Backyard Dinner Menu + Nostalgic Summer Bucket List

+ Summer recipes we loved, wildflower garden update, and June favorites

Summer attacked us full force in all the best ways, and since we waited so long this year for this season to arrive I do think it brings a whole new level of appreciation for it.

Midwest summers are the perfect blend of hot enough to swim but cool enough in the evenings to enjoy your porches or backyard dinners. We don’t have to many bugs yet either! Over the weekend we had some friends over, and I tried a few new recipes that were too good not to pass along…

Caro Chambers shared such a good dinner line up, and I tried out both the Honey goat cheese and stawberries appetizer as well as the Sour cream and onion potato salad. Both were so delicious!

(Ceramic bakeware set)

We also served served grilled chicken, watermelon, and our friends brought garden salad and homemade dinner rolls. For dessert, I tried this gluten free peach cobbler (could use the same recipe with standard flour), and it turned out well thankfully! Cobblers are a little more forgiving than baked goods in the gluten-free realm. Recipe Note: I used 6 fresh peaches instead of frozen.

Our wildflower garden bloomed while we were traveling! I have fully embraced my elder hobbies as it has been my pride and joy of the year. It has made me ridiculously happy to stalk the garden, and see which blooms will sprout daily. It was the most low effort garden too - prep the dirt and soil, toss the seeds, water daily if it isn’t raining. I have already cut a few bright and bold bouquets:)

The mix we planted:
2 packs of Fairy Meadow Seed
1 Spring into summer wildflower seed mix
1 Zinnia seed pack

Additional table details: Floral melamine dinner plates and dessert plates (accepting this season with little busy hands requires melamine over ceramic), floral tablecloth, and cordless table lamps for when the sun starts to go down. We set up a collapsible table for the food, and serve buffet style. We have outdoor patio furniture where the kids all hung out and ate together. The kids were off to play yard games quickly, and it allowed us to catch up with our friends over some sparkling rose and dessert:)

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT

I updated this nostalgic summer bucket list with my kids. It is full of the things my sisters, friends, and I did growing up, and the goal was to make them very doable! A good list to stir the imagination when bored, or simple things to do on weekends. We put our on our fridge for easy reference:)

JUNE NOTES:

The Other Bennet Sister - When Veronica had her hospital stay, we started The Other Bennet Sister on Brit Box/Prime. I wasn’t expecting to love it so much, but it is one of my favorite series of the year! The subtle humorous moments, Mary’s endearing mannerisms, the second hand anxiousness over awkward social scenarios…it really has you wishing the episodes were twice as long. It’s a redeeming story for Mary Bennet, and you find yourself so happy to see life unfold for her character. It’s a must watch!

Supergoop Sunscreen - I heard so many rave reviews that I finally gave it a try for the both the kids and I. It really is the best I have tried. The spray sunscreen actually applies clear which is nearly impossible to find in a clean ingredient sunscreen! There is a good large tub sunscreen with pump that was cost more effect for our big family. (I just refill tubes.) It’s on sale today too!

We shared our annual Prime Day Guide on In Honor of Design, and sharing what products we actually use and love as well as some of the deals too good not to pass along!

Cheers!
Anna