May-hem, here we come!
We are officially in the last month of school… and what a year it has been!
I’m excited for all the fun things we have coming up in the next few weeks – baseball games, track meets, band/choir concerts, field trips, opening the pool, 8th grade graduation, the last day of school… and more!
It will be busy, but a good busy… with a clear end in sight.
In the meantime, here are a bunch of my favorite things.
Favorite Moment = Flowering Redbud
It’s been 12 years since we planted our Redbud multi-stem, and this time of year, it looks absolutely amazing.
I wish it would flower all summer… but for roughly 2 weeks every spring, the gorgeous light purple / bright pink flowers are one of my favorite things.
Stunning!
I regularly pause to look out our bedroom and bathroom windows at the picturesque sight… and I slow just a little when I drive up the driveway, enjoying the pretty blooms for a few extra seconds.
If you’re a newer reader, our yard didn’t always look like this — it’s been YEARS in the making.
For example, here’s a progression of this area over the last 15 years.
What you don’t see are the countless hours of work that went into creating the park-like landscape.
It was mostly a labor of love, and we absolutely enjoy the fruits of our labor, but it didn’t just “happen”!
If you’d like a similar focal point in your landscape, look for a “Redbud multi-stem”, not a bush or a tree. The multi-stems are so fun because they grow large (15-20 ft high and wide) but are very easy to prune into whatever shape you desire.
We’ve chosen more of a “tree” shape (we prune all the lower branches), which creates a canopy over the plants below it (lots of shade-loving plants).
It takes a few years for the shape to evolve, but it’s totally worth the effort!
Favorite Routine = Email Overhaul
As the school year winds down, I usually take an hour or so to weed through ALL my emails from the past year — deleting hundreds (maybe even thousands) of emails I no longer need.
I realize Gmail has plenty of storage space, but it really doesn’t take long (less than an hour when I did it the other day), and then things just feel lighter.
Sometimes, I delete full “labels” (the organizational system within Gmail) and also create new labels for next year.
For the record, I’m the type to get my email to zero (or almost zero) every night… so that tells you a little something about my relationship with too many emails! 🤣
Even if you’re not a zero-inbox emailer, use this as your motivation to spend an hour weeding through some of those old emails you no longer need. Feel free to listen to a favorite podcast or audiobook while you work.
RELATED READING: Read all my posts about email (some are older).
Favorite Drink = Rooibos Tea
As many of you know, I’ve been trying to learn to enjoy hot beverages for the last several years (probably close to 8 years now).
I can fairly easily drink coffee with vanilla creamer, as well as this Honey Camomile Vanilla tea.
However, a few months ago, someone mentioned the South African Rooibos (ROY-boss or ROY Bows) tea in a conversation — saying, “I never liked tea until I tried Rooibos tea”. Then, the very next day, I was listening to a podcast where the host said, “I thought I didn’t like tea until I tried Rooibos tea”.
So, of course, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about — and I ordered myself some Rooibos Tea.
I was hesitantly optimistic based on my general dislike of warm beverages… but I honestly really enjoy it.
I can easily drink 2 full mugs in a row, without any extra honey, sugar, cream, etc.
Plus, it’s naturally caffeine-free, so it’s “safe” to drink in the evenings.
I know we’re going into warmer months, but I wanted to mention it now, as it’s fresh on my mind, and many people still enjoy tea in the summer months (I’m told Rooibos is great as iced tea, but I haven’t tried it yet).
Past Favorite = In-Drawer Knife Block
I don’t prefer to have too many things on my kitchen counters, and I rarely buy “sets” of things — so my knives don’t match.
Instead, I use this in-drawer knife block to hold all my mismatched knives in an out-of-sight, but easy-to-access location.
It’s been 14 years since our kitchen renovation, and the knife block is still one of my favorite things — something I utilize and enjoy every day!
RELATED READING: How We Organize Everything In Our Kitchen
Favorite Clothing = Court/Sport Shoes
After starting a weight-lifting class with my friend (a full year ago, and I still don’t look anything like a bodybuilder 😂), I purchased these Reebok Court Shoes for extra stability.
