I hope you all are enjoying your weekend! Today (Saturday) has been one of those long, tiring days. I wasn’t as busy around the house but I think the week just caught up to me. I was reading a story to Augustine while the girls were napping and fell asleep myself! I am not a napper but I also don’t really let myself lie down during the day. Combine lounging on the couch in a sunny room and reading a book, I had no chance!

WHAT WE ATE

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

MONDAY- Creamy but Cream-less Tomato Soup and Biscuits– packed full of so many veggies and incredibly flavorful. Loved the easy biscuits so much too!

TUESDAY- Honey Chipotle Salmon Tacos– easy and so delicious. I didn’t include as much of the chipotle in adobo because of the little ones but Matthew added hot sauce on top.

WEDNESDAY- Soulva-inspired Chicken Salad– yummy and fresh tasting

THURSDAY- One-pan Creamy Boursin Pasta with Shrimp– such a fun way to make spaghetti! I liked the leftovers even better though, to be honest.

FRIDAY- Sourdough Pizza (a repeat of last week’s eggplant, red onion, tomato sauce, mozzarella, garlic, fresh oregano and basil)

SATURDAY- One-Skillet Sausage and Mushroom Cassoulet– I made a cassoulet earlier in the year that was very similar to this and not very good. Why I was inspired to make this one, I’m not sure, but I’m so glad I did! This recipe was so delicious and the kids loved it so much. I can’t wait for the leftovers tomorrow.

SUNDAY- Breakfast for Dinner

WHAT I WORE

I’ve been loving wearing my favorite fall boots! Margaux makes the most beautiful pairs and this one is the best with jeans or dresses. I love the slightly Western-inspired shape. I’ve been looking at their Chelsea Boot lately because it’s in a water-resistant suede that would work rain or shine.

For a park outing, I kept it simple in all black with a denim shirt and sneakers.

SALES TO NOTE

Not on sale, but I have my eye on these ballet flats. I used to have a pair of silver flats in high school that I wore all the time so I’d love to get a pair like these. They look so cute with blue denim!

Anthropologie– Up to 30% off the Fall Haul

Levi’s– 40% off and free shipping! It’s their Black Friday preview sale.

ON MY MIND

Beatrice’s birthday is coming up and I’m planning on making cinnamon rolls. I feel like this might be her traditional birthday breakfast because I made a batch the morning I went into labor with her! This was the recipe I used- with sourdough!

We’ve been soaking up the most beautiful autumn weather in Boise. I’m getting a little sad seeing the leaves fall from the trees in our backyard because the colors have been so beautiful. If you want to fall in love with Idaho, come in the autumn!

Our kiddos have been waking up so early these days. We’re talking 5:30-6am for all 3 of them! The time change is a few weeks away but I’m trying to figure out the best way to adjust them because with the time “falling back,” I’m going to need to get them to sleep in a little later!

Matthew and I had a date night at home last Sunday and it was the perfect way to end our weekend. It’s hard to get quality time just the two of us, not to mention a meal where we can talk without interruptions lol. It worked out well with the kids going to bed early and now I think we need to try to make it a regular thing!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

xox

It’s kind of crazy noting each week of the year because I’m like how are we 40 weeks in?! Obviously, fall is here and we’re getting towards the end of 2023 but just seeing the number blows me a bit away. This week felt a little extra long because Matthew was out of town for work, but we all survived! He got back on Saturday and we grabbed a quick lunch at one of our favorite places in Boise, Certified Kitchen + Bakery. We ran into a friend too (love small-town living) and it seemed like everyone was out because of the gorgeous weather. I think we’re all soaking in these last 70 degree days while enjoying the stunning autumn trees – the colors are incredible right now!

WHAT WE ATE

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

MONDAY- Creamy Gnocchi Soup– so delicious! Definitely a staple during the cooler months.

TUESDAY- Black Bean Flautas – so easy! I mixed black beans and refried beans with cheese, rolled in tortillas, and baked until crispy. Topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, sour cream, guac, and more cheese!

