Things I Like - November 2022

I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog.  I've been doing these monthly posts for 9 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here!  Some affiliate links may be included!

1) Sonoma Goods for Life Raglan Sweater
Should anyone be surprised that I bought a sweater in a near identical color as my beloved sweatshirt from this summer?  No, you should not.  Should you be surprised that I've bought FOUR STYLES (a few in multiple sizes) of sweater in this near color?  Maybe.  To be fair, I returned all sizes of two of the styles (one for color issues and one for size issues).  But this is comfortable and soft and I will be wearing it often this winter.  This color might be nearly all I wear now (that's not true...but it's going to happen a lot). 

2) Backstreet Boys A Very Backstreet Christmas
This should not be surprising either.  I preordered my copy while waiting in my seat between the opening act and the Backstreet Boys (which was a 45 minute break!) at my concert in July.  I have no good reason why I didn't do that pre-order sooner but the crowd cheered SO LOUD when their video spot for this first showed on the screens in that break.  So I'm extra in on the Backstreet Boys this year with the concert but also, this is a really solid Christmas CD.  I say that with a lot of bias but I do LOVE Christmas AND the Backstreet Boys.  (I bought this Target edition with two bonus songs but one of those bonuses was their Christmas single from a few years ago...which I obviously already owned).  This is mostly covers of Christmas classics, all done very beautifully.  Well done, BSB, in combining two things my husband doesn't love - Christmas and the Backstreet Boys. (Although he does tolerate both quite well.  Which he has to in living with me.)

3) Lego Succulent Set
Speaking of things my husband doesn't have to tolerate...that would be Legos.  We're really in on Legos this year too and I don't want to know how much we've spent on them (I'm going to guess...more than I want to know.).  We even did a Lego Discovery Center place in Texas!  Anyways, this is something Matt actually picked for me to get for my birthday!  And it was fun to put together.  It was broken up nicely to be put together in 3 parts (the book said they did that so people could assemble it together...which is nice in thought but I'm not sharing).  I did it over 3 nights, which took 2 weekends, while watching Stranger Things and eating our favorite Aldi pastry and those were all lovely lovely evenings.  Now it sits on my printer next to my desk and I don't have to worry about killing it!

4) Shining Light Saints of the Month stickers
My sisters like to tease me about how much I am ALSO all in on Shining Light items...which is also true.  (Another place I don't need to add up how much I've spent there this summer...although it at least would be easier than Legos since we buy Legos from multiple places...and at Shining Light my sisters and I are often ordering for each other).  This is a new release and I was delighted by the variety of stickers!  We also ordered these magnets but every single one is a picture from the memory game while the stickers had some from memory and some new ones.  I was really pleased with this one, buying one for a goddaughter and one for us.  (I do still like those magnets too, we will be gifting some.)

5) Disenchanted
After much disagreement, we finally had to come up with a movie night picking rotation (starting with me, since I'm oldest, and down the line).  I traded with Matt two weeks ago so I could pick this the day it came out.  I really enjoy the original Enchanted, even as it came out when I was a fully married adult.  This was a fun sequel that had me delighted with the songs (more!) and the fact that they moved to a upscale "magical" suburb named Monroeville (a farm town outside of our town) made me chuckle.  Not quite as charming as the original, it gets a bit darker, BUT it was still fun.  

 

BONUS
6) Sonoma Goods for Life Sweatshirt
Yes, I bought another sweatshirt from Kohls and yes, I greatly enjoy it, even though it's not fully my beloved blue (I'm wearing it right now!).  Kohls was a staple of my high school clothes shopping and I'm surprised by how many things I am finding to buy there again now.  It might be because they are GREAT at stocking tops in my perfect blue but also, I've been pleased by the quality and variety too.  Also, sales.  This sweatshirt and the above sweater are both currently about half the price of what I paid for them a month ago.  And I was happy with those prices!  This is a solid sweatshirt, more colors available.  I see the irony in almost entirely wearing this sweatshirt indoors so far.  I don't care.  

What have YOU been liking lately?

Things I like - May

I should just call these "things I've recently liked from Target" because that's what usually happens.  I'm sorry.  I go there for things like hand soap or body wash and sometimes get sucked into other parts of the store.  And free shipping online!  It's dangerous.  Every internet store should have free shipping although it's probably good that they don't.  Also, I don't make any money from these things, just FYI.  Just things I'm excited about lately.   

1) Backstreet Boys
I am a unabashed lover of the Backstreet Boys.  Not in the literal term (ew) but of their music.  And not in a creepy, I have a tattoo way but in a normal way.  I just realized I've been listening to their music for half my life (I've been having a lot of these "I feel so old" realizations lately).  Also, I saw them in concert (FINALLY) almost 7 years ago and it was awesome.  It was less than 24 hours after we got back from our second cruise so I was sleep deprived (from the very late drive home) and tan.   

Ahhhhh...to be 25.  ANYWAYS, for some reason I've been on a Backstreet Boys kick lately.  I am still having computer problems which now keeps me from even being able to open iTunes (anyone explain how that is possible after replacing my motherboard?  I've googled it so many times) so I still have Christmas music on my phone which makes "shuffle all" a dangerous thing when I have hands too dirty (cleaning, baking, diaper changing) to hit next when "O Holy Night" pops up in May.   I don't have many playlists (since I was still listening to Christmas music almost exclusively the last time I synced) but I do have a lot of Backstreet Boys.  And I've been switching between these two classics:

I remember listening to the first many times in the summer of 1999 and the songs mostly remind me of that time.  And then the second came out a year later and got a lot of play and I still have the track listing almost memorized.  It's good, classic stuff and fun to sing along to while working around the house.  Luke is going to like it, no matter what Daddy says.

