in writing posts which can be web optimization optimized and extra “useful” and evergreen matters that I’m excited to write down about don’t require me to write down so in the meanwhile.
This can be a good factor. And the evergreen posts are doing properly, too.
I’m working a number of weeks forward always. Meaning if Birch is dwelling from faculty, or I in any other case get an interruption in scheduling, or simply want a break day, that may occur worry-free.
As you understand I’m nonetheless doing journey and currently recaps as journeys or picture collections populate. However they appear to be fewer and much between. As a lot as I like working forward, I do miss being within the second. These posts are at all times the simplest and most enjoyable to kind up!
Actual Speak Collection
I began to assume that as well as (not as an alternative of) my common 3 posts every week I may sit down and simply kind up some ideas with a photograph or two and share the day with you all like I did when this weblog was younger. I’ve completely no thought if I’ll like this model or not or if I’ll do it greater than a couple of times a month. Nevertheless it looks like a very good bridge between evergreen posts and the previous real-time weblog posts that so many cherished over a decade in the past.
I at all times have one million concepts swirling round, so these posts may concentrate on a subject of the day or be a spherical up of favorites – actually no matter feels good within the second.
Toss in a pleasant picture of breakfast and it’s a blast from the previous!
I’m making an attempt to do that with out strain. If I really feel like posting I’ll on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. And if not, that’s cool!
One Lengthy Publish
The final element of this information is that I feel I’m going to stack tidbits on prime of one another and republish the identical publish fairly than having actual discuss after actual discuss posts go up that may be arduous to search out or muddle up my again finish. I would delete the oldest one as time passes so there are not more than 5-10 updates on one web page. I hope that is sensible!
There’s nothing significantly juicy on this publish – simply wished to set the stage for subsequent time so it doesn’t appear so out of the blue!
Again to the longer term!
Greek yogurt bowl with granola, peanut butter, and pears!
What do you consider this concept?
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