I am a big fan of simple food dishes, and this lunch has become a favorite.  Today, since I was running errands, I stopped by Whole Foods and got a bit of my favorite tuna lime salad.  When I got home, I added some fresh garden lettuce from my dad's garden, and a fresh tomato from the local produce stand.  Ahhh, what a fresh and delicious meal...and nutritious to beat!

I have our stuff all packed for our extended weekend up in northern Michigan.  We are leaving as soon as Landon gets off of work and we are so excited for some fresh Michigan air, the lakes, the cherries, and relaxation!  This will be the last formal vacation we take before the summer ends, so we will be savoring every minute.  My parents and my sister and her husband will also be up there, which is an added treat.

I love summer and all the fun things we get to do.

Here's a little photo baby update.  I still have some off days, but overall, the sickness is gone!  Our little buddy is VERY active and moves around so much.  The midwife is convinced he's a boy because of it. :)

Today, my sister is coming to spend the day!  She is planning a super awesome baby shower for my younger crowd of friends this fall and we're doing some fun work on that.  I think we'll go down to Broad Ripple and have lunch at Petit Chou, a beautiful little café with all sorts of fresh dishes.

Have a splendid Monday, friends!

We like to keep things simple and a simple night at home in bed is wonderful.  We watched a movie while eating brownies, then Landon worked on some stuff while I sat around with him and read a bit.  After long work days, this time is so special to us.

Summer smoothie...

Summer mornings are the perfect time for a breakfast smoothie.  Mmmmm...one of my favorite breakfasts.

Here's the recipe for the one I made this morning:

5 frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/2 cup honey flavored greek yogurt
1 handful fresh blueberries
a bit of water

Here's a few tips I've learned when making smoothies:
-use frozen fruit...it serves as the "cold, icy" base and you can cut up fresh fruit and freeze it for later use.

-rinse out your blender as soon as you have finished pouring out the smoothie into cups, it helps clean up stay to a minimum and it'll be ready for the next time.

-sneak some veggies in!  avocados serve just as well as bananas, and kale or romaine lettuce can sneak in without you even tasting it.  just cut it up real small and throw it in!

Summer cooking...

via

Summer is definitely in full swing, isn't it?  We are thankful for the air-conditioning for weeks like this one will be.

Landon and I just got back from a most wonderful and relaxing vacation with his family to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  I decided to take a break from everything, including my camera, so I didn't take a single picture!  I don't usually do that, but it was so nice to not have to think about anything from back home for a week.  I read two books, swam every day, went to the beach, rode bikes, went kayaking, learned how to paddle board, and went sailing...among other fun things.

Now we're back and ready to hit work in full swing...except this morning.  I sat down to start working this morning, and realized the guys from Lowe's were here to install new windows.  So I grabbed my laptop and retreated into the dining room since there's a gaping hole in the wall in my office where the window used to be.  They should be done soon....I hope. :)

Anyway, my dad gave us some amazing zucchini from his garden (which is always fabulous), and I'm grating it up to freeze for recipes.  One of my favorite recipes is zucchini bread.  I found this one that I think I'll try later this week.  My mom taught us how to grate up zucchini, place 2 cups into baggies, and freeze them since most recipes call for around 2 cups.  So simple!  I love summer produce.

Love,
Leah