The summer enthusiasm portions somehow got a little mixed up, because I’m certain I got two helpings and someone’s missing their share. I’m trying not to blow the bucket list in one day. Because right now one whiff of barbecue smoke on a Friday night on the cusp of June has me all Let’s have a lemonade stand right this second. Kids, get your sunhats. Brett, plant a strawberry patch. Light the sparklers! Cue the s’mores! I want Mungo Jerry piped in on driveway speakers. I want tents in the front yard. I want to erect an outdoor neighborhood theater where Parent Trap plays on repeat and we pass out free snow cones and cold Cokes in glass bottles. I want a sail on top of my minivan and a life preserver strapped to my fender. And dammit, SOMEONE GET ME SOMETHING FRUITY TO DRINK IN A COCONUT WITH A STRAW.  I am one bird chirp song away from slipping into a floral caftan and ordering flipflop potholders from a Lillian Vernon catalogue, so hold me back, man.

Our mama friends texted a lot this week, setting up pool parties, breakfast dates and making summer plans. And we begin looking forward to one of our favorite annual adventures, our stay at Poppa’s lake in Michigan.

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Look at Baby Dash!

With dock dreams on our mind, today’s Friday Faves are lake-inspired goodies.

1. Hatley Fishing Lure Pajamas, unisex, adorable (this shorts version for hot weather)

2. This is where Brett gets excited and steps into the blog arena because, quoting him, “I know this stuff better than you do.” Fishing is his territory, so per his suggestions:
For bigger kids (Lainey’s age): Zebco Spincast  with a real hook where you can actually catch fish, For toddlers: Kid Casters Safe Hook & Training Lure (when dropped in water, lures expand to sponge fish) and this adorable play fishing pole with magnetic pretend bass from Small World Toys.  Plano “Take Me Fishing” Tackle Box is a nice accessory–a kid-sized box filled with tackle. Why, thank you Brett.

3. Wooden Sailboats, Magic Cabin. Santa brought us a Magic Cabin wood sailboat two years ago for Christmas, and it’s beautiful. Floats in water and works great as a toy but serves as art in Dash’s room when it’s not in use.

4. Kids Campfire & S’mores Play Set from Learning Resources. Have an indoor fire with this set under blanket tents on rainy days or drag it to the back yard for afternoon campfires. It comes complete with s’mores, play lantern, hot dogs–and no need to worry about fire safety.

5. Nature Connection Workbook  Love, love this workbook. Encourages you to continually learn and explore throughout the summer with ideas for observing and recording nature. Drawing guides, fun scavenger hunts, interesting information, talking guides and lessons.

6. Honest Bug Spray from naturally-derived essential oils. Keep it in that cute tackle box up there.

7. Good Night, Lake is a lake-inspired take on Goodnight, Moon and a great read before bed for summer getaways. S is for S’mores is a camping alphabet book with beautiful illustrations. And The Firefly Night is a counting poetry book with kid-level information on fireflies (including the importance of catch-and-release) and an endearing daddy and daughter adventure.

8. Keen Newport Sandals (these navy ones for boys), When we used to jetski a lot and were walking on slippery boat docks and climbing in and out of the water, we all had Keens. Great slip-proof soles, vented to keep cool and dry, summery and earthy.

9. Classic Summer Inner Tube from Tube in a Box. When it comes to lake lounging, I like a good old-fashioned river tube. This one comes in several sizes including a big one that fits several kids sitting on it (like a tire swing).

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Happy Friday!

We’re getting ready for some birthday celebration here this weekend–Lainey’s turning 8. To celebrate, she and her friends are having an art party tomorrow, and the night before your eighth birthday is a very exciting night indeed.