I didn’t think they would make a difference (after all, shoes are shoes, right?), but I was wrong.
They are so supportive and improve my balance, too.
As you can see in the photo above, the bottoms are totally flat – not great for more intense running/walking, but really good for lifting heavy weights. I was amazed at the difference they made, both in the amount of weight I could lift and in how stable I felt while doing balance work (single-leg lifts/squats/lunges).
They are good for court use too (specifically volleyball and pickleball), so if you’re in the market, I’d recommend the Reebok Nanos.
They even come in pink!
Favorite Book =The Anxious Generation
I thought I shared The Anxious Generation as one of my Favorite Things 2 years ago (I was officially the first person to check it out of our local library when it hit the shelves in the spring of 2024), but I’ve gone back and can’t find any reference to it.
So, 2 years later, I reread it and had Nora read it before she gets her first phone later this month.
It’s good — really good.
If you have kids or grandkids (or if you are a teen or young adult), you should read (or listen to) the book!
READ THE BOOK: The Anxious Generation
Favorite Media = Pen and Paper
I’ve successfully “gone digital” for so many things — but when it comes to my daily to-do lists, I can not find a system that works as well (for me) as a simple pen and notepad.
I’ve got to write it down to solidify it in my memory, and I really love crossing it off.
I specifically love these smaller-sized notepads, which are so easy to carry around and don’t take up tons of space on my desk.
They also work really well for grocery lists and “Done Lists” (if you’ve never made a Done List, you must give it a try!)
RELATED READING: Improve Your Efficiency with Weekly To-Do Lists
Favorite Hobby = Canning
Truthfully, I don’t know if this is a “favorite hobby” or not, but I am really, really glad I know how to can, and have the supplies in the house to do some canning whenever I get an abundance of produce.
I’m also thankful I don’t NEED to can for my family to be able to eat throughout the winter. It’s more of a fun “when I have time, I’ll do it” sort of thing… which is why I’m considering it a hobby.
I’m canning jam right now, and I can’t tell you how much tastier it is than store-bought jam. Home-canned applesauce is another one that can’t even compare to store-bought. Plus, I like that I know exactly what ingredients go into our canned foods (mostly just the produce + a little sugar or salt).
If you’re curious about the world of canning and preserving, check out my list of favorite supplies via the link below. I promise, it’s not as overwhelming as you might think!
RELATED READING: My Favorite Canning Supplies
Favorite Recipe = Rhubarb!
I love rhubarb and use it fairly frequently throughout the year (I freeze it) and very regularly in the spring.
It’s a little tart, but if you pair it with strawberries or other fruit, the flavors all blend nicely.
Around Michigan, it’s pretty easy to find cheap rhubarb on roadside stands… just keep your eye out for it!
TRY MY RECIPES: 5 Easy Rhubarb Recipes for Spring
Favorite Quote
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh.
I’ve thought of this quote often over the last semester of Nora’s time in grade school. She has had the BEST teachers and coaches, amazing friends and classmates, and so many wonderful opportunities and experiences… it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to these years.
And yet, she is excited for high school and all the fun it will bring.
I know some kids don’t love school or have awesome memories to look back on, and I guess I’m just grateful her school experience has been so wonderful that we are all a little sad to see it come to an end.
Favorite Archived Post = Pantry Showers
Do you know of someone getting married this summer? Or are you throwing a wedding shower, a baby shower, a house-warming party, or even a graduation party for a loved one?
If so, consider throwing them a “Pantry Shower”.
A pantry shower is very similar to any other type of wedding shower, but instead of buying gifts from a registry (which can sometimes get expensive), you give them a favorite recipe or two, along with several of the non-perishable food ingredients to make that recipe.
You could do something similar for a new homeowner or graduate who is moving out on their own and needs to fill up their pantry. You can also adapt this concept for an expectant mother who needs to stock up on diapers, wipes, and other baby supplies.
Dave and I had a pantry shower right before our wedding, and not only was it super helpful to stock our kitchen and pantry, but I still have (and use) several of the recipes today, 2o years later!
Read more about hosting a Pantry Shower here.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
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