Tag: Summer

Adventures

Simplicity Among the Rhubarb

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

Sometimes there is nothing like the taste of a rhubarb stalk plucked straight from the garden to put life back into perspective. A few days ago I was in the garden enjoying the sunshine and pulling some weeds. My five-year-old daughter was digging in the dirt and helping pick lilacs and irises for the dining room table.

She nibbled fresh rhubarb and made a surprised face at the tartness, then promptly went back for more. My thoughts went back to my own childhood, eating sugar snap peas and rhubarb straight from the garden. I would ride my bike down the gravel road to my grandparents’ house where I gladly accept an invitation to spend the night for no reason at all but to enjoy their company and the ice cream my grandma would always serve up as a bed-time snack.

That’s the simplicity of summertime, and something I realized my soul needed. I often find myself yearning for cleared schedules and fewer things. I want time to get bored and to just breathe.

There will always be plenty of tasks keeping us busy, be it work, household, volunteering, family responsibilities, and more. I am reminding myself to take in the moments that only summertime can offer. We will eat s’mores for dessert and watch hummingbirds in the backyard. We will walk to the ice cream shop too many times and get really good at golf (okay, maybe not that last one, but I’m trying.)

We will accept that we can’t do it all. We will take joy in what we can do. Life is better when you stop to smell the roses, or, in some cases, stop to taste the rhubarb.

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In My House

My 2019 Summer Suitcase

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I am finding it hard to grasp the fact that June is already almost over. With July comes our vacation to Alaska. I’m a little apprehensive about a nearly six-hour flight with a two-year-old and a four-year-old, but I’m really excited to visit the Land of the Midnight Sun for the first time. Weather is supposed to be in the 70s while we are there, which is perfect in my opinion. Here are a few favorites that will be in my suitcase.

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1. I fell in love with these floral pants and ordered them online a few days ago. They haven’t arrived yet, but I’m excited to dress them up or down for work and play. (Loft) 2. I love the poppy color of this dress. (J.Crew) 3. I am a big fan of Babiators for the girls because of their durability and awesome guarantee policy. (Babiators) 4. We are loving all things Toy Story 4 in our house right now after seeing the movie this past weekend. Both of my girls have been sporting this tee regularly. (Target) 5. I am always looking for swimwear that looks cute, but stays in place while I am playing in the pool with my daughters. This tankini set fits the bill and the price is right. (Gap) 6. My office has a no-denim dress code, but I have been living in this skirt on my days off. (J.Crew)

Adventures

A 1980s Summer (Featured in Black Hills Parent Magazine)

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I had the opportunity to write for the summer issue of Black Hills Parent magazine and it’s all about giving today’s kids a 1980s-style summer. You can read it at this link or pick up a free copy at area businesses. As an added bonus, it features summer photos of my little brother and me at Storybook Island circa 1989, and because I’m the bossy big sis, I didn’t ask his permission. Sorry, Kyle.

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In My House

My Favorite Dresses for Summer (All Under $50)

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

I’m a fan of wearing dresses year-round, but especially in the summer. Dresses are my go-to for work and play. To me, they win hands down against jeans or pants any day of the week. Here are six of my favorites for summer. I own the top three and frequently wear them. I have not purchased the bottom three, and probably won’t because of my strict one-in-one-out closet rule, but they’re three gorgeous dresses that someone out there should be buying and wearing. (Let me know if that someone is you.) All of these picks are under $50.

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1. This black wrap dress also comes in red. It is comfortable and requires zero ironing. It has been my recent favorite for work. (Gap) 2. I usually shy away from horizontal stripes, but the fit of this dress makes all the difference. I wore this one to a friend’s wedding and plan to sport it many more times this summer. (J.Crew) 3. This dress makes me think of the 1940s, and we all know I love everything about 1940s fashion and décor. I have been pairing this with tights, ballet flat, and a cardigan for work, and bare legs and strappy sandals for weekend plans. (Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s) 4. The floral pattern of this dress caught my eye. I think it can easily be transitioned to fall, too. (ModCloth) 5. This dress looks romantic, but also super comfy and I’m a huge fan of ties at the waist. (Loft) 6. This looks like a great casual dress for chasing the kids around the park or even wearing as a swimsuit cover-up. (Anthropologie)

Food

A Fun Summer Dessert (and a Fourth of July Recap)

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

The fact that the Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday this year meant the day stayed simple without feeling obligated to cram travel plans into a three-day weekend. We stayed home, walked down to our small town’s parade, and hosted my parents for a cookout on the deck. We were asleep before the fireworks and that was OK.