A very special gift arrived for her today, a piece of art created by Nichol Brinkman from Pink Cheeks Studios whom I’ve featured here on the blog before–she made Dash’s mobile. I got a little teary when I saw it–it so perfectly captures Lainey and sends the message I want my kids to know…that they can be a great many things–no boxes, no labels. You can wear frilly dresses AND love sports. You can cry easily AND be a fierce leader. You can dip your toes in art and music and science and writing, and as you long as you love it, you’re good. “A great many things” was one of my favorite lines in a scene from the Little Women movie, written about here:

For some reason, I feel at times that I need to fit in to a definitive box of what kind of person I am–what kind of mom, friend, wife, writer, home decorator, clothes-wearer, photographer I am. As if I have to choose only one. Last I checked, there was such a thing as overlapping circles on a Venn Diagram, and I find that many times in life, I belong in the gray in-between of “A Great Many Things.” And, instead of pushing myself toward one clear area, I’m accepting that it’s okay to be a hodgepodge mess of everything. …I’m not really the just-one-thing kind of girl (except when it comes to husbands; for the record, I’m cool with having just one man). 

To my children: Don’t box yourself in. Explore your options, stretch yourself, have fun with trying out new things. Conforming to a niche might make you feel like you have to stay there–and think of all the fun explorations outside of that niche you’d miss trying!

I gave Nichol the idea of Lainey’s great many things, sent some pictures over (she got exact outfits down!), told her all the things my girl loves to dabble in–and look at the beauty she put together! My scooter-ridin’, arabesque-in’, beach-explorin’, canvas-paintin’, world-awaits-her, almost-8-year-old in art:

No Boxes here.

You can check out more of Nichol’s amazing art–mobiles, wall hangings, customized and personalized beauties at Pink Cheeks Studios. Let’s just say if there’s a hurricane coming our way, these are coming with us.

And some more Friday Faves today with the Great Many Things theme…so much to explore.

For Explorers
1. Children’s Guide to Insects and Spiders
2. Monarch butterfly wings
3. Live Caterpillars (we just released our butterflies this week–enjoyed another fun round and learned so much)

For Designers
4. Seedling Create Your Own Designer Doll (adorable!)
5. My Wonderful World of Fashion  (we have this and love it–great for restaurants and road trips)
6. Seedling Fairy Wand

For Makers
7. P’kolino Hexagon Colored Pencils
8. Bahia Kids Apron (on sale at Anthropologie)
9. Let’s Make Great Art Placemats

For Musicians
10. Sunnylife Beach Sounds (play music at the beach and park in style)
11. Kids 6-String Guitar Toy

For Writers
12. Story Time Cards (ages 3 and up, story starters. Just got this for Lainey and Nella–thought it would be a fun activity for the together and an opportunity for Lainey to help Nella with speech and imagination)
13. Stone Soup magazine (we love getting our Stone Soup in the mail–great for cultivating child writers!)
14. 642 Things to Write About Young Writers Edition (questions such as “The entire neighborhood is beige and gray but at the end of the street sits a bright blue house. Who lives there?” or “What does your dog do when you go away? Does it go on adventures or guard the house?” and “Congratulations, you’ve just won a trip to Mars and it leaves in ten days. What will you pack?”)

Happy Weekend!

1. Seafolly Coastline Boyleg Suit, Anthropologie. Vertical stripes plus boy short plus support for the ladies equals total win.
2. Paisley Twist One Piece, Anthropologie. I love the 2-piece/high waist look of this.
3. Vintage “Grace” Polkadot Suit, Popina Swimwear. I have this suit in three different patterns, and it’s my go-to suit for everything. Fun and retro, love the polka dot, and it doesn’t leave your butt hanging out like so many other suits do. There’s really no other way to say that.
4. Nanette Lepore. Tried this suit on the other day. Love the pattern, love the support, love piping and bustier detail.
5. Miraclesuit Crisscross Halter. I’m obsessed with this suit after seeing a woman on the beach with it and walking up to ask her where she got it. Have you ever tried on a Miraclesuit? It sucks in, supports and holds everything like, well, a miracle. Size up at least one size though. They aren’t kidding when they say it sucks you in. This style is super flattering on any body type.