What's Up?

Hey, guys! It's been hard to peel myself away from being outdoors now that Stephen is off for the summer. But my own deadlines are looming this week, so I figured I'd take some time to write on the blog to tell you what we've been up to lately.

// Lake George

We went on a very last-minute vacation last week to Lake George, NY. The last time we'd been up in that part of the Adirondacks was in 2009! It was just as beautiful as we remembered, though, and it was fun taking the kids around to places we enjoyed when we were basically still newlyweds.

Here's a few photos:

I've been interested to see that many of you are asking on Instagram if we're going to Cape May this year! I realize we go most every year, but this year we decided to switch it up with the ADK. We are going to Wildwood Crest this summer with my in-laws, though.

23 Weeks Pregnant

I had a doctor appointment last Friday and I'm now in my 23rd week of pregnancy. Everything is going well aside from occasional heart palpitations (I have a test set up to see what's up with those). Still running 4-5 days a week, but I've switched it up due to the heat where I'm running .75 miles and walking .25 miles for four miles total instead of running three straight. It's working out better that way.

I will be sure to do a more formal pregnancy update soon, but I'll be honest and say my two are keeping me plenty busy. It's flying by, which is a new and welcomed experience for me.

House Projects

We're in the middle of extending our backyard fence right now. I love and hate summer because we have lots of time to do work . . . but the money flow is more stagnant than usual. That said, Stephen decided to switch up how he gets paid this year, so we got a nice balloon check at the start of the summer and now feel confident we can frugally do a few projects.

Other items on the list:

• Moving Eloise's room (painting)
• Painting the nursery (because we never finished before Eloise came along)
• Adding a side yard garden

Stock Tank Pool

Our other big project was the stock tank pool. We're absolutely loving it. Again, I'll do a full update on it soon along with some stuff we've learned after installing it and using it for a month or so. In this heat wave, it's been such a blessing to have a small pool of water to soak in! And I love how it looks. I don't think we'll ever do a bigger pool. This one is totally manageable and pretty. Yes, trendy . . . but, hey, I am into trends that make sense.

Here's part I of the stock tank pool story.

What's next?

I have a homemade granola bar recipe I plan to post on either Thursday or Friday. It's vegan, gluten-free and peanut-free. I mean, I eat all those things, but I know some of you have more restricted diets and appreciate these types of recipes. So HOLD ME TO IT! I am hoping to post twice a week during the summer. Again, HOLD ME TO IT! I still love blogging, it's just hard to transition between seasons of work/coaching/etc. during the year.

Hope you're all having a nice summer and staying cool.

And happy 4th of July!

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Our Stock Tank Pool: Part I

You may remember the pool we set up last year in the backyard. It was absolutely perfect. Around 7.5 feet by 9.5 feet and just around 2 feet deep. The kids had so much fun splashing around all summer in those 870 gallons of H2O. The setup worked well, and it was relatively inexpensive. If you're interested, I would highly recommend these Bestway pools as a first step into learning how to care for a pool.

But we had a mouse issue in the fall and they got to the pool. So, we needed a solution for this year . . . and hopefully for many years to come. I've seen so many articles about stock tank pools crop up in recent years. I was always too intimidated by the process of getting a huge galvanized tub to my house, so it was on the back burner.

This year, we decided to pull the trigger.

For those of you who have been asking me questions (and there are many of you!): We picked up our 8 foot stock tank at Tractor Supply. It's 24 inches deep. Our store does not do delivery, so we asked a friend to help us get it home. It wasn't too bad a process -- aside from one roadside adjustment -- and ended up being much easier than we anticipated. When we got it home, we gave it a good scrub because the store had been displaying plants inside it.

From there, it was all about re-leveling the area we had dug out last year.

Surprisingly, it took a few hours to get the area absolutely perfect. Last year, we settled with level-ish. But one benefit of getting this type of pool is that you can leave it out all year. We're hoping to leave it in place, so taking our time was in our best interest.

When that was done, we put it where we want it to go and got to work on the landscaping. Mostly rocks that we bought at the store and pulled up from the creek area behind our house.

I love how it looks! So much prettier than the bold blue with white supports from last year.

This stock tank holds around 700 gallons of water, so it is smaller than last year's. I had to buy a new filter pump that we are going to drill/hook up tonight. That will be part II of my posting. But if you're interested in doing a similar project at your home, I highly suggest checking out the number of really helpful tutorials I found online.

