22: week in review

June 4, 2023

doen gingham dress - M Loves M @marmar

I hope you all had a lovely week! It’s always nice to have a short post-holiday week, don’t you think? Summer was in the air this week and I think it helped boost all of our spirits. I always get so excited the week after Memorial Day because I know June is around the corner and we’re about to create so many summer memories. While we don’t have any summer trips planned, it will be nice to enjoy being home and going on some local adventures.

Here’s a little recap of our week:

WHAT WE ATE

my plan is to share the meals I made the previous week, with links if possible, as some inspiration for your own menu planning.

MONDAY- Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries for Memorial Day

TUESDAY- Grilled Tri-Tip with Basil Vinaigrette and a Tuscan Bread and Tomato Salad – this bread salad is a mix between a Panzanella and a Caprese and it’s hands down one of our all-time favorite summer recipes!

WEDNESDAY- Meatloaf and Potato Salad – from this cookbook. Somewhat similar to this recipe of hers but would highly recommend trying the cookbook version.

THURSDAY- leftovers

FRIDAY- Roast Chicken with Feta and Cucumber Salad

SATURDAY- Garlic Ginger Shrimp Stir Fry with Coconut Rice

SUNDAY- Penne with the kid’s favorite pink sauce, homemade sourdough, and a big salad

I made this buttered pecan granola this week and it was SO yummy! Everyone loved it and kept asking for bowls throughout the day. Hard to resist!

homemade granola - M Loves M @marmar burger night - M Loves M @marmar

WHAT I WORE

One of my favorite brands is Doen but it is a little bit pricey- justifiable if you read about their mission and ethical work practices. While I can’t buy their pieces that often I love looking for second-hand deals. This brown gingham dress was one of them from an Instagram friend. It’s made out of a lovely linen and it’s a perfect dress for wearing around the house, or belting it and adding sandals for running errands. Here are some favorites from the brand:

I’ve been loving my new summer sandals. They have the prettiest lace up detail and even come in a heel version! You can get the sandals here and also over here in white.

kaanas sandals - M Loves M @marmar doen gingham dress - M Loves M @marmar

SALES TO NOTE

GapUp to 50% off and extra 20% off

Shopbop– Up to 60% off sale

ON MY MIND

I have been having a hard time making working out a priority these days but I know how beneficial it is for me in so many ways. This week, however, I made it onto the elliptical twice and I feel like that’s a small but big accomplishment. What helped was that I watched Mamma Mia! on Amazon Prime while I was working out, which is one of my favorite movies. It’s such a feel-good musical and I love singing all the songs so it helped pass the time quickly. Looking forward to more workouts this week so I can develop a regular habit.

Wednesday was such a fun day. We picked up a new scooter for Augustine and went on a walk/ride along the Boise Greenbelt. The weather was so perfect and it was such a special time. I’ll probably think back to that day quite a bit.

We also rearranged our living room this week which has made a huge difference! It feels like the new layout works way better for our space and it just flows much more nicely. I think I should try rearranging some other rooms while I’m at it!

Beatrice has 4 teeth, which I think I mentioned last week. She also started saying Dada which is so precious! I love how she’ll move her mouth in an attempt to say it when she sees Matthew. I’m working hard to have Mama be her next word!

It’s my birthday week !! so I’m planning a little lunch date with Matthew and a manicure with a girlfriend. Thankful the Lord has blessed me with this beautiful life. While it can be full of challenges, He gives me peace and joy in everyday moments. I’m looking forward to seeing what this next year has in store!

 

Have a lovely rest of your weekend and a great week!

xox

living room - M Loves M @marmar mama and beatrice - M Loves M @marmar boise foothills - M Loves M @marmar dawson taylor - M Loves M @marmar boise greenbelt-  M Loves M @marmar rearranged living room - M Loves M @marmar downtown boise - M Loves M @marmar boise capital - M Loves M @marmar

21: week in review

May 28, 2023

sitting on the couch with baby beatrice - M Loves M @marmar

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the holiday weekend! Summer is unofficially here, right?? We’re planning on going for a walk along the river tomorrow and then coming back home to grill. This past week went by so fast but like I mentioned last week, our activities rapped up so now we’re officially in summer mode! Here’s a little recap of our week:

WHAT WE ATE

my plan is to share the meals I made the previous week, with links if possible, as some inspiration for your own menu planning.

