This post will be short and sweet, as it's pretty self-explanatory and requires very little of my wordsmithing skills... Since Alexis has been home for the summer, afternoon snack time has become a regular occurrence. We always have some little something in the pantry, usually gummies or Little Debbie snack cakes, maybe some chips, but those aren't things I want her to get used to having every day and unintentionally start a bad snacking habit. Thankfully, she discovered the yogurt parfait at Cracker Barrel and an idea was born.

The next time we went to the grocery store, plain/vanilla yogurt, granola, and fruit was on our list. We started with strawberries and blueberries, but have since mixed it up with bananas and apples. I like buying most of the fruit frozen so it keeps longer but we stick with apples and bananas from the produce section.


Here's how we make ours: granola on the bottom, a good amount of yogurt, fruit pieces on top with a little honey drizzled over everything. (Sometimes I just do granola and yogurt, especially for breakfast.) We typically use oat and honey granola, although I also like almond + dark chocolate. The first time we made them at home, I put everything into these cute mason jar goblets we have for some added fun, but mostly we just use regular bowls. Even my husband is on board with this healthier snack option.

Now if I could only get them both on board with hummus...

Animal Adventures with Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary - Owls

Gene Cordova's puppet show at the library.

Animal Adventures - Reptiles (With grandma and grandpa. Mama doesn't do snakes!)

Storytime at the library featuring dragons.

After the stories we made our own dragons.

Celebrating the first official day of Summer with an ice cream cone.

It's so easy to fall into the shorts and t-shirt rut when it's 100 degrees outside. Trust me, I know. I've been living in this very basic combination for the past month. It's just too hot and humid for anything else in south Alabama these days. But that doesn't have to mean a summer full of boring outfits. Achieving an interesting shorts-and-a-tee outfit is actually pretty simple: make sure your shirt has interesting details. I'll demonstrate using my two new favorite pairs of shorts (from Walmart!)


This tank is a triple threat of interesting details. It's got stripes, a tie waist, and buttons. I picked it up from my local T.J.Maxx last week, but of course can't find it on their website (shop similar here, here, here). I like the wider shoulders, v-neck, and not-cotton material of this shirt. It makes it feel a little more dressed up, like I actually made an effort.

I paired it with these raw-hem white denim shorts from Walmart. They are so soft, I almost don't believe their denim. They're made from recycled materials and are under $20. I'm wearing size 8.

I finished the look with my casual white sandals. I feel like they made the outfit a little too light on the bottom, but I didn't like my brown or gold sandals and I didn't feel like wearing anything with a heel. These slides have become my go-to casual shoe. They've got a slightly cushioned footbed so they're comfortable to walk in. The buckles are silver so they're easy to match with jewelry. The only thing I'm regretting about them is the white bottoms. I cannot keep it from looking dingy! Otherwise, I recommend these if you're looking for a cheap alternative.


This is an example of a not-so-basic t-shirt. It may be a solid color, but the buttons and tie waist give it just enough detail to make it interesting on its own. This shirt is really soft, but I felt it ran a tad small so I sized up to a medium. I've been wearing it with patterned bottoms, but for this rainy day I paired it with my new favorite denim shorts (also from Walmart). These feel like I've been wearing them all my life. I like the lighter wash, slight distressing, and rolled cuffs. I'm wearing size 8. I added a white belt to break up the blue tones and my white sandals to match.

Below are four other ways I've been wearing shorts and a tee/tank, with links to their original posts embedded in the pictures.

 

When I asked for an Instant Pot for Christmas last year, I couldn't have guessed how much I'd actually use it. Truth be told, it doesn't save a ton of time on most recipes, but it is convenient in that you can cook everything all at once in one pot instead of dirtying up multiple pots and pans. Plus, anytime I can get by with not turning on my stove or oven, especially in the summer time, is a big win. So when I came across this recipe for tuna casserole, I knew I had to try it. Of course, I modified it for my family's specific tastebuds, meaning no onions or chopped celery. I also bought canned mushrooms instead of ones I would have to chop myself. Those changes made my version simpler but no less delicious.

