Recent Updates:
🔷 Friday night soccer! Last Friday were Ethan’s first games of the season. He’s basically on both JV AND Varsity, so being a holiday weekend, I cut out early from work to make it ~40 minutes across town to his 3:45 pm JV game (where he had an assist + a goal, yay!) and then we stayed for the Varsity game, too (which ran from 5:45-7:30).
Ivan left work early and met me there. It was a gorgeous evening, but oof! 4 hours sitting in the bleachers! Will have to decide if we’ll go to all of both JV and Varsity or pick and choose or what. He plays much more obviously on JV as a sophomore, but also, the Varsity games are fun, and if he plays there, well, then that’s exciting and we’d want to see that too…. conundrums. 🙂
🔷 Saturday summer date. Ethan and I had a little solo Madison date on Saturday! After my complaining post that we didn’t have “enough summer fun”, I decided, well, it’s not over yet, so let’s have some. 🙂
We went down to the Madison Farmer’s Market on Capitol Square, walked all of State St down to the UW-Madison campus (absolutely alive and buzzing and overflowing with fresh new students and families in town! so fun!), had Chipotle for lunch (his request), wandered up Bascom Hill and around campus (I got to point out various buildings and which classes I had where and where I used to stop for lunch… we talked about college life a bit and how the schedules are nothing like high school (ie not 8-3:30 straight), and how you typically have gaps in your day between classes where you can hit up a coffee shop to study, etc.)
🔷 Saturday Farewell Dinner. We went to a “going away” big family dinner for Ivan’s mom Saturday night. His brother and girlfriend reserved a big table at a local Mexican restaurant (not same one we always go to).
It was really nice! Ivan’s sister, brother/gf, cousin + wife, us, his mom, and Ethan. (Asher was away at my parents’ house for the weekend.)
🔷 Asher’s fishing weekend. Asher was at my parents’ house all weekend. The boys each really like to squeeze in a short solo trip to my parents’ in the summers, if it works out.
When we were there in July, Asher and my dad had learned of some good local fishing spots. So Asher was begging to go.
My poor dad…Asher had him out fishing at all hours of the day, haha. Asher is OBSESSED with fishing. He even convinced my dad to go buy himself a nice new rod/reel (to replace his 40+ year old set (!), after he lost a big fish due to equipment malfunction… LOL).
Asher bought himself a very nice, expensive rod/reel earlier in this summer, too. Twice, actually.
Did I ever tell this story here?? Of how he was fishing with a friend in June with his brand new rod (which he had saved up Cabela’s gift cards and cash and spent like $200+ on…), and had set the rod down briefly to attend to a second older, smaller rod he simultaneously had going and…. a big fish bit and pulled his entire new set out into the bottom of the lake? Yeppppp. Gone forever.
He ended up buying having to buy himself another set. Fortunately he had like $600 in spare cash set aside from when he worked last summer cleaning out college apartments with Ivan’s cousin’s cleaning company. Ahh, live and learn. lol. Don’t leave your rod unattended!
Pics my mom sent (from her spot on a bench with her book…):
They also went golfing a couple times! It sounds like all in all, they had a great, special time! Pretty sure my dad was exhausted after the weekend, as Asher has no limit on how much he wants to fish. Ha!
🔷 Monday was our 17th anniversary!
We ended up meeting up with my parents and Asher halfway between our houses (we had to get Asher back, anyway) at a nice restaurant. If you recall from past years, we share an anniversary with my parents! 52 years for them!
🔷 Asher’s first volleyball game
Wednesday night was Asher’s first JV volleyball game. They lost, but I thought he played hard and it was still fun to watch! He is the setter. In middle school they really didn’t have “positions”, so he worked hard this summer to improve his setting skills. (Given his size, we guessed correctly that he would not, ahem, be put in as Middle Hitter. lol.)
🔷 Friday Fashion!
And finally, let’s end with another week of outfits. hehe. (Already sensing that as weather gets cooler my weekday outfits will probably revert to “black leggings + some sort of presentable sweater/top on top…” but we’ll go with this for now.)
