Last updated on May 5th, 2024 at 02:08 pm
We have reached Friday… YAY! I hope you all have had a lovely week and gearing up for a great summer with your little ones too. We are almost half way through our summer here in the states. I can’t believe how fast it’s flying by even though we have been living life slowly and hanging out with family. We really have made the most of our time here this year trying to see everyone but also just making great memories here at my parents house too. Now, that the kids are getting a little older they are bonding so much more with their grandparents. It’s very touching. I am grateful for this time with my family as it is so hard to go all year without them close to us. We still have a lot of family to see before we return to the UK too. I can’t wait.
I have been taking it slow on the blog, so apologies to everyone I will try to catch up on commenting when I get back. I think it’s important every once in a while to recharge your batteries and chill out. So this is what I am doing with my kiddos. I have been reading a lot, going for walks, eating a healthier meal plan, and even doing crafts with the kids. All the things I have been saying I want to do more of, we are doing.
Let’s share the little things I am loving this week.
READ
I am still reading the Vacationers, a little every night. I am enjoying reading again on a regular basis. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book if you are looking for a good read. It’s very slow starting but good for an easy nightly, few chapters on holiday. I have ordered The Girl on the Train, so I am impatiently waiting for it’s arrival. I have seen it on a few #littleloves recommendations.
HEARD
So sorry UK readers, but I am a huge country music fan as many of you know. I don’t share it as much as I used to but I am loving being home and listening to all my old country music radio stations. When you have to drive as much as I do living here, it’s great. My parents live 45 minutes to the nearest grocery store so when I run to the store for milk it’s a road trip, giving me plenty of time to listen to unlimited amounts of country music. Pure heaven. Love Thomas Rhett’s deep voice here.
WATCHED
I have been watching the show Chopped with my parents. While I am a huge foodie, I don’t know how people make up recipes on the spot with a timer going and come out with so many amazing dishes. It’s fantastic. I have whole list of recipes I want to create this summer and when I get back home. It’s a great show. There are so many food competition shows here which are great but hard to watch when you are on a healthy eating challenge.
WORE
I have been shopping in the states, a little here and there. It’s so cheap here it’s hard to refrain from a cute outfit for the kids or a bargain sale for myself. I am going to have to bring another suitcase home. Oops. I love these vibrant teal shorts on MM and matching top with chevrons. I have been using my new mini handbag everyday too. It’s the perfect size for my phone and wallet and car keys. It’s perfect for traveling and makes it easier than digging in the diaper bag for my stuff. I love the vibrant pink color of it too. I got it more than 60% off which is always a bonus.
MADE
I am back in the kitchen and while I am on a 30 day, no junk, challenge this was very hard to make this week but turned out fantastic according to my family, especially my Dad. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, while I hardly eat it in the morning I am a huge fan of it for lunch or dinner. This is going to be a frequent on our dining room table. Try my Egg & Bacon Breakfast Pizza or pin it for later. Would love to know what you think?
AND LASTLY…
There are SO many reasons being home for the summer, each year is amazing. I have talked a lot the last two years of how bittersweet it is to watch my kids make childhood memories in the same places that I have childhood memories. You can peak at my Instagram to know how beautiful the country side is here. But a big one for me is a tradition that my friends that I have had my whole life come home to visit too and we catch up. Yesterday, we got some of us together and the kids played so hard all day together. I sat there chatting away with my friends while watching our kids jumping in and out of the pool and I thought to myself how amazing is this? Both of these girls I have known my entire life, we have always been friends. I have more memories with these two (and one other friend that I am seeing next week) than with any other people in my life. It’s not often you get to keep people in your life that long. Every summer, we get the kids together and I hope they are forever friends too. It felt so good to be surrounded by friends that knew everything about me and catching up with them was fantastic. I am grateful they come home to visit in the summer at the same time I do. I can’t wait to see my other life long friend next week. I am grateful my best friend is one of them and lives here so I spend the whole summer with her and her beautiful daughter. Home really does hold so much for me, not just family, not just friends, not just culture, but memories and happiness with them all. 
It’s so lovely to hear your updates from the U.S. It sounds like life is going along nice and gently for a while which can only be a good thing!
It’s a beautiful thing Carie and I am loving life at the minute and only sad Mr P isn’t along for the ride. We are missing him so much but my family are loving having the kids around too.
I love a bit of Country music. Fab! That pizza breakfast looks amazing. Will have to give it a try. You sound like you are having the most wonderful time back home. I’m sure you are missing your husband and home in the UK a lotta lot but it must be so nice to be back where you grew up with all your friends and family surrounding you.
Thanks Laura. Glad I have another country fan reading. lol The pizza turned out AMAZING although I couldn’t eat it on my 30 day challenge of no junk. Missing my hubby so very much but my family is loving having us here with them. Especially the kids. It’s great to be home so comfortable here.
I’m getting itchy feet to go back to the States again with all these updates Jenny! And I LOVE country music, so keep it coming as far as I’m concerned.. Love MMs little chevron top too… Assuming they don’t come in adult sizes?,
I wish they came in my size I would have scooped it up for myself too. Love a good matchy outfit set. lol The states are awesome but I am bias. I could listen to country music all day. It’s heavenly. I used to do round ups each week of my top ten favorite country songs so you can look back at Music to my Ears. I don’t do them anymore as no one ever read those posts hahaha. Thanks hun.
