What’s Up Wednesday {August}

With school back in session on Monday I wanted this week to be as simple as possible.  On Sunday we grilled 4 steaks and 4 chicken breasts and roasted some veggies.  

I cooked a big batch of brown rice and put together meals for my lunches this week. 

And Tuesday night I made another stir fry with the remaining grilled chicken, added some veggies and cooked in chicken broth, soy sauce and a pinch of sugar.  It was so good! 

We love some leftovers at our house and it makes it so much easier to eat healthy in a pinch when our schedules become a little crazy.  In addition to prepping my lunches for the week I also made sure to organize plenty of goodies for the kids to grab when packing their lunches.  My kids LOVE having control over what is in their lunch.  You can read my tips and see what they are taking in yesterdays post here!   

My sweet daddy.  August 28th will mark 11 years since he passed away.  I still miss him so much and  I can still hear his voice so clearly calling me {baby girl}.  He died of colon cancer a short 10 weeks after being diagnosed so I always like to remind people this time of  year if you have reached the age of 50 go get that colonoscopy!!  It could save your life. 

Being back on a schedule!  As much fun as we had this {summer} and as much as I love lounging around with my coffee first thing in the morning, there comes a time when a schedule just feels good. We’ll see how long I can stick to a schedule!  

We had a great summer and made some special memories.  I loved taking a look back last Friday with my favorite summer memories here.   I think my only regret looking back is knowing our entire family was only together for a brief piece of it.  

Honestly, there is really nothing I’m dreading right now!  

August 1st marked my one year blogiversary so I am working on some goals for the second year.  I have learned so much but there is still so much room to grow.  There were times this past year when I know I let the blog lead me instead of me leading the blog so I really need to find some balance.  I love this little community but I started this blog to have some fun and remember how much I loved writing and I don’t want the fun to be zapped.  Looking forward to year #2.  

Saturdays spent with friends at Kyle Field!  I’m not going to lie as the students come back and the town comes alive the atmosphere in our little town is just incredible.  The very first time I attended a game at Kyle Field I was 18 years old and totally sold.  This will be the first season in the newly renovated Kyle so it is sure to be nothing short of spectacular.  So much fun and so many great memories.  

You girls out there who are finding great series to watch with your husbands….I am super jealous.  I typically do not watch much TV.  Back in 2009 we had to make some budget cuts at home and the TIVO was the first to go so I don’t have the option to record.  I have recently been trying to find a series that Keith & I could watch from the first episode to the last and so far he has not been the least bit entertained.  If there is the least bit of drama that’s it for him! So…I guess I’m going to have to go solo on this one and I’m really thinking I want to try Friday Night Lights and finish where I left off {in 2009 when I lost TIVO} watching the Good Wife.  

I’m actually reading the book Paper Towns right now and probably shouldn’t admit that I’m liking it since it is categorized as a “teen” book.  Eek…but I am definitely sucked in right now.  

My new favorite song is Southern Style by Darius Rucker.  When things like this cross my mind I think maybe I do really have issues….am I the only one who hears a song sometimes and thinks it could have been written for them?  Oh..that’s just me…insert the embarrassed emoji here.  This song maybe not so much but I seriously listen to some songs and think oh my gosh that sounds just like me.  

It’s still really hot and humid most days here in Texas even though we have had a few reprieves with some rain showers cooling things off.  With school starting I have been trying to begin transitioning my closet to a little more fall palette while still picking lightweight items to stay cool.  

 I put this basic outfit together for church on Sunday.  I seriously felt like a million bucks wearing this simple outfit.  

Kendra Scott Earrings||Rebel Pendant||Pleione Top {similar}||Sam Edelman leopard heels

 To me adding plaid and a little leopard begins to feel like fall!  I chose this outfit for the first day of school.  I really am so glad I purchased these loafers last year as they have been a favorite shoe and I haven’t been able to find another pair I love as much.  

Plaid tops similar here & here||Leopard Belt similar here

We are going to get in one last little summer fling before the kids really get busy with dance and baseball and our weekends are no longer so free.  My mom has a friend with a cozy little house on the river in Matagorda so we are taking off as soon as the kids are done with school on Friday.   We will head out bright and early Saturday morning for some fishing in the bay and then head to the beach in the afternoon and ride some waves.  I have not been fishing since last July so I can hardly wait!  Hoping for a beautiful day and some sweet memories with this crew. 

My baby girl is turning 10!!  How could that even be possible?!!  I blinked friends…just blinked.  Carly loves a good party so we are busy gathering ideas.  Last year she had her first slumber party, a Night Owl Party actually, and she loved it!  You can see all the details here including a fun little owl craft.  She starts planning her next birthday almost the second the current years is over.   

I have a new found love for Target clothing lately.  I have tried shopping for clothes here before but came up short or would purchase something only to find the quality was really poor.  Well friends…the new items showing up for fall at Target knocking it out of the park this season.  You can see some of my top picks from a couple of shopping trips here and here.  Of course I HAD to have the Queen Bee shirt…just too perfect.  

Sadly what I’ve realized over time is we just really don’t have any steady traditions that last from year to year.  I don’t know if that comes from having kids so spread out or what but we kind of just make up our own thing as it comes year after year!  We DO however LOVE taking first day of school pictures and I love browsing social media the first few days to see all the babies and how much they have grown.   This is my very last year to be an elementary school parent…you can read a little bit more about that in my grateful heart post here.  

See previous What’s Up Wednesday posts here!

Visit all the link up parties I love here.

Have a great day!