Here’s a bit of this-and-that news!
Back To School Pics
The kiddos went back to school last week – here are their annual back to school pics!
Primary Class
3rd Grade
Mazen Age 3
Mazen wanted to recreate this back to school pic:
Date Night at Passiflora
One of our newer restaurants in Cville closed for the pandemic winter and re-opened this summer. This Baja-Mediterranean menu is right up my alley!! I had a delicious smoked margarita followed by lots of chips & queso and fajitas for dinner.
(Note the “No Raw Onion” on my menu – I had written this in my Resy account and the Passiflora staff noted and brought me a menu annotating the dishes with raw onions in them. I LOVED THIS!)
Wine Tasting
Vinebox
Not sponsored, just fun!! Vinebox has by-the-glass wines in beautiful vials. I bought the Peaks & Valleys box with 9 different wines to try. (Note they have 20% off sales frequently, which is how I bought this box!)
If you like variety, single servings, and new things, you would love this box.
WTSO
I also did a wine tasting virtual event with some other food/wine folks and WTSO (aka Wine ‘Til Sold Out). We tasted two amazing Spanish wines. Don’t you agree that wine tastes better when you pause to sniff, swirl, and sip slowly while learning about the terroir of the region its from? I think so! Quo Old Vines Grenache Campo De Borja 2012 and 91 Pt. El Brazo Albarino 2020. The red blew my mind with its low price. We all thought it was a $30 bottle.
They also gave me a promo code to share with you all: KATHEATS for 15% off your first order of $50 or more!
Perfect Pot!
The Always Pan has a new sibling – the Perfect Pot!
Like its big sister, the Perfect Pot has a design that makes it a smart multi-tasking pot: a roasting insert, a notched spoon, and is oven safe to 425 degrees. And it has the nice ceramic coating on the inside so clean up is super slick and easy. I LOVE the slate blue!!! Colors are selling out fast, FYI!
Crush Pad Wines
We have a new wine bar + shop on the Downtown Mall! It’s called Crush Pad Wines! There’s a mix of small plates to eat and you can also order from a few of the sister restaurants next door and have a full meal delivered! I met some friends there a few weeks ago, and it was such a great girls’ night atmosphere.
The bottle shop also has a HUGE selection of wines you can purchase on the spot and open for a corkage fee.
What I’ve Been Reading
Recently I read The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah. It was a well-written, lovely book about hardship during the dust bowl. I love historical fiction and Kristen Hannah, so I liked it a lot.
In total contrast, next I read The Idea Of You, which was recommended by my friend Ellen as “something you would love.” She was right! It’s about a 40-year-old woman who falls in love with a 20-year-old boy band member. Harry Styles / One Direction meets Fifty Shades (with a much better plot and writing).
Lovevery
I am SO excited to try Lovevery! They make Montessori-style play kits for the developmental ages from birth to age 3. My friend Caroline has been getting them since her son was a wee babe and she has a beautiful shelf of toys now!
You can sign up for a kit subscription that comes when your child is ready for the appropriate toys (they make great all-in-one birthday gifts!) or you can buy some of their other products like a pretty play set for infants and this awesome block set that Birch is getting for his third birthday!
They sent Birch a box perfect for his age (almost 3) and I don’t know who was more excited seeing the “work” inside – me, Thomas, or Birch. Actually Birch hasn’t seen ALL of it yet because I am one of those moms who tucks things away for rainy days. He might get a few things saved for his birthday too. This camper van and sleeping bag figurines are his new favorite toy.
Here’s a link for free shipping over $75.
Lovevery gifted us the set and this is an affiliate link if you decide to purchase. Thanks!
Finally, their B2S haircuts!
Before
After
“You know you’re a mom when….”
All of the pics are of your children and none are of you <3
Melissa says
Beautiful photos! I can’t believe how grown up both of your boys look! I’ve been a longtime blog reader for many, many years and it’s just incredible to see their growth. I wish both of them a fun, exciting and successful school year!
Kath Younger says
Thank you 🙂
Denise says
Mazen is certainly turning into a young man, rocking his cool cut! And Birch is just so grown up! Happy Back to School to you all.
Kelly Haag says
Those boys are so cute! I remember that one of Mazen when he was smaller–time has flown by!
If you love Kristin Hannah, you must read The Great Alone, if you haven’t already. Recently had a kid-free weekend and I devoured it. I still think about the characters!
Kath Younger says
I loved The Great Alone!! Such a beautiful setting. I didn’t love the ending though…
Jillian says
Excited for another canned wine post, especially if it comes before my next grocery trip.
Kath Younger says
That was a typo on my part! I wrote that section before the canned wine post went up (because I moved it up and was too excited to share!!) : )