Here are some of my favorites:

DIY Stock Tank Pool: Everything You Need to Know
How to Make a Stock Tank Pool
Stock Tank Swimming Pool Ideas

Just a budget breakdown. We ended up getting the tank for $349 plus tax at the store. They're usually $399, but we got it on a Memorial Day sale. The new filter we bought was $35 on Amazon. The rock was around $30 because we already had some leftover from last year. It's not the least expensive upgrade we could have done, but I am hoping it will pay off in the long run.

Why didn't we go with a larger option? Well, partially because we didn't want to eat up our yard with a pool the whole year. Or have a big hole when it's cold outside. I like that it's shallow enough that Eloise's head is well above the water. But yet it's big enough to still get in as an adult and cool down. It looks nice, though I understand the style isn't for everyone. And we are hoping that the galvanized steel is durable and lasts for many years.

If you have further questions, I'd be happy to answer them either in the comments or on Instagram!

I'm going to do another post once we get it up and running to talk about any issues we run into or any tips I have. But I won't be writing out a full tutorial. Again, I highly recommend the links I provided above. We're learning as we go.

Happy Monday!

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5 FLAX Outfits // Summer Edition

This week is speeding by! I didn’t want another one to pass before I shared my flax outfits with you. This isn’t my entire wardrobe I was promising, but I figure I’ll get something up instead of nothing. Sound like a deal? Deal! If you haven’t read my last post, go check out why I mostly buy second-hand clothing and why I love FLAX.

So, I feel like I had these preconceived notions of the kind of woman who typically wears FLAX. To me, it always looked like something a funky 50-year-old woman would wear for business casual. Too boxy upon too boxy with like a jacket as the cherry on top or something. I try my best not to dress like that. But sometimes I like to rock a head-to-toe linen look, and I think it comes off alright.

Here are two examples:

Thing is, though, I often shy from FLAX on FLAX. Well, maybe that’s not true. It’s just that I love pairing linen with jeans. My beloved jeans! Here’s one of my all-time favorite outfits. I go to it for anything from a trip to the farmers market to an evening out. Yes. My evenings out are extremely casual, and I like them that way.


To me, it looks a bit artsy. Almost like I’m wearing some apron-smock thing. Below is a look I rock mostly at home. Leggings with an oversized button-down for butt cover. This is a great outfit for looking semi-put together . . . but also not caring if I get food all over myself. At the same time, I wouldn’t hesitate going to Target in this getup.


This last outfit is something I actually haven’t worn much. I had wanted to show you another outfit, but the shirt is in the wash (baby food and yogurt stains!). Anyway, I hadn’t had FLAX pants in my collection until recently. I have a few pairs of shorts. The pants feel difficult to style for some reason, but I actually wore mostly linen pants in college. A comfy t-shirt is always a win. I can’t resist tying the shirt. That’s something I haven’t been able to shake since my LuLaRoe obsession.


So, that’s how I style my FLAX for summer. I’ll try to get up a post that shows you each piece in my 30-item closet. Most of it is linen. I have a few t-shirts and several pairs of jeans. Why thirty? No reason, really. I don’t set a limit on myself, but I like to keep it relatively small. I wouldn’t call it a capsule. It’s just easy to manage when there are fewer items. Less laundry, and the like.

What look do you think is best? My favorite is still number 3!

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Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

Baking season is upon us. I picked up a delicious mix of apple pie spices the other day. So, when I saw a gigantic (and lonely!) zucchini hanging out in the fridge this morning, I knew what to do: Lure Ada off the iPad to make zucchini muffins! I have been making different banana breads and zucchini breads for years -- but I rarely go into muffin form. My plan is to freeze these guys for before-the-bus breakfasts.

Sniff. School starts tomorrow.

I adapted this recipe I found to make the muffins. I am also going to try to make a lower sugar version because I really don't feel like they need quite this much sweetness. I suggest cutting the sugar in half, and I'll report back with my own results soon.

PS: I've taken to using an ice cream scoop with a trigger release when I'm making muffins and cupcakes. Really makes the pouring part easier and less messy.

CHOCOLATE CHIP ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

Makes about 36 standard size muffins.

What you'll need . . . 

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice*
• 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2-1/2 cups shredded zucchini
• Chocolate chips, optional

* If you don't have a mix, use 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon of both nutmeg and cloves. Or all cinnamon. Whatever floats your boat.

