September might just be my favorite month. Not only because it’s my birthday (hello, confetti, cake, and attention please 🎉), but also because it *should* mean fall is here. Cue the pumpkin bread, caramel lattes, and soft, cozy sweaters.
The problem? Texas did not get the memo. I am fully ready for snowstorms and blanket forts, but around here, “fall” is basically still swimsuit season. If we’re lucky, we get a “false fall” teaser in September. Then second-summer will come heat us up again. I just hope trriple digits is in the past for the year! And if the weather feels generous, real fall might grace us around Halloween. 🙄
👉 You know the one—Texas has 12 fake seasons and Mother Nature laughs at us every single time.
But y’all, last weekend? We had a legit false fall. Saturday morning was 66 degrees, and I swear the entire neighborhood went outside to walk like we’d been released from house arrest. It’s been cool every morning since, and my heart is singing all the fall songs. Which means…it’s soup season! YUM IN A BOWL!
This one is super simple, but let me spill a few tricks that take it from “yum” to “holy cozy heaven in a bowl”:
Add a spoonful of tomato paste with your seasonings before the stock → more flavor without turning it into tomato soup.
Toss in a parmesan rind while it simmers (chef’s kiss!).
Fresh basil = fresh magic.
Top with grated parmesan for creamy, nutty goodness.
Or do all of the above and pretend you’re starring on the Food Network.
For my gluten-free fam (hi, that’s me ✋), I use measure-for-measure GF flour, GF gnocchi, and GF stock. Easy peasy.
Make this soup ASAP before second summer returns and smacks us with 95 degrees again. Because trust me, it’s coming.
Pumpkin vs. Caramel 🍂☕
Hot take: we are a caramel family. I’ll skip the PSL hype train, thanks. Iced caramel coffee? Yes. Caramel latte? Double yes. But give me all the pumpkin muffins, pumpkin loaves, and especially pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Basically, I’ll eat my pumpkin, not drink it. Maybe I will share my go-to cookie recipe this week. You never know, I might have to make a batch too.
Fantasy Football Check-In 🏈
Speaking of fall, how’s your fantasy football week one going? Mine… eh. Let’s just say I was winning until Baltimore decided to suddenly remember how to play football. Now I’m sliding into last place territory, and I can already hear the “better luck next year” jokes. Nah, I will fight my way back. But I have a feeling its going to be the season of – I could beat anyone except the team I was playing that week. Multiple years in a row I would have a high point total with the worst record. Good thing I am not a sore loser. (haha, my kids are rolling at that one!)
But hey—it’s fall, y’all. Even if Texas is still sweating and my fantasy team is imploding, at least I’ve got soup, caramel coffee, and pumpkin cookies to carry me through.
At any given moment, my brain is basically a radio station—but not a cool one. Nope, this week it is just three songs on repeat 🎤. Some days it’s more like an all-out stadium tour in there, but mostly this week, it’s three little loops on a nonstop cycle. And the worst part? I don’t even get the whole song—just the same line over and over and over. Torture.
It takes me back to when we were kids making mix tapes📼. Remember that struggle? Sitting by the radio with your finger hovering over the record button, waiting *hours* for your favorite song to finally play—only for the DJ to talk through the intro. But once you nailed it, you had that treasure forever. And if someone made a tape for you? Oh honey, that was love. That was time, effort, commitment. Playlists today are great, but they will never have the same blood-sweat-tears energy of a proper cassette mix.
My kids will never know the joy. They create playlists like I make shopping lists. They don’t have to wait for DJs to stop talking or the commercials to stop to hit record at just the right moment. But at least they *do* still share them with friends and crushes. That tradition, thankfully, lives on.💕
This week, though, I’ve been extra sentimental about my own crew. I can literally feel childhood slipping away in our house. Our oldest went back to school 👍 (ugh, she left me *again*), our middle is a senior (soon to leave me too), and the baby? Only two years until she flies the coop. TWO. Lord help me when I’ve got two in college at the same time. AND HELP My husband and cat for sure, because I am already too much to handle, can’t even imagine when the nest is empty. For now, I’ve got two kiddos still at home, and I’m soaking it in. *Cue cheesy montage music in my head.*
And of course, fall in our house means one thing: football season. Thursday through Sunday, our calendar is full of football and marching band competitions – locked in until Christmas. High school, SEC, NFL—you name it, we’re watching it. And yes, I run a fantasy football team too (don’t ask me about my record). But let’s be honest—the part that really has my heart? Marching band.
I’m a halftime girl. Full stop. I’m a certified Color Guard Groupie! 🚩 I live for the color guard tossing rifles, spinning flags, dancing like their lives depend on it. The costumes, the props, the DRAMA—it’s better than any football play you’ll see. These kids are athletes and performers rolled into one, and they blow me away every time.
