Earlier this week Maddie and I sat down and came up with some ideas for our summer. She’s enrolled in a few camps here and there, but for the most part we don’t have many plans and I’m really looking forward to some quality time together, just us two.

Always one to level up the fun, Maddie suggested we put all of our ideas in a “Summer Bucket List Jar,” and on unscheduled days we will draw from it and let fate decide what we do… Genius!

Who’s ready for a summer picnic and parade? I know we are!

I signed up for a YearCheer holiday subscription for the girlies last year, and it quickly became one of our very favorite parts of the holidays.

Friday! We made it. It’s been a busy one over here at the Matkovic house with so many fun things coming up that I can’t wait to share. Aside from work, we are finishing up the room refresh of my office with Taylor from Home Taylored- just waiting on a few items to arrive and for the walls to be painted. I can’t wait to show you the color and finish we chose.

Happy Friday, friends!

I interrupt this self-quarantine with a picture of baby Maddie enjoying a subscription book box last year. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten; how much has changed. Especially given these unprecedented times.

For us, the most challenging part of this social distancing, by far, has been trying to explain to Maddie why she can’t play with her friends. It breaks my heart to see her so sad to be without her classmates and buddies- to have her wonder why she can’t go to the playground or have a play date.

Yesterday my mama forwarded an article with links to a few virtual tours of some well-loved rides at the Happiest Place on Earth. Like so many people, we had to cancel a trip to Mickey’s House this season; leaving our girls longing for that Disney magic. Being that we’re self-proclaimed Disney Geeks- you can find more in my guides here and here- I thought I’d share some links to our favorite rides and shows.

Ok, if I’m being honest I’m playing a little fast and loose with the term teacher. I never technically had my own classroom. But I do have just a few units left before I earn my Masters in Education, and I spent over a year in a local elementary school as an in-house sub. Plus I do have a current GPA of 4.0, meaning I know a thing or two or writing a lesson plan.

Since Maddie started school two years ago, we’ve loved spending a little time together after pickup- catching up on our days and enjoying an afternoon snack. For the last few years, it has been some of the most precious time for the two of us; or at least for me, as her mom. I get to learn about her day; to take her emotional temperature; to sense how she perceived the way she was treated and what she learned; what made her happy or sad or mad.

Yesterday my little elves were up before the sunrise, and we were greeted with the most beautiful dusting of snow. We had a a few hours to kill in the morning, so I decided to whip up some dehydrated oranges with my first girl. I’ve made them a few times before- they always leave the house smelling so sweet and are so pretty strung up as a pop of color in some holiday garland.

Happy Friday!

There are a few weeks left of summer vacation, and I hope ya’ll are enjoying fun in the sunshine and the last trips of the season.

This 37 week bump and I have been pretty much hibernating inside with the air conditioning, and I’ve delved deep into streaming some great shows the last few weeks.

This post was originally intended to be part of the “Weekend Recap” series. But with the temps in the 90’s the past few days, we didn’t do anything all that noteworthy other than stay cool. That said, we did keep ourselves super busy as a family- a trip to see The Lion King, a few dance parties, a lot of playing dress up and a couple home-cooked meals.

So, instead, I decided to do a little roundup of our favorite ways to spend a summer afternoon when its HOT, HOT, HOT.

Ever since becoming a mom, there are a few products that have become year-round staples in our lives: Hand sanitizer? Check. Band-Aids? Check. Facial tissue? Double Check.

These are the things that fill our home these days. Because germs, and boo-boo’s and sniffling, itchy noses can happen twelve months out of the year now. And that’s just with one little running around the house.

After traveling a bunch the entire month of May and the beginning of June, we finally had a full family weekend at home. And it was just what we needed.

Friday we celebrated Maddie’s birthday with a super low key get together at the house with family. We grilled and enjoyed some good old fashion Carvel ice cream cake and enjoyed our first official BBQ of the season at our house.

Last weekend we packed up the truck and headed to Rhode Island- to the sweet little Quonset Hut run by the Moore family.

I’m happy to report that this past weekend, it finally felt like fall here in Connecticut. And the Matkovics were happy to welcome the crisp air with open arms.

Friday night Phil and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary with dinner at one of our favorite local spots, Lugano- followed by a fire pit and a bottle of wine and lots of laughs at home, just the two of us.