Method . . . 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Whisk together the flour, chia seeds, salt, baking powder, baking soda, arrowroot powder, and spices in a bowl.
3. Whisk together the applesauce, sugars, oil, and almond extract. Fold in the zucchini and optional chocolate chips.
4. Combine the wet and try ingredients with a spatula until everything is wet. Be careful not to over-mix.
5. Spoon out batter into muffin liners until they are a bit over half full.
6. Bake for 25-28 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from pan and let cool before eating.
7. Repeat baking instructions with remaining batter.

Related recipes:

• The BEST Banana Bread
• Nutella + Chocolate Chip Banana Bread 
• Banumpkin Bread 
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Cinnamon Raisin Applesauce Bread

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Catching Up (AKA Random Post)

Having more than one kid is no joke! When one finishes nursing and falling asleep (finally not on my chest -- success), the other needs some overdue cuddle and coloring time. (Or maybe I'm the one who needs that time with the other kid. But that's another post entirely.) Then there are some dishes and loads of laundry, meals and other obligations. And the 2-3 hour cycle starts all over again.

We're making time for fun, too. The summer is speeding by, and we're trying to soak in as much as possible before school and work routines start again. I mean, it's July already. Eloise is three weeks old tomorrow. Pinch me!

I'm trying to figure out in what direction I want the blog to go. At the present moment, I haven't been cooking much besides our Hello Fresh meals each week or assembling sandwiches. I'm hoping to get back to it more because cooking is a huge stress reliever for me. Specifically, I want to create a bunch of grab-and-go kinds of recipes. Truth: I've been struggling to not eat a bunch of crap when I'm nursing. I also want to eat #allthefood -- I just need it not to be chips and cookies. Thanks, 4th of July.

Ada is signed up for several camps this summer. The first is a vacation bible school where there's a cave theme. They do all sorts of activities, including this awesome inflatable water slide. We hear about the slide daily because the preschool (at the same church) had pulled it out for a wet and wild last day of school event. The other two are through the school system. Kindergarten readiness stuff, arts + crafts, field trips (on a BUS!), and etc. I can't believe my kid is at the age where she can go to camps.

Otherwise, summer means Stephen is home from school full days until cross country practice starts. He also has a coaching night class he needs to take for about a month. We didn't know about it until, well, last week. Please send good vibes because it's during the witching hours! I joke, I joke. But as I've written before, we didn't plan the timing of this pregnancy. Still, it's worked out nicely to have everyone home, even if no paychecks are coming in.

Did I mention that our AC died? A couple days after Eloise was born. I may have mentioned it already because I thought it was funny (in a sick way) since our furnace died shortly after Ada was born. I guess babies and HVAC stuff doesn't mix in our household. We reluctantly bought a new unit using a finance plan (I need to get back into writing more about budget stuff -- yay or nay?) -- but I think it was the best decision. The temps will be in the mid 90s here all week. Once you have central air, you just can't go back apparently. (I didn't grow up with such luxuries! Ceiling fans #FTW)

And last on this catching up post is our 4th of July weekend. I'm amazed at how much we've been able to do out and about with Eloise. With Ada, I sat on the couch for what felt like months in the cold and darkness of winter. My in-laws were here for the weekend, so we did a lot of cooking out and just hanging around the house. But Sunday we went to a philharmonic pops concert in the park. Yesterday we went to a 4th of July festival during the day and then stayed up for fireworks at night. Rather, Ada fell asleep DURING the fireworks -- not something I would have ever imagined happening with the world's lightest sleeper!

I'm going to try to get on a rough blogging schedule again. Hopefully posting 2-3 times per week. Probably some kind of family update, something about food, and then something about fitness (or budget or another wildcard). Yes. I'm getting back into it. I don't want to jinx anything, but my recovery from birth has been incredible. I'm out running easy (code for S.L.O.W.) 2-3 mile jogs. It's not something I planned to do -- my midwife said to return to exercise as it felt OK and when the bleeding had stopped. More on that and body after baby later this week.

Belated happy 4th, happy July, and happy SUMMER.

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Trying Hello Fresh (Again) + Giveaway

It's no secret that we've been pretty busy these last several months. What I haven't told you is that many nights it's felt like we were drowning. I've been really tired, Ada's been cranky, and Stephen's been, well, coaching late nights and Saturdays. Nothing the typical family doesn't deal with -- but it was really taking a toll on family dinner time, which I think made the situation so much worse. Gathering together at the dinner table even just a few nights a week helps our family stay connected and sane.

Truth time: I slacked on making dinners, big time. And the dinners I was making were the same old ones I've been making for the last several years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But with food -- a rut is never good. We were bored. In desperation I went searching for help one night and then remembered that years ago I had reviewed Hello Fresh when they first unveiled their vegetarian meal options.