What You Need
-2 tbsp. Olive Oil
-Small Can Mushrooms
-1 tsp. Sea Salt
-10 oz. Canned Tuna (2 regular sized cans)
-10.5 oz. Cream of Mushroom Soup
-10.5 oz. Cream of Celery Soup
-1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
-4 Cups Chicken Broth
-12 oz. Egg Noodles
-4 oz. Cream Cheese

What You Do
1. Add undrained cans of tuna, cream of mushroom and celery soups, mushrooms, salt and pepper to pot. Mix well. I used a rubber spatula.

2. Add chicken broth and mix.

3. Gently add egg noodles. Push them into the mixture more so than stir to keep them intact.

4. Chunk up your cream cheese and add it in.

5. Secure lid and set manual cook time for 2 minutes. Quick release the pressure once cook time is done. Gently stir to mix in the cream cheese.

6. Eat!

It was another slow month for reading as I had to make myself pick up something new to read. I blame it on the heat sapping all my energy during the day so that by bedtime I want nothing more than to just go to sleep. I actually read five books this month, but I'm only including three because two are part of an incomplete series that's scheduled to publish the final book in a couple of months. At the moment, my opinion on those particular books is incomplete so I'll save my review of them until after I've completed the series. Now on to the good stuff!

Poseidon's Arrow
Author: Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

Summary: The U.S. Navy has developed an attack submarine capable of incredible underwater speeds, but a key component of the prototype is missing and the man who developed it is dead. Meanwhile, ships have been disappearing around the world. When some reappear, bodies are found aboard burned from the inside out. NUMA director, Dirk Pitt, and his children set out to find the truth, which is even greater than they'd imagined, and along the way unearth an unsolved naval mystery.

My thoughts: All the heart eyes for Dirk Pitt. I had almost forgotten how good these books are. The Cusslers have mastered the art of writing a book that requires savoring. I'm the queen of reading a book in one gulp, but never with Dirk Pitt. I read this book over three evenings, and just like when I first started reading the series in middle school, I was drawn into this world. The pacing is fabulous, and I like you can close the book at the end of most chapters without feeling like you're on the edge of a cliff. If you've never tried a Dirk Pitt book, I suggest you start at the beginning of the series and be prepared to be besotted with this green-eyed master diver.

The Moonlit Garden
Author: Corina Bomann

Summary: Lily Kaiser has an uncomplicated life, until one day a mysterious man brings an old violin to her antiques shop and tells her that it belongs to her. The unusual gift sets Lily and her best friend, Ellen, on a journey to discover the instrument's past and how it's inextricably linked to her.

My Thoughts: This book was wonderful. I never felt lost in all the back-and-forth between time periods, which is saying something considering the story was told from three different ones. I thought all the characters were well written and the story flowed nicely. I loved watching the main character, Lilly, blossom. It's so rare to see characters develop in books these days, and to be able to watch Lilly grow into this independent woman was great.

Scarlet Nights
Author: Jude Deveraux

Summary: Sara Shaw is getting married in three weeks, but her fiance, Greg, mysteriously left town and hasn't been responding to her calls, texts or emails. Then, a strange man claiming to be her best friend's brother climbs through a secret trapdoor in her apartment and says he's moving in. Mike Newland is a detective, and his mission is to find one of the country's most notorious criminals - Sara's fiance's mother.

My Thoughts: This was definitely my guilty pleasure read of the month. A little crime and mystery mixed with romance. This was one of those books I read in one gulp. The developing relationship between Sara and Mike was light and humorous despite the seriousness of the situation. Note: There are sex scenes in this book so steer clear if that's not your thing.

I'm always looking for book recommendations. Tell me your most un-put-downable book in the comments!