WEDNESDAY- Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken with Carrots and Brussels Sprouts– This was so good and a wonderful reminder of how convenient sheet pan dinners are. Corinna ate all of her Brussels and Augustine ate all of his carrots so I think that’s a win!

THURSDAY- One Pot Lemony Garlic Butter Shrimp Orzo– love how quickly this all came together!

FRIDAY- Creamy Roasted Tomato Ricotta Pasta– Loved making the sauce from all our summer cherry tomatoes!

SATURDAY- leftover soup

SUNDAY- Burgers and Fries- It’s a high of 83 today so that’s burger weather. Taking advantage of a few more grill nights!

I have some of those espresso chocolate chip cookies in the freezer still and I have to say I like them a lot more after they were chilled for 24 hours. They are such a good little afternoon treat with an iced latte.

WHAT I WORE

I gave my cowgirl boots some love this week – love how cute they look with dresses, especially my Christy Dawn dresses (the Dawn is a favorite style!). Use code 15Mara for a discount!

I used up the very last of my Saie tinted moisturizer this week. The three and a half shade has been such a good match and it’s what I’ve been using daily.

SALES TO NOTE

H&M– 20% off sitewide for members!

GAP– 50% off sweaters and 60% off sale

Anthropologie– 25% off Fall Favorites

ON MY MIND

Last Sunday night I watched You’ve Got Mail for the first time in years. It’s such a classic rom-com and it was one of my favorites growing up. It’s amazing how I’ve been able to remember so many lines, even after all these years. Also, that soundtrack is so good! Definitely recommend rewatching it during the fall! “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. ”

Corinna was my little helper at our farmers’ market yesterday. I love getting to spend some quality 1:1 time with her when I can. Also, her bangs are so perfect, aren’t they? Did I tell you she cut them herself?? Much to my dismay of course, although I’ll admit she’s a natural. I had someone touch them up a bit but they didn’t need much help.

Augustine is so sweet with Baby Beatrice. We were outside over the weekend and he was rolling a ball to her and telling her about how he likes to Nerf Gun attack wasp nests.

I took a little break from social media this week which was honestly so good for me. I felt way more productive and happier. I feel like my relationship with that app has changed so much in the past 3-4 years. I heard someone comparing it to a breakup where you know you’re better off apart but not able to officially cut ties. I think that’s where I am right now. I love certain things about it, especially the community, but not much else.

Today we went on a beautiful walk in Kathryn Albertson park. It’s so gorgeous there right now with so many pollinating flowers, not to mention all the fall trees. If you want to fall in love with Boise, come during the fall!

I hope you all have a lovely week!

xox

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! It’s still hot in Boise but we’ve been having these lovely cool mornings that remind me that fall is right around the corner. We decided we’re going to take advantage of having our favorite summer meals a little bit longer which I’m totally ok with. We’ll have lots of time for soups and stews, but when it’s 85 in the evenings something lighter sounds much better.

This was our first week of school and even though we started on Tuesday because of Labor Day, we got through almost everything. I’m trying to remove some of the pressure of homeschooling. The truth is, homeschooling doesn’t (and shouldn’t) look like regular school anyway. It’s a part of our daily life and while that might not work for some families, it does for us. I love that I can do some of the readings with Augustine in the evenings, or over the weekend if we need/want to. And the beauty is that we can make changes if something isn’t working well for us. I’m looking forward to about a month in, which I think is when we’ll find our comfortable rhythm.

WHAT WE ATE

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

MONDAY- Roasted Tomato Soup with Broiled Cheddar (this recipe was not good! When tomato soup is good it’s soo good but this one just tasted like tomato sauce) It was from this cookbook. Next time I’ll stick with our go-to tomato soup recipe.

TUESDAY- Chipotle Steak Taco Bowls– this recipe required a little bit of prep work but we all said it was delicious and I even printed out the recipe to store for the future.  The pepita scallion dressing was so good you could drink it!

WEDNESDAY- Halloumi Roast with Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomatoes- This was so easy and delicious! Roasted Halloumi cheese with late summer produce and piled it onto a bowl of quinoa with a drizzle of balsamic.