2) Merona Scoop-Neck Tees

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed that I buy a lot of my clothes at Target (since that's most of the clothes I post about).  I have an allowance to consider here and don't want to spend a lot on clothes that will inevitably wind up with grass stains or dirty hands all over them.  These shirts are a recent fav, especially when they were on sale for $5 a few weeks ago.  I have the one above (this season) and a blue & white one from last year I've worn a lot (below).  I think the fit is perfect and the one I've had over a year has held up well. Plus, $5.  So yes, I have a few.  When I find something I really like I tend to buy multiples as the price allows.

3) Canvas Tote Bag

I'm not real prone to impulse shopping when it comes to clothes and accessories.  Usually there is internet browsing, then considering, then waiting (forever) for a sale, then reconsidering, then maybe ordering.  And even when I do buy at least half is eventually returned (I change my mind a lot/am too lazy to try things on in a store changing room which also sucks with a toddler running around/like looking at things in person).  This bag definitely qualifies as an impulse buy.  I saw another blogger post it and I had ordered it within 15 minutes.  Now, I don't have it yet so there is a chance it will still be returned, but for now I really really like it.  All my recent purse purchases have been more the satchel variety (here and here and here) but it's nice to have flexibility for times I might need to be more hands free.   And this perfectly fits with my recent nautical love (where did that come from???) and it's blue.  And it's white which might be dangerous with a toddler but we will see.  Right now I just think it's pretty.  AND on sale.  And from Target, obviously. 

4) Sancta Nomina
I stumbled across this blog after some others I read linked to it.  It's all about Catholic naming which doesn't sound like the most thrilling of topics but it really is.  The author does naming consultations for people based on some of their ideas and other children's names and comes up with a lot of awesome ideas.  Unless someone (eying you, my pregnant sisters) get to it first, we are pretty set on our next boy name but have gone back and forth many times on a girl.  We find those so much harder!  Then we finally do pick one and later find out it's become popular lately and it's back to the drawing board.  So this blog is helping.  It's given me lots of ideas and Matt just loves when I want to talk baby names over and over and over again (that's sarcasm but it's certainly not his least favorite topic of mine). 

5) Merona Earline Wedges

I used to wear heels to work every day, 4 inch ones.  That was 4 years, 2 surgeries, and having a full-time job ago.  I haven't worn heels very much since the old foot problem started and even less since I stay home.   But I recently seem to be acquiring wedges; I'm up to 3 whole pairs (I know, a real problem).  This is my latest and has been getting frequent wear.  They are pretty comfortable and the straps haven't caused many problems yet (depending on how long I wear them but I've gotten used to carrying band-aids for these things).  I've recently decided I generally like navy more than black and these shoes help with all my recent navy dress buying.  I don't think I ever owned navy shoes before and I feel like it's opened up a whole new world of clothes (navy things, mainly).  PLUS...they are on sale BOGO 50% off right now (and were when I bought them) which I accidentally but oh so conveniently learned means you can order 2 of the same thing, get one 50% off, and return one and keep the other for 25% off.  Follow that?  I'm learning a lot of buy and then return tricks.  This is what happens when you are at the Target return counter on a weekly basis. 

Looking Back at September

I'm pretty sure I always start these posts in one of two ways - either "well {that month} was a month! or "how is it already {whatever month it now it}.  Why am I continually shocked that time keeps passing?  As if it's any different than the rest of my life?  But I was surprised when I looked back through pictures at all that had happened in September!  No wonder I didn't get in as much reading time as I would have liked!  We made 3 lake trips, sold our pontoon, bought into another pontoon, brought home our jet ski, went to Indy for an adoption meeting, I went to Indy for a Backstreet Boys concert (woo-hoo!), we did a day trip to Sauder Village with a lot of my family, Matt and I ran our race, and we are in the process of getting a new alley (thankfully, paid for by the city and not us!).  But Sam and I have also had quite a few days of being home besides school runs.  We are settling into a decent after school routine and we are holding strong at no tardies!

Looking back:
1 year ago: What I'll Remember Most about Summer 2018
2 years ago: Letting Vacation Change You
3 years ago: Seasons
4 years ago: Strawberry Applesauce
5 years ago: After 8 Years We Finally Have a White TV Stand (I still LOVE that this locks)
6 years ago: I'm Declaring the Basement Clean-Up Done
7 years ago: Things I Really Like Right Now - September (my first one of these!)
8 years ago: Camping in Friendship, Wine Tasting in Madison

Here's the month!

1) A sunset jet ski ride on a Thursday in September thanks to no school on Friday, Matt getting the day off, and us working pretty hard to get up there and unpacked AND eating supper before dark.  It's pretty magical when this can happen in September!
2) Luke and I driving, we've really loved having full family jet ski rides back this year now that Sam is old enough for them!
3) My morning glories pop up everywhere (and I'm FINE with that, really), I don't even know how they got from the back to the front but it makes me happy.
4) Backstreet Boys concert in Indianapolis after I didn't get to see them in their Vegas residency when we were there last year.  It was awesome, so fun, and exhausting (home at 2am, up before 7 to run and then take care of Sam!  Luckily Matt could do the school run that morning).
5) Sunrise from the front steps, I see a lot of these this time of year.
6) Matt and I were running a lot the first part of the month (before we both got injured) and we finally bought a reflective vest so all of our pre-sunrise and post-sunset runs would be a lot safer!
7) Things that happen when I use the bathroom: Sam smears diaper ointment all over the couch.  I've resigned myself to the fact that we will have to replace this couch when we are done with babies too small to know not to smear diaper ointment on the couch.
8) This is definitely what you want the sky to look at when you are standing outside school still waiting for your kid and then have a ¾ mile walk back home.
9) The boys and I went to a high school football game for the school where Matt and I both went and the boys will both go!  (Matt got stuck at work late - he was treating patients until almost 10pm!).  Obviously the marching band is a highlight for me.  Luke was only in it for the popcorn.
10) My boys and a cousin checking out the animals at Sauder Village!
11) And I was checking out their morning glories!
12) The backyard playhouse Matt has been working on FOREVER is finally almost done, this is taken from it's second story (did he overdo the playhouse?  Most definitely.  But Luke loves it.)
13) New running shoes after I put 750 miles on my last pair. Oops.  Maybe why my foot might be injured?
14) The alley in progress.  You know what is really loud?  Tearing out two blocks worth of alley.  We are now in the cement curing stage which is silent and much preferred.
15) At the downtown library with my boys for our once a month trip!  Sam loved the "ball"!
16) Post running my race, beat my last year's time by a minute, even injured.