We’ve had eight years of color guard life (two daughters total, with a cameo appearance by our third in marching band for one year old), and I can’t recommend it enough. For shy kids who dream of the stage but don’t want the spotlight of theater, color guard is magic. The shows are awe-inspiring, but it’s the friendships that seal the deal. These kids don’t just learn how to perform—they learn life skills:
⏰Being on time (say all together now — “to be early is to be on time, to be on time is late, and to be late is unacceptable”).
📅 Managing their schedule—balancing school, clubs, practice, work, friends, and more.
📚Crushing their academics—band kids are often rocking multiple AP classes on top of everything else.
👯♂️Teamwork—because making a 250-person marching production look effortless is nothing short of sorcery (and hours and hours of drill practice for weeks on end!)
Honestly, I could go on forever. But the bottom line: I’m a giant marching band fangirl. Always will be.
Which is why this fall is going to be *brutal*. Our middle is performing her final season of high school marching band, and I’m stocking up on Kleenex and wine now. (A mini keg in the fridge doesn’t sound too dramatic, right?)
And while we’re on the subject of games—let’s talk stadium survival. Must-haves? Cushioned seats with backrests (ours are barely holding together after seven seasons), blankets for the rare cold nights, handheld fans for the boiling September “fall,” a blinged-out cowbell (this is Texas after all), and of course—snacks. Our school is known for its tailgating, and so we always spend some time before the game filling up on snacks. Our daughter’s band’s call time is early, so we always have an hour or more to kill before kick-off.
There are plenty of ways to tailgate, and boy, do we see the full spectrum of tailgaters. Oh, this is Texas after all… so do we have parents who pull in trailers that look more like a food truck than something to store stuff in – it has awnings, large TVs, storage, and a kitchen! And this is not just one or two families… every club, booster org and more have a set area. I swear our school can rival any NFL tailgate! They had to finally set up rules for tailgating because our parking lots were sold out! But for me, let’s keep it super simple! Just let me eat my takeout and toss the trash so it does not smell up the car. I’m a simple girl! (You know the saying, if we call ourselves simple – we are anything but simple.😘)
Next week’s the first game, and I am READY. Heated stadium seats may or may not be on my birthday wish list. (Not that Texas really gets cold, but hey, a girl can dream.) And yes, this is Texas… I will do a post on Homecoming Mums for sure! And will post a pic or two of my sweet baby’s senior mum!
So, Amazon may have absolutely demolished my wholesome back-to-school shopping dreams, but to be fair… they always make up for it by luring me in with shiny new gadgets. New school year, new stuff? Yes, please.
Let’s talk gear. My girls are all about the giant reusable water bottles for workouts—those “I could survive a desert trek” 40-ounce monsters—but for class, they’ve finally realized maybe hauling around a water-filled dumbbell isn’t ideal. I mean, they’re already carrying their entire academic existence in their backpacks. And water is heavy. (Shocking, I know.)
Some MVPs in our house:
Owala FreeSip – 24oz for everyday hydration, 40oz for the “I’m at practice forever” days.
Ello Cooper 18oz – Slim enough to fit in backpack side pockets, leakproof (teachers everywhere rejoice), and quite possibly indestructible because one survived an entire marching band season (but it’s the half-gallon size).
Now, on to clothes. My daughters have stopped growing like sweet little garden peas and are now all almost the same size! I knew this day would come! Which means… they’ve unlocked the magical but dangerous world of clothes-sharing. Cue the “do as I say, not as I do” parenting moment. I preach quality over quantity—timeless staples over cheap thrill buys. (White tanks are still a constant re-buy thanks to stains, because my chest is the quintessential crumb/drops catcher.)
So this year, we Marie Kondo’d the closets—kept the fan-favorites, replaced the worn-out basics, and invested in pieces that won’t fall apart after two washes. Still sad I didn’t get pics of our annual fashion show tradition because apparently they’re allergic to mom’s camera now. (Ok, so I also forgot to catch them this year, might be my bad, I am just so darn tired suddenly.)
Our go-to basics are from The Gap, Old Navy and Khol’s this year. Khol’s has some great basic black pants, jeans, and workout gear my girls liked.
School supplies? My youngest went old-school. Yellow pencils, a cheap plastic sharpener, and a phone charger. That’s it. She’s still rocking last year’s notebook like it’s a designer bag. And honestly, high school these days = 90% laptops, 10% spirals for the rare “we’re doing this by hand” moments.
Middle kiddo is waiting until she figures out the way of the land before getting new stuff. Don’t blame her one bit! As long as the request come at a decent hour, not at 11 pm the night before it’s needed. Our closest 24-hour CVS is two towns over… because yeah, we have all had that fun run!
The wild card this year? Watches. You know – the old-school, battery-operated, can’t-send-a-text kind of watches. Texas decided to ban phones – which also means no smartwatches, pagers or any communication device. Not even flip phones. Nada. And since half the classrooms don’t have functioning clocks anymore (because everyone’s been telling time on their phones since 2008), so we’re officially in the market. I’m seriously considering a Swatch Watch comeback—who else remembers stacking two, three, even four watches on your arm like it was jewelry? I feel a movement coming.
