Hey there, friends! We’re halfway through summer so it’s time to catch up with you for a little coffee chat. I have been loving this summer with the kids. Now that Jace is very mobile, we can do more out and about, which has been a blast. I was initially going to enroll Taya in some summer camps but decided against it. My kids are only so little for so long, so I want to soak it all in and make memories together. It’s been nice not having any pressure on regularly scheduled plans. A go-with-the-flow summer is what I’m all about!
In June, the kids and I spent time visiting my in-laws in Rochester, New York. My mother-in-law and I took the kids to a bunch of neat places in the area. Amazing memories were made! I recently blogged about some of my recommendations on things to do with kids in Rochester, New York. Click here to read them!
A few weeks ago, we visited my side of the family in Massachusetts and had a nice time. It was a laid-back trip which was what we needed. We spent time with family and had our own family time. The kids even got to have their first-ever boat ride! Taya even jumped into the water with me, my sister, and my niece and nephew. It was a blast! We can’t wait for next time.
Next week, I’ll be road-tripping up to Maine with my sister, Corryn. We’ll be driving up to Acadia National Park in the Bar Harbor area. My sister went to college for a short time there, so she can’t wait to show me around. I haven’t been up to Maine in years, so a trip is due for sure. I’ll be sharing about the trip on the blog eventually but follow along on Instagram for all the fun on IG Stories!
THINGS I’M LOVING LATELY
Overall Romper – I have been all about comfy cozy looks this summer and this overall romper is in current rotation on the regular. If you like the FP hot shot onesie look, this is a good look for less! I love that it has adjustable straps. It runs true to size and is designed to be a bit oversized, so I recommend grabbing your usual size. They have a good selection of colors and sizes, and they’re also on sale right now. Check them out if you love an easy “one and done” look!
MERIT Beauty – MERIT is a clean, luxury beauty brand inspired by minimalism. They sent me over some of their essential beauty products to try and I’m really enjoying them so far. I got The Minimalist in shade Linen and the Bronze Balm in shade Clay. The Minimalist is a complexion-perfecting stick and I use it in place of a foundation and concealer. It truly replaces both for me! I apply it all over my face and blend it with a brush. It’s extremely lightweight and is buildable. When it’s on, it doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing any makeup – it’s that lightweight. It’s turned into my go-to in this summer heat! It’s a must-try recommendation for me!
MERIT’s Bronze Balm has quickly become a holy grail product for me! I wear it every day. It applies so smoothly – it melts into my skin, giving the perfect bronzed warmth. Like The Minimalist, the Bronze Balm is also buildable so you can achieve your desired look.
All first purchases ship with MERIT’s signature bag and they offer free shipping on all orders over $40! I highly recommend trying them out! Your skin will thank you. 🙂
THINGS THE KIDS ARE LOVING
Delta Children Revolve Stroller + Ride Along Board – I had been wanting a single stroller with a ride along board attachment for a while now and we got both from Delta Children. The Revolve Stroller is incredible. It has a large canopy, plenty of storage room underneath, and the option for a reversible seat position. It rides so smoothly. It’s easy to set up, fold away, and maneuver altogether. The Ride Along Board is just as awesome. It attaches securely to the base of the stroller and even has the option to fold up when not in use. Taya LOVES her ride along board!
Tub Topper – We’ve had the Tub Topper for a month now and it has changed the bath game for us! The Tub Topper is a bathtub splash guard, play area, and barrier shelf that suction-cups to the bathtub. This means more play area for the kids and no more cleaning up a soaked floor for you. We love it! Check it out here. You can also see it in action over on my Instagram Reels.
Numbered Stepping Stones – Dave and Abe sent us their set of 10 numbered stepping stones and they’ve been a great addition to our obstacle course playtime. They’re also great on their own! The kids can enhance their balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. They’re a must-have for sure.
LIGHTROOM MOBILE PHOTO PRESETS
I finally relaunched my Lightroom Mobile Photo Presets! Many have been asking about my photo presets and instead of going through Etsy, this time I’m selling directly through my blog. I have five different presets and one preset pack (of 4) available right now. These are the exact presets that I used on the photos you see here on my blog and on social media. 🙂
In each listing, you’ll see before and after photos – all were edited by just applying my preset. Check out my presets by clicking the link below or by navigating to the top menu “Presets” button.
Check out my presets here!
Thanks for stopping by to catch up! I hope you have a wonderful end to your summer. Soak it all up! 🙂