So, I decided to sign up for the service myself (so, this is an unsponsored review, just FYI) and see how it's changed over the years. I actually used a code from a friend and got $40 off my first order (more details later). Here's what we've been eating, what we think of the freshness/quality, and if we'll sign on to do more weeks.

Our Meals 

What I noticed first and foremost is that the packaging has majorly improved from when I reviewed them back in 2012. Everything used to be wrapped in plastic. Now much is in recyclable cardboard and some stuff, like kale, is just out within the box. So, that's a huge step in the right direction.

We get our UPS deliveries very late in the day (6PM), so I was concerned that the food wouldn't be fresh/cold enough with the heat wave, but it was just fine with the cold pack. And another change from 2012 is that I didn't need to be around for delivery. Score!

Here's what we got in our box. Everything was separated by recipe and all the instructions were clearly indicated on easy-to-follow recipe cards.

#1: Sweet Potato Niçoise Salad

I'm not big on eating a salad for dinner. But with all the variety in this mix -- and the lemon-dijon dressing -- I didn't feel like it was lacking. The veggies included: Sweet Potato, Persian Cucumber, Lemon, Red Onion, Parsley, Garlic, Chickpeas, Green Beans, Dijon Mustard Glass Jar, Grape Tomatoes, Spring Mix. The only thing with this dinner that frustrated me is that I didn't feel like it came with enough greens. This meal took less than half an hour to make and had 22 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.


#2: Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

This one was Stephen's favorite of the bunch. It was bursting with olives, feta, and kale chips. So many different flavors and textures. And then you have the quinoa, which is something that Ada loves to eat. This meal only took about 20 minutes to make and had a nice 17 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.


#3: Rigatoni Al Forno

Oh, man, oh, man. You guys. I loved this recipe. And I don't really like pasta. Roasted eggplant is such a rich ingredient. Add that to big noodles tossed with homemade tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella? AND then you add a crispy topping of panko and parmesan? I was in heaven. This meal took around a half hour to make and boasted a whopping 32 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.

Verdict?

Overall, we were impressed enough with the service to give it another week's try. We should be receiving our food tonight -- which means dinner is already planned! I have had mixed feelings about trying a service like this because I really do know how to meal plan. I've done it successfully for years. I also love and know how to cook my own meals. But I will say that the variety and fresh recipe ideas did inspire me to branch out a bit with the other meals in the week.

I guess I think these sorts of services serve a purpose. Like, right now we are really stretched to the max -- and I need help in this area. Once the baby comes, I could also see this being a good option for the first several months versus getting caught up in a takeout cycle. I also like that there's no huge commitment. If we decide to get back on track on our own, we simply pause/cancel the service by Wednesday. Done.

$40 Off Your First Delivery

Are you interested in giving a meal service like Hello Fresh a try? Like I said, I was resisting this whole trend because I felt like it was too expensive, especially considering I'd need to spend time cooking anyway. But it has turned out to be a bit of fresh air that we've needed to get back into the cooking routine again. It's definitely less expensive than takeout and -- being in my third trimester -- it helps motivate me to quickly throw something together so we can get back at family dinners.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can get $40 off your first delivery.

Visit Hello Fresh and use code YCEAHR at the checkout.

Or Win a FREE Box

I also have a FREE box of food to give away to one lucky winner.

• Leave a comment below telling me what meal services you've tried or how you've otherwise fought your way out of a food rut. 
• I'll need your email address or some other way to contact you. 
• I'll announce the winner next Wednesday, June 8th.

More soon!

Many of you seemed interested in this whole concept when I posted my meals to Instagram. I'll probably do another post on this week's delivery soon. I'll cover more about how we're fitting it into our tight food budget, as well as how we're modifying the meals to meet the needs of an athlete, a third trimester pregnant woman, and a hungry preschooler.

I may also pause my service and try out Blue Apron or another service sometime soon to compare. Do you have any suggestions?

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Pistachio Basil Pesto

We returned home to a bursting-from-its-seems garden. (Here’s what our garden is like this year.) And by that I mean we have a ton of tiny tomatoes and basil that we need to use up ASAP. Good thing those are two of my favorite ingredients -- right?

Now, you guys know all about my love affair with pesto.