Anyway—what about you? What’s on your back-to-school shopping list this year? I kind of miss the elementary days when we needed crayons, glue sticks, and 47 folders. Now it’s all chargers, water bottles, and emotional resilience.
PS – Funny moment time: Today’s shock. I am *really* mid-life old. As I entered the refrigerator room at Sam’s Club where you buy milk, eggs, and coffee creamer, I FINALLY felt a normal temperature. I had no idea how bad it had gotten until I was shopping today. I literally stood inside there scanning on my phone (I LOVE SCAN AND GO!) all my groceries trying to take my time. It felt so perfect. Yea, I am that old now.
So here’s the dream: me, with my three darling daughters, happily bopping through the mall — Starbys or boba in hand — giggling over outrageous fashion choices, trying on glam-but-impractical outfits, maybe tossing a feather boa or two into the mix. A whole Sisterhood of the Traveling Shopping Bags vibe.
Reality? Picture me standing in the hallway calling a litter of kittens who’ve just discovered a sunbeam — yeah, that’s what trying to get my kids to go back-to-school shopping was like.
Apparently, nobody had the time, the energy, or the will to try on jeans with actual buttons. I mean… really?
Back in the glorious ancient times of the 1900s, if my mom even hinted at the word “shopping,” I was in the car faster than you could say “Limited or Express.” Now? My girls act like I’m dragging them to a root canal.
So we didn’t go. Instead? They opened their laptops, clicked a few buttons, and bam! — Amazon Prime stole my mother-daughter bonding moment. Old Navy, Justice, even the holy grail of tween fashion (Kohl’s cash!)… ignored. Brutal.
But! All is not lost. Because if there’s one thing that still unites us in joy and giggles — it’s painting.
Brushes Before Books
In a last-ditch effort to soak up those final precious summer days before school steals my babies away again, we ditched the shopping bags and pulled out the paint.
Our kitchen became an art studio (read: hot mess express with glitter), and we got to work. The girls each grabbed a canvas and swapped back and forth — kind of like a creative relay race where nobody knows how the painting will end. Abstract chaos? Masterpiece? Who knows — but it was so much fun.
(Love my adorable kiddos – here is a photo of the girls mid-paint battle and their shared canvases here)
While they traded canvases, I tried a new trick I found while doomscrolling Instagram at midnight (because obviously). The hack? Print a photo, rub pencil on the back, trace it on a canvas, and boom — paint-by-number magic. I chose a recent family pic from a rare moment when all 20 of us made it to dinner at my mom’s. No faces needed — I could still tell exactly who was who.
remember this is a no judgement zone…
(Insert humble brag photo of said painting here)
It was the perfect combo of lazy and creative. No pressure, no “Am I doing this right?”, just joy in the moment. Honestly, I forgot how much I love painting for no reason at all.
I’ve always dreamed of having a real art studio — you know, the kind with actual lighting and no peanut butter smudges on the table. But for now? The kitchen table will do just fine. Maybe next time I’ll invite my mom or sister over and make it a full-on family paint party.
The End of Summer (Boo… and Not the Fun Kind)
School starts this week. Cue the collective mom sigh.
That means we’re saying goodbye to lazy mornings and hello to the madness: football games, marching band, winterguard competitions, SAT preps x2, and all the glittery chaos that comes with raising teenagers. My phone alarms will be going off constantly again, warning me of impending picking up lines, volunteer duties, and practice pick-ups.
It’s go-time… but for now, I’m holding tight to these little creative moments, these scraps of summer joy, and the sound of laughter echoing off paint-splattered walls.
Because even when Amazon ruins the mall and school steals my sidekicks, the paintbrush still brings us back together.
Okay y’all… closets cleaned? Check. Kitchen cabinets decluttered? Check. Retired sheets, towels, and that crusty old throw blanket from 2003? DOUBLE check. ✔️✔️ I’ve KonMari’d the heck out of my house, and now we’re sitting pretty in what I like to call organized chaos (the “organized” does a lot of heavy lifting, but still).
Work? Also somewhat under control. I’m trying. I mean, I color-coded some in my Notions calendar blocks 📅, added some new projects (aka kids, moms and work stuff) so… that counts, right?
Now, the latest update: my sweet mom is healing, thank goodness. She still needs support but not the full-time superhero daughter treatment like a few weeks ago. Which means—I’m finally back in my own bed every night. Insert angels singing here🎶. But also… I can feel work tugging at me like a clingy toddler. It’s time to go back full-time. Cue the world’s tiniest violin.
I swear, it felt like I was living in a sabbatical dream 🏖—playing house, making real dinners, and finally matching Tupperware lids to their containers. But real life is knocking. So rude.
