Our summer in seconds.

  It seems as if Labor Day weekend and the first of September mark the unofficial end of summer. And man, was it a good summer for us. We were busy and not busy and did fun things and normal things. I set out to make it an intentional summer (we even made a bucket list!), and I can officially say that happened. Here are some fun clips of our summer!

1SE of Summer from katie rush on Vimeo.

Summer '17 highlights:

visiting friends

taking advantage of our neighborhood pool

a trip to the beach

ice cream (so much ice cream!)

date nights
celebrating birthdays 

visiting a fire station

exploring new parks

spending time with family

soaking up time outdoors
catching lightening bugs

ps. If you aren't using the 1SE app, you're missing out! 

Summer Bucket List. (2017)

  I made a bucket list last summer and we worked through nearly all of it. It was lots of fun to have an intention and a list to help guide our summer days. So I did it again! This list is more of a 'here are lots of ideas to try' and less of a 'we have to do these'. No pressure, hopefully lots of fun. 

  Can I be honest? Ages 1.5 and 3 are exhausting. The boys are ridiculously fun right now, and I mean that. I love the stages they are in! It just so happens that their super fun stages take tons of energy and teaching and redirecting and disciplining. Basically, the best things in life take work. I feel like I'm not the first to coin that phrase? 😉 I hope our summer bucket list will help me be intentional with our time and set us all of for success! I'm planning to look at it each weekend and choose 2-3 things to put on my paper calendar for the upcoming week. If we cross them all off by the end of August, awesome! If not, that's ok too. 

  My favorites on the list are: get sno-cones (I'm obsessed with sno-cones), go on dates (I would love one-on-ones with the boys and Justin!), mail postcards, beach trip, and visit a fire station. 

  What's on your summer bucket list?!

  Remember my post last week about being intentional with these summer days and not letting the move, etc ruin our fun? Ha. A day after that, we learned our buyers were, in fact, as awful as they seemed when they continued to lead us on until our closing day- when they finally backed out of our contract. Suddenly, we found ourselves back to square one. Needing a new buyer for our home and having the home we wanted to buy back on the market without us. It seems to have all worked itself out again now, but we still have another month before we move and our house is pretty much fully packed. So, welcome to life in the in-between! Now I'm feeling more challenged than ever to embrace this imperfect summer. So what better time to share my Summer Goals and ask you to keep me accountable?

What are your summer goals? Whatever they are, give yourself lots of grace, have fun, and soak up the sunshine!

  Happy Labor Day! It's hard to believe, but we said goodbye to summer this weekend. We've been at the lake since Friday and head home today and honestly, it's been the best. We're staying at quirky lake cottage on one of the busiest lakes in Indiana and we've had no agenda besides maximize our time on the water. 

  Such a great weekend. But we're still excited to head home today and settle into Fall and these last few months before our family grows by one. Here's to summer 2015- you were a good one!

Popsicles.

  Have you ever seen a kid so excited about popsicles? I can't blame him. The past few weeks have been hot and we're doing anything to keep cool around here. And these perfectly-size popsicle molds from NUBY have been our lifesavers this summer. I just blend up whatever fruit we have on hand with a tiny bit of water and pop them in the freezer for an afternoon snack. So easy! Today I blended up some watermelon and they are probably my favorite so far. But really, I won't be sad if the cooler fall temps decide to push out these 90° days...

Disclosure: I received Nuby products for this post, but all opinions are my own.  We love Nuby in our house, and I’m excited to introduce you guys to all the great stuff they have for little ones!

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Lately.

{snacks in one hand, dog leash in the other...}

We're gearing up for vacation with some college friends next week and the next few days will consist of packing, grocery shopping, baking, and getting the house ready for our dogsitter while we're gone. But besides that, we've been soaking in the slow pace of summer lately. 

  We will definitely welcome Fall and the routine that comes with it in a few months, but for now we have decided to fully embrace this season of no real schedule. Morning walks, late day trips to the waterpark, impromptu haircuts in the kitchen {expect a post dedicate just to that!}, watermelon snacks in the backyard, and rainy day trips to the library. 

  I'm also itching for some change around here and thinking of redesigning the blog. And by that, I mean I want to pay someone else to redesign it since I have no clue how to do that! I'm also praying about taking on a fun {and big!} new adventure that I've wanted to for a few years now. I keep hearing Lara Casey saying "Make it Happen...take the leap." If I do, I hope you'll be just as excited as I am- it's a pretty fun adventure. So stay tuned for those updates!
  But in the meantime, we'll keep enjoying our slow summer pace. Today's agenda: breakfast, walk to the park and library, waterpark, and cooking club! 

ps. Boy or girl? Did you vote on baby number two???

