What’s Up Wednesday – June

Today I’m linking up with Shay, Mel & Sheaffer for this months What’s Up Wednesday!  The questions are in pink so check it out and join the fun.  Also joining Jessi and Jenn for What’s Hap- “Pinning” Wednesday and the girls at Welcome Wednesday!  Plus, be sure to link up your favorite look with The Blended Blog!

What We’re Eating this Week

My favorite summer salad just got a little healthier this week when I found this Tessemaes poppyseed dressing!  I don’t use a ton of dressings but my favorite included about 5 grams of sugar per serving.  This one cuts the sugar down to 3 grams but it also includes ingredients I can recognize without giving up flavor.

We grilled burgers and deer sausage which has made several breakfasts, lunch and dinners this week!  I also made some taco meat and we plan to make shrimp and broccoli on Thursday.

What I’m Reminiscing About

Baseball has definitely consumed a ton of our lives for almost 20 years but 3 years ago this week was a super special time for our family and I’m always reminded of the excitement when these pictures pop up in my Timehop!  This kids story has so many ups and downs but this always reminds me hard work pays off and we should be grateful for dreams!

And this picture also popped up on my Timehop from a short 7 years ago and it reminded me I need to keep my big camera handy more often.  I just loved this picture of these two hugging after Dillon’s team won an allstar game!

What We’ve Been Up To

Keith and I spent 3 nights away at Lost Pines resort for some R&R.  It was a nice getaway compliments of his company.

Carly Jo spent a week away at T Bar M for summer camp and you can read about 5 Ways Summer Camp will Shape Your Child in case you are considering it.  She had a blast!  

I participated in two grand opening celebrations in two days!  The Gardens at Texas A&M is a beautiful project full of gorgeous landscape features which will be used as a teaching garden for students but will also serve as a park like setting for students and our community.

And our local food bank cut the ribbon on their new facility which is just incredible!  I shared 5 Myths About Food Insecurity the staff put together for the tours and it was really eye opening even with the knowledge I already have!  Dillon headed to Waco with a few of his teammates to try out for the Area Code games and these guys were asked to stay and participate in the scrimmage.  It’s a big summer for baseball recruiting and he is staying super busy.   I had my monthly dinner with my beautiful girl and we talked non stop and laughed at ourselves and vented about others.  This relationship has just become so stinkin’ fun and fulfilling and I love my time with her.

Riley made it home for a couple of days and a little catch and release is always good for the soul.

Of course you don’t think Dillon let him go fishing without tagging along right?  This kid is a sucker for a day by the water and he does not discriminate; lake, pond, river, as long as the fish are around he’s got a pole in the water.  

Summer is definitely a big time for volunteering with friends and we have spent some time at our local foodbank the past two weeks!

What I’m Dreading

Not really dread but a little apprehension heading into July!  It’s going to be a busy month at work as we launch a process in a new system and cross our fingers everything works as planned!

What I’m Working On

Whatever it takes to survive at the moment!  I’m definitely in a season of long days and it is so good but also a time when I have had to be conscious about what gets priority in my life.

What I’m Excited About

This kid has been kicking A the past month and is currently posting a 1.90 ERA.  He was named to the MLB Pipeline Team of the Week last week and was Pitcher of the Week for the Texas League the week before.  I was super excited he was able to come home for a couple of nights for the AA all star break and even more thrilled when he called to let us know he had been called up to Triple A as he was returning to Corpus.  Even though this means he will be further away from home, I know it is a huge step for him and one step closer to his dream and I’m super excited for him!

What I’m Watching/Reading

Pretty much the only TV I’ve watched in months has been the NCAA baseball finals.  I don’t hate TV but just never seem to have it on the top of the priority list.

Sweet Girl is the only  book I’ve finished in June thus far and it really took me a long time to read.  It is a sweet story with a bit of a slow start but I love a happy ending!  I grabbed all of Rachel’s books when I still had Kindle Unlimited because they were FREE!  Even without they are less than $5 to download.

Currently I cannot put down Safe Haven which is currently only $2.99 to download.  I had no idea it was already a movie and really only downloaded because of the price so it’s been a nice surprise!

