Hey, y’all!
I decided to take the day off from blogging today, but I wanted to pop in for just a minute to express my gratitude to all of those who have given their lives while serving our country and working to preserve our freedom. And to those of you who have lost loved ones, thank you for your sacrifice, too. It does not go unnoticed, and we are thinking of all of you today.
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I do the majority of my reading for the year in June and July when the kiddos are out of school. There’s just something about warm weather and laying by the beach or pool with a good book that makes me feel like I’m living my best life!
During summertime, I tend to read lighter, easier reads – nothing too heavy – but I also want them to be page-turners that I don’t want to put down. Today, I’m going to share a few of my all-time favorite bingeable, but also light, reads that are perfect for summer break.
O N E – Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffin
Emily Giffin is the queen of chick lit in my opinion! If I had to pick a favorite book of all-time, Something Borrowed would probably be it, and Something Blue is the sequel that’s also a must-read!
While she’s a traditional chick lit writer, her books do tend to be a bit meatier which I love, and she’s truly a great writer. I actually own (and have read) every single book that she’s ever written – she’s my favorite author – but, in my opinion, these are her two best ones!
From Amazon:
Rachel White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship.
But that suddenly changes the night of her
thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy's
fiance, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way.
As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows
she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she
discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't
always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.
The smash-hit debut novel for every woman who has
ever had a complicated love-hate friendship.
T W O – The Devil Wears
Prada by Lauren Weisburger
I’m pretty sure that most people have already read this one, but I couldn’t not include it as it’s one of my all-time favorites, too. It’s well-written and witty, and it keeps me turning the pages every time. I’ve actually read this one more than once! If you haven’t read it, grab a copy ASAP… you have been missing out! And the book is most definitely better than the movie, as they usually are. So if you’ve seen the movie already, don’t let that turn you off from reading the book.
From Amazon:
Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.
Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night—with
orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on
the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get her a top job at any
magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to
the downright outrageous, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls
would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide
whether or not it’s worth the price of her soul.
T H R E E – People We
Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
I just read this book for the first time earlier this year, and y’all, IT WAS SOOOO GOOD. The two main characters, Poppy and Alex, are truly just the most likeable people, and I couldn’t get enough of this story about their journey together over a decade. This book also weaves in many stories about traveling, and that’s always a fun topic for a summer read! I can’t recommend this one enough!
From Amazon:
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common.
She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers
to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from
college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year
they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small
hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of
vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone
asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that
ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best
friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it
all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big
truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect
relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
F O U R – In Five Years
by Rebecca Serle
I read this book a few years ago and I still think about it frequently because it was that good. It is most definitely one of my favorite reads of all-time. This one is a bit heavier than the others in this list, and it will likely bring you to tears, but it’s most definitely a story that you’ll never forget. I think I read this one in less than two days because I could not put it down.
From Amazon:
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers. She is nothing like
her lifelong best friend - the wild, whimsical, believes-in-fate Bella. Her
meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important
job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in
one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content.
But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment,
with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. Dannie
spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her
own home on the brink of midnight - but it is one hour she cannot shake.
F I V E – The
Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee
This book trilogy is technically categorized as young adult fiction, but y’all, do not let that turn you off from reading it! This entire trilogy was fantastic. I was hooked from the very first page of the very first book. It’s juicy and gossipy, and it will have you wondering what’s going to happen until the very end. I pretty much put everything on the backburner for a few days while I binged these three books. They are all so good and they are quintessential summer reads.
From Amazon:
Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.
A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation
and dreams. But people never change: Everyone here wants something...and
everyone has something to lose.
Leda Cole's flawless exterior belies a secret addiction - to a
drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.
Eris Dodd-Radson's beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when
a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.
Rylin Myers' job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a
world - and a romance - she never imagined...but will her new life cost Rylin
her old one?
Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: He knows everything
about everyone. But when he's hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds
himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery
Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have
it all yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.
Debut author Katharine
McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury
and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in
this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall....
Friday Funnies
On the Blog This Week
Our Week – The One with Olivia's Dance Recital
Happy Friday,
y’all!
Well, we officially made it through another recital weekend… Olivia’s fifth one to be exact! Each year they get a little more intense since she adds new classes every year, and they’ll continue to get crazier and crazier the older she gets. She loves dance soooo much, though, so we’ll be supporting her as long as she wants to do this.
I have 84,000 pictures to share (pared down from about a billion thanks to our shared Google drive where all of us moms popped all of our pictures in), so settle in, friends… it’s gonna be a long one!
Monday, May 15
Monday morning, I got the kids off to school and then I headed home to work all day. B was home some of the morning because he was leaving for a business trip, and then he headed out mid-morning to catch his flight.
