weekend links.
Walking with my little buddy last night–him with a whole slice of pizza. He loved walking along with his own slice, it was so cute. We’re home and enjoying doing all the quiet home things. What does that even mean? Well, laundry is a big part of it. Glad to be back in my own space before the back to school rush begins!
Amazon beauty products that actually work. I love posts like this. I want to try the deodorant.
This is so delicious and nice for after a workout (or when you’re a Mom and there’s just no time to actually make yourself food). I keep them in the fridge and have one every once in awhile (and have to fight the kids off from drinking it all!). 16 g of protein too!
Birth photos kill me. Especially this twin water birth–with delivery by Dad!
I would feel absolutely ridiculous wearing this, but it would be amazing. Maybe if we all get them, we won’t feel so stupid.
Kendall Jenner does 73 questions.
I’d love to do this backyard movie night.
I can’t bear the disqualification rules in the Olympics (especially for sprinters!). Makes me so sad for them.
Have a good weekend!
august.
August has me all self-reflective. A little ready for a schedule again, a little sad that it means another summer is gone and with that another school year is upon us and with that another Christmas is practically here and with that and with that and with that. Kids grow, Bridget gets sad, and so it goes. We took a boat ride tonight, our first sunset boat ride in ten days–what were we thinking–and I asked myself if it was a good summer. It was. It had its share of stress too, but it was.
There’s a few things I want to do at the moment. Bear with me, they’re in no particular order: visit Nepal (right, Kate?), go to a Coldplay concert, read Les Mis (with Steve! He’s already read it, but wants to again.), and watch The Royal Tenenbaums. Oh, and eat some chili. This evening on the boat it was cold–cold, I tell you! The moon, it was not a summer moon. It was definitely a fall moon. It seems it made haste, overshadowing its summer predecessor more quickly than it should have. Along with this cold evening. Though my mind isn’t ready, my tastebuds are. And so, Dutch oven chili is around the corner.
Are you watching the Olympics? I’m catching bits and pieces. It mostly has me in awe. And just below the awe is… laziness. I mean, these people work really, really, really hard. Early mornings, full days. Discipline, man! I can’t even finish Pride and Prejudice.
I’m ready to be back in my house. As much as I believe being away is fabulous, and it is, being home is really nice too. Doing the things you know and love and that are comfortable, well, it can’t be beat.
Hope your summers are all coming to a welcome close. And thanks always for being here.
coffee mornings.
At home, with Anders as my alarm clock, I’m almost always the first to wake up. We creep downstairs and, depending on how early I went to bed the night before (and how well he slept next to me), I either put a Daniel Tiger on–for those particularly low-energy mornings–or we play a bit together before the rest of the house wakes up. The energy is always calm when it’s just the two of us, and before Parker wakes up. They’ve begun a game of creeping around, like tigers, and growling at the rest of us from corners of the first floor. It’s hilarious and fun, but it’s not particularly quiet.
lake winnipesaukee.
The days are simple on the lake. You wake up, look at the weather app on your phone, and go from there. Will it be a boat day? Beach day? Sit around the house and watch the Olympics day? (By the way, how unbelievable is Usain Bolt?!) Almost every day we’ve been up here, our weather app has predicted rain. There’s been some, but nothing like they predicted. The Apple weather people are really pessimistic.
Spicy Couscous Chicken Salad from The Butter Half!
I’ve got Abbey from The Butter Half here again to share a yummy summer salad. If you’re like me, salad can get… boring. I’m always looking for new toppings, dressings, and ways to spice it up in general. If I could have the options of a Sweetgreen assembly line in my fridge at all times, I would be the happiest. Anyway, here’s a salad that packs a punch–in both flavor and protein. Thanks Abbey!
taking stock / 15
We’re at the lake for a bit and being here, breathing this air, seeing these views–well, we’re happy to be back. It’d been two years since we even laid eyes on it and since it’s one of our most special places, we’re really glad to be here again. The last time I was on the boat, I was pregnant with Anders and Parker was 3! I imagine the dialogue in Anders’ head: “So this thing parked in the yard all this time?? It goes in water?” If he didn’t think being a Hunt was fun before, we hope he thinks so now. He loves it, and he takes those long, windy naps on it as babies do. {An old Winnipesaukee post!}
Making: tonight’s menu is ground beef sautéed with a bunch of veggies–peppers, squash, onions, carrots–and topped with sour cream and cheese. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this meal before.
Drinking: being around my Mom, she’s all about the ACV in your water bottle. So… I’m drinking that. It’s… okay. “But the health benefits!”
Reading: Vanity Fair. I actually forgot my book, which is perfectly acceptable since I almost have zero time to read anyway.
Wanting: these awesome shoes — and on saaaaale!
Listening: French Cafe on Spotify–it’s a nice playlist! Do you have a favorite?
Looking: for meteor showers! Did you hear that’s happening this week?
Playing: hide-and-go-seek; Anders has the worst hiding skills and IT KILLS ME. He loves it.
Wishing: it weren’t August. The last time I did this I said “that it weren’t July.” I’m predictable. It’s my charm!
Enjoying: relaxing. Being out of my own house puts me into such a more relaxing mood. Instead of racing around to do laundry, answer emails when the boys are finally engaged in something, I’m sitting with them and I love it.
Loving: spending time with my Mom and Dad. Love when we vacation together.
Wearing: these new sneakers. They’re so comfortable. And yes, Steve and I both have them.
Following: the Olympics. And don’t get me wrong, Michael Phelps is unbelievable but does anyone find him super obnoxious when he wins? Eye rolls for days.
transitioning from co-sleeping to a room of one’s own (or what we did/are doing, anyway).
more than perhaps any other question i’ve gotten is this one: how did you transition your babies from co-sleeping to their own room?? i’m sure many of you who’ve asked the question have long since figured it out on your own (never mind that–said child may be off to first grade by this point!) but for those who are approaching that transition, this post is for you (or it’s not! as you’ll soon discover!). i think i’ve mostly avoided it because it’s so loosey-goosey in this household that i don’t feel like i have any hard and fast rules to follow to get you to the other side. i’ll take a crack at it anyway.
weekend links.
Just Anders and I hanging out with a Snapchat filter. I did a q+a yesterday afternoon over there. It was fun. Thanks for the questions! (I haven’t done an Instagram story yet; is it a battery-drainer the way Snapchat is? And WHEN WILL IT GET THE BUTTERLY FILTER? Then and only then will I consider dropping Snapchat.)
Trump or Jesus. (This is both funny and sad.)
A beach bed? This is genius. I wish I had thought of it myself. (Scroll down to watch the video.)
This bootie was called one of the most versatile ever (on Pinterest). Big claims!
A refugee team in the Rio Olympics.. The first in history. Unbelievable.
13 DIY face masks. Coconut oil and honey is one. I’ll start there.
10 unexpected places to add paint. I really liked this article (and love indoor window trim when it’s painted.).
A guide to Alberta. I’m dying to go.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
a week in colorado with the whole family!
We spent the last week in Colorado. All of us (8!!) flew there. Jordan met us in Denver having flown in from MN where he’s doing construction work for his cousin this summer, and there it was, everyone together, in a 15-passenger van no less (it ended up being the best one–based on price and what we needed for the week–says Steve. I don’t ask questions. Lies! I totally ask questions. And too many of them, Steve’ll tell you.). Steve’s family lives in CO–in Evergreen to be exact–and his nephew was getting married, plus his father was turning 80, so there you go. It was a perfect reason for the whole family to make an appearance. Congratulations Vince and Jezaray! Happy birthday George! It was so nice to be there for both occasions.