Books finished: 10
Miles ran: 75.8.  I was SO CLOSE to making my goal of 90 when I got what I'm fairly sure is a stress fracture and I had to basically stop running besides the race I was already signed up for at the end of the month.  Not making my goal for the month and likely not making it for the year is a huge bummer!  Hopefully taking a couple weeks off will heal my foot and I can still get in some runs before it is cold.
Currently watching: We are caught up on The Good Place so we are watching those as they air and we just started season 2 of Friends from College.  I am back to trying to get caught up on Grey's and then maybe I'll get back to This is Us (not sure I ever finished season 2?)
Most read post this month: Quick Lit - September
Luke's current favorite song: He's really been into the Backstreet Boys lately (and my going to a concert and then playing them for a week straight had NOTHING to do with it).  He even requested Don't Go Breaking my Heart as the song for his alarm in the morning!

Only a month until we are in the holiday season and I already have some prep work for that on my to-dos for the month!  Woo-hoo!!!

Looking Back at July 2022

WHAT. A. MONTH.  When we hit August 1st a few days ago I was remarking to Matt that it was a month ago that we had dug the sandbox.  IT WAS ONLY A MONTH AGO.  July was packed full of fun, as it should be since it's the best month of the year (my birthday month so I am biased).  We had three camping trips (not entirely intentional, just how it worked when coordinating with others).  Celebrated the 4th of July, my birthday, Luke's adoption day, BACKSTREET BOYS concert, did a ziplining birthday outing for a godson, went to the drive-in, ate a lot of wonderful fruit, Matt had a bachelor party for his nephew (who is also in his 30s, this isn't like my nephews, the oldest of whom is 12).  It felt like a really long month in the best way ever.  I would say it was exhausting but we finished with most of a week on a lazy vacation to Michigan so...ended caught up on sleep!  

Now, I am in FIRM denial that school is starting in less than a week.  What the what.  I do not like anything about that and am excited about exactly zero parts of school.  ZERO.  No redeeming factors there.  But, Luke must learn so back into the school routine we will get.  First we have Sam's adoption day to celebrate, ANOTHER camping trip (not before school), and maybe a(nother) day at a Lake Michigan beach (if weather cooperates)!  Holding onto summer for as long as we can, as much as we can!

Looking back:
1 year ago: What to Do with Fresh Peaches
2 years ago: Backyard String Lights: A How-To & Shopping List
3 years ago: {7} Books About Space Travel
4 years ago: On Fridays I Wear Blue (still true)
5 years ago: Book Love: The Shark Club
6 years ago: Friday Five: Favorite NYC Reads (Contemporary Fiction)
7 years ago: Easy Peasy Coffee Cake
8 years ago: Reasons Why the Drive-In is Awesome (and You Should Go)
9 years ago: The Adoption Process

1) Sunset at the drive-in!  Packed that into a very busy long weekend for the 4th!
2) A fun few hours at the lake, boys loved swimming!
3) Fireworks!
4) I had a strange little companion to watch the downtown fireworks from our backyard.  First frog I've ever seen in our yard!
5) Camping at Jellystone, seriously a highlight of the summer, I love camping and we had a wonderful experience at Jellystone this year! (Rent a cabin, even rustic, doesn't matter nearly as much if it rains!)
6) BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT.  This was the same weekend at Jellystone camping AND we had a family gathering between leaving camp at 9am Sunday morning and my BSB concert at 7:30 that evening.  It was a VERY busy day and I'm still a bit amazed it all worked out.
7) Backstreet Boys, I went by myself (with 25k other fans) and had a fantastic time.  Would highly recommend if you can't find anyone to go with! (Also helps that I paid for nicer (not nearly the nicest) seats so the people around me were pretty into the concert too.)
8) Sandbox DONE.  DONE.  Digging was hard work but getting the sand to fill it had complicated timing with Matt's work schedule and when places were open.  It was SO EXCITING to get that done!
9) A BLUE morning glory in JULY!  It's been years, maybe over a decade since I've had any blue ones bloom before late September/October and this year they popped up well before my birthday!  I always plant MANY packets of blue seeds and they finally bloomed on time!  Although, we had them for a few days and no blue ones since...
10) Blueberries!  Boys and I picked 10 pounds, they were delicious!
11) One of the highlights of my summer, reading on the porch, in this year, before the boys are awake.  I love it and will miss it dearly once school starts.
12) Those magical few days were the peaches are PERFECT.  I got 50lbs from The Peach Truck and ate SO MANY of them over the sink with juice dripping down my arm.  Amazing.
13) Back at the zoo!  Of course, we've only been that one time in mid-July since activating our pass again but hopefully this week again still!
14) Grand Haven beach on Lake Michigan.  GORGEOUS.
15) A birthday sunset at the beach, haven't had one of those since Hawaii 15 years ago!
16) This is the exact moment I came around on Matt's paddleboard purchase a few weeks earlier.  Paddling down the beach to get a selfie with the lighthouse we had walked out to the night before?  Yes.  I am now on board. (Literally.  HAH.  Although, to be fair, I sat on my bum to do all this paddling, Lake Michigan was wavy and it was my first time using it, Matt stood just to take his picture and got knocked in the water right away.  I stayed sitting.)