July 4 2018 (1)

July 4 2018 (2)

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July 4 2018 (3)

I made this super tasty no-bake dessert to celebrate the birthdays of both America and my mother. It’s a variation of a recipe I found in an old family cookbook, the kind where church potluck favorites reign supreme. I used strawberries and blueberries for a patriotic look, but you could play around with all kinds of fruit combinations. Keep enjoying summer, everyone!

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Recipe:

  • 3 sleeves of graham crackers (whole)
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
  • 2 3.4-ounce packages of instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 1/2 cups of cold milk
  • 1 carton of fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1 carton of fresh blueberries
  • 12 ounces Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)
  • 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips

 

  • With an electric mixer, cream together the instant pudding mixes and the cream cheese.
  • Gradually add the cold milk.
  • Fold in the Cool Whip, reserving enough Cool Whip to coat the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan.
  • Spread a small amount of Cool Whip in the bottom of the pan.
  • Place one layer of whole graham crackers in the pan, breaking them apart if needed.
  • Place a layer of pudding mixture over the graham crackers and sprinkle (or carefully place if that’s your thing) the fruit over the pudding layer.
  • Do another layer of graham crackers, followed by pudding, followed by berries.
  • You’ll do three layers total, ending with the pudding/fresh berries on top.
  • Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and spoon over the top layer. (I spooned it into a plastic bag and cut off the corner to create a little piping bag.)
  • Chill at least four hours (overnight is even better.)
In My House

My Summer Suitcase: 2016 Edition

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

Because we only get maybe two months of actual summer weather where I live, I don’t buy a lot of summery clothes. The items I do purchase need to be classic and versatile so I can use them again next summer as well as pack them for any warm weather vacations I might get to go on during the year.

Next week the hubby, toddler, and I will head on a beach vacation I have been daydreaming about all through the cold winter months. I will definitely be packing these items (or something similar to them) for this summer’s excursions.

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1. I bought this denim jacket last summer and I wear it constantly on my days off. It’s perfect for a chilly airplane or over-air-conditioned buildings. (Gap) 2. A low-maintenance skirt paired with a tee or tank is one of my favorite summer go-to outfits. This one is on sale for $12.99 so I will definitely be ordering it. (H&M) 3. Ankle pants are one of my favorite summer staples. I like to pair a fun pattern like these with a simple top in black or gray. (Ann Taylor Loft) 4. I am not a big fan of shorts, but a classic pair like these look polished and put-together. I ordered these in mint jacquard which is no longer available, but the navy are pretty, too. (Banana Republic) 5. A casual tee dress is a good staple to have. I grabbed in navy blue at Gap Outlet for $14. (Gap) 6. I bought a pair of shoes similar to these last summer and they have been some of my favorite shoes ever. This floral print is feminine and summery. (Ann Taylor Loft) 7. As always, I adore big sunglasses. Usually Oakley shades are a little too sporty for my liking, but this pair is a little more ladylike. (Oakley) 8. Linen tanks and tees are my favorite for summer. They are breathable, but look a little more polished than jersey. I pair them with everything from jeans to shorts to flouncy skirts. (J. Crew)

In My House

Summer Morning

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

This was the view from my office on Tuesday morning. That hot air balloon hovered in the sky for a while before landing in a nearby park. It was one of those beautiful, crisp summer mornings that make being up early seem so worth it.

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In My House

Friendships: Quality Time vs. Quantity of Time

A HOUSE WITH CHARACTER

This past Saturday my husband, daughter and I spent a lovely day on a nearby lake with some great friends. I had not seen most of these people in several months.

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(View from the boat)

In college, making friends is a breeze. Maintaining friendships is easy, too, because usually you are living with or in close proximity to friends. After college, the demands of careers, marriages, and children can make opportunities to build new friendships hard to come by. Nourishing old friendships is difficult because we are all. so. busy.

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(There is nothing better than a boat day with friends.)

Sometimes my best friend, who now lives a six-hour drive away, and I go months without seeing each other. That can be a real downer, but it also has required us to make the very most of the days we do get to see each other. This day at the lake was no exception.

Really we are quite lucky. Many people I know live several states away from their best friends. My husband sees his best friend once or twice a year and I love seeing how happy they are to see each other. They pick up right where they left off EVERY TIME.

I think the best advice is to never be too busy to at least respond to your friend’s emails or send a quick text now and then when something reminds you of that person. Make a point to get together now and then, even if it means a long car ride or splurging on a plane ticket. Friendships that can survive the chaos of adulthood deserve maintaining.

How do you maintain friendships amidst all the responsibilities of adulthood?