{ on my mind + menu }

1. Love Kris Carr's weekly Love List. What a great idea, no? To share what you are loving each week. What's on your love list?

2. I sort of need a LOVE list today....because we've had sort of a broken list lately. First, the brakes on my car needed replacing $600), then I cracked the glass door of the oven ($120), then the washing machine stopped spinning($400), then we broke my dad's chainsaw ($200), then the hot tub died for good and was hauled off to be recycled for parts, then my windshield cracked from a gravel truck spewing rock on the road ($100). Yup, we've had a broken & battered few weeks around here. I guess that's what emergency savings accounts are for. But how fun would it be if there weren't emergencies and they could be used for plane tickets to the beach!?@! ;)

3. Love this {I Love you today because...} free download from Ali Edwards....I printed out a few sheets cut them into strips and we've been filling out a few each day and putting them into a mason jar.

4. Thinking we should get rid of our TV too...

5. I'm trying to savor all of the remaining weeks of summer before Samme returns to school...pool jaunts, road trips, lots of icecream, etc. So I'm going to take a brief hiatus from the blog while I do this. Stay tuned for our camper remodel (wait until you see it!), packing tips, back to school organization tips, new notepad sneak peek (so fun!), the return of the spending hiatus (much needed!) & more...

{ on my mind + menu }

1. Life is short. I'm praying for this family.
2. Considering doing another juice cleanse soon. When I weave in 1-3 day healthy food cleanses, I’m much more likely to eat well the majority of the time, which keeps my mood positive, my mind clear and my body feeling energized.
3. A great post on the importance of having fun with your kids.
4. Check out these cute free printables.
5. Love this post by Traci about having a "home court advantage." I completely agree that having a home filled with lots of children, laughter & fun is so important. I love how my daughter's friends WANT to be here with us.
6. I think someone could make a lot of money selling cute IKEA things like these and these on ebay (the things you can't buy from them online). I live 8 hours from the closest IKEA people. Mark them up 50% and I'd still be a happy girl. Any takers?
7. As soon as I get my act together I am going to do a post on how to pack for a 2 week trip with one carry-on. Yup, I consider myself an EXPERT packer. It has helped tremendously since I've simplified my wardrobe and pretty much only have black, gray, white & purple clothes. Everything is interchangeable and coordinates.
8. Henry's adorable adoptive family's 13 year old Aunt Izzy...wow, that was a mouth full... came to visit us this weekend...and all I can say is IF we were to ever adopt another child it would be a 13 year old girl. It was like having a LIVE IN SUPER FUN babysitter all weekend. Score. I busted out yard work, to do's, errands, a long run & more.
9. Made this and everyone loved it.
10. Loving my new swimsuit for the beach vaca from here. If you want one use coupon code: JEN2010 for 10% off.
11. Can anyone tell me the BEST book to read this summer on the beach? Something light and interesting and thoughtprovoking and not cheesy? Something along the lines of Eat, Pray, Love? I'm thinking this....but open to other suggestions?
12. This dress is now mine. In love.
13. A super interesting article about the trials (and promises) of parenting.
13. Been dreaming about spending 3-ish months on the road with the family next fall...in an airstream.

image via sunset

{ on my mind + menu }

1. This week, we are eating: lots of smoothies, almond butter + jelly sandwiches on the go, big salads with greens & veggies from the farmers market with grilled fish & veggies, etc. In the summer I hate to cook. I really do. I'd much rather be on the back deck sipping a margarita, ya know what I mean? So we keep it simple around here. I don't slave in the kitchen.
2. Y'all are going to kill me for writing this, but I started my Christmas shopping. I found an antique vanity for Sam at thrift store for her room and was tempted to give it to her right away but I am going to paint it and give it to her for Christmas.
3. Love Hanna Anderson's kids backpacks/lunchboxes, etc. Of course my daughter wants the leopard print one. And, yes, I'm thinking about back to school time too. ;)
4. Working on press + marketing stuff for three separate businesses is giving me a BIG headache.
5. A great post on simplifying your wardrobe.
6. Love these eco-friendly picnic boxes.
7. I'm feeling kind of whooped lately. Anyone else? It's hot out and I'm tired. I think I need a break. Just not sure how to fit one in. And yes, I know I do this to myself - like...attempt to go to press with a new product 10 days before leaving town (btw, sneak peek coming soon - its awesome!); host company; have friends over for dinner; squeeze in a girls night; plan fun outings with the kids; help my mom host a cocktail party; inventory; start a big landscaping project; for for a LONG run, etc.
8. Must drink more green juice this week (and not the lime margarita kind).
9. This past week, everyday felt like a Monday. You know the crazy kind of Monday? Yes, everyday was like that. Am going to go to yoga class this Monday morning at 9AM. Must start the week off with some ZEN.
10. Super bummed about Lance's super bad luck day at the Tour de France...

ps - Only a few days left for the 15% off sale at LobotoME.com (use coupon code: eclipse)