Honestly, it’s giving major 2020 throwback vibes—remember when the world stopped, and suddenly we all remembered how to go on long walks, play board games, make bread from scratch (cause none was left on the store shelves), and actually eat dinner together at the same table? Those first few weeks felt like a snow day for grown-ups and kids. Our spring break just… kept going. And I was into it.
But of course, not everyone had it easy. We were lucky. We didn’t lose anyone close to us. Friends of ours did, and it was heartbreaking. If you lost someone — my heart goes out to you, truly.
So now we’re back in that post-chaos rebuilding phase. And you know what’s saving my life right now? TIME BLOCKING⏰. I live by it. Breathe it. Worship it. If I don’t block it, it doesn’t happen. Period.
Since I live closest to my mom, I’m the default almost daily checker-in-er. It’s like I got volunteered without ever raising my hand. But hey, she’s Wonder Woman with a slightly lower battery right now, and I’m happy to plug in and help.
I can swing by after school drop-off, during my lunch break, or even in that weird in-between hour when it’s too late for coffee but too early for wine. Thankfully, my office is halfway between home and her place, so it works. And my siblings? Bless them—they’ve offered to cover evenings and help with dinners and groceries. Team effort, baby.
Here’s the thing—I’m an ADHD girlie. So routines? I hate them. But also? I need them. It’s complicated. I want predictable patterns, but I also want spontaneous brunch dates and a surprise road trip every third Tuesday. So time blocking? It’s my goldilocks solution. Structured and flexible. Efficient and whimsical.
I block everything: work, mom check-ins, friend catch-ups, my kids’ activities (because even if they don’t need rides, they still want an audience for their marching shows, flag tosses, jazz hands, and Shakespearean monologues). I’m there with bells on. And probably snacks.
If you’re curious how I juggle it all with a smile and only minor wine dependency, let me know! I’m still building my Notion’s world of lovely togetherness for my chaos—half planner, half magical fairy dust. And half considering making a template for you all. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, I’m off to color-code my calendar and pretend it’s a hobby like scrapbooking, only digitally and with fewer fun photo moments.
Life is getting real around here, my summer is coming to a close… school starts on August 12th. PEOPLE when did school start so early? I feel like I was just at the BBQ for 4th of July and now I’m speed-shopping for back to school because its so darn early. Pumpkin-spice is coming, I can smell it like a rain storm.
Before I forget, this coming school year will be amazing! (or sad, depending on how the wine hits) One is graduating from college (YAY), just in time for another to graduate from high school and start college. DOUBLE-TROUBLE-🎓SENIOR-YEAR🎓-TIMES-TWO👩🏼🎓👩🏼🎓! WHOA!
Tips for Time Blocking
Color Code – Family vs Work vs School (and maybe by activity)
Use one main calendar! Don’t try to track work and family – you will drop a ball! I know!
Life is a series of projects – so use project management tools. Each of my kids is a project with a budget! So is my house and my job!
Don’t check email all day – set aside time for it and set a timer. Nothing will wreck your day more than email!
Social Media is not a task – it’s for fun, so it only happens during fun time, not all day long. Unless you have nothing else you could do while riding a bus while chaperoning! Then enjoy!
Ok, off my high horse soap box… this is ideal but not hard and fast. What’s that saying… “If you don’t make a plan, then you plan to fail.” So don’t me 7 years ago with no plan. Ok, next time let’s have fun? Back-to-school shopping drama, she said what?! Nothing makes a Mama more scared than to see what a 17-year-old deems “in style” for 1st day of school. My heart is already racing…
If you have any advice, let me know! Would love to add more tips!
Does anyone else remember the song “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young? Because I do—and she’s been on repeat in my brain all morning. Did I mention I’ve let my ADHD just roam free-range this summer? No schedule, no plan, just vibes. And laundry. SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY.
As I surveyed the chaos this morning, it hit me—we had over 10 loads to do. TEN. Who are we, a bed & breakfast?! Oh right, we’ve had guests, events, sleepovers, spontaneous hangouts, and apparently a cast of characters who think they’re on a Taylor Swift tour based on the number of outfit changes they pull daily.
So I had two choices:
1. Spend 48 hours living in a soul-sucking wash-dry-fold loop.
2. Or—and hear me out—LAUNDROMAT.
Our local one? Eh. Dingy at best. But there’s a shiny, sparkly one two towns over that not only has working machines that don’t smell like old socks, but also shares a parking lot with an **HTeaO**. That’s basically spa day for a suburban mom. A jug of sweet coconut tea and a whole row of dryers? Bliss.
And guess what? Two hours, \$40 in quarters, and a full Kindle chapter later—I was done. Folded. Zen. A true domestic goddess. My kids? They were off at Six Flags thinking I was home battling Mount Washmore. Joke’s on them—I was sipping tea and pretending my laundry wasn’t judging me.