Books finished: 12, hasn't been a great reading year for me!
Miles ran: 64.7.  Hit my goal, got a lot of running ahead of me still this year!
Currently watching: We just finished The Right Stuff on Disney+ (enjoyed it) and now we just started a 6 month free trial of Discovery+ which means I have House Hunters in my life again.  I love me some House Hunters.  
Most read post this month: Fizzy Flamingo followed by Stripping: Laundry Style
Luke's current favorite song: I just asked him and his answer was "Bad Boys".
Sam's current favorite song: "Kids" by MGMT, we listened to this so many times on the drive to and from Maine.

Farewell July!  You were the best.  August, please be gentle, homework likely awaits somewhere in you.

What I'll Remember Most about Summer 2022

Sooo...summer may have been over awhile ago, by many measurements.  Luke's been back to school for a month, we're past Labor Day, and we had some 60° days recently.  HOWEVER, if you go by the lunar calendar season schedule (which I rarely do), I am getting this post in in time!  Also, how would I know what was memorable about summer until it was fully over! (Really, it's COVID's fault.)  

We had a wonderful summer where the boys were old enough for adventures so we took advantage of that!  We went to Kings Island, Maine, Michigan, fit in 3 more camping trips, saw family, saw friends, ate a lot of popsicles, and enjoyed having no school schedule!  

I specifically remember thinking when we were on the Scooby Doo ride at Kings Island how it was really important that we prioritize adventures and experiences with the boys over these next ~9 years until Luke is out of high school.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are our epic camping vacation and I hope we're giving our boys the same types of wonderful memories!  Those sustain us through the homework fights of the fall/winter/spring!

1) My Sweatshirt
This should come as no surprise because I still wear this every. single. chance. I get.  It's now cold enough to wear sometimes for school drop-off!  I bought this from Kohls in late May, wore it every single day of our Maine trip, I think every day in Michigan, on our other camping trips, AND at home.  It might be the only sweatshirt I wore all summer.  I LOVE IT STILL.  It's the perfect shade of blue.  This was the summer of my sweatshirt.  

2) Kamping Kabins
I plan to write a post about these later this fall, after we stay in our FOURTH for the year.  Yes, they are, by far, our favorite way to stay anywhere besides home (even though we've been in more hotels this year but one night in a Kamping Kabin for Kings Island just isn't as practical as a hotel 5 minutes away).  I have a few in the plan for next summer and I just cannot explain the utter peace and joy I feel when we are at one.  The boys love them, they fit our family perfectly, and camping is just so relaxing.  

3) Early Morning Porch Reading
This is one of the things I miss the most about summer.  Matt goes into work early and I typically get up with him.  Once I workout and shower (if I'm not running later in the morning), I usually had a good 30-45 minutes (some days longer) until the boys were awake.  Most days I read on the porch.  I've spent hundreds of hours reading on the porch since we've lived here but in these early mornings I had to change where I've typically sat since that love seat was right in the sun.  There became something very precious and special about sitting somewhere else on these mornings and I treasured every one of them (especially judging by the number of times I photographed it).  

I'd have my tea, a good book, and some guaranteed reading time.  Often it was all the time I got to read until the boys were back in bed and it was truly lovely.

4) Tie-Dye Shirts
We didn't have these for our first summer adventure (Kings Island) but a few days before we left for Maine, we picked up our custom printed t-shirts and tie-dyed them in each of our favorite colors - blue, green, red, and orange.  Then we wore them on our long driving day to Maine and every time we set out on a summer adventure after that!  It was just fun and the boys were always delighted when we pulled them out because it meant an adventure was coming!  One or both or them may outgrow them before next summer which makes it extra special that we got to wear them so much this year (it was a very adventure filled summer!).

5) Backstreet Boys
I bought these tickets on February 14, 2020.  We had no idea what that year was going to hold at that point.  It was postponed twice and when we booked a camping trip for the same weekend as the Sunday night concert, it was partially on the assumption that it would get postponed again.  Well, it didn't and it was a whirlwind of a weekend although a highlight of the summer in many ways.  I went by myself, sang to every song, and enjoyed it very much.  Then Backstreet Boys were the only thing I listened to for a solid week.  

6) Belly Bag
This was a purchase especially for Kings Island and ziplining but I ended up using it A LOT.  All over Maine.  It was the only purse type bag I took to Michigan.  Wore it to the zoo.  It might be because my regular wallet fits in here and not in the cross-body purse I use often in the summer but also, it was easier to have this at my waist than the cross body which can swing all over, especially when chasing kids.  I felt weird buying one but it was very worthwhile to own!  

7) Popsicles
We are always trying to make less trash.  We've made many small changes just for that purpose.  However.  We just can't quit these popsicles.  I bought 5 boxes of 100 each at the start of the summer and we're down to about the last 20 of those.  And then Aldi had then on clearance and I bought another (it's going to be hot this weekend!).  It's amazing what a popsicle can do to subdue fussy kids (and grown-ups) when it's hot.  We went through SO MANY the day we dug the sandbox and often had them after the hot walk home from school.  We easily consumed 100 each plus shared many with cousins, friends, etc.  The trash these generates makes me a little sick but also...we're hooked and they saved us from many a meltdown.