The whole week:
That’s a full wrap since last week! Not too bad. Definitely lots of comfy-ware in there but I at least tried to step it up a little some days.
Don’t look to me for fun accessory changes- I have the exact same earrings and necklace on the entire week. That would be asking TOO much. HAHA.
Have a great weekend!
How are you feeling about your wardrobe? In a rut? Love it? What’s your usual “style”? I love the idea of wearing jeans and “real clothes” all the time but I just reaaaaally like to be comfy while I’m working… so I lean hard to more casual bottoms. But I simultaneously want to look fairly nice/cute, so…
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for a short week! Yay for only a 4 day workweek this week. Happy Friday. 🙂
GRATEFUL KAE 
I have so many things to say.
First, I also have a son obsessed with fishing. I wish we lived closer because I think they’d have a blast together! That’s so fun your boys have such special solo memories with their grandparents. Being there without your parents is a different dynamic and I know they’ll look back on these adventures with so much fondness later in life.
I didn’t know you shared an anniversary with your parents. So cool! One of my sisters got married on my birthday so I never, ever forget her anniversary. And that same sister was born on our father’s birthday and HER husband was born on HIS father’s birthday! What are the odds?
I think you look so chic in your outfits. You dress and style your body type so well and you look relaxed and like you “belong” in your clothes. I think you could wear a brown paper sack and look FABULOUS, so yay for all these intentional choices to be both comfortable and fashionable. You nailed it.
I’m so glad you have a bit more breathing room in terms of extended family being less present in your day-to-day life.
I still think of your BIL’s girlfriend regularly. Such a tragedy and it must be so, so hard to keep on moving through the days.
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Yes, I have thought that about your son + the fishing thing too when I’ve seen your posts about how equally fishing obsessed he is! 🙂
And ha- thanks! But I never “feel” like I’ve got my fashion/style all figured out, or at least I always feel like there is room to improve, streamline, optimize, etc. I’m glad what I’ve been putting on at least seems to present well! Doing this little mindfulness challenge and playing around with my clothes a little has been quite good to realize I do have certain items that are actually quite functional and nice. I think sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking I don’t have the right things, etc. I am still interested in continuing to hone my style, get rid of things or remove things that just aren’t great, or replace/upgrade to better quality on a few things.
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I normally cycle first thing on my WFH days, so tend to just wear leggings and a sweatshirt, but I don’t have a ton of calls and academia is so casual. But I need to do some proper shopping, both my black boots and my winter coat gave up the ghost last year. I hate spending money like that…
I did buy myself 3 pairs of nice new leggings. More than I normally spend, but it’s so nice to go to yoga and not have to pull them up.
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Exactly, I often feel like, what’s the point of putting on a “real” outfit if I’m planning to walk the dog or go to the gym at lunch, anyway? Just seems like a hassle to have to change again… like today, I want to hit the gym at lunch, so I’m just wearing my black leggings (which I’ll wear to the gym), a sports bra, and a plain red v-neck t-shirt (that would look fine and presentable should anyone call me. I don’t have any important meetings today, so it’s not dressy at all, but for top only on a casual day, it’s fine for my job which is just business casual). This way I’ll just quickly swap my t-shirt out for a gym tank and can run out the door! Yay for some nice new leggings! What brand did you get? I’m always looking for good leggings!
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Oh wow, Asher had 2 rods going at once! Now that is intense! It reminds me of my grandma – she was obsessed with fishing and would sometimes have 2 rods going and then the lines would get tangled. Meanwhile, my grandpa would be shaking his life to try to get the fish off when he got some nibbles as fishing really was not his thing. Ha.
I feel so so about my wardrobe. I am happy with my dresses overall and I wear dresses about 90% of the time when I’m in the office. I could use some casual tops that I could wear for work or for social events on the weekend/week night. But that would require that I actually go shopping and I do not enjoy shopping! But I would like to do some browsing on a future shouldless day. Or maybe plan a shopping date with a friend of mine that has good taste. She’s great at pointing things out for me that will look good on me. She always looks so polished and put together but she doesn’t push me to wear things she knows I wouldn’t wear.
