Summer Checklist

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which in Ohio, is the traditional kick off to summer. The local swim clubs open their doors, people get their backyard pools ready to go, lots of nature lovers go camping, and generally the smell of barbecue and campfires fill the air. It’s gonna be a little chilly for swimming here this weekend, but here are a few other things I’m gonna do to get summer ready.

1. Pull weeds. Pull lots of weeds
2. Edge the flower beds.
3. Pressure wash and stain the deck—there’s my least favorite job, even though my husband usually does the majority of the work.
4. Paint the pool deck.
5. Open the pool—we did that all ready in anticipation of a warmer weekend, but that didn’t exactly happen.
6. Charge the little one’s Barbie jeep.
7. Clean out the garage.
8. Stock up on citronella candles, bug spray, and sunscreen.
9. Get a pedicure. Well, let’s just keep it real: I’m frugal—I’m going to give myself a pedicure.
10. Find 10 new landscaping projects to nag my husband about.
11. Find 11 fun, fruity summer drinks to have by the pool. Hello, Pinterest!
12. Find 12 healthy snacks to serve. Hello again, Pinterest!
13. Get my summer hair on—I just read a great guide to highlights from Lauren Conrad.
14. Buy a bathing suit.
15. Drink one of those fruity drinks I pinned 🙂

What do you do to get ready for summer? What are your favorite summer recipes? What’s your favorite poolside drink?

Word to Your Mother

This past Sunday, restaurants were packed, Walgreens was sold out of the adorable little Hallmark blooming flowers, and people everywhere were scrambling to get the last meaningful card off the shelves. Yes, it was Mother’s Day.

The day we celebrate (or not) one of the most influential relationships any of us ever have. Whether your mom is your best friend or you haven’t spoken to her in years, she shaped your life. Whether she lives in a retirement community in Florida or an Alzheimer’s unit down the street, she has a place your heart. Whether your childhood looked more like Mommie Dearest or Leave it to Beaver, your mom was likely the very first person you loved, and that relationship set guidelines for relationships to come.

Sunday, I was lavished with letters and gifts from my three children. My husband and I took our own moms out to lunch. And I saw mothers everywhere enjoying time with their families and friends. It reinforced just how important of a job being a mom is. So, while I read the card my six-year-old made at church, I thought about some ways I could do better as a mom:

Listen more; talk less.

Hug more; yell less.

Play more; clean less.

Compliment more; criticize less.

Fish more; mow less.

Laugh more; cry less.

Travel more; work less.

Find more positives and fewer negatives.

Pick more flowers and fewer weeds.

My oldest child left our little nest last year. She went to college, and now she has decided to stay there and work through the summer. I miss her, but she is making her own life, and that is what we raised her to do. But it also made me realize that in the blink of an eye my younger two children will be making lives too, so I have a short time to pour a lot of love into them.

How do you pour love into your kids?

Gifts, Giveaways, and Other Fun Stuff!

If you missed the Save the Planet Giveaway, fear not, I’ll let you in on a secret: there’s gonna be another one. And since this month is all about mom’s, the prizes will include some great products to help you pamper yourself or a special mom in your life.

I’ll let you know when it starts. In the meantime, won’t you come visit my friend’s blog: Must Have Boxes? I am super excited that I won her latest giveaway–which is crazy because I never win anything–and am featured in her reader spotlight. And if you don’t want to read about me, my feelings aren’t hurt, she does amazing reviews of subscription boxes!