MONDAY- White Bean Soup with fresh Sourdough

TUESDAY- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos

WEDNESDAY- Grilled Flank Steak with a Basil Vinaigrette and Herby Orzo

THURSDAY- BBQ Chicken Salad

FRIDAY- Dinner at a friend’s house- They made the yummiest fish tacos with mango salsa and black rice.

SATURDAY- Spaghetti alla Nerano

SUNDAY- Chicken Enchiladas

special sunday night dinner - M Loves M @marmar coconut cake - M Loves M @marmar baby feet at dinner - M Loves M @marmar bbq chicken salad - M Loves M @marmar taco night - M Loves M @marmar ultimate sourdough banana bread - M Loves M @marmar apple tart - M Loves M @marmar

I made these chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and they are SO good! Mine turned out a little thinner than the photo but the flavor was so good! Perfectly crispy edges and soft chewy interior. I definitely will make them again!

Also made this delicious sourdough banana bread recipe. I’ve made it before and it’s so classic. Perfectly soft and not too sweet!

I made Alison Roman’s Coconut Cake last Sunday like I had mentioned. It was really good and not too sweet. The buttercream/cream cheese frosting reminded me of carrot cake so it would be a great alternative. And I also made her Carmelized Apple Tart to bring over to a friend’s house which was delicious too.

new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe - M Loves M @marmar spaghetti alla verano - M Loves M @marmar

WHAT I WORE

margaux midtown boot - M Loves M @marmar

I got my new boots from Margaux and they are so cute and comfortable! I love that it’s a small business and they handmake their shoes in Spain. Yes, they’re pricier but the quality is so good. I can vouch because I have a pair of their Demi flats from 3 years ago that are still going strong. The Woven mule is next on my wishlist.

SALES TO NOTE

Lots of Memorial Day Sales right now!

Anthropologie– Extra 40% off sale

J.Crew– Extra 60% off sale style + 40% off everything else. Use code WEEKEND

Gigi Pip– 20% off- I especially love this straw hat and this one.

Everlane– Up to 30% off- so many great basics!

Jenni Kayne– 20% off everything! Use code MDWEVENT.  Their Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan is basically famous so if you’ve been looking, this might be a good time to get it! I have my eye on this square rib tank and these oiled leather sandals look so cute and comfortable. Their slip dresses look dressed up/down.

Maisonette– Up to 40% off plus an extra 10% off

ON MY MIND

Sezane is one of my favorite sites to “window shop” on. They have the most beautiful pieces. Here are some favorites:

We’ve been reading so many great picture books lately. It’s been a fun activity to do in the afternoons together. Here are some of our recent favorites:

One of my favorite restaurants in California had the most beautiful collection of floral plates and I’ve been wanting to build up a mismatched collection of my own. I LOVE green floral prints and found these at Zara Home that look like exactly what I want. Matthew thanks we have too many plates already but I just love the idea of using ones like these as our everyday plates. Life is too short to not eat on pretty plates right??

Beatrice got her second front tooth in this week! So thankful because it was causing her a lot of pain. She loved to be front-facing in my carrier this week. We took a nice walk to the park and she loved to watch the older two run around and go down the slide.

We went on a walk along the Boise Greenbelt this week and the water has been running so fast! It’s always such a pretty walk, especially with the blooming trees. Getting a coffee from Push & Pour before heading out is a pro move!

