Summer, Summer, Summertime!

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It's officially summer! YAY, my very favorite time of year is here! I love to make a bucket list each season of things I'd like to do/take Branner to do/do as a family. We've already spent one week at the beach, but are going to Charleston for a week starting next Saturday. With everything going on with our new house, that might be the last family vacation for a while (other than the week my sister-in-law, Kendra, and I plan to spend with the kids in the mountains). Not to mention Barry is a straight workaholic, so I highly doubt we could convince him to take more than a day or two more off of work, anyway!

To-Do This Summer:

*Go to church more*

*Spend lots of time by the pool*

*Get back to our family tradition of having breakfast at Phil's on Sundays*

*Read*

*Soak up the sunshine*

*Take naps*

*Take Branner to Tweetsie*

*Go to the Farmer's Market often*

*Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies*

*Try new recipes*

*Make homemade ice cream*

*Take the boat out more*

*Learn to wakeboard???!!!*

*Go on a picnic*

*Potty train Branner (waiting until after move—too much turmoil right now, although he's VERY interested!)*

*Phase out the paci*

*Take Branner to see an outdoor movie*

*Go to POPS in the Park*
*Take Branner to Discovery Kids*
*Take more pictures*
*Look into enrolling Branner in an art class*

I'm sure I will have tons to add to this in the near future. This is just what popped into my head today. What's on your summer bucket list?

Sunshine and Summertime

Ahhh, my favorite time of year is upon us. To celebrate what is, in my opinion, the best season, Branner and I will be packing our bags and heading to Holden on the first official day of summer! How fitting! So, other than our extended June stay at the beach, here are a few other things on our list to accomplish this summer:

• Make homemade ice cream.
• Train for a 5K.
• Lose the 7.5 pounds keeping me from my goal weight.
• Read. A lot.
• Make trips to the pool. We've already been every day this week, so we've got a head start on that!
• Shop at the Farmer's Market as much as possible.
• Eat more fruits and veggies! Find a way to get Branner to do this as well.
• Spend a few weekends at Beech and the beach with friends.
• Enjoy Music on the Green with B.
• Go to an outdoor movie.
• Pack a scrumptious gourmet picnic and go to POPS in the Park. Drink wine there with friends.
• Make a trip to Discovery Place.
• Go to storytime on occasion.
• Take B to the NC Zoo.
• Go strawberry picking and make homemade strawberry shortcake.
• Make a homemade blueberry pie. Kendra, I'm going to need Lee's recipe!
• Take boat rides and spend time at the lake.
• Have lots of cookouts with friends. We'll need help eating all the fabulous desserts I plan to make!
• Make an awesome summer soundtrack for my iphone.
• Set up a party for my girlfriends at Painting With A Twist.

That should about do it for now. I'll keep you all posted on my progress. Any big plans for summer? Leave a comment, would love to hear what fun things are on your to-do lists!!!

Guest Room Wall Hangings--Part 1

I found these on etsy, and I think they will go perfectly with my new duvet! The seller is customizing for my color scheme as we speak! Yay, finally making some headway on Project Guest Room--Makeover Edition!

Guest Room Revamp

Finally! I found a duvet I love, and the redecorating of my guest room can commence. I am using a white/grey/black/green color scheme and I can't wait to get started! The duvet is on backorder until October 13, so until then, I will focus on accessories and drapes. So excited to see the finished room!

"Falling" Into Another To-Do List

I'm pretty excited about my new list! I'm itching to start marking tasks off! Fall To-Do List Take Branner to a fun pumpkin patch to select Halloween pumpkins. Pick apples and make homemade applesauce for Branner with them. Take Branner to the Morrison Library storytime, Lap Lovers. Don't even get me started on that name. Learn more about my new camera and take tons of pictures. Get a massage. I really, really need (and want) one! Spend time outdoors and take Branner to the park often. That boy loves to swing! Update Fab Eats more. I'm thinking lots of soup recipes... Work on my guest room update. Also update the den/family room and dining area. Go to at least one yoga class a week. It is so good for the psyche! I always feel so much better after a class! Continue to workout at least 3 times a week. Continue going to the Farmer's Market. I heart farm-fresh fruits and veggies! Make a few mountain trips. Nothing better than Beech Mountain in the fall! Make pumpkin pastries: pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cheesecake... Drink several pumpkin lattes. See a theme? I looooove pumpkin-flavored treats!!! Find or make a fall wreath.