THURSDAY- Crispy Shrimp and Broccoli with Rice and a Sesame Peanut Sauce – I ate this recipe cold because it took me awhile to put Beatrice down so it wasn’t my favorite. Another one from this cookbook which I haven’t been nearly as impressed with as this one.

FRIDAY- Beefsteak Skirt Steak Salad with Blue Cheese and Parsley Basil Vinaigrette- Matthew’s ideal meal: steak and salad!

SATURDAY- Burger Night with Salad and Fries- we love mixing our burger meat according to this recipe. It makes it so yummy!

SUNDAY- Grilled Chicken with Summer Squash Salad

For the first day of school, I made blueberry muffins which has become our little tradition the past few years. I made the Smitten Kitchen recipe which the kids really like. They’re not too sweet and there’s a little hint of lemon that’s just right.

I made a really delicious Honey Mama’s knock-off recipe. Matthew and I are doing a little health challenge this month but we’ve ok’d an occasional honey dessert. This one will be a repeat for sure because it satisfies that chocolate craving in a healthier way.

WHAT I WORE

Just a few weeks ago you wouldn’t have found me anywhere close to a pair of jeans, but with our much cooler mornings, I’ve been reaching for this pair of denim and this cardigan. It’s still getting quite warm in the afternoons and evenings so I’ll usually have a midday outfit change into a dress/shorts. This dress silhouette from Christy Dawn is one of my favorites (I have two different prints in the same cut). You can use my code 15MARA for a little discount!

SALES TO NOTE

Abercrombie– 20% off almost everything with YPB purchase

GAP– 30% off your purchase

Nordstrom– End of Summer Sale up to 60% off (lots of cute shoes – see below – but also this cozy FP sweater!)

American Eagle- 20% off off $50, 25% off $75, and 30% off $100 orders

GIGI PIP– Check out their Summer Sale and use code MARA15 for 15% off

ON MY MIND

Getting ready for our homeschool year has taken over every spare minute the past month at least so it’s strange actually to be starting. As I mentioned earlier, I can’t wait to get more into our routine but so far I’m pleased with our curriculum choice of The Good and the Beautiful Math with Ambleside. Ambleside has such a diverse booklist and I really feel like Augustine is getting access to beautiful thoughts and ideas that will hopefully inspire him in a fundamental way. From artists to composers to history, nature study, and literature, it’s truly a feast of riches and I feel lucky that I get to be learning alongside him.

I have been seeing all these cute Samba sneakers everywhere, which reminds me of a pair of black and white ones I had in high school. I came across this beige pair and now it’s high on my wishlist. I love the natural color and I feel like I would wear them a bunch.

I started taking my evening walks again the other night which has been so nice. I had to take a break out of busyness and challenging bedtime routines, but when I can sneak those in I feel so much lighter and calmer. Beatrice has been going through a little bit of a sleep regression at 10 1/2 months. She’s been waking up several times at night and while it’s been common for her to wake once or twice, usually she goes right down to sleep. Lately, however, she’s been waking up and then not going back to sleep as easily. Or I’ll put her down and she’ll be asleep but 7 minutes later she’ll be sitting up in her crib crying. Friday night she was up at 5 am for the day which Matthew and I joke is the normal (but not desired) wake time for babies, according to our first pediatrician. One thing that helps is looking at The Wonder Weeks app which does tell me that she’s in a leap right now (the Leap of Sequences). Reading about that leap reminds me that this too shall pass, and it allows me to be more patient and understanding with her during this period. These challenging times can feel so long and overwhelming sometimes, but it’s just for a short season and before you know it, they’ll be through it. I love how these younger years teach you so much about compassion, patience, and gentleness. Even though I feel utterly exhausted, I’m also cherishing these early years because they are fleeting.

And on that note, I’m going to bed! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and have a wonderful week ahead!

xox

garlic from our garden is strung in the pantry

Corinna was so cute borrowing my sunglasses the other day. A little big but so adorable! (one of my favorite pairs)

the prettiest farmers market flowers