Deep Thoughts: Preparing to Launch

Though Steve and I have joked that we don't remember when we became "grown up" at some point we found ourselves the parents of a daughter that had turned eighteen and told us and I quote, she was a "grown ass woman." Hmm. This is a phase of life that takes some navigating. It's tricky, it's troublesome, and it's new terrain for us. To say that there was lots of shouting in the beginning is an understatement. To say there was (and still occasionally is) misunderstanding on both sides is an understatement. 

Our daughter & lodger

Thankfully Steve and I have a counselor that helps us tremendously. We have found so much strength in having someone outside ourselves to talk to about navigating these new waters. And we come home with new tools for ourselves and our oldest, Kate. 

Kate's room

Thanks to his help we sat down as a family and wrote up a contract. We decided to treat ourselves as a landlord and Kate as a tenant. There is rent involved. And in our parent role we are available to answer any questions she has regarding taxes, cars, budgeting. Her sister is her sometimes unwilling first roommate. And we are her landlords.

Her own music set up

This may sound hardheaded. But I was one of that group that moved home with no rules, no rent, and no understanding of where the boundaries are. Trust me when I say I offended my Mom a lot and had no thought of what I had done. It was crazy making of both sides. We felt this would make things clear for all of us. 

The comments box 

Things have been unbelievably smooth since we put this all in place. We instilled a comment box and the main things that show up there are empty toilet paper rolls. We all joke that Kate's room is the most soothing place to be. She has the freedom of a tenant which has surprisingly given us the freedom to not worry. 

Kate's apartment stock up

It has forced us to be clear about things. When we go out as a family we make sure to say if we are paying or not. And when we do things for her she is always great about saying "thank you." We are getting to be part of her getting ready to move out, which is bittersweet. Though Sam is looking forward to having the whole upstairs to herself. But we know when she is gone we are one step closer to an quiet, empty nest. 

Anyone else in a similar place? How has the transition gone for you? Any helpful insight? 

On my Radar: tattly

I thought that as we approached the giving season that I would randomly share some favorite gifts and at the top of my list would have to be tattly. From discovering them on instagram about three years ago they have quickly become a favorite. You may scoff at being in love with a company that makes temporary tattoos but this is something special. 

Sam with one of her first tattlys

They employ designers of every kinds so there is something for everyone. They have color, they have black and white, they have metallics, they have tattoos that smell good! I mean really...who wouldn't love a peacock to put a little punch to their ensemble? 

Sam sharing her tattly subscription on instagram

And top to bottom they have great customer service, fun media and I haven't found a thing I don't like about them yet. Samantha asks for a subscription every year for Christmas and the happy mail makes the gift last longer! I gave out the scented flower tattoos at my last birthday party and they made the memory last.

I find them to them to be the perfect accent to a card, tag or a little something to give someone when fun is absolutely needed. Sometimes they become the gift. Sometimes the accent. And they always add the perfect touch.

Warrior not Worrier 

A couple of months back near the beginning of the school year they included one of our stories on their blog and newsletter which had us both beyond the moon! We find that most of our friends that we have shared them with have enjoyed them as much as us...so thats why I am sharing this now. No, this isn't a sponsored post. It's just true love. Let me know if you check them out and are as compelled as we are to play with tattly. 

On My Radar: Salt + Pepper + Oil

Thanks to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership's Morning Jam, I was made aware of an exciting new service in town. The Morning Jam brings in people from Bellingham and the surrounding areas to talk about their passions and how they have lined them up with what they do and who they are. 

Oleg Vetkov

Oleg Vetkov is the man behind Salt + Pepper + Oil, a Fresh Ready-to-Cook Meal service. What he shared is that he has a passion for food, and a passion for a well balanced life. He is working to have that for himself and offer it to others in his business! He knows that we are all short on time, but have a love for meals that are nutritious, fresh, and made from ingredients that are sourced responsibly. And that if you aren't burdened with all the prep, there is room to have a little bit more fun in the kitchen!

Sam at the Salt+Pepper+Oil Storefront

Oleg was gracious enough to give my family a couple of meals to take home and try to see how they would go over for a typical family. We are a crew of three, a full time worker, part-time worker, and one 16 year old that is preparing to go back to school soon. The adults in the picture are fairly adventurous, while the 16 year old is working on it! 

Triple Zested Chicken Breast with Caprese Peach Salad (plus utensils)

The first of the two meals we tried was Triple Zested Chicken Breast with Caprese Peach Salad. The ingredients are all labeled to coordinate with instructions on the packaging and in a  really helpful manner, the list of needed utensils is also included. The crew all gathered around to get started! 

Samantha getting busy with the cherry tomatoes!

Though she says she doesn't love them, our daughter Sam was happy to cut the gorgeous cherry tomatoes! The colors were beautiful, and the taste even better! But this was just the beginning of the side salad. Once cut there were ready prepped peaches, fresh mozzarella,  some mint and basil to quickly dice up and a lovely basalmic glaze ready to drizzle over the whole works. Along with the chicken that was ready with an easy coating of the packet of zest and a quick cook we were ready to go. 

