Homemaker Happenings #2 (7.25.25 – 7.31.25)
Welcome to Homemaker Happenings! I am so happy you’re here.
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The difference between this week and last is almost immeasurable. Not only am I feeling better mentally and physically, in general my energy is up and things seem a little better with my health. Also, bye-bye Strawberry week!! It’s hard to believe this, but we are soon moving into a season of change. Here in Colorado Springs, school begins in less than two weeks. Back to school items have been displayed basically since Fourth of July ended and the fall items haven’t been too far behind. As a content creator, it’s hard not to be on the “up & up” with trends, which means diving headfirst into fall content in the middle of July. No sooner than August will fall drinks, holiday items, and pumpkin spice be ripe for purchasing. It seems like it happens sooner each year.
But, I have learned to embrace and love the changing of the seasons. At the same time, I’m also learning to fully enjoy each season as it comes. Life seems to move so fast and joy filled moments are too soon gone. This week, I challenge you to be fully present with the current season. Even though fall is on the horizon, this is such a fun time to showcase end-of-summer décor pieces like sunflowers and hydrangeas in your kitchen windowsill. It’s also a fun time to really dive into summer foods in season, like peaches, blackberries, cherries, and mint. Enjoy these last few weeks of getting to swim, soak up the sun, and enjoy some needed rest before the holidays arrive and send us into a tailspin of busyness. Take a few minutes to simply take everything in and enjoy it all!
Weekly Menu
Yep, you guessed it: We’re highlighted more delicious summer foods this week! I have been loving in-season, local fruit. I go home in three weeks and I can’t wait to get local Pennsylvania produce when I’m there. Here’s what’s on my menu for this upcoming week.
Breakfast:
- This Baked Prosciutto and Egg Breakfast Tart from Lena’s Kitchen sounds divine.
- I think I’ll make this whipped ricotta honey toast and add some local peach jam to it.
- I’ve been crushing these insanely delicious blueberry muffins every morning alongside my sausage.
- Ok, I have to admit it: I’ve added pumpkin spice creamer into my coffee rotation (Sorry, not sorry). Here’s a new favorite recipe.
Lunch & Dinner:
- While I make my own puff pastry, these cheesy heirloom tomato tarts sound so mouthwatering.
- Lately, I’ve been in the mood for gazpacho as well as panzanella. Both of these dishes scream summer.
- This tomato, peach, cherry, and burrata salad would go really well with some lemon herb grilled chicken.
- At some point before summer ends, I definitely plan to make some street corn pasta salad.
Sweet Treat:
‘Tis the season for peaches, my friends, and that means good old fashioned peach pie. I don’t plan to make an entire pie for myself, but that’s the beauty of having a mini pie pan. This peach pie recipe is my go-to every year.
My Weekly Agenda
The Weekend
Since my birthday has past, this weekend probably won’t be quite as exciting, but on Saturday I’m meeting up with two friends separately. In the morning, I’m meeting a friend for coffee and walking at the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel. If you come for nothing else in Colorado Springs, going to the Broadmoor is worth it. Later in the afternoon, I’m going to a pool party at my friend’s apartment complex. Call me a fish because I just love water so much!!
The Rest of the Week
This upcoming week is a mix on monotony and routine, sprinkled in with a birthday dinner that my friend is treating me to. I’m continuing to train for my half marathon that’s taking place on September 6, and I am so looking forward to it ending. Honestly, I’m getting burnt out with running, so it’ll be nice to take a break and focus on strength training and the weather slowly begins to turn. With all the monotony, I will surely have time to get my house back in order!
Books of the Week
Fiction Recommendation: A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
I’m only a few chapters in so far, but this book is already capturing my attention. The author’s writing style is concise yet detailed enough.
Synopsis: When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.
Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren’t really there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?
Nonfiction Recommendation: The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax
Even though I’m not a parent, I love learning about parenting. This book was recommended through a few podcasts I listen to, and after hearing Dr. Sax in multiple interviews, I knew I had to read it. For anyone who has or wants children, this book is a must-read.
Synopsis: In The Collapse of Parenting , physician, psychologist, and internationally acclaimed author Leonard Sax presents data documenting a dramatic decline in the achievement and psychological health of American children. Sax argues that rising levels of obesity, depression, and anxiety among young people—as well as the explosion in prescribing psychiatric medications to kids—can all be traced to parents letting their kids call the shots.
Many parents are afraid of seeming too dictatorial and end up abdicating their authority rather than taking a stand with their own children. If kids refuse to eat anything green and demand pizza instead, some parents give in, inadvertently raising children who are more likely to become obese. If children are given smartphones and allowed to spend the bulk of their free time texting, playing video games, and surfing the Internet, they become increasingly reliant on peers and the media for guidance on how to live, rather than getting such guidance at home. And if they won’t sit still in class or listen to adults, they’re often prescribed medication, a quick fix that actually undermines their self-control. In short, Sax argues, parents are failing to prioritize the parent-child relationship and are allowing a child-peer dynamic to take precedence. The result is children who have no absolute standard of right and wrong, who lack discipline, and who look to their peers and the Internet for direction, instead of looking to their parents.
But there is hope. Sax shows how parents can help their kids by reasserting their authority—by limiting time with screens, by encouraging better habits at the dinner table and at bedtime, and by teaching humility and perspective. Drawing on more than twenty-five years of experience as a family physician and psychologist, along with hundreds of interviews with children, parents, and teachers across the United States and around the world, Sax offers a blueprint parents can use to refresh and renew their relationships with their children to help their children thrive in an increasingly complicated world.
On the Hunt
Last week was my birthday and I got some really fun gifts! However, here’s what I’m on the hunt for this week.
(Health) Tip of the Week
Hydration goes beyond drinking water. In fact, if you drink too much water, it can cause an electrolyte imbalance. Despite what we’ve been told, we need salt! This is where electrolytes come in. Drinking electrolytes on a semi-regular basis will help to balance your body’s electrolytes and keep you hydrated. Check out two of my favorite brands, LMNT and Fire Salt. Specifically with LMNT, if you use my referral code, you’ll get a free sample pack with your purchase!
See you next week, my friends! ~Kayla