I worked on laundry and blog stuff all day, and then I picked the kids up from school at 3. Jacob and I dropped Olivia off at her dance studio for her last ballet, tap, and jazz class of the school year, and then he and I headed to piano lessons.
When we arrived, his teacher had him open his book to the song they’d been working on, and Jacob looked bored, so his teacher asked him what he wanted to work on. Jacob told him he wanted to learn “Everglow” by Coldplay, so his teacher obliged, and told him they could stray from the book for a lesson.
His teacher didn’t know the song, so he pulled it up on YouTube. He listened to the first few seconds of it, and then immediately sat down at the piano and started playing it by ear. It took him a couple of tries to get the chords just right, but my mind was just blown. To be able to hear a few seconds of a song for the first time ever and then just sit right down and play it is such an amazing talent to have!
Once his teacher had it down, he started scribbling all of the chords down on the dry erase board, and then he showed Jacob exactly where to place his fingers on the piano, and then Jacob sat right down and started playing the song, too. Within a couple of minutes, Jacob was playing the song with one hand, and by the end of his 30-minute lesson, he was playing it with two hands.
My mind was completely blown, and Jacob’s teacher’s mind was blown, too. He just looked at me wide-eyed as Jacob picked it right up and barely made any mistakes. Then he told me for about the millionth time that Jacob has a true gift for music, and he told me yet again that should Jacob ever decide that he doesn’t want to take lessons anymore to do anything we can to encourage him to stick with it.
He did stress the importance of learning to read music, though, and he told Jacob that while it’s great to indulge your creative side (especially since Jacob apparently has the gift of being able to play by ear), that it’s most important to continue learning to read the music.
Once we got home, I reheated leftovers from Sunday dinner (hot dogs, mac n cheese, baked beans, chips and guac), and I cut up some apples to get something healthy on the kids’ plates. Haha. The kids and I sat down for dinner after that, and then when that was done, I got in a stair stepper workout while they got showered.
Tuesday morning, I was flying solo with the kiddos, but everything went smoothly, and we got out the door on time. Once they were at school, I headed back home to work and do laundry all day, and I also got some other random things done on my list.
After school, the kids and I headed home. They didn’t have any homework to do, so they grabbed snacks and played until it was time to get Olivia to dance. Jacob and I dropped her off and then swung by Publix to grab a couple of things we needed, and then he and I spent the next hour playing piano together.
I hadn’t played in a while, so I had to go back a few pages in my book, but I picked it back up quickly and then we moved forward a bit. It’s really gotten tough for me at this point, but I realized Tuesday that I think it’s because I might be moving too quickly through the book. I think I need to slow down and really master each step before moving forward. Also, I really need to be taking formal lessons. Haha.
At 6, Jacob and I headed back to the dance studio to wait for Olivia to get out of class, and then we all drove home together. It was pitch black and so windy on the way home, and I could tell a storm was on the way. We pulled in the garage just in time for the bottom to fall out, and then it poured. The rain was very brief, though, and it stopped within five minutes or so. I was just thankful we didn’t have to drive in it!
When we got home, I whipped up some eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, and toast, and then the kids and I ate dinner together. By the time we were done and the kitchen was all cleaned up, it was way past time for the kids to get showered and ready for bed, so they headed upstairs to do that while I got in an arms and squats workout.
I sat with her for about 30 minutes and then got her into bed, and then I headed upstairs and went to bed early.
Wednesday morning, I dropped the kids at school and then I headed home to get a bunch of stuff done. On deck for Wednesday was lots of blog work and lots of summer break prep.
After school, the kids and I headed home, and we had a very early dinner (turkey and cheese biscuit sliders, steamed broccoli, and sweet potatoes) because Olivia had a voice lesson at 6. Since she had her dance rehearsal Thursday afternoon/evening, we had to move her voice lesson to another day and Wednesday at 6 was all that was available.
After dinner, we cleaned up quickly, and then headed straight to the music school. Even though she ended up hating doing the recital, she has decided to stick with voice lessons. We told her she doesn’t have to participate in the recital in December if she doesn’t feel comfortable with it, so we’ll just see how it goes!
While she was in her voice lesson, Jacob and I hung out in the lobby as we always do, and that place was bonkers. We usually have the place all to ourselves when we’re there for piano and voice at 4, but apparently Wednesday evenings are nuts. It’s a dance school, too, so all of the dance classes were in session, and it was pure chaos in there.
When we got home, I did a mixed cardio workout while the kids got showered and ready for bed, and then we Facetimed Brian one last time before he came home on Thursday.