I’m also currently making my way through Liturgy of the Ordinary and I have to say I was skeptical at first because I’m not always crazy about a read that doesn’t grab me immediately.  If you need a quick and easy read this is not it but if you like to read a chapter a day and sit and ponder over some thoughts this is definitely a good one to study.  I’m suppose to be participating in a bible study but so far have not made it!

And lastly I am also reading Church of the Small Things which I’ve just started but totally soaked up the first bit.  On the flipside of The Liturgy, this book will be an easy read like most of Melanie’s books but I can already tell it will give me some thought provoking inspiration.   If you are looking at hosting a bible study, I saw the set with the study guide and DVD is available and only like $22.  I think it would be a fun one for a girls group.

What I’m Listening To

Big surprise I’m on another month of podcast listening!  Here are 3 recent listens I LOVED….and like y’all that means I took notes!  Ha!

Cassy Joy is the author of one of my fave cookbooks for clean eating and she also has the Fed + Fit blog.  I’m not always drawn to her podcast but this one drew me in and I’m so glad it did.  It’s taken me years to be in a healthy place with food and part of the healing for me was really kind of breaking up with my food obsession and my total control or lack of control at all times.

Christy has definitely been a new favorite mainly because she has great content but also I just love her voice!  This was a fun listen on how to present yourself and dress for success.  I could have definitely used this about 25 years ago!  And if you want to crack up..you need to head to her instagram highlights and watch her fish story.  HILARIOUS!!  

I’m back and forth on the Happy Hour too but when I saw Michelle McKinney was the guest I had to listen.  I heard her awhile back on another podcast interview and quickly loved this spunky, authentic gal.

What I’m Wearing

This halter is just the cutest and probably my favorite piece from the Hi Sugarplum Gibson X collection.  Sadly it is no longer available in many sizes in this print but there are several others available.  I actually ordered a medium petite because I’m so short waisted an my regular size was sold out and the fit was perfect.  I shared a few pattern mixing basics a few weeks back as this floral is a perfect piece to mix with other patterns.

I really wish I was spending more time in this suit!  After wearing it on our weekend getaway I fell in love with the comfort but left how confident it made me feel.  You can see more views in the Suit Yourself post.

Now what I’ve been wearing a little too often is a top knot or a pony because I somehow managed to leave my last hair appointment without scheduling my next visit . It’s been pretty rough but I finally had my appointment on Tuesday so yippee!  Here are some every day looks I’ve been wearing from my closet lately.

My go to summer wedges are still in stock and I’m still wearing them multiple times each week. I noticed a Maggy London faux wrap dress very similar to this favorite on sale right now.  J Crew Factory shorts are still some of my favorites and I’m trying to grab a few pair as they go on sale because, YES, I need a smaller size! I love the 4″ or 5″ styles.

As much as I love shopping, I have really tried to utilize my closet this summer and wear everything for this season.  I have not hesitated once to immediately drop a piece in the bag sitting in my closet to donate if I don’t 100% love it after wearing for the day.  I’ve also found several pieces with small stains I have been unable to remove so bye bye.

What I’m Doing this Weekend

More than likely watching a little baseball and doing some much needed tidying up around the house.  I really need to make some progress completing a few projects that are like 95.5% complete and just need a little time dedicated to them.

What Else is New

After the transmission failed on our Nissan Maxima, we needed to make a decision about a replacement vehicle.  Dillon was actually driving the Maxima but, yeah, he wasn’t getting the new care before momma!  Using my 5 tips to keep your sanity when life hands you a lemons,  I went back and forth between downsizing or staying with a larger SUV.   With quite a few more years of travel in our future for sports we decided it just made sense to stay with the larger size.  We bought the Nissan Armada and I am so thrilled!  The ride is great and it has been getting better gas mileage than our older Ford so yea!

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month

Co-hosting the Currently linkup with Anne of In Residence! Be sure to mark your calendars for July 4th and link up what you are currently celebrating, visiting, baking, wearing, and loving!

Also mark your calendar to participate in The Blended Blog Asks on Monday, July 2nd to answer all these fun vacation questions!

What Else is New

Ummm, I think I’ve pretty much covered it all friends!  Hope you are all having a super summer.

Hope you all have a super Wednesday!  Be sure to link up with The Blended Blog!

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