Let’s review:

• Pumpkin Pesto Rolls
• Creamy Pesto + Avocado Sauce (video)
• Garlic Scape + Swiss Chard Pesto, 2 Ways
• Steamed Pesto Dumplings
• Pesto Pizza Dough
• Spinach + Zucchini Pesto
• Baby Kale Pesto
• Walnut Basil Pesto
• Basil-Pesto French Toast
• Pesto French Toast, II -- with Avocado Butter
• Pesto Quiche with Oatmeal Crust
• Pesto Garlic Knots
• Pesto Portabella Sandwiches
• (Pesto) Smothered Mother

PISTACHIO PESTO

What you’ll need . . .

• 1 cup clean basil leaves
• 1/2 cup pistachios
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• Squeeze lemon juice
• ground black pepper

Method . . .

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
2. I used roasted/salted pistachios and took them out of their shells for this recipe. 
3. Also: I didn’t add salt because the nuts were already salted.
4. I also rinsed the basil and then pat it dry with paper towels. I didn’t cook the basil, though. Left it raw.
5. You can play around with the oil to make your pesto dryer or runnier. It’s a preference thing.
6. You might also have success using some nutritional yeast in place of the cheese.

Enjoy!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Sweet Summer Fun

Hey, guys! Summer is in full swing over here at our house. I love living where the summers are hot, the falls and springs are temperate, and the winters are wicked cold. It makes us appreciate the sunshine that much more. We soak it in every chance we get. We are also lucky because Stephen has his summers off -- 10 whole weeks to spend together as a family is such an amazing treat.

As a result, we have some daily traditions. Here are some small ways we plan to have the best summer ever.

#1: Cheap Pool

Every day after Ada’s nap, for example, we slap on the sunscreen and head outdoors to the wading pool to cool off. (Yes. I pretend I can fit!) We fill up the water table and often turn on the sprinkler, too. You don’t even need much water (or cash) to have fun. I bought Ada’s pool for $15 at a local big box store and it’s already provided days of entertainment.

#2: Bug-Free Box

Some days cool off and are better for digging in the sand. My tip for keeping your sandbox bug-free is to add a good cup or more of ground cinnamon. Not only does it deter critters, but it also makes the sand smell amazing! (Note: If your child has sensitive skin, you might want to test out the cinnamon in a small patch to see if it irritates him/her. Ada’s had no problems.)

#3: Evening Stroll

When the sun gets low in the sky, we like to take a walk around the neighborhood. Ada sometimes hops on her bike and we try to keep up with her pedaling. Other times we go down to our backyard creek and wade around. No matter what, we hunt for bugs and other critters. Last year, we found a family of bunnies living in our garden. Every night is a new adventure, that’s for sure.

All it takes is some paying attention to nature.

#4: Summer Harvest

Oh, the garden. We tend to it each and every night. Usually the soil is quite dry from its long day in the sun. We harvest any ripe tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or other fruits and veggies. Then there’s usually heaps of basil to bring indoors (I’ve been making pesto like it’s my main job). We love grilling, so it’s awesome to just pick, wash, cook, and eat.

My mother-in-law planted flowers that Ada loves picking, too. We also like to head to local farms to get berries by the barrel. I can’t wait to make (and can) blueberry jam this year.

#5: Sweet Treats

And popsicles! It wouldn’t be a summer day without delicious popsicle juice dripping down my fingers. Ada and I have been making our own batches this year, and right now, the house favorite is an orange pop that’s made with fruit and veggies. They usually stick into the molds, so our recipes need more tweaking. Sometimes (usually!) we get ice cream or frozen yogurt on our evening walks. We’ve even bought some cones and sundae supplies to keep at home.

#6: Oral Care

This post is brought to you by Aquafresh® toothpaste. Because summer sure is sweet -- in more ways than one. So, we always keep our oral health in mind. Ada’s brushing habits are getting better by the day. After her first dentist appointment in the winter, she even reminds us that it’s time to brush her teeth. But summer has us traveling all sorts of places and munching on all sorts of foods that could harm our teeth. We don’t want any surprises at our next dentist appointments!

Aquafresh® toothpaste contains fluoride which provides Sugar Acid Protection -- active defense for teeth against summer sugar by both repairing teeth from the consequences of sugar acid attacks and protecting them for the future. That way we keep our defenses up against all the lemonade, frozen yogurt, BBQs, PBJ packed lunches, berries, s’mores, parade candy, beer, wine, and more. I’ve been using the red, white, and blue paste since I was a kid because it tastes great and makes my mouth feel fresh.