And to think sometimes I moan about popping over the road to get milk! Sounds like you’re having a fab time, can’t believe you’re half way through already x
Yes I know. I used to do that too. NO one understand just how remote we are in the mountains here. I ran out of wipes and it took two hours there and back just to get some. Road trip every other day just about. lol 🙂 But I am so used to it as it was like that to go to school. Talk about a school run for my mother.
It sounds like you are having an amazing time back home. It must be lovely to be spending time with your family. I used to live abroad as a child and remember how great it was when we came home on holiday. Make the most of it! It sounds as though you are xxx
Ah Jenny you are really lucky to have a group of such good friends all with children similar ages who you get to see every year. When I was reading that paragraph about those people sharing more memories with you than anyone else and knowing everything about you it made me think of some of my best friends who are scattered far and wide (as far as San Francisco) and who I manage to catch up with so rarely these days. That pizza looks To. Die. For. – is it considered ‘healthy eating with the cheese? I need to be eating healthier too. Had a lot of fish this week though (prawns in lemon pasta, baked salmon and cod in lemon butter sauce!) so I guess that’s good going! I always used to love watching Masterchef but I haven’t seen it for a while – so many episodes it’s hard to keep up! Have a lovely weekend Xx #littleloves
Ah Jenny i am so glad you are having a lovely time, it must be so hard wanting to be in two places at once, I feel this a little but Essex is only 4 hours away so doesn’t feel as bad. I love your bag and omg Girl on the train is just amazing I have just finished it a great read x
It sounds like you are having such an amazing time and a very well deserved break and rest. You’re right, sometimes we need to switch off and just chill out to recharge our batteries.
I’m so jealous of all the shopping you can do in the States, looks like you’re picking up some mega bargains! xxx
It’s full of bargains and it’s hard not to go over the top as you realize it so cheap from what it is in the UK. Especially designer gear. I am half attempt to buy it all just to resell it. lol It will be a summer to remember for sure. I love it here. It’s been so good to chill and recharge I was getting way too in over my head on a few things. Thanks lovely. Have a great weekend.
Its lovely to hear you are having such a wonderful time Jenny! Loving your mini bag and why not make the most of the cheaper clothing? Have a wonderful weekend {and a few more weeks ahead} in the sun!
Thanks Anna-Marie, we really are having a blast. Each week, there is someone new to visit and a new adventure waiting for us to enjoy. I love it here with so much to do. One could never get bored. Yes lots more sun to come. 🙂
Love seeing what you’re getting up to in the US and you look like you have an amazing time. 45 minutes to the nearest grocery store! Wow that is a long drive! Saying that I do love just jumping in the car, turning up the radio and singing along while admiring the scenery – god I sound old!
I just packed my 13 year old daughter off with my mum for the summer after having my mum here with us for a week and I love how close they are. Even my 3 year old adores his nanny and despite the distance it’s like they’re never apart.
Enjoy the rest of your time there x
Oh that sounds great summer with Grandma. I bet she will love that. How fun. Yes it takes getting used to for the kids but I am used to from growing up here. A whole new concept to the school run. lol Thanks glad you are enjoying my holiday spamming. lol My instagram is flooding with photos.
Such a lovely round up Jenny! It sounds like you all are employed embracing the slower pace of life there. Love that you and your best friends have kids around the same age and meet up! That breakfast pizza looks so good!
Love a bargain and those clothes are gorgeous! I love your bag….the colour is beautiful! Enjoy your week – and best of luck with the no junk food xxxxx
I don’t know how you live so far away from your family – I would find it so hard! Thank goodness you get to have a lengthy visit and relax a bit. I don’t know why Country music isn’t that popular here? I know I could really get into. I loved listening to that song and he’s rather dishy too 😉 I’m also a huge breakfast fan. It’s the best! xx
Sounds like you’re having an absolutely wonderful time…no place like home! It must be so wonderful seeing your kids playing with your friends’ kids 🙂 hope you keep having an amazing holiday xx
There really is no better place like home for sure. I am loving our summers here and the kids too. We have so much fun and so much to do outdoors. Good for the kids to play outside as much as possible before we return to the UK. lol
What a lovely #littleloves. The breakfast pizza looks soooo scrummy and our girls would love it! Think we’ll have to give it o a go over the summer. Have a fab week xxx
It turned out great, you will love it and so easy to make for the family. Thanks hun. Have a fab week too.
So pleased to read that you’re taking a step back from bloggy stuff and that you’re taking this time to chill and re-charge.
LOVE that bag – such a lovely colour!
Really enjoying following your pics on instagram xx
Thanks lovely. I have really done it this time I have only been blogging maybe twice a week and just chilling and except for the odd instagram photo during the day haven’t been keeping organized but I do have a million emails I really need to answer ooops. hahaha But it’s been the best summer ever. I feel so much better for it.
You can see from your pictures how much you are all enjoying being home. Your little ones are growing so quickly too. Great little round up #LittleLoves x
Thanks Kerri-Ann we truly are, family is the best medicine. They are huge lately I can’t believe it. We were planning on a little shopping but we have had to do a lot because they grew out of everything I brought. lol
Your day with your friends sounds just perfect, how lovely that all the children can play together and you can carry on where you left off. Beautiful days x
Thank you so much. It really was a great catch up with friends and I love coming home each year and having that to look forward to. We always have a blast together.