THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

HAND LETTERING VIA KRISTEN DROZDOWSKI

THINKING ABOUT: While we were in Missouri, we got a bit spoiled in terms of all our family and friends willing to assist with Max. So when this last Monday rolled around, I kind of felt like I forgot how to be a mom. I waved good bye to Flyboy and stared at Max wondering what to do next. As odd as that might sound, I felt so silly, but the baby I tended to a few weeks ago is not the baby I see before me today. His needs have changed tremendously since we left for MO (how is that even possible ?), and as a result, I was left a little overwhelmed as to how a normal day might look for us right now. He's currently boycotting his jumper and refuses to sit and play for very long. He wants to be held. All. The. Time. I'd be lying if I said I haven't shed a few tears of confusion and frustration.

FEELING: Holy week of migraines! When will the madness end? After unpacking and cleaning the house, I had BIG plans to get back into a Swell Rio groove this week. I'm talking about morning walks with Max, spinning, blogging, etc. Unfortunately, not as much of that has happened as I'd like, but that's okay. We'll get there eventually. Some days/weeks are more about surviving than thriving.

THANKFUL FOR: A few weeks ago, my mom introduced me to the wondrous world of Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade. As an Iced Caramel Macchiato devotee, I never considered trying any other refreshing options on the menu, but this is pretty tasty. And since we're back to normal Texas summer temps, I could see myself whipping up one of the copycat recipes I've seen circulating on Pinterest (like this one). It's worth a shot, right?! I'm also not opposed to spiking the beverage with a splash o' gin for cocktail hour, which was my initial thought upon trying the drink for the first time. I guess some things never change...

EATING: My sister did something awful. She brought me a pint of cookie dough from The Cookie Dough Cafe. When I heard about it awhile back, I immediately sent her a text and told her all of the grocery stores in her city where this magical jar of sweetness is available. Being the assertive (that's nice for bossy) older sister that I am, I warned her I wouldn't talk to her until she tried it and reported back to me. Because I'm terrible at the silent treatment, adore her far too much, and a little ADD, we never discussed the cookie dough again, which was probably for the best. But then, on the last day in MO, she showed up with a pint in tow. Cue the hallelujah chorus and color me besotted! If you have access to a jar, grab a spoon, and jump on it. It's dangerously delicious. 

LISTENING TO: With each road trip an unofficial theme song is adopted. It's never planned. You just have to let it happen. In our case, traveling close to 2,000 miles through Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, there are remote areas where there aren't a ton of radio station options. Part of the fun is hitting the scan button and crossing your fingers you'll come upon a pop or classic rock channel. Sure we could use our phones and create iTunes playlists, but this is the sort of thing you grow to love and expect out of a long road trip. I suppose it passes the time or something. Anywho, on our most recent adventure to MO, we couldn't seem to escape Walk the Moon's Shut Up and Dance, so naturally it was dubbed the official song of our road trip. Any time it played, Flyboy and I would belt the lyrics and Max would grin along. We couldn't help but get excited to think about the day he can join the ensemble.

WATCHING: The new season of Flipping Out premiered on July 1st, and I can't seem to wipe this silly grin from my face. The banter among the crew is unbeatable. Jeff, Jenny, and Zoila are the very best! And how about Gage's new assistant? Flyboy and I were dying; the similarities are uncanny. Despite the fact that he was a total train wreck and oddly inappropriate, I really miss Andrew. 

READING: When we returned to Swell Rio on Saturday, I was ecstatic to find Merrilee Liddiard's book, Playful, waiting for me on our doorstep. Thanks, mom! The book is brimming with charming projects to make with kids. After poring through the pages, I found myself incredibly giddy for the day Max and I can bring some of these projects to life. Until then, I'll just keep bookmarking the pages.

LOVING: While shopping in Kansas City, I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Sephora (always dangerous) and snagged two unlikely products that I really enjoy. If you're looking for long-lasting lip color in a bright hue, you'll want to check out NARS Audacious Lipstick in Grace and Bite Beauty's Lip Crayon in Sucré. I'm loving the texture and color of each.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!