{ on my mind + menu }

1. Love this house. Love everything about it. But mostly the framed swedish flag.
2. The kids love everything about this chocolate playdough.
3. The 4th holiday was fun - loads of smores, hikes, kayaking, slip+slide time, margaritas on the deck & sparklers galore. But I'm not going to lie it was a work-cation too. We re-did (repainted, re-arranged, etc.) the kids bedrooms, painted the garage door, started cleaning up the garage, did some yard work, caught up with some work-work, etc. Will jokingly said at one point when we were working over the weekend - we are celebrating independence day by working towards financial independence on independence day. :)
4. Canceled a few fun trips we had planned this month because I am feeling the need to slow down and savor the days of summer and not pack and unpack and pack again.
5. Saw Eclipse (finally) and enjoyed it but didn't LOVE it. I know, what's wrong with ME, right? I think I might be sort of getting over my Twilight obsession....gasp. ;) But we had so much fun on date night, I didn't want it to end.
6. Listed some more stuff on ebay. Let the purging (and bidding) commence.
7. Oh and I've got a FUN, new limited edition LobotoME notepad coming soon! Can't wait to share it all with you! Stay tuned for a sneak peek next week!
8. Don't forget Gabby's 4 Week online bootcamp starts today! Get moving! Go!
9. My productivity needs to be amped up this month before we are gone on a 2 week roadtrip in the northeast. Unfortunately, instead of getting a jump start this morning, I was glued to the tv watching the Tour de France and I imagine I will be glued to it each morning for the next 3 weeks. Good thing I don't have an office to report "late" too.
10. Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. It seems like it was just yesterday....we have such fond memories of our wedding - it was such a blast! We are going to renew our vows in year 10 and take a BIG trip for our tenth (just the two of us...Fiji if we can!)
10. Going to go on a few sunrise runs this week, drink lots of green juice, make some big salads to go with whatever Will wants to throw on the grill, clean the house (it needs it), go to the pool a bunch with the kids and work on some press + marketing stuff for our businesses. What are you up to this week? Go!

{ on my mind + menu }

1. Summer is turning out good, but it's a little more stressful than I imagined (and hoped). It always is. Races, kids out of school, trips, packing for trips, WORK, not a whole lot of time to lay in the hammock (although I did PUT IT UP this year, which is progress people). Note to self: Go lay in it soon.
2. These muffins. Yum.
3. It's time to pull together Media Kits for Holiday Gift Guide pitches. When it's 88 degrees outside. Suffice to say I'm procrastinating on this to do item big time.
4. I'm digging these summer learning workbooks. So is Sam. We try to work on them for an hour a day.
5. Everyone keeps asking how I get work done in the summer with the kids at home....I've got 2 days a week this summer when the kids are in summer camp. So, what I'm doing...I make Lists! I am the queen of lists (as you know) – I have only two days to get everything done! I write a list of things that need to be done for the week (e.g. shipping, responding to emails and orders, admin), and then I basically divide up those two days into chunks of time and BUST A MOVE.
6. I { heart} Eclipse. Edward. Swoon. Enough said.
7. Everytime I keep saying I'm going to work less, more work comes in. Its like the anti-karma. I put out to the universe that I need some peace, some rest, and BOOM, orders come flying in. I put out to the world that I need orders to come in, and zilch. I'm a nice person. I don't get it. But I'm trying not to complain. Really.
8. I've had about 50 people email me and tell me they want me to get back to my "regular" blogging and they hate these lists. Sorry to disappoint people, but I can't put together ANY coherent posts about ANYTHING right now...or my head might explode. Want eloquent posts about deep topics, visit here. Want long posts about how to be better organized, go here. Want more reading, visit my lovely blogroll over to the right of this post. Happy reading. This is all I've got in me right now. ;)
9. Love Gwen's idea of a digital sabbatical. I might just join in for the rest of the month - minus the write a book part! ;)
10. Love this 4 week boot camp (online) Gabby is hosting. Starts July 6th. 3-4 day a week workouts & healthy meal plans - this would be perfect for those of you who need a little jumpstart...Whose in?
11. Been thinking a ton about this post...a must read....Life is short. I've been trying to hold on extra tight to the little ones lately and love on them all day long.
12. Been making everything with delicious POM wonderful juice (100% pomegranate juice, unlike others that claim that they are pomegranate juice but only 0.3% is).... The kids love it too - here's what we make with it.... Pomegranate juice topped snow cones - perfect for hot summer days; Pomegranate mojitos; Mixed Berry smoothies & popsicles (1 cup POM wonderful; 1 cup mixed forzen berries; 1 cup fresh spinach; 1/2 cup ice; 1 banana = yum; POM margaritas (1 cup POM wonderful pomegranate juice; 1/2 cup tequilla; 1/2 cup frozen apple juice; 1/2 cup frozen limeaid; ICE, blend until frothy = double yum.
13. This No Spend Month might be just what I need to kick start the mindful consumption phase again! But, I think its hard to do in the summer, no?
14. Happy 4th of July everyone! We've got our veggie dogs, flags, camping gear + sparklers ready to go!

ps - I love this picture of Samme when she was little running through the sprinklers at my parents house. One of my all time favorites. Perfectly captures the essence of summer...

And on that note, I leave you with this quote:

"I'd give all wealth that years have piled,
The slow result of Life's Decay,
To be once more a little child
For one bright summer-day." - Lewis Carroll