Monthly Medley: June 2025

 

Reading

In June I read Sometimes I Lie, by Alice Feeney, about a woman who, while in a comatose state, attempts to figure out who was keeping secrets from her, what those secrets were, and if someone intentionally caused the accident that nearly killed her. Though I didn't find the protagonist particularly likeable, I quickly developed enough of an attachment to her that I kept reading, wanting her to both emerge from her coma and figure out the mysteries surrounding her near-death experience.

Watching

After I caught up on everything that had accumulated in my DVR throughout April and May, I started sampling a few of the series and movies I'd added to my streaming services "to watch" lists.

First up, Sirens - starring Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon, both of whom I enjoy - on Netflix. This limited series reminded me a lot of The Perfect Couple, which I watched and enjoyed at the end of last summer. I won't give away what happens in either series, but I'd recommend both as streaming versions of a perfect summer beach read.

Also, Tom, Will, and I finished the second season of Severance, and...I don't really know what to say about that finale. 😲 It sounds like season three is in the works, and while I'm grateful for an eventual resolution to the chaotic ending of season two, from what I've read we shouldn't expect that resolution until 2027.

Listening To

Last month I shared that I'd listened to season one of No One Should Believe Me, and this month I listened to seasons two and three. I'll eventually listen to the additional published seasons, but it's time for a break from Munchausen so I'm listening to season one of The Girlfriends, a show about women with one thing in common: they call dated a murderer.

When I need a break from these "heavier" podcasts, I hop over and listen to an episode of Pop Apologists or #IMOMSOHARD, both of which really lighten the mood!

Following

If you're a perimenopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal woman, you should probably join the We Do Not Care Club, founded by Melani Sanders (@justbeingmelani). Just trust me on this one.

Trying/Using

At the recommendation of many parents who've gone before me, I ordered a set of these large moving bags. I planned to use them to move Will into his university dorm come August, but they arrived in time for me to use them to move Hallie into her summer intensive dorm first. These bags can hold far more than I expected, and it's important to note that because they can hold so much, they can get really heavy really quickly. After carrying one in with the handles in my hand, I saw another mom carrying one in on her back and I found that method far more effective. 

Two Christmases back I picked out and was gifted a cute - and highly recommended - toiletry bag. I discovered after a few trips, however, that it just wasn't big enough for travel lasting longer than a couple of days. Meanwhile, Hallie picked out and was gifted a different cute - and highly recommended - toiletry bag, and while she wishes she'd chosen the larger of the two size options, she really likes it. Long story short, I purchased the larger size of Hallie's toiletry bag for myself, and it's perfect: cute and affordable, with ample storage and the ability to hang on a hook, rod, or door, which works well when counter space is limited. I went with black so it won't show travel dirt, wear, and tear as quickly, but I love the green and "dirty purple" colors as well!

Wearing

I'm loving these Skechers "Hotshot Kickoff Shoes" - comfortable, versatile, and reasonably priced. I've seen them at the Skechers store, DSW, and Academy, but Academy has the lowest price so I'd recommend going that route!

Eating/Drinking

I cooked so much - comparatively - throughout the first three weeks of June (we were traveling for a week toward the end of the month), so I have lots of good recipes to share!

• I made this Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Bake slightly less cheesy than it could have been (catering to my kids, who aren't huge fans of cheese), but otherwise I followed the recipe pretty closely.  
• These Air Fryer Chicken Thighs were easily the best I've ever cooked chicken in my life. 
• The air fryer was already preheated, so as soon as the chicken was done, I tossed into the basket this Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash - it was delicious and perfectly cooked! 
• These Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops were a great way to "dress up" what would probably have been kind of a bland meal.
• Noodles is one of my favorite "up north" restaurants, and Penne Rosa is one of my favorite Noodles dishes. This version of Penne Rosa was pretty darn close to Noodles' version...though preparing it was a little tougher than ordering it from the counter. 

Smiling About

• Did you know you can take courses at Harvard University for FREE?! Here's the link to the free courses page, and here's the link to the courses that have to do with understanding our country's government, constitution, policies, and more. 
• These are two of my favorite songs, and to hear them sung "as a conversation" by @8eyestheband and @kaysibal is *chef's kiss*...gives me chills.
• What it looks like to connect with your teen...IYKYK. 😉

See you next month, friends!

Have Hope

I've tried 100 times to write this post, however despite my best efforts, I...can't. I just can't. I'm too angry. Too heartbroken. Too lost. We're supposed to be celebrating our country's birthday, but I don't feel much like celebrating (or writing about celebrating, for that matter).

So I've paraphrased from Sharon McMahon - affectionately known as "America's Government Teacher" and who posts so eloquently and intellectually at @sharonsaysso on Instagram - instead:

If the world feels like too much right now, it's because it is. You're not broken for feeling lost. 

Remember, not everything that's loud is true, and not everything that's true will shout.

You don't need all of the answers to take the one step. Start quietly, and smaller than you think you should. Don't wait until you feel ready, because neutrality in a moral crisis is like standing still in a burning house. History doesn't remember those who stayed neutral - it remembers who showed up...and who didn't. 

The future is not yet written. Let that be the hope and the responsibility.

~

    And so today...

    Honor freedom.

    Reflect on history.

    Celebrate traditions.

    Remember the journey.

    Spread unity.

    Advocate for equality.

    Stand for justice.

    Continue the work.

    Take responsiblity.

    Have hope.

Ashkan Image

A few weeks ago, Hallie, her ballet directors, and some of her fellow studio dancers had the opportunity to spend the day at Ashkan Image, a creative photography company that specializes in dance, fashion, movement, and commercial photography in Houston. 

