Seven on a Sunday #8

Happy Sunday! Maybe I’m getting old but time is moving SO FAST I can’t believe it’s the middle of June already! I’m loving checking in with you guys once a month or so and I hope you’ll let me know if you like these posts or not. It’s all about you!

I definitely need to try get to the beach and the pool in the next couple weeks, and hopefully the farmer’s market will start producing some good produce soon! I typically can’t resist tomatoes, radishes, and kale when it comes to farm fresh goodies.

Here’s what’s been going on lately:

1. Summer vacation

We are in full summer mode over here! The kids have started summer school which is kind of exhausting because we normally never leave the house and now I need to get them to school by 8am. I know, poor me.

We went to Mt. Olympus waterpark last week. It was my first time there and it was all really fun except they set it up so you have to walk about 30 miles by the end fo the day. That was pretty hard for all of us, but especially the little kids. Jeron is also pretty sure he got some sort of disease by getting waterpark water in his mouth. 

We’re headed to South Dakota next month to visit Mount Rushmore and… whatever else is out there? I’m really unfamiliar with the area, so hit me with any recommendations on activities and restaurants in that area!

2. Mediavine Conference

I had the pleasure of traveling to Chicago last week for the Mediavine Conference. I missed the opening reception but was able to meet up with some people at Chicago Diner, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. I had a spicy “chicken” sandwich that was amazing, and their sweet potato fries were super crispy, which was a real treat!

On Thursday night we ate ate No Bones Beach Club, an all vegan restaurant that was very gluten free friendly as well. I had fried avocado tacos and a smoky tequila pineapple cocktail. Afterwards we went to Jeni’s for ice cream, which was amazing obviously.

On Friday I was able to explore Millennium Park and the Bean. Friday’s dinner was at Carnivale, a super fun Central and South American restaurant. My favorite dish was the arepas, I could have eaten that spicy tomato sauce on everything!

I squeezed one more culinary adventure in Saturday morning and went to Ann Sather for a Mediterranean omelet, hash browns, and two(!) of their famous cinnamon rolls. 

Overall it was a great experience. Mediavine always does a great job and I was really happy to get a little more time to explore the city than I have before.

3. Ice cream envy

• Where have loaf pan popsicles been all my life?
• My kids would love it if I made homemade blueberry ice cream
• I can’t figure out why anyone would ever make anything other than dark chocolate chunk peanut butter swirl ice cream.
• I need to try different tea infused ice creams like this chamomile blackberry ice cream.
• I love that this blue moon ice cream is dairy free!

4. Favorite kitchen appliances

I shared my favorite kitchen appliances over on Crib Supreme! Head over there to see what other bloggers and I think are essential for your kitchen.

5. Sandal love

I love sandal weather! I’m not really a “shoe person” but I realized I probably have too many warm weather shoes. I still want all of these though.

6. TV time

I decided to splurge on Hulu for the summer so I’ve been diving into the new episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale. I also started The Act because I just love Patricia Arquette since watching Escape at Dannemora, and on boy, that show is a lot to take in. I feel a little slimy when I watch true crime shows because these are real people having their lives dramatized, but it is just so crazy that this could really happen!

I also watched Always Be My Maybe and thought it was an easy watch. My one complaint was the time the female lead (who was supposed to be a high end chef) walked into the cooler and hung out by the saddest looking box of limes I’ve ever seen in my life. Like, don’t serve those limes lady.

7. On my menu lately

Mediterranean Buddha Bowl

Skillet Lasagna

Black Bean Burgers

Potato Wedges

Easy Canned Butter Beans