September brings a lot of big feelings. I love the start of fall, but the anxiety of new routines is a lot. We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary, got back to soccer and fall baseball. I’m ready for some fall temps after some summer-like days. I had a great time cooking a bunch of Italian-ish dishes this month:

First, I made a Pizza Burger and the pepperoni ground into it makes it.

Next I was into a Caprese Quiche after my quiche take out lunch was never delivered at work. It was really simple but great flavors and so helpful to freeze a few slices.

Then, I chopped an Italian Sub and loved every bite.

Finally, I gave the Italian Grain Bowls a little refresh from 2017 and this time it was based on some tomato orzo (which the little eaters gave mixed reviews but both ate).

October brings a little calmness as we’ve all settled and aren’t still sweating! I’m thinking about a few apps and a quick dinner option for the nights we’re fitting in practices. I can’t wait to see what they pick for Halloween!

The Big Kid:
He’s starting trombone lessons for band at school! We were so excited and I loooove seeing him try new things. Fall baseball is….interesting – we like a more chill/less serious chance to play but there are so many kids in different combos each week that the coaches don’t know names. He’s loving 4th grade and being the bigger kids “on campus”.

The Littler One:
She FINALLY has a wiggly tooth! We are eagerly awaiting first tooth fairy visit. She’s starting to settle at school but doesn’t know many kids yet and she’s tired of being new again. Soccer has been great to see her be fully into it – running the whole time, ready, being aggressive, and she scored!

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I got some acrylic hoops from Etsy
More meatless meals: quiche!
sandwiches and salads: The chopped Italian was perfection.
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: we stopped by Natick Community Farm to see the rabbits and loved it!
redo photos – the Italian Grain bowl was originally from 2017 and was a good facelift as meatballs are an easy dinner.
what I’m reading: I read All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley and thought the writing was fantastic – my mind wandered occasionally but it is a good no-stress book. I read Happy Place by Emily Henry and loved the friendships and vacation spot but the romance was secondary to me. Our bookclub one was The Woman in Me by Britany Spears and I listened to it – being a celebrity sounds awful, but the audio performance by Michele Williams was phenomenal. I read the Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez and will remember it for such a long time – which doesn’t always happen for me!

August includes all the summer things then the real feel for fall. We celebrated C’s birthday and had our week at the beach. There’s such a pull between letting the end of summer be free! to be spontaneous! and also trying to fit everything in!

In the kitchen, I loved this sandwich sauce on turkey…it was perfect.

I thought about low-cook/no-cook dinner ideas

I remade this apple slaw

September is back to school, soccer, fall baseball, and routine. I’m not sure what’s on the menu yet.

The Big Kid:
He absolutely loved basketball camp which was fun to see. He had a bunch of parties and the best time at the beach. He made a beach friend and they happily caught critters all day. We played with gimp and he made them into pretend fishing lures. He always wants to go fishing.

The Little One:
She’s 6! She had a family party at the pool with pesto pasta (her request), pizza, and chocolate cake. She was showered with lego sets, art supplies, her own American Girl doll, and much more. She tried gymnastics and had a great time. Moving on from the early childhood school to the elementary school has her a bit nervous.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I didn’t make it happen this month. I’ve had a few let downs of the wrong color and a decal that didn’t stick.
More meatless meals: ehh. I may have missed this.
sandwiches and salads: The sandwich sauce was great on turkey!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time:
redo photos – the apple slaw was a redo.
what I’m reading: I read Margo’s Got Money Troubles and thought it was interesting and concepts I haven’t seen before. Next I read Mayor of Maxwell Street and found it only OK…the final 1/3rd was the best. Then I read Verity and it was mind-boggling. I finished the month with Sandwich feeling fitting at the beach.

This point of August has me wondering what day it is, what camps are happening, who goes where, how many popsicles has everyone had, and what do we still want to do before school starts!  If you share in wanting some meal ideas for variety that aren’t complicated and won’t heat up the kitchen, here we go.

I did a round-up in 2022 of summer dinners which still work but it always seems to be time to refocus and consider what else sounds right.

Caesar Chickpea Wraps
Flavored chickpeas, lettuce, dressing, and croutons get wrapped up. This includes cooking with a skillet and is fast, easy, nutritious, and could be warm or cool.

Mexican chicken salad
Chicken taco night gets a refresh with NO cooking. It is cool, transports well, and is scooped with chips or a tortilla. Serve on top of salad or greens for a flavorful dinner. This uses leftover grilled chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Thanks Costco!

Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries
These tried and true flavors can go into a toaster oven, air fryer, or could go on a grill! These might need a fork.

Corn Quesadillas in herb butter
Use those farmer’s market finds into a veggie quesadilla. The herb butter makes it and the whole thing only uses a skillet or griddle. Swap the corn off the cobb with zucchini or tomatoes.

We will head to the beach and have some home days for swimming and finishing our bucket list now that camps are winding down. Our meals could use some inspiration – and maybe a veggie other than the many tomatoes we grow (and love). If this is your time to forget about dinner, come back another time – I feel you.

There’s so much in June for the kids’ end of school festivities and with my work fiscal year-end. We finished strong but I’m also really looking forward to a little more relaxed July! My bffs celebrated our birthdays with a long weekend to Charleston and that included tons of good food, drinks, and a lot of walking. Mr. J didn’t get the greatest birthday or Father’s day celebrations but agreed to a burger and his one gift he wanted.

The Hawaiian Burger was the star this month. It was so juicy and the pineapple slaw was a great addition.

I gave this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015. The extra became popsicles and were fantastic that way.

Lastly, I loaded up Cranberry Nut Chicken Salad and loved it.

July means lots of day camps for both kids this year, which also means packing anything they’ll agree to eat as lunches. I picture more pool time. I have a bfast idea I can’t wait to try out! We are probably overdue for apps for dinner so I’ll have to make that happen.

The Big Kid:
He’s done with 3rd grade! It was a really great year and I love to see him grow up in so many ways. He’s Celtics obsessed and went to the parade. He picked friends instead of the whole class for his end of year party and they are a nice group. He got to see his big cousins play all the sports as their seasons ended.

The Little One:
She had a great time having field day for the first time. She also hosted her first ever end of year party with her class and dance friends. It felt a little sad for kindergarten to be over but I think she’ll feel very comfortable joining the elementary school and with kids who are more used to being at school than in kindergarten. She grumbles about swim lessons but does everything and we can see such growth in her strength.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I picked cute earrings in Charleston
More meatless meals: hmmm. Maybe not a lot
sandwiches and salads: I made cranberry nut chicken salad!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: I had margaritas with the moms’ night out group at El Centro and was reminded to get there soon.
redo photos – this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015
what I’m reading: I read Banyan Moon and was really into it. Then, my fav author had a new book: Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xohchitl Gonzalez had so much to it. I also read Mad Honey which is one I’ll remember forever and wasn’t expecting. It was a really good reading month.

May is a marathon with lots of fun things, true feelings of spring to summer, and also, work is so busy so the month is FULL. We had some fun food and got outside much more.

I made a Street Corn Pasta Salad which felt like familiar flavors in a unique format.

Then I gave a refresh to the beloved Ranch Chicken Burgers we’ve been repeating 4x a year, since 2012!

I turned sausage & peppers subs into burrito-ish wraps. They had great cheesy and mustardy flavors!

My love for rice bowls runs deep so I did a Chicken Parm rice bowl theme.

June will include a my bffs trip, that busy end of the school year, the end of the fiscal year at work, and of course flag day which is only a big deal in our town. I’ll make a birthday burger, a redo is on the menu, and some other spring/summer ideas.

The Big Kid:
We’re wrapping up the baseball season and school is a max capacity. There are so many field trips, spring concert, field day, the art show, and so much more. We keep hoping we’ll have the last spelling homework packet but eventually it has to be the last one! He got a new bike and is obsessed. It was shocking to see him this spring on his old one where he looked like a clown on a tiny one!

The Little One:
She had her dance recital to wrap up the year and really loved it this year. Her class is huge and I loved that she wasn’t nervous this year. She too had a field trip and will have another one coming up. We got a load of hand-me-down dresses and she’s in her glory with more sequins. She loves playground time during the baseball games and is very into egg salad for quick or picnic dinners.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I didn’t get to it this month.
More meatless meals: We had peanut sesame noodles & edamame recently!
sandwiches and salads: salad bar dinner one night & a few salad kits were a nice change!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: Mom and I hadn’t been to lunch at Legal Seafoods for chowder in a very long time!
redo photos – Ranch Chicken burgers got a refresh since 2012 and apartment life!
what I’m reading: I read Sunshine Nails which was pretty good- it’d be perfect for vacation. The List was kind of a letdown…it was not really worth it. Alternatively, I was very captivated by First Lie Wins which I sought out for a page-turner I could undo the last two I hadn’t loved. I’m pretty obsessed with some others and should finish any day.

