Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links.
I know I told you not to get too attached, but look what’s back! I wouldn’t go out and buy us monogrammed sheets or anything, but writing more than one post in a series is always a good step for me. Summer and blogging are always tricky for me. It’s when I seem have my best ideas and get the most fired up about topics … and yet it’s when I have the least amount of time to act upon those ideas and write about them. I think and write a lot of great stuff in my head … if only it automatically posted itself. I try to write ahead when I can, but that’s never been my best habit. And so I’ll have days like yesterday, when I tell myself I’ll get a few posts written. And then it’s 89 degrees outside, the sun is shining, and the kids are clamoring for the pool. The pool will almost always win.
Like May, June is a crazy month for us. We have two birthdays in June, and this year they happen to be milestone birthdays. Mike joined me in the 40 club. On Sunday, we’ll wake up with a teenager in the house. I can do the math, and it’s not like I don’t know what comes after 39 and 12, but it still blows my mind. In between, we celebrated Father’s Day. As much as we would love to be traveling the world again, it’s been nice spending June at home and filling it with our favorite summer activities: baseball, festivals, cookouts and strawberry picking. I hope your June has been equally as lovely. Now, feast your eyes on the Short List of things I’m into this month.
Watching:
Elena, Mike and I are still making our way through Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. From now on we just want to say “Beyonce” in a French accent instead of thank you. Eli has discovered American Ninja Warrior. As a result he can’t pass through a doorway without trying to spider climb it. Mike and I were all excited to watch the premier of the new HBO series Ballers, until we realized neither one of us DVR’d it. Not very baller of us.
Reading:
In fiction, I just started Motherland by Maria Hummel . I’m a few chapters in, and while I’m glad to pick it up each night, I’m not dying to read more throughout the day. I snagged a free 2 month trial to Audible and picked up The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. I really enjoyed The Namesake, but this one isn’t quite as good for me. Still, I enjoy having something to listen to while I do menial household tasks. I need a new non-fiction read, as I just finished The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money by Ron Lieber yesterday. I tell you, the non-fiction books I’ve been reading lately are killing it. I’ll definitely be writing more about this book very soon. Eli and I are still reading through Masterpiece by Elise Broach. And Elena and I are still listening to All the Bright Places, and we are both loving it.
Loving:
Two years ago we had the opportunity to participate in Camptown’s Camping for Rookies program. It’s genius for people like us, who had never been camping, but really wanted to try it out with the kids. The good people at Camptown know that lack of knowledge and access to camping equipment are a big barrier to getting families outdoors, so they started Camping for Rookies. For a very reasonable fee, they provide you with a location and a tent. Staffers are there to camp with you and show you the ropes, including the all-important setting up of the tent. They also provide meals and programming to share more knowledge of camping and the great outdoors. Camptown offers the program a few times over the summer at various locations in Indiana. I highly recommend it!
I can’t get enough of these Chobani Flips right now. (Disclosure: I participated in a campaign with BzzAgent in which I received coupons for the product, but I’ve been obsessed with these long before now.) I’m sure all the flavors are fantastic, but once I tried the Almond Coco Loco that was all she wrote. If I have one in the fridge, it’s all I can think about.
Surfing:
We can worry about our kids (and we all do), but that worry doesn’t need to turn into a fear that holds them back. Love this essay “Worry Is Not Our Benchmark” from Life Your Way.
Jen Hatmaker explains the things she says yes and no to in parenting. And promptly advises that she wings it and second guesses 72% of her parenting, which gives me much comfort.
65% of kids entering grade school this year will end up working in careers that haven’t been invented yet. Isn’t that crazy? Eli will be happy to know that Minecraft and duct tape wallets can help him prepare for that yet-to-be-invented job.
What’s on your short list of favorite things right now?