Keep an eye out for Captain Aquafresh this summer (and follow his tips on Twitter @AquafreshUS). And don’t forget to brush!
How will you be taking care of your teeth while making the most of your summer? Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/23/2015 – 8/23/2015

Be sure to visit the  Aquafresh® toothpaste’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Last Day

Ada’s last day of her 3-year-old program was today. Her class is actually in session until the end of the week, but we’re headed to my hometown to enjoy the PA State Laurel Festival. I realized toward the end of the year that the festival dates will conflict with NY’s class schedule seemingly forever . . . so I made the tough choice to skip her end of the year party. Next year she’s going to the same place, so we’ll make sure to give her a great Pre-K graduation!

Anyway, you know me with my photos.

The teachers had prepared a few gifts for parents. One of them was this collage of photos taken on Ada throughout the year doing different things in the classroom. I started crying out of nowhere, silly hormones (CD1!!!). I can’t believe how much Ada has grown in all regards from September until today. It’s absolutely astounding. I am so happy we put her in school early, but we’re still mulling over when she’ll start kindergarden. A discussion for another time.
I hope to pop on here with another post before the end of the week with some photos from my hometown. Any of your kids still in school? I am fascinated by the start/end dates across the country. Is NY going kind of late? Stephen is still working until next Friday.
Ciao for now!
PS: I printed out that first day/last day photo for the teachers with a candy bar as a little gift :) It was simple and extremely cheap, but I think it’s cute!
Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Phone Photos // LG G4 Sweeps via AT&T

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with AT&T 4K Seconds Blogger Program. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Summer means adventure. We’re often out hiking, biking, and otherwise running around outdoors. I don’t love lugging my bulky DSLR with us to, say, the beach on vacation because it’s a pain. At the same time, I am usually disappointed with the quality of the photos I take with my cell phone. LG’s G4 has definitely improved on this whole experience by including a manual mode (!!!) and a F/1.8 lens.

On a phone.
Seriously.

Here are three simple tips for snapping better summer photos with you phone while you’re out and about. Don’t miss the sweepstakes and contest info at the end of this post for your chance to win one of these guys to try for yourself.

Tip #1: Have Fun

I think the worst thing about my childhood family photos is that we all look so stale. We’re posing in at least 90 percent of the shots. With digital photography, you can really shoot as many photos as you want, so have fun with them. Get a good mix of posed and action shots to remember your moments by.

You want to capture what you were doing, the essence of the experience, versus just what you looked like, who was there, etc.

Tip #2: Look at the Whole Picture

When my friends ask me for suggestions on taking better photos, one of the first tips I give them is to look beyond your subject. For example, if I took this photo from the other direction, there’d be a bunch of piled toys in the background. The person or thing you’re photographing is -- of course -- the most important, but try to keep the focus on them by choosing visually neutral settings. (Unless, of course, the background is the focus, like with a mural.)

In this case, the trees/grass provide a nice green backdrop.

While we’re on background, I’ll mention that it is best to get nice, even lighting whenever possible. But, c’mon. Being outdoors and trying to capture moments, well, IN the moment can be hard sometimes. That’s where manual mode comes in. You can completely control the shutter speed, f-stops, and more. Once you get the hang, you’ll be shooting in all different lighting like a pro!

Tip #3: Get In Your Photos

Don’t pull out the album 20 years down the line and ask “where was I during all this?” I am usually the designated photographer wherever we go. So, I need to remember to hop into the photos so I don’t get cut out of all our memories.

The LG G4 also has this cool Selfie Mode that includes a skin smoother. I set it up pretty high so you can see the effect, but you can do as little or as much as you want. The other Selfie features are pretty neat too! For example, there are different voice commands you can use (like saying “CHEESE!” or “SMILE!” or even “WHISKEY!”) to take your photo without hitting anything. There are even gestures, like opening your hand and then making a fist, that start the photo timer.

In other words: The selfie just got a whole lot easier.

CHEESE!

PHONE INFO

As far as the phone goes, I’ve never owned an Android -- but it’s surprisingly intuitive! The body of the phone itself is large (5.5” display) and curved for better ergonomics. This also means that there’s more viewing area for web browsing and picture taking. I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, but there are more positives than negatives in that regard.