Summer reading.

  A few years ago, I found out the library around the corner from our house has a summer reading program. Yes, just like the one your mom made you do in 5th grade. And it is awesome. At least for super nerd like me who seriously loves to read. And somehow I can always make time in the summer more than any other season.
  So, let's talk summer reading! I finished The Girl on the Train a few weeks ago for book club and it was good. Definitely had me hooked with the author's interesting writing style. Afterwards, I was in the mood for something a little lighter and more beachy. I took that literally and picked up Summer Rental, an impulse buy at the airport a couple months ago. SO GOOD. Like, not my all time favorite, but so easy and lighthearted. But it did nothing for my strong desire to move to a North Carolina beach town...
  So now I'm settling into our pick for book club this month, Belle Cora. After that, I need to read Orphan Train since it's been sitting on my self for way too long! I also have a Donald Miller book that I've been meaning to read for two years, but that will probably be my only non-fiction of the summer. I don't love them and have such a hard time muscling through them. Give me a good, addicting storyline!
  And that leads me to my question, what are you reading right now? Or what's on your shelf waiting to be read? I need some must-reads to add to my list! {preferably fiction!}

Another fun fact? Caleb is also signed up for the summer reading program! And it turns out that every 3 children's books I read, I can count as a single adult book. Hello. Have you ever met a toddler? We read at least 10 books a day! I'm racking up those points...

Summer favorites. {3}

shoes// shorts// stamps// book// muffin// sandals {Target, last summer}// polish// mason jar lid {gift}

  I love these little lists of favorites. This summer I live in comfy clothes. I bought these maternity shorts two weeks before Caleb was born last summer with a gift card and it's nice to get more use out of them! If I'm not wearing those, you'll find me in some running shorts or my swim suit. Heyy summer! And if I'm not barefoot, I'm wearing my favorite $5 clearance sandals that seem to go with everything or my super comfy {and CUTE} Nikes. 
  In other news, the second trimester seems to have brought with it a deep, deep love for baked goods. I would love some Starbucks pumpkin loaf every day, thankyouverymuch. But I'll settle for some $2 box-mix muffins! And water. Girlfriend is back to drinking water like its my job and I don't hate it. My sister got me this snazzy mason jar lid/straw for Mother's Day and it goes perfectly with my favorite glasses {from our wedding registry!}. 
  I'm also getting back into reading {Summer Reading Program season!} and want to pick up any and all beach books. I got this in the airport last month and am just starting it. Look for a summer reading post soon! 
  I had been on the hunt for a really perfect pale pink polish a few months back and my favorite brand (the only one that works on my nails!) finally stocked it. You guys. I basically keep it on my nails 24/7 and am halfway through the bottle already, I love it that much. 
  My friend Lauren and I have gotten into the habit of mailing books to each other and another friend and I just started sending monthly letters. I love mail so much. I'm trying to send out a couple pieces every week or so and it's just too fun. Postcards are my current favorite, so if you see any cute ones- point me in that direction!

 A usual staple on my summer list are my garden zinnias, and even though I'm this close to having some blooms, we're not quite there yet. Soon! Also left off the list? The water park. I'm crushing hard on it this year. Especially because it's free with my gym membership and they have shaved ice there. Bonus? Caleb sleeps like a rock after a day in the water. 

Ps. See my summer favs from 2013 and 2014!

It's official.

  It's official- summer is here to stay! We started a new tradition of weekly trips to the water park, went strawberry picking, broke out the baby pool today, can see the start of some tan lines, and are eating our way through an entire watermelon before the weekend. Does it get more summer than this?

And now that Caleb is crawling? I absolutely wouldn't take back how slow he was to get to that milestone. So. Much. Chasing. Girlfriend is tired.

Summer reading.

  Ok ok. I know summer is half over already. I may or may not be a bit behind on making my summer reading list. But better late than never! I'm finding a bit more room to squeeze some reading into my schedule these days {did you hear about my new job?}, so I really want to make a list of must reads. Our book club is taking the month of August off, since it seems to be busy for most. I really look forward to having a least one book I have to finish each month, so I need to fill up my list asap. So far this summer, I've read this and am {slowly} working through this one. I think there are a couple more I've read, but I can't seem to recall them right now? My to-read list is pretty small right now, so I need your help! What have you read lately and loved? What's on your summer reading list? 

For what it's worth, here are three of my favorites from the past few months::

Reconstructing Amelia

The Rosie Project

Touch & Go

Symphony on the Prairie.

