Feels Like Summer

this !

I’ve been alternating humming this song and Watermelon Sugar all week! I just started this Elin Hilderbrand beach read (which I may already have read?!). And think we’ve already gone through a whole can of sunscreen mist.

This is the absolute best time of year! Summer is such a state of mind. Everyone is just more relaxed and social. There are more parties, more patio dinners, and more vacations. I also just love being outside so much.

Happy Hour at Eastwood Farm

One Friday night we had no plans so we up and went to Eastwood Farm Winery for sips and live music.

It’s so pretty up there, and they have a food truck most nights, including an oyster truck! It’s also super kid friendly. Check out the contents of this kids’ cheese board and juice flight!!!

Mommy juice flight.

Noodle bowl with a chicken skewer

Family Reunion for Aunt Barbara!

Thomas’s aunt celebrated a big birthday milestone and we gathered at his parents’ house for a big party. (Maze was with his dad this night.)

Barbara had no idea that 2 more of her siblings would surprise her with a visit!! (There’s a 5th sibling on the West Coast who couldn’t make it.)

Smoked Salmon + Cake

We had amazing smoked salmon, a pasta salad that I made (!), grilled veg, and Princess Cake!

The New Rug

The wool rug in our living room is seven years old and is now made up of 90% dog hair and 10% wool. It was time for an update! I was inspired by this rug that my friend Meg got for her house. It’s beautiful in person and when she told me what it cost, I bought it!! Less than $200 for an 8×10!!

As someone who LOVES neutral colors, I have to admit this was a bit of a risk for me! I wasn’t sure I’d like it. But I do!! It’s softer than it looks, and so far it’s doing better with the dog hair than our old rug.

The old rug is currently getting cleaned and then I’ll decide if we’re going to keep it depending on how refreshed it looks. I’m thinking of putting it in one of the kids’ rooms? Mazen’s rug has always been too small since I bought it for his bedroom at our old house. So maybe in there!

Dropps Soaps

Also on the home front, I’ve been liking the new Dropps soaps I got! The foaming hand soap comes as a pod that you drop into a container and fill with water. You can use an old soap container you already have! It’s cool to watch it dissolve, and the Jasmine Honeysuckle scent is AMAZING. The dish spray is new to me. You just spray your hand-wash dishes and then scrub! I’m using it on caked-on pans and letting them sit. So far, so good!

Get 25% off your first order with the code KATH25 and 15% off your second order with KATH15.

Artichoke Boy

Mazen went with me to the grocery store to pick out some foods that he likes. In addition to trying to buy 10 bags of chips, he asked for an artichoke! His dad taught him how to eat it steamed with butter, so we did this for dinner.

This kid will not eat a fresh summer berry, but he loves all seafood and now – artichoke!

Speaking of fresh summer berries!!

I love summer time breakfasts. This is the Gratisfied Granola on top. It’s so good! Kind of like the buckwheat granola I used to make.

Get 15% off Gratisfied with this link!

Daily Harvest Pizza

I think they call them flatbreads, but to me they are just pizza! The healthiest pizza you can imagine. They don’t add cheese to keep them plant-based, but of course I like them with a sprinkle of cheese on top. So good for a mid-week lunch.

Get $25 off your first order.

Food Gallery!

Here are some of our summer meals. We’ve still been loving Blue Apron (did I mention we became subscribers when my partnership came to a close?). It’s been nice to be a real user in the app and get the full experience. I even got a $100 gift card sent to me as a regular subscriber promo, so that was a really nice touch! A week of free groceries – yes please. I always order salmon and panko chicken in the meal plan when they have it! Blue Apron does those so well.