More:

• OS: Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS Dimensions: 5.86 x 3.0 x 0.38” (min 0.25”) 
• Battery: removable 3,000 mAh that provides up to 21 hours of talk time 
• Camera: Rear: 16MP with F/1.8 lens; Front: 8 MP 
• Memory: Internal 32GB, 3 GB RAM; MicroSD up to 2TB capable (MicroSD card sold separately)
• Processor: 1.8 GHz 64 bit hexa-core processor 
• LG’s first IPS Quantum Display (5.5″ Quad HD) is brighter, more colorful and has excellent contrast 
• LG exclusive Color Spectrum Sensor uses white balance detection to determine accurate colors 
• Broadcast 4K content from P1 to an HDMI enabled TV using a 4K slim port adapter 

SWEEPS + CONTEST

Now’s your turn to see for yourself! The LG G4 4K Seconds Sweepstakes runs through June 20th. And in order to celebrate the awesome 4K capture capability and 2TB of storage, AT&T is giving away one LG G4 every 4K seconds (66 minutes) until June 20th, totaling to an incredible 500 phones!

For a chance to win, you need to:

1. Register at http://4kseconds.att.com/
2. Upload a picture you take on your phone. (This can be done from a mobile device, tablet or computer.) Images need to be .jpg or .png and less than 1 MB.

In addition, there’s a contest component to this program. All submitted photos (deemed eligible by the Official Rules) will also be housed on a gallery on the sweepstakes website. These will be open to public voting in order to determine a public appeal score. The photos will also be judged by a panel of judges. The photo with the highest combination score from the judges and public appeal will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner and will receive a 55” Class Smart Curved 4K OLED 3D TV with webOS 2.0 and a 3D-Blu-Ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The second and third highest ranked photos will be deemed the First and Second Prize Winner. These winners will receive a 65” Class IPS 4K UHD Smart LED TV with webOS 2.0 and 3D-Capable Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The winners will be announced upon completion of the Judging Period, which ends July 9th.

Thanks to AT&T for this amazing offer. And good luck!

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Summer Learning Toys

School is almost out for summer! We have a little less than a month of classes left. I can’t believe how much Ada has learned in the 3s, as she heads off to Pre-K next year, I definitely don’t want to totally drop the ball on her learning. At the same time, it can be FUN. So, here are a few of our favorite toys -- we own + have tested them all -- that encourage learning without it feeling like a chore.

Foam Letters

I once read an article about how to encourage letter-learning with tots and preschoolers, and I discovered this cool Foam Letter trick. Take two or three letters and plop them in the bath

Fridge Phonics

We got our Fridge Phonics when Ada was younger. She has suddenly shown an interest in it again as we chat more about letters and sounds as we prepare for beginning reading. I also came across this amazing video of a 2-year-old sounding out words (reading) using the letters on the fridge. Very cool.

Magna-Blocks

Ada was given a 30-piece set of Magformers for a gift a couple years ago. We finally dug them out of storage again, and she’s hooked. I searched around and found that a lot of people really like Magna-Tiles. I bought a set from Target and wasn’t terribly impressed (though my friends tell me I may have just received a bad set). Anyway, I went out and bought a larger set of Magformers to add to the collection. Hours (and HOURS!) of entertainment, shape learning, and reasoning going on.

Wooden Beads

We used to use these Wooden Beads to develop Ada’s fine motor skills. You can also use them to identify colors and do simple counting, addition, and subtraction. It’s a very hands-on approach that works particularly well with younger learners.

Bug Kit

Ada and I recently went on a nature walk, and she’s obsessed with catching bugs and watching them crawl around. We got her a simple Bug Net and a little Bug House. (It might even be fun to combine this activity with this Fine Motor Tools set.) The rules are just that she needs to be gentle, tell us before she picks something up, and then we always release. Apparently we have 5,000 slugs in our backyard.

Responsibility Chart

Learning encompasses more than just ABCs and 123s. This Responsibility Chart hangs in Ada’s room at the entry. There are all sorts of different magnetic tasks from getting ready for bed to setting the dinner table. Ada puffs up with pride when she gets her stars for a job well done.

Map Puzzle

Geography was one of my favorite subjects in school. I’m still sort of a map nerd. I could look at them for hours. So, we picked up a simple Melissa + Doug USA Puzzle to start a bit of that with Ada. It’s fun to point out where our friends and family live across the country. There’s also this cool jumbo World Floor Puzzle that looks like fun.

Workbooks

I remember browsing the aisles at Barnes + Noble when Ada was a baby, and these workbooks by Shinobu Akaishi and Eno Sarris caught my eye. We have all the age-appropriate ones for Ada, including the Tracing, Cutting, Mazes, and more. They’ve been particularly helpful when preschool has been closed or canceled. And as we head into summer, it’ll be fun to have some structured learning.