8) Scooby Doo
This was the boys' Scooby Doo summer.  I don't know how they first learned about Scooby Doo or why they started getting the DVDs at the library....but they did and it became their screen time of choice.  I've written before about how much I appreciated it - they didn't fight over what to watch, I didn't worry about content, and each disc was a set length, no endlessly streaming episodes.  We struggled with some kind of quiet time all summer and the balance with screen time but limiting that to about an hour of Scooby Doo many (not all!) afternoons made it a bit easier for all of us. 

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That's it!  Things I'll remember about this summer, when our boys were 4 & 9 and we still read piles of picture books most days and we had almost daily popsicles!

What I'll Remember Most about Summer 2021
What I'll Remember Most about Summer 2020
What I'll Remember Most about Summer 2018

{25} (More) Things About Me

I've done similar lists to these before ({25} Things About Me and Honest Truths) and usually around my birthday which means we're due for another one.  You'd think it would be easy to come up with 25 things about myself but...it's not.  I also forget what I've already written about and, writing this blog, I feel like I am CONSTANTLY talking about myself, so much so that I get tired of myself.  But, here we go.

1) I have to wear socks to bed.  Even in the middle of the summer.  I feel like gremlins are going to bite my toes otherwise.

2) I don't like (most) condiments.  If it were up to me, we'd have barbecue sauce, 2 salad dressings, butter, sour cream (do those count?) and that's pretty much it.  Instead we have about 20 bottles on the fridge door.

3) Ketchup is the worst, just FYI.

4) A couple weeks ago I spent the day listening to ALL the Backstreet Boys CDs (not in CD form, on my phone), in chronological order. There are 7.  I found it completely enjoyable.  (I was doing other things this whole time, not just sitting down listening to music.)

5) Probably a good time to admit they are my favorite concert?

6) Although, I've only seen them once and Carrie Underwood 3 times so...

7) I would really like to see the Backstreet Boys Vegas show but I can't convince Matt that's a good reason to fly to Vegas...also they post so many stories on Instagram that I feel like I've seen most of the show anyways.  (You probably didn't think this list would be so Backstreet Boys heavy.)

8) My first concert was Michael W. Smith at a Life on the Edge Live tour my junior year of high school.  It was pretty exciting.

9) Blue has been my favorite color my whole life.  This might be obvious if you've ever been to our house. (It would be ALL blue if I didn't have a husband to consider.)

10) When Matt and I went on our first date I purposely didn't take enough money to pay for my own movie ticket so he would have to, thus making it a "real" date. (There was also a good chance I didn't have that much cash anyways.) (And he offered before I had to fake offer.)

11) Really odd skill I wish I had: fire twirling like at Hawaiian luaus.  I wish I could find someone (in Indiana...) to teach me.

12) I spent 4 years in high school color guard so I'm pretty sure I could do it.  It would be my most impressive skill, if only I could do it. (It sounds WAY TOO dangerous to teach myself.)

13) On my birthday I like to be awake at midnight when it turns my birthday and midnight when it stops being my birthday.  And I set an alarm for the time I was actually born so we can observe.  (It's in the evening so I'm not waking up for this.)

14) I might like my birthday as much as a 4 year old (I say that, having a 4 year old who really likes his birthday.).

15) My legs are uneven by about ¼".  This is partially to blame for my myriad of foot problems.

16) I can mostly only tell because some pants wear out unevenly on the bottom, some clothes sits weird on my (uneven) hips, and I've had doctors tell me they are off.  And, strangely, once a customer at Arby's.

17) I worked at Arby's for my senior year of high school and through college breaks.  At the time it was the highest selling Arby's in the nation.  (Or at least that's what they told us.  I put this on my resume but never fact checked it.)

18) My first major in college was Communications.  That lasted a year.  Next was Marketing.  That lasted a semester.  But for it I had to take my first accounting class, that clicked, I switched, and it's what I've been doing (to some extent) for the last 14 years.

19) I do not hold writing utensils correctly. My high school religion teacher told me it looked like I was about to stab someone with my pen. 

20) I actually like doing laundry which seems to be the opposite of every other parent.

21) It's really hard to come up with a list of 25 things about yourself.  Just saying that again....

22) 10 years ago I spent my birthday in Hawaii and I don't know that a birthday has topped that since.  I mean...it's hard to beat snorkeling on Maui for your birthday...

23) Even though I'm 2, 4, 6, and 11 years older than my younger sisters, I only remember life without the youngest.  Something I've told her multiple times.  It feels like I should remember some of the others!

24) Although, I have memories of preschool when I was 4 but not my sister being born shortly before...you can tell which was more important to my young mind...

25) I'm the only of my sisters to even go to preschool...and it was only because my Mom thought I needed to talk more.  A few people might be regretting that decision...

Senses of the Season - Spring(ish)

I first posted one of these lists right before Christmas.  It's been three months since and things have changed, a little.  We have more snow on the ground, as I type this, then we did on Christmas.  Hello, spring!  But there are fewer dead trees in my house now (although I'm sure some needles are still lurking somewhere) and spring is coming, soon-ish.  I have hopes of wearing less than 3 layers sometime soon!

1) Smell

Until the real flowers are blooming we're settling for flowery candles and this has been a recent favorite.  I love the smell of real hyacinth, probably should plant some!

2) Taste

A trio of chocolate treats for one (guess who in this house didn't give up sweets for Lent?  Not this girl!).  This being triple chocolate cookies, cookie dough truffles, and double chocolate muffins.  All of which I have been enjoying almost daily lately...I'll start running again soon.   It'll be fine.  Also, this peach honey tea which was a semi-impulse Target buy last week but has turned out to be a nice quiet time treat, with more added honey, naturally.


