Hello, It's Been a While!

I took a break from blogging for a while because my time was so limited and this was not a priority. I was having too much fun this summer with my kids, then Kindergarten started and school for summer and life was still busy. I just wanted to pop in and say, Happy Fall! I never thought I'd be excited about Fall because I love warm weather so much, but I was ready for things to slow down (or so I thought they would). I've been more excited about Halloween each year with kids and this year is no different. Our house has been decorated for over a month and we have been enjoying the fall festivities: hay rides, pumpkin farms, crafts, pumpkin muffins, etc. Yesterday I kept Ellie home from school so she could join Summer and I apple picking. Yes, we could go on the weekend, but it would be much more crowded and much more stressful and we wouldn't be able to enjoy it as much as we did yesterday. The orchard was almost all ours and it was a beautiful fall day. The three of us had a lot of fun together and making memories is what is most important!

Summer said her favorite thing was "picking red apples and taking pictures." She loves using my phone to take pictures. I asked her to take one of me on the ladder picking apples and what I got was a shot of my legs and butt. :) 

Ellie loved going on the ladder to reach the highest apples. She would toss the apples to me and I would give to Summer to put in the bag. It worked out well and we got a lot of good apples! And, what I loved the most was spending time with my girls and laughing and being silly with them. 

The girls dresses are Matilda Jane from their newest collection. Every season I have new favorites and these are two of them!

Keepsake Chrissy Dress / Perchance to Dream Dress

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Wish List

I know it's still July and the summertime, but the Nordstrom Sale is a great time to stock up on fall items. I've realized the past couple years that it really does make sense to buy now because a lot of these items rarely go on sale and prices go back up in August. The early cardholder sale is going on right now, but it opens to the public this Friday, the 22nd. 

Last summer I bought the girls North Face fleeces and they got so much wear out of them. I bought them a little big and they will be able to wear them again this year, which I'm happy about!

North Face Fleece

North Face Parka

I love this jacket and wear it all through winter. It keeps you very warm and it's waterproof. Another great price!

My Wish List for Fall

Plaid Tunic Shirt

Open Front Cardigan

Side Slit Sweater

Draped Jacket

Over the Knee Boot

I really would like a pair of these this season!

There were a few items on my wish list that have sold out. I'm hoping they will come back in stock before the sale ends (that does happen sometimes!). 

** This post includes affiliate linked items. 

Beach Vacation

Two weeks ago we were back in Brigantine Beach for our family vacation. We got every year since my husband's aunt and uncle have a house there. We rent it for a week. It's a quieter shore town and really nice to relax and recharge for the week. The beaches are big and always empty, which is so nice. The walk down is only a couple blocks down and since they own the house there are wagons and beach toys and chairs (all of which we don't need to pack). 

 My everyday breakfast of avocado toast (sometimes with tomato, too). Summer made me playdoh "cookies," too.

 This was me everyday- getting in a short nap and trying to even out my tan. 

We went out to eat at a local restaurant with amazing food. One night I brought my camera and we took some pictures at the beach. 

 I love feeling Summer's arms wrapped around my neck and glad my husband captured these moments. 

 Summer has started copying Ellie with posing for the camera 

Of course, we had to go out for ice cream a few times during the week at Aunt B's

My Mom gave the girls these adorable butterfly wings. Summer wouldn't take hers off.

Another week of memories!

Summer Time Wish List

I've been wanting a hammock for years now. I would need a stand because we don't have two good trees, but I'm loving the tassels on this one. 

Fringe Hammock

I absolutely love this swing!! The price is great, too.
Wood Tree Swing

 If I had a pool I'd have this in there. Such a great idea and I love the flamingo. 

Drink Holder

This would make a great Father's Day gift. I love that you can personalize it, too.

6 Pack Beer Caddy

Bar Cart

Now that it's summer we are using our grill more often. I'm also using it more to cook veggies and fish. I need to buy a few cooking accessories. 

Grill Fry Pan

I've heard great things about cooking fish on cedar planks and you can soak them in any liquid for added flavor. 

