What’s Poppin’

Hi guys! It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these posts…I thought I’d check in! School starts for my kids NEXT week and I want to cry! I can’t believe how quickly summer went by. We’ve had such a great summer and I’m sad to see it go. If you’re new here, Ben is a high school principal. Although he doesn’t get the summers off, it is a much more relaxed schedule with far less stress and evening events than there are during the school year. Students aren’t back yet at his school, but he’s all-in already and back to more of his normal fall schedule. (I miss him already!)

N is starting KINDERGARTEN this year and E is in second grade! I can’t believe it! I started this site right after E was born, and you were all around (well, not all of you, but some!) when N entered the picture. AND NOW HE’S IN KINDERGARTEN. Sorry to yell, but I cannot believe it! Also I’m slightly terrified to send him to school with all his food allergies. I’ve already been in contact with his teacher…but it’s so hard to give up that control.

As you read this, I’m squeezing in one more quick trip before school starts. I’m spending time with my two blogging besties, Erin and Becky in St. Louis. It’s a quick trip but I’m so grateful to have time to spend with these friends that I only get to see once or twice a year, if we’re lucky!

We recently got back from the upper peninsula of Michigan. We stayed in St. Ignace and visited Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls. Ben and I have been to Mackinac Island many times, but it was the first time for our kids and it was so much fun watching them experience that. When we drove over the bridge to the UP, E said “I wish I had eyes on both sides of my head so I could look in both directions at the same time!” The photo below is N’s expression going over the bridge.

Fun Fact: Okay, maybe more scary than fun, but did you know that the Mackinac bridge can sway up to 15 feet in each direction when there are high winds? Thankfully it was calm and still when we visited.

Here are some things I’m into lately:

Saved our road trip: We drove about 4 hours to the UP on our trip and I filled up these bags with a few new things for each of the kids. The kids did amazingly well in the car (with little to no screen time) and these made great tables for drawing and good bags to keep everything organized in the car. They were worth the money!

Saving my house: Ever since I finally sprang for a Roomba. The kids named her Romy with makes me think of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, but I’m loving the extra help keeping my house clean. (I got a deal on Prime Day).

Saving my hair: You guys! My friend Alissa told me about this miracle hair product and I LOVE IT. One of my friends thought I got a brazilian blow-out because my hair looked so smooth. It completely eliminates frizz and lasts through a couple washes! It’s a must-have. I’m also loving these hair ties.

Netflix: I finished Mad Men and switched to something completely different and am now binging on New Girl. It’s hilarious…I often watch it on the ipad with headphones in bed, and Ben looks at me like I’m crazy every time I laugh out loud.

The Nordstrom Sale is over: But I did some damage. Some of my favorite purchases were this fun shirt, this shirt that I’ve already worn so many times, this comfy everyday tee, and this pair of shoes – Sam Edelman never fails me.

Summer isn’t quite over: Let’s make all the peach recipes while we still can! Here’s some of my favorites and some I can’t wait to try:

• Peach Blueberry Crisp
• Peach Banana and Honey Smoothie
• Creamy Peach Pie from Spends with Pennies
• Peach Sangria from Easy Good Ideas
• Bourbon Peach Streusel Cheesecake from Life, Love and Sugar

I hope you all have had an absolutely wonderful summer! I’d love to hear from you – what’s been the highlight of your summer?