I'm on day three of my tiny staycation. I've done mostly nothing (except for a few must do tasks). It's been nice being lazy.

Here's what else was good this week:

• The cleaners visited and our home looks spick and span
• Getting a professional headshot taken
• Cold showers after super humid days
• Enjoying a pedicure with the kiddo and friends
• Finding rainbow/unicorn things for our kiddo's party
• Being able to walk to a few bakeries
• Had dinner out with a friend
• Chatting with new colleagues
• The Tour de France

The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

I needed to make some room on my non-fiction shelf, but I wasn't in the mood to read anything serious. A recap of my favorite TV show fit the bill. This book is written just like the Office Ladies​ podcast. It's a back and forth between the two friends and hosts. As a book, I don't love it. But, the casual nature is fitting my need for an easy read. If you enjoy the podcast, you'll like the book. I like that they included a lot of pictures.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

My mood seems to be romantasy and highly practical material.

On Friday, while waiting for our kiddo's bus to summer camp, I found a maple leaf seed on the ground. I called the kiddo over and showed her how to break it in half, split it open, and wear it on her nose. She thought it was hysterical and walked back to her friends saying, "I'm an elephant."

When I logged on to work afterwards, I told my colleagues about how I had passed on this classic childhood activity. But, what I thought was common knowledge turned out to be regional lore. Not a single one of my colleagues had ever heard of this. To quote one of them, "must be a northern thing ;)"

Of the group of us who were online at the time, I was the only one who had spent time in the Northeast, where maple trees are common. It turns out this little moment was just a small, sweet piece of local culture. The kind of thing passed from kid to kid, or parent to kid. It made me wonder how many of our childhood memories are shaped not just by age, but by geography. Things that are common for some kids are complete unknowns to others, even if they were growing up at the same time.

What did you grow up doing that you thought everyone knew but later realized might be specific to your hometown area?

The Husband and I both work at home on Fridays. I managed to swipe the last of the coffee from the pot. Win! (Don't worry, we make plenty for both of us.)

Here's what else made me happy this week:

• Kiddo's joy at riding a special executive bus back from camp
• Tour de France time
• Using white noise to block out the background while reading
• Made it home before the rain hit this week
• Fixing some coding turned out to be easier than planned
• Chopped a lot of my hair off
• Kiddo turned her room into a lemonade stand
• Colleagues sharing blep pictures of their cats
• Made panzanella for the first time

I read a lot of books with my kiddo. Kid Reads is a biweekly look at what we've enjoyed recently

Anyone else feel like they can never fully get sunscreen off?

In the summer, I basically drown myself (and the kid) in sunscreen. We put on a layer before we go out. We reapply every two hours, if we're staying out. By the time we end up back inside, my skin feels like it's been spackled. Between the layers of sunscreen, sweat, and whatever else random stuff has adhered to us, I feel gross until I've showered.

Problem is, many days, it feels like a shower is not enough. I do at least two rounds of soap. I gently scrub my face a few times. But it always feels like I've missed something - particularly along my hair line. Even though I know I'm clean, it still seems like there's an invisible thin layer of sunscreen hanging on.

Now, my problem might be that I prefer lotion sunscreen. I think it provides better coverage. Spray is great, but I am that person applying the recommended shot glass of sunscreen to their skin. I like being able to see it rub into my skin.

We spent the vast majority of the day at the pool. While we weren't able to nab any lounge chairs, we at least were able to grab a spot to drop our stuff on the deck. Plus, kiddo spends most of her time in the water anyway. 

Here's what else was good over the past week:

• The heat wave passed
• Tried Rita's for the first time, and now I get the hype. It's delicious and decadent!
• Spent a day at Baltimore's Inner Harbor with friends we don't see enough
• Summer camp leaving our kiddo happy exhausted
• My mammogram and annual skin check came back clear (Get your preventative care, folks!)
• Our new AC unit is working great
• Made a lot of headway in a book I need to read for work
• Opting out of the fireworks tonight which means I'm already cozy in my PJs... and about to open a bottle of wine

The Diamond Eye
Kate Quinn

I restarted this last night as I wait for another library hold to come in. I've, essentially, been reading this novel in fits and spurts in-between my library holds. Even with that stilted process, I've been able to get into the story and remember details. Quinn is quite skilled in immersive storytelling. In the past chapter, the book has pivoted into it's final third. I have absolutely no idea how this story will wrap up and that excites me.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

Our kiddo wrapped up her first week of summer camp. To say she’s had fun would be an understatement. Swimming every day is still her favorite thing, but she’s had a blast with all of the other camp activities. She comes home hot, tired, and full of smiles. Getting prepped for camp every day is a little more work on us, but it’s entirely worth it to experience this joy. 

In just one week, I have learned a few things:

• Sending in a frozen water bottle with her lunch was an excellent choice. It kept her lunch cold during the heat dome AND I didn't have to worry about losing an ice pack.
• Adding one extra day of laundry to our calendar is annoying but necessary.
• Pretty much any surface in the house can be used to line dry things.
• Having a printed packing list by the door is clutch.
• Putting the kiddo straight in the tub when we get home made bedtime so much easier.
• Leaving the empty lunchbox and water bottle on the counter overnight reminded us to fill and send them in each day.
• Buying a towel for every day of the week was a good idea.
• Using really good, waterproof name labels and keeping them handy has made tagging things far easier.

Do you have any summer camp tips?