Grilling Planks

I love experimenting with different recipes to make popsicles in the summertime. One of my favorite childhood memories! My Mom used to make us vanilla yogurt popsicles and orange juice popsicles. I thought they were such a treat and they were so easy to make. With Pinterest around you could find a different recipe each time.

Ice Pops Mold

** Affiliate links included in this post. All are items on my wish list!

Summertime Essentials + Recent Buys

I need a new pool bag and I love one that is waterproof. I've seen these often at the pool and am deciding which print to go with. I love the large one for the pool/beach to hold our towels and all of our essentials and the smaller one for a cooler. I've been looking for a cooler that can hold all of our stuff without being too big. This one looks perfect. Plus, the pockets can hold our sunscreen cool.

The BJ Bag

 Preps Cool Bag

I took the girls to Nordstrom last week. I had already ordered Summer a pair of Natives, but Ellie needed to try them on. She chose the purple (same as last year). She also picked out a new pair of Havaianas flip flops. The girls know the flip flops can only be worn for the pool or beach. Not even in our backyard. Too much risk for injury. The Natives are their everyday shoe. 

Natives

Flip Flops

Recent Buys

I just bought these shorts

Linen Surf Shorts

I just bought this tank and love the fabric. I wore it to a pop-up beer garden last Thursday night. I may have to get another color I love it so much.

Anthem Scoop Tank

Photo credit, Summer

 I also ordered this top over the weekend in red and yellow that I blogged about a while back.

Muscle Tank

It's been in the 80s here recently and going through my summer clothes from the past couple summers I realized I needed new tanks. J.Crew has always been my go-to for summer tank tops.

My favorite purchase lately is this dress. I ran into the mall one day with the girls and saw this dress. It caught my eye and I loved it. I sent my husband a picture and the girls commented how pretty and flowy it was. Later that day I came out of the shower and it was laying on my bed. I was so shocked! I wore it Sunday night to dinner in the city with flats to dress it down. I wish we could have gotten a good picture, but the lighting wasn't great.

Pleated Strappy Maxi Dress

It is another beautiful day today and the girls and I are going strawberry picking!

** Affiliate links are included in this post.

Summer Turns 3

On Summer's birthday, May 5th, I took the girls to the Aquarium. We hadn't been since Ellie's 2nd birthday and I was pregnant with Summer. Summer's favorite part was the "fish." I loved the shark tunnel the best, but everything was awesome. 

I picked up this number 3 balloon at the party store the night before. Ellie and I also surprised her in the morning with two pink balloons. Summer woke up saying, "My birthday now?"

Summer's "3" shirt is from one of my favorite Etsy shops. 

Aquarium

Checking out the hippos

 Ellie was surprised she touched a sting ray!

Summer told me she wanted Jules pizza for dinner and cupcakes for dessert. We picked up the cupcakes from our favorite local bakery, Velvet Sky.

Favorites:

Food: Lime Chobani yogurt, Grandmom's green pasta (pesto pasta)

Phrase: "best!" ("Best Mommy!"), "dupe dupe dupe" ("dupe dupe high")

Toys: Barbies, dolls

Pretend Play: Mom and kid (her and Ellie)

Activities: coloring, swings, running, playing tag

Summer is so silly and loves making us laugh. She has started talking more recently but still comes up with her own phrases. "Dupe dupe high" for pushing her super duper high on the swing. To express her love for us she will say, "best Mommy!" If I give her a kiss on the lips that also ends up on her chin or above her lip she will grab my face and give me a gentle kiss again to make sure we only kiss on the lips. She loves to wear dresses and twirl just like her big sister. Speaking of her big sis, she loves to do everything Ellie does. Especially when we are taking pictures. If Ellie crosses her feet so does Summer. Recently Summer has started posing herself for pictures with her hands on her hips. It's too cute. Summer will not let me put her hair up. Sometimes she will keep in a bow or a headband for a short period of time. When I show her pictures how she used to wear her hair a year ago she will tell me no. She is still in her crib and since we moved the dresser to the other side of the room she hasn't tried to climb out again. She is still nursing about once a day. 

We love you, Summer!