it's apple orchard time this week!

There are certain things that happen in the midwest that remain pretty unclear to the rest of the world: shirtless men at football games in December, mini skirts with snow boots (NOT MY look-I will never understand this), cheese hats, all the cheese-beer combinations your heart can desire... You know. THOSE things. And finally, one of the greatest of them all... Apple orchard season!!! This Friday starts the season. Yep, it's going to be high 80's this weekend, but I guarantee there will be lines at the orchards.

Now it appears as though Oreo has jumped on the midwest bandwagon. I won't tell you what to do, but really?!? Nope. No. Nuh uh. Not in my house. Drive your booty to one of the numerous orchards, pop up orchards, or wineries that also sell baked goods and get the durn donuts! No judgement. They're part of a balanced breakfast, snack, dessert, or quick bite as you run out the door. Once upon a time, my friend had her husband stop at an orchard when they lived out of state and fly home with said donuts. It's that real. 

Our personal favorites are from Curran's Orchard because they also boast their award winning apple cider slushies. Unfortunately, we are gone this weekend, but there will be donuts in our future really, really soon. Nothing else compares! It doesn't matter if you're sweating it out at the orchard or sitting in front of a crackling fire with a fuzzy blanket, apple cider donuts go with all occasions. And please, if you try the Oreos, let me know!

staying rad for the bus!

Dotzies are truly the best. We were finishing up all of our summer projects and this little beauty is finally done! It took forEVER to finish, but it looks so cute! If you're unfamiliar, they are teeny, tiny crystals that you use a teeny, tiny tool to pick up and place on an extremely sticky surface with a pattern/picture. The crystals sit in little trays that you fill with each particular color as you need it.

Imagine sneezing, jerking your hand, or sitting next to a 10 year old... They fly everywhere! It takes a bit to get these things done. We love them, though! It is so relaxing to just sit quietly and focus on the specific task or color at hand.

My kid may be one of the few that packs notebooks and pens to write and draw on the bus each morning. Her best friend takes a different bus this year, so she has been bummed. BUT now she has a fancy new notebook to doodle on the bus with. And it's all her. She chose the colors and we put every stinking crystal on. 

Here we are, crafting fools just staying crafty, staying positive, and staying together to get the fun done. Google Dotzies. You'll thank me. (There are different types. These are just one brand.)

choose to dance through it all!

Once upon a time, the Dixie Chicks said, "Some days you gotta dance. Live it up when you get the chance." Then I saw this picture and realized that dancing and music make me happy and really do help! Instead of taking 2 pills with a meal, I shall crank up the tunes and move my feet. I feel like this is an amazing growth mindset statement.

I can't always choose what I listen to or hear or how my day goes, but I CAN choose how I respond to it. That is hard to remember in the heat of the moment. Summer is winding down. My mom brain is on overdrive these days with all the thoughts, questions, and to-do lists. I go to bed wondering if we did enough, did too much, did we read enough, use enough sunscreen, laugh enough, rest enough. I wake up with a list of things that I have convinced myself needs to get done.

This is why I crank the music all the time! It makes us smile. It makes us laugh. It makes us move. It quiets that inner voice that is always on the go (did we return the library books? What is for dinner? Should I paint that wall or not?). 

I will TRY to remember to hear the music and not the worry. I TRY to laugh and dance and play and realize I can't make everything perfect or complete all the time every time. We can't control the weather or anything else, but we can control our life soundtrack and how we move along to it. 

Here are some songs to get you started on your happy dance kind of day: 

I'm better when I'm dancing-Peanuts soundtrack

Hair Up-Trolls soundtrack

Let it Go-Frozen soundtrack

My shot-Hamilton soundtrack

Fun fun fun-Despicable Me soundtrack

you can learn a lot from dip n dots!

It started with a trip to the new Beloit Snappers stadium to see a special showing of Sandlot. This particular night was HOT. It was also a kick off for mother-daughter weekend. Because of this, I was in a don't-care/whatever happens kind of mood. When it's hot, I am not messing around. We get hydrated and I just want to be comfortable. 

So my daughter asked for Dip n Dots and I said yes. Mind you, I NEVER say yes to Dip n Dots. They're messy and there's usually an ice cream place close by, so I usually say no. She ate them and thanked me and we carried on. On the walk back to the car she said, "Thank you for spoiling me. I know I am not supposed to say I'm spoiled, but I am." 

I asked her why she thinks she's spoiled (uh, maybe the vacations, all the fun, all the activities?!?!). She said it's because I let her get Dip n Dots... So... Let me get this straight. The way to this kid's heart is through treats and desserts? Done ;) And all this time we've been planning trips and fun!

Seriously, though. She recognized that I got her something out of the ordinary and appreciated it. That is fantastic! Then it got even better because it turned into a slight math lesson which just makes me happy. She was even able to learn a little.

Dip n Dots at Great America cost much more than Dip n Dots at other places. They were almost twice as much. When she saw this, she pointed it out. She said that we could have gotten 2 more Dip n Dots at the ball park for the price of one somewhere else. So, huge thanks to Dip n Dots for making me look like the cool mom who spoils her kid and for helping us throw in a mini math lesson :)