Three kids standing outside the entrance to PNC Park.

1. We’ve been trying to soak in some end-of-summer fun before school starts next week. We went to a Pirates game – the kids’ first! – and they had such a good time.

2. Earlier in the week, we went to a place a little north of Pittsburgh called Keystone Safari; we had been before, but not for a couple of years. It’s a bit like a zoo, but everything is much closer, and you can feed a lot of the animals. We always love it! Isabelle bonded with the goats :)

Little girl feeding goats through a fence.

3. This has been a busy week of parent night for Dominic and Isabelle’s teachers, then parent night for *gulp* middle school for Joseph, then he had his first middle school social last night, and today is prepping lockers. It’s been a whirlwind. I’m so sad for summer to wind down, but I’m also excited for everything that the kids have to look forward to this year.

4. Since last week, I finished The Shampoo Effect and did not really like it; I didn’t find any of the characters to be likable and felt very ugh about it when I finished it. I’m now onto Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah; I love all of her books so, so much!

5. Some wonderful ideas >> Habits to Have a Baseline of Happiness

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6. A great perspective >> “The disciplined life looks impressive, but the well-designed life lasts longer. Before you try to find more willpower, design your environment and arrange your day so you’re more likely to follow through.” 

7. I got Isabelle some new leggings to try, and she declared the Athleta Girl High Rise Stash Your Treasures Leggings as her favorite; she said they were soooo soft and comfy. I recently had to throw away two pairs of leggings I’d had for at least 15 years, and since Isabelle loved these so much, I found the grown-up version and tried them myself. I can confirm Isabelle’s review – SUPER soft and so comfortable. Bonus: you can buy them in cropped, 7/8, or full-length, and they come in regular, tall, and petite. Truly something for everyone. Highly recommend (both the girls’ and women’s versions)!

8. We are slowly revamping what has been our playroom since the kids were toddlers/babies into an extra family room/sitting room/reading room of sorts. The cabinetry and shelves that we picked out just got delivered yesterday, and we are so excited about it!

9. We’ve been loving the new season of Reacher! What are you watching?

10. TGIF! Judith has been enjoying some long walks these past couple of weeks 🩷

Golden retriever dog laying on a bathroom floor with its mouth open and tongue out.