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Filed Under: Daily, REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

BASICALLY NEVER SHARED

a-day1 King of hat hair, I think I gave him a hair cut a couple of days after this – this tee is real (and it now comes in neon yellow). a-day2 a-day3 Days that start out soo great and then “ewww gross” something makes it go stinky right quick. I don’t know what it is about days like that (the ones that aren’t really awesome) if I’ve taken photos before we chose the wrong road in that fork, I never share them. Even if the photo is happy or more like the moment the photo was taken was happy, I feel like I’m fibbing by posting and making it appear that things were more awesome than they actually were. It took me a while to realize this, but after the stock pile of images (on both my phone and computer) I noticed the trend. I’m not mad it, or even against it – I like it. I’m very okay with keeping things real and in all honestly, it’s nice to not share everything with you guys (even though I do like you) – it’s really really nice to look back and see photos of days and know that we are the only ones who saw them and experienced them (it’s also really nice not to take photos at all). Since these photos of the kids (being cute) made me think of this whole, ‘not posting photos from days we kinda want everyone to go to bed early‘ – even though they weren’t taken on a grumpy day it was actually a really nice day, just slightly uneventful. Which happens to be a whole other pile of photos that I basically never share (or never capture at all), minus these ones that is.

Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

HOW TO KEEP SUMMER AWESOME (AND PRODUCTIVE)

how to keep summer awesome (and productive) Summertime anxiety, I swear it’s a thing. Even if it’s just a thing, that I just made up. Summer break is exciting, relaxing, awesome and it started a whole 3 days ago for us. Summer days are spent outside (entire days, since most days my kids can skip naps), being active and doing awesome summer stuff. Summer is tons of fun and staying at home to raise these two is probably at its most fun during this very season (don’t hold me to that, I might change my mind on that season thing later). All of this outside and being super active, also means that keeping up with the rest of my roles is sooooo flipping hard. I try my best to be very intentional with my thoughts and focus on King and Harlow entirely when I’m with them, but I’m usually left with anxiety at the end of the day for all the things I still need to do, mixed with total exhaustion, dried caked on sunscreen and dirty feet. We only have 2 months of this glorious (slightly anxiety creating) season before the kids are off in school (both kids for me…..so so bittersweet, I can’t even articulate) and in an effort to make it the best and hopefully most productive summer ever (high hopes) I tried to get extra organized.

CREATE A SUMMER CALENDAR

I stocked ical full for the next two months, in a rainbow of color coding. Using the color BLUE for classes and camps – the things we are already committed to doing (and have paid for). The color ORANGE, for things that we want to do, loose ideas for outings, activities and things happening around the city. The color RED for appointments, playdates, birthdays and meetings – the mostest important items. The BLUE and RED items are set in stone but the ORANGE, those can be moved around – this gives me a loose idea that I can sorta plan the other duties of my day around (also a plan just helps, even if it’s loose). *color code or not, setting a loose calendar together is really awesome for seeing the summer (both the awesome fun parts and the not so awesome ones) all in one space.

MAKE A SUMMER BUCKET LIST

I know summer has already begun, but it’s not too late. You can use this list to pull items for the ORANGE color coding list on your ical. Seeing a list of awesome things that you want to do, helps reduce the anxiety of not doing enough awesome things in the summer, then you make sure you make it happen. Then you can focus on the not so fun stuff a bit better – so it’s not really a fix, but a bit of a help.

SUMMER CHECKLISTS

During the school year check lists, really help the kids stay on track (and to be honest us too). But really the same works for summer, so the kids still keep a sense of routine and we are able to squeak in all the things we need. I also really want to make sure the kids do a bit of workbook and just keeping up with learning everyday, sometimes giving them the responsibility to them makes everything go so much smoother.

Download the free GET READY IN THE MORNING checklist for kids
Download the free GET READY FOR BEDTIME checklist for kids

CARRY A NOTEBOOK

I bring my notebooks with me everywhere. They have as allll my to do’s, need to buy’s and don’t forget lists in it. And also tons of random ideas, beginnings of posts, works in progress, basically a place for all my work stuff on the go. I like these moleskin cashier notebooks because they don’t take up room in my bag, and I can jot an idea down or check off something while we are out.