We’re enjoying lighter evenings these days because the sun has been setting around 9:15 pm lately. I’ve loved lighting a candle (love this one) and doing dishes/cleaning up before heading to bed. The extra 30 minutes spent cleaning is so worth it to wake up to a cleanish house.

beatrice at seven months - M Loves M @marmar boise greenbelt walk - M Loves M @marmar clean kitchen - M Loves M @marmar front carrying ergo baby embrace - M Loves M @marmar curled hair - M Loves M @marmar my girls - M Loves M @marmar garden bed - M Loves M @marmar dancing with bea - M Loves M @marmar morning bible time - M Loves M @marmar happy baby beatrice- M Loves M @marmarfrench braids on corinna - M Loves M @marmarbedside candle diptyque baies - M Loves M @marmar

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

xox

20: week in review

May 21, 2023

classic feminine style boise blogger - M Loves M @marmar

Wow have there really been 20 weeks of 2023?! I guess so! It feels like spring/summer is in full force around here. We had a really busy day yesterday with a baseball game and Corinna’s ballet recital so today I’m looking forward to having no plans. Also, a day with normal naps for baby Beatrice will be good. I felt so bad for her schedule yesterday – being in the car and at the events made for one tired and fussy baby.

Here’s a little recap of our week:

WHAT WE ATE

my plan is to share the meals I made the previous week, with links if possible, as some inspiration for your own menu planning.

MONDAY- Sundried Tomato and Avocado Salad

TUESDAY- Santa Maria Tri-Tip with Chipotle Salsa, Guacamole, and Sourdough Tortillas

WEDNESDAY- Browned Butter and Sage Chicken Pot Pie from this cookbook

THURSDAY- Lemon Butter Cod with Orzo and Asparagus

FRIDAY- Spaghetti Squash Alfredo (this looks like a yummy vegan version!)

SATURDAY- Pizza

SUNDAY- Grill Night

My special dessert of the week (if I can hopefully get around to it today) is going to be the coconut cake from Alison Roman’s new cookbook. It looks so delicious and I know Matthew will love it because he’s a big fan of anything coconut.

baked cod with orzo and asparagus - M Loves M @marmar

WHAT I WORE

Hat weather is here! I’ve gotten a few from Gigi Pip that I love. The quality is so good. Use code MARA15 for a discount.

I’ve been reaching for my white dresses these days and while this one is no longer available, I noticed the brand makes some perfect white blouses which is another warm-weather favorite. This one has such pretty sleeves – and this one too!

I got a new pair of summer sandals which are so pretty with the wraparound detail. They’re from the brand Kaanas and you can also get them here in white. You can also get them here and also here in a slingback version!

white dress lilac in spring - M Loves M @marmar linen shorts with light knit sweater - M Loves M @marmargigi pip hat - M Loves M @marmar

SALES TO NOTE

GAP– BIG sale! 60% off Summer Style and 40% off everything else! Love this linen boyfriend shirt and these olive green shorts. Pair with this straw tote!

Maisonette– Up to 30% off plus an extra 10% off tomorrow though the 27th with code EXTRA10. Check out their Summer Shop for some warm-weather essentials.

LOFT– Another Mystery Sale at LOFT!

ON MY MIND

This week is our official close out of our school year activities. Augustine’s last baseball game is Monday and Corinna’s last ballet class is on Thursday. I’m so looking forward to not having a lot of things on our calendar. It will make for carefree summer with lots of time outside, play dates with friends, and spontaneous adventures.

I have these black sandals on my mind. Normally I would gravitate towards the Buff color but my friend always wears the black ones. She says they are so comfortable and go with everything. Chatting with her made me realize that black sandals are definitely a hole in my wardrobe and can see myself wearing these a bunch.

Have any of you read Atomic Habits? I requested a copy from our library because I heard good things about it. The book is supposed to help break bad habits and build better ones.

I wanted to get this swimsuit last year but held off since I was pregnant, although it is a one size fits all. Have any of you tried this style? It’s simple but classic!

We had a Poetry in the Park get-together with our nature group on Friday and it was so adorable to see the children get up and recite poetry. There were a lot of favorites from this book. We love to read a poem in the mornings at breakfast, or during our 3 pm tea time.

My mother-in-law gave me these beautiful flowers for Mother’s Day and they’re a new favorite because she got them for me last year after we told her we were pregnant. I put them on our console and they bring a little happiness every time I pass by.

poetry in the park with baby beatrice - M Loves M @marmar kathryn albertson park in boise - M Loves M @marmar ballet recital - M Loves M @marmarmedia console lulu and georgia - M Loves M @marmar neighborhood walk in boise - M Loves M @marmarice cream rattle - M Loves M @marmar

Have a wonderful week everyone!
xox