What's Up Wednesday

 

What we're eating this week...

It's a bit of fend for yourself and going out this week.  We are going away starting Friday so I didn't want to buy a bunch of groceries.   

What I'm reminiscing about...

A couple of things this month - I graduated from high school 25 years ago (which doesn't seem right but the math checks out) and although I am missing the actual reunion, I was thinking back to those high school years, and even listening to some '90s tunes.  The other thing is the restaurant where I worked in university is closing for good in October.  We are going to eat there when we are in Halifax and I'm looking forward to being there one last time. 

What I'm loving...

E is getting lots of golf in at his morning golf camp and then a couple of afternoon/evening rounds throughout the week.  He seems to be enjoying it and improving.  We have also managed to pick good camps for Q this year, he has loved all of them so far and the last ones next month are repeats.  Last year we did a French camp, which was a thumbs down, and another one that he had to take a bus too and he didn't love that.  (*pats herself on the back*)

What I'm dreading...

The last few days before a holiday are always hectic, trying to get things finished up at work, and packed and cleaned up at home.  But it's always worth it in the end.

What we've been up to...

Q has been reading a few pages of Dog Man to us every night. Although he still has a way to go, it is nice to see him motivated to work on his reading.  Will have to get back into the French in the next couple of weeks so he is ready for school.

What I'm working on...

We got new credit cards, which means I need to switch up those accounts where I have my credit card saved.  Adulting!!

What I'm excited about...

Our street is having a little get together next month. We had done a good job last year of hanging out on a regular basis, but this year it didn't happen much.  Our street needs a bit of a celebration after living through years of construction.  Since they finished up in the spring, it has felt so nice to drive through without obstacles and ugly cones and fencing. 

(and our lawn with the new sod has grown in nicely with much care from Dave)

What I'm watching/reading...

We are watching the Olympics of course! We are also finally catching up on Bridgerton. 

I posted about my July Books on Monday.  I'm carrying on with the Carley Fortune books. 

What I'm listening to...

Alternating between Zach Bryan and Taylor Swift.

What I'm wearing...

This dress. 

What I'm doing this weekend...

We are going to a cottage with friends in Collingwood, so we will get to do some swimming, paddle boarding, hiking, and other cottage things.  

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Our trip to Nova Scotia, friends and family visiting, another cottage weekend, a work trip to Timmins, and soaking in all of the summer days.  

What else is new...

We are considering what trip we want to take next.  I was thinking a long weekend in New York City in the fall, and then something more exotic next spring.  We are also starting to get emails about skiing, which I don't even want to think about, but probably want to do another ski trip too. 

Linking up with Shay

Weekend Recap

We had beautiful weather this weekend, we are so lucky!  Dave and E got a round of golf in after E's golf camp on Friday afternoon.  New hats!

Q and I biked to soccer and stopped in for some pizza.  It was a hub of activity with the delivery guys coming in and out, we were entertained :)

Warming up.

We were up early on Saturday for a rep t-ball game at High Park.  It was just an exhibition game but a good way to get some practice in.

And we won, which is always nice!

E golfed in the afternoon for the junior club championship, and we went to our friends' for dinner.  We had a nice evening hanging out with them, outside, and some delicious food.  And when E was done his round, he joined us.

Dave golfed early on Sunday morning and the rest of us got to sleep in.  I walked to get a coffee and muffins, and put out this little spread for us.

It was such a nice day we we had to go swimming! We biked to the pool to be there when it opened at noon. 

It was so nice, I could have stayed there all day.

But we had to drag ourselves away because E had Day 2 of the golf club championship. Earlier in that morning we saw strawberry and Nutella crepes being made in Paris at the Olympics.  So on our way home, we stopped in at Baka so we could get crepes. 

They didn't last long!

We dropped E at the golf course and then went to Costco.  Q went to a birthday party and after we picked him up we went to the golf course for dinner and to get E.

Q did some putting when we arrived.  With the pro standing on the putting green, Q sunk his first putt!

Another lovely night on the patio.

The Juniors.

Excited about his pizza after a long day on the golf course. 

July Books

I read three books this month, all perfectly suited to summer reading.

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger.

This book is about a famous newscaster whose husband is arrested for bribing Harvard to admit their daughter.  There is obvious fall out for the newscaster’s job, their marriage, and their daughter’s future. Even though we have heard about this news story, it was interesting to hear about how the family within the scandal deals with it. 

This is the author that wrote The Devil Wears Prada and other similar “chick lit” books.  I like a Lauren Weisberger because everyone has the best clothes and homes, and they flit around New York with glamorous jobs. It’s always fun to slip away into that world for a little while.  It’s certainly not a great literary piece, but good for a summer read. 

The Guest by B.A. Paris

A husband and wife return home from a little trip and find one of their old friends staying at their house.  She has let herself in after getting into an argument with her husband.  The couple whose house it is are okay with her being there, but then it gets to be a little bit much.  Meanwhile they’re dealing with a tragedy of their own, and there is also a new couple that has moved in down the road.

I like a B.A. Parker suspense book, she never disappoints.  Lots of twists and turns and trying to figure out what everyone is up to and you think you know, but you don’t.  I also love a book set in England, it always feels so lovely so be in that environment. 

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

A woman revisits her past after receiving news of the death of an old friend’s mother.  She goes back to the town where she spent her teenage summers at a cottage.  

