Hello all. Labor Day today and my Weekly Wrap Up is late — sorry. We had a busy weekend visiting with friends and family.

Tell me how you said good-bye to summer and enter our weekly giveaway below!

In preparation, we made a triple batch of gluten free chocolate chip cookies. I divided up the required amount of brown sugar into 5 cupfuls so that each kid could experience the satisfaction of plunking his own packed cupful into the bowl. I’ve been trying to do more baking with the kids, more snacks and treats that we don’t have to buy!

Each kid did a cookie with their first initial which spread out so wide during the baking process that we had to cut them into fours. They’re learning early in life that things don’t always unroll as you planned.

With our cookies packed, we hit the road to spend Saturday night with some good friends. When someone invites you and your five kids, you go!

To our friends, Annaliese re-gifted a bouquet of wild flowers she had given me earlier in the week. They were a bit wilted by that point but no one noticed.

Last night, we did a beach-side barbecue for a Labor Day party with my sister and two brothers, their children and my parents. Here’s Lachlan rested and tan after a lot of time outdoors these past months in his favorite outfit, his Real Madrid uniform.

Here’s Hedley, in serious contemplation of a beach volleyball game — ha ha.

Here are Annaliese and Marielle getting busy busy on the beach … The beach has to be the best babysitter in the world, right?

And here’s my big sis Kirsten who lives close by … we’re only two years apart. She’s strong and kind and my inspiration.

Alas, summer is truly over and today we are buying new sneakers, packing up our back to school supplies, and finishing up the summer homework. I’m missing my kids already but also happy to sink my teeth into all the cool new giveaways coming up on the site!

Thanks for reading and check back in this week for more fun stuff!

Quote of the week:



OH, and here are my goals for the week!

Input all the kids activities into my calendar …

Figure out what movie to show during the boys playdate tomorrow — any ideas for me? When you live in an apartment in NYC, playdates often involve movies …

Work out! Hoping to make it back to Bikram this week and hot power yoga also!

Make some coffee dates with friends I’ve missed over the summer.

Watch the last episode of the Roosevelts documentary series with Marc.

Cut down on the late-night chocolate — it’s keeping me awake!

Stay calm even though I feel totally panicked.

Oh, and here’s a little tiny home secret. Remember I told you guys about how great fresh lemon juice works instead of deodorant? Well, I kept finding myself drenched in the bathroom after a shower with no good plan for getting to the fridge for my wedge of lemon. SO, I’m not keeping a whole lemon in a ziplock bag with a knife in my bathroom cabinet. In the morning, I cut a slice and voila! After a few days, I get a new lemon. It’s all in the execution, right? Did anyone try lemon instead of deodorant because I’m swearing by how effective it is!

Sending love,

xoxo Melissa

Weekly Giveaway

Prize: One (1) $50 Amazon gift card.

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ways you can enter to increase your chances of winning. The giveaway ends on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time).

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