LET SOME S**T GO

Just “let it go, let it go!!!” – like it wasn’t already stuck in your head. Don’t try to keep up with the things that aren’t actually important. Things like social media and a super sparkling house can be let go a little bit, really it’s cool. Remind yourself (probably by making a list) what things are the most important, and give yourself some slack or just totally let go of others.

keeping-up4 So tell me, summertime anxiety, it’s a thing right? Is there anything that you do, to make sure summer is awesome and still productive – I’d say especially as a working mom, but really aren’t we all working moms?

*This started as a post about me telling you how worried I was about keeping up, and how I was already having a hard time making everything work (work and life). Then I sat on it for so long, that ended up coming up with a bunch of ways to fix my worries – rather than just complain about them. And half the words got switched out with tips, so there ya go.

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Filed Under: ADVICE AND INFO, FOOD AND COOKING, SIMPLE LIVING, What We Eat

WEEKLY FOOD PREP: SUMMERTIME

Once summer hits I find we are home way less, which means there is barely enough time to cook a meal – if it’s not too hot to cook. The house is usually in a constant state of mess, more than usual that is. And I always always feel like I’m behind on life as soon as we step in the door (and probably the whole day, to be honest). I try my best to plan ahead, but have taken things to a more controlled type A personality type level, this year. This is how I prep for the summer weeks (It’s a bit different than in the fall and winter), to make sure we all stay eating well and there are zero surprise “let’s go grab some take out because I forgot to thaw/prep for dinner” moments.

MEAL PLAN (ALWAYS MEAL PLAN).

I cannot grocery shop with out a plan. Well I can, but I always end up over spending and then having to visit the store a few extra times during the week to grab things I forgot – a waste of time and money. So I meal plan (usually Sunday nights, because I like to shop Monday or Tuesday mornings when it’s quiet and the stores are just getting restocked from the weekend). I usually sit (probably while the kids play and make another mess) with my pad of paper and Pinterest food boards and make a list for the week.

WASH ALL THE FRUITS AND VEGGIES.

Fill the sink with cool water, mix in 1 cup of vinegar and then toss in your fruit and veggies as the groceries get unpacked. Letting them soak for 10 minutes, as soon we come home from the store makes it easier for the kids to just grab a snack during the week and let’s me skip the whole washing step when cooking prep time comes.

CHOP AND PEEL.

There are some veggies that take a bit of extra time to chop, but can keep well for a while once chopped. In the summer I like to pre-chop and peel vegetables for salads and snacks (and stuff), it takes out half the work for later and it makes throwing a salad together or grabbing cut up red peppers instead of crackers much easier. I like to chop red onion, red peppers, carrots, de-stem and break apart kale.

COOK AHEAD.

Those things that can easily thrown into salads or added to a meal, but can take a bit of time just on their own getting them all ready to be eaten. I like to prep and cook a few beets, a few hard-boiled eggs, chick peas (or whatever beans and legumes I’m into using that week) and quinoa. If I ever make too much, quinoa (never happens) or chickpeas – I freeze them, which then makes the following weeks prep super-duper easy. *I recently started cooking my dried beans and legumes in the slow cooker, much better and more fool-proof then soaking all night and then cooking.

MAKE HEARTY SALADS.

Sometimes it’s a pain to stay indoors and cook for long periods in time in the summer, but maybe that’s just me and my tiny kitchen. At the beginning of the week, I try to make a couple (depending on how much room my fridge has) hearty salads to keep covered in the fridge. Often I will leave the dressing (and less hearty vegetables, like spinach) on the side and we can add that to each portion later. This makes lunch time a no brainer (especially packing lunch for Chris). Also it’s a good fall back for a dinner side when I’m feeling lazy (let’s say about 5 days out of the week). This quinoa salad (a twist on this recipe), broccoli salad, and chickpea salad from the oh she glows cookbook (for quick sandwiches) are some of our favorites.

MIX AND PUT ASIDE.

