Ushering Out Summer With a Few Fun Outings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes when you homeschool, I think you're almost pressured to do school year round. Keep up a schedule, keep up the learning, don't lose pace. I was so tempted to do that this year. To jump right into the next thing and keep trucking right along. At the last minute though, I decided not to. And, boy, did I not realize how much we really needed the break! A break from so much structure and a break from, well, each other. We still spent every day together and had barely any time apart but, not having the stress of learning most of the time we were together was just what we needed. We all gained a little free time, to choose what we wanted to do with it, and I think I speak for my boys and myself when I say we all enjoyed the layed back, lazy, play filled days of summer.

Even though we were quite busy since letting out of school, with our beach vacation, playdates, shooting weddings and weekend trips to SDC, the last few weeks have really slacked off. So, I wanted to do a couple of fun, out of our normal routine, things before we started back up with our schoolwork. Daddy was gone on a big hunting trip to Alaska from the 19-29th of this month so that left a major hole in our schedule. I knew I didn't want to jump back into a school routine (with a curriculum I'd never used before) with him so far away and our schedule so out of wack. But, I also knew that we couldn't spend the whole time he was gone sitting at home, where we'd end up wallowing and the days would seem forever long. So, on top of a few runs to town to get out of the house and catch up on a little retail therapy, I decided to plan a few fun things to fill our time and keep our minds off how much we really missed our Daddy.

We picked apples with Grammie while Poppie fished one morning and the boys loved it! They would get so excited when she would shake the trees so the apples would fall and really enojoyed gathering them into their buckets. After loading our haul into the suburban, they got to see some of Poppie's catch and boy were they in their element. Fishing with their Daddy is one of their very favorite things so they loved checking in on their Poppie. We also spent a few hours one day visiting some friends at their farm where they raise goats. What fun that was! One of their females had just had quadruplets (!!) a few days before so it was such a treat to be able to see them. The boys had never seen four day old baby goats before and we really did not realize how small they would be! Even Tyler warmed up pretty quick after getting a kiss from one of the littlest (so cute!!).

I wouldn't trade homeschooling my boys for anything and part of that is the incredible summers we have together. I know that some families do school year round, and I'm glad that works for them! But, I like our little schedule and that we've been able to make it work so well for us. Thinking back, I'd say we had a pretty incredible summer. With t-ball, vacations, swimming at the condo, trips to the farm and time spent together, we all really enjoyed ourselves. Now, it's back to school and field trips and JD & Lucas' first time playing fall soccer and Shared Learning that starts back up this coming Thursday!! Oh how I love this season of the year and all that it brings about. Now, where are the cooler temps so I can start dressing for FALL!?!

Sunday Style | A Feminine Palette

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

iZbyer top | thrifted

Rue 21 layering tank

Rue 21 pencil skirt | sold out (similar here & here)

Mossimo heels

Blush crosss body | similar

Stud earrings | similar

Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week. But, if I'm being honest, since we're on break from schooling, any day is a close second. We've been trying not to have a lot of commitments the past few weeks, after our crazy busy beginning of summer, and it has just been awesome. We still do Bible Study on Wednesday mornings and lunch afterward with Glen's Grandma, the occasional playdate and summer book club and usually take a trip for groceries about once a week. But, when we're home with nothing going on, they boys get time to play and use their imaginations and I get to have a little time to myself after taking care of daily tasks. I really debated taking a break over the summer. Since we're homeschooling we have so much freedom to create a schedule that we really like so, I considered taking a week or so off and then jumping right back in. But, I can't even explain how much we needed this summer. So much more than I realized. We have so enjoyed having time to be lazy, creative and bored these past few weeks. It's really been good for us.

I would probably have to call Saturday my favorite day of the week out of them all. Basically because the week (and work for Daddy) is over, we've usually planned something fun to do together and stores around town are still open if we decide to venture out of the house. Glen and I often watch a movie together on Friday evening after getting the boys to bed, everyone sleeps in a bit later Saturday morning and our day is just really layed back. I love it. 