   One of our unofficial summer goals has been to explore Indy a bit more. Months ago, we talked about going to Symphony on the Prairie for Motown night with some friends. On Friday, we all met up at Conner Prairie, armed with enough snacks for 10 people and plenty of beer and wine. We were totally put to shame by the Symphony pros who brought full size picnic tables and tablecloths and citronella candles. Next time, we'll be far more prepared. Even with our hodge podge picnic, we had a blast listing to some throwbacks and helping the Contours relive their glory days. Tons of fun! I even saw a local celebrity {that no one else in our group had heard of...} But we'll probably be sticking with our {cheaper and closer} park concerts. Either way, live music and byob? Yes, please. 
 In other news, I'm in denial that summer is almost over. Not. Fair. 

Summer Reading. {3}

   Back in June, I mentioned how excited I was to work through my stack of Library Sale books over the summer. And then I joined an Adult Summer Reading Program at my library, so I had extra incentive to get my read on (hello, Target gift card!!!) Since summer is almost over {well, not really, but it feels like it, right?} I thought I would check in and share my absolute favorite reads from the last couple months. 

::The Shadow of the Wind. SUCH a great book. Not my typical read, so it kind of snuck up on me how good it was. It was our July Book Club book and every person loved it!

::The Light Between Oceans. If you haven't already picked this up, do it asap. It is such a well written story about humanity and grace {I know, that sounds so deep. It's not really}

::The Fault in Our Stars. This may be my favorite book from the entire summer. I won't tell you what its about, because you might change your mind about reading it. If you only read one book this year, make it this one!

::Help, Thanks, Wow. Confession? I haven't read this entire book. But I bought it {on accident} last Fall when we were on vacation and finally started when we were on vacation again this summer. Maybe it had more to do with the season of life I find myself right now than how good the book is, but I absolutely loved the first chapter on Help. 

  And now, I'm slowly working through the recommendations all of you left on my earlier posts. It looks like I may have lots of Jodi Picoult in my future. What were your favorite summer reads?? Do tell!

Vacation hangover.

    We spent the last 7 days on the lake with our college besties and man, are we finding it hard to get over this vacation hangover. You know, kind of like the post summer camp blues? When you come home from just a really, really good week and have to get back to your adult life, which really isn't so bad, it just can't compare at all to a whole week with people who know you so well and jet skis and campfires and no worries in the world? 

   The good news is that we've decided we want to buy a lake house, though. So there's that. 

Boozy lemonade.

   One of my goals for June was to find a great sorbet recipe. And I did, sort of. Full disclosure? I didn't even try to make actual sorbet. I kind of forgot. But, I was introduced to the most amazing boozy summertime drink by my friend Kathleen. Which has sorbet vodka in it, so basically, I made sorbet right? Right. Oh em gee, this stuff is delicious. {you know it has to be if I actually just wrote out oh em gee} 

   I pretty much always have a pitcher of pink/strawberry lemonade in my fridge during the summer. I don't drink pop or sweet teas or any of that jazz, so this is my one sugary drink indulgence and I love it. Add some delicious berry, sorbet-y vodka and it is So. Good. You can't even taste the alcohol and I'm known for making strong drinks. 
  Moral of the story, try it asap. And thank me later! Cheers!! 

Up & Doing. {June recap}

//run five mile// Just, no. This didn't happen. But I logged 11 over the holiday weekend?? Totally counts.

//make sorbet// Sort of. I'll share my 'recipe' tomorrow...

//go on a summer date// Score! We dominated this one. Indians game. Meals out. Discovering new trails around the city. This was clearly my fav.

  Summer seems like a good excuse to take a break, which I inadvertently did with my goals in June. I've said it a dozen times, but last summer was such a wash. I've found myself really just trying to enjoy every bit of sunshine and summer-y goodness this year, I think to make up for last summer. The best way to keep doing that, I've decided, is to put my Up & Doing goals on hiatus- just until summer comes to an end. When September rolls around I may start a little link-up for these monthly goal posts.
  Until then, cheers to summer and sunshine!

 

Summer reading. {2}

  I mentioned last week that I'm on the grind when it comes to reading this summer. I just finished reading this gem over the weekend. Oh. My. Gosh. You have got to read it. Such a good story about real life human emotions and grace. It totally lived up to the hype. Then, just for fun, I read this the other day. Super cheesy and a little trashy, but sometimes that makes for a good book, you know? This is our book club book this month, so I should probably get started on that this weekend. And then keep working my way down my pile from the library's book sale. In the meantime, keep sending any and every good book my way! Also, if you haven't already, run to the library {or the kindle store} and buy this book asap. You'll thank me later. 

  And since no one even commented on it, I'll just reiterate that I totally joined my library's Adult Summer Reading Program. Where you read books and win prizes, people. This is my life. {but I'm totally banking on it being such a nerdy thing to do that no one else will do it and I will win all of the prizes. Smart thinking, right??}