April was such a whirlwind with school vacation getaway to Mystic & Legoland, a few social plans, a few dr’s appts, and the start of baseball season!

In the kitchen, I made a few fun things! I took inspiration from Tacobell and made a Taco Pizza – which is kind of a quesadilla pizza? That gets confusing but whatever you call it, it was delicious and was such a meal from the refried beans and ground meet middle layer.

I made a red velvet waffle that is so good and could also be pancakes! I froze the rest and toast them to order!

A chopped Greek salad rounded out the blog posts and is perfectly hardy to pack for lunch, dinner on the go, or for a group.

May is another full one – lots of baseball and the last dance classes and recital! At work reunion is coming up. Foodwise, it’ll mean some quick or packable dinners, likely more grilling, and more salads. I love this change of seasons and am glad for more time outside.

The Big Kid:
He is getting into the baseball season. We loved seeing him follow the map at Legoland! He thought the vending machines were one of the best parts of staying at a hotel. He’s had lots of birthday parties lately. He is still into bananas and loves a bacon, egg & cheese.

The Little One:
She is our adrenaline junkie – she LOVED the roller coaster at Legoland. It was great to see her eat really well on vacation. She went to a Taylor Swift Dance Party birthday party and loved it. I was happy to see her have fun with girls in her class. There was about a week on and off of her under the weather – she had a headache and was better, then tired and was better, wasn’t hungry, then was better.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: It was time for a springy scent from Paperback Candles.
More meatless meals: Hmmm.
sandwiches and salads: Chopped Greek salad!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: We went to dinner at Jinny’s Pizza in Newton and looooved it. Our trip to Mystic & Legoland counts too!
redo photos – none this month.
what I’m reading: I read The Cuban Heiress which was pretty good but I think some of her other titles have more Cuba in them! I also read Hey Ladies! which was also ok. Then I read You, Again which again was entertaining but not amazing. I read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and thought it was cute.

March was a celebratory month – my birthday! I had a fun family dinner, a really fun night out for indoor mini golfing and dinner with friends, and booked a getaway with my college roomies. Highlights this month was a work trip to NYC and a very fun hibachi dinner for my nephew’s birthday.

These Chicken Cordon Bleu Rice Bowls were the best thing from my kitchen – the kids were wayyy more into this than I expected.

I gave these blueberry pie smoothies a facelift since the 2014 debut!

Orzo with boursin and sundried tomatoes was so good and couldn’t be easier.

I cannot wait for April vacation and we’re ready for some springy weather. I have a breakfast idea, maybe a salad, maybe something Mexican-ish.

The Big Kid:
He is doing indoor baseball clinics and is loving it. Any item in his hand becomes tossed into the air. I’m helping his class with bookclubs and like we all know, the teachers are not revered or compensated as they should be. His teacher was getting them reading that days chapter for 3 different book groups, helping with vocabulary words, giving discussion prompts, keeping kids on task, allowing bathroom trips, and having some read aloud to her all while they wiggle, drop pencils, and repeated ask which graphic organizer they’re supposed to use. They are very fun to chat with about their books.

The Little One:
She went to a Frozen Tea Party Sing-Along which was very cute. She survived pink eye – the medication drops just about did her in. We are trying very hard to get more food into her and are focused on calorie dense options. She learned her whole ballet and tap dances for the recital in May. The kids are very into walkie-talkies and the closet forts continue.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I got a whole bag of local treasures from my bffs. It was perfect.
More meatless meals: peanut sesame noodles & edamame
sandwiches and salads: we had Jersey Mike’s one day and made our own salad bar
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: We went to Puttershack for my birthday and I loved every second of it!
redo photos – blueberry pie smoothies!
what I’m reading: I read ‘West with Giraffes’ for bookclub and found it very captivating. For a non-fiction pic, I read ‘Extremely Online’ and it was very well done but so dense. ‘Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic‘ was a palate cleanser and pretty cute. I did not like ‘Good Material’ it wasn’t for me.

February wrapping up brings us that much closer to my birthday! It was a fun and full month. School vacation with a getaway to NH was the best!

In the kitchen, I made chicken bacon & ranch meatballs

I love this tomato jam and it is perfect in a grilled cheese!

Lastly, I did a hot chocolate dip for dessert. It could have been cutely shaped like a football but we just dipped regularly.

For March, I will definitely share a grain bowl, and maybe a could be a side/could be a main. I’m not sure what else. I will have some birthday festivities and maybe a quick work trip.