3) Hearing

Amazon Prime does this thing where sometimes they offer you a $1 credit for a digital song if you agree to slower shipping.  Unless I'm in a hurry I almost always take the $1 credit and it's what I use to buy most of my music, the few songs I do buy.  My last purchase was Florida Georgia Line featuring the Backstreet Boys (you can guess why I bought this), God, Your Mama, and Me.  It's going to satisfy my new Backstreet Boys music until their rumored CD comes out later this year (and I will buy that CD, but you probably knew that). 

If Backstreet Boys and country music isn't your thing, I also enjoyed this podcast episode "The Lazy Genius Shops at Aldi".  If I haven't previously convinced you to give Aldi a try (here or here), at least listen to this podcast...and then try again.  It's only 23 minutes, or about the time it takes me to get through Aldi, which includes getting a cart, shopping, checking out, bagging, and loading up the car.  Not joking. (Note: She says you have to take cash but my Aldi has long accepted debit cards and now does credit cards as well.  Maybe it depends on the store?)


4) Sight

My bulbs started coming up weeks ago!  Here they are in the snow earlier this week.  At least they haven't bloomed yet?  The snow is pretty and I wish we had gotten more this winter, but kinda ready for warmer temps...

5) Touch
Can we just go with a feeling?  Because I've been feeling really cold lately.  It feels like 14° out as I type this.  That's cold.  And my old, 80-year-old, poorly insulated house is feeling it.  I sure would like to feel my toes (with socks and shoes) more often than when I'm working out and under 3 blankets....

What are you feasting your senses on in this (almost) spring?

Looking Back at August

I can't start every one of these talking about how shocked I am that it is another month, as if the calendar is surprising me by doing what it's always done, but I am, yet again, surprised we are at September.  Summer is (almost) completely over, our jet ski is coming home soon and that always marks the real end (as opposed to the first "fake" ending when school starts or the second "fake" ending at Labor Day weekend).

We were home more in August than any other month of the summer, but still fit in one and a half lake trips, two trips out of state, and a whole bunch of prep for back to school.  Man, that is a process.  Now that school is fully back in session I am finding our days much more structured and actually more free time for me!  With Sam still taking a 3 hour nap on most school days, I am reading more and actually, most weeks (not this one) blogging more.  Luke is doing well at school even if our mornings don't have a solid routine and the afternoon to bedtime hours are a bit crazy.   I think Sam enjoys having Mom and the toys all to himself but then is also always happy when Luke is back home too.  It's been an adjustment but it's been good too.

Looking back:
1 year ago: Thoughts of a First Time Kindergarten Mom (this still makes me cry rereading it)
2 years ago: Drive-In Love (one of the things I miss most about our pre-kids lives is how much more we went to the drive-in)
3 years ago: Turning a Door into a Head Board
4 years ago: Every Month I'm Cupboard Painting
5 years ago: The Bathroom is DONE!!! (basically)
6 years ago: It Hurts to Grow Up...
9 years ago: California!!

1) Sam picking out book at Half Priced Books when redeeming summer reading prizes!
2) Luke picking out books at the library.  I am always thrilled when my boys go for books on their own!
3) Sam and a stick in the backyard.  As he does.
4) Warren Dunes State Park day trip!  The boys enjoyed it and it wore them out!
5) Butterfly in the backyard!
6) Ice cream to celebrate Sam's adoption day!
7) Morning glories.  I take a lot of pictures of them.
8) Luke volunteering to be helpful and clean grapes!  Sometimes this happens!
9) Canoeing the Pigeon River, it was a lot of work but also a lot of fun.  Maybe more fun when Sam is a little bigger.
10) I grow these every year but I've never had a spotted one before!
11) Perfect late summer afternoon in the backyard!
12) Sunset from a rooftop bar on date night!
13) Checking out (again) our new downtown park, fantastic views, even got an article in USA Today!
14) More of the new park, it's pretty cool and has been busy both times we've gone.  Nice to see so many people downtown!
15) Perfect golden hour at the lake.  One of my favorite times of day there!
16) The start of sunset at the lake, I try to watch these every night we are there, almost always beautiful!


Books finished: 14  (did I finish 3 of those on August 31st, helping my numbers?  Yes I did.)
Miles ran: 77.3
Currently watching: Slowly finishing up American Ninja Warrior (we've started watching all episodes with Luke and it's hard to find time for them when he doesn't watch tv on school nights!).  Matt and I are about to start The Good Place season 3 which just got on Netflix.

Most read post this month: Quick Lit and then Back to School Routine
Luke's current favorite song: For reasons completely unknown to me, he likes this Fish Heads song Matt introduced him too.  BUT Luke also says he likes Backstreet Boys a lot so that redeems his music tastes for me!

September brings a Backstreet Boys concert for me, a race Matt & I are running together, and hopefully fine tuning some school routines!

2022!

It's the end of another year!  I've been through 40 of these and yet every year I'm amazed that it's end of another one.  As if this isn't supposed to keep happening.  This was a pretty good year for our family.  Overall.  In the nitty gritty, sure, a lot of things went not to plan or were hard or just made days/moments/weeks stressful but looking back at the last 12 months...it feels like we had a great year.

This felt, mostly, like our first normal year in awhile, with COVID slowly taking more and more of a backseat (even though we finally got it ourselves.  I am STILL amazed at the irony that I likely contracted it the DAY I packed away our masks).  Our boys are at wonderful ages to enjoy adventures and holidays and just life.  Of course, with growing ages come growing problems.  It's funny to think back on things that caused us stress in past years and how those things don't matter (sometimes) now but that bigger/harder problems have taken their place.  Parenting a kid through the school years is no joke.