When I got home, I still had energy *and* clean sheets. So naturally, I did what any brilliant woman would do—I ordered takeout. 💅
Living in DFW has one huge perk: options. But if we’re craving something guaranteed to keep everyone at the table and chatting (with salsa-stained smiles), there are two staples in our family:
👉 Meat U Anywhere BBQ
👉 Anamia’s Tex-Mex
Tonight’s winner? **Anamia’s fajitas for eight**—because we’ve got bonus guests and fajitas are a love language in this house.
Let me break it down for you, because I could (and maybe should) write their fan newsletter:
🧀 Chili Con Queso – According to my kids, this is the moment they met Jesus. The perfect pour, the perfect flavor. Velvety cheese magic.
🧀🥑 Kelly’s Queso – My favorite! Guac + picadillo + queso = divinity. But sadly, beef allergy in the fam means we usually stick to the OG queso. Still swoon-worthy.
🌮 Chicken Fajita Nachos – Not the messy pile kind, but a gorgeous tray of individually topped round chips. Less mess, more joy. Mini chalupa energy.
🥩Juanito Plate – My husband’s ride or die: brisket taco, tomatillo chicken enchilada, Yucatán slaw, rice and beans. It’s a plate with main-character energy.
🍗Pechuga Primavera – Grilled chicken with sizzling veggies. It’s like fajitas went to a yoga retreat and came back zen and veggie-loaded. Mushrooms, squash, poblano peppers—it’s a wellness journey in a skillet.
🍤 Shrimp Ceviche – Summer on a plate. Avocado, citrus, and shrimp that makes you feel like you’re winning at life.
🍲Caldo de Pollo – When the weather dips below 70 or my soul needs a hug.
🍲 Tortilla Soup – My mom’s fave. Cozy, comforting, with a little spice kick.
Can you tell we’re obsessed? We’ve been loyal to Anamia’s since the tiny strip-mall days on Sandy Lake Road in Coppell back in the ’90s. (Yes, we go way back.) Now they’ve got locations across DFW, but **Southlake and Coppell** are our go-tos.
Fun fact: When my husband house-hunted while I was still in California with the kids, he picked our home based on its proximity to Anamia’s. That’s true love.
These days, our “family dinner” group is up to 20 people. So catering it is! Their **Fajita Fiesta** feeds a crowd with all the bells, whistles, chips, salsa, and possibly a chorus of angels.
Thinking I might swing by the liquor store too—because what’s Tex-Mex without margaritas? Exactly.
Moral of today’s story: work smarter not harder cause laundry sucks, takeout saves, and queso is basically therapy. You heard it here first.
Our house in the summer? It’s Grand Central Station with a snack bar and a guest list I don’t remember approving—but I’m *not mad about it.* From Pride weekend kid takeovers to a birthday celebration that somehow turned into a 10-day, two-state extravaganza (because why not?) and everything in between, it’s been chaotic, loud, and so full of love I could cry.
This is what I always wanted. A home where the kids want to hang out. And they DO. Which means I get to learn all the tea first hand when they do chat with me, hand out home-baked goods, and act like the cool mom (minus the heels and pearls or actually being cool).
Sure, I grew up with June Cleaver ideals—vacuuming in pumps and throwing dinner parties while wearing pearls—but real life? Closer to “One Day at a Time” vibes. Raised by a single mom who worked her tail off so we could live in a good neighborhood and grow up strong. She’s been my hero forever. But this summer hit a little different…
Because this summer, I realized my mom isn’t Wonder Woman anymore. She’s still amazing, but the cape’s a little wrinkled, and she needs us more than she used to. And y’all, that realization is a gut punch in slow motion.
Being a mom is already a full-contact sport. You’re expected to do *all the things*, with a smile, while staying calm during breaking news doomscrolls and summer drama. (Side note: the news? Still the worst. I swear my blood pressure goes up just walking past a TV.)
My mom watches the news like it’s her favorite soap opera. “I just want to check the weather,” she says. (Sure, Jan.) It’s definitely a generational thing—she leans in, I lean out. I want facts, not fear. I’d rather pretend I live in Canada, raise goats, and never hear about political scandals again.
But you know what? Spending this time with her—helping, laughing, watching the slow pace of aging in real-time—has been hard and sweet all at once. It’s a weird kind of heartbreak. The kind that makes you grateful.
Back at home, in between kid invasions and laundry avalanches, I’ve been doing what I do best: feeding people. With a smile. Not in pearls, but probably barefoot. Maybe with a cocktail.
In the last week alone, I’ve made:
Homemade lasagna (yes, the real deal)
Xmas Sausage Balls (normally made only during the holidays, but who doesn’t love Christmas in July?)
Horchata from scratch
Gluten-free Chex Mix (because even party snacks deserve to be safe)
Banana bread so good it should be illegal
Aebleskiver! (Google it. Or better yet, ask a Scandinavian grandma.)
I’ve lived in my kitchen lately, measuring out memories by the cup. I want my kids and their friends to feel *home* here. Because college is looming like a beautifully wrapped tornado—full of excitement, but still a total upheaval. (I will upload my version of those recipes soon!)