The Big Kid:
He is having a good time at basketball which was supposed to end but magically has 2 more games. His food obsession is bananas. He and I went to see a play of Mr. Popper’s Penguins and it was so much fun. He’s watching all the basketball and all star games etc. He was thrilled to shoot hoops and play video games with his cousins.

The Little One:
She likes dance class but has a hard time stopping playing to get ready to go. She lives in pjs if we’re not leaving the house. She is our adrenalin junkie and wasn’t at all scared of mountain tubing and the roller coaster adventure park.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I bought heart earrings for Valentine’s Day!
More meatless meals: hmm. I’m not sure we hit this.
sandwiches and salads: for the superbowl we had make-your-own BLT sliders
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: Our NH trip was new to us- we went to the Ice Castles and Cranmore for tubing and adventure park
redo photos – none this month
what I’m reading: I read One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy and bravely went to the live show. Both were amazing. I fell for The Wishing Game which was part Willy Wonka & part ‘And Then There Were None’. A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting was cute, perhaps predictable, and a fun escape. Lastly, I read The Guest List which was worth the hype.

January is really that long. We did a lot – some get togethers, date night dinners, our guy turned 9 and had fun celebrations. Basketball and dance class has rounded out this month!

In the kitchen, I made a honey cinnamon chai latte for a nice afternoon treat!

This French Onion Burrito was brought to you by the color brown, but was warm and filling without being too heavy.

We had some Loaded Snack Mix with some really interesting additions. Make it for game-day!

Lastly, this beloved Greek Dip got a little revamp from the original circa 2012!

The Big Kid:
He had such a fun birthday. He had pizza, a basketball cake, and presents with the family. Then the next day he met a few friends. I was surprised it wasn’t into having a full party. He had such a nice group. Basketball has been fun – he scored! We are having a great time reading Harry Potter – we’re onto #2.

The Little One:
She went to a few birthdays and is eager for hers (ahem – in August), and to lose a tooth. She loves snow but is sometimes an indoor cat – if it means not having to get out of jammies.

For February – I’m ready for the snacker bowl and we have a little getaway for February vacation!

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I bought a book from a local-to-work bookstore!
More meatless meals: tacos with meatless mix was a hit.
sandwiches and salads: sausage subs with peppers and onions
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: We had a date night to Citizen Crust and looooved crispy cauliflower app and a Roman pizza with pineapple and Korean BBQ sauce!
redo photos – this Greek dip was from 2012!
what I’m reading: I read Did You Hear About Kitty Karr and ended up loving it – I had heard it compared to Evelyn Hugo (nothing compares) so I was judgy to start. Then I read Tom Lake and loved the storytelling style. I read The Chateau which made me want to go to France – minus the murder. For bookclub, we read We All Want Impossible Things and I was so-so on this one.

December is such a whirlwind. I start the month feeling like there there’s lots of time to eat, drink, decorate, shop, and be festive. It went by so quickly! We saw Santa, went to the movies, T started basketball, C is back to dance, the Nutcracker, birthday parties, both kids had different theme days.

I made some chocolate dipped chips:

Next up came some lasagna bowls:

Then, I did a round up of 5 ingredient dinners.

For January, I’m looking forward to our guy turning 9! The kids will have basketball games and dance classes but we like a little quietness and routine. I switch decor to be snowmen and winter so we don’t go from all to nothing. January as me thinking of another grain bowl or wrap – still sussing out the format and I think there’s a new hot drink coming up too.

The Big Kid:
He’s so into sports stats right now. He loves anything mint flavored so this is a great time of year for him. It was fun to see him shop for his sister – he thought carefully but committed to his decisions and was ready. He’s been working really hard on spelling, despite hating it (I hear ya, kid)!

The Little One:
She had so many ideas for Christmas gifts. Any outfit benefits from a princess dress added on top. She was thrilled to get a pajama day at school. Both kids are still eating halloween candy.

Goals for this year: 
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I bought a book by a first-time author.
More meatless meals: pizza beans!
sandwiches and salads: we had salad bar on night
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: we’re sneaking a dinner out just as the month ends to Abby Park.
redo photos – oops
what I’m reading: I read Holding Pattern which was fine – not a winner. Then I read The Daydreams and loved it for those who who watched 90s/00s shows from Disney or CW etc and can picture it. I read The Perfect Marriage and liked it. Finally, I read Christmas Orphan’s Club which was very cute and festive.