Well summer is officially here! I hope you have a few minutes to chat! How about a little Happy Hour action? Can we grab a margarita and just sit on a patio somewhere enjoying this gorgeous weather? I’d love to catch up with you.
Chips and salsa you say? Ah you know my weakness! Yes please pass the guac- avocados are good for you so let’s get a large shall we?
How has your summer started? The kids are out of school right? Mine just got out on Tuesday and we have been going nonstop.
I know many people look forward to a relaxed summer vacay but I really like to fill it up with all sorts of adventures.
Are your kiddos in sports right now? My little darlings are finishing up a dance recital tomorrow and then we just have soccer for the summer to plan around. How gorgeous are these costumes by the way?
What are your summer plans? Any trips scheduled? We have a few little trips planned- still trying to actually sit down and go over the prices and the schedule and such. It would be so fun to go on a trip together! We should really plan something. Even just a quick weekend trip. No I don’t camp. Sorry. I know it is a quintessential summer experience so I will totally go but I am staying at the hotel up the street. The kids and my husband will stay on the campground with you though! 😀
The girls and I already hit the water park for the day (dang that place is expensive!) and we went to an adorable little U-Pick farm and loaded up on blackberries. I had to keep an eye on the kids because they were stuffing as many in their mouths as they were in the little buckets. I don’t think they quite understood they were stealing. 😉 The farm gave us a recipe for Blackberry Cobbler and I plan to make that soon. I’ll totally send it to you if it turns out well.
So you are looking fantastic! Anything new you have been doing? I could really use a good sunscreen recommendation. I can’t find a spray that doesn’t feel sticky and that passes the Environmental Working Group’s guidelines. Trying to be extremely diligent about sunscreen this summer. I got to meet with a dermatologist recently and she said it is important to keep lotion in your car and slather it on the backs of hands when driving. That helps keep your hands looking young and free of sun damage.
Oh! Before I forget. I wanted to tell you about a few things I am loving lately.
I have super thick hair that is wavy at the bottom and straight at the top. Super flattering you know when your hair lays limp at the top and then frizzes out like no tomorrow at the bottom. I know, I know. When you see me it is pulled back in a ponytail. That is because I don’t have the energy to fight with my hair everyday!
I have been considering getting a straightening treatment at the hair salon but it is really expensive so I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
But in the meantime I discovered this Living Proof No Frizz shampoo and conditioner and I am really liking it! This has been a temporary solution until I decide to get the salon treatment.
Oh and I wanted to mention I got a new bathing suit this year. I love this number I got from Nordstrom. I really wanted a one piece this year because I am always afraid when I play with the kids at the pool that my top will come off 😉 Now I can hit the waterslides without a care in the world. (Remind me to tell you about that one waterslide experience when I was 14 and I came down and my top didn’t… Quit laughing! I am still traumatized.)
Oh did you wind up getting anything for the kids for summer? I like to get a few things for them- new pj’s, Summer Bridge Workbooks, a few outdoor toys and art supplies.
I do not want this to be the summer of Minecraft You Tube videos (curse you Stampy and Dan TM!) Do yours watch those videos over and over as well? So strange right? Watching grown-ups play video games? Anyway-
Here are a few things I picked up for them:
Summer Bridge Workbooks // Watercolor Crayons (I can’t wait to use these!) // How to Draw Books // Flamingo Pen // Pool Toy // Kite
I still need to find some things to keep in the car for my 7 year old for soccer practice. Her sister has (3) 90 minute practices a week and we are burned out on coloring books. Here is a little preview of last weekend at a 5 hour tournament:
Poor little thing. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime videos 😉
I guess we better get going shouldn’t we? It has been so fun to catch up. I hope your summer is off to a bang and you get a chance to spend some quality time with the family this month. I can’t wait to check in again in July!
Cori says
Fun post! I appreciate so many of your post with deals but it’s fun to see your personality in this post. Enjoy time with your family the next few months.
Charlene says
So kind of you Cori! Thanks 🙂
Amanda says
Where did you go berry picking? We discovered a blue moon blueberries last year ad it was amazing!
Justine says
I have been reading your blog for what seems like forever and really enjoy all you posts. I am also so thankful for all the great deals you post! I never comment but today I read this post and it really did feel like we were old friends catching up… 🙂 So I just wanted to say thanks and let you know what a great job you are doing 🙂
Charlene says
Thanks so much Justine! Glad to meet you!
Charlene
Charlene says
Hi Amanda,
Is that in NH? Quite a distance from us. We went to a little farm in Northern CA called American River Cherries. 🙂
Amanda says
Sorry, it’s actually called once in a blue moon blueberries in El dorado hills. Did you happen to pick cherries too? I’ll have to check it out.
Charlene says
Oh ha! Ok. They have cherries but the cherries were gone by the time we got there 🙂 I could see a bunch in the highest branches of the trees and the rest were gone.
Elene says
Hoping you like the blackberry cobbler recipe. We have a bumper crop of blackberries this year so I’m going to have to make something like that to use them.
Charlene says
Hi Elene,
Ok I will email you the recipe. Do you like jam? This is one of my favorite recipes:
http://myfrugaladventures.com/2014/01/easy-homemade-blackberry-jam-recipe/