And yes, I bring treats to my mom’s too. She deserves banana bread therapy just as much as the next person.
So yeah… I probably *should* go back to work full-time soon, I wish part-time was enough. Because feeding a small army of Gen Z humans and their friends isn’t exactly cheap. 😂 But until then, I’ll be in the kitchen, baking like it’s my love language. Because maybe it is.
Stay tuned—next up: how I figured out the laundromat is not just for when your machine is taking an expensive unplanned vacation to repairtown!
Summer Vibes, Sassy Sips & a Plastic Purge: The Ultimate ADHD Housewife Chronicles 🍸
Oh, summer. Those long sunny days, deceptively short nights (because somehow it’s 11pm and I’m still scrolling Pinterest), and the blissful back patio evenings, drink in hand, pretending the laundry doesn’t exist. 💅
In my last update, I showed off our fabulous little backyard sanctuary—our own DIY haven for when Texas weather behaves and the bugs aren’t staging a coup. But what makes a twinkly-light-covered patio even better?
Cocktails, obviously.
Now, as a gluten-free gal, my options are… well, let’s call them “creative.” The pre-made stuff? Meh. Half of it tastes like carbonated regret, and don’t get me started on the mystery ingredients in some of those “crafted cocktails” in cans. I prefer the shaken and stirred variety.
Lately, I’ve been mixing up more fun at home—especially now that my oldest is 21. When her friends are over, we become a full-blown mocktail test kitchen that accidentally serves real alcohol. It’s like a mixology class, but with better music and fewer rules. 🍹
Back in the day (last year), I was mostly a wine girl. And listen, wine and I go way back. Wine has NEVER let me down, never judged me for drinking from a tumbler. Wine wins every time. And of course, I LOVE a good margarita… but after getting surprise glutened by a sketchy vodka-based drink (don’t ask, it still haunts me), I now trust wine like an old friend and treat new drinks like potential catfish.
But home made cocktails? Game. On. Pinterest is my happy place, especially when it comes to seasonal sips. I’ve got boards for summer, fall, cozy fireside drinks, and “just because it’s Tuesday.”
Current faves?
White Russian, upgraded: RumChata + Kahlúa + Tito’s (because we don’t mess with gluten here) + a splash of milk to keep it smooth.
Classic old-fashioned (my sweet husband’s fav) with a variety of whiskeys (we are still looking for a favorite there), once in a while, I’ll tag in with some dark rum if we’re feelin’ fancy. If you haven’t tried it with a smoke kit—chef’s kiss—but no cedar, please. I’m bougie and sensitive.
Classic Mai Tai – Rum is always the right choice with fresh fruit juice!
So, about that kitchen makeover I promised last time… Spoiler: there are no photos. My kitchen is not in a “post me” phase. But when I finally tackled the terrifying mountain of mismatched plastic containers, I made myself a deal:
One cocktail per cabinet cleaned. It was both highly motivating and mildly dangerous.
Plastic storage? Absolute garbage. Cracked lids, mystery stains, 47 containers with no matching tops—why do they multiply like rabbits?! For years, I’ve had glass storage envy. You know those dreamy meal-prep influencers with matching containers and nothing sticky in sight? I wanted THAT life.
Enter: Sam’s Club, stage left. $30 for a gorgeous set of square and rectangular glass containers. A literal mic-drop moment. Once they were washed, I went full purge mode—fridge, dishwasher, random hiding spots. If it was plastic, it was gone. The family didn’t even get a vote.
And let me tell you… CLEANING OUT THAT CABINET FELT SPIRITUAL. I even tackled the fridge—shelf by shelf, drawer by drawer. Scrubbed it down until it sparkled like a Kardashian’s kitchen. I was high on vinegar and achievement. My middle child walked in, took one look, and said: “It’s so aesthetic.” Cue my emotional Oscar speech.
Now the pressure’s on to keep it aesthetic. (Why are compliments always double-edged like that?!)
That night, we celebrated with cocktails. Because of course, we did. The star? My new obsession: RumChata. I didn’t even know I liked horchata until I met her creamy, dreamy cousin that tastes like summer vacation in a glass. Now I’m plotting how to turn it into ice cream. (Tell me that wouldn’t be amazing!)
…basically, anything fizzy in the fridge was fair game. Highly recommend Pinteresting it or just pouring a shot of RumChata into whatever you’re drinking and seeing what happens. It’s a vibe. And who does not like a drink with the title “Dirty”?
Anyway, cheers to your summer too—whether you’re sipping something fancy under fairy lights or trying to remember where you left the lid to that one rogue Tupperware. May your drinks be cold, your projects feel satisfying, and your kitchen forever be “aesthetic”… at least until next Tuesday.
Check in next week when I have fun with our kids, their friends from all over and truly embrace chaos with love!
