This week has been just what the doctor ordered. I spent 2 days with my mom which included a long overdue pedicure = bliss. I actually made it to Burn (Bootcamp), which has been difficult with morning swim team timing, but the Cornelius location has slightly different camp times, which has left my shoulders begging for mercy.

Then there was just the right amount of down time.

I got to see friends I hadn’t seen in a long time while our kids played on the funniest float ever.

Yes, it was a really good week and I hope yours was the same! Since we’ve officially hit summertime in all its glory, I wanted to share what I’ve been loving during these warm days. Starting with…

Yumbutter

I found it at Target, but you can get it $2 cheaper by ordering through Thrive Market. I will totally order this way next time because this stuff is SO good. You can see on the package that this almond butter contains chia, hemp and goji, but most importantly it tastes delicious and has a spout you just squeeze it out of. So brilliant that I want to cry that I didn’t event it. No mixing is necessary and it makes zero mess. I just squeeze it straight from the package onto a banana. Delicious! It also makes it ridiculously easy to make a sandwich for the girls.

Being More Intentional with Hailey

As we are gearing up for dipping our toes into homeschool, I’ve been working on being more intentional with the time I spend with Hailey (4 1/2). She has quiet time from 1-2, but when she is up at 2, we still have a solid hour before Kaitlyn wakes up. We’ve been spending this time reading or doing another fun task. This note card activity was a hit!

She chose what she wanted to label, then we each wrote it on a card and taped it to the appropriate location/item. She helped sound out the words, practiced her writing and now goes over the spelling and word every time she is near the cards, helping her to recognize how to spell certain objects. Most importantly, she had a blast doing it.

I also recently purchased this book at the recommendation of Kate, a reader who is an elementary school teacher.

Both she and the online reviews rave about what an insightful resource this book is for understanding how children learn math from early on. It’s not super thick and I’m really looking forward to diving into it.

Toddler Tube Trainer

I’ve already shared my summer favorites for the girls, but I have to add one more to it. This toddler tube trainer has been amazing for Kaitlyn in the pool. It’s designed to help teach a child to swim rather than just to hold them high above the water. Yesterday Kaitlyn was jumping in off the side in it, then coming back up and kicking herself back over to the stairs with ease. I was in the water with her, but she really didn’t need my hands of help at all.

Perhaps most importantly, she liked wearing it too. I highly recommend it.

ThredUp

I’m really quite obsessed with ThredUp lately. (<– if you use that link we both will get $10 towards our orders). I have sold stuff on there and agree it’s slightly underwhelming. Yet they are somehow on a long wait list for those interested in selling items? I know this because I am sending stuff to sell again, so it can’t be too bad, right?

However, the options and prices for buying are AWESOME. There is designer stuff, items still with tags, and items that still appear good as new for ridiculously low prices. Plus they always seem to have offers going for an extra 10% or more.

I usually buy clothes for the girls on there because it can’t be beat for kids’ clothes, but recently snagged myself this tags-still-on Moschino tank.

Not my typical brand (I’m not into spending hundreds of dollars on tanks and tees), but tags still on for $15, I think? Bring on the 4th of July baby!

Summer Vegetables

Whether you use them in a delicious salad or roast them up, they really are so sweet and delicious. Adding roasted corn to my menu is pretty much the best decision I ever made. I either toss the whole cob on the grill or just add it to whatever I’m roasting in a pan. YUM.

and while we are talking sweet and tasty produce, I have to share how excited I was to come home to a delivery from Stemilt Growers, a family-owned fruit company in Washington that grows, picks and ships fresh fruit.

They truly might be some of the best I’ve had (no squishy ones!). I actually told Hailey to wait until I got back from the other room to dig in, but clearly she was too hungry to listen.

At least she spit out the pits.

Ok, I’m loving way too much lately so let’s wrap it up with a summer staple-

Dresses

I’ve been focusing on adding more day time dresses to my summer wardrobe. I snapped a picture of this dress at Target the other day and should have bought it on the spot because now it’s gone.

I love the casual t-shirt dresses for everyday wear. Though I’m usually a fan of Old Navy’s petite selection (being that I’m all of 5’1″), I am tempted to try Amazon for clothes now that Molly enlightened me that they do have some pretty great options. Both this dress and this dress look like solid options for cute, casual, comfortable daily wear.

I’ve seen them styled mostly with a long necklace, something tied around the waist to create definition and either flats, sandals or sneakers, like this:

source

And now I want a pair of these.

What I’ve loved lately from around the web:

To reflect: Instagram Changes and Why There is More to Life than Followers // When Anxiety Gets the Best of You // Let’s All Improve the Silence

To eat: 4 Kid-Friendly Dips // Cucumber Sesame Noodles //  Spicy Sesame Zoodles with Crispy Tofu

What have you been loving, eating or reading lately?