Magnetic Boards

We’ll be traveling a good amount this summer, and now that Ada’s well beyond the everything-goes-in-my-mouth phase, we’re loving magnetic boards for play. I picked up this exact Farm Board at a country store in my hometown last week. They also make a Zoo Board, Beach Board, and a few others. I’d love to get another one before we head to the shore this summer. It’ll give the iPad a break, I think.

PS: The links above are affiliates. They’re also the best prices I can find on all toys = Amazon. (True of most of what I buy online.) However, many stores price-match if you show them a lower price. It’s at least worth a try if you’d rather not order online.

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Seasonable Beach Brew: Bud Light Lime

We recently embarked on our annual summer vacation to Diamond Beach, which is a quiet, sandy space near Wildwood Crest, NJ.

We go with Stephen's family each year the last week of July, and it's the sort of vacation where we all let loose and let go of plots and plans. You could say we're #upforwhatever life brings us for this single week -- looking for some spontaneous fun when our schedules are usually so horribly routinized.

We load up our beach carts, umbrellas, and coolers in the early AM and head down to the sand for the bulk of the day. Amidst all the trail mix, tortilla chips, sandwiches, and countless jugs of water, we always have a good stash of beer chilling for those hot afternoon hours. But instead of hauling heavy craft brews down the shore -- we prefer more seasonable, light beers for easy drinking. So, when BlogHer offered up an opportunity to try Bud Light Lime last week, I jumped on the chance.

I've sampled Bud Light Lime before. In fact, I had just purchased a case of its new sleek cans (we're getting more into cans these days!) to serve to our friends while they helped us move. Definitely a hit, especially when the temperatures soared well about 90 degrees and all those couches needed to go in and out of our moving truck. It seems people like the Bud Light Lime cans so much, they snagged all of them at the liquor store down in Wildwood.

But don't fret -- if you can't find them either, the bottles contain the same crisp and light beverage that's perfect for whatever you happen to be doing this season. It's also a general crowd pleaser, which is nice since cramming into shore houses often brings up lots of decisions and opinions that just don't belong on vacation. Vacation is for fun.

This choice is quite easy!

This summer, Bud Light Lime is bringing you the flavorful, refreshing twist of lime that will keep you ready for spontaneous fun all summer long. And now, the perfect beer for whatever happens invites you to click here to prove that you’re #upforwhatever. Yes! Bud Light is creating its own town -- Whatever, USA -- and you can win a ticket for three days of fun by submitting a 10 second audition video (you can also browse videos on the site).

I hope you guys are all having a great summer, and please remember to drink responsibly.

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Seasonal Veggie Wrap

I've been eating this crunchy wrap for lunch often. I use whatever we have on hand from our CSA basket, whatever leftovers might be in the fridge, and a good dressing. I've actually become quite obsessed with dressings lately, but that's a topic for another day.

Let's take a look!

And now . . . the closeup!


SEASONAL VEGGIE WRAP

What you'll need . . .

• A wrap -- I buy mine (multigrain) at Aldi
• A green -- I used spinach
• Something(s) crunchy -- I used carrots and bell peppers
• A spread -- I made some Tahini-Free Hummus*
• A bean or grain -- I had some leftover farro
• Cheese -- this is honey goat cheese**
• Dressing -- this is Brianna's Poppy Seed Dressing
• Drizzle -- I like to use hot sauce or even Inglehoffer Sriracha Mustard

* Tahini-Free Hummus is just 1 can of chickpeas -- drained + rinsed -- blended in your food processor with a clove of garlic, a couple tablespoons olive oil, and then 1/4 to 1/2 cup water (until you reach your desired consistency). Season with salt and pepper.

** Omit to make this "recipe" vegan.

Method . . . 

1. Assemble the ingredients as I did above. There are no rules, so feel free to put them on your wrap in whatever order makes the most sense to you. I find it helpful to cut my crunchy veggies into thin strips for easy eating.
2. Hunt in your refrigerator shelves for more leftovers (rogue beans make a good fit) to toss on. Really, this "recipe" is a great way to eliminate food waste.
3. Dress and drizzle for flavor. Then roll into a loose wrap. Everything will be heaping, so you won't have an airtight seal by any means.

What's your favorite seasonal fruit or vegetable?

I'm most excited for TOMATOES to come into full bloom (here's why!). I love Caprese Salads, homemade BBQ Sauce, slow roasted tomatoes, and quick-to-prepare Pasta Sauces.

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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