Mix breakfast, salad dressings and marinades. For all the same reasons, if you prep and pre-make it, it will make eating and eating healthier so much easier. For breakfast I make a version of overnight oats but just let it sit for about 20 mins in the am and its good to be eaten – usually I pre-mix because my concoction of nuts, seeds, and grains is a bit confusing for my husband. Same goes for salad dressing, if I know I’m going to need it that week making at least one of them ahead of time will take all the work out of making an extraordinary salad later.

PACK AND PREPARE.

Often if we have our day planned out, I will pack snacks, a hearty salad and some sandwiches in my backpack when we head out for the day. This way we don’t have to rush back for lunch and we won’t be so hungry that we grab some pizza or something else while we are out. Basically this plan let’s the kids play outside allll day long, no interruptions.

MOST PHOTOS TAKEN BY: KINGSTON

Do you have any weekly meal prep tricks? How is summertime for you, do you find it harder to keep up? Find some of our favorite go-to meals here.

Filed Under: REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

THEIR IDEAS

King has been asking for some time to go to the beach. Up until now it has just been too cool, or just flat-out freezing winter cold – to go. Over the weekend, he requested the beach again. So we packed a few things and headed down. It wasn’t really beach weather, it was windy , chilly and we didn’t stay for too long. But we all had a good time (despite the vast amount of spring time allergy attacks). When we got home, tired and all a bit grumpy from our allergies (mostly me), King said with a big smile “what a good day at the beach, did you guys have a great time?”. Seeing the pride that beamed from his face when he asked, there was no “it was too cold” and no “my allergies made it hard to see out of my eyeballs”, we all replied with a giant “YES”. The simple task of being the orchestrator of a days plan created so much pride and joy, we will definitely follow the kids lead for the day much more often – and Mom and Dad will try our best to keep our (old folk) adult concerns to a minimum.

Do you let the kids pick the plans for the day?

Filed Under: Daily, SIMPLE LIVING, YOGA

RESET BUTTON

I’m pretty sure I spent most of my adult life searching for a reset button, even though I didn’t know I was searching. A glass of wine at the end of a hard day, a bath to calm down and relax before bed, a night out with other adults (and only adults), sleeping in (whatever that is) – versions of reset buttons that definitely have their place. The other night, as I lay awake in bed “letting” my anxiety totally take over and completely ruin my sleep. I kept thinking, that all I needed was a reset button to punch me outta of my wakeful funk and let me sleep. After like the 500th toss and turn, I realized I hadn’t practiced yoga that day (I skipped out on my own advice) which is why I wasn’t able to let go of my day. I have that reset button I just didn’t press it.

The time I spend on the mat is my reset button. It’s a reset for both my mind and body, my daily practice is more than just a habit or addiction it’s become a requirement. Those other versions of a recharge, still have their place (but really, what is “sleeping in?”) but to be truly kind to myself and to make sure I am at my best (and I actually sleep) I just can’t skip out that precious time.

This got me thinking, what do other people do as a reset or recharge? Do you have something you do that acts as a reset button?

*read more about my take and love for yoga.

Filed Under: Daily, REAL LIFE, SIMPLE LIVING

TINY WINDOW GARDEN

Over spring break instead of planting flowers or something really fun, the kids and I planted herbs (still fun, but much less of a “oh look it bloomed” impact). I thought it would be nice for them to each have a plant to care for and then learn about how that plant can be used when we cook – sorta a little full circle project. So far our teeny tiny little window garden is thriving, last time I tried this they didn’t last long enough to grow anything edible.

Right now we only have parsley, thyme and basil. Since we are all loving these three so much, and they aren’t dying – we will be adding a few more herbs and maybe even a vegetable (I have no idea which one will actually work in a small setting, any tips?) to our little window ledge garden. Currently it’s a very modest urban garden, at best – but it’s got the kids and I feeling very garden-y. So much so that the kids have been scooping out possible planting areas in parks and our shared backyard for a larger garden. Possibly one day we will have a place with some sort of a yard, but for now a teeny tiny window garden is the way to go.

*parsley was the only from scratch plant, which is why the slower growth. Due to a little-broken-pot-on-the-floor accident, Harlow decided on a tiny thyme plant instead of another seed.

Heart and Habit

BASICALLY NEVER SHARED