Summer To-Do List Update

Ok, sooooooo, about the summer to-do list... Well, after getting off to a really good start on it and marking off several things early-on in the season, it kind of fell by the wayside. It's not that I forgot about it. No. It's just that traveling and, well, life, got in the way. I thought about marking things off. I even talked about it, but I did not accomplish everything I set out to. I accomplished maybe half. Here's what I did get done: There were many days that I napped while Branner napped. Afternoon naps top my list of great things in life! I took Branner to the pool many times over the course of the summer. We went to Holden, Beech and Blowing Rock over the course of the season. We had a wonderful time at each place! I kept up a good exercise routine all summer. I hit the gym at least 3 days a week every week; more like 5 most weeks, which leads up to the next accomplishment... I was bikini-ready for the Holden Beach trip. All of my hard work payed off! I was so proud of myself for acheiving my goal! I plan to look even better next summer! Boy, did I read! I was never without a good book on my Kindle all summer! We went to the Farmer's Market several times. I really LOVE the Farmer's Market! I made several peach cobblers. Yum, yum, yum! In regards to a hobby... This blog has kind of become my hobby. I am also working on learning how to use my new camera so I can take good pics. I did have a summer signature nail polish-- Essie's Enuff is Enuff. Perfect color for summer! While I didn't make it to AA5, Barry and I did go to the outdoor concert series at the Whitewater Center one Thursday, so I am counting that as done. What I didn't get around to: Doing the 5 Factor Diet. Oh, well. Obviously, not too sad about that. Updating Fab Eats. I would have liked to have updated a lot more than I did, but it just didn't happen. Going to POPs. It didn't start until after Branner's bedtime. What can you do? Having a luncheon for my girlfriends. One day, I will make this happen. I didn't make homemade ice cream. Now, that makes me sad! My guest room still looks the same. This is not for lack of trying. I just haven't found a bedspread/duvet that I like yet. Never caught an outdoor movie. Again, didn't fit with Branner's sleep schedule. Maybe next summer. I didn't visit a museum. I still want to!!! Look for my Fall To-Do List very soon. I've decided this is going to be a seasonal thing. I can't wait to try again. Maybe I will do better this fall at marking things off!

My ReKINDLEd Romance with Reading

Ok, I am really hard at work on my summer to-do list! I'm marking more things off by the day! Last week, I enrolled Branner in the Shrimps swim class at the Y I have been talking about. This week, I have found my summer signature nail color (Essie--E-nuff is E-nuff) and am working on trying to figure out what I want to take up as a new hobby. I am thinking about signing up for tennis lessons at the moment. I have been updating my recipe blog more frequently, and I think this weekend would be a great time to make some homemade ice cream!



As you know, one thing on the list is to read more. I've been reading every spare minute I get. So far, I have finished The 19th Wife. I then started on All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. However, Barry had a little surprise planned for me. Yesterday afternoon, an amazon.com box showed up on my doorstep. Inside was something I've been wanting for months--a Kindle! Anyone who loves to read knows what an awesome surprise this was! So, he downloaded me Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. last night. I finished it tonight. I dove into it while he had the boys over for poker night since there isn't anything good on tv right now. It's hilarious. I plan to read Chelsea Handler's other two books this summer as well. I just downloaded The Help. Is my passion for reading obvious yet?

Here is my summer reading list so far:



All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown
Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. by Chelsea Handler
My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
Chelsea, Chelsea Bang, Bang by Chelsea Handler
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (my all-time favorite book--I read it every year)
Kings Of The Earth by Jon Clinch
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin (one of my favorite authors)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (SATC remains my all time favorite TV show and movie-enough said)
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
All Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris (I'm a huge True Blood fan)

A Big "To-Do"

Enjoying the swing at Sardis!

Daddy loves playing with me!


First time at the Farmer's Market

Homemade Peach and Blackberry Cobbler

What a great weekend! This whole to-do list thing is so fun! I dove in head-first to marking fun things off of my list. So far, what has been accomplished:

*Branner went to the pool 3 times last week. We are going again today.

*Exercise--Branner and I did our greenway loop on Saturday and Sunday, making my grand total of workouts last week 5.

*Reading--I picked up 2 new books from Costco yesterday: The 19th Wife and All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. I am currently engrossed in The 19th Wife. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good summer read. I should also note that I find polygamy morbidly fascinating, hence why I chose this book.

*Farmer's Market--We took Branner to the King's Drive market on Saturday afternoon and loaded up on fresh fruits and veggies. I really love the Farmer's Market!