The studio is located in the Silos at Sawyer Yards, which are former grain silos turned into studios and galleries. Though not many of the studios and galleries were open that Saturday morning, we enjoyed admiring the varied art on display in the corridors and listening to the live music in one of the common spaces before and after the photoshoot.

 

Because the photoshoot lasted all day, the dance moms left their dancers in capable hands and headed to, first, a charcuterie brunch; second, rescue a friend with car trouble; and third, the Karbach Brewery. 

Missing a few of our dance mom friends - I should
have done a better job of capturing our day and the
places we visited, but somehow this is the only
picture I managed.

Back to the photoshoot...

Ashkan Roayaee himself is widely known as the Houston area's foremost dance photographer, and the hundreds of incredible images he captured throughout the Elements Academy of Dance session certainly proved his creativity and talent.

The girls and their directors truly enjoyed working with Ashkan, and I think he enjoyed them as well - it sounds like they were professional yet enthusiastic, cooperative yet creative, and willing to experiment, absorb feedback, and make corrections as needed. 

    

Dance is one of the hardest sports to do well. (I've played quite a few sports throughout the years and I've recently started dancing, so I feel qualified to make that statement.) It requires strength and flexibility and balance and stamina. It requires focus and memorization. It requires musicality and creativity. And because dance is also an art form, it expects - no, it requires - its athletes to appear calm, composed, and effortlessly beautiful at all times. Ashkan did an amazing job of capturing all of these facets of dance in these photos (follow us on Instagram @elementsacademyofdance to see more images in the coming weeks)...I just hope Hallie and her friends can see their athleticism and beauty like I can.

High Five for Friday (6.27.25)

 

This week's HFFF post is a little wonky - it includes a few somewhat random shout-outs from throughout the last few weeks, and I had to write it a week early since we've been traveling these last seven days and I intentionally left my computer at home. (More on the trip we've been on in a future post.) Nevertheless, I'm happy to be writing a HFFF post for the first time in quite a while!

~

One

I get Hallie back today! She's been training at Oklahoma City Ballet for the last three weeks, and while in some ways it seems like she just left, in other ways it feels like she's been gone forever. And really, since she spent the first week of summer vacation on a cruise without us, we was only home for about six days out of the last five weeks. We've missed her and I can't wait to hear even more about her adventures.

Right before I left her on day one.

With her roommate, Savannah.
They've had a blast together.

Two

My (very near) future sister-in-law, Kayla, successfully defended her dissertation! We couldn't attend in person - she received her PhD from Vanderbilt - but we were able to watch the now Dr. Anderson's defense via Zoom and she did an incredible job. 

Three

While Hallie was cruising, I took care of our friends' cats. I've done this many times before, but this was the first time since Waffle joined the House family (get it? Waffle House? 😂 ) that he's ever come out of hiding during a visit. I spent A LOT of time sitting quietly on the floor and the couch, waiting for him to feel comfortable with me, and eventually he let me pet him and once he even walked across my lap. There's no feeling like earning an animal's trust.

Teaka (who we fostered years ago, back then she was
named Bob) and I have been friends for a while now.

Four

Will played a pretty awesome disc golf tournament last weekend, winning the MA1 division of Throwing Down the Gauntlet: The Beast's Revenge in one of the more epic comebacks I've seen. 

I wasn't at this tournament, but in preparation for Will's disc golf graduation trip, I've been playing far more disc golf than usual. (And by playing far more disc golf, I really mean walking far more disc golf courses. I throw on occasion, but I'm more of a supporter than a player.) I don't think it's ever going to be my sport, but I do like watching my boy do what he loves.

Five

Happiness Highlights

The ice cream truck came through our neighborhood!!!

Will, hard at work.

Ice cream with (local) dance friends after
their first week of (local) summer intensive.

Ace! (for Tom)

Will had curly hair as a baby, so as his hair grows
longer, Hallie and I are helping him "encourage"
the hints of curls we've seen recently.

If 7am on a Tuesday is the only time you can get together, you
absolutely get together for coffee and breakfast at 7am on a Tuesday.
Miss getting to spend my Tuesday and Friday evenings with these two.

Loving our summer adult ballet classes!

Hallie's sweet Father's Day post.

Happy weekend, friends!

Cruisin'

The morning after Will graduated from high school, Hallie headed off on her first adventure of summer 2025: an eight-day cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico with her bestie, Avery.

How Hallie ended up on this cruise is a long and complicated story so I won't go into all the details here. What's important to share is that 1) she had a fantastic time, and 2) going on this cruise allowed her to be a part of an incredibly special event for Avery's family: the engagement of Avery's older sister, Danielle, to Ryan.

1) Who wouldn't have a fantastic time on a cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico with your best friend?! They stayed up late and slept in and relaxed and played and sunned and swam and shopped and ate and found themselves a bartender who kept the virgin piña coladas and frozen margaritas coming. Hallie took very few pictures (she has storage issues with her phone), but here are a few highlights - in no particular order - that others on the trip shared or posted.

Bridge tour!

It's weird when Life 360 shows you
how far away you are from your kid... 

 

2) Hallie has known all of Avery's family since she was three (well, except our buddy Cullen, but that's because he hadn't yet been born when Hallie was three), so even though she isn't an official House, she adores them all and they have always made her feel like she's a part of their family. Hallie LOVED spending time with both Danielle and Ryan and getting to know Ryan better on this trip, and she can't wait for the next House family celebration...which she'll surely "crash." 

Congratulations, Danielle and Ryan! 🩷