This author is from Canada and released a new book this summer set in Prince Edward Island and I know people were talking about, I didn’t realize she had written two other books so I wanted to make sure I read them first.  This is her first novel.  It’s set in Toronto and the town of Barry’s Bay, a real town south of Algonquin Provincial Park.  I really liked this book and of course love some Canadian content.  I never grew up with a cottage but I can tell she well-captured it. The plot is slightly predictable but lovely and I would recommend it.  I can’t wait to dive into her other books. 

Friday Favourites

Happy Friday! Our summer is steaming right along. I wrote on Wednesday that I feel like summer will be over too soon and we will won't have been able to do "everything".  But I concluded that we still have lots of time for fun, and we don't need to do everything to still have a summer. 

Like yesterday when I went out for lunch with some colleagues at the Union Station Summer Market.  I love it so much, so fun seeing the tourists mingling in with the workers on their lunch break.

Q is at Pine Project camp this week and it's all outdoors, exploring the river and the woods near our house.  He came home with a bunch of glass he had collected, sticks, and some woven bracelets.  He was very proud.

E has been at golf camp this week and has also gotten two rounds in in the evening.  When I dropped him off on Tuesday he grabbed his clubs and went right to the practice range.  

When I picked up him up later there was a coyote on the road. 

He looks a little like a cartoon.

I biked to work twice this week, and this was the little table in my office.  It was getting a bit out of hand. Lunch, coffee cup, a few things from the drugstore, water and helmet.  Luckily I have a good bag to haul it all home, along with my computer and change of clothes of course.

For anyone who was concerned about us here in Ontario, the liquor store workers ended their strike and the stores opened back up on Tuesday.  Not that I was really desperate, but I did go that day to replenish our gin, bourbon, Aperol, and wine.  

We went to see Twisters yesterday.  It was so good! I loved it all, it helps that we just rewatched Twister so I appreciated this one a bit more.  

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Andrea.

Monthly Musings

 

Linking up with Holly and Patty for this month's musings:

1. Summer travel - where have you been and what trips are still coming up?

We went camping at Killbear Provincial Park.  We are going to Nova Scotia for a week.  We also have cottage weekends with friends in Collingwood and Muskoka. 

2. Favourite things you have done so far this summer?

I've really enjoyed Q's t-ball tournaments (read about them here and here).  The team is great and it's fun to hang out with the parents during the weekend.  Since it's the rep team it's slightly less frustrating to watch than the house league!

3. Share your go-to outfits this summer.

I got this dress from Athleta. and it is the most comfortable thing! 

4. Summer accessories you are never without?

Goodr sunglasses. 

5. Share your go-to shoes this summer?

Birkenstocks, the plastic waterproof ones. I've had the white pair for a couple of years but just bought the faded lime pair. 

6. Share anything spontaneous you did this summer, big or small.

We bought a new Yeti cooler! If you can count that as spontaneous.

7. Have you seen any summer movies this year?

We saw Despicable Me 4, but I really just want to see Twisters!!

8. Favourite summer sweet treat?

I love an ice cream sandwich, the ones made with chocolate chip cookies. 

9.  Summer slow down or ready for fall?

SLOW DOWN!

10. Ready for back to school?

Not in the slightest!  Our school doesn't start until after Labour Day so we don't need to think about it yet!

Midsummer

I don't know if others feel this way, but sometimes at this time of the summer I feel panicky that we aren't going to get to do all of the things, that we aren't having enough fun, and that summer will be over too soon.  Our summer months are so short, and we are busy with camps and sports that sometimes it feels like the time is flying by and we will miss out on something.  But this is why I don't like creating "summer bucket lists" or too many "traditions" because each summer is different.  We don't always get to do everything but there is no reason for that to elicit panic.  Instead I remind myself to slow down and appreciate all of the moments, even the ones that are low key.  Reading a book in the yard is still a worthwhile summer activity, it doesn't have to be all Blue Jays, Canada's Wonderland, and beach time.  This summer we are enjoying being at the golf course (Dave and E), playing t-ball (Q), and riding bikes (all of us, but me especially biking to work).  

And we still have lots left of those things, and more - cottage time with friends, Nova Scotia with family, watching the Olympics, and more visitors here.  We will definitely get a couple more Blue Jays games in, more lunches and dinners on a patio, 

The only thing I really feel like I'm missing out on is swimming! I love going swimming but there hasn't seemed to be that many opportunities.  We either have a sport to attend or the city is flooded, haha.  And on those nights when we don't have anything to do, we do like those quiet evenings at home too. 

Dave would say we need more ice cream cones! And no one is going to disagree with him.

This is just your kind reminder to be in the moment instead of wishing you were somewhere else doing more.  We're doing just fine!

Weekend Recap

This was my work set up on Friday morning.  I love being able to work outside. 

Q had a t-ball tournament in Mississauga with the first game on Friday evening.  It was a great night to be watching a game, and the boys looked great warming up.

We got a new cooler so we needed a selfie with it.

In the dugout.

They won!

Post game meeting.

We were back the next morning for an 8:00 game.  The team played well again.  This is Q coming into home.

On deck.

We had a big break between games. We enjoyed the sunshine, hanging out with the team, and a picnic in the shade. 

Our next game was tough, and with a great comeback from our team we ended up tying.   We got home at a good time in the afternoon so I made a quick stop at the grocery store and then we got Q to bed at a decent time. 

We were back out to the tournament on Sunday for another 8:00 game.  We won that so we moved onto the 10:00 semi-final game, but we ended up losing (and it was the team we tied the day before!).

Q had a great weekend!

Lining up to get their participation medals.

Thanks for your hard work coaches!!

The afternoon called for F1, a nap, Aperol Spritz, pizza delivery, and some cards.