Playing favorites: Vol 1

Linking up with Susan of Sole Searching and sharing some of my favorite things right now.

Firstly ~ Iced Coffee!  One of my all-time favorite grown-up summer treats!

Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee Mocha is my go-to top pick for the summer and an essential part of any road trip!

Starbucks Cold Brew; I've never been a big fan of Starbuck's iced coffee finding it sort of meh for the price but I recently had a gift card to use and I like trying something new when I in a sense have free money ~ so I tried a Cold Brew and I liked!!

Secondly ~ my favorite wardrobe addition this summer are these linen shorts from Old Navy; super comfortable, a good length and dressy but not too dressy for life on the summer run.

What's topping your favorite list?

Quick Takes #210 Summer Start

1. Summer is off to a decent start; weather is hot but with a breeze.  We've managed playground time most days and camp started this week too.
2. Swimming lessons are off to a good start too; Caitie was a bit nervous to not have me in the water with her but is now doing great. Elisabeth still needs convincing to get her face consistently in the water but I'm hopeful this summer she will to develop a stoke and Liam become a stronger swimmer without any floatation aids.
3. Finally managed a family bike ride; which got off to a rough start (one of Liam's training wheels kept moving out of alignment and he would tip-over going around corners) but ultimately went better than I had hoped and am hopefully for many more.
4. AND while I acknowledge and am very grateful for all of the above: OMG ~ the fighting!! What with Caitie in full force toddlerhood and giving up her nap and the other two relearning how to be around each other all day I'm losing my mind a bit over here. Here's hoping camp every morning helps a bit!
5. Congrats to Ana, Sheena, and Lisa!! Welcome to all the babies!!
6.  Fans of Harry Potter and the Communion of Saints head here and enjoy!!
7. Weekend plans include a bit of weeding, hopefully some biking and happily sharing the sibling negotiation duties someone else!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

First Day ~ Last Day 2015-16

This week marked the last school day for both Caitlin:

First Day ~ September 2015

Last Day ~ June 2016

 and Liam.

First Day ~ September 2015

Last Day ~ June 2016

And as of June 17th, Elisabeth's 

First Day ~ September 2015

Last Day ~ June 2016

Quick Takes #209: Getting ready for finals and other stuff

1. Happy June!! While fun in it's own way May was also quite tough especially towards the end and so I am happy to turn the page both literally and metaphorically.
2. School days are wrapping up here. Next week is Liam's last week and having watched him last weekend spontaneously write the whole alphabet on the sidewalk in front of our house I'm thrilled with the progress he made this year.  Caitlin will also finish up next week; and also had a good year learning about shapes, animals and some of her letters.
3. On the agenda for the weekend is helping Elisabeth review for her final exams next week. Having looked at the review packet she brought home it is largely a broad overview of information covered this year and so I'm guessing the language is to prepare them for later years when 'finals' will be a bigger deal.
4. The question of 10 favorite books flows around Facebook every so often and I loved Haley's answer and even better she wrote a whole post on it!!
5. Am about halfway through the 21 day challenge I've joined and overall it is going well. I've been to the gym for the first time in several months and I'm getting into (I hope) good habits for upping my water consumption.  Diet choices have not been the best but that gives me something to work on next week.
6. Potty training is off to a good start; if she is not wearing any bottoms no accidents ~ if she is wearing ANYTHING be it pull-up or underwear almost no successes.  Suggestions welcome as at some point I would like her to both wear underwear and use the toilet.
7. Have a good weekend and if you are in the areas flooding ~ be safe!!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Open Book: June Edition

Linking up for another month of Open Book

Currently reading As You Wish by Cary Elwes; I'm truly only a couple chapters in but am really enjoying it. He and his co-writer Joe Layden have a nice easy prose which makes it a lovely light read while sharing a ton of information about the making of one of my favorite movies. Elwes and Reiner (the movie's director) share about reading and loving the book on which the movie is based; reminding me I've been meaning for awhile to read it!

And with the release of Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer Reading Lists am pulling together my plans for the summer. Find the full one here, and the minimalist here.

Now please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.