Any drink called “Dirty” is a winner at our house!
So, this summer I’ve taken on a thrilling new adventure… organizing my house. Riveting, right? Before you judge, remember: my glamorous schedule consists of bouncing between 2-3 days at my mom’s, then back home for my “days off,” which are sprinkled generously with doctor appointments. (I know, calm down with the envy.)
Technically, I should be working on “work stuff”… but plot twist: I’m on leave. And I’ve decided to actually leave the guilt behind, too. Revolutionary, I know.
Now, what do you do when your kids are older, no longer into glue sticks, zoo trips, or snack-time negotiations? Sure, I miss those days—heck yes I do!—but these teens are out living their best lives, working jobs, lounging with friends, and generally not asking me to make popsicle stick puppets.
So here I am—caught between “I deserve to rest” and “shouldn’t I be doing something productive?” Because as much as I’d like to just vibe all day… I start twitching if I sit still for too long. Has anyone else caught the productivity guilt bug?
Welcome to Another Episode of “Steph’s ADHD Project Parade”! (Sarcastic inner monologue fully engaged—imagine it narrated by someone juggling three tabs open in her brain and holding a half-drunk iced coffee.)
So, yes, as previously mentioned, I decided this summer was finally the time to organize the house. Logical. Noble. Slightly delusional.
To be fair, we’ve moved so many times over the past 21 years as a family, my garage has turned into a living museum of “things that didn’t work in this house but might be future treasures in my next house.” Do I purge? Rarely. I box, I stack, and I hope—like an optimistic squirrel with a hoarding habit.
And honestly, thank goodness for my husband—patient, kind, and totally nonjudgmental about my sentimental stash of decorative whatnots and mystery cords. THANK YOU, SWEET JESUS, for that man.
Anyway, we’ve been in this house for two years now. It’s time. Things need refreshing—kitchen cabinets, home office/craft area, my closet, and of course, the living room.
So where do I start? The back patio, naturally. Because why begin indoors when I can completely derail the plan with a spontaneous trip to Home Depot with the girls for string lights and flower pots? Plot twist: I’m not even mad about it.
We built flower planters, hung lights, planted flowers, and after two years of staring at a to-do list, I’ve finally made my little backyard vision board come to life. I even dusted off the outdoor rug and lights I bought forever ago, hiding in plain sight (read: the garage).
Is it magazine-worthy? No. Did I spend thousands? Also no. My budget was $200 and vibes.
Our town is full of perfectly curated outdoor spaces designed by professionals with names like Chase and Delilah, my humble DIY setup doesn’t exactly scream “landscape luxury.” But guess what? I love it. And that’s enough.
It’s cheerful. It’s me. And most importantly: it makes me happy. Friendly reminder: if it makes YOU happy, it’s beautiful. You don’t need a designer price tag to feel proud of your space.
Stage one of glow-up!
Now, do I wish I had some before pics to show the glow-up? Of course. But here we are—living in the “after” with twinkle lights overhead and flowers blooming in planters my girls helped me build. (Yes, tears were shed. No, I will not apologize.)
A quick note: we’re renters right now, so everything had to be movable and removable. I tackled this over two weeks, squeezing in online shopping while waiting at doctor’s appointments for my many patients, because they always come in pairs. Nothing like impulse-buying throw pillows from a waiting room, right?
Now let’s talk patio furniture. I bought our set years ago from Pier 1 (RIP). Since then, finding cushions that actually fit has been a nightmare. Also, Texas squirrels apparently have a personal vendetta against my patio pillows.
But! A magical company is now making affordable slipcovers that actually fit my existing cushions. Hallelujah. I ordered one set, loved them, and will likely grab another to swap out as my mood swings demand. Tossed in some new throw pillows, too. Still on the hunt for a few pops of color—maybe during my next mom shift, I’ll do some retail therapy… for the patio, obviously.
And can we just take a second to appreciate the planters with 4×4 posts we built to hang the lights? They turned out amazing. My girls were rockstars helping me bring the vision to life. I’m seriously so proud of how it turned out.
(Insert close-up of cushions here because YES, they finally match and no squirrels have eaten them… yet.)
Now for the DIY nerds out there: here’s how we made our string light planters—and what I’d tweak if I did it again.
I’d pinned, oh, maybe 10 versions of this idea: big planters, poles, string lights—boom, cozy vibes. Most tutorials used cement to anchor the poles, sometimes even PVC inserts to allow for umbrella swaps. But cement = permanent + heavy. And I wasn’t ready to commit that hard.
So instead, we went with 50 lbs of play sand per planter, topped with potting soil and flowers. Y’all, it’s held up through Texas-size storms, downpours, hail, and gusty wind. The sand is doing its job, and the planters (tall and narrow) are holding steady.
We used flat-bottom 4x4s for the posts, which definitely helped with stability.
That said—if your area is windier or wide open, cement might be the safer route. If I were starting from scratch, I might go with wider pots and cement for more security. But for our tree-covered, tucked-away little corner? Sand works great.
