Summer season Issues (5.24.22)
The Grownup Pool
Pool season arrived this weekend!! I believe 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 gentle opening and dwell music. The water wasn’t even chilly, and all of us acquired in!
Our pool re-did its rickety play construction into this beautiful tree home. We shall be spending plenty of time there this yr!!
Splash Pad
We’ve additionally been hitting the splash pads earlier than the swimming pools open for good. Though B prefers the new playground facet!
Beautycounter’s Summer season Sale Is Virtually Over
The Beautycounter sale is ending quickly. If you wish to attempt some reef-safe zinc-based sunscreen, brighten your skin for summer, or overhaul your complexion with the ageing line, Countertime, now could be the time to get 15-20% off your complete order! (There’s additionally an awesome travel 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 might need to go over there!
Summer season Berries & Pastries
Certainly one of Thomas’s purchasers gifted us a field of Marie Bette pastries. We liked all of them weekend!
Smoothie bowls are additionally on the summer season menu!
Summery Wines
My good friend Erin owns Dogwood & Thistle along with her hubby the winemaker. The Sauv Blanc was wonderful on the Wool Manufacturing facility wine tasting final week!
Our solar is gone right this moment, 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 college had its first in-person occasion (EVER for me!) with a Mom’s Day picnic! It was so candy to see him play along with his buddies and meet among the different moms. (I do know some buddies and a few moms from passing however not all!)
Group Momentum!!
Our crew gained our division championship!! It was a little bit of a miracle provided that we needed to play lady down on account of a final minute absence on our crew. However we pulled off a 3-0 win with a number of 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.
Probably 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 blended up as a result of Thomas acquired himself a new toy that the boys are very enthusiastic about! (Impressed by him watching the Components 1 present on Netflix….!)
Life Currently {5.3.22}
It’s been a minute since I did a Actual Discuss 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 house to a bunch of errands (2x dentist appts, haircuts, and many others.). I hate working errands as a result of they make my day so inefficient! I believe batching them into one lengthy “errand day” is probably the most very best.
Rewinding again a couple of weeks….
Tom Tom Pageant
A couple of weeks in the past Charlottesville celebrated its founder with the Tom Tom Pageant. For 2 days our downtown pedestrian mall become a block occasion with occasions, dwell music, and open containers allowed (!) Having completed my 10 day quarantine, it was like a rebirth into the neighborhood I like.
SO many individuals have been out and about!
Mugs + Smooves!
Sunny Days Forward
The boys picked the coldest day of spring to have a water balloon battle.
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!
Dad and mom 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 house to put in a brand new Simplisafe doorbell – lol.
We spent the subsequent morning brainstorming methods to vary our home. Extra to come back on that quickly!
Walkathon
Cheers to Mazen for working 27 laps in his college’s Walkathon!
Haircut Pleasure
I like it when the boys get trims, and but with their college schedules it’s so onerous to seek out the time. Therefore why Mazen’s hair appeared like this lately:
Right here’s the throughout…our compromise was tremendous brief again and tremendous lengthy bangs!
And the after!
Birch is subsequent.
Spring Procuring
I did some spring buying and am obsessive about these new Lou + Gray Poplin Pants!! Love the material and lower. They’re additionally 30% off! I additionally purchased these similar style pants from Madewell. These are each like a dressier model of the joggers I dwell in.
Each day Harvest Topped with Gratisfied Granola Clusters
100% combo. Get 15% off of Gratisfied with the code KATHEATS! And get $25 off Each day Harvest with this link.
Birch On Birch
Pics from Easter {4.19.22}
We had an attractive 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 fun.
For those who missed it on Instagram, each boys got here down with covid signs. They’re each on the mend now, but it surely was a bit rocky for a couple of days there. Easter was Mazen’s worst day (he awakened with a fever) and he wasn’t very joyful about it!
Basket Hunt
The Easter Bunny wrote them a pleasant notice and introduced them loads of cheery up goodies. Do you know the EB retailers 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 night time earlier than for an egg hunt in our yard. So unhappy to overlook all the general public ones this yr, 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 comfy it’s. Pockets too!
Gussie needed 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 night time!
Hope you all had an attractive weekend! Can’t watch for extra heat ones to come back.
I’ve Waited A Lengthy Time For This {4.13.22}
What’s definitely worth the wait? A beautiful day within the mid-80s!!! Lastly we will put on shorts and tanks with out feeling chilly.
What’s not definitely 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? In all probability not as a result of sunshine and recent air actually helped. Birch and I ate our lunches exterior, picnic fashion.
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.
Truthfully the toughest half has been parenting by way of all of it. Want I may curl up and watch Netflix, however as a substitute 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 onerous.
I’m attempting to keep away from Mazen and Thomas as a lot as I can, however you already know you may’t separate a lot from a 3 yr previous : )
We don’t know the place I acquired 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!
Due to my superb mom in regulation for dropping off meals this week <3 Revolutionary Soup + the Adam’s Apple sandwich.
Birch shall 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 very pretty 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!
Nevertheless he’s going to the one place that is likely to 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 appeared 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 liked 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 suppose I actually like area issues!?) And Pirates and Small World. Classics!
We went again to Disney after I was in center college.