This past saturday, daddy took two of the boys to check on deer plot stuff and I took two to town for a little fun. JD and Blake went with daddy and, surprisingly, Lucas and, not so surprisingly, Tyler went with me. I had a fun time getting to spoil Lucas a bit and Tyler was just the perfect baby, as always, letting us shop and browse around town while snoozing away or playing in the stroller. I think daddy and the other boys had a good time on the farm as well and I was thankful they didn't have any bear sightings (eek!) after his aunt and uncle spotted one near their home in Grovespring the weekend before. Yikes! Buuuuut, it was a really great day and when everyone came back home we spent the evening watching Toy Story 3, a favorite movie of ours, and soaking up as much of daddy as we can before his Alaska trip. What did you get up to this weekend? Are you ready for school to start back up? We're getting there! I suppose it may be time to get some curriculum though (lol). On this week's to do list!

Date Night + Some New Beauty Products

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

Pink Blush tunic dress | Pink Blush (site down)

Almost Famous jeans | similar

Liliana cutout heels | Pink Blush (site down)

blush cross body | similar

Pink Enamel Link bracelet

Sometimes your hubby asks you on a last minute date night and, occasionally, you have time to spare after dinner to grab a few blog photos in town. I love going out with my guy, just the two of us, and while it doesn't happen nearly enough, I'm thankful we can make time for it as often as we do. Even if it's just dinner, a little walk down commercial street and a Walmart run to get some new movies, it's nice to spend a little time sans kiddos. 

While fall is still a few weeks away, all of this nsale business has me seriously craving some cooler weather and warmer, richer toned pieces. So, I improvised a little and styled this Pink Blush tunic dress with my favorite distressed skinnies and these pretty Liliana laser cutout heels, although I can't wait to style it with ankle boots soon! I love this look. The floral pattern is one of my favorites right now and the bag and bracelet add just the right amount of blush. 

If you noticed in my last post, I finally got my hair trimmed and evened out a bit and it is growing out really nicely now. It felt kind of short in the back at first but, it grows so fast and I can already tell it's going to be much easier to get long again with this bob style. I tried out a few new beauty products for this post as well and I'm loving them so far. I don't spend a lot on makeup but, I try not to go without the basics either. Here's what I tried for the first time :

I was using one kind of powder foundation that I really loved but then it wasn't in stock when I went to purchase more this last time. So, I decided to try Neutrogena's Skin Clearing Mineral Powder and I am so impressed. It goes on light and smooth and doesn't clog my pores. I've been using it in this humid MO heat and it hasn't "melted" in the slightest and I've noticed improvement in my blemishes. I'll definitely purchase it again. 

I needed new undereye concealer and I was getting tired of what I usually use. I decided to try out the Flower Daily Brightening under eye cream and am so happy I did. It goes on with a little roll, blends well and really does the job. Love it.

Since you're supposed to change out your eye makeup every so often, I figured it was way past time to get something else so I decided to try some new eyeliner and mascara. I chose Almay's Intense i-color gel smooth liner and it is awesome! I love the look it gives. 

Lastly, I tried Almay's one coat thickening mascara and it is the best! I don't know why I never tried it before because it is my favorite of everything I purchased. It doesn't clump or flake and really makes my eyes pop. I have naturally long lashes and they're not really thin either but, the way it covers quickly without all the mess is really great. Definitely a repeat purchase in the future. Besides the items listed above, I used my other everyday products and came up with a look that I was super happy with. Easy everyday routine and easy on the budget. I'll link them below in case you're interested. And, the eye makeup remover I was so excited about when I purchased it is a winner! It is so gentle and really removes everything. 

This date night was one for the books though. We talked, flirted, sat beside each other in a booth at dinner, walked hand in hand looking in shop windows and joked around the whole time. He is my sweetheart and I don't know where I'd be without him. I'm so thankful for the Lord and how he has blessed me with this man and my boys with their daddy. He's a keeper for sure and I love him with all my heart.