Hello! How’s your week been? We leaned into summer hard this week, including swimming, bowling (kids bowl free at so many places; check your local spot) and after dinner walks (as a family with H dribbling her basketball and the hoverboard for K). I had a fun and inspiring girls dinner last night with Julie, Lexi, Stefanie, and Caitlin. Oh! I also finished my 2021 family album and started on 2022. I use Mixbook.
Tonight I am looking forward to making pizza with my crew and picking a family movie. I recently watched watched It Takes Two from 1995 with the kids and they loved it. Ah, nostalgia. Ok, let’s dive in to this five on a summer Friday!
Top 5 Reader Favorites This Week
- Picturepedia – an incredibly engaging visual encyclopedia that promises to fascinate kids from ages 8+
- Dough scoop – a game changer for baking cookies, scooping muffin batter
- Retainer and aligner cleansing tablets – both Hailey and I use these for our respective retainers/aligners; removes odor, stains, plaque, and keeps them crystal clear
- Name Labels – my SIL recommended these for camp items like clothes, bags, sheets, etc. They are a great price!
- Visual timer – kid-friendly and easy to use, this must-have time management tool offers a visualization of time, which is helpful for kitchen tasks, timed kid chores and activities, and more
ONE: Charlotte Date Night Spots
David and I were overdue for an evening out, so even though it looked like rain, we headed into Charlotte to hop between two spots I’ve been wanting to try. We started first with Lincoln Kitchen and Cocktails in South End. For a Saturday early evening, it was oddly quiet (only one other table), but the ambiance was modern and fresh, service was attentive, drinks were pretty good, and the food was very good!
After a few small plates we made the 15 minute drive over to Good Food on Montford, which was been on my want to try list forever. It was busier, but we still had no trouble getting a table. The atmosphere was bustling and cozy, service was great, the drinks were the best I’ve had in a LONG time, and the food was incredible. I see why people always brag on this place!
TWO: Tween Crafting
It’s been a summer of crafting and audio books around here. Per usual, it’s July and the girls felt the need to start on Christmas presents. I pick on them a little for it, but I think it’s so sweet how they pour their thought and time into gifting.
A new to us medium they’ve really taken to is UV Resin. We started with this UV Resin Starter Kit and quickly added more Clear UV Resin as well as Colorful Resin. It’s not complicated to use, but is a level up from starter crafts and makes a great option for a tween. Hailey (12) has particularly come to love it and the fact that it makes real things like necklaces and coasters and ornaments. Kaitlyn (10) enjoys it but still prefers her squishy ball maker and loom bracelet making kit.
THREE: Summer Afternoon Energy Boost
Keeping tea in the fridge is the ultimate summer afternoon pick me up. It’s so easy to make!
Easy Iced Tea
- Boil 6 c of water.
- Add 6 tea bags of black tea to a large pitcher. I like this one.
- Steep tea bags for 8-10 minutes then remove without squeezing them out. *If you like yours sweet, add about 1 c of sugar now, while it’s hot, and stir well.
- Let it cool in the fridge for a couple hours.
- Pour over a tall glass of ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint. Enjoy!
FOUR: Summer Camp Prep
We are only a couple weeks out from the girls going to their first ever sleep away camp. We are all a combination of nerves and excitement as we begin to gather the items they’ll need. I ordered them each a recommended XL duffle bag, name labels for all the things, and this bug and tick spray that came highly recommended to spray on clothing before packing. I also bought them cute stationery and a clay bead bracelet making kit (crazy low price right now) to make bracelets with their bunkmates. If you have any other tips, please send them my way!
FIVE: Summer Reading
And listening? It’s been a combination of hard copy and audiobooks around here. We use Audible (get a free 30 day trial here) and the girls listen through iPads on headphones or their mini Bluetooth speakers.
Tying things up with a reminder to sign up for my newsletter– it goes out every Monday morning. It includes a personal life check in, the meal plan for the week, recommendation of the week, posts you might have missed, discount codes, and more. I’ve been consistent with it now for four months, and I’m really enjoying connecting with you in that way. Have a wonderful weekend!