Thursday was Kids Rule the School Day, so Olivia got to wear pajamas. She was thrilled. Haha. Back during our school auction a few weeks ago, parents were able to bid on different teachers so their kids could be that teacher for a day. Kids Rule the School Day is the day that all of the kids get to do that, so it’s always a fun day for everyone. It always raises a ton of money for the school, too, so if you’re in need of a fundraiser idea for your school, I highly recommend that one!
While the kids were at school, I worked on blog stuff and housework all day and then I packed up everything for Olivia’s dance recital rehearsal. I also squeezed in a quick arms workout because I knew I wouldn't have time to do it later that evening.
When we got home, I quickly prepped lunchboxes and thermoses for the next day while Olivia got changed into her leotard and tights, and I got her hair pulled up. Once she was ready, she and I hit the road and headed downtown to the theater.
Because their recital is a full production, we have a rehearsal on Thursday night and a dress rehearsal on Friday night, and then there are two productions, one on Saturday night and one on Sunday afternoon. Yes, it’s a LOT, but it’s one of Olivia’s favorite weekends of the entire year, and we love to watch her do what she loves even if it is exhausting.
Olivia and I arrived at the theater at 4, and we got settled in with all of the moms and girls in her classes. On rehearsal night, the girls just sit out in the audience with us, and they do the production out of order (youngest to oldest) to accommodate the littles so they can get home and get into bed. The rehearsal and dress rehearsal run LONG and LATE so they try to do everything they can to get the little kids out as early as possible. Olivia was excited because her bestie from school was in two of her dance classes this year, so they got to hang out all night.
First up, the girls did their ballet routine, and it was the cutest thing! They danced to “Hard Knock Life” because they are “orphans” for that particular skit. Olivia said her instructor told them that they had to look mad during the routine, and she said it was so hard remembering not to smile. She is always BEAMING on stage, so it was funny to watch her try to be serious.
For the third routine, the girls did their tap routine, and they were “Enchanting Emeralds.” She got to wear a sassy, sparkly little costume for that one during the performances and it was so cute.
For the fourth routine, the girls were “Pawn Shop Antiques” and that was for her lyrical routine. Lyrical is always my very favorite to watch because the dances are always so dramatic, and they’re always set to really beautiful instrumental music. I think Olivia is at her very best during her lyrical performances. She is always so graceful.
After she finished up with the last one, we were able to leave, and we were out of there by 7:30 which might be the earliest we’ve ever gotten done for rehearsals! Olivia and I were both starving by the time we got out of there, so we swung through the Chick-Fil-A drive-through and grabbed a late dinner. Olivia ate in the car on the way home, and then I ate when we got back home while she showered.
She was exhausted by the time she got out of the shower, so we got both kids in the bed, and then B and I watched a little bit of American Idol before heading to bed. We had a lot of catching up to do on TV since he was out of town for a few nights.
Friday morning, I dropped the kids at school and then I headed to pick up flowers to give to Olivia after both recitals. Then I headed home to work all morning, deep clean the floors, and pack for the dress rehearsal.
For the next six hours, the girls ran through the entire production from start to finish, pausing here and there along the way to tweak stage queues, movement of props, lighting, etc. It’s always the most exhausting night of the entire weekend.
Since photography and videography is strictly prohibited during the actual performances, Friday night is the night that the parents are allowed to take pictures and videos of the girls on stage in their costumes. Olivia nailed all five of her routines, and I got some great pictures of all of the girls on stage.
Saturday morning, I slept in until 8:30, and then I made homemade waffles. Olivia didn’t get up until 9:45, so she was able to get a full night of sleep despite going to bed early. I was relieved she slept so late because I knew she had another late night ahead of her.
After breakfast, I got some laundry started and then I headed out for a two-mile run. I usually do a mixed cardio workout on Saturday mornings, but I hadn’t been able to get out for a run in over a week, so it was overdue. Plus, I knew a run would be quick, and I didn’t have much time on Saturday.
Once I was ready, I got Olivia’s hair and makeup done, and then she and I had a little photoshoot in the rest of her costumes (minus a couple of the headpieces because we had limited time) while Brian went out to pick up dinner.
After the show was over, we all showered Olivia with flowers as well as her show trophy, and then we hit the road and collapsed in the bed since we had to get up and do it all over again on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, May 21
Sunday morning, I slept in until 8:30 again, and then I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. After that, I watched church while I did a yoga workout, and then I had to go in Olivia’s room and wake her because it was 10:30!! I’m not sure she’s ever slept that late in her whole life. Haha. Bless. She was just so tired.
By the time dinner was done, it was time for the kids to get showered and ready for bed, and we got them in the bed on time since everyone was so tired. B and I watched some of the American Idol finale, and then we headed to bed, too.
Olivia and I ended up logging 19+ hours at the theater for her recital this year. What. A. Weekend.
Happy Wednesday, y’all!