Happy Steve with the finished product!

That face you see above? That's a happy guy! This meal was perfect for a summer evening…and the salad was so beautiful. It was like having a restaurant meal…at home. And the cleanup was minimal. What a sweet deal! 

Capicola and Garlic Sauce Flatbreads

Meal two was much like the first! All the ingredients are packaged together and well marked. And this one had us all drooling before we even cut into it…Capicola and Garlic Sauce Flatbreads! We figured it was a great Friday evening meal, because well, pizza! But this…well this was elevated to another level! 

Flatbread ingredients

The flatbreads were incredibly easy to put together. Everything was ready to go and it was a matter of cutting open the packages, and putting everything on the flatbreads based on preferences. We all decided we were game for everything, and just went for it! 

Flatbread with side salad

And we were so glad we did! We made a side salad on our own to go with this meal, but all we could talk about was the flatbread. In our family lingo it tasted like "more" which meant we all wanted lots more of it! It was SO GOOD. The serving of sliced capicola that came with it was so generous that there was enough for Steve to make himself a small cheese plate the next day and include it. But all he could talk about was the flatbread. The heat, the cheese, it was a perfect combo. 

So, needless to say we are all converts to Salt+Pepper+Oil and have already put an order in for a couple of items on his next menu. The ordering is so flexible and having the option to either go by and say hi and pick it up, or have it delivered is really cool. We think being able to eat well, have it be easy, have your family help (bonus!), and feel like you are trying innovative, locally made items is worth our dollar. I hope you decide to give it a try! Let me know if you do and what you think! 

Deep Thoughts: A Change in the Air

Do you feel it? Around this time of year I can always feel the advance of Fall. It's just a small glimpse. And I'm not talking about the appearance of school supplies, or Back to School sales. When walking the dog a few leaves trickle down. When the sun sets in the evening there is a glow to it that feels like Fall. And school starts in the month of August this year, rather than after Labor day which makes me feel cheated of some our precious time. 

And it feels bittersweet. Time marches on. Our oldest is already out of High School and our youngest enters her Junior year in a scant few weeks. Time feels precious and important. This is a time of change for our family. We are down to three in our home and with two of us working it makes summer sometimes a tricky proposition. 

So, we are trying our best to make the most of what feels like the final weeks of summer. Going to the Drive In movies with friends. Taking our meals to eat outside. Some of us (not me!) going on mountain bike rides. Going to craft fairs in Seattle for fun (more on that later). And trying not to leave any summer fun left behind.

There are things that we don't want to forget that we are trying to get to. There are many craft ideas that we are hoping to tackle before school starts. Patching jeans. Modifying some thrift store sweaters. Maybe try some bleach dye techniques. 

What are you hoping to tackle before the summer is out? Any day trips to take, any crafts to tackle before we are back to the Fall schedule? I would love to hear what you are up to! 

Pieces of Summer...

Summer is the best! There are summer camps, late nights running around with friends, bon fires, outdoor movies. And then you remember you are an adult with adult things to do like work and such and it's not quite the same. 

So, how do you find ways to fit those spots of summer in? My husband and I have a couple of ways to make it feel like we aren't missing out.  There are of course times when we are able to get away for a trip, or head out of town camping. But when there's not, we make do with some simple things that remind us that it's still summer. 

Many nights we head to the lake after dinner for a quick dip. We often prefer to do this during the week when it's quiet and we can just sneak in and out with our noodles and jump in for a quick hour or two to splash around. Afterwards we head home feeling refreshed and happy. 

We spend an evening at our local junior league baseball game. I have to be honest, I'm not really into baseball. But an evening of people watching, sitting out in the open air and eating peanuts? Count me in! 

Eat as much fruit as humanly possible! We eat all the berries and watermelon in sight. Getting to pick them yourself is a bonus, but if not just having them on hand is the best. My husband is even choosing watermelon over cookies right now. 

What ways have you found to keep summer alive while staying in your routine? I'd love to hear some other ideas! 

Dealing with a Broken Heart

On Friday morning I woke to a text letting me know that a friend of mine had passed away on Wednesday. This was a friend from my first "real" job and one that I can't even imagine out in the world doing his thing. 

The morning was filled with calls and texts between the rest of the crew that once worked together and the best thing that came out of it was hearing from all of them. These were people that I bonded with as much as those that I met at college. There were so many things we lived thru together…dating, navigating the city, marriages. There was no way to be prepared for this. 

What's the response to crazy, shocking news like this? There were a lot of tears of course. And they haven't stopped yet. 

But the other response? Was to go out to Mexican food. To get outside and pick strawberries. To be together as a family. In a weird way it felt like the best way to honor him. It was a huge reminder that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. It's so easy to forget that as we go along and get caught up in the everyday. We breeze along until news like this catches us short.  It's a reminder to me to get out there and live. How would you respond? 

Cookies & Coffee

When my ahem, 50th birthday started staring me in the face I contemplated throwing myself a party. I had done it for my 40th, and it was one of the funnest things ever. The planning was part of the fun for this girl! Planning just what things would surprise, excite and help bring my different friend groups together. So, with some encouragement from my husband (who is so much happier to have the pressure off him!) it was decided to go for it!

