July 2024 Recap

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Summer is such a whirlwind. July 1 is the true start of summer according to work. We ate a bunch of good food and have fit in a lot of fun things – a party in Maine, going to the movies, a new-to-us-beach (with waves!), and a lot of swimming.

I was so happy with this breakfast guacamole with bagel chips – it is fun, filling, flavorful, and a good way to start the day.


Pasta salad is better when it is a twist with chicken caesar.


Blueberry smoothies are my fav so this one is flavored with a classic pairing of blueberry & lemonade.


Buffalo chicken burritos joined my favorite flavors with a better-than-typical format.

August will include some no/low cook dinners, a slaw redo, and a week at the beach. Our bucket list still has a few fun things we’ll try to fit in. C will turn 6!

The Big Kid:
Camps have mostly been good – he’s a bit over one that used to be his favorite. It is incredibly hard to explain that back in January, when we had to register, this past one had been fun but he’s outgrown it I guess. He filled in at a baseball tournament one day – it just happened to be the very hottest day ever but he had fun and we were happy to see it…once. His new favorite lunch is a BLT.

The Little One:
She’s a fish! She flipped a switch and went from not wanting her face wet, to jumping into the shallow end, to going underwater, to jumping in off the diving board! We cannot believe it. Adjusting to camps went well. She’s trying to eat more to bump up to the next carseat and eagerly awaits her bday.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I got a tee shirt from Etsy – vote like Ruth sent you
More meatless meals: ehh. I may have missed this.
sandwiches and salads: I got a new salad spinner and we had caesar more often.
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time:
redo photos – not this month
what I’m reading: I read Meet the Benedettos which is a modern Pride & Prejudice. Then I read a Boston historical fiction Small Mercies. I then read Meet me at the Lake as a palate cleanser and was the best of this author. I read Just for the Summer and thought it was perfectly balanced with some cute and enough storyline.

Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

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Blueberry based smoothies are my fav – and perfect for greens. The blueberries, yogurt, and greens makes it a really delicious way to get fruit, veggies, fiber, and a little protein. Add a banana to make it more creamy, swap for Greek yogurt for more protein, or any other add ins.


Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie
Ingredients: (serves 2 small, or 1 meal)
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup yogurt
3/4 cup lemonade
zest from 1/2 lemon

Directions:
Add blueberries, spinach, yogurt, and lemonade to a blender. Blend well.


Serve with extra lemon zest.
Enjoy!

It is perfectly summery from the lemonade.

June 2024 Recap

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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 2024 Recap

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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.

Chicken Parm Rice Bowl - The Three Bite Rule

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.