It was a BIG year for adventures for us, our boys just being at great ages for that too.  We stayed at 5 campgrounds for 16 nights and 6 hotels for 11.  I don't think we've had a year where we've stayed so many different places since our Europe trip 10 years earlier and I don't think we've EVER stayed in so many hotels in a year!  Looking back, particularly at the summer, many of those adventures are what stands out.  MAINE.  Kings Island. St. Louis. Michigan. San Antonio. Jellystone. Camping with my sister, BIL, niece and parents.  A September camping trip.  Plus another cousin getting married which led to 2 more nights in a hotel. Which also reminds me, given all the solo time I had in hotel rooms with the boys this year (while Matt was doing wedding things, when he was at his conference in Texas)...I am THANKFUL for smart TVs where I can easily put Dude Perfect on for the boys and everyone is happy. (When I was a bit anxious about getting to the wedding at the right time and navigating downtown Indy traffic, again, Luke even pulled up one of my favorite clips which never fails to make me laugh.))

We are solidly campers now, even if we almost exclusively stay in deluxe cabins.  Although, our rustic cabin at Jellystone brings back such happy memories.  I can't look at pictures from that trip, maybe more than any other, without being flooded with happy memories.  Even Maine had it's own share of challenges (SO MANY hours in the car to get there!).  Although, I remember being somewhat stressed at Jellystone too, with having a lot going on the Sunday we were checking out (Backstreet Boys concert!).  But that's not the prevailing memory.  It's not always easy (I still, not fondly, remember yelling at my family, in a deluxe cabin: "THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN." in a particularly challenging moment) but considering we have FIVE more booked already for next summer (starting booking those the DAY before we left for Texas, apparently I am incapable of not having some getaway planned at all times). 

There is finally a sandbox in our backyard which had been on the list and my end table would be done if not for Matt deciding to make some Christmas gifts at the last minute!  (It's mostly assembled!  Just needs sealed/stained/something.)  I'm sure we did some other projects around the house but those are the biggest ones that stand out, probably because of how long they lingered on the to-do lists.  It actually felt like a relatively calm year, big project wise.  Maybe we are running out of them???  (We will never.)

I ran less than last year (337.15 vs. 407.70) and finished fewer books (hopefully 175 vs. 180) but also feel like we spent the most time playing games with the boys than any other previous year which feels like a good tradeoff to make.  The number of times I got DEMOLISHED in Saints Memory by Sam could be near triple digits.  It DOES make me concerned for my mental state when I get beat by a 4 year old who can't seem to remember to throw his dirty underwear to the laundry.  I might not win often (but still sometimes!) but I do at least know where that goes!

There were plenty of bad and hard things that happened this year (with homework, especially 4th grade, on that list) but I want to remember the good, the countless moments that made me appreciate having the boys with us, at these ages.  Appreciate that we're able to take them on long trips.  Appreciate that I can take Luke on big roller coasters (even if he swore them off forever after that...we'll try again on a medium size one).  Appreciate that they will sit for 2000 (that's not an extra 0, I read them over 2000 books just this year) books.  Elbow each other occasionally during that and whine if I make them do books before screens...but then they'll settle in and I don't know that I have a more content parenting moment than with then snuggled up next to me while we read.  

2023 brings on FORTY.  FORTY.  Trust me, I have THOUGHTS on that one.  But, the 30s have been much better than I expected so I am optimistic about the new looming decade.  Still more than half a year away!  

Life is good.  Life is hard.  Life is life. I'm sure glad this is the one I have, despite it's challenges. 

2021!

Things I Like - December 2022

Usually at the end of a quarter I feature books the boys have liked recently.  However, I've been talking A LOT about pictures books on here lately so we're going with an all Christmas (ish) version this month.  A lot of things that are making our December a little more merry!

I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog.  I've been doing these monthly posts for 10 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here!  Some affiliate links may be included!

1) Essie In Plane View nail polish
This is a fantastic darker teal and as soon as I painted it on my nails I ordered another bottle because I don't want to run out for awhile.  It's been my constant since Thanksgiving weekend and it might stay until Christmas, we'll see!  When a nail gets too chipped I just scratch off the rest and repaint that one, as needed.  It's my semi-lazy way to keep my nails painted without the work of constantly starting from scratch!

2) Universal Thread Cat boots
This was an item from my fall/winter shopping list and these have been a FANTASTIC addition to my closet.  Except they are rarely in my closet (I don't think they have been yet) because I wear them almost daily.  I wear sweatshirts A LOT when I'm not doing more than school runs and errands (which is most days) and I wanted a more casual boot than my leather riding boots (which I also still wear, just did this morning!).  Enter these, got them on a Thanksgiving weekend sale and they are comfy and cute and casual.  If there is real snow on the ground I do also own rain boots and real heavy duty snow boots so these shouldn't have to get too icky in slush.  Hopefully. 

3) Mini Christmas Trees
I own a lot and am always interested in more even though I realize I am going to be running out of storage space if I keep up my current rate of purchase.  BUT...Target has some good ones this year!  This green is just PERFECT (last year the blue was PERFECT).  I also am trying this blue glass tree and have a taller version of this mercury glass one AND these mini ones.  I DO still consider myself a minimalist...but not at Christmas.  (That being said, I did clear 5 items out of my closet this morning.)

4) Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas
Yes, I also mentioned this last month but it's been SUCH a part of our Christmas music rotation that it needs another shoutout.  It's fantastic and one of their best sounding CDs.  Love it.  

5) Paint by Sticker - Christmas
Part of the boys' St. Nick gifts were one of these each.  Sam got the older one since Luke had done most of that one last year.  Luke got this year's new one.  We read A LOT of picture books, especially in December, and sometimes it helps to keep hands busy.  Sam and I worked on one together this morning too!

