Welcome to my weekly Slow Day post, inspired by Monica from The Homespun Heart. My Word for 2018 is Slow and, in the spirit of that word, I’m taking one day each week (Wednesday) off — I’ll be unplugged and offline and plan to move at a slower pace, take time to do things that refresh me, and just really focus on being present and savoring the moment.
Each week, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!
(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
I did my hair in a Dutch braid and blob today. I was happy with how it turned how — not sure that I could recreate it, though! 🙂
Here’s what it looked like from the front.
And I wore my favorite yellow sandals!
Since I had more time today, I decided to do a little leisurely shopping. I went to Dollar Tree to pick up lemon juice for my gallon of lemon water that I drink every day.
I was also excited to find Brown Rice and Pinto Beans for just a dollar per bag!
And then I picked up a few markdowns at Kroger.
I also headed to Big Lots to check out the deals there.
Other than the bread deal I found, I wasn’t super impressed with their other prices.
But they do have great prices on oil, I discovered!
And of course I went to Aldi to pick up some cheap strawberries and corn on the cob.
Since our neighborhood doesn’t have a pool, we bought a membership to a rec pool in a nearby town and we are looking forward to getting to spend lots of time there this summer!
We convinced some friends of ours to also buy a membership, so we met them there to close down the pool on Wednesday night (it closes at 7 p.m.)
It was the perfect evening for swimming. Hot but not too hot!
And this pool is perfect for kids of many different ages!
We came home and made breakfast for dinner — sausage and waffles.
While the waffles were cooking, we played some Dutch Blitz.
We love this game!
This is our favorite waffle recipe.
We made a double batch and we froze half of it.
(She had just washed her hair!)
The kids love to help make waffles!
And then we stayed up a little too late playing round after round of Dutch Blitz!
I loved the pics of the kids in their jammies helping with dinner. It’s just getting hot enough here my neck of the woods (norcal wine country) to start heading to family swim at the pool. And coming home, showering and getting straight into pj’s even though it’s 6 in the evening….one of my favorite feelings. Thanks for inviting us in to your day….
I realize that it makes for such a cozy, relaxing evening! We’re hoping to do it many more times this summer!
This looked like a great day!
It was!
When we make pancakes or waffles, we set up the griddle on the dining table. This way we are all sitting down together while waiting for our waffles to cook.
That’s a fun idea! Except with how much action goes on while we play Dutch Blitz, I’m afraid that could be dangerous!
Can two adults play Dutch Blitz (which I had never heard of before this post)? Do you have any suggestions for games that a couple could play?
My husband and I find two player Dutch Blitz to be a bit slow and boring. Canasta has specific two player rules that we like. We also enjoy Carcassonne and Monopoly Deal. My grandma and I like to play Rummicube (sp?).
Jesse and I used to play Phase 10 a lot when we were first married. It’s been a long time since we’ve played it, though, so I can’t say whether I’d still find it as fun. But it was something we loved doing way back when! I agree that Dutch Blitz is a little slow if you have fewer than 4 players.
Yes, two adults can play this game!
Mille Barnes isn’t as fun with 2, but you can play with 2. I like Kings in the Corner (played with a normal deck).
I am on the big lots email list and have their discount card, it’s kind of like having a Kroger card. They email printable coupons frequently so I usually have one to use. I buy coconut sugar there (and lots of other stuff). Even without a coupon, it’s $3 a pound which is really good.
Thanks so much for these tips!!
Dutch Blitz is one of my favorite games! A game for all ages.
What a wonderful day! I wish that we lived in an area that was warm already! I miss taking the kids for refreshing dips in the pool! I like your top too I have the same one from stitch fix and I love it! thanks for sharing your awesome day!
Thanks for your encouragement!
Every third visit at Big Lots you get a $5 off $15 purchase coupon. I like to buy Bob’s Red Mill products there, especially gluten free oatmeal and corn grits. My husband liked Wait Lana chips from there (a long time ago). We got Enjoy Life smores bars there for $2 a box. I really never know what I’m going to find!
Oh! Thanks for that tip!! I saw something about getting $5 off every third visit. I was wondering if you had to purchase a certain amount to qualify?
Nope! Any purchase qualifies. 🙂 But only one per account per store per day, and you may only earn one reward each week.
That’s good to know! I’m definitely going to try to figure out how to maximize this!
Hi Crystal! I’ve been following your blog for years and appreciate your wisdom. God has given you a gift and I’m grateful you share it with us! My family and I are traveling to Nashville in a few weeks to visit my sister, her husband and our new nephew ; ). I think my four kiddos would love to try that pool you’ve been to with your family. Is there any way you can share which pool in Nashville it is? Thanks!
It’s the rec pool in Spring Hill. Not sure if you’ll be close there. It’s just $2 for kids and $4 for adults.
We love playing Dutch Blitz too!
It’s so fun!
I loved this blog post! Thanks for always sharing your real life with us! I’m learning this as a new blogger, that’s why I like to include pics of my family or things important and relevant to what’s going on in my life. People like to see genuineness online (or at least I do) because there’s so much that’s not real online, especially through social media. Life is real. People are real. And our writing and sharing should be too! Keep being YOU Crystal! ?
Btw…I totally love Aldi!!! I grew up shopping there with my mom when we lived in the midwest. I live in the south now, and we don’t have Aldi anywhere close.?
Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement! Your note really blessed me!