And hey – you’ll get another shot at summer fun this week since the weather is getting HOT again. It might be in the 90s on my race day next Saturday which is not what I was envisioning! Granted it will be cooler in the morning but I was envisioning 50 degrees, not 60-70+!
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I really don’t enjoy the idea of shopping either. Sometimes, once I get out there, if I’m finding cute things that work, I’ll be relieved and glad I went. But it’s hard for me to get up the motivation to want to drive to stores…. It’s just overwhelming, the trying on process is such a headache, then having to decide if I like the thing enough/is it quite right/should I buy it or leave it, etc. You know I’m not so great with decisions… lol.
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happy anniversary! so nice to share an anniversary with your parents! 17 years is a long time, I bet things get better with years, right?
I love your comfy outfit, you are my ally on those shorts and joggers! I live in my jean shorts on weekends. And the jogger is my “uniform” when traveling.
I haven’t had a date with the girls for a while. they are just so busy these days and can’t find an empty space for a leisure one-on-one, soon hopefully.
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Thanks! Yes, we were saying how we can’t believe it’s 17 years already! It DOES feel like a long time!
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Wardrobe – I feel “meh” about mine. I dislike shopping, so I guess that’s to be expected. My “style” at home is pretty much Athleta leggings (the ones with pockets!) and a casual T-shirt, often with a hoodie. So fashionable, right? But if I’m at home, I want to be comfortable and not in “real clothes” – at least not real pants, haha. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed my purchases being increasingly influenced by how soft an item it is and how it feels on me. I have to dress professionally for the office, but I usually only go in a few days per month. When I’m out other than work or driving kids / running errands, then it’s most often a casual dress (summer) or jeans with a top or sweater. I try to stay somewhat current without being too trendy, but it’s not a priority that I invest much time or money into.
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This comment was from me (Kara). I’m still a brand new blog commenter, and I have no idea how that username popped into WordPress for me! Sorry for any confusion.
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Yes to your entire comment! I am increasingly bothered by uncomfortable fabrics and waistbands. Working from home I just want to be COMFY. I’ll have to check out those Athleta leggings! I don’t think I’ve ever tried those. Pockets would be awesome especially when out walking the dog.
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You look so cute! I’m definitely in a clothing rut. I wear a uniform to work (required scrub top, which I wear with yoga pants and running shoes- definitely a job perk!) and then when I’m home I’m basically in pajamas. If it’s a day when I’m not working and I’m out and about, I’m in shorts and a tank top. Well, at least I don’t have to think about it too much!
That looks like such a fun day with Ethan! I know he’s only a sophomore, but is he starting to think about where he might like to go to college? I’ve tried to talk about it with my daughter, but her idea is a college in Japan (what???) and mine is a nice Florida state school- so we’re definitely not on the same page quite yet.
Happy Anniversary to you and your parents!!!
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I used to wear a uniform for work (scrubs) and it was SO NICE to not have to think at all.
We haven’t talked too much about college yet. I get the sense he’ll probably want to stay fairly close to home, but not sure yet. UW-Madison (which is arguably Wisconsin’s “best” school) is right here in our backyard but has also gotten SUPER competitive, so I don’t think it can be an assumption that he’d just get in there! So will definitely have to do a lot of exploring. I don’t think he really has any clear idea yet what he wants to do, either, which makes it a bit harder. Does your daughter know what she wants to study?
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Love that you did a summer outing to your old college with Ethan, looks like a great day and nice to spend that time together. Hooray for more summer memories 🙂 Yau’ve got some great outfit combos. I’m SO sick of some of my clothes, definitely keen to buy a few new pieces.
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Happy anniversary to you and Ivan and your parents. So neat you could celebrate these milestones together. 🙂
I am definitely leaning towards casual when I am not going into the office. I mean I get showered and dressed, but I won’t put on fancy bottoms when I sit at my desk all day. I totally get it!
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