6) Target Felt Ornaments
I bought this alien as a gift (and one for myself) and this whale was my St. Nick ornament. (I grew up getting an ornament every St. Nick so that's what I bought myself.  Matt grew up getting candy so that's what he bought himself.  Our boys always get an ornament and lately chocolate coins too.)  These are very cute AND not breakable!

7) Everything at Shining Light
The boys also got Christmas Memory for St. Nick.  And this mini St. Nick puzzle.  And this block puzzle (it's actually harder than it looks!).  We did this advent Nativity last year and it's still in good shape for this year!  I split the pieces and Luke puts in the odd and Sam the even (last year they were the flipped of that).  And I REALLLY wish they had this magnet nativity set out when I placed my last order in November because I definitely would have bought it.  I almost placed another order just to get one but couldn't justify it to myself.  We are all in on Shining Light. 

8) Baking It!
Matt and I watched this short Christmas baking competition on Peacock last year and enjoyed it (we also enjoyed the summer series, Making It!, but there wasn't a new season this year!).  It's delightful holiday fun.  Just saw Andy Samburg was placed with Amy Poehler for this season, we'll see how that goes.  Should still be good.  

9) The Popcast Deep Dive of The Holiday
If I had to pick one single podcast as my favorite, it would be The Popcast.  Hilarious and entertaining on things that don't really matter (pop culture) but also frequently makes me laugh, a lot.  Last week's episode was a deep dive on The Holiday, a movie I have watched every year, for over 10 years, mostly while wrapping presents.  It is greatly enjoyable to me, very seasonal, and I laughed a lot at this deep dive.  

There you go!  A whole bunch of things we are loving at our house right now!

Things I Like - April

Some months I really struggle to come up with 5 things that I am enjoying, especially since I removed books from my options with doing monthly Quick Lits.  But, with both boys having birthdays last month as well as Easter and a host of more gift buying on the horizon (May brings Luke's 1st Communion, Mother's Day, and our anniversary!), I think I'll probably be good for a few more months!

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1) Shining Light Dolls
A few of my sisters have been into these for awhile and despite buying two of them at our Cathedral Bookstore for the boys almost a year ago...I didn't get them out until last month.  I didn't know if they would be into them and didn't really want to gift them and didn't know what to do with them.  But one I bought was St. Patrick and March was the perfect time to get him out and so St. Michael the Archangel just came with him.  And the boys were surprisingly interested!  They were familiar with both saints since we pray the St. Michael prayer at the end of every Mass and they've definitely heard of St. Patrick (Matt's family is strongly Irish).  By the time Easter rolled around and we could freely (within budget) spend money again...I had 6 more in my online shopping cart.  I narrowed it down to 3 (which are now sitting in a basket, possibly to be introduced at Luke's 1st Communion?  Still deciding) and then bought another when Matt & I had a date that included another stop at the Cathedral Bookstore (St. Cecilia, my confirmation saint who now sits on my desk).  They are adorable and a great way to introduce and include talk of saints to your family!  Their Instagram also features a Saint of the Day with a drawing in the style of the dolls along with their story which has introduced me to a lot more saints!

2) Carrie Underwood My Savior worship album
We're just going to lean right into the religious to start the post.  Carrie is one of my long-time favorites (seen her in concert 3 times, my personal best which I will tie whenever the Backstreet Boys concert I bought tickets for 14 months ago ever, finally, happens) and I also appreciate some worship music, especially as the soundtrack to our school breakfast eating (there is something very calming and centering about it).  I was rather excited when I saw his album announced and then Matt bought it for me for Easter (after a heavy suggestion from me but he did place the order himself, we're making progress).  It has classics that I know well and some I know less well and some I don't remember ever hearing before plus, Carrie's lovely voice.  We've been listening to it every morning since I finally loaded it on my phone! (We definitely aren't getting through the whole thing before school!).

3) Oreo Thins Lemon Creme Sandwich Cookies
Continuing with our Easter basket theme, since I got a package of these in mine (which I definitely did buy myself).  I can thank Target in including them under "Easter basket treats" in the app when I was searching for more Easter basket ideas for the boys...and ended up with some for me.  I do enjoy a lemon cookie and had never tried their thin cookies before.  These are delightful with a perfect amount of lemon and a heavy dose of creme to cookie ratio.  I haven't shared these but don't worry, Matt & the boys have PLENTY of other Easter sugar to consume.  With the thin cookies I've made the package last over 2 weeks and I'm still barely half way through!

4) Outer Space Floor Puzzle
This was a birthday gift we gave Sam because we've been reading a lot of space books and he's been getting into puzzles (I guess myself having puzzles on our dining table for a good 2 months this winter had a slight influence on him!).  It's the perfect difficulty for him right now.  The first time he did it I helped a lot and every time since he's been doing more of it on his own.  He can't do it completely independently yet which is good because then it's longer until he's no longer interested!  The art is charming and he especially likes "the little moon!".  This was a good buy for him.

5) Target Silicone Baking Cups
I bought fantastic silicone baking cups at IKEA over 6 years ago and I really liked them but never saw them at IKEA again.  Then I was shopping for paper muffin cups at Target and these came up in my search.  I bought them so fast.  They are the best ones I've seen in a store since my IKEA find, even a little taller than those.  They fill the muffin tin cups better than Wilton ones I got from my sister's garage sale pile 5ish years ago and they are thin, which means they are easy to peel off the cupcake or muffin.  I am very happy with them and very much recommend them to anyone looking for silicone muffin cups.  Paper muffin liners aren't a lot of waste but since we are continually trying to reduce our waste, these are an easy way to do that, plus the money savings over time (we always do cupcakes for the boys' birthday party!).  

What have YOU been liking lately?