This summer has been full of surprises, not just in the garden. My mom is slowly getting better, but still needs us nearby for now. We’re hoping by July things will settle into a new rhythm—her more independent, me a bit more back to “normal,” whatever that is.
Next stop on the organization train: kitchen overhaul! Out with the plastic, in with the glass storage containers. Wish me luck—I’ll probably get distracted and end up reorganizing the spice rack instead. Stay tuned.
So it’s summer break, I love summer break with my kids. I can turn off at least 5-6 alarms on my phone for a few brief weeks before summer band starts. It’s a joyous few weeks!
Normally, I am working very hard at work, but this summer I have taken a few months off to help my Mom recover from surgery. When this all started back in April, in my head I was thinking, I will take May off and then hit June with full-force gusto from the much-needed break. Whomp-whomp. It’s now early July, and I am still not back at work full time. Now, the goal is to be back at work by July 15th full-time.
So, how did I spend my May and June, you ask? Oh, do ask! I wish I had a wild story. I miss having wild stories. Sadly, I did nothing I should have for work, that’s for sure! Whoever does anyway on an extended holiday?
When my mom told us in April what was coming up, I thought ok, this is the break I have been wanting. I could spend time working on work projects, but I had zero time to do so when I was with clients. I was going to redo my existing systems and add new ones in. Oh, how I did promise to improve my thriving small business! That would have been productive and helpful. Instead decided to let my inner ADHDer come out unapologetically.
After my first shift at the hospital, I quickly realized I could not work from there. It was constant interruptions and zero sleep. In the ICU, patients are cared for by many doctors, nurses, techs, radiology came by twice a day for X-rays, blood draws were every 3-4 hours, and it was endless. My poor mom spent 10 days in the hospital. I would do 24 hours, then my sister would trade with me, and back I went the following day. My brother even did a shift on his off days from work. But it took 24 hours to recover from one shift, so it was all a blur. I did read some, started many small projects, and I played a LOT of mindless games on my phone, and man, did I go down some deep rabbit holes on Instagram, Facebook, Google, and Pinterest.
Once we got my mom home, it has been a little easier to rest. But we are still doing 2 or 3-day shifts at her house. She required 24/7 care once she was home for another 6 weeks. It was lots of doctors’ appointments, runs to the ER for clogged drains, drain checks with radiology, regular doctor visits for follow-up, etc. Never mind all of the home health people coming in, I swear, for 3 weeks we had a doctor’s appt, therapy, or nurse visit every single day. My sister and I did most of the stuff at the beginning. Now that our mom can shower by herself, my brother has been so helpful! He is always very helpful! I want to publicly state, my brother proves sons can care for their parents just as well as daughters. (Can you tell I love my big brother and sister?)
Instead of building/evolving my work systems, I decided to contemplate where my life was heading. Don’t get me wrong, I will still do my regular job, I love what I do. But as my girls are getting older, I need something for myself. I’ve always had a business Pinterest Account named Steph’s Favs. It started as an affiliate marketing account (yes, I love rabbit holes). Now I plan to turn that thought into a blog. I know, how early 2000s of me! Let’s face it, I am old, so really this is going to be more like a 1989-1993 Doogie Howser blog than an early 2000s “Julia Child’s cook book recipe making” blog that becomes a hit movie.
So now I can confidently say I did not waste my downtime, and I can still let my ADHD self be free. My brain is so happy right now! I probably still won’t finish a single project, but it feels good to be free to explore more.
Does anyone else struggle with ADHD? For the most part, I can hyper focus on work *if* I am at the office because that’s what office time is for, actual working. But I work remotely 50% of the time, and sitting down to work is hard. I do it because I have to; otherwise, I won’t be paid. But it uses all of my brain power. So by 7 pm, I am wiped out mentally. So this past few weeks have been blissful, letting my mind wander and daydream.
So some decisions were made to make space in my life so you can explore with me! Let’s start with… my family’s favorite banana bread recipe. Who doesn’t like banana bread? I know there are a MILLION or more (not exaggerating) recipes. But every family has their favorite version. This one is ours, and when I make it, it does not last long. We don’t even wait for it to cool down!
This recipe is not my own. I have adapted it from a recipe my mom received years and years ago from my Aunt in Florida. I wish I knew whom I could give credit to, but alas, I don’t.
Did I mention my family eats gluten-free? I have a wheat allergy, so my family eats 85% gluten-free. I am 100%. But we do allow it in the house because they are growing kids, and why should my kids and sweet husband suffer? I have found some great recipes that I will share in this blog. I share these yummy treats with friends, and they all love them too.
Ok, banana bread should be light, crumbly, flavorful, and the word I hate but don’t know how else to describe it – moist. Banana bread should not be dry! Most gluten-free baked items are dry, and this is not at all dry. It’s not mushy either!
Hi! 