When I start party planning there is usually something that I feel will be the "thing." The thing that all other ideas will play off of, and will bring the "kapow!" This year I decided it would be having the party catered by Jenna Kincaid of The Sweet Petite. First because her cookies are amazing, second she is hysterical! Getting to have what she calls "the Whip" here was an extra show stopper! 

Next it was a general theme. My favorite thing besides cookies right now is of course coffee. So it was set. Boozy coffees, cookies, some lovely fragrant Tattly tattoos as party favors and an instax camera ready to capture the fun. 

Jenna asked if there was flavor that I would like to have in a cookie and what came to mind was chocolate chip mint. She made it happen and it was a hit! All that was left was to cut into the cake! 

And socialize and eat lots of cookies. One big, lovely difference that I noticed between this year and my 40th was that everyone mixed this year. Having friends from all the different areas of your life mingling is something really special. I really just wanted an excuse to have a bunch of women get together and have a chance to have some really wonderful conversations and that happened. 

Steve was the only guy there and it was the best having him by my side. And he tolerated the conversation and the turns they took well!  So, this turning another year old wasn't the worst thing ever! 

Summer Traditions

Do you have any summer traditions? Last night we took part in one of ours to kick off our summer…the Drive In! 

We go to one that my husband has gone to ever since he was little, The Blue Fox Drive In in Oak Harbor, Wa. It's family run, has all the entertainment you could ever want, and is the epitome of summer. And frankly it's the reason this post is late today, as we didn't get home until the early hours of this morning! It takes some work to get ready, but in our eyes it's so worth it! 

Going to the Drive In means summer to both my husband and I, and we turned it into a tradition with our girls. I remember being a kid and getting to go to the movies in my jammies, run around and play on a swing set right under the screen, and trying to fall asleep while my parents watched the sure to be a bit scandalous second feature! 

We took our first born to the drive in when she was a baby to one that used to be in our town. I was so ripped up about them closing it, I may have had my husband go by and grab a couple of the letters from the signage that was scattered and forgotten in the sale. 

Steve and others that have been going to the Blue Fox say that at one point they had to chase cows out of the area to enjoy a quiet and cow free movie! Last night we saw shooting stars and an owl fly over. It's sometimes (most of the time) not about the movie at all, but the experience. 

What says summer to you? Making lemonade? Picking berries? Swimming in lakes? Do you make it a priority to do these things, big or small? 

I hope to see you out there, making the most of the season!

On being a Mom...

Mother's Day gives me a moment to reflect on the two lives that gave me that new definition. One that took a while to sit well with me. That took some time for me to realize wasn't the only word that defined me…but it would be one of the biggest. 

Because these two lives have changed me. They have forced me out of my comfort zone on more occasions than I want to remember. Made me be a confrontative mama bear, and made me understand that to have them stand up for what they need I had to do the same. 

So I have changed a lot. And grown. And hopefully I am a more direct person now. And truthful. And loving. And I try really hard to still be fun and spontaneous. And to figure out what they think is fun and to make it a priority. Because they have made my life bigger than I ever thought it could get. 

And they have helped me to become who I want to be. Without me realizing it was a journey I needed to take. 

To my little girl tribe. I will love you forever. 

Mom 

Deep Thoughts: Take the Plunge

Life is either a Daring Adventure or Nothing at All 

 -Helen Keller

 This has always been a favorite quote, but one I haven't thought of in an applicable way. 

Then I had my boss/friend/mentor encourage me in something that is way out of my comfort zone. And it wasn't easy. But it was truly rewarding. And I thought to myself, yes! This is the person I want to be. The person who steps out, who tries new things, who doesn't say no right away, but thinks yes! 

Then my husband made an announcement that made me wonder who asked for this much adventure? Clearly not me! But though my first thought was that maybe I am too old for this, my next was why not? Why not mix things up, make a change, and make sure we are all truly happy and living life to the fullest. 

I am not saying the journey will be easy. I am not saying it will be without it's bumps, bruises, and I am sure occasionally bad feelings. But am putting this out there as my vow that I intend to approach it with an attitude of adventure. Because really, why not? 

Introducing Boston Rocket

I don't believe that I have introduced our latest family member! This is our new guy, Boston Rocket, a rescue from The Skagit Humane Society  that we added to our family just over one month ago. We had been wanting a dog for years, and finally pulled the trigger. It just felt like it was time. Or shall I say, it was just like when we decided to have kids…the minute we started talking about it, it happened. 

Has it been an adjustment? Yes. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. We have two teenagers, and two cats so saying our house feels a bit circus like is an understatement. Then the whole idea of gear, training (of him & us, truly), and changing of schedules. Whew! There may have been one mini-meltdown (mine) in the beginning because to be honest I felt like we had truly had another child. 

And then this new child curls up on the couch beside you, greets you at the door, or nuzzles your hand and you are over it all. Just like childbirth you forget the trouble. And you are smitten. We couldn't be happier. And my husband Steve? Over the moon about having another male in the house!