Friday Thoughts: Life Lately - Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Summer, Summer, Summer!

We took a household trip over spring break, so the youngsters have been realistically prepped that this summer season would largely consist of labor schedules and never trip schedules. 🙃

Both my teenage boys dwelling at dwelling (16 and 17) are working full-time at totally different landscaping corporations. One is within the store of his job studying and doing small engine restore and the opposite is out doing a lot of mowing, weed whipping, building retaining partitions, and so on.

My youngest daughter (13) resides her finest life spending every week at grandma’s home after which coming dwelling to make and promote cookie dough to earn cash for a tennis racquet she actually desires, work on making her first quilt (a very easy design we found on Etsy here), and enjoying a variety of tennis. Thirteen is a very nice age – as her brothers remind her each day. 😉

Brian and the boys are heading as much as Alaska to go deep sea fishing with my dad and several other cousins and uncles in July, however in any other case, we’re right here at dwelling base, and I’m not mad about that. The backyard wants tending, and the youngsters are bottle feeding a calf that was born to one among our cows on our property – in order that’s a each day funding of time.

Mission/Grad Updates

My third son, Cade, graduated high college final month and likewise obtained his mission name (for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) to New Zealand Wellington, Tongan talking. I believe we have been all a little bit shocked! My dad served a church mission in Tonga approach again within the 70’s and by no means thought he’d have one among his posterity be capable of communicate the identical language. It’s very thrilling (and a variety of work serving to with the visa paperwork and gathering garments and provides).

Mother and son standing together with son in graduation robe.

My son serving within the Philippines (Manila mission) has been out for nearly a 12 months. He is flourishing within the midst of very distant dwelling circumstances, and we love speaking to him on Sunday afternoons (his preparation day is on Monday, however as a result of he’s up to now forward of us time-clever, we discuss to him on Sundays).

Sidenote: Hands down, all my boys’ favorite ties are these ones (gifted to us initially by my sister-in-regulation, Mary, and so they’ve been my go-to ties in packages and prepping for his or her missions).

Favorite Things

these are my favorite jumpsuits for summer season: unfastened, flowy, soooo comfortable
cutest dress: the blue shade is beautiful! It’s roomy (I’m normally a medium-ish and I’ve it in small)
comfortable crop denim jacket: that is in all probability a greater merchandise to share for cooler climate, however I like this jacket! It has stretch to it, and it’s actually comfortable and cozy. I’ve it within the mild blue shade. The crop isn’t extreme – I believe the size is ideal for clothes, particularly.
enjoyable bracelet: I’m not an enormous jewellery wearer, however I used to be influenced on Instagram to get this bracelet, and I can attest that the hundreds of critiques don’t lie. It’s implausible, and I at all times get compliments on it. Sometimes I pair it with this one after I’m actually dressing up. 😉
actually great sandals: these footwear are a little bit of a splurge, however they dwell as much as the hype (I’ve them within the pure shade) – they’re additionally out there on the Born website. I’ve worn them all over the place from sightseeing in a small mountain city to church to child’s tennis matches. They are insanely comfy and so cute dressed up or down!
arms-free mop and bucket: okay, so form of a departure from the enjoyable mild trend recs above, however this mop bucket has saved me the previous couple of months. I’ve struggled with hand/wrist ache for months, and wringing out my different mop by hand was killing my fingers and arms. This mop has been a lifesaver for me! I’m nonetheless utilizing it even after my hand ache has started to enhance.

Quick Note About Work and Blogging

I do know issues in all probability look the identical on the floor of my web site, however there was lots happening behind the scenes. Most of it’s a little too techy/boring to share right here.

However, I tremendously admire your endurance for those who discover posts or recipes or formatting seems a little bit wonky over the subsequent few minutes. I’m working feverishly to get the whole lot in tiptop form.

In the ever-evolving quest to handle household life and work life and all of the life in between, I’m at an thrilling but in addition overwhelming level with food running a blog. I’ve an extended record of the way to enhance my web site in order that it continues to be an extended-lasting useful resource for tried-and-true recipes. My mission that started me out on this running a blog journey nearly 18 years in the past continues to be the identical: supplying you with the most effective recipes of my life and staying true to who I’m within the course of.

Husband and wife in yellow canoe wearing life jackets.

Because my web site and enterprise has grown in methods I by no means may have imagined, it’s wanting probably that within the very close to future, I will likely be hiring somebody to assist me with some work-associated duties in order that I can proceed to deal with what I like probably the most: creating content material, taking images of food, and posting and writing about these recipes. I’m very, very excited for the longer term and all of the recipes and content material I’ve to share with you. 💗

1-Year Anniversary

The superb launch occasion for my cookbook was nearly precisely one 12 months in the past!

I’m nonetheless overwhelmed with gratitude after I consider the lots of of you that confirmed up that night time (you’ll be able to see a snapshot video of the event here) and the hundreds of you which have purchased cookbooks during the last 12 months. Your messages of how you utilize and love the cookbook are a treasure, and I learn each one among them.