*Homemade Peach Cobbler--I baked my first cobbler last night. It was delish, and I think this is going to become a weekly activity at my house! I plan to experiment with different types.

*Bailey went on a walk on Sunday morning.

I have already made a few additions, which you can see below.

Summer To-Do List--Volume 2

*Nap when Branner naps as much as possible. I feel like summer time is a time to indulge yourself, and what better indulgence is there than a nap?

*Go to the pool and have fun with Branner splashing around in the water and swinging him in the swings.

*Make several trips to Holden/Beech Mountain. I love summertime in both places, such truly different yet perfectly wonderful experiences.

*Find a signature cocktail for the summer to enjoy outside at dusk. Make it often. I'm thinking this will involve champagne. Yummy.

*Exercise often. I'm already doing this, but need to continue. I exercised 6 times last week and 3 this week so far. Yay, me!

*Follow the 5 Factor Diet for 5 weeks as closely as possible.

*Be bikini-ready by time for the annual Cox/Derrick beach trip in August.

*Reward myself for getting bikini-ready with a fabulous new bikini and a(nother) pair of designer sunglasses.

*Try new, healthy recipes and update my Fab Eats blog regularly with them.

*Read more. This is one hobby I have had to slow down on lately, but I am definitely eager to get back to!!!

*Go to POPs. Bring wine and yummy treats to enjoy. Listen to the symphony.

*Have a luncheon just because for my friends and do all of the cooking myself.

*Go to the Farmer's Market often.

*Make a peach cobbler with fresh Farmer's Market peaches.

*Take Bailey on more walks.

*Enroll Branner in a baby swim class.

*Make homemade ice cream.

*Go to a local museum. In my many years here, I have visited very few of the museums. I will change that this summer!

*Find a new hobby to release creative energy.

*Go to AA5. Just once will be enough, but I want to go to make myself feel like a young, hip mommy.

*Find a signature summer nail polish.

*Redecorate the guest room.

*Go to an outdoor showing of a movie.

Sweet Summertime

"In summer, the song sings itself." --William Carlos Williams

I found this quote in one of my Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, and I love it! Yes, I have read the whole series, and yes I know that it is dorky. But, I digress. I love, love, love the summer! It has always been my favorite time of year. This summer is extra special. I get to experience all of the wonderful things about my favorite season through Branner's eyes. I can't wait!

One thing I love to do now is to read mommy blogs. Two of my favorites are: http://www.dooce.com/ and http://www.kellehampton.com/ (Enjoying the small things). Dooce is hilarious and perfect to read for a laugh. Enjoying the small things is simply AMAZING. It is the most beautifully put-together blog I have ever seen. The author is a photographer, so there are fabulous pictures to go along with the absolutely lovely entries. This blog has changed my life, I swear. I cry almost everytime I read it. If you visit it and read the background info, you will understand. It has inspired me to make a "summer to-do" list like Kelle, the author's. Those of you who know me well know I take great pleasure in marking things off a to-do list, so this is the perfect project for me! Here goes...



Summer To-Do List--Volume 1


*Nap when Branner naps as much as possible. I feel like summer time is a time to indulge yourself, and what better indulgence is there than a nap?


*Go to the pool and have fun with Branner splashing around in the water and swinging him in the swings.

*Make several trips to Holden/Beech Mountain. I love summertime in both places, such truly different yet perfectly wonderful experiences.

*Find a signature cocktail for the summer to enjoy outside at dusk. Make it often. I'm thinking this will involve champagne. Yummy.

*Exercise often. I'm already doing this, but need to continue. I exercised 6 times last week and 3 this week so far. Yay, me!

*Follow the 5 Factor Diet for 5 weeks as closely as possible.

*Be bikini-ready by time for the annual Cox/Derrick beachtrip in August.


*Reward myself for getting bikini-ready with a fabulous new bikini and a(nother) pair of designer sunglasses.

*Try new, healthy recipes and update my Fab Eats blog regularly with them.

*Read more. This is one hobby I have had to slow down on lately, but I am definitely eager to get back to!!!


*Go to POPs. Bring wine and yummy treats to enjoy. Listen to the symphony.

*Have a luncheon just because for my friends and do all of the cooking myself.

*Go to the Farmer's Market often.

*Make a peach cobbler with fresh Farmer's Market peaches.

*Take Bailey on more walks.

*Enroll Branner in a baby swim class.




I'm sure I will add on to this, but for now, I am satisfied. Off to get a head start on #1 and take an afternoon nap since Branner is sleeping. Happy Weekend!