The style then was extra like this:
Disney Suggestions
We’d like to take each youngsters to Disney World within the subsequent yr or so. I get so overwhelmed pondering of all the small print of planning and crowds and price, but it surely’s one thing that we positively wish to do. Thomas has by no means been!
I can’t resolve if we wish to do a shorter journey and simply skim the floor or go all in, see all of the parks, and keep for per week. I get exhausted simply desirous about theme parks for greater than two days in a row. Please share your suggestions!
Clearly we’ve 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 yr, we’ll be stress-free by the marsh and hanging out with my mother and father for the week.
I’m planning on doing a mid-week weblog publish with some photographs, however in any other case shall be taking the week off of normal posting.
Have an awesome spring break!
Actual Discuss { 3.22.22 }
Spring Swing!
I’ve spring issues to share right this moment!
First, my mother’s birthday was Sunday – the primary day of spring! HBD Mom! We’ve been having fun with a number of hotter climate, and I hope it’s right here to remain.
My favourite days of the yr are heat (however not sizzling or chilly) days the place we will throw open all of the home windows in the home. That’s till it’s so windy that vegetation are blowing over!! #fail
Irish Soda Bread
Additionally my favourite bread of the yr 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 clubs to suit his peak since he’s older ones have been a couple of years previous.
We aren’t certain if Birch will be capable to 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 believe he may simply be taught. However we clearly need him to be comfy!
Porch Eating
With hotter climate comes eating exterior and chilly smoothies! Love the Daily Harvest Acai and Cherry (it’s my favourite taste) with granola on prime. Loved within the solar!
Caraway Residence + Asparagus
We wanted new sheet pans and I purchased us these baking sheets from Caraway Residence 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 massive. The big has handles on the facet that I like for straightforward lifting. They’re severely superior. I hope they keep trying this good!
The spring asparagus cooked with roasted potatoes, salmon and an incredible ranchy bitter cream sauce. { All Blue Apron }
Our Little Blue Truck
Birch and I stroll previous our good friend’s home each morning on the best way to high school. He has a blue truck that he makes use of to ship Meals On Wheels. Birch all the time feedback that it’s THE Little Blue Truck. We took our good friend Birch’s guide to learn, and that afternoon he had one thing for Birch – the springtime model of the guide! So candy of him, and Birch was thrilled.
Actual Discuss { 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 permit us to do issues with the youngsters within the afternoons and a pair of) the climate is lastly getting heat!
Mazen and Thomas have been satisfied the fish have been nonetheless hibernating (do they try this??)
I used to be satisfied the snakes have been coming OUT of hibernation once we needed to stroll alongside the shoreline to get to the boat! YIKES. I had a very scary expertise at a summer season camp after I was younger have been supposedly innocent water snakes have 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 mother and father’ 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 facet. It was completely delish!!
Hope you’re having fun with these fast posts!
New Actual Discuss 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. Identical to within the olden days!
It’s so onerous to consider I used to publish TWENTY ONE weblog posts per week!
I all the time inform people who it was straightforward to do as a result of my content material (what I ate) auto generated and I simply wrote fluff round it. Seems folks used to essentially love fluff! Do you continue to?
KERF shall be 15 this yr!
Over the previous yr or so, I’ve gotten into a very great circulate of working forward. I LOVE working forward.
I believe I’ve shared earlier than that after I was in faculty I might 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 – principally for play! (nerd alert)
I completely hate procrastination, and I’ve all the time wanted flexibility to reduce anxiousness and stress on myself. I don’t work properly underneath stress.
The unending weblog calendar has all the time been and love-hate for me. I like creating posts, however I don’t love the sensation of having to create posts eternally. Working forward has taken a few of that stress away.
Working forward on weblog posts has taken a lot of the stress 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 yr 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 mean time.
This can be a good factor. And the evergreen posts are doing properly, too.
I’m working a couple of weeks forward always. Meaning if Birch is house from college, or I in any other case get an interruption in scheduling, or simply want a day without work, that may occur worry-free.
As you already know I’m nonetheless doing journey and recently recaps as journeys or photograph collections populate. However they appear to be fewer and much between. As a lot as I like working ahead, I do miss being within the second. These posts are all the time the best and most enjoyable to sort up!
Actual Discuss Collection
I began to suppose that as well as (not as a substitute of) my common 3 posts per week I may sit down and simply sort 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 concept if I’ll like this fashion or not or if I’ll do it greater than a few times a month. But it surely looks as if a superb bridge between evergreen posts and the previous real-time weblog posts that so many liked over a decade in the past.
I all the time have 1,000,000 concepts swirling round, so these posts may deal with a subject of the day or be a spherical up of favorites – actually no matter feels good within the second.
Toss in a pleasant photograph of breakfast and it’s a blast from the previous!
I’m making an attempt to do that with out stress. If I really feel like posting I’ll on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. And if not, that’s cool!
One Lengthy Submit
The final element of this information is that I believe I’m going to stack tidbits on prime of one another and republish the identical publish slightly than having actual speak after actual speak posts go up that is likely to be onerous to seek out or litter up my again finish. I’d delete the oldest one as time passes so there are not more than 5-10 updates on one web page. I hope that is smart!
There’s nothing significantly juicy on this publish – simply needed to set the stage for subsequent time so it doesn’t appear so out of the blue!
Again to the long run!
Greek yogurt bowl with granola, peanut butter, and pears!
