Summer Live List

June 30, 2021

 If you've been following along you know that one of my goals this year is to love big and create fun. This summer I want to be allll about that. Sure fun can be had without planning or organizing, but I believe when we create space to be intentional about loving our people it touches their hearts and it changes ours. 


When the Netflix movie "Yes Day" came out I had planned to make brownie sundae's while watching it with Jack, and ever since that night he associates any type of special, bedtime treat with a request to watch "Yes Day". One simple, inexpensive idea turned into a memory he cherishes. Oh my heart, if that's not a kick in the pants to make some fun this summer I don't know what is!


Instead of having an agenda of things I want to do with the kids I'm going to change it up and ask the kids (ok, let's be real, ask Jack) what he wants to learn. A small shift in thinking here, but what a window into his world, right?! This allows Jack to brainstorm ideas that has interest in versus me dragging him to do things that I want to do. My hope is this will help him discover what lights him up! He may only be a preschooler but there is no age limit to trying or learning new things!


Note: almost all of these are ideas were prompted with help from myself. I had to remind him of things he likes or things that are around us (whether at home or in proximity to us). 


It's almost July which means time to celebrate 3/4 of our families birthdays and one of my favorite holidays, 4th of July! Cannot wait to celebrate with country music, sparklers and yummy food. 


Cheers to an intentional summer that will turn into the sweetest of memories. XO

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Front Room Office

June 16, 2021

The thought of painting makes me cringe but also giddy??! I have a love/hate relationship with painting. Love how much it changes a room, but the process of doing so is a doozy. The hard work does pay off in the end, and I am so excited to give our office/study space a lovely up-lift to blend its style with the rest of our house!

When we were in the process of picking out paint colors for our home I played it SAFE. Almost every wall was a simple greige. I had no clue what our style was. It was our first home and the list of decisions was a daunting one. Our builder gave us solid advice: "Rome wasn't built in a day." It's a wonderfully, cheesy cliché but it's true. Homes are built with a vision, but our homes also evolve as our own tastes change. So the margin to style our home slowly was refreshing. I think it's safe to say we leaned towards a traditional, modern style home. Think cozy, charming, personal touches and warm/light colors. We want our home to feel inviting not stuffy. My hope for this front room is to be a place we enjoy a good book. Somewhere you can retreat to when you want to get creative or be inspired. A place where the walls hold personal mementos and remind us of our families history and legacy.

These details are a vision inside my head of where we want to take this space! The walls will be painted white and have painted trim with a dark ceiling to hone in the cozy feels. 
ONE | BM Chantilly Lace / BM Revere Pewter / BM Cheating Hearts
TWO | unique planter to give the study a robust feel
THREE | neutral, mixed tone sconce to add contrast against white walls
FOUR | moroccan jute rug to amp up the coziness
FIVE | heirloom artwork that is calming and inspiring

June is full of fun plans to be had so we're putting this project into gear in July/August. Can't wait to share updates! Happy to have you in my corner of the internet as you follow along! XO
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Q2 Book Review

June 8, 2021




This quarter of books went from nay to yay! I started questioning my book picks as a whole once I began reading Dear Edward but then became more relived about my choices as I read on. You may have noticed there's 4 books shown instead of 3 and that's because my 3rd book ended up being a different type of read so I had space for another novel. The 4th book was a cherry on top of all the picks! I am so excited to share my thoughts from this round-up. 





Dear Edward is not what I was expecting. In fact I was borderline disappointed. Here's the thing.. I read on one of my favorite bloggers (shout-out to Shay Shull) that this book was one of her top 3 from the whole year and this lady reads like 50 books a year. My expectations were high! Shay has never led me astray with her book picks but alas this one just didn't make the cut for me. 

This book is about a young boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash. Throughout the book we toddle back and forth between real time pre-crash and what's happening with Edward post-crash. To me it was character overload! I could not keep up with everyone's individual story from the plane. But I was glad to finish the book and say I stuck it out...? Ha! I'm so confused by how beloved this book is and I need to know if anyone felt the same about this highly appraised book?!?



Everything Beautiful in it's Time is a lovely memoir about the Bush sisters growing up with the grandparents and how they shaped who they are today. I thought the book fell a little flat and jumped around a lot, but Jenna Bush drives home the verse from Ecclesiastes, "He has made everything beautiful in it's time." Through life's joys and heartaches we become changed for our good if we allow it. This story made me realize how much we can glean from our grandparents. As an adult I now long for those conversations I could've had as a kid with my grandparents, gleaning from their stories, memories, and wisdom. 




Foundations is not what I expected in the BEST WAY. I had no clue this would be more of a tool versus a book to lead our family with. If you have been looking for ways to create space to worship as a family this is the book for you. There are 12 chapters, each with a key truth about God, that are set up like a devotional to lead and connect your family's hearts to the heart of God. Troy and Ruth Simmons are the real deal and understand that this is not a behavior changer, it's a way to lead by example. To set a table for your family and let them see your relationship with Him. For our family I see us using this as a chapter a month and then restart the book for years to come! 


Bonus book!



The Last Letter From Your Lover is AWESOME! I first saw this was going to be a film starring Shailene Woodley and Joe Alwyn so naturally I was interested in reading the book. For starters, I love a good twist and turn book that ties up everything at the end. It starts out in the 1960s and ends in 2003. The book is based around a London-bred societal woman who lost her memory in a car accident and is rediscovering pieces about herself that was triggered by a love letter she found hidden in her house. These love letters are the bread and butter of the book and hold so much power. A must read!


Share your thoughts if you have read any of these picks or if you are intrigued! Book talk just makes my heart happy. 

Next up:
July- 28 Summers


September- American Dirt

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Go-to Summer Meals

June 1, 2021

Photo source via Half Baked Harvest


We have been LOVING eating meals on our patio this year. Dinning alfresco brings me some type of serenity even though there's two kids who like to pop my bubble of zen with their constant requests and complaints. :) 


Meals during the summer have to be along the lines of simple, quick, and refreshing. And bonus points if I do not have to use the oven! 

I have rounded up our go-to summer recipes (outside of burgers and hot dogs) that are nothing short of delicious. Enjoy!


Hawaiian Shrimp Tacos There's nothing like a fresh pineapple in the summer. 

Greek Chicken Orzo Bowl SO refreshing and simple. Tip: make your own Tzatziki sauce using greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and dill. 

Kale Salad with Peanut Dressing You have me at peanut dressing, mmmm! 

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta This pasta dish is light and flavorful. Did I mention it only uses 1 pot? Easy clean up!

Sheet Pan BBQ Pizza Keep it simple by using a pre-made pizza dough. Or make it healthier by subbing a cauliflower pizza crust.


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